Nextel's "Direct Talk" feature reportedly allows off-network communications, but I cannot confirm the reliability of this operation first-hand. I also think you have to manually select this function, the radio does not automatically revert to it.

I have also heard anecdotal evidence that Nextel DirectConnect seems to get through when the networks are congested. Presumably due to the smaller amounts of data going through, and it is more "packetized" in nature.

I always wondered what the morse code was that was coming out, it sounded ALOT like SOS.

xbanker, it sounds like you and me been down the same road. Did you get the Samuel B. Morse award too?

I was in Pensacola for 18 months. One of the few CTR/Ms out there I hear. Did you ever go CCSOC?

Ben-

PM'd you.

This fellow posts an interesting pager newsletter.
Brad Dye
Of particular interest and appropriate to this thread is the Issue #182 : Sept 30 edition. It seems that plain old two-way pagers continued to function quite well during the NOLA event. The article in question is about 1/2 way through that newsletter. I would also encourage reading some of the other issues before & after that date.

Best Regards,

Sandpine