# Major cell service outage {2024-02-22} **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** breaking-news\ **Created:** [February 22, 2024, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945 "2024-02-22T14:11:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/41 "2024-02-22T18:07:30Z")
In and around Austin with AT&T. Service went down instantly right about 6:40AM CST. I’m now a bit north of Austin, in Georgetown. Got service back around 11:00ish. My wife back home (east of Austin) still doesn’t have service. ---
**Author:** ![txtumbleweed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@txtumbleweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txtumbleweed)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/42 "2024-02-22T18:29:51Z")
Up and running again in Fort Worth about a half-hour ago. I wonder if we’ll get the real story on what happened. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/43 "2024-02-22T18:59:53Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m watching my mid day channel 7 news. This is making me think it could be a good idea to buy a TV antenna to be able to check the news if everything goes pear-shaped and omnishambles. I don’t even know what kind of range I’d need, I haven’t watched TV that way for 30 years. Any ideas? I suppose a little battery powered TV screen too if I want to be covered for power outage. ETA: this website seems to indicate I need sufficient range to pick up towers in Albuquerque at around 50 miles (I’m in Santa Fe), but of course that begs the question of how strong the broadcast signal is. [Santa Fe TV Antenna Map - TV Transmitters for Santa Fe, NM 87501 – Channel Master](https://www.channelmaster.com/pages/tv-antenna-map-santa-fe-nm-87501) ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/44 "2024-02-22T19:11:03Z")
I’m on Consumer Cellular, which is actually AT&T, I think. I’m just West of Central PA. Today I got a text for a job interview for either 9 am or 11:30, at my convenience. The text came through at noon. I called them back ASAP and that’s when I learned of the outages. All is well, my onboarding is tomorrow. I’m so glad I didn’t miss out on this opportunity. It’s not a dream job but it’s multiple times better than what I’m currently doing. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/45 "2024-02-22T19:13:50Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > This is making me think it could be a good idea to buy a TV antenna to be able to check the news if everything goes pear-shaped and omnishambles. How about a radio? The non-internet kind. They still exist, and so do multiple broadcasters. Or a ham radio, if everything goes _that_ pear shaped. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/46 "2024-02-22T19:16:46Z")
I’m on T-Mobile and all is functioning well. Cell & wifi. I dumped AT&T a couple of years ago. Glad I did. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/47 "2024-02-22T19:19:30Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > How about a radio? You’re right, I guess that’s more sensible for the purpose, because batteries will last a lot longer. I just don’t get to _see_ the zombies. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/48 "2024-02-22T19:22:13Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > I’m on Consumer Cellular, which is actually AT&T Unfortunately, this is the time when you may find the drawback of these subcontracted services. They are equivalent most of the time, but I think under heavy demand they often contractually get deprioritized. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/49 "2024-02-22T20:35:52Z")
SOS all morning long. Finally back on 5g by noon. As I was checking settings I looked at emergency contact. Never checked it before and saw that my “little brother” with a NC phone number is listed as my emergency contact. WTH? No there is no little bubba in North Carolina that I’m aware of. Who is that imposter and why is he listed ? Deleted lil blubber and updated my contacts. That was presumptive and quite rude imo. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/50 "2024-02-22T22:03:49Z")
I’m in a suburb of Austin and have had service from when I got up (5 am) until now with no interruptions. Hope I haven’t now jinxed myself! ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/51 "2024-02-22T22:18:55Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > ETA: this website seems to indicate I need sufficient range to pick up towers in Albuquerque at around 50 miles (I’m in Santa Fe), but of course that begs the question of how strong the broadcast signal is. > [Santa Fe TV Antenna Map - TV Transmitters for Santa Fe, NM 87501 – Channel Master](https://www.channelmaster.com/pages/tv-antenna-map-santa-fe-nm-87501) Hey, neighbor! As long as you can see Sandia Crest from where you are, you should be able to get KOAT, KRQE, and KOB. KNME is often a little iffier. My inlaws used to live just south of the Waldo exit, and they were able to get all the major broadcast stations with a rooftop antenna. We cut our cable a couple of years ago, and we put up an outdoor antenna in order to get local news on broadcast TV (also because we may have ditched our unreliable Xfinity cable, but we still have their unreliable cable internet). It works really well, but we’re some 50 miles closer to the Crest than you are. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/52 "2024-02-22T22:49:24Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > You’re right, I guess that’s more sensible for the purpose, because batteries will last a lot longer. I just don’t get to _see_ the zombies. You could always get both (finances permitting.) One might work when the other wasn’t – or the radio might work longer, but the TV work for a while. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/53 "2024-02-23T00:41:48Z")
T-mobile personal phone, ATT work phone, seemingly had no problems with service in the DC/DMV area (other than DC’s customary annoying signal drops) through the morning and day. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/54 "2024-02-23T00:59:01Z")
I have AT&T service, and live in the Chicago area. Signal was spotty when I first woke up at 6am this morning (and at first I though that it was my phone having issues), but it stabilized by 7, and I didn’t have an issue for the rest of the day. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/55 "2024-02-23T01:24:35Z")
I get emergency alerts from my county (DC area) and about 2:45, there was a message about a nationwide AT&T outage being resolved, and suggesting that people might need to reboot their phones. Didn’t affect me - we have Verizon. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/56 "2024-02-23T17:08:03Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > How about a radio? They still exist, and so do multiple broadcasters. Ha! There was some idiot politician maybe a couple years ago opining that gee, after a disaster what we really need is to invent some sort of device where the government could inform people if cell phones and internet were to fail on a widespread basis. “Radio. You want a radio” were the basic replies. I about pissed myself laughing. Kids. They know everything. Just ask ‘em. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/57 "2024-02-23T17:19:07Z")
> [@Common\_Tater](#): > > Kids. They know everything. Just ask ‘em. But the kids know that without TikTok you can’t be sure if slow zombies or fast zombies are coming. You can’t expect some old fart on the radio to be able to know the difference. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/58 "2024-02-23T17:23:50Z")
It was…a configuration issue. > **[AT&T’s botched network update caused yesterday’s major wireless outage](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/02/atts-botched-network-update-caused-yesterdays-major-wireless-outage/)** > > AT&T blamed itself for "incorrect process used as we were expanding our network." ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/59 "2024-02-23T17:30:51Z")
“Execution of an incorrect process” would seem to cover anything from spilling coffee on your keyboard to a bad software update to massive tax fraud. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945/60 "2024-02-23T17:31:47Z")
I heard it was indeed a bad software update. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-cell-service-outage-2024-02-22/997945.md?page=4)