Telecom/1996-04-telecom-walnutcreek.iso/back.issues/1989.volume.9/vol9.iss401-450

Text File | 1990-01-14 | 766.0 KB | 17,955 lines

Date:     Sun, 24 Sep 89 17:07:34 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #401
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sun, 24 Sep 89 17:00:00 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 401

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    "Dial-It Service" Makes its Debut in 1932 (Larry Lippman)
    Re: Telephone History: For Sale? (Gabe Wiener)
    Re: Telephone History: For Sale? (Mike Morris)
    Local Calls From Area 215 to Other Areas (Carl Moore)
    Re: Area Code 510 Press Release From Pac*Bell (Edward Greenberg)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: "Dial-It Service" Makes its Debut in 1932
Date: 23 Sep 89 13:56:06 EDT (Sat)
From: Larry Lippman <kitty![e-mail]>

    When we pick up the telephone and dial a number for a recorded
time-of-day announcement, we take it for granted that a computer is
controlling generation of the synthesized voice which we hear.  To even
think for a moment that a LIVE PERSON might be creating the announcement
is, of course, an absurd thought.

    However, once upon a time, a live operator did in fact create
time-of-day announcements on a demand basis.

    In 1932, when more and more telephone central offices were being
converted from manual to dial operation, the Bell System offered their
first "automatic" time-of-day announcement service.  Prior to this time
a subscriber could call the operator and *ask* for the time of day, but
there was no generally available feature where a subscriber could simply
dial a number and get the time-of-day automatically without *asking*.

    Enter the Western Electric No. 1 Announcement System.  Calls
to an access number for this system could be completed through SxS,
panel and manual central offices.  An operator sat at a desk in front
of a microphone, behind which was small panel equipped with a few keys,
lamps, sound level meter, and a special mechanical digital clock.  This
small panel, which was mounted in a gen-u-wine mahogany wood box, was
called the Time Turret.

    The mechanical digital clock displayed hours, minutes, and
fractions of a minute.  The minute fraction wheel was divided into
eight segments, each of which was 7-1/2 seconds long.  The even segments
were marked "0", "1/4", "1/2", and "3/4"; the odd segments were simply
painted white.

    The most important indicators to the operator on the Time Turret
were the Call Waiting Lamp and the Announcement Lamp.  When the Call
Waiting Lamp illuminated, the operator prepared for an announcement by
looking at the mechanical digital clock.  When the Announcement Lamp
illuminated, the operator knew she had *exactly* 7 seconds to make an
announcement which went something like: "At the tone, the time will be
eight hours, thirty-four and one-half minutes".  Exactly 7-1/2 seconds
after the Announcement Lamp illuminated, an automatic timer would place
an 800 Hz tone on the telephone line for 1/2 second.

    Following the tone, the Announcement Lamp would extinguish.  If
a caller had stayed on the line or new calls had come in on other trunks,
the Call Waiting Lamp would stay illuminated, telling the operator that
she would have to prepare for another announcement in 7-1/2 seconds.

    In larger metropolitan areas with more than one central office,
a Time Bureau would be set up with a single No. 1 Announcement System
handing all calls using incoming trunks from several central offices.
It does not require much imagination to realize that in larger metropolitan
areas the Call Waiting Lamp would probably be illuminated on an almost
continuous basis, meaning that the operator had little idle time!

    Can anyone imagine a more boring and fatiguing job than having
to announce the time of day four times per minute for an eight hour shift?

    The No. 1 Announcement System was specifically designed with a
one-way amplifier so that the operator could not converse with any callers.
In addition, the operator had a volume level meter so that she could be
certain of speaking at the desired level.  There were also keys to call a
supervisor and operate a central office trouble alarm.

    The first machine-operated announcement system was the No. 3A,
and it was first introduced in 1939.  However - believe it or not -
the No. 1 Announcement System with a live operator was utilized in some
areas until the mid-1950's.

    As a somewhat satirical aside, best appreciated by any present
or former WECO or BOC readers, consider the following:

    The No. 1 Announcement System did have an Unoccupied Position
Alarm feature which would sound an alarm in the central office if there
was no operator headset plugged into the Time Turret and the Call Waiting
lamp was illuminated.  However, I am rather surprised that there was no
"Operator Failure Alarm" feature.  After all, how would we know if the
announcement operator has failed to make an announcement as a result of
falling asleep, having an acute attack of laryngitis, or suddenly going
stark raving mad from the mental torture of this abyssmal job?  If *I*
were the WECO engineer who designed the No. 1 Announcement System, I
would have most assuredly installed a VOX-circuit on the output side of
the announcement amplifier.  If speech were not detected during the
interval while the Announcement Lamp was illuminated, a major alarm
condition would have been signaled!  Furthermore, I would have implemented
an "Operator Synchronization Failure Alarm" if speech were still detected
during the 800 Hz tone interval.  And, of course, there would be peg
count registers for these operator failure alarms, the results of which
could be used to penalize the operator's salary.

    :-)

<> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. - Uniquex Corp. - Viatran Corp.
<> UUCP  {allegra|boulder|decvax|rutgers|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry
<> TEL [phone] | 716/773-1700  {hplabs|utzoo|uunet}!/      \uniquex!larry
<> FAX [phone] | 716/773-2488      "Have you hugged your cat today?"

------------------------------

From: Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Telephone History: For Sale?
Reply-To: Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]>
Organization: Columbia University Center for Telecommunications Research
Date: Sat, 23 Sep 89 17:20:22 GMT

In article <[e-mail]> Kent Borg <lloyd!kent@
husc6.harvard.edu> writes:
>My question is where might I buy an 11-hole Stowger dial phone, or a
>Western Union clock?  (Would be sooo much fun to synchronize it to
>WWV.  Both the historian and techno-nerd in me start drooling at the
>thought.)  How about simply the oldest dial phone which will still
>talk to a modern switch, or an even older non-dial phone which will
>ring and let me answer?

>Must I just go look through the regular antique channels, or are there
>better ways?  I might have just acquired an expensive taste...

Ummmm....welcome to the realm of antique telephone collecting (one of
my hobbies).  An 11-hold strowger phone will probably run you about
$1,500 if you can find one.  They're quite rare and very sought after.
The only way you'll find one through regular antique channels is by
pure luck, and if you do, you'll probably pay $50 for it because in
all probability, the proprietor will have found it at a junk sale and
not know the value of what he has.  I had such luck only once...when I
bought a Western Electric 506 switchboard from 1918...working, with
magneto, worth well over $1,000, for a mere $75.

Dial service has not changed in principle since around 1892, and thus
even an 11-hole strowger unit would talk to a modern switch, though
you might need to put a mini-network inside.  Telegraph-key strowgers,
and there are less than 1,000 of those in the world, will NOT talk to
a modern switch for obvious reasons :-) You can use any rotary dial
phone on a modern switch pretty easily.

Telephones of the '20's, '30's, and '40's, as well as payphones from
that genre (even payphones with separate transmitters and receivers)
are quite readily available at good prices from Phoneco in Galesville,
WI).  Phoneco buys the surplus from telephone companies and sells it
mail order.  Mostly they'll sell old phones to telephone stores who
then mark them up tremendously, but they'll be glad to sell to an
individual.  For a nominal fee, they will also install a network
and/or ringer into any phone that doesn't have it and make it work on
a modern system.  They have phones of all periods, from crank-magneto
through modern touchtone.  But it's very doubtful you'll find anything
from them that's much older than a 1907 Bell System magneto wall-set
(still a truly charming phone...that's the typical crank phone you see
in the movies).

They also have lots of surplus telephone company equipment...switchboards,
rolls of wire, test sets, etc. (I got a working bell system test set
(rotary) for $25 from them.

One of their main trade items, however, is the payphone.  They buy
truckloads of them, from all periods.  Besides selling 'em to phone
stores and to folks who either collect them or who just want a
payphone, they also do an interesting thing.  They will insert a
circuit board if you want that will allow an old three-slotter to
function as a COCOT, all for around $400.

There are other places as well to get antique telephones, such as the
House of Telephones in Texas, another mail order firm.  But you should
keep in mind that if you want _really_ esoteric stuff, or really early
stuff, there are only two ways to get it.  One is to prowl the antique
shops in search of a dealer who doesn't know the value of what he has
(and as I said, this happens quite often).  The other is to join one
of the antique telephone societies, such as the Antique Telephone
Collectors Association.  They have classifieds galore of people
looking to buy, sell and trade.

BTW, speaking of Phoneco, the operator, Ron Knappen, publishes a
guidebook to old telephone equipment that is the bible for collectors.
In two volumes (plus a price-guide), it has pictures and descriptions
of virtually every telephone made in this country (and abroad, for
that matter).  It also has pages and pages of excerpts about telephone
history, sich as the development of the dial, the independent
telephone companies, etc.  A truly indispensable book that will soon
itself be worth something.  The stock on the book is running out, and
I don't think there is quite enough demand to warrant another
printing.  So if you want one, get it now.  I think it's around $40.

I may be rambling at this point, but I hope I've provided an answer to
your question.  By the way, it is unlikely that Phoneco will have an
11-hole strowger telephone! :-)

Gabe Wiener - Columbia Univ.  "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings
[e-mail]          to be seriously considered as a means of
[e-mail]    communication. The device is inherently of
[e-mail]      no value to us."

------------------------------

From: Mike Morris <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Telephone History: For Sale?
Date: 24 Sep 89 08:08:37 GMT
Reply-To: Mike Morris <[e-mail]>


Kent Borg <lloyd![e-mail]> writes:
>
>My question is where might I buy an 11-hole Stowger dial phone, or a
>Western Union clock?

Well, if you find a source of clocks, let me know...  I want one too.

As to the dial, 11-hole dials were used as late as WW2 in Colins transmitters.
I'm kinda surprised that a navy radioman hasn't popped up to say so.

As late as 1971 my local community college amateur radio station had a
surplus Navy TDH-4 transmitter made by Collins - complete with the
"Autotune" option.  The "autotune" used a 11-hole dial labeled
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-0-A, and the A was used to select the modulation
mode.  For example, to set the system to 7.255 Mhz in AM, youd dial
7-2-5-5-A-3.  After about 15 seconds of
"whirrrrr-clunk-whirrrrrr-clunk-ka-chunk-ka-chunk- whirrrr-clunk",
etc. every stage would have been tuned.  Just the thing for 90-day
wonders that couldn't remember to adjust the grid circuits for a peak
and adjust the plate circuits for a dip in the current meter.  And
don't forget to switch the meters to the stage you're adjusting!  To
set it to 7.055 Mhz, using morse code you'd dial 7-0-5-5-A-1.  To lock
it in continuous transmit on 3.999 Mhz you'd dial 3-9-9-9-A-0.

The numbers were not hard to remember due to Collins adopting a
standard descriptor that was already in wide use: the FCC allocation
descriptions.

The TDH-4 was a 2-18 Mhz transmitter, another model was 15 (or so) to
30Mhz.  Autotune was available on a lot of different radios.

The FCC allocation descriptions use A for amplitude modulation and F
for frequency modulation.  A table can be found in any edition of the
Radio Amateur's Handbook, available in most libraries.

Anyway, a _LOT_ of those old monsters (The TDH-4 was 6' high, 3' deep
and almost 6' long - literally built like - and _for_ a battleship)
have been scrapped.  The dials show up every so often in surplus
stores or amateur radio swap meets.

I still want a WU clock.

Mike Morris                      UUCP: [e-mail]
                                 ICBM: 34.12 N, 118.02 W
#Include quote.cute.standard     PSTN: 818-447-7052
#Include disclaimer.standard     cat flames.all > /dev/null

[Moderator's Note: You still can't purchase either of the two I own. Did
you know with careful calibration of the pendulum set-screw, and by leveling
the clock very carefully when it is first hung, the discrepancy can be kept
to a minute per month or less, even without the clock service. Really!  PT]

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 23 Sep 89 12:27:32 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Local Calls From 215 Area to Other Areas

When I wrote about such local prefixes just outside of 215, I forgot
that 368 and 453 in Delaware (local call from Kemblesville, 215-255)
are duplicated in 215.  368 in Delaware is the oldest Newark prefix
and is duplicated at Lansdale, Pa.; and 453 (also in Newark) was
duplicated back around 1985 in Perkasie, Pa.  Both Lansdale and Perkasie
are beyond Philadelphia if you are coming from Delaware.

------------------------------

From: Edward Greenberg <claris!netcom![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Area Code 510 Press Release From Pac*Bell
Date: 24 Sep 89 05:29:16 GMT
Reply-To: Edward Greenberg <claris!netcom![e-mail]>
Organization: NetCom- The Bay Area's Public Access Unix System {408 997-9175}

In article <[e-mail]> The moderator
comments:

>days by showing a telephone with the number 310-555-2368 on the dial?  PT]

I hate to pick nits.  311-555-2368.

Ed Greenberg

[Moderator's Note: Of course! 311, not 310. Sorry about that. PT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #401
*****************************










Date:     Sun, 24 Sep 89 18:30:57 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #402
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sun, 24 Sep 89 18:25:13 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 402

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Re: The 'Public Telegraph Office' (John R. Levine)
    Re: The 'Public Telegraph Office' (Dr. T. Andrews)
    Re: Speaking of Western Union (Adarsh Sethi)
    Re: Telephone Museum in Boston (John R. Levine)
    Re: Coping With Junk Calls: Like Nancy, Just Say No (Chip Rosenthal)
    Re: 'Enterprise' Numbers (Bob Leffler)
    Re: 'Enterprise' Numbers (Dr. T. Andrews)
    Re: Answering Device With Continuous Play and Hangup Features (Joe Stong)
    Re: Hello Direct Catalog (Tim Nelson)
    Re: Customer Support From Nynex (John R. Levine)
    Last Laugh! More True Stories of Telephony (Macy Hallock)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Re: The 'Public Telegraph Office'
Organization: Segue Software, Cambridge MA
Date: 20 Sep 89 11:19:14 EDT (Wed)
From: "John R. Levine" <[e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> you write:
>typing. A small bell, driven by a <control-G> just like today ...

Smallest nit of the week -- telex machines are all Baudot five-bit code,
for which there's no such thing as a control key, just letter-shift and
number-shift.  The bell is some number-shift key.

Regards,
John Levine, [e-mail], {spdcc|ima|lotus}!esegue!johnl

[Moderator's Note: Well I believe it was the 'shift - 7' now that you mention
it; and of course control-G is Ascii 7. Weren't the 'number-shift' keys
essentially like control keys? How did they get line feed, carriage return,
ENQ (who are you?) and answerback without control codes?  My handy Ascii
chart here says control-E, or ASC(5) when sent polls the other end to
identify itself. What do you think?  PT]

------------------------------

Subject: Re: The 'Public Telegraph Office'
Date: Sat, 23 Sep 89 8:01:45 EDT
From: "Dr. T. Andrews" <[e-mail]>
Organization: CompuData, Inc. (DeLand)

) ... you mentioned that the [baudot tty] speed
) was around 60 baud.  Well, it was actually something called "75-speed"
) which indicated a maximum speed of 75 WPM, transmitted in 5-level
) "baudot" encoding.

Some of these  5-level  devices  could  actually  be  geared  for
different  speeds.   The  most common speed for the units, if you
find them today, is 45.45 baud (with 1.5 stop bits!), which works
out to ~6 chars/sec (commonly called 60 WPM).

) Actually, they used a "switch" character to flip-flop between
) meanings of particular bit patterns.
They  used  two  characters.   There  was  a  "shift"   character
(sometimes  called  "figs", bit pattern 0b11111) which forced the
second character set.  To drop back  to  letters,  the  "unshift"
character  (sometimes  called  "ltrs",  bit  pattern 0b11011) was
sent.

As a user-settable option, the  machine  could  also  be  set  to
"unshift-on-space",  which  meant  that  if a space (0b00100) was
received when the machine wsa in shift mode, it would  drop  back
into  unshift mode.  The user selection of the "unshift-on-space"
option is made by moving a metal bar under the vanes.

I do mean "drop" - shift mode was handled by raising the carriage
so  that  the  other  row on the type slugs would hit the platen.
The "unshift" got a nice gravity assist, and made a nice sound.

Those old model 15 and model 19  teletypes  were  fascinating  to
watch.

 ...!bikini.cis.ufl.edu!ki4pv!tanner  ...!bpa!cdin-1!ki4pv!tanner
or...  {allegra attctc gatech!uflorida uunet!cdin-1}!ki4pv!tanner


------------------------------

Subject: Re: Speaking of Western Union
Organization: University of Delaware
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 89 12:00:53 -0400
From: Adarsh Sethi <[e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> you write:
>X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 387, message 4 of 7

>While we're on the subject of Western Union, here are a few questions about
>WU that I've had for quite a while.
>
>    3. Do telegrams and mailgrams have any modern commercial application
>       with the advent of electronic mail, the overnight letter, fax,
>       etc.?  I have nothing against telegrams, and it would be a pity
>       for such a thing to ever die out, but are they still used in major
>       ways today? (other than the traditional sending of a telegram to
>       a wedding when you're away)

Telegrams are still very useful for overseas communication where telephones
are not yet as ubiquitous as they are in the US. In this country though,
their use seems to be very limited. By the way, does anyone have a list
of other companies (other than Western Union, that is) that handle telegrams?
I would appreciate names and telephone numbers. Our local yellow pages are
totally blank on this account. Please email to me if it is not of sufficient
interest to the Telecom Digest.

Adarsh Sethi
[e-mail]
University of Delaware

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Telephone Museum in Boston
Organization: Segue Software, Cambridge MA
Date: 20 Sep 89 11:24:27 EDT (Wed)
From: "John R. Levine" <[e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> you write:
>Rushing in to the local New England Telephone building a few months ago to
>pay my (typically late) bill, I stumbled across an interesting telephone
>museum.  It's in the New England Telephone building on Franklin Street in
>Boston -- the city where, of course, the telephone was invented.  ...

When you're there, don't forget to make a pilgrimage to the Actual Spot
where the phone was invented.  It's in the sidewalk a block away in front of
the JFK Federal Building.  You can recognize it by the small granite pillar
with a plaque on top and, of course, a pair of pay phones.

There are other telephone historical spots around Boston.  On Main Street in
Cambridge is a building with a sign telling us that the first long-distance
call happened there, between Cambridge and Boston.  I presume in that
context long-distance means between different exchanges.

Regards,
John Levine, [e-mail], {spdcc|ima|lotus}!esegue!johnl

------------------------------

From: Chip Rosenthal <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Coping With Junk Calls: Like Nancy, Just Say No
Date: 22 Sep 89 10:09:27 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Dallas Semiconductor


[e-mail] (Tad Cook) writes:
>X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 384, message 3 of 5
>If they ask, "Is this Mr. Cook?", I say, "No, he's dead!"

Boy...I was on the other end of one of those.  I was staffing the phone
bank for a political campaign last fall.  I was working off old contact
sheets rather than cold calling.  But apparently the contact sheets must
have been *very* old.  The person I talked to was pleasant about it, but
I sure felt crummy.

Chip Rosenthal / [e-mail] / Dallas Semiconductor / 214-450-5337
Someday the whole country will be one big "Metroplex" - Zippy's friend Griffy

------------------------------

Subject: enterprise numbers
Date: Fri Sep 22 10:42:56 1989
From: Bob Leffler <[e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Edward Vielmetti) writes:
> What's the story on those (rare) numbers that I see listed in the
> phone book as something like this:

> Foonly Enterprises        call Operator and ask for
                 Enterprise 2368
*****PT's reply
> Enterprise service is no longer offered, but is grandfathered to subscribers
> who want to keep it for some reason instead of 800 service.   PT]

I beg to differ.  In the metro Detroit area, the Federal Government still
uses enterprise numbers.  The FAA uses them so that pilots at several
major aiports, but are a toll call away, to call Flight Service to open
or close their flight plans.

They used different enterprise numbers depending on your location.  There
wasn't one number for everyone in the county to call.  Since I use to work
for the FAA at Pontiac Tower, I used to have to pass these numbers out
quite frequently.

[Moderator's Note: But I think what I said was they are no longer available
in new service. Organizations with 'Enterprise' numbers have had them for
many years. I seriously doubt you can go and order the service today. If
you already have it, you can keep it until you decide to get rid of it,
or discontinue the service to which it is associated or linked.  PT]

------------------------------

Subject: Re: 'Enterprise' Numbers
Date: Sat, 23 Sep 89 8:06:56 EDT
From: "Dr. T. Andrews" <[e-mail]>
Organization: CompuData, Inc. (DeLand)

You mention the "Enterprise" and "Zenith" numbers, but you forgot the
other such numbers.  A few places still have the old "WX" numbers.
They, too, are free calls for the caller; dial the local (not long-
distance) operator and ask for WX-1234 or whatever.

 ...!bikini.cis.ufl.edu!ki4pv!tanner  ...!bpa!cdin-1!ki4pv!tanner
or...  {allegra attctc gatech!uflorida uunet!cdin-1}!ki4pv!tanner

[Moderator's Note: Yes, 'WX' was another example; were there others?  PT]

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 24 Sep 89 04:41:22 PDT
From: Joe Stong <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Answering Device With Continuous Play and Hangup Features


The Computerfone(TM) from Suncoast Systems, Inc. Pennsacola FL
will report ringing, sieze a line, dial, listen to touchtones,
and play and record segments of sound on a phone line.  You
can also queue up the sound segments, and upload/download them.
I think the selling price is around 00.  It has a rom with
some prerecorded letters and numbers (sounds) in it.

It doesn't do any waveform compression like the PC Answering
machine boards with the DSP's or CPU's do.

Warning: even at 38,400 Baud, you can't keep up with sampling at
its highest data rate (8K 4 bit (delta?) samples/sec), and the
protocol seems to have no error checking.  It can barely keep
up at 6K with binary transfers.  Unix tty drivers usually
have trouble with high baud rates...

I currently can't figure out how to keep the thing offhook after
a successful dial, but I haven't been spending much time with
it.

What I really want is a box like this that works with a bidirectional
parallel port, or a SCSI interface; or ethernet/tcpip/telnet so
it can transfer data fast enough.  Anyone got any ideas?


------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Hello Direct Catalog
Date:     Fri, 22 Sep 89 11:24:50 EDT

> TELECOM Digest     Thu, 21 Sep 89 02:15:48 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 392

> Date:     Thu, 21 Sep 89 1:06:31 CST
> Subject:  Hello Direct Catalog

> The Fall, 1989 issue of the 'Hello Direct' catalog appeared in my
> mailbox a few days ago.
> To get a copy: 1-800-444-3556   aka 1-800-HI-HELLO
> >From outside the USA, call 408-972-1990.  FAX to 408-972-8155.

ola y'all,

I have a found out a few things about Hello Direct that any non-Americans
might want to know:

     1) the 800 number is an international 800.  I called from Canada.
     2) Hello Direct will not ship out of the USA, nor will they put
        you on their mailing list, but at least they will send out
        their catalogue.

    tha's all fer now,

=================
tim (nelson)     | uucp        ...!uunet!attcan!ncrcan!tim
ncr canada       | internet     [e-mail]
[phone]   | 6865 Century Ave, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5N 2E2
=================
* Have a good day, and a great forever.

[Moderator's Note: I was amazed to receive this note. I can't imagine why
they would refuse to sell/ship to international addresses, provided of
course the purchaser paid for any extra shipping charges; made his check
payable in United States dollars; allowed time for clearing and shipping,
etc. If what you say is true, that eliminates about twenty percent of our
readership here as potential customers.

I'd suggest asking Sue Britto, their Direct Marketing Coordinator for a
response on this. Maybe the order-taker was in error. Or perhaps someone
else from that organization will reply. Sue's number is 408-972-1990.  PT]

------------------------------

From: "John R. Levine" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Customer Support From Nynex
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Segue Software, Cambridge MA
Date: Wed, 20 Sep 89 15:34:38 GMT

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
edu (Thomas Narten) writes:
>The Nynex strike has been going on long enough now that many of the
>services formerly handled by the strikers are being processed with
>reasonable speed. ...

I was talking to a friend who lives in an apartment a block from the Ware
Street exchange in Cambridge.  His phone doesn't work, so he called repair.  A
fellow finally arrived who seemed a little rusty on the details but otherwise
generally competent.  After some experimentation (his line is so short that
the TDR has trouble getting good answers) it appeared that the problem was in
a connection on a pole directly in front of the exchange where there are of
course pickets all the time.

The repairman said he couldn't fix it, he feared for his safety.  It ain't
over yet.

If nobody else has reported it, the strike now looks to last indefinitely.
The strikers' medical benefits were supposed to run out last week but a judge
to many people's surprise ruled that since the phone company hasn't suffered a
"significant curtailment of business" or some such the strikers are still
covered.  This will cost NYNEX and every other employer in the state a bundle,
and there was a short flurry of negotiations, but nothing happened.  The
situation is not made any easier by the fact that the New England Tel and New
York Tel workers are members of different unions who are negotiating
separately in Boston and near New York.  The unions apparently offered to
negotiate jointly, but NYNEX declined.

John R. Levine, Segue Software, POB 349, Cambridge MA 02238, [phone]
[e-mail], {ima|lotus}!esegue!johnl, [e-mail]
Massachusetts has 64 licensed drivers who are over 100 years old.  -The Globe

------------------------------

From: fmsystm![e-mail]
Subject: More True Stories of Telephony
Date: Fri Sep 22 17:21:23 1989

One of the best telephone jokes I've ever heard.  And like any
good telephone joke, it strikes a chord in all of us from the
industry.  If you haven't worked with Special Services, you may
not appreciate it fully...

Did you hear about the Telephone Man who was drafted into the
Army?  Seems he did well enough until he got out on the
rifle range.  As the sergeant approaches, he notices the
Telephone man has his M-16 on full automatic and is blazing
away firing rounds at a phenomenal rate.  There's a rapidly
growing pile of spent cartridges on the ground next to him.

The Sergeant lifts his field glasses to observe the accuracy
of this over confident trainee, and sees absolutely no marks
on the target.  Now, Sergeants are painstakingly trained by
Uncle Sam to build the confidence and ability of all boot
camp soldiers, so the Sergeant sizes up the situation and
acts:

"Soldier, you've wasted hundreds of perfectly good rounds
of ammuntion and a thousand dollars of the taxpayer's good
money and you haven't hit the target once! What in the
[several arcane military terms deleted] is wrong here?"

Now the Telephone Man knows he must immediately analyse the
situation and correct the problem.  His years of technical
training from Ma Bell are called into play:

The Telephone Man looks down the barrel of the gun.
Then he carefully inspects the chamber.  (Probably looking
for the KS number so he can refer to the correct BSP for
this weapon, no doubt.)  He then rams a cartridge home into
the chambers, arms the weapon, puts his finger over the
end of the barrel and pulls the trigger.  Of course, this
neatly blows off the tip of his finger.

The Telephone Man inspects the end of his finger, and thinks
for a moment... "Well, gee, Sarge, I don't rightly know what
the problem is...but it must be at the other end, 'cause its
leaving here just fine!"

       Macy Hallock               fmsystm![e-mail]
       F M Systems, Inc.          hal!ncoast!fmsystm!macy
       150 Highland Dr.           uunet!hal.cwru.edu!ncoast!fmsystm!macy
       Medina, OH 44256           Voice: 216-723-3000 X251

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #402
*****************************










Date:     Sun, 24 Sep 89 19:18:57 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #403
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sun, 24 Sep 89 19:15:13 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 403

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Area Code Splits and N0X/N1X Prefixes (Tom Ace)
    Re: Prefix '520' For Los Angeles Radio Stations (Macy Hallock)
    Radio Callsigns and Good Broadcasting Procedures (Randy Miller)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 20 Sep 89 11:11:37 PDT
From: Tom Ace <sje![e-mail]>
Subject: Area Code Splits and N0X/N1X Prefixes


In Telecom Digest V9 #376, Greg Monti (via John R. Covert) wrote:

>My understanding of Area Code splits is that Bellcore hands out new
>Area Codes when the controlling Local Operating Company for that Area
>Code can prove that it is within a certain percent of running out of
>numbers, *assuming that the existing number base is being used in the
>most efficient possible way.* I would imagine that Bellcore strongly
>suggests that prefixes with a 1 or 0 as the second digit be
>implemented first, before splitting the Area Code, since this
>maximizes the number base within the NPA and minimizes the number of
>times the nation at large must endure NPA splits.

This may very well be the way it is, but it sounds like Bad Thinking
to me.  In many cases, it is possible to anticipate enough future need
for new telephone numbers in an area to know that allowing N0X and N1X
prefixes will only delay an inevitable area code split.  In New York
City, only a couple of years elapsed between when they added the new
prefixes (requiring 1-plus dialing for long distance) and when 212 was
split into 212 and 718.  Adding the prefixes did not help to minimize
the number of area code splits, it only postponed a split, and at a
cost.

The cost I'm referring two took these forms:

1-plus dialing became mandatory for long distance calls from New York
City.  Before the N0X and N1X prefixes were added, New York City had
dialing the way God intended it: just dial the number, with or without
an area code, no 1-plus required.

To make an operator-assisted local call in New York City, you must now
always include an area code, even if it's your own.  For example, if
you're at a phone in the 212 area, and want to dial an operator-assisted
local call to 802-1234, you will dial 0-212-802-1234.  (Contrast this to
the way it was handled in Los Angeles: the same 0-plus dialing pattern as
before, no need to include the area code if it's your own, but if it's a
local call to an N0X or N1X exchange, the CO will recognize this by timing
out after the seventh digit of the phone number is dialed.  Neither solution
is elegant.)

The N0X and N1X exchanges are ugly.  Most telephone users hadn't ever
seen them before.  Telling your phone number to someone sometimes
caused them to think they'd heard wrong, because they'd never seen
such an animal before.

When New York City's area code was split, the heart of the city
(Manhattan) retained the original 212 area code.  That also seemed to
be the aim in other area code splits that I observed.  When Colorado
split into two area codes, I noted that Denver and the rest of
northern Colorado retained the 303 area code, but a different reason
for this was given in a newspaper article: it was said that the
greater need for new numbers was in the south.  This prompted me to
write a letter to the Mountain Bell executive quoted in the newspaper.
I've reproduced my letter and his response below.

Other writers in this digest have recommended the experience of
touring a central office.  I add the following fun suggestion: write a
personal letter to your friendly BOC CEO.

Tom Ace
[e-mail]
 ...!mntgfx!sje!tom

                =================================
My letter:
                                             [phone]
                                             710 South 42 Street
                                             Boulder, CO  80303
                                             November 20, 1986

Solomon D. Trujillo
Mountain Bell
1005 17th Street
Denver, CO  80202

Dear Mr. Trujillo:

I saw your name in the newspaper associated with an announcement
that Colorado will be served by two area codes starting in 1988.

I had noticed that when New York and Los Angeles started to run out of
telephone numbers, new exchanges were created that had the form of
NPAs, i.e., with 0 or 1 as the second digit.  These actions only
postponed the invevitable splits into 212/718 and 213/818, and left
both areas with those ugly new exchanges and some awkward dialing
patterns for local operator-assisted calls.  I want to thank whoever
was responsible for deciding not to go that route here in Colorado.

I received a piece of literature enclosed with my latest phone bill,
advising of the coming area code split, and explaining that the
southern Colorado calling area will receive the new area code because
it was in that area that the most significant growth was occurring.
You and I know, though, that the northern calling area in which we
live is clearly where it's at, and will retain the 303 area code
because it deserves to.  I do appreciate, however, the need to explain
the choice tactfully, in a way that wouldn't offend those who live in
the other area.

Who makes these choices?  Did Mountain Bell select 719 from the few
remaining codes, or was the decision made by some central committee?

Thanks for your time.


Sincerely,

Thomas Ace

               ===================================
His response:

                                              Mountain Bell
                                              Solomon D. Trujillo
                                              Colorado VP and CEO
                                              December 4, 1986

Mr. Thomas Ace
710 South 42 Street
Boulder, Colorado 80303

Dear Mr. Ace:

Thank you for your letter regarding the Colorado area code split.  I
agree it's important to handle the transaction as smoothly as possible
and with as little customer disruption as possible.

I do not agree, however, on your reason for why the new area code goes
to the southern area.  The Colorado Springs area as our choice was
really as it was stated: the area is expecting significant aerospace
and other growth over the next few years.  They need the phone
numbers!

To answer your last question, we were assigned the 719 area code by
Bell Communications Resources in New Jersey.  One of its central
functions for the country is maintaining and assigning area codes.

Thank you so much for writing.  It always brightens my day to hear
from a customer with positive comments.


Sincerely,

S. D. Trujillo

------------------------------

From: fmsystm![e-mail]
Subject: re: Prefix '520' For Los Angeles Radio Stations
Date: Fri Sep 22 11:51:50 1989
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Macy Hallock)
Organization: F M Systems  Medina, Ohio USA

In article <[e-mail]> Mike Morris <morris@jade.
jpl.nasa.gov> writes:
>X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 391, message 3 of 9

>[e-mail] (K.BLATTER) writes:

>>Also, most people are familiar with this service as radio stations
>>often use this service -- especially stations that have large broadcast
>>areas.  I remember growing up and when the radio station would have
>>a contest, they would list six or seven numbers that listeners could
>>call into to win.  While each of these numbers was from a different
>>geographical area, they all terminated at the radio station.

>LA has most of it's FM station on a 5,000' mountain so both the AM and
>the FM has excellent coverage - LA county has 2 complete area codes
>(818 and 213) and pieces of 2 more (714, 805).  Many of the radio
>station also cover portions of San Bernadino and Riverside counties
>(area code 619). A while back (pre the 213-818 split) I noticed
>that more and more stations were giving out 213-520 numbers for dial-in.
>After the split, I noticed that they were giving out the same number
>as "dial 213-520-xxxx or 818-520-xxxx".

Ah, but there are other reasons!

Yes, folks, it's another of Macy's True Stories of Telephony (TM)

We often had problems with radio/TV stations running contests and
giveaways in my phone co. days...a real traffic engineering nightmare.
Seems the heavy peak demand caused by everyone going off hook and
dialing one exchange at once would bring the local tandems to their
knees.  There was even a ESS in one city I know of that would give up,
shut down and re-IPL on an 85% (or therabouts) load.

In the days before widespread ESS and CICS this could be a real
problem.  The solution devised back in the late 60's was to set up a
special exchange in one switch, usually the downtown one, since it was
a major tandem and most of the stations had their studios downtown.
The outlying CO's (Central Office) would be set up with only a couple
trunks available to the downtown tandem for this special dedicated
exchange.  The outlying CO's would then, if possible, be modified to
give a regular 60 ipm busy for all trunks busy on this trunk group, as
opposed to a standard 120 ipm (fast busy) or ATB recording.  (This was
a real hack job in some types of offices)

The idea was to prevent the heavy peak from overloading the tandems
and offices without sounding odd to the customers.  By creating a
bottleneck by limiting trunkage, the downtown tandem switch did not
get buried (it was also modified to act the same way on calls
originating within the downtown switch).

The tariffs filed by telcos in most states allow numbers to be
reassigned to customers at the telco's discretion.  The telco went to
all the stations and forced a number change and dedicated
contest/request lines to be used by the stations.  Stations not in the
downtown exchanges were offered FX services.

In some areas, these exchanges were consolidated accross area codes,
such as L.A.  In many areas special tarriffs were put into place to
offer this high traffic response service at a special premium rate,
because a large calling area was being delivered at local rates.  This
was done because 800 service could not be configured to deal with this
problem at the time.

With the new ESS machines in use, similar, but improved schemes are
currently in use.  This is complicated by the various types of older
CO switches out there and uncooperative independant (non-Bell) telcos,
often becouse they are not offered CICS channels by the Bell co. or
their switch is too dumb.

A recent problem occurred in Akron, Ohio not too long ago that
justifies this design philosphy...

Seems an older local station (WQMX 94.9) got bought, changed its
format from elevator music to contempary rock and needed to build its
listeners.  Good old American marketing enters the picture...and the
station widely advertises they are going to give away $10,000 to the
100th caller at 7:30 one designated morning.  The number they
advertise is a regular POTS number (with three line rotary hunt
group).

Now their broadcast coverage area includes Akron-Cleveland-Canton
Ohio.  Cleveland or Canton to Akron is an inter-LATA toll call.

The effect of this promotion is:
 1. Akron's University ESS switch (216-836,864,867,869,860) is
    brought to its knees. This is the switch that serves WQMX.
    It is completely no-tone for almost 20 minutes.
 2. Several local tandems are thoroghly messed up.  Akron's
    downtown Blackstone exchange ESS is overloaded for the
    first time in its history.  Operation is erratic, at best.
    Many of the inter-LATA carriers use Blackstone as their
    closest Point of Presence to University  central office.
    Blackstone's many Centrex customers are affected as well.
3.  ATT, Sprint, MCI and others are overwhelmed by Cleveland to
    Akron calling.  Also a record.
4.  Somebody wins the money, eventually.
5.  Nearly thirty minutes pass before the network recovers.

Ohio Bell never knew what hit them.  Statements in the newspaper to
that effect the next day showed WQMX did not communicate its
intentions to Ohio Bell and did not subscribe the tarriffed services
for this use.  WQMX widely advertised the promotion and it was noticed
by some Ohio Bell personnel, but they did not think much of it at the
time, and no prior arrangements were made.

Needless to say, such facilites have been put into place recently.
WQMX has been trying other stunts to attract listeners, but not this
one again.  And the public has its reassuring dial tone again.

WQMX's latest stunt was a girl with a cellular phone standing in front
of a billboard saying: I NEED A JOB! CALL ME: XXX-XXXX over a busy
Akron freeway during morning rush hour.  The idea was to get the girl,
really a new morning jock just hired by the station, on other
stations' live morning programs and then plug WQMX.  This one gave the
cellular co. some extra traffic, but did no harm, other than upset a
couple of the other radio stations in the area.  So much for telecom
as a promotion tool... telemarketing anyone?

FACT: Most central offices are engineered for around 10% maximum
usage.  That's right. 10% of you all, businesses and residences, get
on the phone at once, in one CO, and look out.  (This number varies
with the type of switch and its engineering, but its a good, round
number) This will also be declaimed by many Telcos, but thats the way
it is.

Well, I'll be back with more True Stories of Telephony another day...
Regards to all,

       Macy Hallock               fmsystm![e-mail]
       F M Systems, Inc.          hal!ncoast!fmsystm!macy
       150 Highland Dr.           uunet!hal.cwru.edu!ncoast!fmsystm!macy
       Medina, OH 44256           Voice: 216-723-3000 X251
       Disclaimer:                My advice is worth what you paid for it.
       Alt.disclaimer:            Your milage may vary.
       Biz.disclaimer:            My opinions are my own. What do I know?


------------------------------

Date: Thu, 21 Sep 89 21:36:05 CDT
From: Randy Miller <[e-mail]>
Subject: Radio Callsigns and Good Broadcasting Procedures

Mr. Townsend,

   I hate to be a nitpicker, but WVOA (at least last time I was home)
is NOT in Red Lion, PA.  You're thinking of WINB (World in Need of the
Bible), which is owned by the same company (Red Lion Broadcasting)
that owns WGCB.  My home is less than a mile from their studios and
transmitters.  WINB is a shortwave broadcast station, their
transmitters and studios are located in an old chicken coop!

Almost everything in that station, and their sister stations
(WGCB-AM,WGCB-FM and WGCB-TV 49) were build (and I talking
transmitters, control boards, limiter circuitry) by one of the
neighbors back home.  The chief engineer at one time was another
neighbor.  Needless to say, when the younger members of this
family-owned outlet took over, everything went to pot (so to speak).

Incidentally GCB stands for God and Country Broadcasting.  Last time I
was home (my mother and brothers still live there), they were still up
to their nefarious tricks, the most offensive being that they never
kept on their assigned frequency.

For example, I normally listen to WITF-FM in Harrisburg, which is the
local Public Radio outlet, when I'm back there.  It was not uncommon
for WGCB-FM, which operates at 96.1mHz to bleed over on to WITF-FM's
frequency, which is at 89.5 mHz.  Repeated calls to management there,
and to the FCC were NEVER to any avail.  I won't go into the character
of the current owners and their management, but maintainence on that
station's equipment is next to non-existant (and this was told to me
by the neighbor who used to be the chief engineer).

Randy Miller
rs.miller@pro-harvest obsolete!pro-harvest!rs.miller

[Moderator's Note: I think WVOA is out of Bethel, NC. I never listen
to them anymore -- haven't for years. KVOA is on the west coast. I thought
WINB was 'World International Broadcasters'. But if the World Is In Need
of Anything, it would be a good RF filter on some of those high powered
guys who slide all over the band. Some of them do act like they think CB
(and all its bad habits) stands for 'Commercial Broadcaster'. Thanks for
writing.

As mentioned earlier, we here at eecs were out of touch with reality from
about 1:00 AM Saturday through mid-afternoon Sunday. The name server must
have taken a dislike to the new 4.3 and suffered amnesia or something. The
flood of Digests coming to you this evening is the weekend's traffic. If
you are missing any between 396 and 403, please advise so they can be
sent again. More Digests will be transmitted early Monday morning.  PT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #403
*****************************










Date:     Mon, 25 Sep 89 0:03:57 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #404
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Mon, 25 Sep 89 00:00:31 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 404

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Voice Companding (Chip Rosenthal)
    Int{er,ra}state 950 Calls (David Lesher)
    AT&T's Prior Use of Fake Area Code 311 (David A. Cantor)
    Real Time Translations (David Lesher)
    Actual ISDN Service in the US (Danny Wilson)
    Phreaks Abuse East St. Louis Phone Card (TELECOM Moderator)
    Cellular Phone Use in Emergencies (Ernest H. Robl)
    Phone Service After Hurricane Hugo (Ernest H. Robl)
    Why Some Firms Won't Export (Henry Mensch)
    Re: System 85 Source (Kenneth R. Jongsma)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Chip Rosenthal <[e-mail]>
Subject: Voice Companding
Date: 23 Sep 89 07:48:16 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Dallas Semiconductor

Patrick - I posted the following message to comp.dsp.  It was in response
to a message entitled "converting to/from compressed form" by Rusty
Wright (article <[e-mail]>).  Thought it
might be applicable here, so I'm sending you a copy.

     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[e-mail] writes:
>We have a Sun Sparcstation 1.  The chip inside that it uses for D/A and A/D
>is the AM79C30 Digital Subscriber Controller.  [...] I would like to take
>uncompressed digital sound samples, say generated by a [program], and feed
>it to this chip.

>Does anybody have any code or know where I can get my hands on some
>that would convert "normal" (uncompressed) 16 bit digital audio into
>the 8 bit u-law (or A-law) compressed form that the AM79C30 uses?

    Reference:    |Digital Telephony|, John C. Bellamy, John Wiley & Sons,
        1982, pp. 90-113.

These compression techniques are used in digital telecommunications to
try to squeeze reasonable sound quality ("toll quality") into 8-bits.

u-Law (that's "mu-law", not "you-law") compression is defined by:

            ln( 1 + u*|x| )
    F (x)  =  sgn(x) * ----------------
     u                   ln( 1 + u )

where -1 <= x <= +1, and sgn(x) is the sign function.

The compressed value is usually represented as an 8-bit signed
magnitude number: one sign bit plus seven magnitude bits.  In this
scheme, the most positive number is 0111111, the most negative number
is 11111111, 00000000 is a positive zero, and 1000000 is a negative
zero.

The u-Law expansion formula is:

     -1               1               |y|
    F (y) = sgn(y) * --- * [ ( 1 + u )   - 1 ]
     u                u

In modern telephony, a value of u=255 is used.  The first digital
telecommunication systems (the "D1" channel bank) used u=100, but with
the introduction of the "D2" channel bank a value of u=255 was
selected to simplify the conversion process.  This value allows Fu(x)
to be easily approximated by 15 linear segments.  This feature is not
so important these days since it's easy enough to build a conversion
lookup table into ROM.

Please see Bellamy for more information on the linear approximation
technique and details on constructing ROM lookup tables.  A-Law
companding is also discussed there.  u-Law is used primarily in the
North American and Japanese telecommunications networks, while A-Law
is used in Europe.


Chip Rosenthal / [e-mail] / Dallas Semiconductor / 214-450-5337
Someday the whole country will be one big "Metroplex" - Zippy's friend Griffy

------------------------------

From: David Lesher <[e-mail]>
Subject: Int{er,ra}state 950 Calls
Date: Sun, 24 Sep 89 20:05:34 EDT


     American Expressphone (MCI really) offers 950 calling from
anywhere in my local area, with no surcharge. But does the rate vary
depending on where in the area you are? What brings this to mind is
the D. C. calling area. It covers parts of two states along with the
District.

     Now if I call Baltimore from a coin slot in VA or the District,
that's interstate. But if I step across the boundary to Montgomery
County, it's an intrastate call. I have questioned charges on my
statement and been told that it 'takes a while' to find out where a
call originated. (the calling city does NOT appear on the bill) Do
950-#### go to different Points of Presence in this case? Does C+P or
MCI keep a record of what number originated the call, and charge
accordingly?

     Flash! Murphy gets look and feel copyright on sendmail.cf
        {gatech!} [e-mail] (305) 255-RTFM

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 24 Sep 89 17:49:45 -0700
From: "David A. Cantor  24-Sep-1989 2042" <[e-mail]>
Subject: AT&T's Prior Use of Fake Area Code 311

In TELECOM Digest, Vol 9, Issue 395, in article from Linc Madison
([e-mail]), entitled "Area Code 510 Press Release
 From Pac*Bell," moderator Patrick Townson writes

>  [Moderator's Note: [...] Does anyone remember when AT&T used to
>  advertise their DDD service in its early days by showing a telephone
>  with the number 310-555-2368 on the dial?  PT]

AT&T used to advertise this number as 311-555-2368, not 310.  Before
that, they used Area 311, KLondike 5-2368.  I have a clear memory of
an advertisement I saw with an old style (type 300?) telephone with
the number MAin 0-2368 displayed on the dial's circular number plate.

Dave C.

------------------------------

From: David Lesher <[e-mail]>
Subject: Real Time Translations
Date: Sun, 24 Sep 89 21:21:45 EDT

The discussion on old 5 level machines reminds me of a story a retired
ATT repairman told me. Because there was a chance that the machine
could get sent into FIGS during the carriage return, one of the wire
services (AP, I think, but I may have them swapped) mandated the
sequence to be <CR><LF><LETTERS> on every line. The other one (UPI)
did not; they used only <CR><LF>.  As a result, their old-time copy
editors got VERY good at reading the resulting 23.67 3;8:7 393 , and
telling you what being sent without missing a beat.


      Flash! Murphy gets look and feel copyright on sendmail.cf
         {gatech!} [e-mail] (305) 255-RTFM

------------------------------

From: Danny Wilson <idacom![e-mail]>
Subject: Actual ISDN Service in the US
Date: 25 Sep 89 00:31:51 GMT
Organization: IDACOM Electronics Ltd., Edmonton, Alta.

I am generally aware of the state of ISDN deployment in Asia, but I am
often asked how that compares with the status of ISDN in the United
States.

Japan, for example, has had active Basic Rate Access (BRA) service
[INS NET-64] available for over a year now. And although the requests
for this service were lower than orginal forecasts, NTT has begun
service of its Primary Rate Access (PRA) service [INS NET-1500] and is
continuing to expand the service areas of BRA.

My question is what is the status of ISDN deployment in the US?  Is is
past the field trial stage and generally available to commercial
subscribers? or much more limited in geographic availability?

Also, with SS7 not yet widely implemented combined with the
fragmentation produced by a multitude of non-centrally administered
RBOC's, does the user community prefer to 'roll there own' network
(using fractional T-1 for example) instead of waiting for ISDN?

Thanks,
Danny Wilson
IDACOM Electronics        [e-mail]
Edmonton, Alberta        {att, watmath, ubc-cs}!alberta!idacom!danny
C A N A D A

------------------------------

Date:     Sun, 24 Sep 89 21:38:13 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Phreaks Abuse East St. Louis Phone Card

East St. Louis, IL, a dirt-poor minority suburb of the larger Missouri
city by the same name was victimized for several months by phreaks
without realizing it until the phone bills for a one year period were
audited recently.

According to a recent story in the Belleville, IL <News-Democrat>, the
city is being billed for phone calls to dial-a-porn services and from
points as far flung as Florida and Texas.

The monthly phone bill for the city of East St. Louis averages $5000,
and over the past year it has included calls to nearly every state as
well as to '900' area adult talk lines. City Treasurer Charlotte Moore
said the number of questionable calls in each month's phone bill,
which is usually two inches thick, shows the 'need for better policing
of phones'.

No kidding! The <News-Democrat> obtained copies of the phone bill for
several months under the Freedom of Information Act, and set about
reviewing the places and people called. For example, from March
through May of this year, hundreds of dollars in calls were made from
places in Texas, Florida and elsewhere, and charged to a Calling Card
number assigned to the city.

In one instance, a caller in northern Florida made a 288-minute call
to Miami that cost East St. Louis $39.27. The <News-Democrat> called
the Miami number, and reached a man named John, who refused to give
his last name, and claimed he '...had never even heard of East St.
Louis...'

Calls from one certain number in Houston to places all over the United
States accounted for more than $1000 in charges over several months. A
man who answered the phone at the Houston number refused to give his
name and refused to discuss the matter, or explain how his phone might
have been used for the fraudulent calls.

