I really like this... except you should add a special case for 911. I strongly believe that all phones, and anything that looks like phones, should be able to dial out in an emergency.

Obviously, this can raise its own problems -- you'll have to train the kids not to randomly dial 911! -- but you never know what circumstances might exist where someone in a panic reaches for the nearest phone.

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vermilingua 11 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Kari's Law [0] is relevant here. Not strictly applicable as this is not a MLTS (phone line multiplexer), but very much in line with the spirit of the law as it was adopted after a child was unable to dial 911 from a motel phone.

[0] https://www.fcc.gov/mlts-911-requirements

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superb_dev 11 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Also if you want to test dial 911 I’ve been told you can schedule a test call with you local dispatch!

I setup a phone system with Asterisk for fun a while ago and I avoided emergency calls because I didn’t know how to safely test it

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vermilingua 10 hours ago | parent | next [-]

You can, but you should prefer dialling 933 which will use the same routing infrastructure, and reads out the address that 911/933 believes is associated with your connection. Does not take time away from a human dispatcher so should always be preferred unless there is a critical reason to test 911.

	▲	ssl-3 6 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Dialing 933 tests call routing and address reporting when dialing 933, but 911 and 933 are not the same number. And one might assume that it should work the same....and it may in fact be the same once a call reaches the greater telephone network. But calling 933 does not necessarily test 911 call routing as it relates to a specific pile of local gear. So sure: One should call 933 as an informal test and make sure it produces a good report. One should -also- call 911 and make sure that works correctly and that the result of a call is a good report, too (after calling the local non-emergency number for the PSAP and making arrangements). It's perfectly acceptable, OK, and appreciated (by PSAP operators and supervisors alike) to ensure that 911 calling is tested and working, end-to-end, upon the implementation of any particular telephone system. (But again, please let them know about it, first.) Lives do sometimes rely on 911 calls working properly, and an untested system is at best an unproven mystery. Please test it. "It -should- work fine!" is not good enough.
	▲	superb_dev 9 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Oh this sounds much better, thank you!

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Terr_ 8 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Hmmm, I wonder if something like this applies to testing emergency-apps on my smartphone.

Unlike a landline, it's harder to say where it ends up or who'll get angry at you for "testing".