On Thursday, 16 September 2021 at 23:21:54 UTC-4, Mountain Magpie wrote:
> On Thu, 16 Sep 2021 19:11:18 -0400, nospam posted:-
> > > And in North Korea, when I was there, no Internet for foreigners at
> > > all.
> >
> > how do they know a device is being used by a foreigner?
> Their internet is locked down, I suppose if your device is not an
> approved list, you can't get on.

Apple's new phones supposedly link to satellites in that case.

In article <fe951cbe-f111-40c0-bd90-91fa5323b6d3n@googlegroups.com>,
RichA <rander3128@gmail.com> wrote:

> > Their internet is locked down, I suppose if your device is not an
> > approved list, you can't get on.
>
> Apple's new phones supposedly link to satellites in that case.

they do not, nor did that crazy rumour even say that was possible.

On Fri, 17 Sep 2021 09:37:36 -0400, nospam posted:-

> In article <iqirniFha2mU1@mid.individual.net>, Mountain Magpie
> <Leura@blue.mountains.org> wrote:
>
> > >
> > > your link expands to this and states:
> > > >
> > > > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_in_North_Korea#Internet_policies>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > Foreigners can access the internet using the 3G phone network
> >
> > We couldn't. No signal at all.
>
> your phone might not have had all of the 3g bands.
>
> 3g is also old. 4g/lte has been around for about a decade and 5g is
> starting to roll out.

The day before entering North Korea, we had a half day briefing session
in Beijing.. One of the issues raised was that phones would not work -
they didn't, and no Internet - there wasn't.

(Other matters raised were how to behalf, what items were of bounds,
places, etc., and what we couldn't photograph).

This was 2014. Either things have changed since then, and I doubt it,
probably only got worse, and/or that article is incorrect.

On 17/09/2021 00.34, nospam wrote:
> In article <iqhqivFbe3bU2@mid.individual.net>, Mountain Magpie
> <Leura@blue.mountains.org> wrote:
>
>>
>>> a smartphone, computer or smart speaker can stream radio stations from
>>> anywhere in the world, not just nearby, along with spotify and similar
>>> services, podcasts and much more.
>>
>> Provided you have an Internet connection of course?
>
> yep, just as terrestrial radio needs a nearby transmitter.

But not a contract.

>
> keep in mind that there is internet in places where radio can't be
> received, such as inside steel/concrete buildings, tunnels, desolate
> highways through the middle of nowhere, etc.

And the reverse, like mountain valleys and tops.

--
Cheers,
Carlos E.R.

In article <bvpf1ixqd5.ln2@minas-tirith.valinor>, Carlos E. R.
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:

> >>> a smartphone, computer or smart speaker can stream radio stations from
> >>> anywhere in the world, not just nearby, along with spotify and similar
> >>> services, podcasts and much more.
> >>
> >> Provided you have an Internet connection of course?
> >
> > yep, just as terrestrial radio needs a nearby transmitter.
>
> But not a contract.

cellphones don't need a contract.

tablets in particular have monthly plans. you could enable it for a
road trip and cancel upon return.

not that it matters since nearly everyone has an active cellphone.

On 17/09/2021 15.37, nospam wrote:
> In article <tJWdncr-BsAE4dn8nZ2dnUU7-eGdnZ2d@giganews.com>, geoff
> <geoff@nospamgeoffwood.org> wrote:
>
>>>>>>> a smartphone, computer or smart speaker can stream radio stations from
>>>>>>> anywhere in the world, not just nearby, along with spotify and similar
>>>>>>> services, podcasts and much more.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Provided you have an Internet connection of course?
>>>>>
>>>>> yep, just as terrestrial radio needs a nearby transmitter.
>>>>>
>>>>> keep in mind that there is internet in places where radio can't be
>>>>> received, such as inside steel/concrete buildings, tunnels, desolate
>>>>> highways through the middle of nowhere, etc.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Yeah, internet doesn't need a nearby transmitter ....
>>>
>>> there are shitloads of them dotting the major roads and in places radio
>>> can't reach, such as tunnels or inside many buildings.
>>>
>>> another advantage is you can keep listening to a station as you drive
>>> outside its range, which for fm is 30-50 miles, depending on terrain.
>>>
>>
>> Never heard of 'No Signal' ? You can't drive very far. 50 miles isn't
>> 'far'.
>
> having no cell service is very rare unless you're in the middle of
> nowhere, where there won't be any radio either.

There are many places here with no cell service, and there is radio
service (even TV). Not necesarily "nowhere" but even villages.

--
Cheers,
Carlos E.R.

On 18/09/2021 1:37 am, nospam wrote:
> In article <iqirniFha2mU1@mid.individual.net>, Mountain Magpie
> <Leura@blue.mountains.org> wrote:
>
>>>
>>> your link expands to this and states:
>>>>
>>>> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_in_North_Korea#Internet_policies>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Foreigners can access the internet using the 3G phone network
>>
>> We couldn't. No signal at all.
>
> your phone might not have had all of the 3g bands.
>
> 3g is also old. 4g/lte has been around for about a decade and 5g is
> starting to roll out.
>

With even more restricted range.

geoff

On 18/09/2021 12:13 pm, RichA wrote:
> On Thursday, 16 September 2021 at 23:21:54 UTC-4, Mountain Magpie wrote:
>> On Thu, 16 Sep 2021 19:11:18 -0400, nospam posted:-
>>>> And in North Korea, when I was there, no Internet for foreigners at
>>>> all.
>>>
>>> how do they know a device is being used by a foreigner?
>> Their internet is locked down, I suppose if your device is not an
>> approved list, you can't get on.
>
> Apple's new phones supposedly link to satellites in that case.
>

Don't need Apple - your Covid jab will do that for you.

geoff

In article <odqf1ixqd5.ln2@minas-tirith.valinor>, Carlos E. R.
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:

> > having no cell service is very rare unless you're in the middle of
> > nowhere, where there won't be any radio either.
>
> There are many places here with no cell service, and there is radio
> service (even TV). Not necesarily "nowhere" but even villages.

nobody said there weren't such places, but overall, that is the
exception, not the rule.