Prior to intervention by the newspaper, the city had done nothing.
Apparently they were not even aware of the abuse. On notification, the
local telco cancelled all outstanding PINS, and issued new ones.
Meanwhile, the city of East St. Louis continues to plead poverty. They
are barely able to meet payroll for city employees, and have skipped a
couple of paydays at that. The city has an extremely poor tax base,
and will likely file bankruptcy in the near future.

Maybe the FBI can go see the joker in Houston and 'John' in Miami and
convince them to start paying their own phone bills!

Patrick Townson

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 24 Sep 89 16:45:07 EDT
From: "Ernest H. Robl" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Cellular Phone Use in an Emergency

Since no one else has mentioned it in this forum: One of the more
unusual uses of a cellular phone took place last week during the USAir
crash into the water in New York.  A CBS News producer -- apparently
part of a crew headed south for hurricane coverage -- was a passenger
aboard the aircraft and had a cellular phone with him.  After the
plane went off the runway, and while he was still waiting to be
rescued, the producer placed a call to CBS news in downtown New York.
On the second cut-in on the crash, Dan Rather provided a brief
introduction as to what was known at that time.  With a distant live
video of the crash scene provided by a remote unit as the visual,
Rather then proceeded to do a live interview with the producer aboard
the crashed plane, in which the passenger described what had happened
and what the current situation was.

The quality of of the sound was marginal, but still understandable.
One could hear lots of on-site background noise, including people
shouting to each other.

    --Ernest

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 24 Sep 89 16:45:07 EDT
From: "Ernest H. Robl" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Phone Service After Hugo

A report on phone service after Hurricane Hugo:

Although downgraded to a tropical storm after moving inland over South
Carolina, Hugo still packed enormous winds and did tremendous damage
to the area in and around Charlotte, N.C., as it moved through.  News
reports indicate that hundreds of thousands in the area are without
power and that it will probably be days before full power is restored.

The bank that I use has its central computer facility in the Charlotte
area.  Saturday morning -- one day after the storm hit the Charlotte
area -- I was unable to get the local teller machine to do transactions
which required access to the main data base.  However, by Saturday
evening, these transactions worked without any problems.  I suspect
the problems were caused by lack of power to the computer site earlier
in the day.  I don't know whether the bank was able to get emergency
power or simply re-routed processing to some alternate site, though
I should be able to find out later.

On the other hand, I had no problems reaching a friend living in
Charlotte when I tried to phone.  The connection was excellent, though
she reported all power for a wide area around where she lived was out
and that many trees were down.  Streets were still only marginally
passable a day after the storm hit.

   -- Ernest


My opinions are my own and probably not IBM-compatible.--ehr
Ernest H. Robl  (ehr@ecsvax)  [phone] w; [phone] h
Systems Specialist (Tandem System Manager), Library Systems,
027 Perkins Library, Duke University, Durham, NC  27706  U.S.A.

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 24 Sep 89 20:09:57 -0400
From: Henry Mensch <[e-mail]>
Subject: Why Some Firms Won't Export
Reply-To: [e-mail]

Anyone who sells techno-toys wants to be careful about not being seen
as an "export" firm because then they need to organize export
licenses.  An aquaintance (in Australia) had to get a friend of his to
run down to the store to buy a Sony ICF-SW1S (a pocket shortwave
radio) and have his friend ship it because stores here wouldn't ship
to Australia.

(This is, of course, an educated guess on my part ... )

Stupid, eh?

# Henry Mensch    /   <[e-mail]>   /   E40-379 MIT,  Cambridge, MA
# <[e-mail]-relay> / <[e-mail]> / <[e-mail]>

[Moderator's Note: Very stupid. Not your remark! I mean the policy
which calls for an 'export license' for one or two little things. This
would be understandable -- even if I did not agree with it -- if a
manufacturer was shipping large quantities of things overseas. But a
single radio or telephone? As the late Jack Benny would say, 'Really,
Mary...'  PT]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: System 85 Source
Date: Sun, 24-Sep-89 16:33:53 PDT

A number of people have asked recently for a source of used or
additional equipment for their phone systems. I'd suggest they give
Teleconnect Publishing a call (1-800-LIBRARY) and ask for a copy of
their Telecom Gear magazine. This monthly has gone from an 8 page
flyer to around 100 pages of new, used and surplus gear
advertisements.

Of course, Hello Direct (1-800-HI-HELLO) is a good source for new
stuff. I saw some S/85 related things in their last catalog.

[e-mail]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #404
*****************************










Date:     Mon, 25 Sep 89 0:50:41 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #405
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Mon, 25 Sep 89 00:50:26 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 405

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Precise Dial Tone & A Tone of the Past: No-Such-Number (Larry Lippman)
    Telegraph History....Again! (Gabe Wiener)
    Re: Wrong Numbers With Nobody Talking (Dave Platt)
    Re: The Public Telegraph Office (Dik T. Winter)
    Re: Technical Specifications of TTY Machines (Marc T. Kaufman)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Precise Dial Tone & A Tone of the Past: No-Such-Number
Date: 24 Sep 89 12:58:21 EDT (Sun)
From: Larry Lippman <kitty![e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
edu (Gabe Wiener) writes:
> Does anyone know when the common telephone dialtone (i.e. 350Hz and 440Hz
> played together) was adopted?

    The standardization of dial tone to a dual frequency of 350 Hz
and 440 Hz with a transmission level of -13 dbm was first proposed by
AT&T and developed into CCITT Document AP III-84.  I don't know the
exact date of this CCITT standard, and don't have a copy handy, but I
believe it was around 1963.  This standard applies only to North
America, however.  Many European and other countries use a single
frequency, most commonly 425 Hz.

    In is important to understand that this dial tone is produced
by LINEAR mixing of two sinusoidal tone sources of 350 Hz and 440 Hz,
and is NOT one frequency modulated by the other, which was the method
employed with many previous dial tone supplies.  The reason for the
linear mixing is to reduce harmonics which may fall into the DTMF
frequency domain and interfere with the interpretation of the first
DTMF digit.  The previous dial tone supplies were extremely rich in
harmonics.

    The previous North American dial tone "standard" was 600 Hz
modulated by 120 Hz; I use the word "standard" loosely here since in
practice there was quite a variation because there was no technical
_reason_ why the tone had to be precise.  In older electromechanical
CO's dial tone could be produced by a variety of apparatus, including
motor-driven tone alternators, motor-driven pole-changing interrupters,
electromagnet-driven pole-changing interrupters (i.e.,vibrators),
ferroresonant AC-line powered devices, and in later years solid-state
devices of varying stability.

    Interestingly enough, with one exception, I have never seen
nor even heard of a call progress tone generator which used vacuum
tubes.  Technology in this area went directly from the
electromechanical to the solid-state.  The one exception was the
"no-such-number" tone generator, which used vacuum tubes and made its
debut around 1940; it has been affectionately called the "crybaby
tone".  This call progress tone (for lack of a better term) began
rapidly disappearing in the later 1950's with the rapid implementation
of intercept recorders which replaced it.  The no-such-number tone had
pretty much disappeared in the Bell System by 1965.

The last "holdout" I am aware of which used this tone was Rochester
Telephone, in Rochester, NY, and quite to my surprise I heard this
tone when I misdialed a toll call to the Rochester area about four
years ago.  I was so taken aback - not having heard this tone for
probably 20 years - that I was almost motivated to fetch a tape
recorder and record it for posterity. :-)

<> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. - Uniquex Corp. - Viatran Corp.
<> UUCP  {allegra|boulder|decvax|rutgers|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry
<> TEL [phone] | 716/773-1700  {hplabs|utzoo|uunet}!/      \uniquex!larry
<> FAX [phone] | 716/773-2488      "Have you hugged your cat today?"

------------------------------

From: Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]>
Subject: Telegraph History....Again!
Reply-To: Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]>
Organization: Columbia University Center for Telecommunications Research
Date: Mon, 25 Sep 89 02:54:59 GMT

With all this talk of Western Union history and whatnot, I thought that
these little anecdote might be appropriate.

When Thomas A. Edison was a teenager in the 1860's, he used to work in
a telegraph office.  At one point, he was assigned to work the
graveyard shift.  Now in those days, a telegraph operator would have
to send a six over the line (represented at the time by the morse
signal ......, although the MODERN morse signal is -....).  Anyway,
there was very little traffic over the circuits in those days was very
light in the wee hours.  Now it is a well known fact that Tom Edison
liked to sleep during his work.  However, he was often admonished for
nodding off durning his operating hours when he failed to send the
six.  So he rigged a six notched gear to the movement of a nearby
clock, and whenever the clock would reach the hour, the gear would
promptly roll over the telegraph key sending the six, and permitting
Edison to get a good night's sleep.

One of the first telegraph services in the world opened in England in
the early 19th century.  It was based on an electric telegraph, not a
magnetic one. It was called the Lawyer's Telegraph Service.  It
connected up the various attorney's firms through a central
switchboard.  The calling operator would signal the switchboard via
handeles, spelling out the name of the party to be called.  The
operator would make the appropriate connections, and the two firms
could communicate.  Certain movements of the handles would cause a
bell to ring at the exchange, signalling the operator to take down the
connection.

Gabe Wiener - Columbia Univ.      "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings
[e-mail]              to be seriously considered as a means of
[e-mail]        communication. The device is inherently of
[e-mail]          no value to us."

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 22 Sep 89 12:04:07 PDT
From: Dave Platt <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Wrong Numbers With Nobody Talking
Organization: Coherent Thought Inc., Palo Alto CA

In article <[e-mail]> you write:
>
> I moved a couple of months back, and I've had a weird problem since then.  I
> get lots of wrong numbers.  Some of them are the normal "Is Joe there?" and
> I say no and the person goes away.  But the vast majority of them have no
> voice at all.  I pick up the phone, hear a faint 'clickclickclick' in the
> background, and nothing happens, so I hang up.  On my answering machine,
> I don't get any message either; just those faint sounds.  I thought perhaps
> it was people calling me from a computer, but then I'd hear a modem tone,
> wouldn't I? ...

No, you would very probably not hear a modem tone, if a modem were
dialing you.

With most modems in use today, the _answering_ modem is responsible for
sending the first tone, after it goes off-hook.  The type of answer-tone
transmitted identifies the protocol(s) that the answering modem is able
to use.  The originating modem "hears" the answer tone, chooses a protocol,
and begins transmitting its carrier.  The answering modem "hears" the
originator's carrier, stops sending the answer-tone, and begins
transmitting its carrier.  If, on the other hand, the originating modem
never "hears" an answer tone, it will never "know" that the call has
been answered, and will simply disconnect after 30 seconds or a minute
and report a "NO CARRIER" situation to its pilot.

So, a local- or long-distance call with nothing but silence on the other
end could very well be from a modem.  There are a couple of relatively
common ways that you can end up with numerous calls of this type:

1) Somebody at a specific computer site has misprogrammed one of their
   outdial modems... for example, transposing a digit in the
   phone-number used to contact one of their "neighbor" systems.  If
   this has occurred, most of all of the calls you receive will be from
   the same exchange (either all local, or all long-distance), and
   there's a fairly good chance that they'll stop after a few weeks.
   The sysadmin of the offending system will (probably) notice that a
   large number of calls aren't getting through, will figure out the
   problem, and will correct his/her dialer-file.

2) The phone numbers for computer-hobbyist "bulletin board" systems tend
   to be passed around between personal-computer users.  Bulletin-board
   systems tend to come and go fairly frequently... the survival time
   for a BBS tends to be measured in months.


   If the phone number for a BBS is circulated widely, then there may be
   literally thousands of people who have a copy of the number.  If that
   BBS then goes out of service (for example, if its owner/sysop moves),
   then the phone number will often be given out to someone who is
   having phone service installed.  Subsequently, the new "owner" of
   this number will receive many, MANY phone-calls from computer
   hobbyists who aren't aware that the BBS is out of service.

I rather suspect that you're facing the second of these situations,
since you seem to be receiving calls from both local and long-distance
sources.  The only really effective solution of which I'm aware is to
ask the phone company to give you a different phone number.  They'll
probably charge you for the service-change, since they can legitimately
argue that the problem is not _their_ fault.

Dave Platt    FIDONET:  Dave Platt on 1:204/444        VOICE: [phone]
  UUCP: ...!{ames,sun,uunet}!coherent!dplatt     DOMAIN: [e-mail]
  INTERNET:   coherent![e-mail],  [e-mail]
  USNAIL: Coherent Thought Inc.  3350 West Bayshore #205  Palo Alto CA 94303

[Moderator's Note: Some telcos, like Illinois Bell, will change a
subscriber's number once for free, if the subscriber complains of
receiving nuisance or obscene calls. The original correspondent's
complaint would probably fit in this category.  PT]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 25 Sep 89 00:44:45 +0100
From: "Dik T. Winter" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: The 'Public Telegraph Office'

> [Moderator's Note: Well I believe it was the 'shift - 7' now that you mention
> it; and of course control-G is Ascii 7.

No, it was shift-J.

>                                         Weren't the 'number-shift' keys
> essentially like control keys? How did they get line feed, carriage return,
> ENQ (who are you?) and answerback without control codes?

I have here CCITT #2 which says that LF and CR are valid both shifted and
unshifted and ENQ=shift-D.

This gives me some remembrances.  The first computer I did use had Telex
typewriters as consoles.  However, they where very advanced.  They had
a four row keyboard and would remember whether the last shift was figures
or letters.  So when you entered a symbol not in the current shift the
apparatus whould not generate it unless you entered the correct shift
first.  (Yes, it was made by Siemens.)  Here follows the CCITT #2 code table:
    Letters                Figures
    0    8    16    24    0    8    16    24
0    space    LF    E    A    space    LF    3    -
1    T    L    Z    W    5    )    +    2
2    CR    R    D    J    CR    4    ENQ    BEL
3    O    G    B    figures    9    undef    ?    figures
4    nil    I    S    U    nil    8    '    7
5    H    P    Y    Q    undef    0    6    1
6    N    C    F    K    ,    :    undef    (
7    M    V    X    letters    .    =    /    letters
A question is: where in this whole lot of bits figures the sprocket hole;
i.e. is it 1.2.4.o.8.16 or 16.8.4.o.2.1?  Next to me lies a lot of 5-level
paper taper, but I cannot yet figure it.

This is CCITT #2 or Baudot.  There is another 5-level code: CCITT #1
which has also another name.  I must have the code somewhere, but am
not inclined to dig it up unless requested.

There appears also to be some different Telex codes in the US.  If I
remember right, a 3 out of 7 code or somesuch and a 8 level code (but
not ASCII).  I have the codings somewhere (in the same place as CCITT #1)
but do not know under what circomstances they were used.  Any help is
appreciated.


dik t. winter, cwi, amsterdam, nederland
[e-mail]

------------------------------

From: "Marc T. Kaufman" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Technical Specifications of TTY Machines
Date: 25 Sep 89 00:51:38 GMT
Reply-To: "Marc T. Kaufman" <[e-mail]>
Organization: Stanford University, Computer Science Dept.


In article <[e-mail]> Mike Morris <[e-mail]> writes:

>As a side note, the standard speeds were 60, 75 and 100 words a minute,
>using either a standard length stop pulse or a 1.5 length stop pulse.

The mechanical stop pulse was 1.42 bits long.  This has to do with the
time required to mechanically unclutch and reclutch the motor to the decode
wheel.

>               The Type 32 is the last of the mechanical 5-level machines,
>(I was told it was a redesign of the 26) and it interestingly came in a 3-row
>and a 4-row configuration.

Was there a 4-row 32, or was it really the 33?  I had all the catalogs, and
never saw a 4-row 5-level machine.

>                            The famous type 33 is the common 8-level
>machine that I learned BASIC on, interestingly it's stiff keyboard is
>blamed for the "tersenes" of UNIX (tm).  The type 35 is the standard
>8-level heavy duty machine.  The 37 was an attempt at a upper/lower case
>8-level machine - I've only seen 3 in my life, and one of those was in
>a scrap heap - supposedly it was a maintenance nightmare.

The 37 had a typebox like the 35, but twice as large (for the lower case
characters).  It ran at 150 bps.  15 characters per second was just slightly
too fast for the mechanical parts to keep up.  It also had a two color ribbon,
with the color switch available via the "stunt box" (a special relay bank
tripped by certain character sequences).

>The 40 was
>an attempt at a do-all-end-all integrated system that never made it - I
>saw only a few in use, and those were used as dumb terminals.  The
>saving grace was the printer - it was built like a mini-IBM-1403, a
>train mechanism and was almost indestructible.  I saw several in use
>on minicomputer systems, running day in and out with no downtime.

There was one model of the type 40 printer that would allow you to rip off
the top form (the one just printed) without wasting the form below.  It was
used extensively by travel agencies and ticket sales outlets... anywhere
serialized form stock was required.

Marc Kaufman ([e-mail])

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #405
*****************************










Date:     Tue, 26 Sep 89 0:02:00 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #406
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Tue, 26 Sep 89 00:00:59 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 406

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Re: Precise Dial Tone & A Tone of the Past: No-Such-Number (Dave Troup)
    Re: Precise Dial Tone & A Tone of the Past: No-Such-Number (John Higdon)
    Re: Wrong Numbers With Nobody Talking (Roger Haaheim)
    Re: Wrong Numbers With Nobody Talking (Sharon Fisher)
    Re: Prefix '520' For Los Angeles Radio Stations (John Higdon)
    Re: Chicago Cubs Trash Illinois Bell (Scot E Wilcoxon)
    Re: Area Code 510 Press Release From Pac*Bell (Carl Moore)
    Re: Real Time Translations (Brian Kantor)
    Re: Prior Use of Fake Area Code 311 (Carl Moore)
    Re: Why Some Companies Won't Export (Brian Litzinger)
    Re: ISDN Subscriber Equipment (Danny Wilson)
    Teleconnect Magazine (Gabe Wiener)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Dave Troup <carroll1![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Precise Dial Tone & A Tone of the Past: No-Such-Number
Date: 25 Sep 89 13:48:44 GMT
Reply-To: Dave Troup <carroll1![e-mail]>
Organization: Carroll College-Waukesha, WI



    Does anyone know what the recording alert tones are? You know-those
    dee-doo-DOO, "The number you have reached..." What are the frequencies
    to them.  Ive NEVER been able to find out what those are.

    thanks in advance!

"We got computers, we're tapping phone lines, knowin' that ain't allowed"__         _______  _______________    |David C. Troup / Surf Rat
    _______)(______   |         |[e-mail] : mail
    ___________________________|414-524-6809______________________________

------------------------------

From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Precise Dial Tone & A Tone of the Past: No-Such-Number
Date: 25 Sep 89 21:36:12 GMT
Organization: Green Hills and Cows


In article <[e-mail]>, kitty![e-mail].
net (Larry Lippman) writes:
>     Interestingly enough, with one exception, I have never seen
> nor even heard of a call progress tone generator which used vacuum
> tubes.  Technology in this area went directly from the
> electromechanical to the solid-state.  The one exception was the
> "no-such-number" tone generator, which used vacuum tubes and made its
> debut around 1940; it has been affectionately called the "crybaby
> tone".

The dial and busy/reorder tones in a stock Stromberg XY are generated
by a device which uses a single vacuum tube. Ringback comes from a
vibrating reed device (and sounds like a fart). The sound made by the
dial tone generator is reminiscent of the old WE SXS "honker" tone but
has a more mellow timbre.

Although rapidly disappearing, the California desert is peppered with
exchanges using the XY.

        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]      | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

From: Roger Haaheim <hp-sdd!hpcilzb.HP.COM![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Wrong Numbers With Nobody Talking
Date: 23 Sep 89 14:31:50 GMT
Organization: HP Design Tech Center - Santa Clara, CA


Sounds like an autodialer listening for a "modem carrier";  when it
doesn't get one, it hangs up and goes on to the next number.

------------------------------

Date: Mon Sep 25 09:33:14 1989
From: Sharon Fisher <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Wrong Numbers With Nobody Talking
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Sharon Fisher)
Organization: The Asylum; Belmont, CA


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(John Higdon) writes:
>How do you know that they're long distance or local?

Just a guess, really, but some of the calls sound real clear and some
have those "seashell up to your ear" sounds that I associate with long
distance calls.

>Anyway, it could
>be a modem calling you (like a wrong number in someone's Systems file!)
>and you would hear nothing when you answered. Remember, an originating
>modem needs to hear the answering modem's tone before it will speak. If
>you have a modem, you might let it answer your phone for awhile and see
>if something connects with it:-)

Maybe next time I'm away for a weekend.  I'd rather not do that during
the week because I get many business calls and I'd hate to miss one.
I've also gotten several postings by e-mail suggesting the same thing
(plus one suggesting it might be a fax machine).  Thanks...

            - Sharon Fischer -

------------------------------

From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Prefix '520' For Los Angeles Radio Stations
Date: 25 Sep 89 07:04:41 GMT
Organization: Green Hills and Cows


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Joe Talbot) writes:

> Stations often are forced to pay foreign exchange and milage charges
> just to get service, because that service MUST be on a choke system.

The three stations I work with that have choke prefixes do not pay any
mileage. One simply because the 575 is served out of AXminster, their
local office. The other two had previously been served out of AXminster
but moved about a half-mile over the line into ALpine. An appropriate
tear here and an "offer" for some Pac*Bell editorializing there, and
the charges magically vanished.

I understand that another station in town, served out of 95 Almaden,
has a bunch of 575 lines used for some promotion and they also do not
pay any mileage. I'm not sure why (but there is someone on this system
who *does* know--hint, hint.)

Which reminds me of the stormy beginnings of the choke network in the
SF Bay Area. (Oh no, here comes another story, Martha!) It was about
1966 and one of the rock 'n roll AM stations discovered contests
(really give-aways). Technicians in the 95 Almaden office were noticing
these instantaneous overloads of the trunks and the crossbar switching
equipment. In 1966 it was ALL crossbar. It didn't take long to
determine who was the culprit.

Phone company people were faced with a problem. Obviously they couldn't
design the network to handle that peak demand on an occasional basis,
and yet they couldn't be faced with periodic shutdowns that also
prevented emergency calls from being placed. One of the suggestions was
to tell the radio station that they couldn't "abuse their telephone
service" in that manner any longer upon pain of disconnection. The
radio station couldn't see the problem. "We only have four lines for
the contest. How can we possibly be causing any trouble?"

Of course, they had no idea of the trouble caused when hundreds of
calls were directed at one number. Trunks would become jammed with busy
signals (or reorders when the busy tone trunks would fill up) and
normal calls would be blocked. Looking at the problem, they decided
upon creating a special exchange that would have limited trunking and
not share trunks with any other prefix. That way, the special exchange
could busy out without affecting any other service.

Hence was born the choke network. But this is not the end of the story.
In 1972, some DJ at the big 50,000 watt rocker "discovered" how the
choke network worked. He was furious to find out that callers could
actually be blocked from calling him. He created a major stink which
spread to other radio stations and ended up with representatives from
Pacific Telephone and all the area stations in a conference. The long
and the short of it was that PacTel insisted that it had created the
choke network as a "service" to the stations, explaining that the only
alternative was "contest prohibition". They made their point, the DJ
was put in his place, and as an offering of good will, the area
engineers were treated to a grand tour of 95 Almaden, the downtown
office. (For you locals, the DJ was Tom Campbell, who hosted "KLOK
Talk", where this issue came up.)

Even so, from time to time, some DJ suddenly discovers that when he
dials the request lines from an office extension, it's busy (reorder)
and no request lines are in use. I have a canned explantion that
usually calms him/her down.

        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]      | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

From: Scot E Wilcoxon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Chicago Cubs Trash Illinois Bell
Date: 26 Sep 89 00:43:37 GMT
Reply-To: Scot E Wilcoxon <[e-mail]>
Organization: Data Progress, Minneapolis, MN


Minnesota had the same problems when the Twins' World Series tickets
went on sale by phone two years ago.  Long-delayed dial tones all over
the state.  Several cities dispatched radio-equipped vehicles around
their areas in case of emergencies.  No known damage; the only death
which might have been affected by the outage was not -- someone had a
stroke, probably killing them instantly, and the panicked relative ran
three blocks to a fire department building without trying to phone.

Scot E. Wilcoxon
[e-mail]
{amdahl|hpda}!bungia!datapg!sewilco
Data Progress      UNIX masts &
rigging [phone] uunet!datapg!sewilco
    I'm just reversing entropy while waiting for the Big Crunch.

------------------------------

Date:     Mon, 25 Sep 89 10:27:56 EDT
From:     Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Re:  Area Code 510 Press Release From Pac*Bell

Other messages to telecom digest asked about 909 and 917; it had just been
announced that 903 would be created in 1991(?) by splitting 214 in Texas.
The reasons suggested for not using 909 and 917 were:
1. 909 looks too much like 707.
2. What is to be area 510 is next door to 916.

(Telecom Moderator: You forgot about 903 coming into use in Texas; it was
in the splits list I sent.)

------------------------------

From: Brian Kantor <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Real Time Translations
Date: 25 Sep 89 20:40:31 GMT
Reply-To: Brian Kantor <[e-mail]>
Organization: The Avant-Garde of the Now, Ltd.


Because the old 5-level Baudot machines were notorious for mechanical
difficulties, there was an end-of-line sequence that became nearly
universal.  It was CR-CR-LF-LTRS-SPACE.  It got to the point where I
could practically type that as one fluid movement, and later I
programmed it into some communications software that had to talk to the
beasts.  The reasoning was:

Two CRs to make SURE that the carriage returned, since lots of the old
machines would simply pile up letters on the right margin if it missed
one - and that would mean that you'd miss a whole LINE of text.  Also,
if the carriage bar (the rod that the carriage slid on) had gotten dirty
or the oil had gotten gummy (as it did every few months), the carriage
would return very slowly which could lead to the next few characters
printing backwards across the page.

LF to advance the paper.  It would have been more dependable to send two
of these but we didn't want to waste paper.

LTRS to make sure the machine was back in letters mode, and also to give
the carriage just a little bit longer to get all the way to the left
side of the paper.

SPACE because the repair technicians didn't alway get the left travel
stop adjusted properly and the first two letters on the left often
piled up on top of each other, especially if the rubber bumper had
swollen with age - or absorbed oil.
    - Brian

------------------------------

Date:     Mon, 25 Sep 89 9:33:10 EDT
From:     Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Prior Use of Fake Area Code 311

I have seen the fake area code 311, but I believe I saw 904 in use for
DDD instructions in the microfilmed 1960 Wilmington (Delaware) directory.
904 was not in use yet; it came in in 1965 in Florida by splitting 305.

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Why Some Companies Won't Export
Date: Mon, 25 Sep 89 11:55:56 PDT
From: Brian Litzinger <[e-mail]>

One of the problems with exporting products is that you generally must
meet all the regulatory requirements of the nation that you are
exporting to.

For example, in the U.S. we have the FCC regulations for equipment
that emit RFI.  There are regulation regarding flame retardance of
children's pajamas and even a 17 page book of regulations related to
car door armrest construction.

Many other country's have even more strict regulations than the U.S.
They usually have stricter RFI requirements.  Sweden, I think, has
rules about the strength of magnetic fields emitted by electronic
devices.  Some countries has very strict rules about insulation from
electricity.  There's even a requirement that monitors be 14" from the
table top from some country.

The list goes on and on, and many countries don't have much of a sense of
humor when it comes to violating their requirements.


<>  Brian Litzinger @ APT Technology Inc., San Jose, CA
<>  UUCP:  {apple,sun,pyramid}!daver!apt!brian    [e-mail]
<>  VOICE: 408 370 9077      FAX: [phone]


------------------------------

From: Danny Wilson <idacom![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: ISDN Subscriber Equipment
Date: 25 Sep 89 19:19:52 GMT
Organization: IDACOM Electronics Ltd., Edmonton, Alta.


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Fred Fierling) writes:

> Assuming this is correct, I understand that it would be possible for two
> independent calls to be handled on each of the B channels.  So, how would
> both telephones perform call set up and tear down on the one D channel?

If you have two TE's on a single S/T bus (point to multipoint operation)
there are two addressing schems that come into play.

At the physical level, the S/T bus has a collision handling mechanism
that restricts access to the bus to only one TE at a time.

The NT (or switch) assigns a TEI (Terminal Endpoint Identifier) to
each terminal device on the bus.  TEI's can either be manually
assigned by the service technician (dip switches etc) or can be
assigned dynamically by management procedure software resident on the
switch.

Since the switch is aware of which TE is negotiating for a call it can
assign one B-Channel to each TE device.

In fact, in a multi-mode terminal, several calls can be
active/suspended at one time, with each call having a distinct Layer 3
call reference value.

Danny Wilson
IDACOM Electronics        [e-mail]
Edmonton, Alberta        {att, watmath, ubc-cs}!alberta!idacom!danny
C A N A D A

------------------------------

From: Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]>
Subject: Teleconnect Magazine
Reply-To: Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]>
Organization: Columbia University Center for Telecommunications Research
Date: Mon, 25 Sep 89 11:58:17 GMT

Can anyone tell me what Teleconnect Magazine is?  I ordered a book from
Telecom Library recently and it included a form to order the mag, but
it included no description.  Thanks.


Gabe Wiener - Columbia Univ.      "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings
[e-mail]              to be seriously considered as a means of
[e-mail]        communication. The device is inherently of
[e-mail]          no value to us."

[Moderator's Note: Teleconnect Magazine is a monthly publication
devoted largely, but not exclusively to telecom sales. There are
numerous short articles in each issue. It is not a technical
publication like [Telephony Magazine]. It is in many respects like
this Digest, a potpourri of information on equipment and services; but
as noted above, with an emphasis on sales and vendors. The editor is
Harry Newton, a chap who migrated here from Australia several years
ago. The cost is $15 for twelve issues. Their number is 1-800-TELECOM. PT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #406
*****************************










Date:     Tue, 26 Sep 89 0:45:37 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #407
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Tue, 26 Sep 89 00:40:07 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 407

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Re: Some Comments On The GTE "Problem" in California (Jamie Hanrahan)
    Re: How Hugo Affected Telecom Service (Thomas Lapp)
    International Subscriber Dialing in Australia (David E. A. Wilson)
    Re: Central Office Answering Machine (Larry McElhiney)
    Re: Australian Broadcast Call Signs (Mark Williams)
    Re: Coping With Junk Calls: Like Nancy, Just Say No (Clayton Cramer)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: simpact.com![e-mail]
Subject: Re: Some Comments On The GTE "Problem" in California
Date: 25 Sep 89 09:21:06 PDT
Organization: Simpact Associates, San Diego CA


In article <[e-mail]>,
kitty![e-mail] (Larry Lippman) writes:
> I admit that I have had no firsthand experience with GTE in California...

Then why, may I ask, are you saying anything at all on the subject?

Ask anybody who's had the misfortune to live in a GTE area in SoCal.
I have.  (I mean I've lived there, not just asked someone else.)  The
telephone "service", if I may use the term lightly, was abominable. I
personally experienced all of the horrors described by others here
(lousy call completion rate, wildly wrong numbers,
noisy-and-not-just-white-noise lines), and then some.

One aspect of GTE SoCal that I haven't seen mentioned is their pay
phones.

I once spent a miserable two days looking for an apartment in the
west/ southwest LA area (almost all covered by GTE), driving around
with a car full of newspapers and a pocketful of dimes.  It got so I
wouldn't even bother stopping at a GTE pay phone unless there were at
least two of them together, as only then was it likely that I'd find a
single working phone.  The defective phones were in nice areas and had
no signs of exterior damage -- they just didn't work.  Often they'd be
sitting there emitting strange clicking and thunking noises, as if
they couldn't quite digest that last coin.  Others would appear to be
fine until you put a dime in.  About three out of four of these would
deign to provide a dial tone.  About three out of four of THOSE would
actually give a ringback signal after you'd dialed your number...
(yes, GTE was charging 20 cents, on average, for pay phone calls LONG
before it was authorized by the PUC!)

I know a fair number of people for whom Pacific Telephone vs. GTE was
a factor in choosing a place to live -- and not the least important
factor by far.

Oh, and then there was the "GTE Phone Center" in Del Amo mall, which
opened at 9 AM and closed promptly at 6 PM on weekdays, and was not
open at all on weekends.  I had to visit this place at least twice to
establish phone service.  I got off work at 5 PM, at (roughly)
Wilshire and Crenshaw.  This is a thirty-minute drive under the best
of conditions (say, at 2 AM).  Good luck!  Apparently these people had
never heard of households where both people work, nor of making their
company easy to do business with.

>     The apparatus will indeed do the job - but in the situations which
> you describe it is PEOPLE who have let the apparatus down and caused these
> service problems.

So what?  When I say that "GTE gives lousy phone service in the LA
area", I am not complaining about the equipment, the wiring, the
management, or the color of their trucks.  I'm complaining about the
whole picture.  I don't know what the underlying reason is, and for
the most part, I DON'T CARE!  I just want things to improve!

>     Now, the burning question is how could GTE allow this to happen in
> California?  The most reasonable answer just appeared in telecom article
> <[e-mail]> by [e-mail],
> and boils down to not having enough revenue to operate a telephone company
> in a reasonable manner.
>
> $> The California PUC historically has given GTE (and the old PacTel)
> $> very low ROI, often a couple of percentage points or more below
> $> everybody else.  When most states were allowing 13% and California was
> $> allowing 10%, which state would YOU invest in?  To make matters worse,
> $> C-PUC would penalize GTE for its poor performance by lowering its ROI
> $> even more.
> $>
> $> AT&T was too proud of its "Bell System" reputation to let PacTel go
> $> down the tubes, so they dumped money into CA even with a cruddy rate
> $> of return.  But GTE had other fish to fry with its cash, so they gave
> $> the state pretty much what it paid for.

One might ask why GTE wasn't equally concerned about THEIR reputation.
The GTE logo is prominent on many products sold in the commercial and
consumer sectors.  The Los Angeles area is not exactly devoid of
customers for such products.  My experiences with GTE phone service
would definitely make me wary of anything else with the GTE logo.
Yes, I know, different parts of the company... but if they don't care
about QC in one division, why should I believe that others are any
different?

    --- Jamie Hanrahan


------------------------------

Date: Mon, 25 Sep 89 19:52:57 edt
From: Thomas Lapp <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: How Hugo Affected Telecom Service
Reply-To: mvac23![e-mail]

Martin B Weiss <[e-mail]> writes:
> My parents live on the SW corner of Puerto Rico.  They had minimal damage
> due to Hugo, as they were over 100 miles from the eye.  I haven't yet gotten
> through to them on MCI, although, using 10288, I have been successful several
> times with AT&T.

I noticed the same thing in trying to call my sister in Chapel Hill, NC
the night after the storm went through.  I kept getting a fast-busy when
using MCI, but ATT went right through.

I wonder if MCI was just getting more traffic through than it could
handle or whether some major trunks were down.  Of course this is a
sample of 2 which doesn't make it significant, but I would be curious
to know how fast the major telecom carriers get back up in the affected
areas.
                         - tom

internet: mvac23![e-mail]  or  [e-mail]
uucp    : {ucbvax,mcvax,psuvax1,uunet}!udel!mvac23!thomas
Location: Newark, DE, USA
Quote   : NOTICE: System will have a scheduled disk crash at 4:45pm today.


------------------------------

Date: Mon, 25 Sep 89 14:46:16 est
From: "David E. A. Wilson" <munnari!wolfen.cc.uow.oz.au![e-mail]>
Subject: International Subscriber Dialing in Australia


In article <[e-mail]>, munnari!stcns3.stc.oz.
au![e-mail] (Dave Horsfall) writes:

> Indeed it is - it's used in Australia, along with ISD (International
> Subscriber Dialling).  There are very few manual exchanges left in the
> country, incidentally.  AXE is slowly replacing step-by-step and Xbar.

Sorry Dave, but OTC changed ISD to IDD (International Direct Dialing) a couple
of years ago. They also just dropped the rates - we can now ring the USA
for A$1.19 off peak [how does this compare with US to Aust costs?].

We are not charged extra for touch tone lines - if you are on an AXE exchange
you can use DTMF, if not, you can't. When I purchased a house that had never
had a phone I enquired about getting a DTMF line and was told that because
of the demand for lines on the AXE exchange (one out of six prefixes serving
my area is AXE) that the only way to get a line on it was to sign up for
Easycall (rather like StarNine).

Telecom Australia charged me the following:

Connection Fee            A$225.00    (no existing line or handset)
Exchange line            A$ 11.65/month
Easycall Services (1st 3)    A$  4.25/month
Additional Easycall services    A$   .53/month each

With regard to area code splitting, I came across an interesting example
in the Canberra telephone directory. Formerly, Canberra, Yass & Queanbeyan
in the Australian Capital Territiory (ACT) used to have an area code of
062. Now Yass has been split off from Canberra with an area code of 06 and
by prefixing all numbers in that area with a 2. What this gains, I have
no idea. 062, 063, 064, 065, 066, 067, 068, 069 & 060 are all in use
and no normal phone #'s start with 1.

In an article from Australia (which has expired here) someone asked about
data corruption which started 15 minutes into his call if he left his
phone in parallel with the modem. I sent him a copy of the discussion
which covered this topic in Australia earlier this year.

For your interest, the problem is that Telecom Australia now supply
push button phones with memories as standard equipment on new lines.
These phones need about 9 volts across tip & ring to keep the memory
intact. Most modems I have come across have an impedance low enough
to pull this voltage down to 1 or 2 volts. After 15 minutes, the phone
tries to recharge its memories and corrupts the data.
The solution is either to unplug the phone first, or obtain a current
sharing module to ensure that the voltage at the phone does not fall
to low.

David Wilson    ([e-mail])    Down Under.

------------------------------

From: 90784000 <munnari!anucsd.oz.au![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Central Office Answering Machine
Date: 20 Sep 89 09:42:46 GMT
Reply-To: Larry McElhiney <@uunet.uu.net:[e-mail]%anucsd.oz>
Organization: University of Calidialeo


In article <[e-mail]> (John Higdon) writes:
>X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 379, message 4 of 4

>In article <telecom-v09i0373m02@>cc.umich.edu (Ken Jongsma) writes:
>> I don't know... Almost $100 a year for an answering machine? One that you
>> may not even be able interrogate from another phone? I think they are
>> way to optimistic on their sign up estimates.

>It IS catching on in many places. First, there is no capital outlay. It
>is one thing to go shoppdng, plunk down $100 (or more), brong the thing
>home and try to figure it out and hook it up, and worry about what
>happens when it breaks, and ennte another to call "the rhone company"
>and tell them you want their message servi.e. I believe there is a
>central number you can Is, to retrive your messages (at least there is
>on the voice mail offered with my cellular phone).

Late 1970's through early 1980's Plantronics Inc. in Santa Cruz, CA built
and marketed a system called CentraVox--a CO based answering machine for
individual subscribers.  FCC ruling against recording devices in COs
finally killed the product line.

Last op rating system that I am aware of was part of the PNB system in the
Seattle area.  The service was popular among the masses, I am told.

Consisted of a 19" rack mounted aluminum box with p/s and central tape
driving motors.  12 individual line modules would independently push tape
and a rubber roller against a rotating shaft to drive the tape.  Two tapes,
an announcement on a loop and about 20 minutes message tape included
in an interchangable unit about the size of a cassette recorders  All of the
electronics other than the voice recording was digital.

The system was controlled by DTMF signals from the subscriber and there
was a tone sequence indicating waiting messages when the handset was taken
off hook.  VOX was the other feature, up to a 20-min length of message was
possible, and th system sensed the end of "intelligibility" and then rewound
the tape to that point to await the next call.  All features for control were
available from the unmodified home telephone and there was a remote included
so that you could access your service by using your home number remotely
and sending a BCD signal to authorize.  You could change announcements,
listen to and erase messages all from any telephone.

Cost was very low to the consumer as well...  Too bad it died just in 1984!

[Moderator's Note: The above message was *severely* messed up in
transit.  I recieved some unintelligible gibberish in almost every
line. What appears above is how I reconstructed it. I hope it is
entirely what the author was saying.  He tried sending it a couple
times to me without success. PT]

------------------------------

From: Mark Williams <munnari!bunyip.cc.uq.oz.au![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Australian Broadcast Call Signs
Date: 24 Sep 89 08:20:17 GMT
Organization:  Prentice Computer Centre, Queensland Uni, Australia


[e-mail] (Henry Mensch) writes:

>They are all under VK (i.e., the FM station 4GGG on Australia's gold
>coast has a call sign of VK4GGG).  The number indicates (mostly)
>which state the station is in (1=Tasmania <I think>, 2=New South
>Wales, 3=Victoria, 4=Queensland, and I don't know the rest :>)

    I think this is slightly incorrect. The Radio Australia short
wave stations are VLM4 and VLQ9.

Mark Williams


------------------------------

From: Clayton Cramer <optilink![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Coping With Junk Calls: Like Nancy, Just Say No
Date: 25 Sep 89 23:45:39 GMT
Organization: Optilink Corporation, Petaluma, CA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Chip Rosenthal) writes:
> [e-mail] (Tad Cook) writes:
> >X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 384, message 3 of 5
> >If they ask, "Is this Mr. Cook?", I say, "No, he's dead!"
>
> Boy...I was on the other end of one of those.  I was staffing the phone
> bank for a political campaign last fall.  I was working off old contact
> sheets rather than cold calling.  But apparently the contact sheets must
> have been *very* old.  The person I talked to was pleasant about it, but
> I sure felt crummy.

> Chip Rosenthal / [e-mail] / Dallas Semiconductor

When I was hunting heads, many years, we would get together one night
each month and call people who we were unable to locate at work during
the day.  In some cases, the resumes were very, very old.  I called
one such resume, over a year old, and asked for Mr. So-and-So.  "I
don't think that's possible."  "Why?"  "My husband's been dead for
over a year now."  "I'm so sorry to have bothered you."

I was almost done calling for the evening, and that finished the
evening.

I wouldn't assume the contact sheets were old -- dead people vote with
great regularity.  Voter lists are purged in California of non-voters
after general elections.  Once, while walking precincts (for my own
election campaign), I found that the person registered to vote had
been dead four years -- long enough to have been purged, unless
someone was voting in his place.  Oh well -- vote early, vote often!


Clayton E. Cramer {pyramid,pixar,tekbspa}!optilink!cramer
What shall it be today?  Watch Three's Company?  Or unify the field theory?

Disclaimer?  You must be kidding!  No company would hold opinions like mine!

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #407
*****************************










Date:     Tue, 26 Sep 89 1:49:46 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #408
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Tue, 26 Sep 89 01:47:35 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 408

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Toll Subscriber Line Service (Larry Lippman)
    Number Editing on Telephones (Charlie Goldensher)
    PCM <-> 16 Bit Audio (Jerry Durand)
    Character Codes (Michael A. Patton)
    Equal Access Pay Phones (Greg Monti via John R. Covert)
    Trapping 10333 by AT&T (Peter Da Silva)
    Caller*ID and Modems (Peter Da Silva)
    Re: Radio Station Names (Australia, Canada, HCJB) (Mark Brader)
    Re: ISDN Subscriber Equipment (Bill Cerny)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Toll Subscriber Line Service
Date: 24 Sep 89 23:11:08 EDT (Sun)
From: Larry Lippman <kitty![e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> the Telecom Moderator
writes:
> [Moderator's Note: A curiosity when I was employed by the University of
> Chicago Telecommunications Department (then, in 1959-61 they just called
> it the 'telephone room') were the two TWX machines.
> ...  We plugged in on our board to tie-lines which went straight
> to certain positions at telco. They knew it was UC calling, and all we had
> to pass was the caller's extension number; then we could cut out and go
> on to other calls. Once an hour, the aforementioned TWX would come to life
> and a message would print out listing 'time and charges by extension'. We
> took this and matched it with the toll tickets we started when first
> putting the call through. All this machine was ever used for was to bring
> us the time and charges, for billing purposes to the campus extensions.
> IBT billed the campus master account; we re-billed each department.  PT]

    This service, which must be pretty rare by now, was referred to
as "Toll Subscriber Line Service".  The tie lines were ground-start trunks
at the PBX end (for either manual and/or dial level access), and terminated
in special toll subscriber trunks at a No. 1 or No. 3 Toll Board, or in
later years at a TSPS installation.  Since these toll subscriber trunks
served specific locations, the toll operator obviously knew where the call
had originated.

    Prior to TSPS, the originator of the call never dialed any digits;
they gave the desired number to the operator along with their room or
extension number, and the call was completed by the operator in a manner
no different than dialing "0".  Once per hour, toll tickets from toll
subscriber customers would be collected from toll board operators, the
call rated, and charges transmitted to the subscriber PBX via a teletype
or by having an operator call the PBX attendant.  Teletypes were simply a
point-to-point manual link, and were only used in higher traffic
installations.  The PBX subscriber paid an additional rate for this
service.

    As TSPS became more common, toll subscriber line service permitted
the originator of the call to dial the desired number into a toll trunk
and register, with the TSPS operator coming on the line only to ask for
room or extension number.  It was not possible to eliminate the operator
since there was no ANI from the PBX to indicate the room or extension
identity.

    In the late 1970's the Bell System offered a totally automatic
toll subscriber service called HOBIS (Hotel Billing Information System)
which required no TSPS operator intervention.  HOBIS automatically
transmitted calling data to a teletype as it occurred.  HOBIS did require
the subscriber PBX to have ANI or SMDR capability; I don't know the exact
details, however.

    Most of the toll subscriber line customers were hotels, with the
rest being universities, hospitals and similar facilities.  With the
extensive use of electronic PABX's having SMDR and call-costing capability,
toll subscriber lines are pretty much a thing of the past as hotels and
other subscribers are quite capable of determining toll charges on their
own.  Also, the advent of divestiture, ALDS and AOS has totally changed
the picture; since the philosophy behind HOBIS does not exactly fit in
this picture, HOBIS may well be dead.

<> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. - Uniquex Corp. - Viatran Corp.
<> UUCP  {allegra|boulder|decvax|rutgers|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry
<> TEL [phone] | 716/773-1700  {hplabs|utzoo|uunet}!/      \uniquex!larry
<> FAX [phone] | 716/773-2488      "Have you hugged your cat today?"

[Moderator's Note: Well, that was a heavy traffic location. We had
about 4000 campus extensions; three separate groups of incoming CO trunks
(MIdway-3-0800, MUseum 4-6100, NOrmal 7-4700, with about 250 incoming
CO trunks between them. The 'Midway board' served the main campus with
about 2500 extensions spaced over nine positions; the 'Museum board' had
about 1000-1200 extensions and served the Medical Center on six positions;
and the 'Normal board' had a mere three positions serving maybe 500 phones
at the Enrico Fermi Labs and the Computation Center. All sixteen or
eighteen positions (I forget exactly) had tie-trunks to each other, of
course, so that a caller in the 8000 series of extensions (Fermi) reached
the 2000 series of extensions (main campus) by going off hook and asking
for the desired extension. The operator who took the call would select a
tie-trunk to a position on the other side of the room. When that operator
came on, she did not speak: you knew she was there because you heard a
'click' in your ear, and you would repeat "2374", or whatever your caller
had told you. As fast as you could say the 'two three' part of it, she
already had the cord up to that strip. When you got the 'seven four' part
out, she was testing for busy with the jack. If she heard a click, the
line was busy and she would so quote; otherwise she shoved in the jack
and was ringing it. I dare say manual service with *trained* operators
was just as fast as dial service; maybe faster sometimes.  By around 1962
the extensions at least could dial each other and outside local calls
even though the operators still took incoming and long distance stuff. PT]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 25 Sep 89 12:23:59 EDT
From: Charlie Goldensher <vicorp![e-mail]>
Subject: Number Editing on Telephones
Organization: V.I. Corporation, Amherst, Massachusetts

In article <[e-mail]> you write:
>It has to be the most frustrating thing I can think of to wait five
>minutes for a dial tone only to accidentally dial a wrong digit and
>have to hang up and (after waiting for new dial tone!) start over. The
>next most frustrating thing would be to finally get a dial tone, place
>the call and be told by the other end, 'due to heavy call volume, we
>are unable to complete your call at this time....please try again
>later.'

This brings up a question that I've had for some time.  Is there a
telephone set on the market with editing capability?  What I'd like
most is a backspace key.  Especially, now, when a telephone number can
contain ten or more digits, it is extremely frustrating to hit an
incorrect final digit.  The case sighted above would be considerably
more frustrating.

It seems to me that the technology should be relatively simple.  To
use the facility, the numbers would have to be buffered, and sent when
some sort of carriage-return or enter key is hit.  So there could be a
switch for buffered or unbuffered input.  And, a display of some sort
(LED?), that displayed the digits in the buffer, would be nice.

Does anything like that exist?  And if so, how much does it cost?
(Oh...I have only pulse-dialing where I live.  I'd want that feature
on the phone as well.)

-- Charlie Goldensher        [e-mail]

[Moderator's Note: Aren't cellular phones sort of like this? You punch
in the entire number, then 'send' it. I assume at any point in the input
that you discovered a mistake you could cancel it and start over, not
actually hitting the 'send' button until you were ready to release it.  PT]

------------------------------

From: portal!cup.portal.com![e-mail]
Subject: PCM <-> 16 Bit Audio
Date: Mon, 25-Sep-89 11:22:33 PDT

>[e-mail] writes:
>>Does anybody have any code or know where I can get my hands on some
>>that would convert "normal" (uncompressed) 16 bit digital audio into
>>the 8 bit u-law (or A-law) compressed form that the AM79C30 uses?

