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CMAS alerts

Dark One

Dark One

Android Expert
Is anybody else getting these? The government uses it to send texts to warn you about tornado warnings and other severe weather. It's a nice idea, but they text every five minutes to tell me about a tornado warning several hundred miles away from me. It's very annoying and I can't figure out how to disable it. There are checkboxes under messaging settings, and I unchecked all of them and rebooted, but the messages persist. My sister has an Optimus V with Virgin Mobile and she does not get these. Does anybody know how to disable these alerts?

91zC3.jpg
 
Is this built into the phone?
The OV and Evo V do not get them.

If it is built in, there should be an app causing it, and you could probably remove it. Try stopping some services and such to figure out what it is that is causing it. Then we can deal with it.

If it's an app, dump it and download "Simple Weather Alert".
 
The screenshot was taken from the settings in the stock messaging app. I'm using the weather channel app and I poked around in there and couldn't find anything. I tried to force stop the weather channel when I was getting the messages but it was not running. I'll mess around more when I start getting the messages again, thanks.
 
They are relentless T_T

kFqNf.jpg


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In taking this screenshot I realized that handcent is blocking the messages when I put it in my blacklist though.
 
Dark One said:
They are relentless T_T
kFqNf.jpg


In taking this screenshot I realized that handcent is blocking the messages when I put it in my blacklist though.
Click to expand...

Did the phone come with this? I don't see it anywhere on mine. I did remove whatever the Mobile ID downloaded though, not sure if that went along with it.
 
In the stock messaging app click the menu button on your phone, then settings, then scroll to the bottom. That's where all the checkboxes are on my phone.
 
I got these 2 if them on the 20th

This is a test of the Commercial Mobile Alert System. This is only a test.
 
Here is the email response from Virgin:

Thanks for contacting Virgin Mobile Customer Care.

Regarding your concern, we have not found a way to disable CMAS alerts. Virgin Mobile allows customers to block incoming messages, but these messages must come from a number or short-code, this is not the case with CMAS alerts. These alerts do not generate that information in our system, and just like Virgin Mobile service alerts, we are unable to block them or disable them. We are sorry about that.

If you need additional assistance, feel free to let us know how we can assist further or contact us at 1-888-322-1122 (or *VM from your handset). You can reach us from 4am - 9pm PST seven days a week. As a reminder, please include your Virgin Mobile phone number and PIN on all replies.

Thanks,

Humberto C. Virgin Mobile At Your Service
 
Funny, because there is no sign of even the settings on my moms phone.
I must have removed whatever app it was that handles it.

I'm betting it's GenieWidget (news and weather), since I removed that from her phone. Just one more reason I hate unrooted phones.
 
That's strange. My wife an Elite and hasn't been getting any messages from this service. I'm thinking it might an app you installed. Try doing a factory reset and reinstalling the apps one at a time until the alerts reappear.
 
riggerman1 said:
That's strange. My wife an Elite and hasn't been getting any messages from this service. I'm thinking it might an app you installed. Try doing a factory reset and reinstalling the apps one at a time until the alerts reappear.
Click to expand...

I don't think it's an app I've got it too, in my stock messaging app. Funny, some folks report having it and others don't. And when I rooted I thought I removed all the bloat. However I've not received any alerts. Just a thought but I do have weather bug and they show amber alerts sometimes, maybe that app put it there.
 
I've been having the same issue. I checked off all the boxes and still get the messages every 5 minutes like you said. I did some digging and found a page that I can't link to since this is my first post that says you can turn off the CMAS client by dialing ##2627#, but I never get anything when I dial that.
 
Dark One said:
In the stock messaging app click the menu button on your phone, then settings, then scroll to the bottom. That's where all the checkboxes are on my phone.
Click to expand...
Missed this post...
I checked the Evo V, it has it, and now that I know where it is, I'll re-check the Elite. My guess is that it has them too as do all of these phones, it's just a matter of finding it.

As for killing it, pulling apart the messaging app is the only way to disable it completely.

No issues on my end on either phone though.
 
Without knowing if and where the internal settings for the phone are I'm guessing you'd have to root first.

Root, install handsent, install titanium backup, freeze or delete default messaging app (after back up).

It's the only thing I can think up right now.
 
i have it built into my stock messaging app. not getting alerts at all with all check marks on. and weve had 100+ temps for over a week with severe storms almost every evening. not a very reliable alert system lol
 
You should only get ONE copy of each unique CMAS alert. If you are getting the same one every 5 mins it's your phones software or your carrier repeating them but as new messages each time.
 
CMAS is built in while ICS update was rolled out you should have received this while you updated am on Galaxy note 2 and i think Turning off CB Activation should stop the messages. Messages----> Setting----> Cell Broadcast Setting (Allows you to receive Cell broadcast messages) OR From the Home screen, tap Messaging----> Settings ---> Scroll to the bottom and select Emergency alerts. All alerts are enabled by default (checkmark showing) Tap on an alert option to disable the alert and remove the checkmark.
 
So I think freezing the stock messaging app blocks these. I know that blacklisting with a 3rd party messaging app will block them.
 
Dark One said:
Is anybody else getting these? The government uses it to send texts to warn you about tornado warnings and other severe weather. It's a nice idea, but they text every five minutes to tell me about a tornado warning several hundred miles away from me. It's very annoying and I can't figure out how to disable it. There are checkboxes under messaging settings, and I unchecked all of them and rebooted, but the messages persist. Does anybody know how to disable these alerts?
Click to expand...
It's up to the carrier to decide to opt into these messages by default. T-Mobile appears to be one of them which does. I guess your tornado warnings trump my annoyance at the Amber alert messages. We should turn this thread into a contest to see who can come up with the funniest acryonyms for FEMA.*

Android -> menu button -> Manage Applications -> CMAS -> Force stop

That's all it takes.

While you're here on this screen scroll down and goggle at the rights this app's been given:
  • directly call phone numbers (this may cost you money)
  • read phone state and identify
  • receive SMS
  • take pictures
  • coarse location
  • read call log
  • read contact data
  • write call log
  • write contact data
  • modify/delete SD card contents
  • read the contents of your SD card
  • disable key lock
  • use accounts on the device
  • view configured accounts
  • read terms you added to the dictionary
  • change system display settings
  • modify secure system settings
  • connect and disconnect from Wi-Fi
  • control Near Field Communication
  • Full Internet access
  • View Wi-Fi state
  • access Bluetooth settings
  • pair with Bluetooth settings
  • Automatically start at boot
  • close other apps
  • draw over other apps
  • control vibrator
  • prevent phone from sleeping
  • write to user defined dictionary
  • set wallpaper
  • change your audio settings
  • modify global system settings
  • read Home screen settings and shortcuts
  • write Home screen settings and shortcuts
Can you say "God-mode"?

* FEMA: "Feds Eated My Apps"
 
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