Thousands of pagers explode in Lebanon, get to know what a pager is, an old-school communication tool that you should know about

foto: medicaldirector.com & debugger.medium.com

Pagers were actually used as a communication tool before the existence of telephone technology like today.

Brilio.net - Tuesday (17/9) afternoon local time, Lebanon was experiencing a tragic event, namely thousands of pagers belonging to the armed group Hezbollah exploded simultaneously all over the country. Quoting from Reuters, the incident claimed many lives, at least nine people were killed and 2,750 others were injured.

The dead included Hezbollah militants, civilians, including the 8-year-old daughter of Lebanese MP Mohammad Mahdi Ammar. It is known that the pager explosions began at 16:45 local time and lasted for an hour in several areas. Various media reports reported that around 3,000 pagers exploded.

Reporting from Reuters, it is suspected that the Israeli Mossad Intelligence Agency has planted a number of small explosives in 5,000 Taiwanese-made pagers ordered by the Hezbollah militia in South Lebanon two months before the explosion. It was further explained that Hezbollah has so far still used pagers even though technology has developed, because it is one of their internal communication tools.

Not only that, this tool is a low-tech communication tool to avoid Israeli location tracking. Apart from the unfortunate incident, pagers were actually used as a communication tool before the existence of telephone technology like today. So what is a pager? To get to know the rarely used pager, let's see the complete review below, adapted by brilio.net from various sources, Wednesday (18/9).

photo: Wikipedia

A pager is a portable communication device designed to send short messages to its user. Although the use of pagers has been largely replaced by mobile phones and other modern communication devices, pagers still have some special applications and an important history in the development of communication technology.

Pagers were first introduced in the early 1950s and then became popular in the 1980s and 1990s. Basically, a pager is a device that allows someone to receive short messages or notifications from the sender. There are several types of pagers, but the basic function is to receive text messages or signals from the sending system.

1. One way pager:

This pager only receives messages from the sending station but cannot send replies. Users of one-way pagers usually receive short messages sent by the operator or system. This type of pager is generally used for sending fast messages and emergency information.

2. Two-way pager:

These pagers allow for two-way communication, where users can not only receive messages but also respond to them. Two-way pagers are often used in professional settings such as hospitals, where fast and responsive communication is essential.

photo: geekweek.interia.pl

Pagers work by receiving radio signals sent by a transmitter connected to the pager network. When someone sends a message, the signal is sent to the transmitter, which then transmits the message via radio waves to the intended pager. The pager receives this signal and then displays the message to its user.

This process can be explained in several steps:

1. Sending messages

The message sender uses a device or system to send information to the pager transmitter.

2. Signal transmission

The transmitter then transmits a radio signal containing the message over a wide area.

3. Receiving messages

The pager receives these radio signals, then deciphers the message, then displays it on a screen or sounds an alarm.

Pagers were used in a variety of contexts, especially before the advent of cellular phones. Pagers were often used in situations where instant and simple communication was needed, such as in hospitals, law enforcement agencies, and businesses. Some specific applications include:

1. Hospitals: Doctors and medical personnel use pagers to receive emergency information or calls from hospitals.

2. Law enforcement agencies: Pagers help in quick communication between team members and command centers.

3. Business: Pagers are used to inform staff about urgent meetings or important matters.

photo: pulsara.com

Excess:

- Reliability: Pagers typically have a wider range than cell phones, especially in remote areas or inside large buildings.

- Simple and practical: Pagers are easy to use for short, instant communication without the need for complicated devices.

- Separate network: Pagers operate on a different network from cell phones, so they can work in areas where the telephone network may not be available.

Lack:

- Limited capabilities: Pagers can only receive messages and some models can send replies, but cannot make voice calls or send complex data.

- Screen limitations: Pagers usually have very limited screens, so they can only display short text.

- Lack of support for modern technology: With the advancement of communication technology, the use of pagers has decreased significantly, and these devices have become less relevant compared to smartphones and other communication devices.

(brl/mal)