>Chip Rosenthal / [e-mail] / Dallas Semiconductor


There is no need to use an equation to generate "uncompressed" data
from PCM code, since there are only 256 possibilities, everyone just
uses a lookup table copied from any CODEC data sheet.  To convert
from "uncompresssed" to PCM, you don't need to be real accurate, just
scan the table for the first entry that is less than or equal to your
data.

Jerry Durand, Durand Interstellar, Inc., sun!cup.portal.com!jdurand

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 25 Sep 89 19:47:25 EDT
Subject: Character Codes
From: "Michael A. Patton" <[e-mail]>

For fuller details on CCITT #2 and other codes, I refer to Appendix C of
"Technical Aspects of Data Communication" by John E. McNamara (who is
a reader of this group).  This appendix lists 12 different 5-level
codes as well as 2 6-level codes and the "standard" 7-level code.  The
order seems to differ from what you list (but that's probably because
the bits are backwards :-).  It also points out that BEL wasn't always
FIGS-J, there were also codes where it was FIGS-S.  I'll bet this was
a barrel of laughs if you hooked up a machine with the wrong code!

In addition, for those discussing transmission rates, Appendix E of
that same book lists many speed/format combinations and what use they
were put to.  The chart in this appendix lists 12 different
combinations of baud rate and stop bits for 5-level codes.

    -Mike Patton


------------------------------

Date: Mon, 25 Sep 89 05:06:34 -0700
From: "John R. Covert  25-Sep-1989 0807" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Equal Access Pay Phones

    Fr:  Greg Monti
    Dt:  23 September 1989
    Re:  Equal Access Pay Phones

The following were tried from a Bell Atlantic (C&P of Virginia) controlled pay
phone in an equal access area.  The phone was marked that 0+ and 1+ calls other
than those authorized to be carried by C&P, would be carried by (in capital,
red letters) AT&T COMMUNICATIONS.

1 700 555-4141         "You have reached the AT&T Long Distance Network"
10 222 1 700 555-4141  "You have reached the AT&T Long Distance Network"
10 333 1 700 555-4141  "You have reached the AT&T Long Distance Network"

So, all 1+ calls are routed to AT&T for coin collection (although this call,
being free, requested no money).  10 XXX codes are ignored for 1+.

Then, the following were tried:

dialed:  0 + valid out-of-LATA 10-digit number
response:  "bwongg (without the 'AT&T')"
dialed:  my valid 14-digit Bell Atlantic/AT&T card number
response:  "thank you for using AT&T" and call rings through

dialed:  10 222 0 + valid out-of-LATA 10-digit number
response:  "bwongg" (without the 'AT&T')"
dialed:  my valid 14-digit Bell Atlantic/AT&T card number
response:  "thank you for using MCI" and call rings through

dialed:  10 333 0 + valid out-of-LATA 10-digit number
response:  "bwongg (without the 'AT&T')"
dialed:  my valid 14-digit Bell Atlantic/AT&T card number
response:  thank you for using US Sprint" and call rings through

dialed:  10 488 0 + valid out-of-LATA 10-digit number
response:  "at the tone, please dial your card number or dial zero for the
  ITI Operator" (pause) "beep (like an answering machine)"
dialed:  my valid Bell Atlantic/AT&T card number
response (after about 10 seconds):  "please wait for card verification"
  (incredibly long pause, about 30 seconds of dead silence) "thank you for
  using ITI; if the party you are calling is busy or does not answer, press 1
  to leave up to a one minute message"  call rings through

So there is true equal access, using a Bell card number, for 0+ calls
out of LATA.  Long distance carriers like ITT (whose 10 XXX is 488,
above), who do not offer their own operator service route your calls
to an AOS, which I believe ITI is, for billing.  Some AOS's, like ITI,
offer value-added services as well, as above.

Did the difference between the way the MCI/Sprint calls were handled
and the way the ITT call was handled mean that Bell Atlantic (C&P) was
providing the card verification for MCI and Sprint but not for ITT?

Wonder what, if anything, I will get charged for this little
experiment.

Greg Monti, Arlington, Virginia;  workplace [phone]

------------------------------

From: ficc![e-mail]
Subject: Trapping 10333 by AT&T
Date: Mon Sep 25 07:42:19 1989

What with all this talk of trapping 10288, I'd like to note that the
pay phones at LAX route all calls through AT&T. Is this legal? I would
hardly think that Sprint (my carrier of choice) has no access to LA!

To top it all off, the AT&T operator insisted I'd placed my call via
AT&T, and got quite rude about it.


------------------------------

From: ficc![e-mail]
Subject: Caller*ID and Modems
Date: Mon Sep 25 10:15:15 1989

Here's a product I'd pay money for in a couple of years, a modem that
prints the message "RING 7135551212" when the phone rings with caller*ID
information. Not only would it save me buying an extra box for the phone,
but it'd make things a lot easier for hobby BBS operators to shut out
bad guys. Plus, folks like osu-cis who support anonymous-uucp would be
able to track all the folks who call them... more anon-uucp sites would
be showing up.

I hope Hayes or someone is working on this, but just in case they're not
this idea is hereby in the public domain :->.


------------------------------

From: Mark Brader <[e-mail]>
Subject: Radio Station Names (Australia, Canada, HCJB)
Date:     Mon, 25 Sep 89 01:33:48 EDT

> There is apparently no international requirement that radio stations
> all have call letters conforming to the international (ITU) plan.  If
> there were such a requirement, Australian stations would have call
> letters starting with AX, VH-VN, or VZ.
>
> For that matter, the Australian call signs mentioned above overlap all
> over areas of the naming space reserved by the ITU for other countries.
> For example, 2PK (indeed, *all* calls starting with a 2) "should" be in
> Great Britain; 3AK ought to be in Monaco; and 3MMM belongs in China.

When I visited New Zealand, I found that their radio stations also
use call signs of one digit and some letters, the digit denoting which
part of the country the station is in.   Christchurch area stations
began with 3, for example; I remember 3BZ.  (Z pronounced zed, of course.)

The person who pointed this out to me, however, also said that the
*official* call letters of each station included a prefix which was
the ITU code for New Zealand.  I think that that was NZ -- some of them
do have mnemonic value! -- so that 3BZ was really NZ3BZ but mostly did
not mention that.  So perhaps Australians do the same thing.

It is not unknown for individual stations here in North America to
adopt this approach; in Toronto, CKEY on 590 kHz is "KEY 590" in
all its advertisements nowadays, and in Buffalo, WGR on 550 kHz is
"GR 55" in theirs.  There must be many other examples.  (Hint: too many
for it to be interesting for everyone to see the ones in YOUR hometown.)


Mark Brader        "'Settlor', (i) in relation to a testamentary trust,
Toronto             means the individual referred to in paragraph (i)."
utzoo!sq!msb, [e-mail]        -- Income Tax Act of Canada, 108(1)(h)

------------------------------

Date: Mon Sep 25 14:10:05 1989
From: [e-mail] (Bill Cerny)
Subject: Re: ISDN Subscriber Equipment


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Fred Fierling) writes:

> So, how would
> both telephones perform call set up and tear down on the one D channel?

On a basic rate interface (2B+D), the terminal equipment share the D
channel.  Call setup/teardown messages (Q.931) are message packets,
each containing a Terminal Equipment Identifier (TEI).  The TEI tells
the switch which terminal on the BRI is requesting a service, and
allows the switch to individually address each piece of terminal
equipment.  Not only is it possible to have both bearer (B) channels in
use simultaneously, you can also use the D channel for data
communication, all at the same time (e.g., a pc with an ISDN terminal
adapter that contains an X.25 PAD).

There's a clever mechanism for preventing signaling packet collisions
using the echo D channel, but that's beyond the scope of your query.


Bill Cerny        "The cost of living just went up another $1 a fifth."
[e-mail]                    - W. C. Fields


------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #408
*****************************










Date:     Wed, 27 Sep 89 0:20:46 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #409
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Wed, 27 Sep 89 00:15:44 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 409

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Telephones in India (part I of II) (Dheeraj Sanghi)
    Telephones in India (part II of II) (Dheeraj Sanghi)
    CO Voice Mail (David W. Tamkin)
    Fort Ritchie, Md. (Carl Moore)
    A Side Effect of Charging for DA Calls (William G. Martin)
    Phone Cards (Tom Hofmann)
    Siemens Gets Rolm (Chip Rosenthal)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Mon, 25 Sep 89 23:38:05 -0400
From: Dheeraj Sanghi <[e-mail]>
Subject: Telephones in India (part I of II)


Shamim writes:
>In India the term for long distance is indeed STD. I'm not sure about
>ISD, though. I may as well take this opportunity for some
>reminiscences...  the phone system is, of course, a government
>monopoly under the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. They handle all
>phone lines, trunks, telex, microwave links, etc.

ISD is International Subscriber's Dialing or the direct dialing service
for international long distance. Well, parts of phone system have been
taken out of P & T Dept. e.g. Videsh Sanchar Nigam (Foreign
Communication Corporation) handles the international calls. Separate
telephone companies have been set up for phone system in Delhi and
Bombay. They are called MTNL - stands for Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd.
There are plans to set up MTNLs for other big cities as well.
(Mahanagar is metropolitan area, Nigam is corporation.) Of course, VSN
and MTNLs are government undertakings, but they have much more autonomy.

There has been further liberalization.  Private sector companies have
now been allowed to make PABX, RABX (Rural Auto.  Branch Exchange) and
consumer items like telephones, answering machines etc.  The customers
now can hook up their own instruments.

>Ah, the telephone service! Those memories... some areas in New Delhi
>(where I grew up) have a waiting list of 10 years for a 'phone
>connection.  No DTMF dialing here, almost all the exchanges are
>mechanical. (About 5 years ago a digital switch was introduced on a
>trial basis - worked quite well, from what I remember.) In the summer
>after almost every rainstorm thousands (I'm not exaggerating!) would
>be knocked out.

Now, the waiting list is more like 5 years, and the goal is to provide
telephone on demand by 1995 (approx.).  All the exchanges that have
been installed in the last 3-4 years are digital.  In fact, all
exchanges that have been installed in the last year have custom calling
features like call-waiting and detailed billing for your STD and ISD
calls.  You even get the recording from these places like "The number
you have dialed is not in service" in 2 languages.  (3 languages in
many places outside Delhi.)  There are much less problems in rainy
season.  They have replaced old cables by pressurized cables, which are
more resistant to water-seepage, in congested areas.  And yes, they
have laid pipes to carry these cables, so that they don't have to dig
up the road if there is a problem with the cables.  The customer
service is much better.  The best part is that you no longer have to
pay by cash or cashier's check.  You can pay by personal check.  You
can still not mail them, but you can deposit them in almost any bank or
post office.  Last year the yellow pages were published for the first
time in India.

All this in just about 3-4 years. Three cheers for MTNL.

>STD was introduced about 10 years ago, I think, and was more expensive
>than the regular operator-assisted "trunk call." (To make one of those
>you had to call a number and book the call at some priority, with the
>cost increasing geometrically with higher priorities... it would often
>be 4-6 hours for the call to go through at the affordable priorities)
>The trunk call may still be cheaper than an STD call. The city codes
>for STD calls are of variable length - for instance New Delhi is 11
>but smaller towns have up to 4 digits.

Now, STD service has reached almost all the districts of India. The
longest code is 6 digits, for a few very small towns. The smallest code
is 2 digit. (Delhi - 11, Bombay - 22, Calcutta - 33, Madras - 44)

The access code for STD call is 0. It used to be 9 when STD started 15
years ago, but was phased out later. (I think CCITT standards favour
0.) ISD access code is, you guessed it, 00.

>Shamim Mohamed / {uunet,noao,allegra,cmcl2..}!arizona!sham / [e-mail]

>[Moderator's Note: 'STD' means Subscriber Trunk Dialing, for those who did
>not know this abbreviation. It is a common enough phrase in some countries
>which essentially means 'long distance' as we think of it here in the United
>States. I might add to the above report, calling DA in India is quite a
>chore at times also. I've been on 15 minutes to get a single number.  PT]

Well, DA is being computerized in the 3 largest cities in India, Delhi,
Bombay and Calcutta. I hope that the project is over within this year.
The smaller cities would be computerized soon after.

In an accompanying article, I am writing about various tariffs in India.

-dheeraj

Dheeraj Sanghi            (h):301-345-6024    (o):301-454-1516
Internet: [e-mail]    UUCP: uunet!mimsy!dheeraj
    Marriage is the sole cause of divorce.

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 25 Sep 89 23:39:47 -0400
From: Dheeraj Sanghi <[e-mail]>
Subject: Telephones in India (part II of II)


    Various Tariffs in India
    ------------------------

There are 4 rates for operator assisted calls.
1. Concessional        half the ordinary.
2. Ordinary
3. Urgent        twice the ordinary
4. Lightening        8 times the ordinary

Concessional calls are really the ordinary calls that start between 10pm
and 5 am (and all day Sunday, 26th Jan, 15th Aug, 2nd Oct). All
operator assisted calls are measured in the units of 3 minutes. Within
each rate, one has an option of person-to-person call, but if the
person is not present at the other end (but somebody did pick up the
phone), some small charge is made. This is to discourage use of coded
messages as name of person. The most convenient way of calling is the
"Fixed-Time" call. You can book a fixed time call in at least 2 hours
in advance. The operator will call you at that time, and will try to
connect you with the other number. You pay the "Urgent" rate, but
somehow the call always goes through, while the other urgent calls
(which are supposed to go through as soon as there is no lightening
call) may have to wait. There is slight penalty though. You can cancel
a booking until the call goes through, but not with fixed-time calls.
You are charged for a minimum of 3 minutes. There is no collect calling
or third-party charge.

The ordinary tariffs are: (rather were, for they are 2 year old, and
were revised upwards last year.)
    Distance (in KM)    Tariff for 3 minutes. (In Rs.)
    up to 20            1
    21-50                2
    51-100                4
    101-200                8
    201-500                12
    501-1000            20
    1001 and above            24

(1 Rupee is 6 cents)

I don't know the rates for operator-assisted international calls.

For direct dialed calls (STD and ISD), the tariff is determined by the
"pulse rate." For every "pulse", you are charged equivalent of one
local call, which was 50 paise (3 cents). For STD, the pulse rate is
halved during night time. (I am not too sure about this.) But there is
no discount for ISD calls in the night. For STD calls the pulse
frequency varies from 30 seconds (upto 20KM) to approx. 2.5 second
(1001 KM and above). I don't have the detailed rates. For ISD, the
things are much simpler. There are only three pulse rates.

2 sec. for Nepal, Pakistan, Sri-Lanka, Bangladesh and Maldives.
1.2 sec. for the rest of Asia, Africa, Australia, most of Europe.
1 sec. North and South America, and some countries in Europe.

e.g. A one minute call to USA would cost 60 * .50 = 30 rupees (1.80$)

Almost all the countries can be dialed direct, including USSR. On a
quick glance, the countries that I found missing are: China, Burma,
Vietnam, Combodia, North Korea, South Africa. (This list is 1 year old,
and since then we might have established direct-dialing with China.)

There are other tariffs. There is a 100 Rs. testing fee for private
equipment. There is a 200 Rs. yearly charge for each facility on the
phone (like memory dialing, push-button dialing, STD barring).
There is 300 Rs. yearly charge for phones with auto-dialer facility.
There is a one-time charge of Rs. 1000 for installation.

There is no unlimited service for local calls. How can it be. The STD
calls and ISD calls are also counted as number of local calls. The
telephone "rental" is 200 Rs. for two months (The billing is
bi-monthly) and you get 300 free local call. (I am not very sure about
the local calling rate.) Additional local calls are 50 paise each.

Calling cards (more like debit card) were introduced last year in areas
served by the two MTNLs. You can buy a card for various denominations.
You can use them in special phones that will accept them. These phones
are located mostly near places like Airport, Railway Stations,
Hospitals, and places of tourist attraction. The cost of the call is
deducted and the remainder is written back on the card. By the way,
there are three kinds of public telephone booths. One, from where you
can only make local calls. They will only accept 2 fifty paise coins,
and not 1 one rupee coin or other change. Second type is from where you
can only make STD and ISD calls. These will accept only those 1 rupee
coins that were made after 1980. (But that is no problem, since usually
a group of these types will be manned by one guy, whose only job is to
give you the correct 1-rupee coins for your bills, or older 1-rupee
coins.) The third type are the ones that accept card, and are found
only in Delhi and Bombay. There is no surcharge for using the public
phones to make long distance calls, but local call is costlier. It is
1.00 Rupee.

-dheeraj

Dheeraj Sanghi            (h):301-345-6024    (o):301-454-1516
Internet: [e-mail]    UUCP: uunet!mimsy!dheeraj
    Marriage is the sole cause of divorce.

------------------------------

Subject: CO voice mail
Date: Mon, 25 Sep 89 1:10:33 CDT
From: "David W. Tamkin" <[e-mail]>
Organization: Jolnet Public Access Unix: it's good to be home

Larry McElhiney wrote in digest volume 9, issue 390:

| Late 1970's through early 1980's Plantronics Inc. in Santa Cruz, CA built
| and marketed a system called CentraVox--a CO based answering machine for
| individual subscribers.  FCC ruling against recording devices in COs
| finally killed the product line.

Really?  Recently both Illinois Bell and Centel have offered CO-based voice
mail in metropolitan Chicago: IBT to customers of the Summit CO and Centel to
anyone willing to phone into the Park Ridge CO.  IBT's service includes
stutter dial tone when you pick your phone up (to indicate messages waiting
in the voice mailbox), and Centel's has toll saver to the extreme: no
ringback whatever (immediate transmission of the mailbox holder's greeting)
if there are waiting messages; clearly both must be CO-based.

Other Ameritech subsidiaries are test-marketing the same voice mail as that
in Summit, Illinois, in one CO near Milwaukee and one near Indianapolis.
Centel is offering voice mail in three other Illinois cities: Pekin,
Galesburg, and Dixon.

Was the FCC ruling reversed?  Did it expire?

David Tamkin   [e-mail]  {attctc,netsys,ddsw1}!jolnet!dattier
P. O. Box 813  Rosemont, Illinois  60018-0813   [phone]  [phone]
BIX: dattier                   GEnie: D.W.TAMKIN               CIS: 73720,1570
Jolnet is a public access system, where every user expresses personal opinions.

------------------------------

Date:     Tue, 26 Sep 89 9:15:19 EDT
From:     Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Fort Ritchie, Md.

The 878 prefix serving Fort Ritchie, Md. seems to be reachable in
three area codes: 301 in Md., 202 in DC area, and 717 in Pa.  878
shows up in Baltimore directory as "Fort Ritchie (Baltimore City
service)" and in DC area directories as "Silver Spring".  I assume
area code 202 goes away for this exchange next year.  As for 717, I
had seen 878 listed as Blue Ridge Summit (717-794 prefix), and was
wondering where 878 was used until I visited the area earlier this
year and realized I was right next door to Fort Ritchie when I was
there.  (A pay phone near the gate to Fort Ritchie is on 301-241
in Highfield, Md.)

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 26 Sep 89 13:38:00 MDT
From: "William G. Martin" <[e-mail]>
Subject: A Side Effect of Charging for DA Calls

The following is from the "Regional News" column of CITY AND STATE (a
tabloid-size newspaper of local government news), p. 23, Sep 25 1989
issue:

FINGERS DO THE WALKING

Commissioners of Lancaster County, Nebraska, have cut directory
assistance, which costs 40 cents per call, from the county jail's
telephone system.  Their unanimous action was prompted by a bill for
$4,600 for directory assistance calls made by inmates in 1988.
Telephone directories will be made available for the inmates at the
facility, according to Kathy Campbell, county board chairman.  ***End
of item***

Regards, Will

------------------------------

From: Tom Hofmann <cgch![e-mail]>
Subject: Phone Cards
Date: 26 Sep 89 11:19:20 GMT
Organization: WRZ, CIBA-GEIGY Ltd, Basel, Switzerland


As I see there are two different types of phone cards around the world.
One type is handled like a credit card of the telephone company: for
using it you make an operator assisted call and tell the operator your
card number, or you type the card number directly into the phone (e.g.
USA).  For the other type you pay a certain amount and this amount is
coded on the card itself. For usage you push the card into a special
slot of a public phone, and the coded amount is decreased while making
a call.  An "empty" card can be thrown away (e.g. Switzerland).

What I would like to know:  Isn't there a country (or LDC in the US)
where phone calls can be paid be regular, internationally accepted
credit cards (Visa, Master Card, American Express, etc.)?  Phone calls
would get much easier while travelling abroad.  Or is there a reason,
why telephone companies do not accept them?

Tom Hofmann        [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Chip Rosenthal <[e-mail]>
Subject: Siemens Gets Rolm
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
Date: 26 Sep 89 19:33:43 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Dallas Semiconductor

From EDN News Edition (Sept 21):

    Most of IBM's Rolm goes to Siemens AG

    Armonk, NY - Just one week after IBM Corp unveiled new private branch
    exchanges (PBXs) that better communicate with products from Siemens AG,
    the companies say they've completed their agreement by which Siemens
    takes control of most of IBM's Rolm telecom subsidiary.  Phone IBM
    at [phone].

Chip Rosenthal / [e-mail] / Dallas Semiconductor / 214-450-5337
Someday the whole country will be one big "Metroplex" - Zippy's friend Griffy

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #409
*****************************










Date:     Wed, 27 Sep 89 1:18:54 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #410
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Wed, 27 Sep 89 01:15:44 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 410

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Phone Design For Humans (Andy Meijers)
    Sleazy Touch-Tone Marketing Tactics (David W. Tamkin)
    New Zealand Broadcast Call Signs (T. Mark James)
    They're Doing It Again (was Chicago Cubs Trash Bell) (Edward Greenberg)
    Phone Rates, U.S. to Australia (John R. Covert)
    ITI (10488) 0+ (John R. Covert)
    First Long Distance Call (cblpe![e-mail])
    Telenet/PCP Waives Enrollment Fee for User Groups (David Purks)
    Re: 10-Cent Payphones (Richard Childers)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Andy Meijers <dsacg1!dlscg1![e-mail]>
Subject: Phone Design For Humans
Date: 26 Sep 89 00:21:06 GMT
Organization: Defense Logistics Service Center, Battle Creek MI

A minor plea to those who design 'modern' telephone sets, esp. for
offices.

1. Make them HEAVIER, and put a nonskid base on them. As I write this,
I have just pulled my ATT-issue (came with System 8.5) sculpture off
the desk for the umpteenth time. Guess I'll end up taping it to the
desk, like many do around here.

2. Shape the handsets to FIT THE HUMAN HEAD! Real people do not talk
daintily holding the handset in their fingertips. They jam it on one
shoulder so they write. This worthless thing promptly shoots out of
sight if you try.

3. Don't position the cord connectors so the handset cord tangles unto
itself 2 inches from the base. (see # 1, above). Put the line cord
where the it won't cause the phone to trip over it whenever you move
it six inches.

4. Put a button for each function! (ie, hold, transfer etc). Phones
should not require constant referral to the manual to operate; they
should be self-evident. While you're at it, make the buttons REAL,
with a click.  A pox on squishy membrane switches and finger-nail-tip
size buttons a quarter inch apart.

5. Make cords that don't lose their coil in a month, or that act like
a DNA molecule and coil back on themselves, with a non-porous surface
that doesn't get filthy immediately . (That also applies to the whole
phone. Make it cleanable!)

6. Make a ringer/bell that can be tracked by ear. In an office full of
chirping crickets, all with the speakers buried, it is often hard to
tell which one is ringing.

I could go on for another page, but you get the idea. Fancy sculptures
may sell well in the catalog or showroom, but are often miserable for
the users. (This translates to Lo$t productivity.)

Buyers: Get a thirty-day 'test-drive' clause.

Designers: (including ATT, WECO, etc): Go back and look at the 500 and
2500 series desk sets again. There is a reason they lasted so long,
and were so widely imitated. They WORKED!!!

Specific disclaimer: I do NOT speak for my agency. ( In fact, they do
not know I'm on here right now.)

Andy Meijers DRMS-LZA    <Standard Disclaimers Apply>   Phone:[phone]
Defense Reutilization & Marketing Service          FTS:552-7253 AV:932-7253
Battle Creek, MI 49017-3092      Internet:[e-mail]
UUCP:     {uunet!gould!dsacg1,osu-cis!dsacg1,eecae!dsacng1}!dlscg1!ameijers

------------------------------

Subject: Sleazy Touch-Tone Marketing Tactics
Date: Mon, 25 Sep 89 1:25:17 CDT
From: "David W. Tamkin" <[e-mail]>
Organization: Jolnet Public Access Unix: it's good to be home

  |From: 90784000 <[e-mail]>
  |Subject: Re: Central Office Answering Machine
  |Chet Wood wrote in Digest volume 9, issue 390:

| I had had non-touch-tone service in my home for years-- I was able to
| use touch-tones to dial with no problem, and was rather proud that I
| was avoiding the $1 + per month ripoff. About a year or two ago, the
| business office called my wife on some pretext to "review" our phone
| service, asked her the same question, and pressured her into ordering
| the extra service.

Not only Pac*Bell but also Illinois Bell.  My father has aphasia from a
stroke.  He has great difficulty making himself understood.

IBT marketing once phoned when he was home alone because I had taken
my mother grocery shopping.  When I brought her (and their groceries)
back to their house, my father told us quite clearly that IBT had
called, trying to get them to pay for tone service, and that he'd said
no.

Nonetheless, on their next bill two charges for tone service (they
have two lines) appeared, backdated to the date of the marketing call
and including the coming month.  The marketer had figured that dealing
with someone who had difficulty speaking gave him or her the right to
claim a fake sale.

I called the Illinois Bell business office for them and complained.  I
told them that my parents are perfectly willing to dial by pulse and
that they can switch their telephones over to tone after reaching the
other end when they call something that requires audio response.  The
representative tried to convince me that oh no, they can't do that
without paying for tone dialing!  If you don't pay for tone dialing,
your telephones cannot generate tones!

I demanded to speak to her supervisor and started over, asking for the
bill to be adjusted (it was, but how many people would have paid
without looking the bill over?) and for her to straighten out the
representative about audio response.  First marketing had recorded a
fake order and then the representative had either lied or proved too
stupid to do her own job.

| They probably are raking in several million dollars a year on that scam.

Pac*Bell and Illinois Bell both.

David Tamkin   [e-mail]  {attctc,netsys,ddsw1}!jolnet!dattier
P. O. Box 813  Rosemont, Illinois  60018-0813   [phone]  [phone]
BIX: dattier                   GEnie: D.W.TAMKIN               CIS: 73720,1570
Jolnet is a public access system, where every user expresses personal opinions.

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 26 Sep 89 21:31:36 +0100
From: [e-mail]
Subject: New Zealand Broadcast Call Signs
Reply-To: [e-mail]


Henry Mensch <[e-mail]> writes:
>New Zealand
>broadcast stations use a similar convention: the "ZL" becomes silent,
>and the number indicates location (1=North Island, 2=South Island).

Actually, it goes like this:

    ZL1xx = northern North Island, essentially Auckland
    ZL2xx = southern North Island, essentially Wellington
    ZL3xx = northern South Island, essentially Christchurch
    ZL4xx = southern South Island, essentially Dunedin

It is true that the stations *never* announce the "ZL".  One reason
for this is a sentimental attachment of many New Zealanders for Mother
England, whose stations' call signs really do start with numbers.
Thus the Auckland station ZL1YA sounds British and serious when it
calls itself "1YA".  Newer FM and rock stations, of course, since they
appeal to a younger audience who couldn't care less about Mother
England, are discarding the number as well:  ZL1ZM-FM, for example,
just calls itself "ZM-FM", and the Auckland University campus station,
ZL1BFM (I think), never identifies itself as anything other than
"Bifim".

### T. Mark James           #### opinions, errors etc are my own ###
### [e-mail]  ####
### [phone]     #### "The universe is a four-dimensional
################################  Moebius strip."  -- R. D. Ladd

------------------------------

From: Edward Greenberg <claris!netcom![e-mail]>
Subject: They're doing it again (was Chicago Cubs Trash Bell)
Date: 26 Sep 89 20:59:13 GMT
Reply-To: Edward Greenberg <claris!netcom![e-mail]>
Organization: NetCom- The Bay Area's Public Access Unix System {408 997-9175}

In Today's San Francisco Chronicle (reprinted without permission:)

"The A's announced plans for sale of tickets for any American League
Championship Series at the Coliseum.

"The sale, which begins at noon Thursday, will be by phone only through
the BASS/Ticketmaster system.  Approximately 2000 ALC strips ... will be
available. "

Phone numbers are in the 408-988, 415-762, 707-762, 916-932, 209-226,
209-466, and 1-800-225 prefixes.  All numbers suffix with 2277 which
is (surprise!) BASS.

Does anybody know if these are "Choke" exchanges?  If not, I think
phone service in northern CA is going to be history on Thursday at
noon.  :-)

Ed Greenberg
uunet!apple!netcom!edg

[Moderator's Note: Meanwhile, the Illinois Bell outage last Friday night
continues to stir controversy here. The figures are in now, and it appears
there were <twenty-eight million> -- yes, million! -- call attempts to
Ticketron between Friday, 6 PM and Sunday midnight. Between 25,000 - 30,000
actually got through to purchase tickets. Some pizza delivery manager, in
his ignorance, is talking about a class action lawsuit against Bell
due to the business he lost because pizza orders could not get through to
his establishment. Well, I was off line on the modem here for almost an
hour! I disconnected from a BBS at 6:02 PM, and could not raise dial tone
without the modem timing out for several hours. To get into the Northwestern
Annex box Friday night, I clicked on my speakerphone, listened in the
background to the clicks, pops and cross-talk (it was wild Friday night!)
and worked at my desk. Once dial tone came crashing through, I quickly
jumped on the modem, dialed manually, cut off the speaker and hoped to
goodness that I would ring through, which I did. It was a gas!   PT]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 26 Sep 89 11:01:33 -0700
From: "John R. Covert  26-Sep-1989 1349" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Phone Rates, U.S. to Australia

>we can now ring the USA for A$1.19 off peak [how does this compare with US
>to Aust costs?].

With the Australian dollar currently selling for A$1.26 to US$1, your rate
is equivalent to 94 cents per minute.  AT&T's economy rate is high ($2.16)
for the first minute, and then .81 per minute after that.  Thus a call of
13 minutes or less is cheaper if originated at the Australian end.

Using Sprint, at $1.84/.78 the crossover occurs after six minutes.

AT&T hasn't lowered rates to the Pacific for a long time; I think a
lowering of at least the initial minute is long overdue.

Add 3% tax to our rates (and in a few states, additional local tax).

Full info on AT&T and Sprint's rates:

3A-2P Econ $2.16  .81     1.84  .78
8P-3A Disc $2.66 1.03    2.52  .96
2P-8P Std  $3.32 1.35    3.25 1.28

Back to the U.S., on an AT&T calling card: 8.87 for the first 3, 1.35 after
that, with no discount based on time period.

/john

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 26 Sep 89 11:20:42 -0700
From: "John R. Covert  26-Sep-1989 1416" <[e-mail]>
Subject: ITI (10488) 0+

Greg Monti writes:

>dialed:  10 488 0 + valid out-of-LATA 10-digit number
>response:  "at the tone, please dial your card number or dial zero for the
>  ITI Operator" (pause) "beep (like an answering machine)"
>dialed:  my valid Bell Atlantic/AT&T card number
>response (after about 10 seconds):  "please wait for card verification"
>  (incredibly long pause, about 30 seconds of dead silence) "thank you for
>  using ITI; if the party you are calling is busy or does not answer, press 1
>  to leave up to a one minute message"  call rings through
>
>... Long distance carriers like ITT (whose 10 XXX is 488, above),
>who do not offer their own operator service route your calls
>to an AOS, which I believe ITI is, for billing.  Some AOS's, like ITI,
>offer value-added services as well, as above.

Hmm.  Fully automatic handling by ITI is new; it used to go to an operator
for entry.  I just made a call this way (and I know it will be more expensive
than via AT&T, but hey, gotta support my habit).  My experiment will be a
little cheaper than Greg's, because I keyed in my AMEX card number (no pin).
ITI charges slightly lower rates for using bank and T&E cards than for using
a telephone calling card.

I terminated the card number with a "#" and the call went through pretty fast.
Since they are supporting various different cards, they have to have a variable
length digit collection system.

/john

------------------------------

From: cblpe![e-mail]
Date: Tue, 26 Sep 89 15:45 EDT
Subject: First Long Distance Call

"John R. Levine" <[e-mail]> says:

> There are other telephone historical spots around Boston.  On Main Street in
> Cambridge is a building with a sign telling us that the first long-distance
> call happened there, between Cambridge and Boston.  I presume in that
> context long-distance means between different exchanges.

Hmm.  I visited the Bell Homestead (where Alexander's father lived) in
Brantford, Ontario.  According to one of the displays, the first long
distance call was made between Brantford and Paris (Ontario).

One of my old Bell Canada phonebooks made the same claim.

Jeff Frontz                                              Work:  [phone]
AT&T-Bell Labs (CB 1C-356)                               Cornet:       353-2797
att!jeff.frontz           [e-mail]            Home:  [phone]

------------------------------

From: David Purks <telenet!nessus![e-mail]>
Date: Tue, 26 Sep 89 9:48:17 EDT
Subject: Telenet/PCP Waives Enrollment Fee for User Groups


    This is an official release from Telenet's PC Pursuit Product
    Management...questions or comments can be directed to the address
    in the announcement, the email address uunet!telenet!dkpurks,
    or on our product support BBS (The Net Exchange).
                 ====================================

                         User Groups Promotion


Do you know someone who is a prospective customer for the PC Pursuit
service?

Between now and December 31st we will be offering a special promotion
for new customers who are members of a computer user group or
society.  We will waive the regular $30 sign-up fee.

It is very easy for new users to qualify.  The President or
Coordinator of the User Group must send a letter (preferably on
user group stationary), stating the purpose of the group, number
of new prospective Pursuit customers, group address and telephone
number to:

                   Product Manager, PC Pursuit
                   Mail Stop HQ24P
                   Telenet Communications Corporation
                   12490 Sunrise Valley Drive
                   Reston, Va. 22096

We will send appropriate sign up forms to be distributed and
returned.  After credit card verification and order acceptance, the
sign-up fee will be waived and users will receive their user Id and
password along with Pursuit documentation through the mail within 10
working days or less.

If you belong to a user group or know members of other user groups
please feel free to pass this information along.


David Purks
PC Pursuit Technical Coordinator
Telenet Communications Corporation
 ..!uunet!telenet!dkpurks

[Moderator's Note: I do believe PC Pursuit has to be one of the best deals
in data communications today. Prices as low as 83 cents per hour (when you
have the $50 for 60 hours per month package) really can't be beat. I've
been a subscriber to PCP since the first week it began operation, back in
1984. Even the $1 per hour ($30 for 30 hours per month) is a steal.

And of course I am not prejudiced or anything merely because TELECOM Digest
is available to users of the Net Exchange. Even without our little journal
of telephony being available to read at no charge there, PCP and the Net
Exchange would be a bargain.  PT]

------------------------------

From: Richard Childers <avsd![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: 10-Cent Pay Phones
Date: 26 Sep 89 19:45:53 GMT
Reply-To: Richard Childers <avsd![e-mail]>
Organization: Metaprogrammers International

uvm-gen![e-mail] (Jay Schuster) writes:

>[e-mail] (Mark A. Holtz) writes:
>>I am kinda wondering. . . . is there still some areas in this country
>>that still have payphones for a dime?

>Vermont payphones cost a dime.  They raised it to twenty cents a
>couple of years ago and there was an incredible outcry, so it went
>back down to a dime.

When I was in Atlanta for a USENIX a few years ago, I noticed that the
phones there seemed to cost a quarter ...

But everything else there seems pretty reasonably priced, so it's not
on account of the local economy ...

>Jay Schuster <[e-mail]>    uunet!uvm-gen!banzai!jay, attmail!banzai!jay
>The People's Computer Company    `Revolutionary Programming'

Richard


 *    "Domains constitute a futile attempt to defeat anarchy and otherwise    *
 *     retard progress." (Steve Bellovin, Peter Honeyman, pathalias(l))       *
 *                                                                            *
 *        ..{amdahl|decwrl|octopus|pyramid|ucbvax}!avsd.UUCP!childers         *
------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #410
*****************************










Date:     Wed, 27 Sep 89 2:00:57 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #411
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Wed, 27 Sep 89 02:00:09 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 411

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Re: The 'Public Telegraph Office' (Mike Morris)
    Re: ISDN Subscriber Equipment (Chris Schmandt)
    Re: ISDN Subscriber Equipment (Fred Goldstein)
    Re: Wrong Numbers With Nobody Talking (Roger Haaheim)
    Re: Wrong Numbers With Nobody Talking (Leonard P. Levine)
    Re: Number Editing on Telephones (Lang Zerner)
    Re: Telegraph History....Again! (Marc T. Kaufman)
    Re: Splits of NNX? (third attempt to mail in) (David Tamkin)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Mike Morris <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: The 'Public Telegraph Office'
Date: 25 Sep 89 08:58:58 GMT
Reply-To: Mike Morris <[e-mail]>


[e-mail] (John R. Levine) writes:

>In article <[e-mail]> you write:
>>typing. A small bell, driven by a <control-G> just like today ...

>Smallest nit of the week -- telex machines are all Baudot five-bit code,
>for which there's no such thing as a control key, just letter-shift and
>number-shift.  The bell is some number-shift key.

>[Moderator's Note: Well I believe it was the 'shift - 7' now that you mention
>it; and of course control-G is Ascii 7. Weren't the 'number-shift' keys
>essentially like control keys? How did they get line feed, carriage return,
>ENQ (who are you?) and answerback without control codes?  My handy Ascii
>chart here says control-E, or ASC(5) when sent polls the other end to

This isn't ascii!  7-bit ascii has 128 combinations, we have 5 bits with
32 combinations.  Like they say in Oregon: "Things are different here!"

>identify itself. What do you think?  PT]

Here's the map of the baudot / 3-row / pick your name..

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0   The upper case is the same in all character sets
    Q W E R T Y U I O P   for this row of the keyboard.

     -   $ ! &   ' ( )
     A S D F G H J K L

      "  /  :  ;  ?  ,  .
FIGS  Z  X  C  V  B  N  M  LTRS  LF  (blank)

         (space bar)


There is actually four different US character sets, plus the international set.
There is the "Military", the "Weather", the "TWX" and the "Telex" set.

LTRS    Int'l    Mil   TWX   TELEX   WX
 A        -       -     -      -     up arrow
 S        '       Bell  Bell   '     Bell
 D       currency $     $      WRU   upper right arrow
 F       DV*      !     1/4    $     right arrow
 G       DV*      &     &      &     lower right arrow
 H       DV*      STOP  DV*    #     down arrow
 J       Bell     '     ,      Bell  lower left arrow
 K       (        (     1/2    (     left arrow
 L       )        )     3/4    )     upper left arrow
 Z       +        "     "      "     +
 X       /        /     /      /      /
 C       :        :     WRU    :     circle
 V       =        ;     3/8    ;     circle with a vertical bar inside
 B       ?        ?     5/8    ?     circle with a + inside
 N       ,        ,     DV*    ,     circle (my chart dupes shift-C)
 M       .        .     .      .     .

DV* means "Domestic Variation"

My first machine was purchased from Southern Pacific, and had the "TWX"
character set - commonly knowin in ham circles as the "stock market" set.
Fortunately the Model 15 and 19 printers had a type basket with soldered-on
type pallets, and I was able to purchase replacement pallets (for 30 cents
apiece!) and solder them on.  Changing the shift-J bell to a "S-Bell"
required disassembling the machine and replaciing the decoding arm.
Interestingly, breaking off a tab allowed printing a bell character (like
the <Ma Bell logo) on the page, in addition to sounding the signal.  The
15 and 19 had a bell and cam-operated hammer, the 28 closed a contact which
powered a solenoid to ring the bell.

WRU was a contact closure.  The hardware varied with the vintage/user,
and could be a paper tape reader with a loop of tape, a toothed drum
with 32 rows of 5 teeth, that were broken out to create character codes,
or a bank of diodes and a rotary stepper switch.
STOP was a contact opening or closure, depending on the model.  It actually
turned the machine off, if the option was wired in.  I saw exactly one machine
where it was used.

Shift-H and shift-N in the TWX set varied with the user.  I've seen a shift-h
with the UK currency "L" on it, and with the double-dot-U (Scandinavian
character).

As to speeds, there were/are 8 "standards":
Pulses              Data   Stop
per                 Pulse  Pulse
Char   WPM   Baud   Ms     Ms      Use
7.42   61.33 45.45  22     31      US Bell system
7.0    65    45.5   22     22      US Western Union
7.5    66.67 50     20     30      ITU standard - Europe
7.42   67.33 50     20     28.4    US Military, for interoperation with allies
7.0    71.43 50     20     20      Old CCIT European standard
7.42   76.67 56.88  17.57  25      US "75 WPM" all commercial & military
7.42  100.0  74.2   13.47  19.18   US "100 WPM" all commercial & military
7.0   100.0  74.2   13.47  13.47   US military very limited use

The first two are compatible, the three 50-baud are compatible and the
two 100-wpm are compatible.

As a sidelight, I have seen more than one 60-wpm two-fingered typists.

Also, the model 32 machine was available with a 3-row keyboard as diagramed
above, and a 4-row that had the numbers on the 1st row, and the QWER... on the
second.  A mechanical lock that was triggered by the FIGS and LTRS keys would
lock out one or the other row.

I actually saw a implementation of a baudot BASIC running on an old
8080-based home computer in 1976-1977.  The gentleman had hacked the character
I/O drivers in a copy of a ASCII basic (the old Microsoft BASIC) to do
table lookup so that a 5-level TTY could be used.  He was using the military
character set, and things like "<" and ">" were translated into strings
like fortrans ".LT." and ".GT." - he had implemented .NE. for <>, etc.
I was amazed that it could be done, and flabbergasted that he did it in
a 8k system (note that 8k was the total RAM - which held the system, the
I/O lookup and the BASIC interpreter!).

I wish I had saved a copy of the I/O driver listing.

Mike Morris                      UUCP: [e-mail]
                                 ICBM: 34.12 N, 118.02 W
#Include quote.cute.standard     PSTN: 818-447-7052
#Include disclaimer.standard     cat flames.all > /dev/null

------------------------------

From: Chris Schmandt <mit-amt![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: ISDN Subscriber Equipment
Date: 26 Sep 89 03:07:30 GMT
Reply-To: Chris Schmandt <mit-amt![e-mail]>
Organization: MIT Media Lab, Cambridge MA


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Fred
Fierling) writes:

>... I understand that it would be possible for two
>independent calls to be handled on each of the B channels.  So, how would
>both telephones perform call set up and tear down on the one D channel?

Not an issue.  No different from setting up a voice call on the B1 channel
and a data call on the B2 channel with today's sets.  (my experience
being limited to the AT&T 7506 set).  During a "call", the D channel
is in no way "dedicated" or tied to it.  Q.931 provides bit fields to
support connections to several entities simultaneously.  In fact,
while handling the above scenario I suspect you could also sustain
an X.25 data link over the D channel, be reporting gas meter usage,
etc. all at once.

chris

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: ISDN Subscriber Equipment
Date: 25 Sep 89 21:55:28 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation, Littleton MA USA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Fred
Fierling) writes...
>>From what I've read I understand that the U interface would be provided
>via an single pair coming from the CO to the subscriber's premises and
>terminate on an NT1 box which would provide the S/T interface to all
>digital telephones on the premises.
>Assuming this is correct, I understand that it would be possible for two
>independent calls to be handled on each of the B channels.  So, how would
>both telephones perform call set up and tear down on the one D channel?

The D channel has a contention-resolution protocol associated with it.
Each terminal  has a unique address (TEI) so the network knows which one
is which; there's a procedure for auto-assigning TEIs, or they can be
manually set.  The TEI is part of the LAPD protocol, essentially a
variant on LAPB with multiplexing.

      Fred

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Roger Haaheim)
Subject: Re: Wrong Numbers With Nobody Talking
Date: 23 Sep 89 14:31:50 GMT
Organization: HP Design Tech Center - Santa Clara, CA

Sounds like an autodialer listening for a "modem carrier";  when it
doesn't get one, it hangs up and goes on to the next number.

------------------------------

From: Leonard P Levine <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Wrong Numbers With Nobody Talking
Date: 26 Sep 89 17:54:46 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail]


 From article <[e-mail]>, by [e-mail].
ca.us (Sharon Fisher):
>>Anyway, it could
>>be a modem calling you (like a wrong number in someone's Systems file!)
>>and you would hear nothing when you answered. Remember, an originating
>>modem needs to hear the answering modem's tone before it will speak. If
>>you have a modem, you might let it answer your phone for awhile and see
>>if something connects with it:-)

I know that you can whistle a modem up.  Try responding to this no voice
caller with a swept frequency whistle.  Often modems will "hook up" and
then disconnect when you do it.  A click, a bleep and a hangup will
result.

+ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - +
| Leonard P. Levine                  e-mail [e-mail] |
| Professor, Computer Science             Office [phone] |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee       Home   [phone] |
| Milwaukee, WI 53201 U.S.A.              FAX    [phone] |
+ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - +

------------------------------

From: Lang Zerner <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Number Editing on Telephones
Date: 26 Sep 89 18:13:51 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Lang Zerner)
Organization: The Great Escape, Inc


In article <[e-mail]> vicorp![e-mail].
net (Charlie Goldensher) writes:
>In article <[e-mail]> you write:
>>It has to be the most frustrating thing I can think of to wait five
>>minutes for a dial tone only to accidentally dial a wrong digit and
>>have to hang up and (after waiting for new dial tone!) start over.

>This brings up a question that I've had for some time.  Is there a
>telephone set on the market with editing capability?

Well, you could get a cheap terminal and modem, as long as the modem had a
"dial but don't originate data connection" command.  Hayes-compatible modems
let you do this by adding a semicolon to the regular dial command (e.g.
"ATDT5551212;").  This method may seem like overkill if you don't already use a
terminal and modem, but it makes a lot of sense for someone like me who has the
equipment on his desk anyway, often sitting idle.  The Everex Evercom24E modem
which I use even has a built-in speakerphone, so I don't need any additional
telephone equipment for that line.

Be seeing you...

Lang Zerner
[e-mail]   UUCP:bionet!asylum!langz   ARPA:[e-mail]
"...and every morning we had to go and LICK the road clean with our TONGUES!"

------------------------------

From: "Marc T. Kaufman" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Telegraph History....Again!
Date: 25 Sep 89 15:30:37 GMT
Reply-To: "Marc T. Kaufman" <[e-mail]>
Organization: Stanford University, Computer Science Dept.


In article <[e-mail]> Gabe Wiener <gabe@sirius.
ctr.columbia.edu> writes:

>When Thomas A. Edison was a teenager in the 1860's, he used to work in
>a telegraph office.  At one point, he was assigned to work the
>graveyard shift.  Now in those days, a telegraph operator would have
>to send a six over the line (represented at the time by the morse
>signal ......, although the MODERN morse signal is -....).

That's because the telegraph code was American Morse, which cannot send
dashes.  Everything was dots, and the timing between them.  Telegraphs had
sounders, not buzzers.

Marc Kaufman ([e-mail])

[Moderator's Note: In about two weeks, I am going to run a story about the
Western Union operator who was on duty in Chicago on the Sunday night of
the Great Fire, in 1871. He was interviewed by the [Chicago Tribune] thirty
years later, in 1901.   PT]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 25 Sep 89 11:12 CDT
From: David Tamkin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Splits of NNX?
Organization: Jolnet Public Access Unix

 From Carl Moore, in volume 9, issue 389:

| I am also NOT aware of N0X/N1X prefixes in use in the following
| splits after 1980:
| 305/407 in Florida
| 303/719 in Colorado

[The absence of N0X/N1X in the 617/508 split had been noted before.]

| The only splits from 1965 thru 1981 are:
| 305/904 in Florida in 1965 (305 was split again last year to form 407)
| 703/804 in Virginia in 1973 (N0X/N1X has since come to DC area, with
|    some of those prefixes coming to Va. suburbs, in 703)

And 713/409 in Texas in perhaps the mid-'70's, and 714/619 in California
around 1979 or 1980.

| [Moderator's Note: The 703/804 split was the first, nearly twenty five years
| ago, if memory serves me. Then the 305/904 split. Then none for many years,
| until the one in New York. Is my timing correct?  PT]

I think the very first split was 404/912 in Georgia.

Probably the only splits where N0X/N1X prefixes *were* used first have been
213/818, 212/718, 312/708, and 201/908 (unless one considers the change from
seven-digit to eleven-digit interstate dialing in metropolitan DC a "split").
NNX adherence seems to be the rule rather than the exception: I believe
214/903 and 415/510 will be splitting without use of N0X/N1X.

David Tamkin   [e-mail]  {attctc,netsys,ddsw1}!jolnet!dattier
P. O. Box 813  Rosemont, Illinois  60018-0813   [phone]  [phone]
BIX: dattier                   GEnie: D.W.TAMKIN               CIS: 73720,1570
Jolnet is a public access system, where every user expresses personal opinions.

