Not receiving amber alerts

[Edison53]

Hi. My daughter is wondering why she is not receiving alerts? I thought everyone got these?

[Psygineer]

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@Edison53 wrote:

So, lots of interesting commentary on last night’s alert, but no answer — yet — on why an iPhone 7 would not have received the alert.

(I thought it might be because although she has an LTE-equipped phone (4G), she is actually on a 3G data plan. But another 3G customer on this thread confirmed they received it, so that doesn’t seem to be the issue)

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From what I read online you can disable the Amber Alerts on iPhones (similar to how you can on the S8, so is it possible it is turned off? 

Check here:

1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on Notifications and scroll all the way to the bottom.

3. Under the Government Alerts section, toggle the AMBER Alerts or Government Alerts option on or off to enable or disable them.

The 807 area got the alert, but I am curious if her area code wasn't part of the targetted group.

[Edison53]

So, lots of interesting commentary on last night’s alert, but no answer — yet — on why an iPhone 7 would not have received the alert.

(I thought it might be because although she has an LTE-equipped phone (4G), she is actually on a 3G data plan. But another 3G customer on this thread confirmed they received it, so that doesn’t seem to be the issue)

[will13am]

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@Roxana_L wrote:

Hi @will13am

Good Observation!

 We are the same Public Mobile Moderator Team

Kind Regards!

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On behalf of the community, welcome to the team. 

[youbme]

I'm in the Ottawa-area and did not receive the alerts. I'm not always in areas with LTE signal, but all of today I've been in the city with full LTE signal...no alerts. Do the alerts come through once you are on LTE or do they dissappear? In other words, are they only pushed out at one time...so if you happen to be out of service in that moment, you won't get the message when you have service??

My wife is on Koodo and didn't receive the alert either. We both have Pixels (2 XL).

[Psygineer]

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@sheytoon wrote:

Well, my phone was on "Do Not Disturb" overnight, and it didn't make any sounds. I only noticed the alert this morning.

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Mine was on "Do Not Disturb" as well. I only had it in my bedroom in case of complications from my surgery, usually I leave it in in the kitchen. The ending alert went through sound and all in the middle of the night (but oddly enough not the actual alert, never got it at all). I think the ending alert should be silent (regardless of time of day) because it shouldn't have the same importance as the initial alert..

[sheytoon]

Well, my phone was on "Do Not Disturb" overnight, and it didn't make any sounds. I only noticed the alert this morning.

[Psygineer]

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@sheytoon wrote:

@Psygineer, I think Canadian operators override the user selections for choosing WPAS messages. As far as I know, in Canada, all WPAS messages will be sent to all eligible LTE devices. No way to opt out.

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Well that's good. I can only image with each new issuance (especially the "It's over" alarms) will make people seek ways to disable it. The more people who disable it, the less effective it will be.

[sheytoon]

@Psygineer, I think Canadian operators override the user selections for choosing WPAS messages. As far as I know, in Canada, all WPAS messages will be sent to all eligible LTE devices. No way to opt out.

[Roxana_L]

Hi @will13am

Good Observation!

 We are the same Public Mobile Moderator Team

Kind Regards!

[Anonymous]

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@Psygineer wrote:

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That might have been a nation wide issued one though.

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I would be about certain that it was state of Hawaii only. The head of the guy who triggered it rolled (not literally 🙂 ).

[will13am]

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@Roxana_L wrote:

Hi,

@Edison53, That's a Great question, let us help you with that.

Will all wireless devices receive emergency alerts?

No, In order for emergency alerts to be received on wireless devices three conditions must be met: the wireless device must be an LTE device like a smartphone, It must be WPA-compatible, and it must be able to access LTE cellular network at the time of the emergency alert is issued

Why are some devices non-compatible?

• The CRTC has mandated that the 50% of devices available for sale must be WPA compatible as of April 2018 and 100% of devices available for sale must be WPA compatible by 2019. Some devices sold prior to those dates may not be compatible.
• Device manufacturers provide the software updates that contain the WPA feature. As more devices become compatible the list of compatible devices will be updated on alertready.ca.
• Alerting authorities also communicate these emergency alerts via other media (i.e.: radio, tv, social media, etc.) where customers with incompatible devices can receive those alerts. See alertready.ca for details.

You can get more details about it  on Alert Ready 

I really hope you find this information useful. I wish you a great day ahead!

Roxana
Public Mobile Community Specialist

Thanks for the clarification!  Going off topic a bit, is Public Mobile Community Specialist the new title for moderator team member?

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[Anonymous]

 @Roxana_L, @CS_Agent

That was a terrific post. Would you be able to elaborate on geographic choices used, if any?

[Psygineer]

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@stonechucker wrote:

@denis2, just so you know, by doing that, if there's ever a tornado warning issued, you will not be notified of that, as you've disabled the LTE ability of your phone.

