Pagers: One-Way Numeric Messaging in Savannah, Georgia?
July 16, 2019 8:55 AM Subscribe
I would like to get a one-way numeric pager... and am having no luck finding a company with service that has coverage in Savannah, Georgia. Anyone out there know of something?
I work at a small hospital that requires me to take call several days a week; unfortunately, a pager is not provided. It's literally calls - to my phone.
Being from the West coast, I have a number that fields random texts and calls (wrong numbers, but they are several hours behind, so awake when I am sleeping) on a consistent basis. There are over 50 numbers that call me from the hospital, so I cannot use my iPhone's 'Do Not Disturb' feature to solve the problem.
So, I would like to get a one-way numeric pager... and am having no luck finding a company with service that has coverage in Savannah, Georgia.
Anyone out there know of something - or have additional ideas?
Thanks!
I work at a small hospital that requires me to take call several days a week; unfortunately, a pager is not provided. It's literally calls - to my phone.
Being from the West coast, I have a number that fields random texts and calls (wrong numbers, but they are several hours behind, so awake when I am sleeping) on a consistent basis. There are over 50 numbers that call me from the hospital, so I cannot use my iPhone's 'Do Not Disturb' feature to solve the problem.
So, I would like to get a one-way numeric pager... and am having no luck finding a company with service that has coverage in Savannah, Georgia.
Anyone out there know of something - or have additional ideas?
Thanks!
Seconding something like Google Voice or Burner. If you use T-Mobile, you can also use their Digits product.
posted by AaRdVarK at 9:45 AM on July 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by AaRdVarK at 9:45 AM on July 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
Best answer: The two large remaining paging network operators in the US are Spok (formerly USA Mobility) and American Messaging.
Spok does not have coverage in Savannah.
American Messaging operates two separate one-way paging networks in Georgia. One of these networks runs on 929.9375 MHz and does _not_ have coverage in Savannah. Their other Georgia network was acquired from a company called ProPage at some point in the past. This network runs on 931.0875 MHz and _does_ have coverage in Savannah:
American Messaging 931.0875 MHz One-Way Coverage Map - GA
The paging network operators don't seem very focused on individual consumer sales anymore, but you can try contacting the American Messaging sales department at this form. If you have trouble dealing with them, you might have better luck with a reseller such as Pagers Direct.
In either case you should make SURE that whoever you talk to understands that you need a pager on American Messaging's 931.0875 network, not their 929.9375 network. In Georgia, their 929.9375 network seems to be the default. If you end up with a pager on that network, it will not work in Savannah.
posted by Juffo-Wup at 9:48 AM on July 16, 2019 [3 favorites]
Spok does not have coverage in Savannah.
American Messaging operates two separate one-way paging networks in Georgia. One of these networks runs on 929.9375 MHz and does _not_ have coverage in Savannah. Their other Georgia network was acquired from a company called ProPage at some point in the past. This network runs on 931.0875 MHz and _does_ have coverage in Savannah:
American Messaging 931.0875 MHz One-Way Coverage Map - GA
The paging network operators don't seem very focused on individual consumer sales anymore, but you can try contacting the American Messaging sales department at this form. If you have trouble dealing with them, you might have better luck with a reseller such as Pagers Direct.
In either case you should make SURE that whoever you talk to understands that you need a pager on American Messaging's 931.0875 network, not their 929.9375 network. In Georgia, their 929.9375 network seems to be the default. If you end up with a pager on that network, it will not work in Savannah.
posted by Juffo-Wup at 9:48 AM on July 16, 2019 [3 favorites]
It certainly looks like there is one-way pager services available in Savannah - I quickly scanned the FCC licenses for Chatham county and found one that I know is nation-wide. The trick is finding out if individual accounts are available or whether or not the coverage is only offered on an institutional basis. The license holder is a holding company/LLC, so they likely own the towers/licenses/infrastructure and then lease it out to 3rd parties.
Hospitals are still the largest users of one-way pagers; is there any chance that a plan or setup already exists where you're working?
You could take a chance and just pick one up from a place like this, and see if you're within their area. You'll need to pay for the plan though.
posted by jquinby at 9:50 AM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
Hospitals are still the largest users of one-way pagers; is there any chance that a plan or setup already exists where you're working?
You could take a chance and just pick one up from a place like this, and see if you're within their area. You'll need to pay for the plan though.
posted by jquinby at 9:50 AM on July 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
Shouldn't your work supply you with a work phone with a local phone number?
posted by crazy with stars at 4:05 PM on July 16, 2019
posted by crazy with stars at 4:05 PM on July 16, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by AugustWest at 9:30 AM on July 16, 2019 [3 favorites]