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #411
*****************************










Date:     Wed, 27 Sep 89 20:20:49 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #412
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Wed, 27 Sep 89 20:20:18 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 412

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Special Information Tones (Larry Lippman)
    Digital Channel Banks (Bernard Mckeever)
    Tone Plant & Stromberg-Carlson (Larry Lippman)
    10XXX From Pay Phones (Was: Trapping 10333 by AT&T) (John R. Levine)
    Telegrams in the 1980s (Craig Jackson)
    Wanted: Technical Info on Rolm CBX 8000 System (Timothy Coddington)
    Information Wanted About GEOnet (Henning Schulzrinne)
    MCI Card "Test Drive" (Mark Robert Smith)
    Help: Internet -> GEnie (Katsu Suzuki)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Special Information Tones
Date: 26 Sep 89 23:29:11 EDT (Tue)
From: Larry Lippman <kitty![e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> carroll1![e-mail].
net (Dave Troup) writes:
>    Does anyone know what the recording alert tones are? You know-those
>    dee-doo-DOO, "The number you have reached..." What are the frequencies
>    to them.  Ive NEVER been able to find out what those are.

    These tones are called SIT (Special Information Tones).  Their
purpose is to permit an automatic Call Disposition Analyzer (CDA) to
differentiate between a human voice and a recorded announcement, and
to categorize the type of recorded announcement.

    A Call Disposition Analyzer is an automatic device, today totally
computer-controlled, which automatically dials test calls over certain
test subscriber lines, tandem trunks and intertoll trunks for the purpose
of evaluating the connectivity and grade of service of all or a portion of
the DDD network.  A CDA may access a local subscriber line and outpulse
using DP or DTMF, or in the case of tandem or intertoll trunks outpulse
using MF.  A CDA may be programmed to dial a milliwatt test line (102-type
from tandem or intertoll) or a transmission/noise measurement ATMS responder
test line (105-type from tandem or intertoll).  The results of test calls
are logged and categorized.  The SIT tones facilitate categorizing a call
failure which results in a recording.

    I don't know the SIT frequencies, either, except that they are not
far from 600 Hz.  The two CDA's which I have seen (Northeast Electronics
and WECO) did not in fact have any frequency discrimination circuitry;
they merely looked for three sequential tones occurring in less than
3 seconds using a bandpass filter centered around 600 Hz.

    Actually, I believe that AT&T had some more grandiose plans for
the SIT tones which in fact were not implemented.  Last I knew - which
is actually some years ago - the same department at AT&T which assigned
the verbal tandem and intertoll announcement failure codes for recordings
said stay tuned for SIT assignments.  I stayed tuned for a while, but
never heard anything. :-)

<> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. - Uniquex Corp. - Viatran Corp.
<> UUCP  {allegra|boulder|decvax|rutgers|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry
<> TEL [phone] | 716/773-1700  {hplabs|utzoo|uunet}!/      \uniquex!larry
<> FAX [phone] | 716/773-2488      "Have you hugged your cat today?"

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 26 Sep 89 08:54:45 EDT
From: Bernard Mckeever <[e-mail]>
Subject: Digital Channel Banks
Reply-To: [e-mail] (bernard.mckeever,54236,mv,3b045,508 960 6289)
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories

Here's a subject I haven't seen here before. I'll start it off and
hope that [insert your name here] has the time to provide us with
another of his informative articles. BTW, The traffic on this group is
picking up and I notice that MANY of the readers have extensive
knowledge of the "early days". Keep up the good work! Please feel free
to correct any mistakes in the following.
             ==========================================

The first commercially available digital channel bank for use by the
telephone company was introduced in the early 60's and went by the
name of the D1 channel bank, also known, at that time, as T1 carrier.
Some time latter T1 carrier would be used to describe only the
interoffice facility used for transport, and D1 would refer to the
D1-A bank. The system used Pulse Code Modulation [PCM] and channels
shared the facility by means of Time Division Multiplexing [TDM]. Each
channel bank could provide 24 time slots [channels] and the the
channel units and related common equipment were called a digroup. The
banks function was to convert voice frequency and channel signaling
information into a string of 1's and 0's and take this same string at
the far end and turn it back into its' original form.

As someone mentioned D1-A [D1-B] used A-law encoding a 100 step linear
encoding scheme to "digitize the voice signal.  Signals were first
sampled and converted to a Pulse Amplitude Modulated [PAM] signal and
passed to the COder/DECoder [CODEC] for conversion to 7 bit digital
codes, an additional signaling bit was added to each byte to form an 8
bit byte. Each channel was sampled 8,000 times per second and at the
end of 24 bytes, a framing bit was added. This gave us a multiplexed
line rate of 1.544,000 bits per second. Also as mentioned D2 used
u-255 [Mu-255] a non linear encoding scheme that used 8 bit voice
encoding in 5 of 6 frames and 7 bit encoding every 6th frame. In every
6th frame a signaling bit was added to each byte. The frames were now
aligned into a 12 frame Super Frame [SF], during frame 6 signaling
information was sent on the "A highway" and in frame 12 on the "B
highway". This required the frame bit to "share" information so the
terminal and the signaling equipment knew when thing were in sync.

D2 banks did not last long but were the 1st Toll grade digital
terminals. Next in the series was D3 terminal banks. About 1/2 the
size of a D1 bank D3 used the same line coding [SF] as D2 and provided
additional Special Service Applications. Each system mentioned used
the same line rate [1.544.000 b/s] but were not end to end compatible.
Each used a different channel counting sequence. In theory you could
connect D2 and D3 but why bother, most of the systems by that time
were either D1-B or D3.  D1-B was not compatible with D2 or D3 because
of the different encoding schemes. Next came D1-D a major retrofit to
D1-B that used the same encoding and framing scheme as D3. This
allowed the VERY large base of older D banks to be upgraded to Toll
grade service and to provide additional special service applications.

One of the first uses of D1-D to D3 caused some embarrassment to the
testers who turned up the system. They said everything is OK and the
Circuit Provisioning Center [CPC] started to assign service. The 1st
circuit turned up without a problem but they could not tone out
channel 2 for the second circuit.  After hours of head scratching
someone [me] remembered that D1 banks count channels 1, 13, 2,
14,....12, 24, and that D3 counted 1, 2, 3,....23, 24.  when the
system was accepted they only toned out channels 1 and 24, quite a
common practice. They forgot to install the adapter at the D3 end of
the span because at that time they did not know a D1 would be at the
other end.

After D3 came D4 [what else] a 2 digroup system [48 channels] that
could operate at several line rates DS-1 DS-1C DS2 and provided twice
as much service in the same amount of space as a D3 bank. Today, by
far, D4 banks are the dominant system in North America. D4 also is the
basis for SLC-96 carrier systems.

Many other digital terminals still exist in the network and a new
generation of them are starting to take over where remote operating
centers are in place.


------------------------------

Subject: Tone Plant & Stromberg-Carlson
Date: 26 Sep 89 23:33:02 EDT (Tue)
From: Larry Lippman <kitty![e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(John Higdon) writes:
> The dial and busy/reorder tones in a stock Stromberg XY are generated
> by a device which uses a single vacuum tube. Ringback comes from a
> vibrating reed device (and sounds like a fart). The sound made by the
> dial tone generator is reminiscent of the old WE SXS "honker" tone but
> has a more mellow timbre.

    Anything is possible with Stromberg-Carlson, I suppose.  I have
not seen any S-C tone generators which used vacuum tubes, however.  All
of the S-C F40 and F80 XY PABX's used ferroresonant tone and ringing
generators, which I believe were made by Warren.  In the case of S-C XY
CO's that I have seen, while the office interrupter panel was always S-C,
the tone plant was usually Warren and solid-state (Warren had solid-state
tone plant in the 1950's).  I have also seen Lorain solid-state tone
plant in XY CO's, along with some older Holzer-Cabot ringing-tone machines.
No vacuum tubes, though.

    Now, in my humble opinion, if there is an apparatus manufacturer
worthy of bashing, it is Stromberg-Carlson.  XY worked well until the first
careless switchman or screwed-up selector or connector banged into the
wire bank multiple.  No matter how one tried, one could NEVER get a banged
wire multiple straight enough so that it again worked reliably.  As far as
I am concerned, XY ran on a wing and a prayer, and was pure junk.

    S-C was notorious for test apparatus that was built into cheap
flakeboard cases, painted a mottled maroon.  Even when S-C came out with
their electronic Cross-Reed systems (which were awful), the test sets
were STILL built in a junky case which flaked wood and paint just by
looking at it.  It's hard to get a feeling of quality when your $ 1,000,000
ESS switch comes with test sets which look like painted orange crates.

> Although rapidly disappearing, the California desert is peppered with
> exchanges using the XY.

    It's a good place for 'em.  I'm certain that XY apparatus, suitably
placed in the desert, will retard soil erosion.

    See, *I* can bash, too. :-)

<> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. - Uniquex Corp. - Viatran Corp.
<> UUCP  {allegra|boulder|decvax|rutgers|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry
<> TEL [phone] | 716/773-1700  {hplabs|utzoo|uunet}!/      \uniquex!larry
<> FAX [phone] | 716/773-2488      "Have you hugged your cat today?"

------------------------------

From: "John R. Levine" <[e-mail]>
Subject: 10XXX From Pay Phones (Was: Trapping 10333 by AT&T)
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Segue Software, Cambridge MA
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 89 02:16:51 GMT

In article <[e-mail]> ficc![e-mail]
writes:
>I would hardly think that Sprint (my carrier of choice) has no access to LA!

When I was at LAX last week, I had no trouble sticking my FON card
into one of the PacTel card reader phones and making a Sprint call.
(Which is more than you can do here in Boston, the card reader phones
at Logan don't know about MCI or Sprint cards.)

It is true that although MCI and Sprint are set up to take calls from
pay phones, a lot of the COs don't seem to handle 10XXX from pay
phones very well.  But I have two questions:

1 - If I dial 10333+0+number from a pay phone, I get a
familiar-sounding bong and can dial in a calling card number.  From a
non-pay phone on the same prefix, I get a live operator.  This seems
to be the case for both MCI and Sprint?  Why?

2 - When calling as above from a payphone, I can use my New England
Tel card number, which is the same as my AT&T number, of course, but I
can't use my FON card number.  Why don't they accept their own cards?
Again, the same situation holds with MCI.


John R. Levine, Segue Software, POB 349, Cambridge MA 02238, [phone]
[e-mail], {ima|lotus}!esegue!johnl, [e-mail]
Massachusetts has 64 licensed drivers who are over 100 years old.  -The Globe

------------------------------

From: Craig Jackson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Telegrams in the 1980's
Date: Tue, 26 Sep 89 9:39:34 EDT

Somebody asked what 'telegrams' were used for today.  I don't believe that
true telegrams exist in the U.S. anymore, meaning written communications
handled on both ends by Western Union, but 'telegrams' still have a special
place in U.S. legal usage.  Twice, I have sold houses when I was out of town
when I accepted the offer.  In each case, the real-estate agent instructed
me to send a telegram indicating acceptance.  In both cases, I actually
called the telegram in to the 800 number; in the most recent case, the
telegram was actually delivered by mail, WU no longer having any messengers
in this area (Boston).

I've never checked this usage with a lawyer; it could be that the real-estate
agents were just using old practices.  But some of them hadn't been in the
business long enough to be familiar with real telegrams.

Craig Jackson
[e-mail]
{bbn,ll-xn,axiom,redsox,atexnet,ka3ovk}!drilex!{dricej,dricejb}

------------------------------

From: Timothy Coddington <[e-mail]>
Subject: Wanted: Technical Info on Rolm CBX 8000 System
Date: 27 Sep 89 16:33:58 GMT
Organization: Carnegie-Mellon University (Software Engineering Institute), Pgh,
  PA

   I'm looking for a source for information on the Rolm CBX 8000
system.  If anyone knows where I can get schematics or a detailed
maintenance manual I would greatly appreciate it.  Also, I would
like to hear from anyone knows the inside of this beast.

   Thanks

   Tim Coddington   email [e-mail]
            412-268-7712/244-8557

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Sep 89 17:53 EST
From: Henning Schulzrinne <[e-mail]>
Subject: Information Wanted About GEOnet

I would appreciate any information about GEOnet, a commercial mail
and data network, especially concerning gateways to Internet.

Thanks in advance.

Henning Schulzrinne  ([e-mail])
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Amherst, MA 01003 - USA

phone: [phone] (EST)       FAX:   [phone]

------------------------------

From: Mark Robert Smith <[e-mail]>
Subject: MCI Card "Test Drive"
Date: 27 Sep 89 00:00:00


MCI has a Test Drive number as well.  It works more or less like ATT's.

You call 1-800-950-TEST, and follow the steps.  You don't need to use a valid
card number - I used a bad one and it continued anyway.


Mark Smith, KNJ2LH                All Rights Reserved
RPO 1604               You may redistribute this article only if those who
P.O. Box 5063                 receive it may do so freely.
New Brunswick, NJ 08903-5063              [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Katsu Suzuki <[e-mail]>
Date: 27 Sep 89 18:54:39 GMT
Subject: Help! Internet -> GEnie
Organization: University of Michigan EECS Dept., Ann Arbor


Could someone help me?

My friend want me to send some message via e-mail, and he has
account on GEnie. I have account on Internet. I don't want to
join GEnie.(It is too costly for me!)

Does someone knows how to send e-mail to GEnie from internet?

Please e-mail me at [e-mail]
Thanks in advance.

   _____      _____
  |     \    /     |
  |_     \  /     _|
    |     \/     |   Katsu Suzuki
    |  |\    /|  |     Department of Aerospace Engineering
    |  | \  / |  |     University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
   _|  |_ \/ _|  |_
  |      |  |      |     [e-mail]
  |______|  |______|     [e-mail]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #412
*****************************










Date:     Wed, 27 Sep 89 21:13:13 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #413
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Wed, 27 Sep 89 21:10:18 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 413

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Re: Reminiscing: Mass Calling Prefixes (213) 520, etc. ([e-mail])
    Re: Reminiscing: Mass Calling Prefixes (213) 520, etc. (Joe Talbot)
    Re: They're Doing It Again (was Chicago Cubs Trash Bell) (Edward Greenberg)
    Re: Radio Station Names (Australia, Canada, HCJB) (Michael Katzmann)
    Re: Telegraph History....Again! (Gabe Wiener)
    Re: Cut Down Your Long Distance Bills From 10% to 35% (Edward Greenberg)
    Re: Phone Design For Humans (Gabe Wiener)
    Re: Number Editing on Telephones (Edward S. Sachs)
    Re: Splits of NNX (Carl Moore)

[Moderator's Note: BULLETIN! As this issue was set for transmission, a
message arrived from John Higdon saying the A's and the Giants are going
into the playoffs. San Fransisco is, at this hour, experiencing the same
problems Chicago had several days ago, with everyone on the phone at one
time. There however, tipped off to the possibility by the fiasco in
Chicago last week, the telco is working to keep things moving. A message
will be in the next Digest from Mr. Higdon discussing it.  PT]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 26 Sep 89 02:22:37 MDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Reminiscing: Mass Calling Prefixes (213) 520, etc.

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] writes:
> Ah yes, I have stories about the mass calling prefixes (or numbers) in
> Connecticut (there weren't any) and elsewhere.

In the mid-fifties when television was in it's infancy, one of local
stations teamed with a super market chain to produce an audience
participation version of Bingo.  The playing slips were passed out at
the super market during the week.  Then on Saturday evening at 6 or 7 pm
the station had a 'LIVE' show during which the numbers were picked with
the usual column of air blowing numbered ping-pong balls from the bin.

Innocently, the TV station advertised it's own telephone number.  "Gee,
with a ten line PBX, we can handle the calls."  No way!  When the game
progressed to the point that boards were nearly complete, the calls
started to come in and all the telephones in downtown Denver quit
working.

On Monday, the Engineering staff was put to work to find a way that this
wouldn't happen again.  The TV station and the super-market had spent a
lot of money promoting the game so they were 'extremely' reluctant to
postpone future shows just because of an inconvenience to the Phone
Company.

Obviously the solution required additional equipment but where could they
find the equivalent of another Central Office in less than than a week?
Then someone eyed the companies own PBX.  It was the equivalent of a
central office and virtually unused at that time of the week.

During normal working hours some twenty operators were employed answering
incoming calls.  All the requests for service, personal calls to
employees as well as the many business calls were handled through the
one rotary number ( TAbor 5-4171 ).  But on Saturday night, only two
ladies were enough to handle the low volume of traffic.  Even then, they
brought in knitting to keep themselves busy.

Since the Central Office equipment and the PBX were in the same
building, it was a reasonable task to tie-in the PBX to the general
network.  They then assigned an unused prefix to generate a pseudo-exchange.
Calls coming into this pseudo-exchange were to be routed to the PBX and
paesed out to the TV station on a special line.

When the next Saturday night rolled around, the TV station announced
a different number in the pseudo-exchange for each game.  Actually, it
didn't matter what number they used used, everything went to them
anyhow but it added drama to the show.  They didn't announce the number
until half way through each game so the people at home could become
anxious as their boards began to fill in.

Everything worked well at the phone company except for one minor detail.
They forgot about the switchboard.  When all these calls came in on the
PBX, the switchboard lit up like a Christmas tree.  The poor operators
were sure that the city had suffered a major calamity and they nearly
had heart attacks.

The next week, the switchboard was blocked out except for the couple of
lines reserved for company use.

This tale was related to me at the time by my father.  He was in the
Dial Traffic Engineering group at Mountain States Tel. & Tel., now U. S.
West Communications etc. etc. etc. ( Why they ever adopted such an
obnoxiously long name, snows me! )  It was his job to get something
working in one week's time.

Vernon C. Hoxie               {ncar,nbires,boulder,isis}!scicom!zebra!vern
3975 W. 29th Ave.                    voice: 303-477-1780
Denver, Colo., 80212                  TB+     uucp: 303-455-2670


------------------------------

From: Joe Talbot <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Reminiscing: Mass Calling Prefixes (213) 520, etc.
Date: 27 Sep 89 10:59:09 GMT
Organization: ATI, High desert research center, Victorville, Ca


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] writes:

> I am fairly sure that 520 had a step tandem of sorts, because you
> always got the familiar rapid busy signal if you overloaded the tandem
> switch.  Bop bop bop bop bop bop............. At the very least it was
> a step front end to the final machine making it impossible to be
> quick-on-the-fingers.

213 520 was one of the strangest things I've ever encountered. Calling
the same number several times, you would sometimes receive ESS precise
busy signal or ring, sometimes SXS "honker" busy or ring. Certain
numbers always gave you SXS ring/busy etc. It always dial pulsed into
the switch (whatever it was!). That all finally went away maybe 6 or 7
years ago. Does anybody know the story on 213 520 ?

joe@mojave
I finally changed my dumb signature. People were always telling me what
a great signature I had.

------------------------------

From: Edward Greenberg <claris!netcom![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: They're Doing It Again (was Chicago Cubs Trash Bell)
Date: 27 Sep 89 23:17:15 GMT
Reply-To: Edward Greenberg <claris!netcom![e-mail]>
Organization: NetCom- The Bay Area's Public Access Unix System {408 997-9175}


In article <[e-mail]> I write:

>"The A's announced plans for sale of tickets for any American League
>Championship Series at the Coliseum.

>"The sale, which begins at noon Thursday, will be by phone only through
>the BASS/Ticketmaster system.  Approximately 2000 ALC strips ... will be
>available. "

Yesterdays news indicates that Pacific Bell is taking specific steps
to avoid a fiasco like the one in Illinois.  They state that each CO
will send excess calls to recordings, so that the network doesn't come
to it's knees.

The news sounds like Pacific Bell is doing something new to protect
against overload, not that the facility has always been in place.  Of
course, this was a PR person talking to the news, and perhaps he was
simplifying.  He also made the point that Bass receives calls from
four different CO's in four different area codes, rather than one central
CO being on the receiving end.

Well, it's an hour and a half away from H-Hour, (the Giants are doing
the same thing tonight) so we'll see, I guess.  Me -- I'm off to the
ballgame.
                -edg

Ed Greenberg
uunet!apple!netcom!edg

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 26 Sep 89 12:42:38 -0400
From: Michael Katzmann <fe2o3![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Radio Station Names (Australia, Canada, HCJB)
Reply-To: Michael Katzmann <fe2o3![e-mail]>
Organization: Rusty's BSD machine at home


In article <[e-mail]> Rich Wales <wales@cs.
ucla.edu> writes:
   >In article <[e-mail]>
   >munnari!ucsvc.unimelb.edu.au![e-mail] describes radio
   >station names in Australia:
   >
   >    Radio station call signs are of the form N-cc for AM and
   >    N-ccc-FM for FM eg in Sydney (NSW) there are 2BL, 2WS,
   >    2ABC-FM, 2JJJ-FM, 2-DAY-FM etc and in Melbourne (Vic) there
   >    are 3LO, 3AK, 3MMM-FM (triple M) 3-FOX-FM (the Fox) etc.
   >
   >
   >There is apparently no international requirement that radio stations
   >all have call letters conforming to the international (ITU) plan.  If
   >there were such a requirement, Australian stations would have call
   >letters starting with AX, VH-VN, or VZ.
   >

The origin of this system is I think, related to the British system of
broadcasting station callsigns.

One of the first British Broadcasting Company stations (as it was then)
was 2LO. This translated to the antipodes as the Melbourne station 3LO.
The system was just perpetuated.

Since (generally speaking) the MW stations from Australia (and of course
the VHF stations) would not cause interference to any other countries
(with the exception of NZ, PNG and Indonesia), the need to be under the
international call sign system is less than for European and other countries.

Incidentally some broadcasing stations (educational and similar) do follow
ITU callsigns. One example is the University of New South Wales radio and tv
stations that had callsigns of VL2UV and VITU respectively.

email to
UUCP:       uunet!mimsy!{arinc,fe203}!vk2bea!michael
                          _ _ _                    _
     Amateur    |    VK2BEA    (Australia)      ' ) ) )      /           //
     Radio    |    G4NYV    (United Kingdom)  / / / o _. /_  __.  _  //
    Stations|    NV3Z    (United States)     / ' (_<_(__/ /_(_/|_</_</_

Michael Katzmann
Broadcast Sports Technology.
2135 Espey Ct. #4
Crofton Md. 21114 USA

Ph: [phone]

------------------------------

From: Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Telegraph History....Again!
Reply-To: Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]>
Organization: Columbia University Center for Telecommunications Research
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 89 14:41:48 GMT

In article <[e-mail]> "Marc T. Kaufman"
<[e-mail]> writes:

>That's because the telegraph code was American Morse, which cannot send
>dashes.  Everything was dots, and the timing between them.  Telegraphs had
>sounders, not buzzers.

Sorry, that isn't quite correct.  Yes, the code was the American Morse
Code, but American Morse _does_ indeed have dashes.  Many of the characters
are identical to the International Morse Code used today.   As soon as I
find my American Morse chart, I'll post a side-by-side chart of American
vs. International Morse.


Gabe Wiener - Columbia Univ.      "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings
[e-mail]              to be seriously considered as a means of
[e-mail]        communication. The device is inherently of
[e-mail]          no value to us."

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Cut down your long distance phone bills from 10% to 35%
Organization: NetCom- The Bay Area's Public Access Unix System {408 997-9175}
Date: 26 Sep 89 16:02:48 PDT (Tue)
From: Edward Greenberg <netcom![e-mail]>

I wonder what this fellow is selling.

In article <[e-mail]> from ca.general, it is written:

>    For long distance phone calls, the charge from the most expensive
>    one to the least expensive ones are : AT&T, MCI, Sprint.
>    The rate I am going to introduce to you is 10% lower than Sprint.
>
>The advantage:
>
>1. Highest quality phone network provided by Sprint/MCI.
>2. Lowest rate. (10% lower than sprint for the whole day, no day
>   rate, evening rate, night rate)
>3. No cost to you, except if you are AT&T and will be moved to
>   Sprint's service, PAC BELL will charge 5 dollars one time fee
>   for the move. If you are on Sprint or MCI now, there is no
>   charge from Pac Bell.
>
>How to register:
>
>1. Fill out a application form (easy form), sign it and send back to me.
>What is the difference on service:
>
>1. No difference at all.
>
>2. No extra number to dial.
>
>3. 800 number for customer service.
>
>4. travel card available.
>
>Give me call if you have more question.
>
>Sign up today, you have nothing to lose !
>And tell your friends about it.
>Thanks !
>
>Victor Jieh
>408-276-4192 (O)
>408-253-1639 (H)
>1025 Miller Ave.
>San Jose, CA 95129

[Moderator's Note: Well, I have to wonder myself what he is selling. It
might be Sprint WATS, thus it is a little cheaper than regular Sprint,
but I dunno. I wonder if he is brokering for Sprint. The clues he gives
are (1) no day/evening/night differential and (2) no changeover fee if
already on Sprint. He may have a user group or club which purchases
Sprint in bulk (such as WATS) and re-sells it. How about someone in 408
checking him out and posting a report.  PT]

------------------------------

From: Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phone Design For Humans
Reply-To: Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]>
Organization: Columbia University Center for Telecommunications Research
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 89 21:37:29 GMT

In article <[e-mail]> dsacg1!dlscg1!drms3002@
cis.ohio-state.edu (Andy Meijers) writes:

>Designers: (including ATT, WECO, etc): Go back and look at the 500 and
>2500 series desk sets again. There is a reason they lasted so long,
>and were so widely imitated. They WORKED!!!

Speaking of the 2500, is it still with us?  Does AT&T (or ITT, or GTE,
or Stromberg Carlson (comdial) or whoever) still manufacture a _real_
2500 set?  I remember when a friend went to buy a 2500 set a few
years ago, what he came back with was truly horrible.  Worse, it was
made by AT&T.  It had --

    - A square handset
    - Buttons that generated short tone bursts
    - A wimpy electronic ringer.   A ringer should be MECHANICAL and
      it should be LOUD!
    -An el-cheapo keypad that had little travel, and had the
     cutesy yuppie ringer volume and other such stuff right
     on the front panel.
    -No weight.  You could breathe and the thing might fly away.

Is this the evolution (or shall I say devolution) of the venerable 2500
set?  I'd better hang on to the one I have.  It may well be worth something
one day.


Gabe Wiener - Columbia Univ.      "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings
[e-mail]              to be seriously considered as a means of
[e-mail]        communication. The device is inherently of
[e-mail]          no value to us."

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Sep 89 08:26:14 CDT
From: Edward S Sachs <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Number Editing on Telephones
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories


In article <[e-mail]>, vicorp![e-mail].
net (Charlie Goldensher) writes:
> This brings up a question that I've had for some time.  Is there a
> telephone set on the market with editing capability?

One alternative is to program the number you wish to call into
one of the "memories" of your telephone before you start your
call in attempts.  (Now everyone has a telephone with an n number
memory, where n is somewhere between 3 and 100, don't they?)
I've discovered that, on my AT&T 1600 telephone, the "redial"
button can be programmed without dialing a call, just by using
the same method as to program any of the other memory buttons.
The digital display of the number dialed on the phone helps a lot,
too!
            Ed Sachs
            AT&T Bell Laboratories, Naperville, IL
            att!ihlpb!essachs, [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date:     Wed, 27 Sep 89 11:31:34 EDT
From:     Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Re:  Splits of NNX?

(This is primarily in answer to David Tamkin's comments).

714/619 in California was in 1982
713/409 in Texas was in 1983
(my list appearing in telecom had these)

When was 404/912 done?  I had never heard of that one before.
Does anyone in Bellcore know about the splits occurring before
305/904 in 1965?

No, 214 area DOES have N0X/N1X prefixes, although these may be limited
to Dallas area rather than popping up in distant places like Tyler and
Texarkana.  Also, 415 did prepare for N0X/N1X (I have not yet come
across any such prefixes, however).

Earlier mail to telecom said that the inter-areacode local calls in DC
area will be TEN (not eleven) digits, where the leading 1+ is left
off.  Toll calls require the leading 1+.  I called this an areacode
split because area code 202 is being reduced to DC proper (to allow
for previously-forbidden prefix duplication), and will no longer be
available for suburban points.

 -Carl Moore

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #413
*****************************










Date:     Wed, 27 Sep 89 22:27:31 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #414
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Wed, 27 Sep 89 22:25:00 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 414

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    A's and Giants: Squeezing Pac*Bell (John Higdon)
    Cordless Phone Questions (Pete Lyall)
    Locatable Ringers (Kenneth R. Jongsma)
    New Techniques For Busy Verification? (Miguel Cruz)
    Criticism of Call Forwarding (Miguel Cruz)
    Information Wanted on Trade Journals (Mark Henry)
    Re: Phone Cards (Gabe Wiener)
    Re: Charging Calls to Credit Cards (David W. Tamkin)
    Re: Phone Cards (John R. Levine)
    More Amusing Phone Trivia (Gabe Wiener)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: A's and Giants: Squeezing Pac*Bell
Date: 28 Sep 89 01:53:29 GMT
Organization: Green Hills and Cows


With the A's and Giants headed for the playoffs, the Bay Area is going
through what Chicago just experienced. Everyone is picking up the phone
to call BASS Ticketron to get those few miserable tickets.

I have observed that it takes at least one minute to pull dial tone on
my lone crossbar line, while the ESS seems to be completely unaffected.
On the local news, they had a reporter remoted live from the Pac*Bell
San Ramon traffic control central showing the "heroic" efforts of
Pac*Bell to keep Northern California traffic moving. He claimed that
Pac*Bell frequently works with companies like BASS who have occasional
high volumes.

I must say the "control center" as seen on TV looked awfully
impressive. Supposedly they were rerouting calls with particular
attention to those COs that had BASS offices served out of them.

        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]      | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

From: Pete Lyall <voder!wlbr![e-mail]>
Subject: Cordless Phone Questions
Date: 27 Sep 89 21:31:42 GMT
Organization: Contel FSD, Westlake Village, CA


Hello! I am a cordless phone neophyte with a question or two that I
hope the group(s) can help me with.

We gave my daughter our old kitchen phone last week (her first
apartment), and went off in search of a cordless phone. We ended up at
Sears because of a sales flyer. Experience has taught me never to buy
the cheapest of anything (at least not in the techno-toys department),
so I steered clear of the $52 special, and bought the $80 AT&T 4200.

I took it home and found that while I could still hear, there was a
bit of audible static & distortion when I went around a wall or two,
and also when I went outside.

I talked with a friend who was blissfully happy with his AT&T 5320, so
I went back to Sears and took the 4200 back. They didn't have a 5320..
only a 5310 @ $175 or so. I compared features on the box with the 5200
(next model down that they carried) and it appeared on the surface
that the 5310 was just a feature-fat version of the 5200. Since the
latter was $134, I opted for it.

Well - we still get some buzzing and static, sometimes even in close
proximity to the base unit. Now what I'm wondering is:

o - Is this just the nature of cordless phones, and should I just get
used to it?

o - Is the 5310 really worth the extra $40 or so ?

o - Is there another make that I should check into?

o - Is 'compression' a valued feature or a marketing gimmick?

o - What are other folks' experiences and what are they using?

Thanks for any and all help. Please mail replies vice posting them
if possible..

Thanks!

Pete Lyall                                                   Contel Corporation
Compuserve: 76703,4230             OS9_Net: [phone] (24hr 300/1200/2400)
Internet: [e-mail]    UUCP: {hacgate,jplgodo,voder}!wlbr!pete

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Locatable Ringers
Date: Wed, 27-Sep-89 06:55:23 PDT

In a recent issue of the digest, someone mentioned that they wanted a
phone that you could locate by the sound of it's ring. If you don't
work in an office where this is a problem, you can't imagine how
annoying it is.

My office is in a large room with about 30 other offices. We all have
Steelcase moveable wall type offices with the fabric finish. We also
all have the traditional AT&T 2500 telephones on our desks.
Unfortunately, they are the new electronic ringer style.

With the traditional bell, it is possible to be in any one else's
office and tell if your phone is ringing based on the volume and
direction of the bell.  With these new ringers, it is impossible to
tell where the "warble" is coming from, even though you are only one
office away. There seems to be no way the ear can attribute direction
to the "warble". Hence, every time a phone rings, everyone runs to
their office to see if it is for them.

Several of us got tired of this and wired up a neon flasher. It's
quite easy to make: You get a standard neon bulb (NE-2?) and a 10K
resistor. Solder the resistor in line (not across) with the neon bulb.
Remove the eraser from a Jet Eraser (or use a pen casing) and mount
the bulb in the casing. Run the wiring to your phone tip and ring
lines. When the phone rings, the neon light flashes. It does not
interfere with the operation of the phone. Note that this only works
with traditional phone systems. It probably will not work with the new
electronic systems.

Now when the phone rings, we look and see who's phone is flashing. Not
a perfect solution, but better than before....

[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Sep 89 05:41:02 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: New Techniques for Busy Verification?

I called the Michigan Bell operator the other day to have a busy number
verified... I dialed 0+764-1817, after the bong, I dialed 0.  An operator
came on.

"This number's been busy -- " -click- less than two seconds later,
"Sir, there's talking on the line," came back from the operator.

What happened to Verify operators?  Time was, you got to listen to
the operator call another operator, you could chat while the second
operator was off for 30 seconds or so doing who knows what.  This
whole transaction, from dialing to hanging up, took less than 30 seconds.

[e-mail]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 89 05:41:02 EDT
Subject: Criticism of Call Forwarding

Two things about call forwarding:

A) Why on earth does it do that thing where the first time you try
forwarding, it actually places the call to the number, and if it's
busy or no answer, you have to do the whole forwarding sequence again?
Is there a single person on the planet for whom that's helpful or
convenient?

B) How difficult would it be to modify the system so that when one
placed a call to a forwarded number, they would first hear a short
tone signifying that the call was being bumped?  Unlike A), that would
actually be informative and helpful.

[e-mail]

[Moderator's Note: Regards (A), if you actually reach the party to whom
you are forwarding, you are assured of dialing correctly. If you get a
busy or no answer, it might be because you dialed a wrong number. By doing
it a second time, telco is assured that your instructions match your
intentions. Without this repeat-dialing verification, you might accidentally
have forwarded to the wrong place. Regards (B), many people do not want
you to know they are not at home/office, etc. They'd prefer that you assume
they are wherever you dialed them at. And for residences, do you want to
let a burglar know you are not home, due a 'forwarding tone' which tells
him there is no one there to receive a call (or unauthorized visit)?  At
present, if you listen *closely* when dialing a centrex number with call
forwarding on no answer, after the third ring you will hear a slightly out
of synch ring the fourth time. PT]

------------------------------

Date: 27 SEP 89 17:30:47 CST
From: Mark Henry <[e-mail]>
Subject: Information Wanted on Trade Journals

Dear Telecom World,
     I have enjoyed Telecom Digest very much since I found it on
our LISTSERVER. It has provided me with much about telecommunications
that I had not been able to obtain from other sources...But I only
have access to the mailing while at work and not much time is spent
in the office. The point of this conversation is that I'm looking
for a good trade journal or magazine that I can read at home. I hope
someone out there can provide me with some info in this area (names,
addresses, phone #'s, etc.).

PLEASE SEND INFO TO: [e-mail]

All info will be greatly appreciated.

                       Thanks,
                       Mark Henry - Telecom Tech II
                       Stephen F. Austin State University
                       [phone]

<[e-mail]>

------------------------------

From: Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phone Cards
Reply-To: Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]>
Organization: Columbia University Center for Telecommunications Research
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 89 14:37:36 GMT

In article <[e-mail]> cgch![e-mail]
(Tom Hofmann) writes:

>What I would like to know:  Isn't there a country (or LDC in the US)
>where phone calls can be paid be regular, internationally accepted
>credit cards (Visa, Master Card, American Express, etc.)?  Phone calls
>would get much easier while travelling abroad.  Or is there a reason,
>why telephone companies do not accept them?

I often see such phones in airports.  You pick up the receiver, dial your
number, and then slide your credit card through the slot (Visa, MC, AmEx).
You then push a button on the phone indicating the long distance carrier
you want, and your call rings through.


Gabe Wiener - Columbia Univ.      "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings
[e-mail]              to be seriously considered as a means of
[e-mail]        communication. The device is inherently of
[e-mail]          no value to us."

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Charging Calls to Credit Cards
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 89 11:28:43 CDT
Reply-To: [e-mail]
From: "David W. Tamkin" <[e-mail]>

In TELECOM Digest, Volume 9, Issue 409, Tom Hofmann asked:

| What I would like to know:  Isn't there a country (or LDC in the US)
| where phone calls can be paid be regular, internationally accepted
| credit cards (Visa, Master Card, American Express, etc.)?  Phone calls
| would get much easier while travelling abroad.  Or is there a reason,
| why telephone companies do not accept them?

There certainly is such a country: the USA.  At O'Hare Airport, for example,
there are payphones whose magnetic stripe readers will accept a calling card
issued by a long-distance carrier, an Illinois Bell card (the local telco in
the part of O'Hare where the passenger terminals are located), or MasterCard,
VISA, American Express, and either Carte Blanche or Diner's Club (I can't
recall which).  If you dial inter-LATA with an Illinois Bell card or a credit
card or a T&E card, you have to push a button to select a carrier: there are
buttons for AT&T, MCI, US Sprint, and ITT.

David Tamkin  P.O Box 813  Rosemont, Illinois 60018-0813 |      BIX: dattier
[e-mail]   [phone]  [phone] | GEnie: D.W.TAMKIN
Everyone on Chinet has his or her own opinion about this.|   CIS: 73720,1570

------------------------------

From: "John R. Levine" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phone Cards
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Segue Software, Cambridge MA
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 89 16:40:46 GMT

In article <[e-mail]> cgch![e-mail]
(Tom Hofmann) writes:
>What I would like to know:  Isn't there a country (or LDC in the US)
>where phone calls can be paid be regular, internationally accepted
>credit cards (Visa, Master Card, American Express, etc.)? ...

Here in the US, some pay phones, particularly those in airports, do in fact
take regular credit cards.  They have a slot through which you run the card
so it can read the number magnetically, then you dial the number, then if
the call is out of the local region, you push a button corresponding to the
LD carrier you want to use, with typical choices being MCI, Sprint, and ITT.
AT&T has their own distinctive looking card caller phones that used to take
only AT&T's own card but now are also starting to take Amex and bank cards.
In all these cases, the phone transmits the credit card number in a torrent
of DTMF tones, so I suppose that if you knew the protocol you could type in
the card number yourself.  Entering a bank card number at the time when you
would enter your phone card number doesn't work.

I also once saw a COCOT at a car rental place in Denver that let you type in
a bank card number yourself, and claimed that the charge for doing so was
cheaper than that for a telco calling card.  I can believe that; telcos are
reputed to charge 75 cents apiece for billing OCC calls but I know that a
bank charges more like 35 cents for an electronically submitted Master Card
or Visa charge.

The Airfones found on too many airplanes these days only take regular credit
cards, not phone cards, but at $2.50/minute and terrible voice quality they're
only for the desperate.


John R. Levine, Segue Software, POB 349, Cambridge MA 02238, [phone]
[e-mail], {ima|lotus}!esegue!johnl, [e-mail]
Massachusetts has 64 licensed drivers who are over 100 years old.  -The Globe

------------------------------

From: Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]>
Subject: More Amusing Phone Trivia
Reply-To: Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]>
Organization: Columbia University Center for Telecommunications Research
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 89 23:19:12 GMT

For your information....and amusement:

    - When the first public telephone exchanges opened, the operators
      stood during their shifts.  It wasn't until years later that
      someone thought to provide them with chairs.

    - It was customary for a long while to answer the telephone with
      the word "Ahoy!" or with the phrase "Are you there?".  The person
      who started the trend of answering the phone with the word "Hello"
      was Thomas Edison.

    - Speaking of Edison, the phone Edison designed for Western Union
      had a small magneto that wasn't used to signal the exchange.
      Rather, it was used to provide talk power, and thus it had to
      be wound continually while the phone was in operation.

    - The first telephones for private conversation in a public place
      were released by the GPO in England in the late 19th century.
      To use one, you would place the receiver up to your ear, and
      press your face into an oblong inner-tube that contained the
      transmitter.  They didn't last long, however, as they were
      considered unsanitary and quite ridiculous.


Gabe Wiener - Columbia Univ.      "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings
[e-mail]              to be seriously considered as a means of
[e-mail]        communication. The device is inherently of
[e-mail]          no value to us."

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #414
*****************************










Date:     Thu, 28 Sep 89 19:21:42 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #415
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Thu, 28 Sep 89 19:15:55 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 415

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Re: Phone Design For Humans (Mike Morris)
    Re: Phone Design For Humans (Julian Macassey)
    Re: Phone Design For Humans (David Albert)
    Re: Phone Design For Humans (Bennett Todd)
    Re: Number Editing on Telephones (Doug Davis)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Mike Morris <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phone Design For Humans
Date: 28 Sep 89 06:26:19 GMT
Reply-To: Mike Morris <[e-mail]>


(Andy Meijers) writes:
>
>A minor plea to those who design 'modern' telephone sets, esp. for
>offices.

>1. Make them HEAVIER, and put a nonskid base on them. As I write this,
>I have just pulled my ATT-issue (came with System 8.5) sculpture off
>the desk for the umpteenth time. Guess I'll end up taping it to the
>desk, like many do around here.

I took an old steam iron plate, contact cemented a rubber pad to it and
then cemented the plate to the phone.  Ugly, but it works.  When people
comment about it, I say "Only way I could make the new phone as usable
as the old one".

>2. Shape the handsets to FIT THE HUMAN HEAD! Real people do not talk
>daintily holding the handset in their fingertips. They jam it on one
>shoulder so they write. This worthless thing promptly shoots out of
>sight if you try.

A friend acquired a spare handset and gutted it, and moved the guts
into a old style handset.  Modular cords, etc...  There's also a
pad sold by some phone stores that works real good...  It mounts
with a peel-and-stick adhesive...

>3. Don't position the cord connectors so the handset cord tangles unto
>itself 2 inches from the base. (see # 1, above). Put the line cord

There's a gadget sold in some phone stores, and in the Hello Direct
catalog that fixes that - it's a swivel device.

>where the it won't cause the phone to trip over it whenever you move
>it six inches.

Huh?

>4. Put a button for each function! (ie, hold, transfer etc). Phones
>should not require constant referral to the manual to operate; they
>should be self-evident. While you're at it, make the buttons REAL,
>with a click.  A pox on squishy membrane switches and finger-nail-tip
>size buttons a quarter inch apart.

Hello the designers - are you listening?  I don't mind a [SHIFT] key,
if the shifted functions are the lesser used ones, as long as I can
say which are the lesser used!  i.e. Give us a user definable keyboard,
with an overlay that can be labeled with a pencil/pen and slides into the
phone behind a clear overlay.

>5. Make cords that don't lose their coil in a month, or that act like
>a DNA molecule and coil back on themselves, with a non-porous surface
>that doesn't get filthy immediately . (That also applies to the whole
>phone. Make it cleanable!)

Yes Yes Yes

>6. Make a ringer/bell that can be tracked by ear. In an office full of
>chirping crickets, all with the speakers buried, it is often hard to
>tell which one is ringing.

Here's one place where I wish the rest of the world had copied Rolm -
their phones had 4 different ring sounds, user selectable.  On the old
500 phones you could swap gongs around (the normal phone had one high and
one low, by swapping gongs in two of 3 phones you could have one normal,
one high, one low).  Some EKS phones can have a capacitor changed.  But
a selectable ring tone would take only a few bytes in a microprocessor
based phone, why can't we have such an obvious thing?

>I could go on for another page, but you get the idea. Fancy sculptures
>may sell well in the catalog or showroom, but are often miserable for
>the users. (This translates to Lo$t productivity.)

It's obvious - the designers have secretaries!

>Buyers: Get a thirty-day 'test-drive' clause.
>
>Designers: (including ATT, WECO, etc): Go back and look at the 500 and
>2500 series desk sets again. There is a reason they lasted so long,
>and were so widely imitated. They WORKED!!!

An old saying comes to mind: Intelligence is not company policy.

Mike Morris                      UUCP: [e-mail]
                                 ICBM: 34.12 N, 118.02 W
#Include quote.cute.standard     PSTN: 818-447-7052
#Include disclaimer.standard     cat flames.all > /dev/null

------------------------------

From: julian macassey <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phone Design For Humans
Date: 28 Sep 89 17:12:25 GMT
Organization: The Hole in the Wall  Hollywood CA U.S.A.


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail].
edu (Gabe Wiener) writes:
> In article <[e-mail]> dsacg1!dlscg1!drms3002@
> cis.ohio-state.edu (Andy Meijers) writes:
>
> >Designers: (including ATT, WECO, etc): Go back and look at the 500 and
> >2500 series desk sets again. There is a reason they lasted so long,
> >and were so widely imitated. They WORKED!!!
>
> Speaking of the 2500, is it still with us?  Does AT&T (or ITT, or GTE,
> or Stromberg Carlson (comdial) or whoever) still manufacture a _real_
> 2500 set?  I remember when a friend went to buy a 2500 set a few

    Yes, the following companies still make real 500 and 2500 sets:

ITT, Comdial (Stromberg Carlson), Northern Telecom?. Also North Supply (A
phone equipment distributor) imports a made in Korea clone called the
Premier.

    The Premier is not as robust as the others. It is cheaper, now you know
why.

    The 500 set is a standard desk rotary, a 2500 is a standard desk
Touch-Tone.

    The variations of these, wallphone etc have slightly different numbers
such as 2600.

    A standard 500 or 2500 has interchangeable parts: The ringer from one
will fit in the other. The handsets are interchangeable. The base from one
will fit the cover of the other. Yes, you can have old AT&T guts tarted up
with a new comdial plastic case and an ITT handset. All parts are available
from suppliers such as North, so any of these phones can be repaired or
reconditioned. In the telco trade, this is called R&R (repair and
restoration).

    AT&T phone stores used to offer thier old 2500 sets as refurbed at a
good price. This is a deal.

    As you can fix any of these phones, you can buy battered ones and repair
and clean them up. You can also convert old non modular to modular.

    These sets are really tough, they have to pass tests involving repeated
drops into concrete and voltage surges of 1,000V @ 1,000A.

    Automatic Electric (GTE) make versions of these sets that work fine, but
are not interchangeable with the others.

    Another phone equipment supplier that can supply 2500 set parts is
Graybar.

    No doubt about it. A 500 or 2500 will last forever. I just R&Red one for
a friend that had a manufacturing date of 1954. Still in daily use, I made
it modular and polished the plastic.

    If there is any interest, I can explain how to repair and tart up these
phones.

    The phones I use are all 2500 sets. I have a garage of phones from
around the world. Nothing matches the 2500. I have to admit though that the
old style handset used in the UK was the most comfortable for cradling. It
is longer and wider than the G2 (the standard handset on 500/2500). The UK
operators headset was also more comfortable than the WECO black monsters but
not as indestructable.

    Yours

Julian Macassey, n6are  julian@bongo    ucla-an!denwa!bongo!julian
n6are@k6iyk (Packet Radio) n6are.ampr.org [44.16.0.81] voice [phone]

------------------------------

From: David Albert <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phone Design For Humans
Date: 28 Sep 89 18:35:38 GMT
Reply-To: David Albert <endor![e-mail]>
Organization: Aiken Computation Lab Harvard, Cambridge, MA


In article <x> Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]> writes:

>Speaking of the 2500, is it still with us?  Does AT&T (or ITT, or GTE,
>or Stromberg Carlson (comdial) or whoever) still manufacture a _real_
>2500 set?

I don't know sets by their numbers, but if the 2500 is the standard,
pre-buy-your-own-phone desk set with a roughly rectangular base, then
the answer is that they are no longer manufactured, but that "refurbished"
models are still available.  In 1983 (or so), when Illinois Bell allowed
you to purchase the phone you had been leasing from them at a discount,
I did so.  About 6 months ago the touchtones on my phone stopped working
(no, it had nothing to do with line polarity -- that's the first thing
I checked -- and it happened a few days after I dropped it on the floor,
so maybe it was my fault) and I decided to get a new one.  I was finally
able to purchase a "refurbished" touchtone set exactly like my old one,
for $49.95, direct from AT&T, but they told me that none of their new
desk-model touchtone phones had mechanical ringers.  (For the same price,
AT&T said they'd fix my old phone, but that hardly seemed like a reasonable
option).  Also available for $49.95, they said, was an in-line modular
mechanical bell attachment that would work with any phone, so for those
who want the features of new phones and the sound of old ones, that might
be worth considering.  I decided to go with the complete phone.


David Albert                  | "What are you trying to do,
UUCP: ...!harvard!albert          |   change the world?"
INTERNET: [e-mail]  | "No, just our little corner of it."

[Moderator's Note: But you know what I *really* miss are the 2515
sets. Those were the 2500 'two line turn button' sets, with the plastic
knob in the corner for selection of line one or two. The turn button also
could be depressed, and the corresponding blue/white pair of wires (mine
has three pairs, at least) used to sound an intercom buzzer elsewhere.
Furthermore, I got a little neon bulb at Radio Shack and wired it in there
so it would illuminate the little button when the phone rang. All that
AT&T will do for you now is replace them one on one for *lease* customers
only. Its a shame to see these great old sets no longer being built.  PT]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Bennett Todd)
Subject: Re: Phone Design For Humans
Date: 28 Sep 89 15:10:02 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Bennett Todd)
Organization: Diagnostic Physics, Radiology, DUMC


In-reply-to: dsacg1!dlscg1![e-mail] (Andy Meijers)

If our experience is any indicator, there is little hope for improvement
in telephone instrument design.