I received the message this morning, AFTER turning off my forced 3G connection.

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For phones like the S8, you can selectively disable only certain alerts. Environmental can be left on while Test and Ambers can be turned off. I honestly don't think Samsung should make it that easy as it encourages people to turn it off. Even though I wish I would have had it turned off last night (as all I got was the ending message not the actual alert), I have left it on because I do get that it is an important communication tool for lost children.. 

[Psygineer]

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@Edison53 wrote:

She is on an iPhone 7, so that’s a pretty recent product and I am sure meets the requirements. And it can receive 4G.

she has chosen a 3G data plan. Is *that* why she is not getting alerts?

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I'm on a 3G data plan (my data is disabled) and I still got it at somewhere around 1am.

[stonechucker]

@denis2, just so you know, by doing that, if there's ever a tornado warning issued, you will not be notified of that, as you've disabled the LTE ability of your phone.

I received the message this morning, AFTER turning off my forced 3G connection.

[Edison53]

She is on an iPhone 7, so that’s a pretty recent product and I am sure meets the requirements. And it can receive 4G.

she has chosen a 3G data plan. Is *that* why she is not getting alerts?

[Psygineer]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@mh1983 wrote:

Which phone are you on? They need to be on 4G/LTE, I believe, and I don't think non-Android BlackBerries are supported.

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I got the bomb alert in Hawaii last year on my BB OS10 on a US SIM.

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That might have been a nation wide issued one though. Amber Alerts are usually regional now. Last year when there was one issued for Thunder Bay, people in southern Ontario took to reddit and other forums to complain that it interupted their meetings and such and were quite put out by it. I can honestly say I wish they would not have pushed the alert end claxon message to my region (especially after not issuing the alert to my region) mostly due to selfish reasons and for concern for the effectiveness of the future alerts. For the selfish one:  There was nothing I could do about it (due to it being over already) and due to being in a ton of pain from my non-elective day surgery, finally able to sleep, then startled awake. 
For the serious concern one: The only reason why I mention that is because someone at work put out an email saying she can help people block those signals due to so many employees today either calling in that they can't make it because they are too tired due to be woken up by it or complaining about it at work today. If they had not pushed the end claxon in the middle of the night, those people that are having it blocked would likely have left it on and then when there is a new one issued, they would be informed of it and be able to potentially do something. Seems to be defeating the purpose of the system.

[Roxana_L]

Hi,

@Edison53, That's a Great question, let us help you with that.

Will all wireless devices receive emergency alerts?

No, In order for emergency alerts to be received on wireless devices three conditions must be met: the wireless device must be an LTE device like a smartphone, It must be WPA-compatible, and it must be able to access LTE cellular network at the time of the emergency alert is issued

Why are some devices non-compatible?

• The CRTC has mandated that the 50% of devices available for sale must be WPA compatible as of April 2018 and 100% of devices available for sale must be WPA compatible by 2019. Some devices sold prior to those dates may not be compatible.
• Device manufacturers provide the software updates that contain the WPA feature. As more devices become compatible the list of compatible devices will be updated on alertready.ca.
• Alerting authorities also communicate these emergency alerts via other media (i.e.: radio, tv, social media, etc.) where customers with incompatible devices can receive those alerts. See alertready.ca for details.

You can get more details about it  on Alert Ready 

I really hope you find this information useful. I wish you a great day ahead!

Roxana
Public Mobile Community Specialist

[denis2]

I turned the LTE off, is that why I am not receiving Amber Alerts and if so GOOD cause I think they are intrusive and loud

[Anonymous]

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@mh1983 wrote:

Which phone are you on? They need to be on 4G/LTE, I believe, and I don't think non-Android BlackBerries are supported.

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I got the bomb alert in Hawaii last year on my BB OS10 on a US SIM.

[Edison53]

She is on IPhone 7 on 3G data plan. Her friends (also in Ottawa) received it. She didn’t 

[Psygineer]

I got the ending signal, but the alert itself. I was not anywhere near the region it was issued for. I don't believe they should use the Claxon when it ends, or at least use a less harsh tone especially in the middle of the night like it was for this one. 

[denis2]

A lot of people here in Ottawa/Gatineau received it

[mh1983]

Which phone are you on? They need to be on 4G/LTE, I believe, and I don't think non-Android BlackBerries are supported.

[Anonymous]

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@Edison53 wrote:

Hi. My daughter is wondering why she is not receiving alerts? I thought everyone got these?

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As I mentioned in the other thread about this tragic event...not everyone is where you are. I didn't get it either but it would be quite irrelevant to me and my geographic region as I am way out west.

[denis2]

e ans my wife did not receive it  and we are from different providers