Could cell phones act as cell phone relay towers in an emergancy?

In summary: Better stated maybe, using existing hardware could software changes enable such a system?Yes, easily. But it might be quite unsuitable for use as a telephone network.
  • #1
Spinnor
Gold Member
2,214
424
In an emergency could scattered cell phones form a communications network if properly programed without need for relay towers? I'm guessing such a system might have severe limitations but if the software was built in it might be an inexpensive way to keep communications going during an emergency.

Or could cell phones be reprogrammed so they acted as cheap walkie talkies?

Thanks for any ideas or help!
 
Last edited:
Engineering news on Phys.org
  • #2
Spinnor said:
In an emergency could scattered cell phones form a communications network if properly programed without need for relay towers? I'm guessing such a system might have severe limitations but if the software was built in it might be an inexpensive way to keep communications going during an emergency.

Or could cell phones be reprogrammed so they acted as cheap walkie talkies?

Thanks for any ideas or help!

Maybe we might have to limit such a system to only text messages, no problem for most of today's youth?
 
  • #3
The system is not designed for that mode of communication. The silicon in the existing phones can't be reprogrammed to do it.
 
  • #4
Antiphon said:
The system is not designed for that mode of communication. The silicon in the existing phones can't be reprogrammed to do it.

If not changeable could such a system be built in, in theory?
 
  • #5
Spinnor said:
If not changeable could such a system be built in, in theory?

Better stated maybe, using existing hardware could software changes enable such a system?
 
  • #6
One problem I guess. Because a cell tower can distinguish the relatively weak signal of a cell phone because of sensitive receivers the distance between cell phones would need to be smaller then the distance between a cell phone and a relay tower to communicate?

Also, as a cell tower can transmit at a greater relative power then a cell phone, cell phones would need to be closer to talk to each other, assuming proper hardware and software changes were made?
 
  • #7
On top of what other people said already, I believe the cell phone signal is quite weak for one. The second and even more important, the system now is mainly each cell phone communicate only to the cell tower, the provider do all the switching. The software protocode needed in the individual phone in order to be able to selectively talk to one individual reciever would be very difficult. Imagine you have one million walkie talkie in one small area and the modulation or protocode has to be able to pin point to one reciever. I am not sure the air wave can even support this many individual transcievers.
 
  • #8
Spinnor said:
Better stated maybe, using existing hardware could software changes enable such a system?

Yes, easily. But it might be quite unsuitable for use as a telephone network.

Such hardware already exists under a standard called 802.15.4. You can buy the complete radio modules for around $25.

If you are interested in pursuing this, I suggest the modules from Synapse. They are programmed in python and can form a true peer-to-peer network of the type you described. Most of the 802.15.4 protocol stacks define a special unit called a coordinator node without which you cannot form the network.
 

1. How would cell phones act as cell phone relay towers in an emergency?

In an emergency situation, cell phones can be used as relay towers by setting them to "emergency mode" or "emergency hotspot" where they will act as a bridge between other cell phones and the nearest cell tower. This allows users to communicate with each other and emergency services even when there is no direct cell tower coverage.

2. Can any cell phone be used as a relay tower in an emergency?

Not all cell phones have the capability to act as relay towers in an emergency. Only certain models and brands have this feature, and it may also depend on the service provider. It is important to check with your service provider or read your phone's manual to see if it has this functionality.

3. How would cell phones connect to each other in this scenario?

In an emergency, cell phones would use their built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capabilities to connect to each other and create a network. This network would then be used to communicate with other cell phones and emergency services.

4. Are there any limitations to using cell phones as relay towers in an emergency?

Yes, there are some limitations to using cell phones as relay towers in an emergency. First, there must be enough cell phone users in the area to create a network. Also, the range of the network may be limited, so users may need to be within a certain distance from each other to connect. Additionally, the battery life of the cell phones being used as relay towers may drain quickly, so it is important to have backup power sources.

5. Are there any potential risks or concerns with using cell phones as relay towers in an emergency?

One potential risk is that the network created by cell phones may not be as reliable as traditional cell towers. This could lead to disruptions or dropped calls. Additionally, using cell phones as relay towers may also put a strain on the cell phone's battery and could potentially cause it to overheat. It is important for users to monitor their phone's battery life and temperature when using it in this capacity.

Similar threads

  • Science Fiction and Fantasy Media
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • Electromagnetism
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
10
Views
14K
Replies
9
Views
1K
  • STEM Academic Advising
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • Programming and Computer Science
Replies
29
Views
2K
  • Programming and Computer Science
Replies
18
Views
5K
Replies
127
Views
16K
  • MATLAB, Maple, Mathematica, LaTeX
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
10
Views
2K
Back
Top