What happened here is that AT&T representatives wooed senior
administrators; when time came to replace our old key system, which
worked wonderfully but was at the limits of its capacity and couldn't be
expanded, there was no technical evaluation of phone systems. We ended
up getting some AT&T gee-whiz system with LEDs and whatnot. The
telephones have to get wall power to work, insofar as they work at all,
which is mostly not. This is lovely when you want to call to report that
the power is out. The human engineering is pathetic. The system is
constantly enjoying "software glitches" which prevent phones from
ringing when they are called, or spontaneously trigger some kind of
forwarding without illuminating the forwarding indicator.

I don't have any reason to believe that AT&T weasles couldn't grease in
to enough other organizations the same way to make for a profitable
business.

I'm pretty sure I understand the precise reasons for the design changes;
the new phones offer the following benefits:

    1. They charge disproportionately much for them.
    2. They are more fragile than the older ones -- which means that
       they will have to be replaced sooner.
    3. The poor fools who actually have to *use* the damned things
       loathe them, so when the weasles come along and sell
       management on a whole new replacement system in two or three
       years, there won't be anything like the complaints that rang
       through the office when the old key system with the old
       massive phones was taken out.

Equipment lifetimes of several decades aren't so good for repeat sales.

However, this isn't all to our loss. I used to think that having a
telephone was really important. I have been cured of this belief.
Between GTE and AT&T, I don't particularly worry about being hard to
reach by phone at work, and impossible at home.

-Bennett
[e-mail]

[Moderator's Note: But Bennett, if it weren't for your phone -- or someone's
phone -- how would you receive this Digest each day?  Even though you are
not enamored of voice telephony, apparently the use of the Devil's Instrument
for data transmission passes muster with you, eh?   PT]

------------------------------

From: Doug Davis <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Number Editing on Telephones
Date: 26 Sep 89 20:50:37 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Logic Process  Dallas, Texas.


>[Moderator's Note: Aren't cellular phones sort of like this? You punch
>in the entire number, then 'send' it. I assume at any point in the input
>that you discovered a mistake you could cancel it and start over, not
>actually hitting the 'send' button until you were ready to release it.  PT]

You are right. Cellular phones let you enter the number then press the
$pend key. They then broadcast the NAM and phone id stuff on a broadcast
freq, after which the selected cell site passes back the freq pair to use.
Now, the phone number (if there is one) goes out.  All the cel-phones
I have worked with have a button ususally labled "clr" that allows you
to "backspace" one charicter by just touching it once, or the whole
number by holding it down. Unfortunately some of them, like my Motorola 8000x,
have about a quarter second delay after you press the button before they
go into the clear_the_whole_number mode. This is almost too fast and
it takes some getting used to, when you want to backspace just once.

Triva note: DTMF isn't used to send the phone number, even though most
cel-phones echo DTMF sounds while you press the buttons. After a connection is
established, usually the phone will then revert to sending DTMF out as audio.

As far as regular phones, my (I can't believe I'm admitting this) GTE Xt-100e
phone terminal, (vt100 terminal and a telephone built in) lets you backspace
and edit the number before pushing the outgoing line button.  I also
have some off brand two line phone purchased a couple of years ago that
has a <- key which lets you backup a digit.  It too only sends the
entire number after you select an outgoing line. It's problem is that
it only holds 15 digits and dactivates the touch tone pad after the
line select has gone out... Quite a pain on long numbers, I usually have
to program a combination of speed dials into it (which don't deactivate
unless they are used) to reach anybody except direct dial on my primary
LD carrier.

Anyway those keys are rarely used, generally when I make a mistake in
dialing it was on of the first digits of the number and I end up
starting over anyway..


Doug Davis/1030 Pleasant Valley Lane/Arlington/Texas/76015/817-467-3740
{sys1.tandy.com, motown!sys1, uiucuxc!sys1 lawnet, attctc, texbell} letni!doug
 "comp.unix.aix is an oxymoron"


------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #415
*****************************










Date:     Thu, 28 Sep 89 20:12:21 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #416
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Thu, 28 Sep 89 20:10:04 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 416

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Re: Networks Considered Harmful - For Electronic Mail (Jim Morris)
    Re: The 'Public Telegraph Office' (Dr. T. Andrews)
    Re: They're Doing It Again (was Chicago Cubs Trash Bell) (Jim Budler)
    Re: They're Doing It Again (was Chicago Cubs Trash Bell) (Clayton Cramer)
    Re: Prefix '520' For Los Angeles Radio Stations (Jim Gottlieb)
    Re: Prefix '520' For Los Angeles Radio Stations ([e-mail])
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Sep 89 12:20:59 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jim Morris <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Networks Considered Harmful - For Electronic Mail

I think John's message was very important -- a sort of wake-up call for
the computer community.

> Excerpts from internet.telecom: 18-Aug-89 Networks Considered Harmful..
> John [e-mail] (9146)

> However, unless email is freed from dependence on the networks, I predict it
> will be supplanted by telefax for most uses in spite of its many  advantages
> over telefax.

I believe email will be supplanted by FAX -- period. We will eventually
end up with a hybrid, but it will be achieved by the FAX business
assimilating all the knowledge we have about email.

> These advantages include the fact that information is
> transmitted more cheaply as character streams than as images.
> Group IV compression brings the image vs. ASCII ratio down to about 5.

> Multiple addressees are readily accommodated.

FAX store and forward services like MCI will provide this.

>  Moreover, messages transmitted as character streams can be readily
> filed, searched, edited and used by computer programs.

OCR can work for the searching part.  99% character recognition rates
are common. There are already products available that scan, recognize,
and index documents for you. The key idea is that the image is saved
too, so there is no danger of the  1% missed characters causing problems
other than missed retrieval.

As for editing, very often one wants only to annotate another document.
This can be done on the image. If one really wants to edit a document,
OCR plus some hand massaging may suffice.

> The reason why telefax will supplant email unless email is separated
> from special networks is that telefax works by using the existing
> telephone network directly.

Yes!!!

> Fax has another advantage that needs to be matched and can be
> overmatched.  Since fax transmits images, fully formatted documents can
> be transmitted.  However, this loses the ability to edit the document.
> This can be beaten by email, provided there arises a widely used standard
> for representing documents that preserves editability.

This is a very big proviso. There is great chaos in this area right now.
The standard proposed by CCITT, called Office Document Architecture
(ODA), is getting very little support in the US where the DoD seems to
be promoting SGML and the commercial document editor vendors are
promoting their own proprietary standards. MicroSoft's Rich Text Format
(RTF)  seems most promising since it is used by more than one document
processor. Another hope is that a single vendor, e.g. DEC with it's
ODA-related DDIF and DECWrite (=Framemaker),  will become the market
leader and establish a de facto standard, as Lotus did for spread sheets.

A much more likely development is that PostScript becomes the exchange
standard. It is there. All document processors will produce it. It looks
a little nicer than FAX, and there is at least a fighting chance that
one can translate it back into a particular document processor's
internal format.

Another advantage of FAX you failed to emphasize is simply that it deals
with pictures effortlessly. Even if you and I have precisely the same
computing equipment and are on the ArpaNet, the fastest way for me to
get a picture to you is FAX. This is true even if the picture is hand
drawn -- drawing it on paper is faster than any drawing editor I've ever
used.

> Fortunately, there is free enterprise. Therefore, the most likely way
> of getting direct electronic mail is for some company to offer a piece of
> hardware as an electronic mail terminal including the facilities for
> connecting to the current variety of local area networks (LANs). The most
> likely way for this to be accomplished is for the makers of fax machines
> to offer ASCII service as well.

An AppleFAX modem will already do this for Apple PICT files. I would
like to see Adobe do the same for PostScript files.

> This will obviate the growing practice of some users of fax
> of printing out their messages in an OCR font, transmitting them by fax,
> whereupon the receiver scans them with an OCR scanner to get them back
> into computer form.

Why should this practice be obviated? Why not work at making OCR more
effective? In a race between clever computer hackers trying to make OCR
better and institutional politicians trying to straighten out the
standards who do you think will win? Which would you rather be?

[e-mail]
412 268-2574
FAX: [phone]

[An Andrew ToolKit view (a raster image) was included here, but could
not be displayed.]

------------------------------

Date:     Thu, 28 Sep 89 19:35:25 CDT
Subject:  Re: The 'Public Telegraph Office'
Date: Tue, 26 Sep 89 7:15:08 EDT
From: "Dr. T. Andrews" <[e-mail]>
Organization: CompuData, Inc. (DeLand)


) [Moderator's Note: Well I believe it was the 'shift - 7' now that
) you mention it;
There is no "shift-7" in baudot code.  The figure '7' is  on  the
"shifted"  character  set (same character code as the letter 'U',
0b00111).  The had the same code as the letter 'J' (0b01011).

) Weren't the 'number-shift' keys essentially like control keys?
Presuming that you mean the "shift" (FIGS) and "unshift" ("LTRS")
keys,  no, they weren't like control keys.  They differed in two
important ways.  First, they  sent  character  codes.   Secondly,
they   had  no  printing  effect  themselves,  but  caused  later
characters to be printed from a possibly different charset.

) How did they get line feed, carriage return,
There are baudot codes  for  CR  and  LF.   These,  interestingly
enough, are effective in both shifted and unshifted modes.

) ENQ (who are you?)
You typed "WHO DAT<FIGS>?<LTRS><CR><LF>" and stopped typing.

) and answerback without control codes?
The other guy typed "IT<FIGS>'<LTRS>S ME.<CR><LF>"  in  response.
He  might have had a tape reader in which case he could have this
text prepared for your editfication; it would save him typing  it
again.

) My handy Ascii chart here says control-E, or ASC(5)
It should be noted that  ASCII  is  not  a  5-level  code.   When
discussing the 5-level devices, refer not to your ASCII chart but
to a BAUDOT chart instead.

) What do you think?  PT]
I think that you haven't worked on many 5-level  devices,  to  be
honest.    These  slow  devices  (noisy,  too)  are  pretty  much
unrelated to any modern computing needs.  I only  ever  heard  of
one  general-purpose  computer  system which purported to support
the things, and never actually saw it done.

Please  see the  [Radio Amateur's  Handbook] for  information  on
the  BAUDOT  code.   You  might also consult a maint manual for a
model 15/model 19 teleprinter.

The  original  wiring  on  these  devices  is  somewhat  baroque.
Considering  that  very little of it is actually needed (a common
maint trick is to remove the old wiring, add the 10 or  so  wires
needed in the whole device, and try to figure out what to do with
the many, many feet of  old  wire.   It  has  been  thought  that
perhaps  the  added  wiring  was  for  the  military - whether to
confuse the enemy, or just to  raise  the  price,  has  not  been
determined.

The characters in  the  FIGS  set,  by  the  way,  were  somewhat
variable  depending on the particular unit in hand.  On some, you
could get motor stop instead of one of the printing characters (I
think  that you might have been able to configure which you got).
On others, you might not have the prime  (').   Other  units  had
weather symbols instead of some of the figures.


 ...!bikini.cis.ufl.edu!ki4pv!tanner  ...!bpa!cdin-1!ki4pv!tanner
or...  {allegra attctc gatech!uflorida uunet!cdin-1}!ki4pv!tanner

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 28 Sep 89 00:00:58 PDT
From: Jim Budler <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: They're Doing It Again (was Chicago Cubs Trash Bell)
Organization: EDA Systems, Inc.


claris!netcom![e-mail] (Edward Greenberg) writes:

} "The A's announced plans for sale of tickets for any American League
} Championship Series at the Coliseum.

} Phone numbers are in the 408-988, 415-762, 707-762, 916-932, 209-226,
} 209-466, and 1-800-225 prefixes.  All numbers suffix with 2277 which
} is (surprise!) BASS.

} Does anybody know if these are "Choke" exchanges?  If not, I think
} phone service in northern CA is going to be history on Thursday at
} noon.  :-)

I don't recognize many of these but 408-988 is in Santa Clara (city),
CA. I doubt if it's a choke.
Thing I recall being in that exchange:

    The Northern Telecom Manufacturing plant. (I worked there)
    The Tymnet computer dial in lines for the Bay Area.

Jim Budler   address = uucp: ...!{decwrl,uunet}!eda!jim
                     domain: [e-mail]
                    compuserve: 72415,1200
voice     = [phone]    fax     = [phone]

------------------------------

From: Clayton Cramer <optilink![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: They're Doing It Again (was Chicago Cubs Trash Bell)
Date: 28 Sep 89 17:08:02 GMT
Organization: Optilink Corporation, Petaluma, CA


In article <[e-mail]>, claris!netcom!edg@ames.
arc.nasa.gov (Edward Greenberg) writes:

# "The A's announced plans for sale of tickets for any American League
# Championship Series at the Coliseum.

# "The sale, which begins at noon Thursday, will be by phone only through
# the BASS/Ticketmaster system.  Approximately 2000 ALC strips ... will be
# available. "

# Phone numbers are ......... is (surprise!) BASS.

# Does anybody know if these are "Choke" exchanges?  If not, I think
# phone service in northern CA is going to be history on Thursday at
# noon.  :-)


Sure enough.  I got home yesterday, and my wife complained that none
of the phones worked.  Dial tone was taking from a few seconds to
minutes in the 707 795 exchange.


Clayton E. Cramer {pyramid,pixar,tekbspa}!optilink!cramer
What shall it be today?  Watch Three's Company?  Or unify the field theory?

Disclaimer?  You must be kidding!  No company would hold opinions like mine!

------------------------------

From: Jim Gottlieb <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Prefix '520' For Los Angeles Radio Stations
Date: 28 Sep 89 09:29:22 GMT
Reply-To: Jim Gottlieb <denwa![e-mail]>
Organization: Info Connections/VMJ, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Joe
Talbot) writes:

>It's really too bad that 520 in Anaheim didn't get used. The 520 prefix
>was already in service in LA years before 520 even got assigned. 520 in
>Anaheim has a whole bunch of big centrex/DID customers on it, no hope
>of any change.

A friend of mine who works for a phone company (I refuse to call GTE
"THE" phone company) told me several years back that the people in the
L.A. division of Pac*Bell tried real hard to get the 714 people to
agree to use 520 for their mass calling prefix.  But they already had
their 977 and didn't want to change it.  That was stupid
short-sightedness in my opinion, as that would have made life easier
for many, including DJs, who would have been able to say, "In the 213,
818, or 714, dial 520-KQLZ" instead of the now-required awkward
practice of having to give out two different numbers.

On the matter of mass calling to ticket numbers, I know for a fact that
Ticketron's numbers in the LA area, while being standard POTS lines,
are programmed to choke in each switch, and probably in the tandems as
well.  This makes a lot more sense than the bill Congress passed
requiring that auto-dialers not be capable of redialing a number more
than 16 times (after they had just castigated the Japanese for similar
stupid telecommunications rules).

                         Jim Gottlieb (remote from Tokyo)
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
       <[e-mail]> or <[e-mail]> or <attmail!denwa!jimmy>
Fax: [phone]               Voice Mail: 011-81-3-944-6221 ID#82-42-424

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 89 21:03:37 EDT
Subject: Re: Prefix '520' For Los Angeles Radio Stations


I read several messages about radio station's toll free phone lines
and I have some comments to add to the discussion.

I have lived here in South Florida for about 7 years now and have been
involved in broadcasting since I moved here.  I used to be chief engineer of
a TV station down here and at the time we had some audience participation
shows on the air.  This same discussion holds true for radio stations in the
area.

This area has always been known for its telephone contesting.  That is,
people are told to be the thus and such caller and they win something.
This had caused exchange overload in a very highly concentrated area.
Normally the phone company would have said too bad, but since there are
several military establishments that feed off some of these key COs,
something had to be done.  I don't know if this has been done in other parts
of the country, but ALL radio stations and TV stations that do any kind of
phone contesting have special lines installed here.  All lines are part of the
550 exchange from South Miami through to West Palm Beach.  These are called
"choke exchanges."  As far as the caller in concerned, there is only one
number to call, beginning with 550.  In each exchange area, this 550 number is
translated into a local exchange number and then FXed back to the station.
If memory serves, we actually had 4 different sets of FX lines.  They were
Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Deerfield and Palm Beach.  We paid plenty for them!
What was interesting was these lines were specially translated at each CO
point, but were ordinary FX lines for outgoing purposes.  I had them wired
up to our PABX so that I could make calls to any of these areas.

The reason they are called "choke exchanges" is that to prevent CO lockup,
only two calls from each exchange are allowed to go inter CO.  The rest of
the calls get a local exchange reorder.  Hence, the exchange chokes off the
calls before they can cause network overload.  In theory, its a good idea,
but in practice there are problems.  Since only two calls from each exchange
are allowed into the inter exchange network, if there are two stations
carrying on a contest at the same time, everyone trying to get into one
stations contest may block all calls from getting into the other stations
contest.

I hope you found this interesting.

Andy

{your favorite gateway}!codas!novavax!pinn!sysop

[Moderator's Note: Welcome to the Digest, Andy, and I hope you will become
a regular contributor.  PT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #416
*****************************










Date:     Thu, 28 Sep 89 22:49:35 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #417
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Thu, 28 Sep 89 22:40:54 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 417

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Touch-Tone Marketing (Jerry Durand)
    Re: Sleazy Touch-Tone Marketing Tactics (John Higdon)
    Re: "Dial-It Service" Makes its Debut in 1932 (Jim Gottlieb)
    Re: Caller ID in Maryland (Alex Beylin)
    Re: Criticism of Call Forwarding (Will Martin)
    Re: ISDN Subscriber Equipment (David Lewis)
    Re: What's He Selling? (Kenneth R. Jongsma)
    Re: Locatable Ringers (John R. Levine)
    Re: Precise Dial Tone & A Tone of the Past (Loren Cahlander)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: portal!cup.portal.com![e-mail]
Subject: Touch-Tone Marketing
Date: Thu, 28-Sep-89 10:07:58 PDT

Another problem with the people marketing DTMF service is they tell you you
have to pay for this service for "push-button phones".  Of course most people
don't know that most push-button phones are capable of pulse dialing and may
not even have a DTMF generator!  So you wind up paying for a service that you
can't even use.  It seems the phone companies should be required to call it
DTMF service or tone service, not push-button service.

        Jerry Durand

------------------------------

From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Sleazy Touch-Tone Marketing Tactics
Date: 28 Sep 89 10:07:39 GMT
Organization: Green Hills and Cows


Years ago, one of my clients had a Stromberg E120 connected to a #5
crossbar exchange. Somehow the trunks went in without touchtone
specified and as a result the customer was not paying for it, but in
this particular office tone service could not be denied (apparently
there were no originating registers not tone receiver equipped).

Their bookkeeper called me one day to complain that suddenly the basic
rate had gone up and wanted me to look into it. I was told by Pacific
Telephone that one of their "agents" had gone through the building
looking for businesses that were using touchtone and not paying for it
and had spotted the TT phones in my client's suite. I told them that
since those phones were connected to a PBX that it was possible that
the customer's switch could be doing tone-to-pulse conversion and that
simply tacking charges onto the bill based upon visual inspection was
very sleazy. In fact, I told them such was the case (I lied) and
demanded that the charges be removed immediately.

They asked for assurance that absolutely no tones were being sent over
the lines. I refused and told them to simply "remove the touch tone
service". They warned me that if they did and the customer was indeed
using tones to dial calls, then their calls would no longer go through.
I acknowledged that and again asked to have the service removed. It
finally came down to the fact they couldn't "remove" the service.

At this point I told them that my client wasn't going to pay for
something "extra" that PacTel was forced to provide for everyone anyway.
My final position was that if they were providing a "cost extra"
service and we didn't pay for it, then take it away. But we weren't
going to pay.

Apparently, the tariffs were written in such a way to allow me to get
away with this tactic. I had PacTel over a barrel and they knew it.
Then a supervisor said that when they cut over to new equipment, they
*would* be able to deny touchtone and that my client would be screwed.
I countered that we would pay for it *then*. As it turned out, years
later when they cut crossbar offices to electronic, they would send out
notices that in essence indicated that if you had touchtone equipment
and were not subscribing to the service that you would have to start
subscribing and paying or have your calls not go through.

It is interesting to note that this particular exchange is still
crossbar to this day but unfortunately my client moved into an ESS office
and now has to pay for touchtone.

        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]      | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

[Moderator's Note: I am reminded of when the 312-856 exchange went
from crossbar to ESS. In 1969, the only customer on 856 was the Amoco
Oil Credit Card Office here, when the prefix was opened for them with
their new centrex service, serving about 2000 lines. All the phones were
touchtone. Over one weekend in 1974, that office was converted to ESS.
Monday morning, about half the phones in the place could not dial out.
Unlike merely a change in polarity, where the buttons do not sound
their tones, this time the tones sounded alright, they just wouldn't
cut the dial tone! With some feverish effort, everything was properly
working by Tuesday morning. And the funny thing was, Amoco *was*
paying for touchtone on all the lines, but the CO records were wrong!  PT]

------------------------------

From: Jim Gottlieb <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: "Dial-It Service" Makes its Debut in 1932
Date: 28 Sep 89 09:35:49 GMT
Reply-To: Jim Gottlieb <denwa![e-mail]>
Organization: Info Connections, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan


In article <[e-mail]> kitty![e-mail]
(Larry Lippman) writes:

>    However, once upon a time, a live operator did in fact create
>time-of-day announcements on a demand basis.

In fact, I heard a manual time number as late as about 1972.  It was in
Durango, Colorado, but it wasn't as complicated as Larry Lippman
described.  When I dialed the number listed for time-of-day, I was
shocked when I heard a woman answer the phone and say "The time is
7:32."  I said, "Thank You."  She said "Your Welcome." and that was
that.

I tried it several more times during my visit and found that the level
of politeness naturally varied according to current load.  At busy
times, all one heard was " (Supervision) 6:18 (Disconnect) "

When I returned to Durango a few years later, I received a mechanical
version.  Now it _is_ possible that what I heard was just a temporary
condition while their time machine was "in the shop."

                         Jim Gottlieb (remote from Tokyo)
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
       <[e-mail]> or <[e-mail]> or <attmail!denwa!jimmy>
Fax: [phone]               Voice Mail: 011-81-3-944-6221 ID#82-42-424

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Caller ID in Maryland
Reply-To: Alex Beylin <cfctech![e-mail]>
Organization: Chrysler Financial Corp., Troy, MI
Date: 28 Sep 89 10:37:36 EDT (Thu)
From: Alex Beylin <cfctech![e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> kenj%wybbs.UUCP@sharkey.
cc.umich.edu (Ken Jongsma) writes:

>No editorializing! From this weeks Communicaions Week: Bell Atlantic has
>filed for Caller ID in Maryland. It along with all the other CLASS services
>will be available around Baltimore next month. Washington suburbs get it in
>November with the rest of the state to follow as SS7 is implemented.

Does anyone know if Michigan Bell is planning to file for Caller ID?
If not, is there a way to speed that up, like writing to someone to
indicate interest?

Also, from a technical standpoint, what is involved in providing the
service?  Are any updates required to the CO equipment?

Thanks in advance,


 Alex Beylin, Unix Systems Admin.       | [phone]
 [e-mail] | Chrysler Financial Corp.
 ...!{sharkey|mailrus}!cfctech!alexb    | MIS, Distributed Systems
 ATT Mail ID: attmail!abeylin           | Southfield, MI 48034

------------------------------

Date:     Thu, 28 Sep 89 10:18:46 CDT
From: Will Martin on 7000 <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Re: Criticism of Call Forwarding

Here's another criticism:

If I don't have call forwarding, is there any way for me to turn OFF the
call forwarding that someone else has directed to my number? As the
recipient of such forwarded calls, I should have the right to reject
the "honor" of receiving them.

Is there a way to prevent my number from ever being specified as the
recipient of call-forwarded calls? (Something like the UNIX "mesg n"
command but in the telco universe... :-)

And, as a side question: I seem to recall this being asked during the
"Caller*ID" debate, but don't recall it being answered. Maybe somebody
out there with Caller*ID can now tell us: If a call is call-forwarded to
a phone with "Caller*ID", is the number displayed that of the forwarding
phone or the originating one?

If the number displayed is that of the originating phone, is there any
heirarchy of displays -- that is, if the originating phone is out of the
area and the number isn't available, but the number of the forwarding
phone IS available, will the forwarding-phone's number be displayed in
that case?

Regards, Will

------------------------------

From: David Lewis <nvuxr![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: ISDN Subscriber Equipment
Date: 28 Sep 89 16:22:34 GMT
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Fred
Fierling) writes:
> >From what I've read I understand that the U interface would be provided
> via an single pair coming from the CO to the subscriber's premises and
> terminate on an NT1 box which would provide the S/T interface to all
> digital telephones on the premises.

> Assuming this is correct, I understand that it would be possible for two
> independent calls to be handled on each of the B channels.  So, how would
> both telephones perform call set up and tear down on the one D channel?

First, the D-channel is a packet channel, so each message sent down the
D-channel from the CPE to the switch is independent.

The basic call control protocol for ISDN is Q.931.  One required
information element of each Q.931 message is the call reference value;
this enables the machines on each side of the interface to agree on what
call they're acting on.  So when the CPE sends, for example, a
Disconnect message, one information element is a call reference --
essentially, saying Disconnect Call #1.

In addition, there is an optional information element in Setup and
Connect Q.931 messages, called the Channel Identification information
element.  This enables the CPE to specify a specific channel, either at
that user-network interface or at another user-network interface.  In
other words, CPE can send a message to the switch saying "setup a call
on this UNI, B-channel 1."  Or, "setup a call on UNI X, B-channel 2."
It's not clear that all the wrinkles have been worked out of the latter
case, tho...

David G Lewis                ...!bellcore!nvuxr!deej

            "If this is paradise, I wish I had a lawnmower."

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: What's He Selling?
Date: Thu, 28-Sep-89 11:19:23 PDT

Regarding the person who was "selling" Sprint service with no evening
rate, just day and night rates: Sprint offers a plan called Sprint Plus
where if you agree to at least $8/month of usage, they charge night rates
instead of evening rates.

MCI had/has a deal with Amway where your "friendly" Amway agent gets you
to sign up with MCI and gets a cut of your calls. I suspect Sprint has
similar marketing plans. Perhaps this is something similar.

[e-mail]

------------------------------

From: "John R. Levine" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Locatable Ringers
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Segue Software, Cambridge MA
Date: Thu, 28 Sep 89 22:29:38 GMT

In article <[e-mail]> Kenneth_R_Jongsma@cup.
portal.com writes:
>In a recent issue of the digest, someone mentioned that they wanted a
>phone that you could locate by the sound of its ring. .... We also
>all have the traditional AT&T 2500 telephones on our desks. Unfortunately,
>they are the new electronic ringer style [and all sound the same.]

ROLM phones have for years had the option to set the ringing sound to
any of eight different warbles ranging from high and squeaky to fairly
deep.  This feature is specifically intended for the situation where there
are several phones within hearing distance of each other.  I find that it
works quite nicely, at least until some joker sneaks into your office and
changes your ring.

I am astonished that considering all of the ergonomic work that AT&T at
least used to do on their phones, they haven't provided this simple feature.


John R. Levine, Segue Software, POB 349, Cambridge MA 02238, [phone]
[e-mail], {ima|lotus}!esegue!johnl, [e-mail]
Massachusetts has 64 licensed drivers who are over 100 years old.  -The Globe

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (loren cahlander)
Subject: Re: Precise Dial Tone & A Tone of the Past: No-Such-Number
Date: 27 Sep 89 14:36:12 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Loren Cahlander)
Organization: Amcom Software, Inc.


In article <[e-mail]> Dave Troup <carroll1!
[e-mail]> writes:
>X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 406, message 1 of 12

>    Does anyone know what the recording alert tones are? You know-those
>    dee-doo-DOO, "The number you have reached..." What are the frequencies
>    to them.  Ive NEVER been able to find out what those are.

>    thanks in advance!

 From the documentation that I have, there are four different sequences
of tones:

            First Tone    Second Tone    Third Tone
Tone    Tone        freq   length    freq   length    freq   length
Name    Description    (Hz)   (10 ms)    (Hz)   (10 ms)    (Hz)   (10 ms)
======================================================================
 NC    No Circuit    985.2  38.0    1428.5  38.0    1776.7  38.0
    Found

 IC    Operator    913.8  27.4    1370.6  27.4    1776.7  38.0
    Intercept

 VC    Vacant Circuit    985.2  38.0    1370.6  27.4    1776.7  38.0

 RO    ReOrder        913.8  27.4    1428.5  38.0    1776.7  38.0


Loren D. Cahlander                                 AMCOM Software, Inc.
                                                   5555 West 78th St  Suite Q
UUCP:  uunet!rosevax!nis!amcom!loren               Minneapolis, MN 55435
                                                   [phone]


------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #417
*****************************










Date:     Thu, 28 Sep 89 23:55:55 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #418
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Thu, 28 Sep 89 23:50:04 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 418

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Silly Repair (John Higdon)
    Greasing Skids at NYTel (David W. Tamkin)
    Help on AT&T System 75 Configuration (Doug Faunt)
    Credit Card Good For One Number Only (Robert M. Hamer)
    Inbound Pulse-Dial Detection (Jerry Durand)
    SW56, ISDN Comm Cards for Macintoshes (Gary Faulkner)
    New Zealand Sketches: A Story Worth Repeating (Mark Brader)
    Intellidial and Intercom (Alain Arnaud)
    Re: Wrong Numbers With Nobody There (Mark Brader)
    Re: Special Information Tones (Macy Hallock)
    Re: 10-Cent Payphones (Bob Frankston)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Silly Repair
Date: 29 Sep 89 02:40:52 GMT
Organization: Green Hills and Cows


I have just been introduced to the ultimate in telco silliness--the
automatic repair service attendant. This is something I understand
Pac*Bell has been perpetrating for some time, I have previously been
fortunate enough to avoid it.

Dial 611. "Welcome to Pacific Bell's automated repair service."  First
they determine if you have a touch tone phone by asking for a "1". Then
you are told that if you want a live person, you press "0". If you take
the automatic bait, you first enter the number that is experiencing the
difficulty. After that you are given a menu of maladies such as no dial
tone, noise or static, etc. If your trouble doesn't fit any category,
you will have to press the "0" for a person.

After selecting your trouble, you give a number where you can be
reached during the day. Then you get a summary made up of assembled
phrases complete with a promised due date. This whole procedure takes
somewhat longer than an ordinary person and seems to be geared to an
eight-year-old mentality.

Lest you think that I am against progress, here are some points to
consider:

This could be a good cost-cutting measure by reducing personnel, however
I doubt that the remaining attendants will be any better trained than
before, so it could just be an extra step in the repair-reporting
process.

The major manpower is used in the followup, not in taking the original
complaint. I question whether this system can save them much.

As for me and my house, I'm through calling 611. Future repair requests
will be made directly to 811-8081, the priority repair number. When you
call that number, you get a real person who knows exactly what's what.
The trouble is handed to a tech who gets back to you in 30 minutes with
a report and you get a direct call back number for inquiries that is
answered by the person actually effecting the repairs. This is the
number that I have used for my big customers and it suddenly occured to
me that I was wasting my time ever fooling around with 611!

        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]      | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

Subject: Greasing Skids at NYTel
Date: Thu, 28 Sep 89 12:32:51 CDT
From: "David W. Tamkin" <[e-mail]>

A friend of mine is moving to Manhattan on Wednesday, October 4.  Her
apartment is already wired for phone service; eventually she will need a
second line, but that is not urgent (and might require additional wiring).
She needs to get her first line operating as quickly as possible.

The important thing is to get people to take her order for service, assign a
telephone number, and flick a switch in the CO to bring the line to life.
When she was last in New York a couple weeks ago, NYTel told her that because
of the strike the processing would take six weeks!

Her line of work is such that she needs to be able to receive emergency
calls.  Do any of the readers know any means (or even anybody) that can speed
things up at NYTel, at least for getting her first line turned on?  In case
the answer is CO-specific, the location is at 87th and Columbus.

Please respond in email.

David Tamkin   [e-mail]  {attctc,netsys,ddsw1}!jolnet!dattier
P. O. Box 813  Rosemont, Illinois  60018-0813   [phone]  [phone]
BIX: dattier                   GEnie: D.W.TAMKIN               CIS: 73720,1570
Jolnet is a public access system, where every user expresses personal opinions.

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 28 Sep 89 19:55:04 -0700
From: Doug Faunt N6TQS 415-688-8269 <[e-mail]>
Subject: Help on AT&T System 75 Configuration

I am the acting administrator of a AT&T System 75 XE, running R1V3.
I have a configuration question that the local AT&T people don't seem
to have a good answer for, or won't tell me.

I want to have a 7406D multibutton phone have two numbers appear.
I want to be able to use them both as full featured call appearances.
Having one of the numbers be a Terminating Extension Group, almost
works, but calls can't be placed on that appearance.

Thanx,

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 28 Sep 89 08:44 EDT
From: "ROBERT M. HAMER" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Credit Card Good For One Number Only

I think that aspects of this issue have been discussed on the digest
before, and if they have, if the moderator would point me to the
appropriate issues, I will FTP them (unless the question is of
sufficient general interest that it might bear discussion).

My daughter just left for college (hooray).  When she left, my wife
gave her our Sprint Fon Card number so that she could call us
(probably a dumb move, or at least not well thought out).  We got our
first post-daughter-departure Sprint bill yesterday.  In addition to
two or three calls to us, there were calls to friends and relatives
all over the country.

To state the specifications first, without contaminating possible
solutions with my own thoughts, I would like her to be able to call us
at our expense, but I have no particular desire to pay for any other
long distance calls she chooses to make.

I think I have read discussions in this digest about (a) a relatively
cheap residential 800 number, and/or calling/fon/credit cards that are
valid only to call one number.  Anyone have any suggestions?

[Moderator's Note: The AT&T Calling Card with a restricted PIN is
known as the "Call Me" Card. It is free for the asking, and the PIN is
limited to calling only the number to which it is assigned; in this
case, that would be your home phone. They issue a plastic card with
this PIN, but it is pointless to hand it out. You would simply tell
your daughter that henceforth to call *you, and you only* she would
dial zero, plus the area code and your number. When she hears the
tone, dial only the four digits of the (new, and restricted) PIN,
followed by the # sign to speed the call on its way. Attempts to call
other numbers with that PIN will fail. Of course, you'll need to tell
Sprint to cancel your existing full service PIN and issue a new number
which you don't give your daughter, otherwise she may continue using
the old one anyway. Anyone who has knowledge of the restricted PIN can
use it in the same way, to call your number only. If calls are placed
through some AOS outfit, there is no guarentee of course that the
restriction on the PIN would be honored, but you will find that out
soon enough and can refuse payment if necessary. PT]

------------------------------

From: portal!cup.portal.com![e-mail]
Subject: Inbound Pulse-Dial Detection
Date: Thu, 28-Sep-89 12:35:41 PDT

I have been getting quite a few requests to add inbound pulse-dial (click)
detection to the voice mail boards I design.  Since this is fairly easy to
do (we have two DSP's on the board, one dedicated to call progress), we will
be adding this to some future software release.  The question is, we have not
been able to find any phone lines that allow the calling party to pulse dial
any number higher than 2 or 3 without dropping the line.  Is this just local
to our area (GTE, Pac*Bell), or is this a widespread problem.  I know there
is a company selling boards that just detect the inbound pulses, so there must
be some place it works.

Please note:  I am not talking about loop current detect, just the sound of
the clicks transmitted through the network from the calling party.

Jerry Durand, Durand Interstellar, Inc., sun!cup.portal.com!jdurand

[Moderator's Note: Interestingly enough, United Airlines was doing this
on the Chicago dialup to their Unitel network several years ago. If you
dialed a certain number, you got dialtone from United's internal system,
and could dial everywhere United flies and then some; or use the WATS lines,
etc. This particular WATS-extender, as they are called, not only worked
on tone signals as you would expect, but also accepted rotary dialing from
the caller. Don't ask me how! But the deeper you got in the maze -- they
used 'progressive dialing' as it was called in those days -- only tones
would work. But a simple call in with a single hop, such as onto the WATS
line and out again worked fine with rotary dial. Beats me.   PT]

------------------------------

From: Gary Faulkner <[e-mail]>
Subject: SW56, ISDN Comm Cards For Macintoshes
Date: 28 Sep 89 22:32:56 GMT
Reply-To: Gary Faulkner <[e-mail]>
Organization: NCSA - University of Illinois at Urbana,Champaign


We are looking for any and all information on 56KB and/or ISDN communication
adapter cards for Macintoshes (both SE's and II's).  I would appreciate ANY
information which anyone might have on such beasts.

You can either email it to me at [e-mail], or reach me via bellnet
at [phone].

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Gary Faulkner
National Center for Supercomputing Applications - University of Illinois
Internet: [e-mail]
Disclaimer:  I've only stated my opinion, not anyone elses.

------------------------------

From:    Mark Brader <[e-mail]>
Subject: New Zealand Sketches: A Story Worth Repeating
Date:    Thu, 28 Sep 89 02:34:53 EDT

I asked a friend from New Zealand, and he confirms that the term
STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialing) is used there.  And he further notes
that "area codes" are called "STD codes" whether the subscriber is
actually placing the call or not.

He also notes that I was wrong to remember radio station 3BZ in
Christchurch; it's actually 3ZB.  (Formally, ZL3ZB, it seems.)
He said that digits 1-4 are used for different parts of the country,
but there was once a station 5ZB, which broadcast from a railway car!

And *I* note that when I was there in 1983, on one occasion I found
myself placing a call from a hand-cranked phone, and on another
occasion there occurred the following conversation between my friend
and an operator.  (I've posted this to Telecom before but perhaps
it's worth repeating.)

    "I'd like to make a transferred-charge call to Milford Sound.
     Please charge it to Spencerville 269."
    "Spencerville 269, and you're calling Milford Sound 6."
    "How did you know??!"
    "It's the only telephone in Milford Sound."
    "!"
    "Except for the box outside the post office, and I didn't
     think you'd be calling that."

It should be noted that he could have direct-dialed, um pardon me,
placed an STD call, if he had not wanted to transfer the charge.
By the way, local calls from a payphone were then 6 cents...
the only coin slots on the phones being 2 and 10 cents.  Fun
country.  The backward dial numbering has already been noted.


Mark Brader            "Any company large enough to have a research lab
SoftQuad Inc., Toronto         is large enough not to listen to it."
utzoo!sq!msb, [e-mail]                    -- Alan Kay

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 28 Sep 89 10:02:23 EDT
From: Alain Arnaud <[e-mail]>
Subject: Intellidial and Intercom
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories


I live in a multi-story (six) townhouse. I have two phone lines, one of
them connected to a fax machine. We receive all of our voice calls on
one line.

I would like to be able to add an intercom feature. Lets say, the
phone rings, I am in the room on the sixth level, my wife is in a room
on the second level, I would like to be able to put the call on hold,
dial the phone in that room to tell her to pickup.  I thought that
Intellidial would allow me to do this, but after talking to a New
England Telephone representative, who was very helpful and courteous
I found out that the intercom feature of Intellidial allows only to
call bewtween the two lines. BTW, I like very much the other features,
the NET rep offered to turn on the service next week for a two week
trial period, after which if I choose to keep it, they will charge me
 $21/line.  All of our phones are trimline type, so what would be the
best way to add the intercom feature.

Alan Arnaud ([e-mail])

Standard disclaimer, just consulting at ATT.

[Moderator's Note: Same problem here, in a way. I have two lines, using
one exclusively for voice and the other for mostly modem and some voice.
You can have 'half an intercom' by using the line with the FAX to dial
the intercom code to the other line, assuming you have a phone instrument
on the line as well as a FAX machine. If I want my brother or his wife,
I use the modem line to dial the code for the other line. When Dan or Tina
want me, they call if the modem is not on the line (I don't use auto
answer); otherwise they walk from wherever to my room and talk to me!  PT]

------------------------------

From: Mark Brader <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Wrong Numbers With Nobody There
Date:     Tue, 26 Sep 89 18:41:48 EDT

I sometimes experience a different form of "Wrong Number With Nobody
Talking".  The phone will ring and I will pick it up on about the third
ring, only to get immediate dial tone.  Nobody who places genuine calls
to my house gives up that fast, so it's not someone abandoning the call
just as I pick up the tone.  There's no period of silence at the other
end, so it's not a modem/FAX call.  Not even a short period of silence,
as one would expect with "a burglar calling to see if anyone is home".

Could this be some sort of phenomonen originating at the switch?
I'm in area code 416, prefix 488; Bell Canada evidently has a relatively
modern switch there, as things like Call Waiting and Three-Way Calling
are available.  When I call another number within 488, the ringback
usually comes instantly as I let go of the 7th pushbutton.  But I don't
know what model it actually is.

By the way, *do* burglars phone houses to see if anyone is home?

Mark Brader, Toronto       "It's been proven.  Places stay clean until somebody
utzoo!sq!msb, [e-mail]    drops the first piece of litter."    -- TTC poster

------------------------------

From: fmsystm![e-mail]
Subject: Re: Special Information Tones
Date: Thu Sep 28 10:05:41 1989
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Macy Hallock)
Organization: F M Systems  Medina, Ohio USA

In article <[e-mail]> kitty![e-mail]
(Larry Lippman) writes:
>X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 412, message 1 of 9

>In article <[e-mail]> carroll1![e-mail].
>net (Dave Troup) writes:
>>    Does anyone know what the recording alert tones are? You know-those
>>    dee-doo-DOO, "The number you have reached..." What are the frequencies
>>    to them.  Ive NEVER been able to find out what those are.

>    These tones are called SIT (Special Information Tones).  Their
>purpose is to permit an automatic Call Disposition Analyzer (CDA) to
>differentiate between a human voice and a recorded announcement, and
>to categorize the type of recorded announcement.

SIT Tone information follows:

Special Infomation Tones (SIT) are a series of three tones at the
beginning of intercepted call.  These tones are used by call
processing equipment to automatically identify the type of intercept
the call has reached.

     SIT Tone type and usages

Period  Frequency    Designation
 SSL      LLL        IC - Intercept - Vacant No. or AIS or etc.
 LLL      LLL        NC - No Circuit (Inter-LATA carrier)
 LSL      HLL        VC - Vacant Code
 SLL      HLL        RO - Reorder Announcement (Inter-LATA Carrier)
 LSS      LHL        #1 - Add'l Reserved Code
 SLL      LHL        RO - Reorder Announcement
 SSL      HHL        #2 - Add'l Reserved Code
 LLL      LLL        NC - No Circuit, Emergency or Trunk Blockage

Where: Period-Duration: S=Short 274 msec   L=Long 380 msec
       Frequency: L=Low  913.8 hz  1370.6 hz  1776.7 hz
                  H=High 985.2 hz  1428.5 hz

This information taken from a central office recorder/announcer
installation manual ca. 1983.

I believe SIT's are specified by Bellcore and/orr CCITT.  I have
heard SIT's used on international calls to several countries.

       Macy Hallock               fmsystm![e-mail]
       F M Systems, Inc.          hal!ncoast!fmsystm!macy
       150 Highland Dr.           uunet!hal.cwru.edu!ncoast!fmsystm!macy
       Medina, OH 44256           Voice: 216-723-3000 X251
       Disclaimer:                My advice is worth what you paid for it.
       Alt.disclaimer:            Your milage may vary.
       Biz.disclaimer:            My opinions are my own. What do I know?


------------------------------

From: Bob Frankston (BFrankston) <lotus![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: 10-Cent Pay Phones
Date: Thu, 28 Sep 89 23:07:40 EDT

I'm surprised I didn't see any response on this from the Boston area where all
pay phones are 10 cents.  When I travel, I still view the 25 cent pay phones as
novelties.

Bob Frankston

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #418
*****************************










Date:     Fri, 29 Sep 89 23:31:17 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #419
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Fri, 29 Sep 89 23:30:00 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 419

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    International Calling Request? (Frank T. Winstead)
    The "Junk Fax" Bill in California (Mark A. Holtz)
    Baudot Computer (Leonard P. Levine)
    AT&T Blows Billing On Call To Shoup Salmon River Store (John R. Covert)
    Tickets and No Dial Tone (Bernard Mckeever)
    Intellidial on Two Lines (Jon Solomon)
    Re: New Techniques for Busy Verification? (Edward Greenberg)
    Re: Splits of NNX? (John R. Levine)
    Re: Area Code Splits (was: Splits of NNX?) (Jay Maynard)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Sep 89 01:33:32 EDT
From: "Frank T. Winstead" <[e-mail]>
Subject: International Calling Request?

Hello,

  I'm looking for documentation on making long distance calls from the
US to other countries.  Specificly I would like to know the number of
digits in telephone numbers for different countries.  I have access to
various documents which list Country and City Codes. What I need to
know is how many digits should follow these codes.  I have seen from
numbers that work that this is not always the same for all countries.
The main campus library has a fair collection of International/UN/US
government documents.  So even a pointer to some CCITT paper or such
would be helpful.

  I'm requesting this because part of my job is to send FAXes for
people who are sometimes confused about international telephoning.

Thanks,

Frank Winstead

[Moderator's Note: The number of digits following varies from country to
country, and frequently, even within a country. That is why AT&T encourages
the use of the '#' button as a terminator, or carriage return following the
final digit on international calls. It tells our system here to go ahead
and process what it has been given without waiting for more. Perhaps
if you have specific countries in mind, Mr. Covert will respond to you in
email. He is our 'resident expert' on international calls here in the
Digest readership.  By the way, the '#' button also speeds along calls in
any instance in which the network would otherwise have to wait for a time
out. For example, when dialing the number associated with a Calling Card,
one need only enter the four digit PIN; yet the switch does not know that
is what you are doing, and will wait patiently for the other ten digits
of the card for a few seconds unless you terminate with # to speed the
processing. 'Zero pound' hastens the operator in Chicago, I might add. PT]

------------------------------

From: "Mark A. Holtz" <[e-mail]>
Subject: The "Junk Fax" Bill in California
Date: 29 Sep 89 03:30:50 GMT
Organization: Sacramento Public Access, Ca. USA


Quite recently, a bill was passed through both houses of the
California legislature which prohibits unsolicited "junk fax" from
being sent. The basis: Regular junk mail costs nothing more than
the time to toss it into file 13, which you pay for the ink and
paper for junk fax.

However, the governor of California has stated that he would not
sign said bill.

He is bound to change his mind.

Several radio stations have gotten a hold of the Governor's fax
number. And, they have given it out, telling people to keep the fax
machine busy with junk fax. And, sure enough, it has been busy.

If you were the governor of California, would you sign the "Junk
Fax" bill now?

      Mark Arthur Holtz        <->       America OnLine: Mark Holtz
     7943 Sungarden Drive      <->             GEnie: M.HOLTZ
Citrus Heights, CA  95610-3133 <-> UUCP: {ames att}!pacbell!sactoh0!mholtz
  Home Phone: [phone]   <->     -or- uunet!mmsac!sactoh0!mholtz

[Moderator's Note: I don't know if I would or not. What I might do instead
would be send a courteous note back to all the numbers which had junk-faxed
me telling them if they continued that sort of harassment they would get
sued. And I would tell the radio station management that using my position
as governor, I would communicate with the FCC and file a formal complaint
against them for encouraging telephonic harassment over the airwaves.  PT]

------------------------------

From: Leonard P Levine <[e-mail]>
Subject: Baudot Computer
Date: 29 Sep 89 19:35:00 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail]


My first computer access was to a Honeywell 400 computer via a baudot
(5 bit) connection. This was in about 1963-5 and was done on a computer
owned by Honeywell and destined for use an a switcher to replace the
room full of clerks who took papertape output from one of some 20
punches and manually fed them to some other reader in the same room.
The system was used for a private telegraph system operated by Honey-
well.  It did not work for some reason, so the machine was left nearly
idle.  (this was during the day of the IBM 1401 computer.)

One of my associates at the Honewell Research Center, a Mr. Keith Betz,
programmed this fairly old computer to use the the baudot lines as
on-line terminal connectors to give 12 simultaneous tasks on 12
isolated terminals.

Entering a line such as

A = B + C

required 4 case changes as the spcial symbols and numbers were in
a different case than the letters.

We loved it at the time.  75 baud, papertape, yellow paper and all.
The alternative was to submit card decks to a computer across town
with 8 (eight) day turnaround.  Jobs sumbitted on Monday came back the
next Tuesday, just too late to correct and resubmit.  Work was
accepted on Monday only.

+ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - +
| Leonard P. Levine                  e-mail [e-mail] |
| Professor, Computer Science             Office [phone] |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee       Home   [phone] |
| Milwaukee, WI 53201 U.S.A.              FAX    [phone] |
+ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - +

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Sep 89 14:23:31 -0700
From: "John R. Covert  28-Sep-1989 2142" <[e-mail]>
Subject: AT&T Blows Billing on Call To Shoup Salmon River Store

You may remember my call to the Shoup Salmon River store.  This was
part of my article back on 8 August:

>More interesting is the system in Shoup, Idaho.  Call 208 555-1212
>and ask for the Shoup Salmon River store -- you'll be told to call
>Shoup 24F3. It is what's called a "Farmer's Line," and it's sort of a
>single magneto drop with several stations.  The people out there
>maintain the line themselves.  It's single wire ground return.  The
>people on the line call each other with coded ringing (and being
>allowed to make local calls is one of the things that makes a farmer's
>line different from a toll station). They get incoming calls with
>coded ringing from the operator at a cord board.  They contact the
>cord board to get out with a loooooong ring.  The board handling
>calls is an AT&T board.

Well, the bill arrived, and AT&T blew it badly.

I have the following entry on my bill for the period August 20-September 19:

No.  Date     Time           Place            Area-Number    *   Min:Sec  Amount
 1   Aug 7   1000PM      EGYPT                 208057121    R       5      8.27

When I saw this, I knew no one had called Egypt from my phone, and I
called AT&T to have the call taken off the bill.  The AT&T rep
insisted that the "R" meant that the call had been direct dialled from
my phone (not actually true; if I had been unable to dial for some
reason it would have still been charged at the "R" rate).  I insisted
that the call had not been placed from my phone and that there must be
some sort of error.  I pointed out that I thought that it was strange
that the call was outside the billing period and that it was at
exactly 1000PM, indicating that there may have been some sort of
manual ticketing involved.  AT&T agreed to take the call off the bill.

Then, tonight, I mentioned the spurious call to Egypt to someone I
know who has half the toll-completing codes (or maybe all of them)
memorized from the old days when they were easily hackable.  He
immediately said, "Well, if it wasn't Egypt, it would have been
Salmon, Idaho."

The light went on!  I remembered the call to the Shoup Store.

Wanting to correct the problem and to prevent an AT&T security
investigation of the supposed call to Egypt, I called AT&T again to
explain what had actually happened and to offer to pay for the five
minute call to Idaho.  The service rep I talked to really couldn't
understand what I was talking about and told me that if AT&T had
agreed to take the Egypt call off the bill, that was that, and I could
have the call to Idaho for free.

Clearly either TSPS blew the automated ticketing or the operator
marked the manual ticket incorrectly.

/john

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Sep 89 09:49:37 EDT
From: Bernard Mckeever <[e-mail]>
Subject: Tickets and No Dial Tone
Reply-To: [e-mail] (bernard.mckeever,54236,mv,3b045,508 960 6289)
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories


Sounds like IBT and PAC BELL have lots to look out for in the next few
weeks. When the Cubs get in the World Series this could happen again.

A quick note to our moderator that I will share with others.

Patrick, you mentioned that during heavy traffic when dial tone is
delayed that you stay off hook and use your speaker phone to detect
dial tone. As I recall in an article published in the local operating
company internal newspaper [pre-divestiture], all ESS machines were
being re-programmed with a new algorithm for heavy traffic. They will
now process the last offered call first.  The reasons that were stated
at the time were:

1. The call had a better chance of compleating because the caller was
unlikely to abandon the call when dial tone appears in the normal time
frame.

2. Many more callers would be unaware of the problem because most
people do not make multiple calls.

3. Retries would be fewer because calls with a low probability of
completion would wait the longest for dial tone.

Anyway this is about as close as I can recall from memory.  Can
somebody from IH shed some light on this.

------------------------------

Date:  Fri, 29 Sep 89 05:38:08 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Intelledial on Two Lines

I have two lines here too, one for data, and one for voice (I've
ordered a third line but it's held up because of the strike).

What I'd recommend is to put intelledial on your two lines (it's
9.00/mo/line) and use the "call hold" feature to do the transferring
on one line.

What I mean is this:

    You get a call on your voice line
    you answer it, it's for your wife.
    you say "hold on a minute", flash the switchook,
    then dial *9, and then hang up. The phone will ring.
    Your wife answers the fone after 4 or so rings realizing
    you won't be getting it.......

You don't really need intercom for that.

One thing you might want to try is using your fax line as a second
line for intercom purposes and outside calls only. If your fax line is
busy for a few short minutes while you ring the other line, it
shouldn't be a problem. That is if you want an intercom. If the above
situation is okay with you (dialing *9, etc), then you don't need any
more lines.

--jsol

p.s. Intellidial is great!

[Moderator's Note: It sure is! Here we call it Starline, but it is the
same difference. I don't think I would ever go back to having a PBX.  PT]

------------------------------

From: Edward Greenberg <claris!netcom![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: New Techniques for Busy Verification?
Date: 29 Sep 89 03:28:32 GMT
Reply-To: Edward Greenberg <claris!netcom![e-mail]>
Organization: NetCom- The Bay Area's Public Access Unix System {408 997-9175}


On Long Island, New York, the verification operator went away in about
1980.

In the early 70's, one verified by calling the operator and asking for
"verification on 555-2368."  The operator would call the number and,
if s/he got a busy, call the verification operator for you and ask for
"verification on 555-2368."  The verification operator would answer
"busy talking" or "out of service, I'll report it."

We soon learned that we could reach the verification operator by
dialing the affected prefix and 9901 (or, "official 1").  Then WE
could tell the verification operator to do her thing.

In about 1973 or '74, we could no longer reach a verification operator
on official-1, but rather, 234-9901 would bring one up capable of
verifying anywhere in 516.

In about 1980, as I said above, the operators started verifying (and
doing emergency cut-in's) themselves.
                    -edg

P.S.  Does anybody else remember using verification as an early form
of call waiting?


Ed Greenberg
uunet!apple!netcom!edg

[Moderator's Note: Yes, we used to ask for verification which would cause
a click on the other person's line, as a way of letting them know someone
wanted them. Abuse of it is why they now charge for verifying if the line
does in fact test busy and not out of order. When we then got through, the
other party would always ask, "was that you trying to get me?", and I would
always reply, "did the operator cut in and tell you to can the sh-- and
give someone else a chance to get through on the line?"  :)    PT]

------------------------------

From: "John R. Levine" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Splits of NNX?
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Segue Software, Cambridge MA
Date: Thu, 28 Sep 89 02:16:55 GMT

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
il.us (David Tamkin) writes:
>I think the very first split was 404/912 in Georgia.

If you want to go all the way back, the 0th split was probably
201/609.  The earliest NPA maps apparently had all of New Jersey in
201, but they split it before many people even had DDD.  One thing
I've always wondered about was why 201 is a single LATA, while 609,
which has about half as many phones and prefixes, it split into two.
I suppose it's because 609 has a strip of nearly uninhabited Pine
Barrens down the middle which makes it easy to split, but it's a pain.
The eastern 609 LATA is a tiny strip running about 65 miles down the
coast with the only town of any size being Atlantic City.  I happen to
have a beach house near there and almost every call I make is an
inter-lata toll call.  At least they all go toward my Sprint Plus
volume discount.

This situation also makes for some interesting dialing.  From my
parents' house in Princeton NJ in the western 609 LATA, when you dial
a regular seven digit number it might be:

    * a free local intra-lata call
    * a free local inter-lata call, since local calls into adjacent
      prefixes in 201 can still be dialed without the area code
    * an intra-lata toll call
    * an inter-lata toll call

It makes it hard to tell how much to expect to pay.

Local calls across the NPA boundary can be dialed without the area
code all along the line in New Jersey, and since there are still
several NNX prefixes that are assigned neither in 201 nor 609, this
seems unlikely to change.  609 does not have NXX prefixes but 201
does, and in at least one case an NXX prefix in Toms River (201) is
dialable from Barnegat (609) without an area code; I guess they had to
put in a special case timeout.

John R. Levine, Segue Software, POB 349, Cambridge MA 02238, [phone]
[e-mail], {ima|lotus}!esegue!johnl, [e-mail]
Massachusetts has 64 licensed drivers who are over 100 years old.  -The Globe

------------------------------

From: Jay "you ignorant splut!" Maynard <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Area Code Splits (was: Splits of NNX?)
Date: 29 Sep 89 09:48:18 GMT
Reply-To: Jay "you ignorant splut!" Maynard <[e-mail]>
Organization: Confederate Microsystems, League City, TX


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:
>214/903 Texas, fall 1990

Does this include moving the Fort Worth area of 817 into 214? For the
longest time, duplicate NXXs weren't assigned to both Dallas and Fort
Worth, even if they wouldn't have had local calling scope to each other.
I had always heard that that was because they intended to make Dallas
and Fort Worth into one area code one day.

(I'm watching this one from afar; we in Houston got our split a while
back.)

Jay Maynard, EMT-P, K5ZC, PP-ASEL   | Never ascribe to malice that which can
[e-mail]       (eieio)| adequately be explained by stupidity.
{attctc,bellcore}!texbell!splut!jay +----------------------------------------
               America works less when you say..."Union Yes!"

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #419
*****************************










Date:     Sat, 30 Sep 89 0:17:54 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #420
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sat, 30 Sep 89 00:15:26 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 420

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Re: Phone Design For Humans (Edward Greenberg)
    Re: Phone Design For Humans (Peter Desnoyers)
    Re: Phone Cards (Jim Gottlieb)
    Re: Phone Cards (Jeffrey Silber)
    Re: Locatable Ringers (Chris Schmandt)
    Re: Locatable Ringers (Tad Cook)
    Re: Locatable Ringers (Ihor J. Kinal)
    Re: Cordless Phone Questions (Tad Cook)
    Re: Urgent: Hurricane Wreaks Havoc (Mark Robert Smith)
    Re: Criticism of Call Forwarding (S. M. Krieger)
    Re: Precise Dial Tone & A Tone of the Past (Tad Cook)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Edward Greenberg <claris!netcom![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phone Design For Humans
Date: 29 Sep 89 22:40:13 GMT
Reply-To: Edward Greenberg <claris!netcom![e-mail]>
Organization: NetCom- The Bay Area's Public Access Unix System {408 997-9175}


>[Moderator's Note: But you know what I *really* miss are the 2515
>sets. Those were the 2500 'two line turn button' sets, with the plastic
>knob in the corner for selection of line one or two. The turn button also

Indeed.  Two line twists were a joy, and some even had a manual hold
built into the exclusion plunger.

One of my favorite phones is a 2500 set with a headset jack in the
back.  What I wouldn't give for a few more of those.

In the interests of reminiscence, here are some of the funky phones
I've got in stock:

    A clear base and handset 2500 set.  A friend bought a bunch of
these cases and uses them to R & R 2500 sets as novelty items.
Everything is clear.  The handset, base, faceplate and, of course, the
cover over the number card.  One of these days I'm going to laser
print my phone number onto a transparency so that can be clear too.

    A marblized green and white Stromberg Carlson trimline.  This
one was picked up in a phone wholesaler on closeout.  The story was
that a line of these had been designed for a Hawaiian hotel that
got into financial trouble during construction.  It went well with a
green bathroom that I no longer have.  My wife won't let it see the
light of day any more though.

    A beige, five line touchtone card dialer. I gotta find a place to
put this one in the house... It's just too nice to keep in a box.
Unfortunately, there ain't anyplace in the current residence that
needs a phone.  This one is programmed by punching out holes in cards.
You have to punch two holes per number.  One for the row and one for
the column.  Inside, it's mechanical and electrical madness.  I wonder
if (where) I could still get cards.

    An "ITT/Kellogg" 576 set.  This is one with three lines and
three manual holds. It has ROUND buttons, and has to have hookswitch
key restoration on the hold buttons, in order not to busy out the
lines forever.   It also has neon ring indicators on the line buttons,
and provisions to wire a supply to provide lights for on-hold
indications.  This phone has a Numeric dial, rather than a
"metropolitan" one.  That means it has ten LARGE digits (in standard
rotary dial digit font) instead of ten smaller digits with letter
codes next to them.

What other pieces of history do we have out there?

Ed Greenberg
uunet!apple!netcom!edg

[Moderator's Note: I've got a 'French-style' phone: the round, fat base
with the felt covering the bottom, the sort of skinny neck and the four
fingers -- two extended upright on either side - which form the cradle.
It has a rather large, heavy receiver, and *straight, brown cloth cord*
 from the receiver to the base, and from the base to where it was tied
on by its spade lugs to the side-ringer on the wall. Rotary dial, of
course, with a 'Z' on the Operator hole. Inside the unit on the bottom
plate is the notation 'manufactured by Western Electric Hawthorne Works,
3-15-1927'. Bell phones of that era did not have bells in them. The bell
was always in a box mounted on the wall; what we would today term a
side-ringer, as is used for the second line on a two line phone. It still
works, but the transmission quality is poor.  PT]

------------------------------

From: Peter Desnoyers <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phone Design For Humans
Date: 29 Sep 89 14:09:37 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer, Inc.


In article <[e-mail]>
[e-mail] (Gabe Wiener) writes:
> Speaking of the 2500, is it still with us?  Does AT&T (or ITT, or GTE,
> or Stromberg Carlson (comdial) or whoever) still manufacture a _real_
> 2500 set?
 [complains about sleazy (new) AT&T set]

I have an AT&T phone in front of me that we bought a few months ago for
our lab. It has CS2500DMGH and a date code printed on the bottom, so I
guess it's a 2500 set :-) Anyway, it's made in Singapore, it's cheap and
sleazy, and the keypad stops generating tones if the voltage drops below
5.4 volts. It feels too lightweight for a telephone, although if you open
it up you find there are two heavy metal bars riveted to the bottom that
seem to have no purpose but to add weight. On the plus side, it has
memory, redial, and mute.

                                      Peter Desnoyers
                                      Apple ATG
                                      [phone]

------------------------------

From: Jim Gottlieb <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phone Cards
Date: 29 Sep 89 09:25:06 GMT
Reply-To: Jim Gottlieb <denwa![e-mail]>
Organization: Info Connections, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan


In article <[e-mail]> cgch![e-mail]
(Tom Hofmann) writes:

>As I see there are two different types of phone cards around the world.
>For the other type you pay a certain amount and this amount is
>coded on the card itself. For usage you push the card into a special
>slot of a public phone, and the coded amount is decreased while making
>a call.  An "empty" card can be thrown away (e.g. Switzerland).

While these stored-value cards are definitely convenient and one avoids
calling card surcharges, they always seemed to me to be too susceptible
to fraud.  After all, the sole record of your balance is sitting on the
card in your pocket.

Well, today's Japan Times reports the case of someone who was charged
with buying cards with 50 10-yen (about 7 U.S. cents) units on them and
reprogramming them with several thousand units and then selling them.

Surprisingly, the case was dropped because the court determined that
this person had not broken any laws!  They said that since he had not
planned to use the cards himself, he had not cheated the phone company
out of any money.  And since he dutifully informed the people he sold
the cards to that they had been modified, he was not guilty of any
securities law violation.

I suspect that the Diet will need to quickly come up with a law to make
this illegal, or a massive industry will sprout, with no fear of
prosecution.

The article did not mention anything about the eventual end-users of
the cards or whether they would be prosecuted.

Jim Gottlieb                     Info Connections, Tokyo, Japan
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
       <[e-mail]> or <[e-mail]> or <attmail!denwa!jimmy>
Fax: (011)[phone]           Voice Mail: (011)[phone] ID#82-42-424

------------------------------

From: Jeffrey Silber <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phone Cards
Date: 27 Sep 89 13:23:30 GMT
Reply-To: Jeffrey Silber <[e-mail]>
Organization: Cornell Theory Center, Cornell University, Ithaca NY


In article <[e-mail]> cgch![e-mail]
(Tom Hofmann) writes:
>What I would like to know:  Isn't there a country (or LDC in the US)
>where phone calls can be paid be regular, internationally accepted
>credit cards (Visa, Master Card, American Express, etc.)?  Phone calls
>would get much easier while travelling abroad.  Or is there a reason,
>why telephone companies do not accept them?

I was able to place an international call from Heathrow airport using
my Visa card ... the phone had a magnetic strip reader which read my
card and permitted me to direct dial.  The charge appeared on my bill
next month from British Telecom.


"A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking real money."
                                                         --Sen. Everett Dirksen

Jeffrey A. Silber/[e-mail]
Business Manager/Cornell Center for Theory & Simulation in Science &
Engineering

------------------------------

From: Chris Schmandt <mit-amt![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Locatable Ringers
Date: 29 Sep 89 22:10:56 GMT
Reply-To: Chris Schmandt <mit-amt![e-mail]>
Organization: MIT Media Lab, Cambridge MA


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
boston.ma.us writes:
>I am astonished that considering all of the ergonomic work that AT&T at
>least used to do on their phones, they haven't provided this simple feature.

(referring to distinctive rings).

Our AT&T 7506 sets (running basic rate ISDN off a 5ESS) offer 8
distinctive rings.  Although you have to listen fairly hard to hear
the differences when you're down the hall, it is a feature growing
in popularity here.

chris

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Tad Cook)
Subject: Re: Locatable Ringers
Date: 30 Sep 89 00:58:58 GMT
Organization: very little


For distinguishing ringers in an open office, try coded ringers like
the ones from Proctor & Associates of Redmond, WA.  Their phone number
is 206-881-7000.

Tad Cook
[e-mail]


------------------------------

From: Ihor J Kinal <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Locatable Ringers
Date: 29 Sep 89 15:12:00 GMT
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories


In article <[e-mail]>, Kenneth_R_Jongsma@cup.
portal.com writes:

> Several of us got tired of this and wired up a neon flasher. It's
> quite easy to make: You get a standard neon bulb (NE-2?) and a 10K
        ...
> When the phone rings, the neon light flashes. It does not
> interfere with the operation of the phone. Note that this only works
> with traditional phone systems. It probably will not work with the new
> electronic systems.

If you don't want to build your own, you can
pick one up from your local Radio Shack. Cost is about $9.00.

It works with my phone, which is attached to an ATT System 85.
Ringer equivalent is 0.4 B.

Ihor Kinal
cbnewsh!ijk

<standard disclaimer on Radio Shack, ATT, Bell Labs, etc>


------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Tad Cook)
Subject: Re: Cordless Phone Questions
Date: 30 Sep 89 00:56:33 GMT
Organization: very little


There are lots of things that can cause interference to cordless phones.
We have a Leading Edge computer at work that sounds like a thousand
vacuum cleaners in my Plantronics Liteset.  Light dimmers also radiate
RFI and can interfere with cordless phones.  Try reorienting the antenna,
or moving the base unit.  The further away you get from the base the
worse the signal will be.

(This is in response to Pete Lyal's questions about his new cordless
phone.)

Also, remember that your phone calls on a cordless phone are not private,
or are less private than wireline communications.  Anyone in your
neighborhood with a VHF scanner radio can tune to the 46-49 MHz area
and listen to your calls.

Tad Cook
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 23 Sep 89 13:50:49 EDT
From: Mark Robert Smith <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Urgent: Hurricane Wreaks Havoc

It may be late, but American Express is supposed to be helping out.
The number I got off of TV is 1-800-453-9000.  I hope this helps.

Mark Smith, KNJ2LH                All Rights Reserved
RPO 1604               You may redistribute this article only if those who
P.O. Box 5063                 receive it may do so freely.
New Brunswick, NJ 08903-5063              [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Stan Krieger)
Subject: Re: Criticism of Call Forwarding
Date: 29 Sep 89 15:06:32 GMT
Organization: Summit NJ


> B) How difficult would it be to modify the system so that when one
> placed a call to a forwarded number, they would first hear a short
> tone signifying that the call was being bumped?  Unlike A), that would
> actually be informative and helpful.

> [Moderator's Note:
> Regards (B), many people do not want
> you to know they are not at home/office, etc.

The problem with call-forwarding is that SOMEONE should know the
call has been call-forwarded; otherwise the conversation can be
very awkward.  I agree with the moderator that letting the caller
know that the call has been forwarded will defeat one of the selling
points of that feature, but if the receipients aren't aware that
the call they're getting is forwarded, they may accidentally give
away that information through their fumbling.  If the receipients
got a coded ring, then they would be forewarned (e.g., if the person
who set up call forwarding was in their home, that person could
answer the phone; if your relative or friend forwarded to you while
you were on vacation, you would know when you answered where you were
supposed to pretend you're at).

In an office, this would be even more useful.  Before desktop
terminals became the standard, and terminal rooms were the norm,
people who would be working at terminals for several hours would
often call-forward to the terminal room.  When they forgot to
remove call-forwarding, the person who picked up the phone in the
terminal room would often just say that so&so wasn't there, or
that this wasn't that person's phone (the latter would also
happen if calls were left forwarded to someone else's desk, because
you knew you would be in their office for a long time).  At
least with a coded ring, there would be no puzzlement to receipients
as to why callers apparently got a wrong number.


Stan Krieger
Summit, NJ
 ...!att!attunix!smk

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Tad Cook)
Subject: Re: Precise Dial Tone & A Tone of the Past: No-Such-Number
Date: 30 Sep 89 00:22:44 GMT
Organization: very little


Regarding precise dialtone, it's true...the older dialtone was rich in
harmonics, and interferes with a tone receiver trying to detect the
first DTMF digit.

I used to work for a company that made tone-to-pulse converters, and
one of the requirements was that they be installed in offices with
precise 350+440Hz dialtone, rather than the electromechanical motor
driven monsters that were commong in offices without DTMF.

Customers calling in with problems were usually asked about precise
dialtone, and the wags around the office (Teltone) used to joke about
the customers who said:

"Hell yes it's precise dialtone!  I checked it with a stobe light
just last week!"

Tad Cook
[e-mail]
KT7H @ N7HFZ
MCI Mail: 3288544


------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #420
*****************************










Date:     Sun, 1 Oct 89 0:56:07 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #421
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sun, 1 Oct 89 00:55:09 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 421

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    FIDO Address/Other Administrivia (TELECOM Moderator)
    C&P Class, With a Thought (David Lesher)
    NYTel Still On Strike and Vandalism (Roy Smith)
    Another Cool Thing About GTE (Tom Ace)
    ANI Updates Wanted ([e-mail])
    Re: Criticism of Call Forwarding (Tom Ace)
    Re: Telegraph History....Again! (Dave Fiske)
    Re: Locatable Ringers (Thomas J. Roberts)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date:     Sun, 1 Oct 89 0:24:54 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject:  FIDO Address/Other Administrivia

Mr. William Fenner has provided the Digest with a Fidonet address.
This can be used to send mail here. It forwards direct, and eliminates
the former hassle of two step addressing for Fido people.

Telecom Digest 129/87 from any Fido node via netmail will terminate at
'hogbbs.fido.com' and be forwarded right out to me here in Evanston.
My thanks to Mr. Fenner for making this alias available on his system.

Speaking of addresses, here is a complete list of addresses which can
be used to write TELECOM Digest. If one does not work for you for some
reason, then another one might.

[e-mail]   (preferred address, for submissions)
[e-mail]  (preferred address for list changes, etc)
[e-mail]      (a backup address if eecs lets you down)
[e-mail] (another backup address)
[e-mail]  (for Bitnet correspondents)
Telecom Digest  129/87  (for use from Fido sites)  (telecom 129/87 also works)
[e-mail]   (for personal mail to me)
155296378 (ans:ptown)   (Telex; slower, but eventually forwards here)

For next: Every letter sent to the above addresses (except ptownson
and telex) generates an autoreply message from here. This lets you
know your mail/Digest submission was received, and when it got here.
Sometimes autoreply fails, for various reasons, but usually because
some site along the way messes up the 'from:' line on your message,
and the autoreply itself bounces back to me. Just because you don't
get one, don't assume I did not get your mail unless a few days pass
and you still have heard nothing -- not even a 'real' reply from me.

Finally, the mail: As much as I would love to, I have absoutely no
control over the delivery of Digests. Delivery on the Internet is
pretty predictable, but off the net to Usenet, Bitnet, Compuserve, etc
is anyone's guess regards time of delivery, etc. Please note that each
issue of the Digest leaves here in numerical order, spaced at least
40-60 minutes apart.  If you get them by the boatload -- a dozen one
day and none the next -- there is nothing I can do about it, sorry. If
you are missing a copy, let me know, because I can always send
replacements.

Have a happy October, and a nice fall season!

Patrick Townson

------------------------------

From: David Lesher <[e-mail]>
Subject: C&P Class, With a Thought
Date: Fri, 29 Sep 89 21:28:09 EDT
Reply-To: David Lesher <[e-mail]>


According to the Post (2 Sept, D11)
C&P is hoping to get:
    CallerID    $6.50/8.50 (res/bus)
    Trace        $1.00 per use
    Block        $4.00/4.50 (.LE. 6 #'s)
    Sel. Fwd    $4.00/4.50
    Return        $4.00/4.50
    Repeat        $2.00/2.50
    Priority    $3.00/3.50
and
    Telephone companies argue that classifying a
    number as unpublished means only that it will not
    appear in a directory or be given out by operators
    People who want to safeguard their numbers can do so
    by not calling.

Which brings out the reason for my submission. It is no secret
that the District region has a number of government agencies
that, shall we say, maintain low profiles. These folks don't ALL
work out of the buildings we see on the news. Some buildings are
just not labeled (hint-if the fence is 12 ft high, and there is
a guard with an Uzi in the little hut, they are NOT selling
office supplies) while others have NO overt connection to their
actual agencies.

Now while nothing classified is discussed on the (so-called)
black phone, how happy are these folks going to be on the ID
question? Will they be able to get ID blocked? If not, then
c+p will make even MORE $$$ on OPX trunks back to the HQ
buildings or a neutral site to disguise the actual calling
numbers.

It should be interesting.

Flash! Murphy gets look and feel copyright on sendmail.cf
  {gatech!} [e-mail] (305) 255-RTFM

------------------------------

From: Roy Smith <[e-mail]>
Subject: NYTel Still On Strike and Vandalism
Date: 30 Sep 89 01:33:07 GMT
Organization: Public Health Research Institute, NYC, NY


    Just in case you forgot that NYTel is still on strike and that
vandalism is still going on, I heard on the radio a couple of days ago
of another incident involving some underground cables being cut on
Long Island, depriving about 4000 customers of phone service.  NYTel
has raised their reward for information leading to the arrest and
conviction of vandals to $100,000.

    Then again, maybe it had nothing to do with the strike --
Metro North (Amtrack commuter service into Grand Central Terminal)
reports continuing problems with people stealing the copper cables
used for their low-voltage signal lines (there is a big black market
in stolen copper, be it stolen cables or copper plumbing stripped from
abandoned buildings).

Roy Smith, Public Health Research Institute
455 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016
{att,philabs,cmcl2,rutgers,hombre}!phri!roy -or-
[e-mail] "The connector is the network"

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 29 Sep 89 16:15:07 PDT
From: "Tom Ace @ PCB x2021" <sje![e-mail]>
Subject: Another Cool Thing About GTE


GTE used to install modular jacks wired so that the polarity would be
the opposite of what was standard in Bell areas.  (I noticed this in
several instances, all residential service jacks in California in the
early 1980s.  I have no idea what they're doing nowadays.)

A friend once moved from a Bell area to a GTE area and figured that
his '70s-vintage WE touch-tone phone had gotten damaged in the move,
because it wouldn't make tones any more.  (I saw that he was dialing
by making pulses with his finger on the switchhook.)  I told him what
the story was and swapped tip and ring in the jack for him.

Tom Ace
[e-mail]
 ...!mntgfx!sje!tom


------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: ANI Updates Wanted
Date: Sat, 30-Sep-89 08:45:15 PDT

Hi, Patrick --

Hope you can help me.  I understand there was an on-going debate on the
comp.dcom.telecom. newsgroup about ANI and Invasion of Privacy.  It appears
to have been dropped from the system I use (Portal) -- anyway I can get
access to the information/debate?  Alternatively, if you could point me to
somebody who might be able to share some general information with me I'd
appreciate it.

What I am specifically interested in is the following -- I've heard that
at least two class action lawsuits have been filed against AT&T in NJ
and Florida -- this is not direct information so it may be a little
confused -- what I want to know is:  is this true?  What's the status?
Anything else that relates to the topic.  Also what other states are
on the bandwagon?  Noticed a post re. Maryland on the newsgroup today.

Hope to hear from you soon.

[Moderator's Note: Not *that* topic again, please! Perhaps a couple of
the readers who were the most prolific on the subject here will kindly
write correspondent with their views. Although if anyone knows anything
about the 'class action suits' he alludes to, that news would be welcome.
But I suspect the suits would be against local telcos rather than AT&T
would they not?   PT]
------------------------------

From: "Tom Ace @ PCB x2021" <sje![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Criticism of Call Forwarding
Date: 30 Sep 89 00:00:00 GMT

In TELECOM Digest V9 #414, Miguel Cruz asked:

>A) Why on earth does it do that thing where the first time you try
>forwarding, it actually places the call to the number, and if it's
>busy or no answer, you have to do the whole forwarding sequence again?
>Is there a single person on the planet for whom that's helpful or
>convenient?

Our moderator replied:

>[Moderator's Note: Regards (A), if you actually reach the party to whom
>you are forwarding, you are assured of dialing correctly. If you get a
>busy or no answer, it might be because you dialed a wrong number. By doing
>it a second time, telco is assured that your instructions match your
>intentions. Without this repeat-dialing verification, you might accidentally
>have forwarded to the wrong place.


Huh.  I always thought it was a slimebag method to get more revenue.  To
set up call-forwarding, you need to make (and, if applicable, pay for)
a call, like it or not.  (Well, an alternative is to place two calls,
hanging up before either is answered, not exactly to the delight of whomever
you're forwarding the calls to.)  Patrick's remarks are valid (I appreciate
that it would be a drag to be the recipient of erroneously forwarded calls),
but we endure several inconveniences the way things are.  There are times
when you'd like to be able to set up call-forwarding without ringing the
recipient's phone (3 A.M., for example).

Tom Ace
[e-mail]
...!mntgfx!sje!tom

P.S.  I once wanted to forward my phone to a 976 service as a joke, but
      the switch wouldn't let me.  It did, however, let me forward to an
      identical 976 service in an adjacent area code (at a greater cost
      to me for each call forwarded, of course).

------------------------------

From: Dave Fiske <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Telegraph History....Again!
Date: 29 Sep 89 21:19:47 GMT
Organization: BRS Info Technologies, Latham NY


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail].
edu (Gabe Wiener) writes:
> With all this talk of Western Union history and whatnot, I thought that
> these little anecdote might be appropriate.

> When Thomas A. Edison was a teenager in the 1860's, he used to work in
> a telegraph office.  At one point, he was assigned to work the
> graveyard shift.  Now in those days, a telegraph operator would have
> to send a six over the line (represented at the time by the morse
> signal ......, although the MODERN morse signal is -....).  Anyway,
> there was very little traffic over the circuits in those days was very
> light in the wee hours.  Now it is a well known fact that Tom Edison
> liked to sleep during his work.  However, he was often admonished for
> nodding off durning his operating hours when he failed to send the
> six.  So he rigged a six notched gear to the movement of a nearby
> clock, and whenever the clock would reach the hour, the gear would
> promptly roll over the telegraph key sending the six, and permitting
> Edison to get a good night's sleep.

Here's another anecdote about a famous person's work at a telegraph
office.

As a boy, Andrew Carnegie worked delivering telegrams.  Apparently, in
the early days, they did not believe that people could learn to read
the telegraph by ear.  They had a stylus attached to the "clicker",
which drew lines on a strip of paper which was moved along the
instrument.  As the paper moved along, an incoming dot lifted the
stylus up to make sort of a short rectangle on the paper; a dash made a
long rectangle.  A man would go over the strip of paper afterward, and
"read" the message, type it out, and give it to a boy to be delivered.

Carnegie mentions in his autobiography, that, from hanging around in
the office, hearing the incoming clicks, and reading the messages
before delivering them, he gradually learned to decode the messages in
his head.  Apparently this gave him an advantage, in that he knew the
message even before the official "interpreter".  I guess he could call out
the message as it came in, and the other guy could just type it out,
without having to look at the strip.

Anyway, eventually they figured out that people could learn to read the
clicks by ear.


"ANGRY WOMEN BEAT UP SHOE SALESMAN   Dave Fiske  ([e-mail])
 WHO POSED AS GYNECOLOGIST"
                                     Home:  [e-mail]
Headline from Weekly World News             CIS: 75415,163  GEnie: davef

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 30 Sep 89 14:21:36 CDT
From: Thomas J Roberts <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Locatable Ringers
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories


 From article <[e-mail]>, by johnl@esegue.
segue.boston.ma.us (John R. Levine):
> In article <[e-mail]> Kenneth_R_Jongsma@cup.
> portal.com writes:
>>In a recent issue of the digest, someone mentioned that they wanted a
>>phone that you could locate by the sound of its ring. ....
> I am astonished that considering all of the ergonomic work that AT&T at
> least used to do on their phones, they haven't provided this simple feature.

The phone on my desk (AT&T 7507 ISDN phone) has 8 different ring sequences,
selectable by the user. While the pitch of the ringer is not changable, it
has 3 tones, and 8 sequences of hi-med-low to choose from. It also has
a liquid-crystal display that displays the incoming call number (when
possible), and about a million buttons programmable for features
(conference, transfer, call-forward, auto call-back, priority call,
leave word calling, program speed call, etc.) and/or speed calling numbers.

Tom Roberts
AT&T Bell Laboratories
att!ihnet!tjr

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #421
*****************************










Date:     Mon, 2 Oct 89 0:45:54 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #422
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Mon, 2 Oct 89 00:45:26 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 422

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Re: Locatable Ringers (Doug Davis)
    Re: Locatable Ringers (Larry Campbell)
    Re: Information Wanted About GEOnet (Rupert Mohr)
    Re: California Junk Fax Bill (David W. Tamkin)
    Re: They're Doing It Again (was Chicago Cubs Trash Bell) (John Wheeler)
    Re: Sleazy Touch-Tone Marketing Tactics (John Wheeler)
    Re: Area Code Splits (was: Splits of NNX?) (Carl Moore)
    Re: Caller ID in Maryland (Tad Cook)
    Re: Phone Cards (Tad Cook)
    Re: Criticism of Call Forwarding (Michael Scott Baldwin)
    Area Codes and Reachability (Peter Clitherow)
    Correction to Fido Gateway Message (David Dodell)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Doug Davis <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Locatable Ringers
Date: 28 Sep 89 16:59:02 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Logic Process  Dallas, Texas.


In article <[e-mail]> Kenneth_R_Jongsma@cup.
portal.com writes:

>Several of us got tired of this and wired up a neon flasher. It's
>quite easy to make: You get a standard neon bulb (NE-2?) and a 10K
>resistor. Solder the resistor in line (not across) with the neon bulb.
>Remove the eraser from a Jet Eraser (or use a pen casing) and mount
>the bulb in the casing. Run the wiring to your phone tip and ring
>lines. When the phone rings, the neon light flashes. It does not
>interfere with the operation of the phone. Note that this only works
>with traditional phone systems. It probably will not work with the new
>electronic systems.

>Now when the phone rings, we look and see who's phone is flashing. Not
>a perfect solution, but better than before....

Good idea, but not exactly FCC spec ;-)  I have a commercial
product from Radio Shack called the "Phone Flasher" it's basically
the same thing as what you described only it's a real live
consumer product. Cost was 7.95 a year or so ago.  I have also
seen these little critters in Target so I suspect that they are
pretty widespread.

There are several variants of them as well one that has a Xenon lamp in it,
instead of Neon, another with a "tunable pitch" noise-maker in
it, and lastly one that provides you a 120VAC outlet that comes
on when the phone rings and goes off a few seconds after it stops.
I guess if the Neon or the Xenon version wasn't enough light you could
always connect that one to your Bat-Signal(tm).   Oh yeah,
I have one of those in my garage connected to a 12vdc transformer
attached to a car horn, never miss a call when making lots of racket
out there anymore ;-)

If its of interest I can dig up and post RS catalog numbers for
all of them.

Doug Davis/1030 Pleasant Valley Lane/Arlington/Texas/76015/817-467-3740
{sys1.tandy.com, motown!sys1, uiucuxc!sys1 lawnet, attctc, texbell} letni!doug
 "Everything in this article is a Jolt Cola hallucination and in no way
   exhibits any signs of being remotely connection to any reality."

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Larry Campbell)
Subject: Re: Locatable Ringers
Date: 30 Sep 89 03:48:50 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Larry Campbell)
Organization: The Boston Software Works, Inc.

We have AT&T Merlin phones and they support selection of one of eight
different ring tones.  The Merlin system is quite nice and featureful,
but I'd love to chuck it (and will next time we need to expand)
because it's completely proprietary and nonstandard -- you can't even
plug a modem into the damn thing.  Can anyone tell me why we shouldn't
switch to Centrex?

Larry Campbell                          The Boston Software Works, Inc.
[e-mail]                        120 Fulton Street
wjh12!redsox!campbell                   Boston, MA 02146


------------------------------

From: Operator <unido!infoac.rmi.de![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Information Wanted About GEOnet
Date: 1 Oct 89 12:09:29 GMT
Organization: RMI Net Aachen * W. Germany


[e-mail] (Henning Schulzrinne) writes:

>I would appreciate any information about GEOnet, a commercial mail
>and data network, especially concerning gateways to Internet.

>Thanks in advance.

Try
    [e-mail]
where host is one of GEONET's hostnames like
GEO1, GEO2, GEO3,... DM1, DM2, ... MBK1, ... etc.

Regards,
Rupert

*****************************************************************
   ___  ____  ___    _  _ ___ ___   ___ ___ ___     ___ _  _
  /__/ / / /   /    /\ / /__   /   /__//__//   /__//__ /\ /
 / \  /   / __/_   /  / /__   /   /  //  //__ /  //__ /  /

*****************************************************************
* addresses:  uucp   [e-mail]  [e-mail]    *
*             cis    72446,415            Fax    [phone]   *
*****************************************************************


------------------------------

Subject: Re: California Junk Fax Bill
Date: Sun, 1 Oct 89 11:16:55 CDT
From: "David W. Tamkin" <[e-mail]>

Mark A. Holtz wrote in volume 9, issue 419:

| Quite recently, a bill was passed through both houses of the
| California legislature which prohibits unsolicited "junk fax" from
| being sent. The basis: Regular junk mail costs nothing more than
| the time to toss it into file 13, while you pay for the ink and
| paper for junk fax.
|
| However, the governor of California has stated that he would not
| sign said bill.
|
| He is bound to change his mind.
|
| Several radio stations have gotten a hold of the Governor's fax
| number. And, they have given it out, telling people to keep the fax
| machine busy with junk fax. And, sure enough, it has been busy.
|
| If you were the governor of California, would you sign the "Junk
| Fax" bill now?

There is a story, or perhaps an urban legend, that when a bill to outlaw junk
faxing reached the desk of the governor of Connecticut, a junk-faxing
advertiser found out the number of the governor's fax machine and spread it
around the industry, telling fellow advertisers to bombard the state house
with letters against signing the bill.  The governor was so infuriated at
their tying up the fax machine and preventing its use for official state
business that the bill was signed immediately.


David Tamkin  P.O Box 813  Rosemont, Illinois 60018-0813 |      BIX: dattier
[e-mail]   [phone]  [phone] | GEnie: D.W.TAMKIN
Everyone on Chinet has his or her own opinion about this.|   CIS: 73720,1570

------------------------------

From: John Wheeler <techwood![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: They're Doing It Again (was Chicago Cubs Trash Bell)
Date: 1 Oct 89 19:56:19 GMT
Reply-To: John Wheeler <techwood![e-mail]>
Organization: Turner Entertainment Networks Library; Atlanta


If anyone is making a list, the "choke" exchange serving Atlanta is
404-741.

          Turner                                       John Wheeler
     E N T E R T A I N M E N T     ...!gatech!nanovx!techwood!johnw
                Networks
     Techwood Library * home of Superstation TBS * TNT * TBS Sports


------------------------------

From: John Wheeler <techwood![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Sleazy Touch-Tone Marketing Tactics
Date: 1 Oct 89 19:49:17 GMT
Reply-To: John Wheeler <techwood![e-mail]>
Organization: Turner Entertainment Networks Library; Atlanta


Patrick: I know you're a long-time advocate of AT&T Reach Out America,
but I'd like to find out what this deal is:

I placed my order for ROA about 2 weeks before my residence move -
after my number had been assigned, but before it was connected. I was
given all the rate info, etc. at the time.

I got my first bill from AT&T, and not only was there no ROA plan,
there was that neat little "you could have saved money with ROA"
message.  I called AT&T, and they said "oh...well when you place your
order before you actually have service connected, it sometimes [direct
quote] drags along and just never gets put on...we'll adjust your
bill".  Come on...am I not just an item in a table on a database with
an ROA flag set to TRUE? Shouldn't they have the billing bugs worked
out by now?


          Turner                                       John Wheeler
     E N T E R T A I N M E N T     ...!gatech!nanovx!techwood!johnw
                Networks
     Techwood Library * home of Superstation TBS * TNT * TBS Sports


[Moderator's Note: Generally, AT&T is very much at the mercy of the
local telco as to when things like ROA get turned on; when calling
card PINS are cancelled/started, etc. Some telcos just won't do work
on a line not actually in service. I've heard of situations with
Illinois Bell where people have moved very close by -- even from one
apartment to another in the same building, but for whatever reason IBT
had to change the pairs in the CO even though the people kept the same
number. Sure enough, as soon as the new service (with the same old
phone number) went on, ROA was *not* on the line. Who took it off?
Why, Illinois Bell, of course. Whatever the local telcos do in their
computer is the way things stand with AT&T, at least as long as the
telcos continue to do AT&T billing for them.  PT]

------------------------------

Date:     Sun, 1 Oct 89 17:30:26 EDT
From:     Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Re:  Area Code Splits (was: Splits of NNX?)

I assume that 817 is NOT affected by the 214/903 split.
I had never before heard of Dallas and Fort Worth possibly
becoming one area code.  I think there are some EMS (extended
metro service) prefixes with 7 digit calling to both cities.

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Tad Cook)
Subject: Re: Caller ID in Maryland
Date: 1 Oct 89 21:24:29 GMT
Organization: very little


Regarding the question about what is required at the CO for CLASS
services, I asked a rep at US West in Seattle recently about this.

They said that the 5ESS is already equipped for it, but that they
will be buying new software from AT&T.  Some of the other offices
will probably require retrofit to make them compatible.  One problem
in this area is making sure that the US West and GTE offices in the
area all talk to each other and send ANI.

Tad Cook
[e-mail]
MCI Mail: 3288544


------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Tad Cook)
Subject: Re: Phone Cards
Date: 1 Oct 89 21:08:40 GMT
Organization: very little


Regarding the question about LD carriers taking regular bank
plastic, I think I read recently that MCI will soon start accepting
bank credit cards for toll calls.  This is without having to use the
card reader phones in airports.  You will dial the MCI operator and
give your Visa number.

Tad Cook
[e-mail]
MCI Mail: 3288544


------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (michael.scott.baldwin)
Subject: Re: Criticism of Call Forwarding
Date: 2 Oct 89 01:05:17 GMT
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Will Martin on 7000) writes:
> And, as a side question: I seem to recall this being asked during the
> "Caller*ID" debate, but don't recall it being answered. Maybe somebody
> out there with Caller*ID can now tell us: If a call is call-forwarded to
> a phone with "Caller*ID", is the number displayed that of the forwarding
> phone or the originating one?

The originating one.

> If the number displayed is that of the originating phone, is there any
> heirarchy of displays -- that is, if the originating phone is out of the
> area and the number isn't available, but the number of the forwarding
> phone IS available, will the forwarding-phone's number be displayed in
> that case?

No.  You always get the originating phone.  Thus, if the originator is
out of area, but the forwarder is in area, caller*id shows "out of area".

More Caller*ID tidbits: It is possible for the little Caller*ID unit
to not even notice that a call came in if you pick up the phone very
shortly after the first ring.  This is because the Caller*ID info gets
transmitted between rings, and it is possible to pick up before any
info gets sent.  This is pretty annoying.

Also, not all exchanges in the same town will be in area.  We have
seven phone lines in my house on five different exchanges, all in the
same town.  (It's a long story, but it sure is fun having a 25-pair
block in the basement installed by NJ Bell).  Calls from two of the
exchanges show up as "out of area", even though they are from the next
room.  Bleah!

[e-mail] (bell laboratories)

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Area Codes and Reachability
Date: 1 Oct 89 20:00:41 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Bellcore - Wierd Ideas Factory

Noticed a few anomalies in that wonderful publication, the Telephone
Area Code Directory, TR-EOP-000093 from Bellcore, the latest edition
that I have being the July, 1988 one.

For instance, every point in Alaska except one is in the 907 area code
(as one might expect).  Hyder, AK is *only* reachable via 604 (BC).
Why should this be?  Probably, if I found that place on a map, it
would be adjacent to the BC border, and presumably, close to a
Canadian switch of some description.  However, why can't the routing
tables reflect this reality and allow us to use 907?  Coudn't there be
a "logical foreign exchange" within a host area code?  Or would that
be too much work for such a small community?

This is also true of:
Zones 6-8 in Wheeling, VW (Ohio area code).
Some miles on the Alaska highway, BC (AB area code).
Quite a few places in SK (AB area code).


Further strangeness:

For Nevada and Yukon Terr, every point is listed out explicitly with the
area code, rather than the summary "All Points, area code...".
Implication being that there were points in NV that had a UT/CA/AZ/OR
area code, but are now genuine 702 area code, but that Bellcore has
forgotten to update the directory appropriately?

Peter Clitherow

[Moderator's Note: I think the reasoning for listing out all dialable
cities in Nevada and Yukon Territory is that if anything, those two
areas are less likely to be dialable than most other states or
provinces. For example, in Nevada, there are still a large number of
toll stations -- places which cannot be dialed and must be called
through the operator.  Now, there are a few places like this in almost
every state or province, but in general we can dial direct wherever we
want. In Nevada and Yukon, in general we *cannot* dial a large number
of small localities. I think in editing the Area Code Directory, for
lack of space to list every single last point, the rule of thumb was
if almost everywhere is dialable, and there is one area code only,
then note 'all points, area such and such'. If quite a few places are
not dialable, then list a selection of those that are, even if it is
only one area.  PT]

------------------------------

From: David Dodell <[e-mail]>
Subject: Correction to Fido Gateway Message
Date: Sun 1 Oct 89 00:00:00


 >Telecom Digest 129/87 from any Fido node via netmail will terminate at
 >'hogbbs.fido.com' and be forwarded right out to me here in Evanston.
 >My thanks to Mr. Fenner for making this alias available on his system.

There is no such thing as hogbbs.fido.com, the correct internet address is
hogbbs.fidonet.org

David

   -------------------------------------------------------------------------
               uucp:  {decvax, ncar} !noao!asuvax!stjhmc!ddodell
        uucp:  {gatech, ames, rutgers} !ncar!noao!asuvax!stjhmc!ddodell
    Bitnet: ATW1H @ ASUACAD                    FidoNet=> 1:114/15
                  Internet: [e-mail]

[Moderator's Note: You are correct, and I stand corrected. It is
<org>, not com.  Sorry. That's what I get for watching television
while putting out issues of the Digest at the same time.  :)    PT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #422
*****************************










Date:     Mon, 2 Oct 89 23:32:58 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #423
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Mon, 2 Oct 89 23:30:41 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 423

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Some Comments About Busy Line Verification & TSPS (Larry Lippman)
    Charging Telephone Solicitors (was Re: Annoying phone calls) (David Albert)
    411 Ringing (John Wheeler)
    Packing Switching on the D Channel (Giridhar Coorg)
    Line Capture Device - RJ31X (Bo Newman)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Some Comments About Busy Line Verification & TSPS
Date: 2 Oct 89 22:10:21 EDT (Mon)
From: Larry Lippman <kitty![e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
edu writes:
> "This number's been busy -- " -click- less than two seconds later,
> "Sir, there's talking on the line," came back from the operator.

> What happened to Verify operators?  Time was, you got to listen to
> the operator call another operator, you could chat while the second
> operator was off for 30 seconds or so doing who knows what.  This
> whole transaction, from dialing to hanging up, took less than 30 seconds.

    TSPS was designed with the intention that any or all positions so
designated may have direct access to verification trunks.  The No. 1 TSPS
console has an illuminated non-locking "verification" key which has two
possible lamp indications, steady and 120 IPM flash.  The exact function of
this verification key is software-defined by the TSPS operating program
running on the Stored Program Control (SPC) No. 1, the TSPS processor.
Therefore, the operator you reach when dialing "0" may well have the
capability to perform busy line verification without requiring the services
of any other operator.

    However, depending upon the particular central office having the
number to be verified and the local TSPS serving area, a request for busy
line verification may still require the services of another operator.

    Traditionally, most CO's have two busy line verification trunks to
service the entire office.  In a local DSA serving area, these verification
trunks would typically be terminated on a No. 1 or No. 3 Toll Board (cord
type) so that at least two positions have access to the trunks; generally,
there was no verification multiple to all positions.  In large cities, there
was usually enough verification traffic to justify at least one operator for
this purpose.  In smaller DSA serving areas, operators having verification
trunk access would perform other duties while not serving verification
requests.

    In SxS CO's, the verification trunks would appear as incoming
trunks which connected to a verification distributor.  The verification
distributor would perform the same function as a first and second selector
to decode the thousands and hundreds digits of a four digit number.  The
verification distributor selected a connector group where the tens and
units digits were dialed into a verification connector.  A verification
connector would provide a metallic connection to the tip & ring of the
selected subscriber line; there was no ringing or busy-test function
provided in a verification connector itself.

