SkyTel 2Way pagers DOWN all US

Wed May 20 05:15:47 UTC 1998

> 
> >From what I gathered from PanAmSat's NOC, they lost contact with Galaxy
> 4's primary and backup controllers, but are still in communication with it
> via omnimode.  They've turned off power to the payload to conserve energy,
> and are suggesting to people to implement their contingency plans. 
> 
> MobileComm apparently has plans to use a backup satellite, but they don't
> expect their service to be online for another 7 or 8 hours.
> 
> -G
>
	Skytel is saying they have restored service to "some" but not "all"
areas.  I just spoke with a user in Jersey City, NJ, and his Skytel numeric
is working fine, but I am in Newburgh, NY with a Skyword Plus and I'm
still getting "STORING MESSAGES" when I normally get "BASIC SERVICE".

	I'm going to take a chance and get some sleep, although my entire
IPP business revolves around the pager working. (Ok, yes, I have backup
measures but I'm in the .5% of the times where the backup measures
also wouldn't work).  If anyone has anything more, or sites to visit to
keep up to date, I'd be very interested.  Its amazing, Skytel first made
me turn it off then on, then take the battery out and put it in backwards
and then back in correctly, before saying "You must be affected by the
satellite problems".  Wonder if I told them where I was would they have
said that first.

	Also, WAY off topic, while talking to the woman, it seems that
the pager broadcasts back to the tower that I get messages or that they
are scrambled. (I figured it had to do this, but never was 100% sure...
Helps to ask).  Brought up an interesting point I joked with my girlfriend.
Since I don't carry a cell phone (YET.......start to real soon to solve that
other .5% problem), I told her if I was ever kidnapped to call Skytel as
they had to be able to track where I was.  The woman on the phone "would
neither confirm nor deny" that possibility.  She referenced a privacy
issue and didn't want to say more.

	I more hope I don't have any pageable events, than they fix it
tonite.  Since, my luck, they'll fix it at 4am and they'll do such a good
job all the test messages I sent and Skytel sent will make it through to
me.

			Tuc/TTSG 
> On Tue, 19 May 1998, TTSG wrote:
> 
> > Date: Tue, 19 May 1998 23:54:25 -0400 (EDT)
> > From: TTSG <ttsg at ttsg.com>
> > To: Mark Allan Rizzo <mrizzo at origin.ea.com>
> > Cc: nanog at merit.edu
> > Subject: Re: SkyTel 2Way pagers DOWN all US
> > 
> > > 
> > > Just wanted to inform anyone that relies on this for system notifications
> > > etc.  Skytel lost a satellite feed and all of their 2-Way pagers are down.
> > > I called them and they told me that it had been down since 5:00pm CST and
> > > they hoped to have it back 'soon'.
> > > 
> > 	As well as regular "Skyword" pagers.  We confirm your time, as we
> > saw it about 7p Eastern, and a VERY WEIRD (Completely garbled, no time
> > stamp) message at 5p Eastern.  Saw on the local news tonite that it was
> > "knocked out of orbit".  The phone person just has said "Satellite problems".
> > 
> > 	Both TV and Skytel say they are NOT the only ones that count on
> > that satellite, so it might be worth some peace of mind to run a test of
> > your pager.
> > 
> > 
> > 		Tuc/TTSG
> > 
>