In article <IdednekjHPg_ptj8nZ2dnUU7-YOdnZ2d@giganews.com>, geoff
<geoff@nospamgeoffwood.org> wrote:

> > 3g is also old. 4g/lte has been around for about a decade and 5g is
> > starting to roll out.
> >
>
> With even more restricted range.

only 5g mmw does.

low and midband 5g have similar or better range than 4g/lte.

On Sat, 18 Sep 2021 13:07:44 +1200, geoff <geoff@nospamgeoffwood.org>
wrote:

>Don't need Apple - your Covid jab will do that for you.

Only for Americans.

Everybody else just gets innoculated against Covid. Cheated again!

On 18/09/2021 03.25, nospam wrote:
> In article <odqf1ixqd5.ln2@minas-tirith.valinor>, Carlos E. R.
> <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
>
>>> having no cell service is very rare unless you're in the middle of
>>> nowhere, where there won't be any radio either.
>>
>> There are many places here with no cell service, and there is radio
>> service (even TV). Not necesarily "nowhere" but even villages.
>
> nobody said there weren't such places, but overall, that is the
> exception, not the rule.

Depends... They are not "very rare" nor "rare" here.
Places that are not going to change, that are going to stay that way.

--
Cheers,
Carlos E.R.

On 18/09/2021 03.00, nospam wrote:
> In article <bvpf1ixqd5.ln2@minas-tirith.valinor>, Carlos E. R.
> <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
>
>>>>> a smartphone, computer or smart speaker can stream radio stations from
>>>>> anywhere in the world, not just nearby, along with spotify and similar
>>>>> services, podcasts and much more.
>>>>
>>>> Provided you have an Internet connection of course?
>>>
>>> yep, just as terrestrial radio needs a nearby transmitter.
>>
>> But not a contract.
>
> cellphones don't need a contract.

They do here. They need a SIM card, and they need a contract, even
prepaid ones. Anti-terrorism rules imposed by the USA after 9/11, your
name and ID must be recorded,

>
> tablets in particular have monthly plans. you could enable it for a
> road trip and cancel upon return.

A plan means a contract.

>
> not that it matters since nearly everyone has an active cellphone.
>

With a contract.

--
Cheers,
Carlos E.R.

In article <trog1ix9o7.ln2@minas-tirith.valinor>, Carlos E. R.
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:

> >
> > cellphones don't need a contract.
>
> They do here. They need a SIM card, and they need a contract, even
> prepaid ones. Anti-terrorism rules imposed by the USA after 9/11, your
> name and ID must be recorded,

that definitely isn't anything the usa requires because the usa doesn't
require that itself.

cell service can be obtained in the usa using a fake name or no name at
all in some cases if that's what someone wants to do.

payments might be tricky, however, but not impossible. one way is by
using a prepaid gift card, such as the ones i mentioned in a previous
thread.

> > tablets in particular have monthly plans. you could enable it for a
> > road trip and cancel upon return.
>
> A plan means a contract.

nope. some plans are contracts, usually 1-2 years which normally
includes a discount on a phone as an enticement to sign up.

often the discount is substantial, such as a free iphone or android
phone, which they recover because you are committed to a 2 year
contract. if you cancel early, you will have to pay for the 'free'
phone.

other plans are monthly or quarterly. pay as you go, cancel at any
time. no discounts on phones.

> > not that it matters since nearly everyone has an active cellphone.
> >
>
> With a contract.

nope. see above.

it also doesn't matter. if someone has an active cellphone, whether or
not it's a contract, they can stream audio and much more.

On 2021-09-18 05:41, Carlos E. R. wrote:

> They do here. They need a SIM card, and they need a contract, even
> prepaid ones. Anti-terrorism rules imposed by the USA after 9/11, your
> name and ID must be recorded,

The only reason they want a contract and details is your government is
tight on comms.

Whenever I'm South America and buy a SIM card they photocopy my fricken
passport.

Here (Canada) I can buy a SIM or a burner phone with cash and that is
the end of it.

--
"...there are many humorous things in this world; among them the white
man's notion that he is less savage than the other savages."
-Samuel Clemens

On Sat, 18 Sep 2021 12:49:33 -0400, Alan Browne posted:-

> Whenever I'm South America and buy a SIM card they photocopy my
> fricken passport.

ID required here in Australia as well.

On 18/09/2021 18.49, Alan Browne wrote:
> On 2021-09-18 05:41, Carlos E. R. wrote:
>
>> They do here. They need a SIM card, and they need a contract, even
>> prepaid ones. Anti-terrorism rules imposed by the USA after 9/11, your
>> name and ID must be recorded,
>
>
> The only reason they want a contract and details is your government is
> tight on comms.

Not the case in Spain.

The USA forced its allies to do it after 9/11 as a counterterrorism
measure. If a mobile phone is used in a terrorism attack, they can track
down easily who bought it and who bought the SIM. Or maybe only the latter.

That Americans themselves are not subject to this shows typical USA
double standards :-p

It is not the only thing. For example, mailservers have to keep logs for
several years,

> Whenever I'm South America and buy a SIM card they photocopy my fricken
> passport.

yep.

> Here (Canada) I can buy a SIM or a burner phone with cash and that is
> the end of it.

Well, thanks your government for managing that, somehow :-)

--
Cheers,
Carlos E.R.