    A verification connector was in most cases identical to a test
connector, as accessed by a local test desk in a repair service bureau.
In some SxS CO's the verification and test distributor circuits were
combined, while in other CO's there was a separate verification distributor
and a separate test distributor.

    There were several variations in the method of accessing a
verification trunk from the No. 1 or No. 3 Toll Board.  In some cases
there were TWO jacks for each verification trunk - one for dialing and
one for speech - which required the use of two cords by the operator.
In other cases only one jack was required for both dialing and speech.
In either event, in the case of a SxS CO only the last four digits of
the subscriber number would be dialed into the verification jack.  In
the case of a crossbar CO, the last four or five digits would be dialed,
depending upon the size of the CO.

    Since verification trunks were also used to actually break into a
connection for emergency situations, in the case of a No. 1 or No. 3 Toll
Board there was usually no one-way bridging amplifier; the verification
trunk circuit, if equipped with a repeater, was designed for normal two-way
communication.  Therefore, an operator who accessed a verification trunk
had the capability of talking to the connected subscriber line merely by
operating the "talk" key at the cord position.  Furthermore, if a subscriber
terminated a call while their number was accessed via a verification
connector, the operator could usually ring their telephone by operating the
cord position "ring forward" key (actually, the toll board ringing was
repeated using a "test trunk ringing circuit" at the terminating CO).

    In a crossbar CO, verification trunks would terminate as an incoming
trunk, with an incoming register being connected through an incoming
register link frame to accept the proper number of digits.  Upon completion
of dialing into the incoming register, a completing marker equipped to
handle "special features" (usually completing marker No. 0 or No 1) would
connect the incoming trunk through an office test frame to a "no test"
vertical in the subscriber line link frame, thereby making a metallic
connection to tip & ring of the subscriber line.

    A situation similar to the above exists in an analog ESS office,
such as No. 1 ESS, No. 2 ESS and No. 3 ESS, in that a metallic connection
is made between the incoming verification trunk and the subscriber line.
While no doubt similar to the above, I don't know exactly how verification
is handled in a digital ESS office, such as the 5 ESS or Northern Telecom
DMS-series, since there is no longer a metallic path between lines and
trunks; digital ESS CO's appeared LONG after "my time in the field". :-)

    In a TSPS installation having direct verification capability from
any position, the verification trunks as described above would now be
terminated as an "operator service trunk" on the Trunk Link Network (TLN)
side of the TSPS switch.  Therefore, any TSPS console on the Position Link
Network (PLN) side of the TSPS switch can access any verification trunk so
described.

    As far as I know, in the original TSPS there was no means for access
to verification trunks other than through a TSPS console on the PLN side of
the same TSPS switch where the verification trunks were terminated.  Both
technical reasons and security concerns imposed this limitation.  However,
times have changed and resulted in a great effort toward "centralization
of operator services.  Therefore, it may now be possible for a centralized
facility to access verification trunks in several TSPS serving areas.
Whether such centralized verification access is accomplished using the
TSPS RTA facility or by other means, I don't know.

    In general, implementing busy line verification was a low-priority
function during TSPS installation; consequently, verification trunks - along
with other special service functions - were often kept on a few cord-type
toll board positions long after cutover to TSPS.  So the point is, depending
upon the local TSPS serving area, verification may or may not yet be available
for direct use by the TSPS operator one reaches by dialing "0".  It was not
uncommon for say, outlying SxS CDO's to have their verification trunks
remain on a manual toll board stuck somewhere in a corner of a TSPS facility
to save the cost of providing TSPS-compatible verification trunks to these
SxS CDO's - which were scheduled for upgrade to ESS, anyhow.

    An interesting development for busy line verification was introduced
several years ago in the Bell System.  WECO designed a special verification
bridging amplifier which intentionally distorted speech using a simple
frequency inversion technique.  Therefore, during a "normal" verification
request, the TSPS operator could discern the difference between speech and
non-speech sounds without actually eavesdropping on a conversation.  I am
not certain exactly how these special amplifiers were implemented, but I
believe that ANY TSPS position could verify but not eavesdrop or break in
to the conversation, and only certain supervisory TSPS positions could bypass
the special amplifier and break into the conversation.

    So, getting back to the original question, chances are the same
operator you reached by dialing "0" performed the verification, all in a
matter of seconds.

    It is also important to understand that the functions of TSPS are
TOTALLY PROGRAMMABLE.  The TSPS console is nothing more than lights, keys,
digital displays and a 4-wire talk circuit with local sidetone; ALL of its
operational characteristics are determined by software in the associated
TSPS processor: the SPC No. 1, which uses either the 1-type or 3-type
processor.  Therefore, the manner in which busy line verification is handled
has changed in the past, and no doubt may change in the future.

    One final point: while the local test desk facilities in a repair
service bureau may also be used to "verify" a subscriber line, there is
usually a rather clear distinction between this function and "operator"
busy line verification.  An operator who verifies a line is only trained
and equipped to detect the presence or absence of speech on a line, and
there is usually no presumption that absence of speech on a line so verified
is an indication of trouble.  By far, the most common cause of a busy line
where speech is absent is a Receiver Off Hook (ROH) condition; therefore,
a verification operator will usually NOT refer a line to repair service,
since to do so will burden a repair service bureau with a number of false
trouble reports.

    Also, there is a type of apparatus associated with a repair service
bureau known as a Line Status Verifier (LSV).  The LSV should not be
confused with apparatus or facilities intended for "busy line verification".
The LSV is a cordless test position for use by repair clerks in handling
trouble reports.  The LSV provides very simply tests for line open, foreign
EMF, etc. and displays obvious faults as a code number on a digital display.
The LSV is NOT intended for busy line verification purposes, and is NOT found
at any DSA/TSPS facility.

<> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. - Uniquex Corp. - Viatran Corp.
<> UUCP  {allegra|boulder|decvax|rutgers|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry
<> TEL [phone] | 716/773-1700  {hplabs|utzoo|uunet}!/      \uniquex!larry
<> FAX [phone] | 716/773-2488      "Have you hugged your cat today?"

------------------------------

From: David Albert <[e-mail]>
Subject: Charging Telephone Solicitors (was Re: Annoying phone calls)
Date: 1 Oct 89 13:31:34 GMT
Reply-To: David Albert <endor![e-mail]>
Organization: Aiken Computation Lab Harvard, Cambridge, MA


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Herman Rubin) writes:
>But the real problem is solicitation....
>
>The only solution that has any chance of working is to make solicitors
>pay you for soliciting you.  A $5 or $10 payment up front for making a
>solicitation call to your number would do a good job of eliminating the
>problem.

Suppose I got a 900-number as my personal home phone, and charged $5
for each call.  Of course, I could keep track of personal and other
solicited calls and send everyone who deserved one a refund at the end
of the month.

Questions (to whomever knows):  (1) Can 900-numbers be called from
anywhere in the country at the same rate?  (2) How much does it cost
to maintain a 900 number (monthly charges, etc.)?  (3) Does the owner
of a 900 number get a detailed listing of all the calls received?
(4) How much of the $5/call would I get to keep?  (5) Are there any other
problems with this scenario, except for the obvious paperwork problem
I'd have sending everyone their refunds?


David Albert                  | "What are you trying to do,
UUCP: ...!harvard!albert          |   change the world?"
INTERNET: [e-mail]  | "No, just our little corner of it."

------------------------------

From: John Wheeler <techwood![e-mail]>
Subject: 411 ringing
Date: 1 Oct 89 20:12:55 GMT
Reply-To: John Wheeler <techwood![e-mail]>
Organization: Turner Entertainment Networks Library; Atlanta


Having grown up in a non-BOC area, the only time I heard that
distinctive scratchy BOC-411 ring was on a long-distance 555-1212
DA call. Why is it that now that I live in a BOC area
it STILL sounds that way...incredibly scratchy noise, followed by
a loud "tock" into a ring tone, a double "t-tock" back to the scratchiness,
etc.  Only 411 rings this way.

          Turner                                       John Wheeler
     E N T E R T A I N M E N T     ...!gatech!nanovx!techwood!johnw
                Networks
     Techwood Library * home of Superstation TBS * TNT * TBS Sports


------------------------------

Date: Mon, 2 Oct 89 16:23:45 EDT
From: Giridhar Coorg <[e-mail]>
Subject: Packing Switching on the D Channel

System 12, a product of SEL,an acquisition of Alcatel of France has
the capability of handling low speed packet switching capabilities on
the D channel in addition to signalling.  Can anyone give me the broad
guidelines as to how this is being done.

======  Giridhar =====

------------------------------

From: Bo Newman <inco![e-mail]>
Subject: Line Capture Device - RJ31X
Date: 2 Oct 89 19:12:12 GMT
Organization: McDonnell Douglas Electronic Systems, McLean, VA


I am trying to help a friend install an auto dialier on his home
security system and I need some information on "line capture
units".  I understand that the one you can get from the "phone"
company is called an RJ31X.  My questions are:

1)    Where is it installed? (a) In series between the point where
        the phone line enters the house and all other phones? (b) on
        the local loop but not at the house? or (c) elsewhere.

2)    What alternatives exist?

3)    How does it work?

4)    Are there any restriction on the distance between the RJ31X
        and the "Controling Device"?

An addition question related to this instalattion, is anyone aware
of the need for special permits to operate an alarm auto dialer in
Maryland  301-551-xxxx.

Please Respond via E-Mail ... If there are enough responses, I'll
post a summary.

===================================================================
:Bo Newman     [e-mail]          uunet!inco!newman      :
:McDonnell Douglas Electronics Systems Company (MDESC-WDC)      :
:McLean Virginia                          :
:Voice Mail USA [phone]                                    :
:ALL STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY                           :
===================================================================

------------------------------


End of TELECOM Digest V9 #423
*****************************










Date:     Tue, 3 Oct 89 0:25:48 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #424
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Tue, 3 Oct 89 00:20:07 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 424

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Re: Phone Design For Humans (Dave Fiske)
    Re: Phone Design For Humans (John Owens)
    Re: Locatable Ringers (Thomas E Lowe)
    Re: Locatable Ringers (Dave Levenson)
    Re: Criticism of Call Forwarding (Roy Smith)
    Re: Criticism of Call Forwarding (Dave Levenson)
    Re: Splits of NNX? (Carl Moore)
    Re: Splits of NNX? (Paul Fuqua)
    Re: Number Editing on Telephones (Vance Shipley)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Dave Fiske <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phone Design For Humans
Date: 2 Oct 89 17:00:32 GMT
Organization: BRS Info Technologies, Latham NY


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail].
gov (Mike Morris) writes:
> (Andy Meijers) writes:
>
> >6. Make a ringer/bell that can be tracked by ear. In an office full of
> >chirping crickets, all with the speakers buried, it is often hard to
> >tell which one is ringing.
>
> Here's one place where I wish the rest of the world had copied Rolm -
> their phones had 4 different ring sounds, user selectable.  On the old

We used to have this problem at home.  My father had a home office,
with a separate line installed, and they could never tell whether it
was the home or the office phone that was ringing.

I managed to solve this problem for them, totally by accident.  I was
rummaging through a bin of reduced-price clearance items in a
Montgomery Ward store once, and found this little device which stifled
your phone's normal ring, and instead played one of up to 8
user-selectable tunes.  I can't remember all the tunes, but I know it
included La Cucaracha, Yellow Rose of Texas, and Jingle Bells.  Only a
bar or two of the selected song would play.  My mother used to change
the tune every month or so when she got tired of the current one.
Also, the dog used to get pretty excited whenever the phone rang.

The unit ran on a 9-volt battery, which usually lasted a year or so.
The best part was that it only cost me like $7.88 or so, since it was
on clearance.


"ANGRY WOMEN BEAT UP SHOE SALESMAN   Dave Fiske  ([e-mail])
 WHO POSED AS GYNECOLOGIST"
                                     Home:  [e-mail]
Headline from Weekly World News             CIS: 75415,163  GEnie: davef

------------------------------

Organization: SMART HOUSE Limited Partnership
Subject: Re: Phone Design For Humans
Date: 2 Oct 89 18:22:36 EDT (Mon)
From: John Owens <[e-mail]>

On Sep 27,  9:37pm, Gabe Wiener wrote:
> I remember when a friend went to buy a 2500 set a few
> years ago, what he came back with was truly horrible.  Worse, it was
> made by AT&T.

> Is this the evolution (or shall I say devolution) of the venerable 2500
> set?  I'd better hang on to the one I have.  It may well be worth something
> one day.

Just after these "improved" AT&T phones went on the market (1985), I
was still able to find an unused Western Electric-labelled
electromechanical white Trimline desk phone in among the new AT&T
phones without too much trouble.  In 1987, I wanted a matching
(unused) wall phone, and only found one after considerable scrounging
through stocks of low-volume AT&T resellers - I found one at a K-mart.
In both cases, there was little packaging difference, and the prices
were the same.  I doubt if I could find any unused electromechanical
Western Electric phones now (although someone pointed out in an
earlier message that ITT and others are still making them).

Interestingly, when I was looking for the phone in 1987, a salesperson
told me that I should get the electronic model, since they offered a
3-year warranty on the new ones and only a 1-year warranty on the
"old" (but unused) phones.  I had my doubts that the new phones would
make it through the warranty period, while I suspected that the old
ones could outlive me....

There's a big difference between making a phone that you plan to
maintain forever at your own expense and making a phone for retail
sale!  Even the AT&T Phone Center Stores won't lease the new phones,
only refurbished old ones (but they refuse to sell them).


John Owens        [e-mail]        uunet!jetson!john
[phone]        [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Mon,  2 Oct 89 08:18:11 EDT
From: Thomas E Lowe <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Locatable Ringers
Reply-To: [e-mail] (thomas.e.lowe,ho,)
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
boston.ma.us writes:

>ROLM phones have for years had the option to set the ringing sound to
>any of eight different warbles ranging from high and squeaky to fairly
>deep.

>I am astonished that considering all of the ergonomic work that AT&T at
>least used to do on their phones, they haven't provided this simple feature.

They have in the System 85 (maybe 75 and 25 also) digital voice terminals.
One can select one of 8 different styles of rings.  2 are single pitch,
2 have two pitches one after the other, 2 have three, and 2 have four.
It works quite well until your neighbor changes his to match yours.


Tom Lowe    [e-mail] or  att!hound!tel     [phone]
AT&T Bell Laboratories, Room 2E-637A
Crawfords Corner Road,  Holmdel, NJ  07733
(R) UNIX is a registered trademark of AT&T  (keep them lawyers happy!!)

------------------------------

From: Dave Levenson <westmark![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Locatable Ringers
Date: 3 Oct 89 03:20:59 GMT
Organization: Westmark, Inc., Warren, NJ, USA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail].
boston.ma.us (John R. Levine) writes:
 ...
> ROLM phones have for years had the option to set the ringing sound to
> any of eight different warbles ranging from high and squeaky to fairly
> deep.  This feature is specifically intended for the situation where there
> are several phones within hearing distance of each other.  I find that it
> works quite nicely, at least until some joker sneaks into your office and
> changes your ring.

> I am astonished that considering all of the ergonomic work that AT&T at
> least used to do on their phones, they haven't provided this simple feature.

AT&T offers this feature on Merlin(tm) multi-button sets, allowing
the user to program multiple cadence and frequency sequences.
Anything from a simple RING to an elaborate DOOOOWEEEPDEDEDAH can be
programmed from the keyboard.

On mechanical ringers (in 500 or 2500 equipment) two rings can be
made by swapping the left gong in one tel set with the right gong in
the other.

I'm not sure about other AT&T product families.


Dave Levenson                Voice: [phone]
Westmark, Inc.               Internet: [e-mail]
Warren, NJ, USA              UUCP: {uunet | rutgers | att}!westmark!dave
[The Man in the Mooney]      AT&T Mail: !westmark!dave


[Moderator's Note: The way we fixed this problem in our office (we use all
2500 sets, several years old) was to open the case on each phone, get inside
and adjust the clappers so they produced different results every third or
fourth phone. The phones sit maybe 10-15 feet apart from each other. One
of three or four will just go 'click-click-click', another makes a very
feeble ring, still another has a good hearty ring, etc. How far away the
ringing sound comes from is the first clue; the second are the distinctions
mentioned above for phones within a small area. We have call pickup using
*4 plus extension, however 'universal pickup' using *433 is more widely
used. It does help to know whose phone you are answering, though!   PT]

------------------------------

From: Roy Smith <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Criticism of Call Forwarding
Date: 1 Oct 89 15:19:43 GMT
Reply-To: Roy Smith <[e-mail]>
Organization: Public Health Research Inst. (NY, NY)


    With all this talk about non-ergonomic rings, I thought I would
bring up another mis-feature.  Our ATT System-25 at work doesn't have call
forwarding, it has what we've come to refer to as call following.  To
trnasfer your calls to another phone, you have to go to that phone (known
in the S25 manual as a "voice terminal") and do some magic there.  To
cancel the feature, you have to also do some magic at the remote phone.  It
works, but it's the reverse of the way people have been trained to think.
I can't figure out why ATT decided to do it this way.


Roy Smith, Public Health Research Institute
455 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016
{att,philabs,cmcl2,rutgers,hombre}!phri!roy -or- [e-mail]
"The connector is the network"

------------------------------

From: Dave Levenson <westmark![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Criticism of Call Forwarding
Date: 3 Oct 89 03:14:09 GMT
Organization: Westmark, Inc., Warren, NJ, USA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Will Martin on 7000) writes:
 ...
> And, as a side question: I seem to recall this being asked during the
> "Caller*ID" debate, but don't recall it being answered. Maybe somebody
> out there with Caller*ID can now tell us: If a call is call-forwarded to
> a phone with "Caller*ID", is the number displayed that of the forwarding
> phone or the originating one?

> If the number displayed is that of the originating phone, is there any
> heirarchy of displays -- that is, if the originating phone is out of the
> area and the number isn't available, but the number of the forwarding
> phone IS available, will the forwarding-phone's number be displayed in
> that case?

I don't know if this is true everywhere, but in New Jersey, the
Caller*Id-equipped recipient of a forwarded call gets the caller's
number, not the forwarder's number.  If the caller is "Out of Area"
then that is displayed; even if the forwarder is not.

I tried to take advantage of this a few weeks ago.  Our modems kept
getting calls from somone/something that would disconnect after
listening to our answer tone for several seconds.  These calls
always arrived two at a time, followed by two more about 30 minutes
later.  I waited until the first of a series of two arrived, and
then forwarded the modem line to our Caller*Id-equipped voice line.
But alas, when the second call arrived, the display showed "Out of
Area" (even though the forwarding was intra-office) so I still
couldn't identify the caller.  But it didn't sound like a person or
an open mic when I answered the voice line.


Dave Levenson                Voice: [phone]
Westmark, Inc.               Internet: [e-mail]
Warren, NJ, USA              UUCP: {uunet | rutgers | att}!westmark!dave
[The Man in the Mooney]      AT&T Mail: !westmark!dave


------------------------------

Date:     Mon, 2 Oct 89 9:16:46 EDT
From:     Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Re:  Splits of NNX?

Mail to [e-mail] failed (invalid host name),
but this message is of general interest:

Earlier messages to telecom said that 7 digit local calls from 201
area across NPA boundary were being changed to 11 digits to help
with prefix shortage while awaiting 201/908 split.  I heard nothing
about local calls from 609 area across NPA boundary, however.
The use of 1 before area code was applied to 609 as well as to 201;
a message to me said "statewide uniformity" as to why this was done,
before I noticed 2 N0X/N1X prefixes in Toms River, just a 7 digit
local call from Barnegat (609 area); in other words, no special
timeout on such local call.

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 30 Sep 89  18:21:46 CDT
From: Paul Fuqua <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Splits of NNX?

  Date: Monday, September 25, 1989  11:12am (CDT)
  From: David Tamkin <dattier at jolnet.orpk.il.us>
  Subject: Re: Splits of NNX?

  Probably the only splits where N0X/N1X prefixes *were* used first have been
  213/818, 212/718, 312/708, and 201/908 (unless one considers the change from
  seven-digit to eleven-digit interstate dialing in metropolitan DC a "split").
  NNX adherence seems to be the rule rather than the exception: I believe
  214/903 and 415/510 will be splitting without use of N0X/N1X.

N0X/N1X has been in use in 214 for something around a year now;  my
sister used to have numbers in 214-506 and 214-702 (Irving).  It's
probably easier here than in some other places, since we've had
eleven-digit long-distance as long as I can remember.

The one noticeable change related to the approaching split is that
calling Metro numbers (local to both Dallas (214) and Fort Worth (817))
now requires ten digits from the "other" area code -- Metro prefixes
won't be duplicated in both anymore.

Paul Fuqua                     [e-mail]
                               {smu,texsun,cs.utexas.edu,rice}!ti-csl!pf
Texas Instruments Computer Science Center
PO Box 655474 MS 238, Dallas, Texas 75265

------------------------------

Date: Mon Oct  2 17:57:26 1989
From: Vance Shipley <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Number Editing on Telephones
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Vance Shipley)
Organization: Linton Technology - SwitchView


In article <[e-mail]> vicorp![e-mail].
net (Charlie Goldensher) writes:

>This brings up a question that I've had for some time.  Is there a
>telephone set on the market with editing capability?  What I'd like
>most is a backspace key.  Especially, now, when a telephone number can
>contain ten or more digits, it is extremely frustrating to hit an
>incorrect final digit.  The case sighted above would be considerably
>more frustrating.

On a Northern Telecom SL-1 PBX using M2317 type sets you have this
feature.  If you start to dial a number without having lifted the
handset or pressing a line key it is displayed on the LCD and may be
backspaced over and corrected during dialling.  The number is actually
dialled only when you lift the handset or depress a line key.  You may
also press 'LAST#' or 'SAVED#' and display the stored number,
backspacing still works!


Vance Shipley                          uucp:  ..!{uunet!}watmath!xenitec!vances
Linton Technology - SwitchView         INTERNET:            [e-mail]
180 Columbia Street West                            (soon)  [e-mail]
Waterloo, Ontario
CANADA                                                      tel:  [phone]
N2L 3L3                                                     fax:  [phone]
# if it ain't got an interface it ain't much use!                             #

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #424
*****************************










Date:     Tue, 3 Oct 89 1:59:49 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #425
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Tue, 3 Oct 89 01:55:15 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 425

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Telephone Cable "Rustling" in the Wild West :-) (Larry Lippman)
    Usenet Gateway Acting Funny (TELECOM Moderator)
    Master List of Internet Users Available (Patrick A. Townson)
    Re: Precise Dial Tone & A Tone of the Past: No-Such-Number (John Owens)
    Re: C&P Class, With a Thought (Marc T. Kaufman)
    Re: The 'Public Telegraph Office' (Andy Behrens)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Telephone Cable "Rustling" in the Wild West :-)
Date: 2 Oct 89 23:59:29 EDT (Mon)
From: Larry Lippman <kitty![e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Roy Smith) writes:
>     Then again, maybe it had nothing to do with the strike --
> Metro North (Amtrack commuter service into Grand Central Terminal)
> reports continuing problems with people stealing the copper cables
> used for their low-voltage signal lines (there is a big black market
> in stolen copper, be it stolen cables or copper plumbing stripped from
> abandoned buildings).

    During the 1970's there was a particular problem with thefts of
telephone cable in the southwestern U.S., especially Arizona, New Mexico
and Texas.  The target was aerial lead-sheathed toll cable in remote
areas of these states.  AT&T Long Lines was a particular victim.

    The modus operandi was for the perpetrators, under cover of
darkness, to first cut the suspension strands and remove the lashing wire
from a mile or so of cable, allowing the cable to drop to the ground.
This portion of the act, being the most time-consuming, did not break
electrical continuity and therefore set off any carrier loss-of-pilot
alarms.  The next step was to cut one end, and then begin cutting the
cable into lengths to be loaded into a truck.  With several perpetrators,
a mile of cable could be cut up and loaded onto a truck LONG BEFORE anyone
could localize the fault and dispatch a repair crew.

    I can just imagine the expression on the faces of a Long Lines crew
when they find a mile or so of cable has simply *vanished*!

    The profit from this enterprise was tempting.  A typical lead sheath
toll cable, like a type S-54 27-pr 19 AWG, yields about 1/2 pound of copper
and 2 pounds of lead per lineal foot.  Using late 1970's prices, a 5,000 ft
section of cable would yield around 2,500 pounds of copper and 10,000 pounds
of lead, with a total metal scrap price of at least $ 3,500.00.  Not bad for
an evening's work with little risk of apprehension.

    The combination of some arrests, burying of cable, and declining
lead and copper prices caused this activity to diminish, although the
problem does reappear from time to time.

<> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. - Uniquex Corp. - Viatran Corp.
<> UUCP  {allegra|boulder|decvax|rutgers|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry
<> TEL [phone] | 716/773-1700  {hplabs|utzoo|uunet}!/      \uniquex!larry
<> FAX [phone] | 716/773-2488      "Have you hugged your cat today?"

------------------------------

Date:     Tue, 3 Oct 89 0:13:01 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Usenet Gateway Acting Funny

It has come to my attention from a few people that the Usenet gateway to
'comp.dcom.telecom' has been acting funny for a few days; or to be more
precise, nothing has been moving through there since around September 28.
It may not be the gateway, but some machine in the middle somewhere.

I've sent a note to Chip Rosenthal asking for advice on this. Ordinarily
the gateway sends an automatic receipt to me as notification when an issue
of the Digest is processed. I received no notices over the weekend,
and today a few people said the group was pretty barren of new stuff since
last Friday.

I assume we will get reconnected eventually, and the poor Usenet people
will get 60-100 messages all at once! Then of course, I will get swamped
with incoming mail (from them) in the queue later this week. Such is life!

Patrick Townson


------------------------------

Date:     Tue, 3 Oct 89 1:42:20 CDT
From:     "Patrick A. Townson" <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Master List of Internet Users Available

A master list of ten thousand plus names and network addresses is now
available, in alphabetical order. Most Internet people are listed, as
are a number of people from non-Internet locations.

The list is not considered complete, nor is the methodology involved in
the collection perfect. But, it is a good start, and a valuable list
to have in your reference files.

To obtain your copy --

      telnet 128.146.1.5 4666| tail +4| compress > userlist.z

Then, add a single line which includes your name and network address,
or just send garbage if you prefer.

Allow about a minute for the full transmission! It is a <big> file and
will be about 227,000 bytes compressed. So be sure you have space
available to receive it. It'll easily take 250-300 blocks, and when you
review it uncompressed, its closer to 500,000 bytes.

Patrick Townson

------------------------------

Organization: SMART HOUSE Limited Partnership
Subject: Re: Precise Dial Tone & A Tone of the Past: No-Such-Number
Date: 2 Oct 89 18:02:32 EDT (Mon)
From: John Owens <[e-mail]>

On Sep 24, 12:58pm, Larry Lippman wrote:

> Technology in this area went directly from the electromechanical to
> the solid-state.  The one exception was the "no-such-number" tone
> generator, which used vacuum tubes and made its debut around 1940;
> it has been affectionately called the "crybaby tone".  [....]
>
> The last "holdout" I am aware of which used this tone was Rochester
> Telephone, in Rochester, NY, and quite to my surprise I heard this
> tone when I misdialed a toll call to the Rochester area about four
> years ago.  [....]

Actually, this tone (continuous rising for 1 second, continuous
falling for 1 second, etc.) is still in use by C&P Telephone on the
301-867 exchange (West River, MD), for misdialed outgoing calls (e.g.,
dialing a 7-digit number for an exchange not in the local calling
area).  Calls to a non-working 867-xxxx, however, get routed to an AIC
and get an intercept recording!  I haven't tried dialing a 1+ call to
a non-existent area code; I guess that would tell me if the local
switch knows area codes or passes the 1+ call to a smarter tandem.

This switch is being replaced by "the most modern electronic switching
facility in Maryland" this Fall; can anyone tell from the use of the
not-a-number tone what kind of switch I'm on?  It's definitely not a
stepper: touch-tone calls complete in milliseconds.  No "custom
calling features" are available; neither is Centrex, or Equal Access.
Per-call and timed local billing is available.  My guess is a #5
crossbar; reasonable?


John Owens        [e-mail]        uunet!jetson!john
[phone]        [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: "Marc T. Kaufman" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: C&P Class, With a Thought
Date: 3 Oct 89 01:59:22 GMT
Reply-To: "Marc T. Kaufman" <[e-mail]>
Organization: Stanford University, Computer Science Dept.


In article <[e-mail]> David Lesher <wb8foz@
mthvax.cs.miami.edu> writes:

-    Telephone companies argue that classifying a
-    number as unpublished means only that it will not
-    appear in a directory or be given out by operators
-    People who want to safeguard their numbers can do so
-    by not calling.

>Which brings out the reason for my submission. It is no secret
>that the District region has a number of government agencies
>that, shall we say, maintain low profiles.

>Now while nothing classified is discussed on the (so-called)
>black phone, how happy are these folks going to be on the ID
>question?

Boy, does that bring back memories!  A LONG time ago I got a phone call, out
of the blue, from someone who seemingly wanted to recruit me for a job.  They
gave me a number to call back, but wouldn't tell me who they were.  I called
the operator, played innocent, and asked her to tell me who the number
belonged to.

She called back several minutes later and said: "This is very strange.  Its a
new line, but there is no reverse listing, and the card (for the number) has
been removed from the file.  I called the number and asked them who they
were... and they got very angry!" (quotation approximated)

I didn't take the job.

Marc Kaufman ([e-mail])

------------------------------

From: Andy Behrens <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: The 'Public Telegraph Office'
Date: 3 Oct 89 04:54:24 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse


Dik T. Winter <[e-mail]> writes:
> Here follows the CCITT #2 code table:
>
>    Letters                    Figures
>    0    8    16    24
>    +--------------------------------------------------------
> 0  |    space    LF    E    A        ...
> 1  |    T    L    Z    W        ...
> 2  |    CR    R    D    J        ...
> 3  |    O    G    B    figures        ...
> 4  |    nil    I    S    U        ...
> 5  |    H    P    Y    Q        ...
> 6  |    N    C    F    K        ...
> 7  |    M    V    X    letters        ...

At first there seems to be no pattern to the way the letters are
assigned, but if you arrange them according to the number of bits that
are set in each character, it becomes clear.  The most common letters
of the English alphabet (ETAIONSHRDL....) and the word separators
(space, return, line feed) have the codes with the fewest number of
marking bits.

Question 1.  Does anyone know why this is so?

    My theory: If the teletype machines are driven with a current-loop
    interface, this arrangement of codes minimizes the power that needs
    to be transmitted.

Question 2.  Why was "Z" grouped with the most common letters?

============ ============ ============ ============ ============ ============
 no bits      1 bit        2 bits       3 bits       4 bits       5 bits
============ ============ ============ ============ ============ ============
00000 blank  10000 E      11000 A      01110 C      11110 K      11111 ltrs
             01000 lf     01100 I      10110 F      11101 Q
             00100 space  00110 N      01101 P      11011 figs
             00010 ret    00011 O      11010 J      10111 X
             00001 T      10100 S      10101 Y      01111 V
                          01010 R      01011 G
                          00101 H      11100 U
                          10010 D      11001 W
                          01001 L      10011 B
                          10001 Z      00111 M
============ ============ ============ ============ ============ ============


Live justly, love gently, walk humbly.
                    Andy Behrens
                    [e-mail]

uucp:   {harvard,rutgers,decvax}!dartvax!coat!andyb
RFD 1, Box 116, East Thetford, Vt. 05043        [phone]
Burlington Coat, PO Box 729, Lebanon, N.H. 03766    [phone]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #425
*****************************










Date:     Wed, 4 Oct 89 0:05:47 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #426
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Wed, 4 Oct 89 00:00:44 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 426

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Master List of Internet Users Available (Robert E. Seastrom)
    Re: Master List of Internet Users Available (TELECOM Moderator)
    More on Hugo in Puerto Rico (Martin B Weiss)
    Phones That Last Forever (Gabe Wiener)
    Pac Bell Strike Update? (Robert M. Hamer)
    MacGyver on Last Night (10/2) (C. E. Reid)
    NPA Splits Before 1965 (Greg Monti via John R. Covert)
    5-level TTY code (was Re: The 'Public Telegraph Office') (Bob Clements)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue,  3 Oct 89 13:40:13 EDT
From: "Robert E. Seastrom" <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Master List of Internet Users Available


> To obtain your copy --
>
>      telnet 128.146.1.5 4666| tail +4| compress > userlist.z
 ...
> Allow about a minute for the full transmission! It is a <big> file...

This is antisocial behavior of the worst kind!  Blowing
UNCOMPRESSED data across the network only to compress it on your end
and then have to uncompress it again to read it will do two things:

1) It will eat a bit of CPU time on your machine.  If you're on
a single user workstation, then you aren't taking anyone else's cycles
and that's fine.  But if you are on a general-use timesharing system
(like your organization's main VAX or something like that), you're
bogging down system response for other users.

2) YOU ARE SENDING A LARGE AMOUNT OF UNCOMPRESSED DATA OVER A PUBLIC
NETWORK.  This will have detrimental effects on others who are using
the network for telnets and FTPs.  The explosive growth of the Internet
over the past several years has made it well neigh impossible for
the people who run NSFnet and the regionals to keep up with demand
for network bandwidth.  Don't make matters worse by capriciously
moving large amounts of data over the Internet without compressing
it first.

There is no inherent benefit to sending a large file by telnet over
sending it via FTP.  I urge whoever is making this list available to
the public to COMPRESS it, make it available for FTP, and have a
mailbox set up so that people can send their information if they
want to be included.

I urge readers of TELECOM to NOT retrieve this file until it can be
retrieved in a matter that is more considerate of others.

                              ---R.E. Seastrom


------------------------------

Date:     Tue, 3 Oct 89 23:36:49 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Re: Master List of Internet Users Available

In the message just before this, I am roundly castigated for my anti-social
behavior and for causing the untimely demise of the net.

What a laugh. Frankly, Mr. Seastrom, you don't know what you are talking
about.

Here follows the *original* message from the directory compilers, AS IT
APPEARED IN NEWS.ADMIN -- that old hangout of all the anti-social types
here.

Please note how the managers of the list at Ohio State University -- a
fine, respected site on the net -- request that it be delivered.

Please note also that in Unix lessons for the elementary beginning student,
the letter 'Z' on the end of a file name indicates a compressed file.
Please note also that contrary to the misguided information from the
previous correspondent, the file *does come compressed*. Regardless, it
is huge, even in compressed form.

Now, here is the 'anti-social' message which started it all --

Article 3933 of news.admin:
Path: accuvax.nwu.edu!tank!ncar!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!nisca.ircc.
ohio-state.edu!hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu!bernstei
 From: [e-mail] (Dan Bernstein)
Newsgroups: comp.mail.misc,news.admin
Subject: Pilot Project: User List Available Over Internet
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 2 Oct 89 20:24:53 GMT
Sender: [e-mail]
Followup-To: comp.mail.misc
Distribution: usa
Lines: 48
Xref: accuvax.nwu.edu comp.mail.misc:1198 news.admin:3933

As a pilot project, we are making available to the Internet a list of user
names and electronic addresses. Please note that this project is not an
official project of The Ohio State University.

The list is compiled from public information only, by automatic methods.
Do not mail requests to be added to the list; at this time we consider
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Internet security too low for an explicit add method.

As of October 1, the list contains approximately ten thousand Internet
names and addresses; it contains a few hundred non-Internet names and
addresses, because our software isn't perfect. It uses about 450K of
disk space, half that when compressed. We expect the list to double in
size by December 1.

We are investigating methods of expanding the list, verifying its
accuracy, and removing outdated entries; for now, it is an unformatted,
unreliable list with no guarantees of accuracy, suitable for manual
searches. If this project proves useful and we are able to continue it,
it should serve as a partial solution to the white pages problem while
long-term solutions are designed.

You need BSD UNIX telnet or its equivalent to obtain a copy of the list;
hpuxa does not provide anonymous ftp access. Type
      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  telnet 128.146.1.5 4666 | tail +4 | compress > userlist.Z

followed by a line of anything, terminated by a line feed (not carriage
return). After a few minutes, depending on your network speed, telnet
will finish and the compressed list will be in userlist.Z. If you
                    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
interrupt telnet during this type (e.g., by typing ^]) the list will
be mangled. Also, BSD telnet does not work in the background.

[TELECOM Moderator's 'anti-social' note: Did YOU read the above paragraph
carefully? Maybe RGS will go back and read it again!   PT]

The ``line of anything'' will be recorded here at hpuxa, along
with your Internet address, for administration and to determine the
popularity of the user list. You can leave no information at all,
your [e-mail] and name if you want, or random garbage.
This provides a convenient comment mechanism; precede your input by
*** to ensure that human operators notice it. If this mechanism
is abused, we will disable it.

If you don't have tail or compress, just redirect the telnet output
into a file. If you don't have telnet, UNIX, or an Internet connection,
you cannot obtain the list from us at this time.

Mail any lengthy comments to this address. If you complain about the
                                           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
operation of the list, make sure to suggest something better.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
---Dan Bernstein, [e-mail], [e-mail]

   =====================================================

Mr. Bernstein, we thank you for your efforts on the list. And to our
correspondent here who made such a stink, please direct your comments to
Dan Bernstein -- let him know what a terrible thing he is promoting
please. Maybe a copy to the University would be a good idea also.


In the above reprint of the original message in news.admin, the emphasis
marks -
            (^^^^^^^^ marks) are mine, and not part of the original.

Your anti-social moderator,

Patrick Townson


------------------------------

From: Martin B Weiss <[e-mail]>
Subject: More on Hugo in Puerto Rico
Date: 3 Oct 89 13:55:09 GMT
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh, Comp & Info Services


Telephony had an article about the effects of Hugo on telephone service
in Puerto Rico.  Evidently, as of late last week, 93% of the island's
residents had telephone (the remaining 7% being primarily in the eastern
portion of the island that took a direct hit).  As I mentioned in my
previous post on this issue, I was able to get through via AT&T, but not
MCI.  AT&T does, indeed, provide the bulk of the transmission service to
Puerto Rico (although exact figures weren't given).  I recall reading,
by the way, that PRTC is going to convert to equal access next year sometime.

AT&T normally has 6500 circuits to PR, 4000 via satellite, and the remaining
via microwave to St. Thomas and then via cable to the US.  The 2500 ckts
to St. Thomas are still out due to the widespread destruction there, but the
satellite links were back in operation as soon as the winds were mild enough
to permit the antennas to be set up again (by 10:30pm Sunday, according to the
article).


   Martin Weiss
   Telecommunications Program, University of Pittsburgh
   Internet: [e-mail] OR [e-mail]
   BITNET: mbw@pittvms

------------------------------

From: Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]>
Subject: Phones That Last Forever
Reply-To: Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]>
Organization: Columbia University Center for Telecommunications Research
Date: Tue, 3 Oct 89 17:15:02 GMT

I was just thinking about the 2500 set I had in my house when I was growing
up in the 1970's.  Over about 8 years that we had it, the thing got tossed
around, was dropped more times than I care to mention, and it never developed
one problem.

Were you to take an AT&T 2500 set manufactured today, I doubt it would survive
even one fall to a hard floor.

Interesting, isn't it, how even AT&T builds phones differently when they
know that they won't be maintaining them forevermore.  Frequently, you can
go into some back-roads store and see a 500 set that's been working fine
since the '50's.  I dare say that in 30 years it will STILL be working
fine after all the phones manufactured today are long gone.


Gabe Wiener - Columbia Univ.     "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings
[e-mail]             to be seriously considered as a means of
[e-mail]       communication. The device is inherently of
[e-mail]         no value to us."  -Western Union memo, 1877

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 3 Oct 89 14:40 EDT
From: "ROBERT M. HAMER" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Pac Bell Strike Update?

Does anyone have any information about the current state of affairs
involving the Pac Bell part of the strike, and the prognosis for the
future?

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 3 Oct 89 09:37 EDT
From: "C. E. Reid" <[e-mail]>
Subject: MacGyver on Last Night (10/2)

        Last night's (10/2/89) episode of MacGyver showed a short segment of a
"bad guy" tapping into the telephone line at the "switching office" to the
Phoenix Foundation.  I thought it was a neat hi-tech thing!  :)  I wondered if
others have seen it and whether it is really how they tapped it or not.


                        Curtis Reid
                        [e-mail]
                        [e-mail] (Internet)
                        [e-mail]              (NYSernet)

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 3 Oct 89 08:46:50 -0700
From: "John R. Covert  03-Oct-1989 1147" <[e-mail]>
Subject: NPA Splits Before 1965 (from G. Monti)

From:  Greg Monti
Date:  26 September 1989
Re:  Area Code Splits Before 1965

Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]> writes:

> Here is what
> I have regarding splits (I don't know what if anything was done before
> July 1965):

> 305/904 Florida, July 1965
> 703/804 Virginia, June 1973
> 714/619 California, November 1982
> 713/409 Texas, March 1983
> 213/818 California, January 1984
> 212/718 New York, September 1984
> 303/719 Colorado, 5 Mar. 1988
> 305/407 Florida, 16 Apr. 1988
> 617/508 Massachusetts, 16 July 1988
> 312/708 Illinois, November 1989
> 202 District of Columbia & vicinity, 1 Oct. 1990
>     (202 area code is being withdrawn from Md. and Va. suburbs)

Actually, the 'split' here is 1 Jan 1990.  The end of permissive dialing is
1 Oct 1990.

> 214/903 Texas, fall 1990
> 201/908 New Jersey, 1991
> 415/510 California, 7 October 1991 (full cutover 27 January 1992)

Some additional splits must have occurred prior to 1965.

I thought that, when Area Codes were 'invented' in 1946 (not 'implemented,'
just 'invented'), the system was as follows:

- States small enough to require only one area code got a zero as the center
digit, with the other digits depending on population density or urbanization
(higher numbers to more rural states).  The most urban, New Jersey, got the
lowest number of this series, 201.  DC got 202.

- States big enough to require more than one area code at the outset got all
codes with a 1 as the center digit.  The outer digits were assigned in the
same general way as described above.  New York got 212, the second and third
most populous cities got 213 and 312, other big cities got 214, 412, 215, etc.

If this is indeed true, then ANY state which currently has more than one area
code AND has at least one area code with a 0 as the center digit, must, by
definition have been split at some time.  Perhaps the split happened only
'on paper' before DDD was widely available.  Perhaps it just occurred a long
time ago.

Here's a list of the affected states which obviously had only one code (with
a zero in it, still serving the major city) at one time:

Florida  305  (813, 904 and 407 all added later)
Louisiana  504  (318 added later)
Nebraska  402  (308 added)
Washington  206  (509)
Oklahoma  405  (918)
Kentucky  502  (606)
Tennessee  901  (615)
Georgia  404  (912)
New Jersey  201  (609)
North Carolina  704 (919)
Virginia  703  (804)

Here's a list of states which probably always had more than one code (all of
them with a 1 in the middle), which have added codes with zeros in them since:

California  (added 209, 408, 805, 707)
Illinois  (added 309)
Texas  (added 806, 409, soon 903)
Minnesota  (added 507)
Massacusestts  (added 508)
New York  (added 607)

Some of these states have also added codes with 1's in them in addition to the
zero codes mentioned above.  For example, New York has added 718.  That
doesn't cloud the picture.

Additional ammunition:  telephone directories in New Jersey have listings in
them of every prefix in the state, grouped by area code.  (Wish every state
did this.)  In each list, a mark referring you to a footnote appears next to
any central office code which is duplicated in both 201 and 609 areas.  Why?

Allow me to speculate:  Because at one time New Jersey must have had only one
area code with no prefix duplications.  609 was added early on with the
knowledge that the state would outgrow 201 before DDD was widely implemented.
Even though the state now had two area codes, there were still no prefix
duplications and it was likely that 7-digit dialing applied statewide.  (To my
knowledge, New Jersey *never* had 1 + 7 digit dialing for intra-NPA toll
calls.)  Eventually, as the concept of area codes caught on, New Jerseyites
were required to dial 10 digits to reach people in the 'other' area of their
state.  (This does not apply universally in NJ, however.  There is some
code conservation with 7 digit calls across the border allowed.)

Is there anything wrong with this reasoning or the history about the zero and
one codes that makes this wrong?  Does anyone remember the above states
splitting when they were knee-high to a grasshopper?

Greg Monti, Arlington, Virginia;  work [phone]

------------------------------

Subject: 5-level TTY code (was Re: The 'Public Telegraph Office')
Date: Tue, 03 Oct 89 14:41:56 -0400
From: [e-mail]

[e-mail] writes:
>[In the code used on 5-level TTY machines] The most common letters
>of the English alphabet (ETAIONSHRDL....) and the word separators
>(space, return, line feed) have the codes with the fewest number of
>marking bits.
>
>Does anyone know why this is so?

To minimize the wear on the pins in the paper tape punches.
(I know, I've refurbished a number of those punches in my day.)

Bob Clements, K1BC, [e-mail]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #426
*****************************










Date:     Wed, 4 Oct 89 0:51:37 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #427
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Wed, 4 Oct 89 00:50:25 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 427

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    WRGB and Telephones, 1936 style (Kelly K. Hoffman)
    False 911 Calls (Jim English)
    Long Distance Indicator (Dave Horsfall)
    ISDN Basic Rate Service (Lance Ellinghouse)
    Theft of Copper Wire (David Kuder)
    Re: Telephone Designs for Humans (Steve Kass)
    Re: Number Editing on Telephones/TTY Memoirs ([e-mail])
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Kelly K. Hoffman" <[e-mail]>
Date: Tue, 3 Oct 89 14:15:32 EDT
Subject: WRGB and Telephones, 1936 style

Recently, someone suggested that the TV station WRGB (Schenectady, NY)
was named after "Roy G. Biv."  This is incorrect.  (The station
predates color TV, by the way: it was founded on January 13, 1928.)
The station's call letters were derived from one of the founding
executives, Walter R.G. Baker.

I realize this has nothing to do with telecom issues, so I'm including
the following, excerpted from _The_Poestscript_, the newsletter of the
Poestenkill, NY Historical Society, September 1989.  (Copied with
permission of the editor.  Typos are almost certainly mine.)  For the
curious, Poestenkill is a small town just outside of Troy.

Telephones -- 1936 Style

More than 50 years ago, the idea of a telephone strike in Poestenkill
would have been out of the question.  Not that there weren't
telephones here, but they were run on a cooperative basis by the
telephone customers.  I believe there were two lines -- the
"one-eight-F" and the "one-seven-F."

A small book of meeting minutes covering the period April 22, 1936, to
April 4, 1938, seems to indicate that there were about 11 families on
the 18F line...

Those present at that April 22 meeting voted to purchase "#12 gage
[sic] wire, glasses and what ever needed... Motion made & Sec. that
each member be assessed $10.00 to pay for new wire and material.
Motion made ... to leave the officers as they are till line is completed."

The outstanding assessment of one member of the group reached $18.91!
On March 9, 1938, they voted that if payment was not made by March 31,
1938, that member's service would be discontinued and "an action for
collection will be taken by 18F Telephone Company."  On April 5, 1938,
they accepted a $10 payment from the delinquent and granted him
further time.

They maintained their own lines.  At the April 8, 1937, meeting, a
"motion made by Vernon Hoffman that every man on line be on hand on
Monday morning next April 12 or hire a man to take his place."

Trouble with noise on the line prompted a July 2, 1937, vote to
appoint a committee of two to find a telephone mechanic "to service
our line at the best price" with the committee to report at the next
meeting.  Each member was to pay for service on his own phone from the
pole to the house.  On July 12, 1937, they voted to hire Mr. Listen
[!] to put the line in shape.

To place a call off the line, one long crank got you the operator.  To
call on the line to reach 18F31, for example, three longs and one
short would be used.

[One member] told us at a meeting some time ago that his family was
one of the few in his area to have a phone, and they used to leave the
downstairs door unlocked at night so the neighbors could get in to use
it.

It was probably the late 40's when the AShley exchange came to town,
and not too many years after that the operator disappeared from our
life as we got dial service.


Kelly K. Hoffman        Computing Services, CS-1, University at Albany
"hatrack"               1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY  12222
[e-mail]   <or>   [e-mail]

[Moderator's Note: Thanks for a delightful story!  PT]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 3 Oct 89 20:03:10 PDT
From: Jim English <[e-mail]>
Subject: False 911 Calls
Reply-To: Jim English <[e-mail]>
Organization: McDonnell Douglas Field Service Co, San Jose CA


An interesting thing happened yesterday at work. Two cop cars pull up
to the Data Center, and said that they received quite a few 911
emergency calls that were traced to our address. Well it turns out
that the phone number making the calls is our 2400 baud Public Network
access number. One of the cops queried, "How do I write a summons to a
computer?". It made me think, if thats as far as the 911 people can
trace a call, and say our Network Control cannot trace it back to
whoever originated it, how would 911 put a cap on computer pranksters?


