Frequently Asked Questions - Using Your Arch Pager
    1. What is my pager number?
    2. How do I let others know my pager number?
    3. How does my pager work?
    4. What should I do if the pager is not working properly?
    5. Can I get pages while I'm traveling away from home?
    6. What is my pager coverage range?
    7. What is Voice Mail service?
    8. What can I do if my pager is lost or stolen?
    9. Can I upgrade my service at any time or must I wait until the end of my contract?

What is my pager number?
Almost all Arch Wireless pager numbers are either local direct dial, or Personal Toll-Free Numbers. Examples of a local direct dial number would be (212) 555-1212. An example of a Personal Toll-Free Number would be (866) 555-1212. In both of these cases the entire ten digits are used as the pager number for both one way and two-way devices.

Arch helps you notify your contacts of your device phone number if you are Webster 100 or Webster 200 customer and have a local direct dial or Personal Toll-Free Number. When you send messages from your 2-way messaging device, your message includes your phone number in the "FROM" field when the recipient receives your message (i.e., "Fr: 8665551212"). All the people you send messages to are automatically informed of your device phone number.

(NOTE: Customers utilizing Arch’s Alias Functionality Procedure or ALI feature, will send a selected Preferred Alias in the "FROM" field and customers using the 800-946-4646 with PIN number send just the 7-digit PIN in the "FROM" field).

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How do I let others know my pager number?
Leave it on your answering machine message. Print it on business cards and stationery. Give it to school nurses and all teachers and child care providers. Inform family members and business associates. The important thing is, do it right away and your pager can work harder for you.

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How does my pager work?
A pager is like a FM radio that is tuned to one frequency. (The FCC assigns each paging company specific radio frequencies on which to broadcast their paging signals.) Your pager will "listen" for a unique code within this paging signal. When the code reaches you and your pager "hears" its signal, it decodes it and displays the numeric or word message for you.

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What should I do if the pager is not working properly?
First, send yourself a page to see if it's transmitted. Your caller may simply have made a mistake in dialing.If the test page did not transmit, check the battery to make sure it's strong and inserted properly. Most pagers will have an indicator that tells when the battery is weak.

If these two steps check out, take a look around you to see if you're in an area that's unlikely to receive the transmission. Since your pager works like a radio, be sure that you aren't in a "hole" (such as the basement of a building) or surrounded by metal (such as an elevator). Radio waves don't penetrate metal objects and may not reflect into a basement or other areas shielded by the ground or mountains.

If it still isn't working, check to make sure that the coverage plan you’ve purchased includes the area you are in. Also, the pager can only listen for pages while it's turned on, so it's better to leave it on all the time. Pagers are designed to use their power very efficiently, so the batteries tend to last a long time.

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Can I get pages while I'm traveling away from home?
Yes, provided you're traveling within the coverage area you signed up for. If necessary, your pager's service can be upgraded to a broader coverage range (regional or nationwide). Please note: Since all pagers must be in range of a radio transmitter, they normally do not receive pages while inside an airplane or on large bodies of water.

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What is my pager coverage range?
From a technical standpoint, it's the area within which your pager can "hear" a radio transmitter. You chose a specific coverage plan when you signed up for service, and you can change at any time with just a phone call. Arch offers a variety of coverage plans to suit your needs.

Although we attempt to provide the best coverage possible, as with other telecommunications devices, there will be areas where the signal may get interrupted and lost temporarily.

Click here to open a new window with the coverage options.

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What is Voice Mail service?
Voice Mail (VM) works like your home answering machine, and you can access it from any touch-tone telephone. Your caller dials your pager number, leaves a voice message and hangs up. You receive a special code on your pager, normally your pager number, which alerts you to call and retrieve your message. That way, callers can leave messages 24 hours a day and be assured of confidentiality. And since the message is in the caller's own voice, the message is not subject to misinterpretation.

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What can I do if my pager is lost or stolen?
Call Customer Service right away to let us know. You will be able to retain the same number and can arrange for a replacement pager.

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Can I upgrade my service at any time or must I wait until the end of my contract?
Yes, call the customer service number listed on your most recent invoice at any time to upgrade your service or equipment.

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