Jim English    MD-IPC   | [e-mail] or [e-mail]
[phone]  Dallas   | UUCP: ...!{ames,pyramid}!oliveb!tymix!tardis!jenglish

------------------------------

From: Dave Horsfall <munnari!stcns3.stc.oz.au![e-mail]>
Subject: Long Distance Indicator (was Re: Wrong Numbers With Nobody Talking)
Date: 3 Oct 89 06:55:29 GMT
Reply-To: Dave Horsfall <[e-mail]>
Organization: Alcatel STC Australia, North Sydney, AUSTRALIA


In article <[e-mail]>,
    [e-mail] (Sharon Fisher) writes:
|
| In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
| (John Higdon) writes:
| >How do you know that they're long distance or local?
|
| Just a guess, really, but some of the calls sound real clear and some
| have those "seashell up to your ear" sounds that I associate with long
| distance calls.

What?  You mean that you don't get a sort of blip-blip-blip on
long-distance calls in USA?  I somehow assumed that was universal...

As an aside, you can always tell when someone's just received a long
distance call in Australia (I know - it's a long distance - sorry).

RING RING!  "Hel..." (hurried)  <pause>  "Hello?" (Carefully and distinctly)

Dave Horsfall (VK2KFU),  Alcatel STC Australia,  [e-mail]
[e-mail],  ...munnari!stcns3.stc.oz.AU!dave

[Moderator's Note: I must say, Dave, I have noticed that calls from
here to Australia and New Zealand -- the latter particularly -- are
extremely clear lately. I'm on the phone once or twice a week to
Auckland with a client of our office and the call always goes through
immediatly -- in a matter of seconds -- and is perfectly audible;
almost like a call to somewhere here in Chicago. I carelessly dialed
the call today, leaving off the '9' city code, and got a woman there
who thought it rather incredible I was calling from the United States
-- a wrong number, yet!  South Pacific connections seem vastly
improved.  PT]

------------------------------

From: lance@lancelot (Lancelot of Caid)
Subject: ISDN Basic Rate Service
Date: 4 Oct 89 03:55:21 GMT
Organization: Lancelot BBS [phone]


I am in GTE land out in So. Ca. (San Fernando Valley to be specific).

Does anyone know when/if ISDN BRS will be available to me?
The people at GTE have no idea what ISDN is (at least the people I
have talked to don't).

How about Pac*Bell in my area? If necessary I will try to convert to
Pac*Bell (even if that means I have to move...)

Thanks for all the info,

Lance Ellinghouse (A.K.A Lancelot of Caid)
"Life is a game of Chess, some are Kings, some Queens, some pawns, and
 some just get taken." - Lancelot
ucla-an!hermix!lancelot!lance; hermix!lancelot![e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 3 Oct 89 17:43 PDT
From: David Kuder <[e-mail]>
Subject: Theft of Copper Wire
Reply-To: [e-mail] (David Kuder)
Organization: Independence Technologies, Inc. Fremont, CA


Roy Smith ([e-mail]) mentioned that vandals were
stealing copper cables from Metro North (Amtrak).  This is the only
instance of this happening.  In a more telephone related instance,
copper wires providing telephone service to remote parts of California
have been stolen.  The following excerpts come from a reprinting of a
Los Angeles Times article that appeared around Sept. 23.

  International jewel thieves they are not.  But pesky bands of
  burglars have caused a heap of trouble for a string of remote
  desert towns this summer, stealing miles of the copper
  telephone wires that link the outposts with the rest of the
  world.

  Lured by the high price of copper, thieves have stolen about 55
  miles of multi-strand bare wire in San Bernardino Co. and
  another 80 miles in Riverside Co.

  The unusual burglaries there have left homes and businesses in
  the towns of Ludlow, Amboy, Cadiz and Danby without phone
  service periodically since early August with some residents cut
  off for as long as a month.  Residents of Amboy had to drive 50
  miles to Twentynine Palms to make telephone calls.

  Becuase of the troubles, Pacbell has decide to link the areas
  phones to a microwave system.  Until the install is completed
  in November, the affected towns will be on an emergency radio
  system.


David A. Kuder                    [e-mail]
415 438-2003                  {sun,sharkey,pacbell}!indetech!david

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (No gas will be sold to anyone in a glass container.)
Subject: Re: Phone Design
Date: 30 Sep 89 22:35:33 GMT

Re: Phone Design

  I first made the switch from mechanical ringer to electronic warble
about 5 years ago when I moved to Canada.  The warble comes out of a
cheap speaker, and it's impossible to tell what direction it's coming
from.  As a result, whenever a warble phone rang on the TV, I jumped
from my chair.  I never completely got over that.  On the bright side,
the Harmony (tm) and Signature (tm) phones I had from Northern Telecom
were some of the best of the new generation phones I've seen.  A
`shoulderable' receiver, a nice handle for carrying the phone around
while you talk, and up to date styling were all welcome.  They were
rugged too, though I almost did one in with a glass of vermouth into
the keypad.  A good rinsing of the insides fixed it.

  Those two models weren't for sale, or I'd have one here.  I haven't
found anything else that I thought looked as nice and worked as well.
Fortunately I found an old 2500 recently, and don't miss the NT phones
so much any more.

  And does anyone besides me have fond memories of the Panel Phone
(tm) ?  My parents still have the two we had installed about 20 years
ago, and they work fine.  They were installed into the wall, requiring
a hole about 8 x 10 inches, and have a non-tangling cord about 4 feet
long which retracts into a hole in the panel.  They've never failed,
despite the thousands of times my father said I was pulling too hard
on the cord.  They'll never go modular, I'm afraid, and if they do
fail, we'll have to call the plasterer, but they made a lot of sense.
We even have one of those two-line knobs on one of them, though it's
not hooked up to both lines any more.  An installer who came by the
house a couple of years ago had never seen them before.

Steve Kass * Department of Math and Comp Sci * Drew U * Madison NJ  07940
(201)-408-3614, (201)-514-1187, (201)-408-5923, [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: 3 Oct 89 10:42 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Number Editing on Telephones/TTY Memoirs

Here at work I wrote a little program that lets me use my modem to
dial the phone.  I have a menu item called "Dial!".  When I click it I
get a prompt "Number please".  I can then type in the number or use
any of the system's line editing features.  For example, I can
shift-select the number out of another window instead of having to
type it at all.  If I click on Dial!  with the middle button, I get a
menu of the last 10 numbers I called, if I want to redial one.  One
nice feature is that the program automatically translates letters into
numbers.  I hate dialing numbers like "GO-AMIGO" on the phone, but
it's real easy to type this on a computer keyboard.  The program also
knows how to add the leading "9" for local calls, and "8" for long
distance.  This all works well since my computer is running all day
anyway - might as well let it do the phone too.

While we're at it, I might as well throw in my teletype reminiscences,
since everyone else has.  In 1967 I belonged to the Weather Club in
our high school.  We had two teletypes with direct lines to the local
Weather Bureau (this was before it was the National Weather Service).
One line was called "Circuit A", which sent data from the northeast
U.S., and the other was "Circuit C" which was national (I think
circuit B was the south-east).  I don't know the model numbers, but
they were old even then.  They were the kind that had the type in a
rectangular box.  The machine would move the box vertically and
horizontally to position the proper slug under the print hammer.  It
was indeed, as someone else mentioned, fascinating to watch.

Anyway, our machines were receive-only; they had just two buttons in
front.  One was labeled "LOC LF" (local line-feed) - I forget what the
other was.  My job was to get there at 7 AM to plot the national
weather map coming in on circuit C.  Each station sent its data in a
single line of text (all numeric).  There were several hundred
stations reporting.  After a few months of this I got good enough that
I could plot faster than the tty could send.  Being an impatient sort,
I discovered that if you hit LOCLF *exactly* at the end of a line, you
could eject enough paper while the carriage was returning so that you
could tear off a little strip with just that one line before the next
line started printing.  People would get mad at me because by the end
of the transmission, the report, which usually filled half a dozen
pages, looked like it had been through a paper shredder.

Sometimes the fuse that controlled the carriage would blow.  This was
apparently separate from the print hammer.  If this happened at night,
you'd come in the next day to find the entire report banged into a
single character position.  All that was left of it was a ragged hole
in the paper.  Sometimes people would forget to power up the motor on
the take-up reel when they left in the afternoon.  Then we'd come in
the next morning to find mountains of yellow paper piled all over the
room.  Occasionally, the machine would drop a character.  Since the
reports were all numeric in fixed-length fields, a missing character
would lead to some interesting weather reports.  You could always tell
a novice had been plotting the map when you found a station in Canada
reporting 90 degrees in mid-January, or showers of ice needles in
Miami.

I suppose that's all gone today.  Nowadays, the maps are plotted by
computer and faxed to local Weather Service offices.  But I'm sure
this can't compare to the thrill of racing circuit C, man versus
machine, in the pre-dawn darkness of another era.

            - Michel

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #427
*****************************










Date:     Wed, 4 Oct 89 1:40:00 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #428
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Wed, 4 Oct 89 01:35:11 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 428

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Price Competition in Japan on International Calls (David Gast)
    Re: Locatable Ringers (Kent Borg)
    Re: Australian Broadcast Call Signs (Dave Horsfall)
    Re: Prefix '520' for Los Angeles Radio Stations (Dave Clements)
    Re: California Junk Fax Bill (John Higdon)
    Re: ANI Updates Wanted (Thomas E. Lowe)
    Re: Criticism of Call Forwarding (Dave Levenson)
    Re: Another Cool Thing About GTE (Tad Cook)
    Re: Telephones in India (part II of II) (H.Shrikumar)
    Re: Telephone Designs for Humans (Louis J. Judice)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 3 Oct 89 22:25:24 -0700
From: David Gast <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Price Competition in Japan on International Calls


On October 1, 1989, KDD (Kokusai Denshin Denwa-- International
Telegraph Telephone), the only organization that had been able to
carry international telephone and telegraph communication since the
end of WWII lost its monopoly.  Two new firms entered the market:
International Telecom Japan, Inc. and International Digital
Communications.

KDD had revenue of $1.95 billion last year, but the new competitors
are undercutting its prices by more than 23%.  The president of KDD is
quoted as saying "We've never faced any competition before, ... it is
quite a shock."

The new rates will make calls from Japan up to 20% cheaper than calls
from the U.S. using the dominant U.S. carrier, according to the NYT.
(At least one LDC, however, however, offers significantly cheaper
calls than the prominent U.S.  carrier).

The new arrangement also shows major differences from U.S. practice.
In the first place, the new companies are not startups.  International
Telecom's shareholders include Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, Mitsui, Marubeni,
the Bank of Tokyo, Matsushita Electric (Panasonic), Tokyo Electric
(the Commonwealth Edison of Tokyo).  International Digital's
shareholders include C. Itoh (a trading company, but also the maker of
computer terminals, the trading company involved in the Toshiba
scandal of a few years ago, etc), Toyota, Cable and Wireless of
Britain and PacBell.

C&W had been previously been involved in a major dispute with respect
to the extent that it could participate.  Pacific Telesis's
participation lends credence to John Higdon's contention expressed in
a previous article that PacBell is attempting to become the old Bell
System.  This arrangement should also raise eyebrows among those who
believe that foreign investment in Japan is impossible.  How many
Japanese companies do you know that own American telecommunication
industries?  (Of course, this this arrangement may change).

The equity contribution by these major players indicates that the new
companies are not likely to fold soon.

The second difference is that Japan decided to avoid the expensive
advertising campaigns prevalent in the U.S.  The new startups will not
have to spend millions advertising on T.V. to get consumers to sign up
as "dial 1 carriers."  Every phone in Japan (although contrary to
published reports, I suspect that certain coin phones are excluded) is
automatically connected to the new phone companies.  Consumers only
have to prefix their international calls with a unique three digit
code to get the international telephone company of their choice.  KDD
used to require prior agreements to make direct dial calls, but
presumably the new phone companies do not.  Note: Because KDD was
separate entity from NTT, Japanese consumers always had to dial a
three digit code to get KDD.

Even with monopoly status, rates for KDD's international phone calls
have declined drastically in recent years.  10 years ago a 3 minute
prime time call cost $15.00.  Now KDD's prime rate is $6.35.  (It is
unclear from published reports whether the reductions take into
account the dramatic fall in the dollar vis a vis the yen.  If it does
not, the rate reduction from a Japanese perspective has been more
substantial).

The new companies will charge $3.00 to $4.85 for a three minute call,
substantially less than AT&T on calls from the U.S. to Japan or for
U.S.A. Direct calls from Japan.  AT&T charges $3.78 to $6.02 for
direct dial calls from the U.S. to the Japan.

From a technical standpoint the new companies are expected to offer
superior quality as these calls are more likely to go through fiber
optic cables across the Pacific instead of satellites.  On the other
hand the new carriers will only be going to popular destinations like
the U.S.


David Gast
[e-mail]
{uunet,ucbvax,rutgers}!{ucla-cs,cs.ucla.edu}!gast

------------------------------

From: Kent Borg <lloyd!sunfs3![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Locatable Ringers
Date: 2 Oct 89 23:01:18 GMT
Reply-To: Kent Borg <lloyd![e-mail]>
Organization: Camex, Inc., Boston, Mass USA


In article <[e-mail]> Kenneth_R_Jongsma@cup.
portal.com writes:

>With the traditional bell, it is possible to be in any one else's
>office and tell if your phone is ringing based on the volume and
>direction of the bell.  With these new ringers, it is impossible to
>tell where the "warble" is coming from, even though you are only one
>office away. There seems to be no way the ear can attribute direction
>to the "warble". Hence, every time a phone rings, everyone runs to
>their office to see if it is for them.

I remember the old Bell Telephone exhibit in the Museum of Science and
Industry in Chicago had en explanation of the how they chose the ring
of the phone.  All I remember was that is it could be heard by most
everybody because it had a rich set of harmonics.  They showed a scope
trace of the machanical bell, a jumble of lines, and the trace of a
sin wave, which was just a clean up-down pattern (couldn't see the
curves at their horz timing).

I don't remember whether they mentioned is was easy to find in a
crowded office.  Too bad all new phones seem to have gone backwards in
this aspect.


Kent Borg                "Then again I could be foolish
[e-mail]                 not to quit while I'm ahead..."
or                         -from Evita (sung by Juan Peron)
 ...!husc6!lloyd!kent

------------------------------

From: Dave Horsfall <munnari!stcns3.stc.oz.au![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Australian Broadcast Call Signs
Date: 3 Oct 89 07:04:23 GMT
Reply-To: Dave Horsfall <[e-mail]>
Organization: Alcatel STC Australia, North Sydney, AUSTRALIA


In article <[e-mail]>,
    [e-mail] (Henry Mensch) writes:
|
| They are all under VK (i.e., the FM station 4GGG on Australia's gold
| coast has a call sign of VK4GGG).  The number indicates (mostly)
| which state the station is in (1=Tasmania <I think>, 2=New South
| Wales, 3=Victoria, 4=Queensland, and I don't know the rest :>)

Sorry, Henry - but VK4GGG would be an Amateur callsign.  Australia has
been allocated VH-VN, with AX as well (and possibly others).  And Tasmania
is "7", not "1".  That is reserved for Our Nation's Capital, and various
little islands around the place.  Tasmania, although an island, isn't
one of them :-)

I'll take a guess that the prefix is VL though - resulting in VL4GGG.
Then again, I could be wrong.  How did this get started in Telecom
Digest anyway?

Dave Horsfall (VK2KFU),  Alcatel STC Australia,  [e-mail]
[e-mail],  ...munnari!stcns3.stc.oz.AU!dave

[Moderator's Note: How did all this get started in the Digest? I guess
it is due to my anti-social and iconoclastic attitude. I've caused the
imminent death of the net on several occassions, you know. And I am
proud of it, I might add. :)   PT]

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Prefix '520' for Los Angeles Radio Stations
Date: Tue, 03 Oct 89 12:04:14 -0400
From: [e-mail]

>If anyone is making a list, the "choke" exchange serving Atlanta is
>404-741.

And in Boston, it's 617-931-1xxx.  Note: Only ONE thousand's
group.  That's few enough that smart exchanges actually might
have a map of those 1000 numbers. Then they could allow a couple
of calls to different numbers within the group at the same time,
afor a little more inter-station fairness.  Not likely, I guess.

Bob Clements, K1BC, [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: California Junk Fax Bill
Date: 3 Oct 89 17:55:18 GMT
Organization: Green Hills and Cows


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail].
us (David W. Tamkin) writes:
> Mark A. Holtz wrote in volume 9, issue 419:

> | However, the governor of California has stated that he would not
> | sign said bill.
> |
> | He is bound to change his mind.
> |
> | Several radio stations have gotten a hold of the Governor's fax
> | number. And, they have given it out, telling people to keep the fax
> | machine busy with junk fax. And, sure enough, it has been busy.

If this isn't stacking the deck, I don't know what is. For about a
month there was a thread running in alt.fax with people invited to
share their junk fax stories. In all that time, nothing more serious
than a couple of solicitations a month came to light. Indeed, no one
could relate to anything near the "problem" that has been reported in
the press and has obviouly paniced some state legislators into passing
silly and needless legislation.

I wrote to KGO in San Francisco, one of the stations passing out the
governor's fax number, and told them that inviting the public to jam
his fax machine was an inappropriate use of the public airwaves. If
the governor vetoed the bill, then obviously up to this point he has
not had any trouble with junk fax. This appears to be one of those
comp.horror.stories without any real basis. I know of many fax
machines in the area and a survey of all their owners reveals *NO*
problem with junk fax.

Sorry, this is a cause that won't fly.

        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]      | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

From: Thomas E Lowe <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: ANI Updates Wanted
Date: 3 Oct 89 16:18:27 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail] (thomas.e.lowe,ho,)
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories


>I've heard that at least two class action lawsuits have been filed
>against AT&T in NJ and Florida

>[Moderator's Note:
>But I suspect the suits would be against local telcos rather than AT&T
>would they not?   PT]

Not necessarily.  AT&T does provide ANI information to many large
telemarketing firms.  Many of the 800 numbers you call to order merchandise
from have this service.  Most of it, if not all, is provided using MegaCom
service and/or ISDN services.  I would think this would make AT&T as
venerable to a suit as the telcos.

I personally know of no suits against AT&T or local telcos.

Tom Lowe    [e-mail] or  att!hound!tel     [phone]
AT&T Bell Laboratories, Room 2E-637A
Crawfords Corner Road,  Holmdel, NJ  07733
(R) UNIX is a registered trademark of AT&T  (keep them lawyers happy!!)

[Moderator's Note: But unlike the telcos, AT&T provides the information
for billing purposes. The telcos provide it out of customer curiosity for
the information. If the litigants want to sue AT&T, at least where the
provision of telephone numbers for billing is concerned, what would be
their complaint? That the person who pays for a phone call has no right
to know what calls they are paying for? If I pay for your phone calls,
it is an invasion of *your* privacy to tell *me* the details of the
connections established?  PT]

------------------------------

From: Dave Levenson <westmark![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Criticism of Call Forwarding
Date: 4 Oct 89 00:08:33 GMT
Organization: Westmark, Inc., Warren, NJ, USA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Roy Smith) writes:

>     With all this talk about non-ergonomic rings, I thought I would
> bring up another mis-feature.  Our ATT System-25 at work doesn't have call
> forwarding, it has what we've come to refer to as call following...
 ...
> I can't figure out why ATT decided to do it this way.

System-25 does it that way because Horizon(tm) did it that way.
That, in fact, explains most of the System-25 feature set.

No, I don't know exactly why Horizon did it that way, but it may be
related to their "floating phone number" feature.  You can have
phone numbers in your Horizon or System 25 which do not correspond
to real telephone sets (or voice terminals, for that matter!).  If
you are a fast-mover around your office, you may be without a
physical set, but you can have a floating extension (called a PDC or
personal dial code, in System-25 speak).  You can then "log in" your
floating PDC at the nearest real telephone set, and receive your
calls there, until you log out or log in at some other voice
terminal.   Call-following is just a special case of logging in a
PDC (but in this case, not a floating PDC) on a voice terminal.

[I keep my floating PDC logged into the phone on the boat!]

Dave Levenson                Voice: [phone]
Westmark, Inc.               Internet: [e-mail]
Warren, NJ, USA              UUCP: {uunet | rutgers | att}!westmark!dave
[The Man in the Mooney]      AT&T Mail: !westmark!dave

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Tad Cook)
Subject: Re: Another Cool Thing About GTE
Date: 4 Oct 89 01:02:20 GMT
Organization: very little


Regarding Tom Ace's piece on GTE lines being wired backwards, it
is not that they are always reversed, it's just that they don't
care...because the AE phones have polarity guards.  This is one
of the tests built into the Proctor test systems for GTE.  As part
of the dial test, it checks with reversed and normal polarity.
That way the installer never has to worry about whether the
jack is wired reversed or not.  It also means that on older offices
with reverse answer supervision that the phone could still do
end-to-end DTMF signalling.

Tad Cook
[e-mail]


------------------------------

From: "H.Shrikumar{[e-mail]}" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Telephones in India (part II of II)
Date: 4 Oct 89 03:06:22 GMT
Reply-To: "H.Shrikumar{[e-mail]}" <[e-mail]>
Organization: Nat'l Centre for S/w Tech. Bombay.


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Dheeraj Sanghi) writes:

[ much deleted .... ]

>For direct dialed calls (STD and ISD), the tariff is determined by the
>"pulse rate." For every "pulse", you are charged equivalent of one
>local call, which was 50 paise (3 cents). For STD, the pulse rate is
>halved during night time. (I am not too sure about this.) But there is
>no discount for ISD calls in the night. For STD calls the pulse

The DOT has introduced a quarter rate period for STD, between
10 PM and 4 AM. And the lines at that time are much better too.

For ex. the packet errot rate (for UUCP traffic) seems to fall drastically
for calls during this period.

True, ISD calls are the same throughout the day.

>can only make local calls. They will only accept 2 fifty paise coins,
>and not 1 one rupee coin or other change. Second type is from where you
>can only make STD and ISD calls. These will accept only those 1 rupee
>coins that were made after 1980. (But that is no problem, since usually

And then there are a good number of Operator assited Phone booths
where a (usually) handicapped operator dials a number and accepts the
money. Change is no problem with such booths too.

   shrikumar ( [e-mail], [e-mail] )

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 3 Oct 89 07:00:18 -0700
From: "Louis J. Judice  03-Oct-1989 0957" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Telephone Designs for Humans


This discussion reminds me: Is there any source out there for buying
a genuine new or used AT&T (WE) Speakerphone Model 200?

These are the three piece units (Phone, mike and speaker) with a zillion
wires and cables protruding outwards.

I've had these units in my office, along with newer AT&T (System 75/85
compatible sets), and I don't think anything has ever rivaled their
quality or durability. Fortunately I have one in my office now, but
I'd like to get one for my home office.

Any sources for the GENUINE ARTICLE?

Lou

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #428
*****************************










Date:     Thu, 5 Oct 89 0:54:05 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #429
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Thu, 5 Oct 89 00:50:46 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 429

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Flood Causes Delay in International Calls (Jeff Wasilko)
    Swedish Cordless Phones (Will Martin)
    Generation of Unique Tones to Parallel Extensions (Giridhar Coorg)
    Parsing Dialed Digits (Phil Crable)
    Wrong Numbers and Call Progress Messages (David C. Troup)
    Re: California Junk Fax Bill (John R. Levine)
    Re: California Junk Fax Bill (Tad Cook)
    Re: California Junk Fax Bill (Scott D. Green)
    Re: Billing, was Sleazy Touch-Tone Marketing Tactics (John R. Levine)
    Re: NPA Splits Before 1965 (Robert Hamer)
    Re: NPA Splits Before 1965 (Mark Robert Smith)
    Re: Criticism of Call Forwarding (Thomas E. Lowe)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Flood Causes Delay in International Calls
Date: Tue, 3 Oct 89 19:41:30 PDT
From: Jeff Wasilko <netcom![e-mail]>

Did you know that on Monday morning all international calls that were
routed out of South Carolina could not not be completed? AT&T claimed
that they had some problems with flooding in those areas.

We could not place any calls to our London office until about 1:00 our
time.

One thing that surprised me is that AT&T could not reroute the calls
to another center of operations. Do you know any more details about
what happened?

Jeff

------------------------------

Date:     Tue, 3 Oct 89 13:05:36 CDT
From: Will Martin <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Swedish Cordless Phones

The following item is extracted from Sweden Calling DXers, the
electronic edition of which is distributed on the ham-radio newsgroup
& mailing list:

  :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
  ::      SWEDEN CALLING DXERS       ::
  ::       from Radio Sweden         ::
  ::   Number 2062--Sept. 26, 1989   ::
  :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
 ....

CORDLESS TELEPHONES--A new generation of cordless telephones is
appearing in Europe, which are being called "the poor man's mobile
telephone". At the same time, the current cordless phones in Sweden
cost more than cellular telephones in many other countries.

Cordless telephones have become popular all over the Western World and
the Far East.  The exception is Sweden, where cordless telephones
remain too expensive for ordinary households.  In fact, Swedish
cordless telephones cost more than the mobile or cellular telephones
used in automobiles in other countries.

This is because Sweden uses a unique frequency band for its cordless
phones.  The kind found in the rest of the world use frequencies
around 49 MHz. This band is, however, still used by television in
Sweden. Two transmitters for Swedish Channel 1 use frequencies close
to 49 MHz. Rather than move those two transmitters, Swedish Telecom
has decided that cordless phones in this country shuld use the exotic
frequencies of 914 and 959 MHz. Because of this, the legal cordless
phones sold in Sweden cost as much as 10 times what similar units cost
abroad.

Consequently, many Swedes buy cordless phones in other countries and
try to smuggle them past Customs. So far this year Swedish Customs has
confiscated 1500 to 2000 cordless telephones. That's roughly twice as
many as during all of last year.

Now Britain has begun testing the next generation of cordless phones,
called CT-2. This operates at 864 MHz, using special digital signals.
When you use CT-2, you carry the handset in your pocket, and around
town there are relay stations called phonepoints, instead of
traditional phone booths. The idea is that you can call out from
anywhere within range of a phonepoint, although you can't receive
calls. That's why the system is being called the poor man's mobile
telephone.

The pilot service has only 100 users and 30 phonepoints, all in
London. The service is expected to cover all of London by the end of
this month, and 1000 phonepoints are to be installed during the first
year. When Britain is fully wired, there will be 16,000 phonepoints.

The British decision is controversial, because European standards have
yet to be decided. Britain hopes to sell its CT-2 system to the rest
of Euyrope, so that the same pocket telephone can be used anywhere in
the continent. It now looks as thought the French have accepted the
British system, for their "Pointel" public cordless network.

Happily for Swedes, Swedish Telecom has indicated it will adhere to
the forthcoming international standard for CT-2. (George Wood)
 ...

***End of extract***

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 4 Oct 89 09:05:08 EDT
From: Giridhar Coorg <[e-mail]>
Subject: Generation of Unique Tones to Parallel Extensions

In an open office environment where there are parallel extensions (one
extension having say four parallels), is it possible for the EPABX to
generate different frequencies corresponding to the particular person
at one of the parallels being called?  The user would have a unique
extension analogous to DID.  This facility can be used only to group
not so busy extensions with a through study being made earlier.
Advantages are lower capital costs (almost 25% of present investment)
but not compromising the advantages of an EPABX and the telephone in
general.

===== GIRIDHAR =====

------------------------------

From:  VAX WIZZ <vrdxhq!pbs![e-mail]>
Subject: Parsing Dialed Digits
Date: 4 Oct 89 11:50:35 EDT
Organization: PBS:Public Broadcasting Service, Alexandria, VA


Hi out there in telephone land...

I'm hoping one of you telephone experts can help me with this problem.
I am dealing with a string of numbers returned by a PBX with Call Data
Reporting.  What I need to do is divide the string into three separate
numbers: area_code, exchange and extension.  I can parse the digits
fine for calls to the US, Canada, and Mexico. The problem comes with
international calls.  I know to look for the country code after the
011 international access code. (The access code is 011 in New York,
right?)  How can I tell whether to take the next two or the next three
digits as the country code ?


Any suggestions are welcome...

==============================================================================

Phil Crable                              PPPPPPP   BBBBBBB    SSSSSS
Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)        P      P  B      B  S      S
Computer Services Dept.                  P      P  B      B  S
1320 Braddock Place                      PPPPPPP   BBBBBBB    SSSSSS
Alexandria, VA  22314                    P         B      B         S
                                         P         B      B  S      S
[phone]                           P         BBBBBBB    SSSSSS
 ...!uunet!vrdxhq!pbs!pcrable
==============================================================================

   Don't believe anything you hear and only half of what you see...

------------------------------

From: "David C. Troup  -  Skunk Works : 2600hz" <carroll1![e-mail]>
Subject: Wrong Numbers and Call Progress Messages
Date: 4 Oct 89 23:06:59 GMT
Organization: Carroll College Dept of Artificial Intelligence


When a call cannot be completed, or there are no available lines or
the line has been disconnected (or whatever), how are the recordings
and appropriate switching done? Or for instance, if I changed my phone
number, and Bell had a "The number you have reached has been
disconnected." message, and I have them change it to "...the new
number is ..." - What happens here?

Thanks in advance, and Thank-You to all who answered my question on
the recording alert tones!


"We got computers, we're tapping phone lines, knowin' that ain't allowed"
  _________  _______________    |David C. Troup / Surf Rat
    _______)(______   |         |[e-mail] : mail
  ______________________________|414-524-6809______________________________

------------------------------

Subject: Re: California Junk Fax Bill
Organization: Segue Software, Cambridge MA
Date: 3 Oct 89 09:51:14 EDT (Tue)
From: "John R. Levine" <[e-mail]>

The story about junk fax and the Connecticut governor is true, and was
widely reported in the press when it happened.  Keep those junk faxes
going to your elected representatives, folks.

Regards,
John Levine, [e-mail], {spdcc|ima|lotus}!esegue!johnl

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Tad Cook)
Subject: Re: California Junk Fax Bill
Date: 5 Oct 89 00:32:41 GMT
Organization: very little

I have been wondering about junk fax....I see a lot of articles
written about it, but I am wondering if it is this year's "computer
virus" scare story in the media?  After talking to a number of fax
users, I am convinced that this may be an "urban legend".  The
articles all tell how the junk faxer can control your machine, and
make it so you can't send important information.  One article quoted a
guy who claimed that he stood there helpless while the machine churned
out junk fax, when he needed to send an important document.  Somehow
it never occured to him or the writed xxxx writer of the article to
just unplug the RJ11 for a few seconds or hit the STOP button so that
he could send his fax.

The only junk fax we have received in the past few years was from that
Mr. Fax outfit selling fax paper.  They send one ad once in a great
while, and one time after getting maybe two a year from them, we took
advantage of their offer to have us taken off their list.  We receive
lots of transmissions from our customers, but no more junk fax.

I asked about this on the alt.fax group, and still could find no one
who really had a first person horror stories.  All I could get was a
lot of complaining about "they are using MY paper".

Anyone here have any FIRST PERSON verifiable accounts (not friend of a
friend urban legend stuff) of junk fax horror stories?

Tad Cook
[e-mail]
MCI Mail: 3288544


------------------------------

Date: Wed, 4 Oct 89 15:44 EDT
From: "Scott D. Green" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: California Junk Fax Bill

Conn. Governor O'Neill did, in fact, sign the junk fax bill, and it
went into effect October 1.

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Billing, was Sleazy Touch-Tone Marketing Tactics
Organization: Segue Software, Cambridge MA
Date: 3 Oct 89 22:29:49 EDT (Tue)
From: "John R. Levine" <[e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> you write:
>[Moderator's Note: Generally, AT&T is very much at the mercy of the
>local telco as to when things like ROA get turned on; ...

I don't get it.  Do the BOCs actually compute the bills for AT&T as well
as print, mail, and collect them?  It was my impression that the LD companies
keep their own billing info based on the ANI info provided at the time of the
call, and then either send their own bills or tell the local telco what to
print on the appropriate page.  Or is AT&T different?

Regards,
John Levine, [e-mail], {spdcc|ima|lotus}!esegue!johnl

[Moderator's Note: AT&T and the Bell telcos were interwoven for so
many years, there are still some things about AT&T's relationship with
the telcos which don't apply to the other OCC's. I don't know for sure
if the telcos actually do the *computations* for AT&T or not; I do
know that, for example, although AT&T advertises a five percent
daytime discount for fifty cents per month to ROA customers, when I
have tried to have it put on my ROA account the message I get from
AT&T service reps is I can't have it because "... Illinois Bell is not
set up for it right now...."  Likewise, AT&T insisted to me that they
were not the ones to toll-restrict 415-976 from Chicago customers;
".... Illinois Bell made the decision..."; and when I made an inquiry
about MCI's new five bucks an hour plan on Saturdays, their rep was
eager to take my order but cautioned that "... Illinois Bell usually
takes five working days to process our orders...." The local telcos
seem to be the ones to do much of the programming/record keeping.  PT]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 4 Oct 89 16:35 EDT
From: "ROBERT M. HAMER" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: NPA Splits Before 1965


Greg Monti  via John R. Covert <[e-mail]> writes:

>... (To my
>knowledge, New Jersey *never* had 1 + 7 digit dialing for intra-NPA toll

Speaking as an ex-New Jerseyite, New Jersey until fairly recently did not
require 1+ before LD phone calls at all.  Now it seems to.

------------------------------

From: Mark Robert Smith <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: NPA Splits Before 1965
Date: 5 Oct 89 02:09:41 GMT
Organization: Rutgers - The Police State of New Jersey


I remember visiting the house of an older person a number of years
back, in NJ.  They still had the announcement of the 201/609 split
taped next to the phone (with VERY yellow scotch tape).  I seem to
remember that it was before 1965, probably before 1960, but I can't
for the life of me remember the exact date.


Mark Smith, KNJ2LH                All Rights Reserved
RPO 1604               You may redistribute this article only if those who
P.O. Box 5063                 receive it may do so freely.
New Brunswick, NJ 08903-5063              [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Thomas E Lowe <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Criticism of Call Forwarding
Date: 4 Oct 89 12:29:46 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail] (thomas.e.lowe,ho,)
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories


In article <[e-mail]> Roy Smith <roy%phri@
uunet.uu.net> writes:

>Our ATT System-25 at work doesn't have call
>forwarding, it has what we've come to refer to as call following.  To
>transfer your calls to another phone, you have to go to that phone (known
>in the S25 manual as a "voice terminal") and do some magic there.

Boy, would I love to have this feature here at work (CENTREX) and home.
I don't know how many times I ended up in someone's office or home without
expecting to be there and wished my calls were forwarded to me.  Also,
if it is going to take a substantial amount of time to get there, I would
rather my machine take calls till I get where I'm going.   I can also go
office to office and forward my calls as I move.

Of course, I still would want the ability to do both Call Forward from my
office/home phone in addition to Call Follow from any phone.


Tom Lowe    [e-mail] or  att!hound!tel     [phone]
AT&T Bell Laboratories, Room 2E-637A
Crawfords Corner Road,  Holmdel, NJ  07733
(R) UNIX is a registered trademark of AT&T  (keep them lawyers happy!!)

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #429
*****************************










Date:     Thu, 5 Oct 89 1:41:48 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #430
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Thu, 5 Oct 89 01:40:25 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 430

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Possible California PUC Changes - LA Times Story ([e-mail])

[Moderator's Note: This issue of the Digest is devoted to a single item:
a recent article in the Los Angeles Times. Unfortunatly, the sender did
not include his own name --  I have no idea who sent it other than the
net address given. I thought it was worth printing in full.  PT]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Possible California PUC Changes -- L.A. Times Story
Date: Wed, 04 Oct 89 16:16:46 PDT
From: [e-mail]

   The story below is from the Los Angeles Times of October 1, 1989,
in the Business Section (part IV), p. 1.  Reprinted without permission.


              Rewriting the Book on Phone Rates
                      by
                 Bruce Keppel
                  Times Staff Writer


   (San Francisco) Charlotte Ford's cubbyhole of an office hardly
looks like a place where history is being written.  But it is there,
nonetheless, that the 36-year-old administrative law judge distilled,
from thousands of pages of sometimes gnarly testimony, what may be the
most far-reaching regulatory proposal every made by the California
Public Utilities Commission.

   What Ford has wrought on behalf of her bosses -- the five utilities
commissioners appointed by Gov. George Deukmejian -- is a 361-page
blueprint to overhaul regulation of the state's two biggest local
phone companies, Pacific Bell and GTE California.

   One virtually certain result of this proposal, expected to be
approved Oct. 12 after some final tinkering by the commissioners, will
be lower basic phone rates next year.  Another will be freedom for the
companies to shoot for higher profits and to enjoy unprecedented, if
limited, latitude in setting prices for optional telephone services.

   The long-term payoff, if the system works as Ford conceived it,
will be a streamlined regulatory process that liberates the phone
companies to pursue technological advances that benefit the economy
and hold down prices for phone customers.

   And although many consumer advocates are doubtful that those goals
will be realized, the PUC's push in telecommunications is expected to
foreshow a fundamental change in the way that the agency deals with
energy utilities, freight haulers and the other businesses that it
regulates.

   "There has to be streamlined processing," said Commissioner John B.
Ohanian.  "I envision the commission getting away from the
'micromanagement' of these companies.  Instead, let's modernize the
way we regulate and synchronize it with the pace of change in the
business world."

   At the top of the PUC's agenda is phone regulation.  A number of
other states have similarly re-examined traditional phone regulation
but, with the possible exception of Vermont, California is proposing
the most comprehensive overhaul.

   Simplified Process

   With the new plan, gone will be the close surveillance of
management decisions made by Pacific Bell and GTE California -- a
prospect that delights both companies.  Traditional rate-making
procedures now require the PUC to determine utility costs, a process
that requires poring over corporate books and second-guessing
management decisions to arrive at the amount of annual revenue that
the company will need to break even.  The commission then adds to that
sum a maximum profit for the companies to shoot for but not exceed and
finally sets phone rates accordingly.

   The Ford plan would authorize the PUC to continue setting prices
for basic telephone service, although it would simplify the way that
is done.  It also would:

   -  Cap prices for such optional "enhanced services" as call forwarding
and let the companies lower charges if they wish, perhaps to increase sales
volume.

   - Deregulate prices for the present handful of competitive services,
such as yellow pages advertising and, perhaps, maintenance of phone wires
in businesses and homes.

   - Replace commission-imposed penalties for unnecessary investments and
excessive costs with financial incentives to reward efficiency.

   To make this more flexible pricing system work with a minimum of
state intrusion, Ford created the most elaborate system so far of
"checks and balances" designed to protect shareholders and customers
alike.  Yet, in California as in the other states tinkering with
regulatory reform, only the telecommunications investors and the
companies involved seem to support the changes.

   Many customers -- including giant long-distance carriers such as
American Telephone & Telegraph and MCI, which depend on local phone
companies to complete their calls -- worry that loosened regulation
will mean service headaches.  Ironically, AT&T recently was granted
greater pricing flexibility in its long-distance operations by both
state and federal regulators.

   For the first year under the new regulatory setup, the PUC will
lower phone rates because both Pacific Bell and GTE California have
exceeded their currently authorized profit ceilings.

   Productivity Factor

   After that, and on Jan. 1 of every year from now on, the companies'
anticipated revenue figure will be adjusted for inflation, minus an
assumed reduction in operating costs due to belt tightening and
labor-saving technology.

   Ford proposed what it {sic} calls a 4% "productivity factor."
Thus, if inflation boosted costs generally by 5%, only a 1% increase
would be passed on to telephone customers.  "This productivity target
will challenge [the phone companies] to be at least 4% more efficient
in their operations than is the economy as a whole," she maintained.

   A key question that the five commissioners must decide Oct. 12 is
whether Ford's 4% productivity factor is reasonable.  The companies
argue that 4% is too ambitions, while the consumer lobby known as TURN
(for Toward Utility Rate Normalization) says it should be more like
7%.  Moreover, TURN considers Ford's proposal to be "overwhelmingly
skewed in the utilities' favor," said executive director Audrie
Krause, a former Fresno Bee newspaper reporter who assumed her TURN
job last summer.

   Under traditional regulation, Krause pointed out, the PUC limited
company profits, or rate of return, and required any excess earnings
to be refunded.  The maximum profit margin for Pacific Bell currently
is 11.34% and 11.13% for GTE California.
   Because a basic principle of Ford's plan is to strengthen the
profit motive, she set a target rate of return, based on her estimate
of current market conditions, of 11.75% for 1990.  But she would let
the companies keep all earnings up to 12.75% to motivate them to
perform well, then would allow them to keep half of any additional
earnings up to a maximum of 16.75%

   TURN considers each of these benchmarks, especially the 16.75%
maximum return, to be far too generous, and it also urged that if the
commission allows any profit sharing, consumers should get 60% of the
earnings involved, not 50% as Ford suggested.

   In contrast to TURN's strong opposition, PUC President G. Mitchell
Wilk, who has worked closely with Ford as the commissioner responsible
for the case, hailed Ford's framework as "a win-win situation" for
customers and investors.

   "It needs to be improved in some areas, filling in some gaps and
doing more balancing," Wilk said, but he defended the 4% productivity
factor as "a real stretch" for Pacific Bell and GTE California.  He
termed TURN's opposition shortsighted, saying the 1984 breakup of the
Bell System and rapid technological changes have made reform
inevitable and probably overdue.

   "Divestiture changed the regulatory framework for this industry,"
Wilk said.  "We can't put our head in the sand and pretend we're
dealing with Ma Bell.

   Carl Danner, Wilk's telecommunications adviser, said Ford's
framework creates necessary new incentives to reward efficiency and
get telephone employees "thinking the way we want them to think"
instead of trying to "put one over" on regulators by padding costs to
boost revenue.

   "Our economy runs on these incentives," said Danner, who holds a
doctorate in public policy from Harvard University's Kennedy School of
Government.  "To the degree that the phone companies are losing their
monopoly status, their world should begin to look more like that [of
the the competitive economy].  It's becoming untenable to do the other
form of regulation."

   Terry L. Moore, who heads a PUC division representing utility
customers, agreed with TURN, however, that some of Ford's profit
targets are too generous and that the productivity factor is too low.
Still, Moore added that she is "in general comfortable with the
framework" that Ford devised.  "The key is getting [rates] right at
the start."

   William R. Ahern, a former RAND Corp. analyst who now is PUC
director of strategic planning, said Ford's framework also makes it
far more difficult for the phone companies to unfairly subsidize their
competitive ventures with profits from the basic phone business.  If
successful on that score, Ford's plan would resolve a lot of
complaints already made by would-be competitors in such areas as
voice-mail services, privately owned pay phones and telephone wiring
repairs.

   Commissioner Frederick R. Duda called the impending commission
decision "clearly historical" and one not to be confused with
deregulation.  "This is not deregulation and it's not traditional
regulation," he said.  "It's a compromise.  And the question is
whether it will work and for how long.

   "Marketplace reality has caught up with the system," Duda said.

   Duda -- along with commissioners Ohanian, Wilk, Stanley W. Hulett
and Patricia M. Eckert -- has reservations on a number of details, but
all five seemed, in separate interviews last month, to be generally
pleased with the comprehensive plan.

   For Ford, the telephone case represents by far the most complex
that she has handled.  The Mississippi native, who holds a bachelor's
degree in mathematics and a master's degree in electrical engineering,
said her aim was to devise a framework that would work adequately even
when some of the forecases for the telephone business are off the
mark.

   "We can be fooled by forecasts," Ford said recently as she sat in
her tiny office surrounded by volumes of hearing testimony and a stack
of comments on her framework.  She said she tried to create "checks
and balances" within the framework to contain excessive earnings -- or
losses if the bottom falls out of the market -- within reasonable
limits.
   That approach is also demonstrated, she said, by the way in which
implementation will give customers the first benefit in the form of an
immediate rate cut, in inflation-adjusted dollars, while shareholders
will get theirs later in the form of higher profits if their company
performs well.

   In any case, she added, the commission will reassess the new system
in 1992.

   Investment analysts generally warm to any attempt to allow market
forces to work within a regulated environment -- and especially to
shift from cost-based regulation to pricing regulation because of the
potential for higher earnings.  Even so, Robert B. Morris III of
Goldman, Sachs & Co.  foresees some potential problems for both
telephone customers and the companies themselves.

   "It's a break from historical regulation," Morris acknowledged,
"but to me it doesn't appear that the commission has handed them they
keys to the kingdom."

   Moreover, he added, there may be a drawback for consumers.  By
dividing telephone offerings between tightly regulated basic telephone
service and flexibly priced enhanced telecommunications services,
Morris said, the new regulatory framework may interfere with the
smooth flow of new technology throughout California.

   In other words, Morris said, some markets outside major
metropolitan areas might not get certain advanced services unless
regulators require them to.  "Only markets that can pay for them will
get the services," Morris predicted.

   To Ford, criticism and controversy come with the territory.  "No
one's going to entirely like what you do," she said.

   "And if someone does," she added, "it makes you wonder if you've
done the job."


      Sidebar: Incentive-Based Rate Plan Takes Phased Approach
          ---------------------------------------------------------

   The California Public Utilities Commission is expected this month
to adopt an incentive-based system for regulating Pacific Bell and GTE
California.  As proposed, effective Jan. 1, the system would:

   - Cut phone rates next year and then peg them in future years to a
cost- adjusted formula.  This formula would limit price increases to
the rate of overall inflation minus 4% for assumed efficiencies due to
cost cutting and labor-saving technology.  Thus, in a year in which
the cost of living increased 5%, telephone prices should rise no more
than 1%.  If inflation rose less than 4%, phone prices would actually
be cut.

   - Reorganize regulation so that the PUC still would set rates for
basic phone service, which on the local level remains a monopoly.
Prices for most optional calling features would be capped, but the
companies would be allowed to lower charges, within limits, if they
wished to encourage usage.  Prices would be deregulated for such
services as yellow pages advertising where competitive alternatives
already exist.

   - Authorize the PUC, as part of its rate-setting procedure, to
establish a target rate of return for the phone companies, the
companies could keep all profits for another percentage point, but
earnings in excess of 12.75% would be split evenly between customers
and the company.  Earnings exceeding a 16.75% return would be
refunded.  For phone customers, the refund would come as credits in
future bills.

   In a final phase of the regulatory revision to be completed next
year, the proposal calls for the commission to revise all telephone
rates to reflect the new system.  This "rate design" phase would
eliminate the bewildering array of credits and surcharges applied to
customers' bills.  At that time, the proposal recommends that the PUC
scrap a 20-year-old $1.20 monthly fee for "Touch tone" service and
also expand the local service area in which unlimited calls can be
made at no extra charge from 8 miles to 12 miles.

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #430
*****************************










Date:     Thu, 5 Oct 89 20:42:00 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest Special: Eat Crow!
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Thu, 5 Oct 89 20:35:25 CDT    Special: Eat Crow!

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Moderator Takes His Medicine Like a Man Child!! (Patrick A. Townson)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date:     Thu, 5 Oct 89 20:18:28 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject:  The Roar of the Crowd


Well.....

The messages excerpted below speak for themselves, I guess. There were
some additional messages marked 'not for publication', and they are not
included, but correspondents should be assured all have been read and
considered.

Regards the list which started this thread, if anyone wants it who cannot
aquire it through the suggested instructions, they should write to me
at '[e-mail]' -- NOT to the telecom address. I will send a
compressed copy unless you specify you have no way to uncompress it on
your end. If you prefer 'uuencode' and 'uudecode' instead, please specify
that method.

So here is the consensus --

             ====================
 From: [e-mail]

I second the motion. What R. E. Seastrom doesn't realize is that the
command "telnet foo 21" will do the same thing as "ftp foo". The
connection that is used in a FTP command is not compressed nor is it
load-reduced in any frame of mind. I want my FTP jobs to get done
FAST, I don't want to background them just because some twit wants to
play nethack on a machine across the country. This is more legitimate
than playing games.

Now, if the program could be offered compressed and uncompressed that
would be useful. The host table is currently compresed, however the
host port on the NIC.DDN.MIL machine that you can use (by telnet
nic.ddn.mil <portno>) to receive the host table is the same way and it
is definitely official business.

Saying that the Internet growth has to be slowed is a good idea, but
you pointed your gun at the wrong issue.

jsol
             ====================

 From: Will Martin <[e-mail]>

Well, anti-social or not, I've tried the given command from BOTH a Sys V
system (Unisys) and a BSD system (VAX) and all I get as a response is:

"telnet: connect: Connection timed out"

However, I must say that it DOES seem rather strange that the original
message quoted by the moderator says this:

>If you don't have tail or compress, just redirect the telnet output
>into a file.

That indicates the file is coming in uncompressed mode. What is the
purpose of them telling the requesters to feed it into compress and
end up with a compressed file, anyway? To use it you would have to
then uncompress it. That appears to be what Mr. Seastrom was pointing
out. Am I missing something here?

Regards, Will Martin

             ====================

 From: Paul Fuqua <[e-mail]>

The file does not travel compressed, it is compressed because you pipe
it through compress on your end.  Go telnet to 128.146.1.5, port 4666,
without the piping stuff, and see what shows up on your screen.

Since hpuxa does not provide anonymous FTP, I can see why they'd
choose this somewhat weird method of distribution, but maybe they'd be
better off talking to the CIS department --
osu-cis/tut.cis.ohio-state.edu provides both anonymous FTP and
anonymous UUCP.

Paul Fuqua                     [e-mail]
                               {smu,texsun,cs.utexas.edu,rice}!ti-csl!pf
Texas Instruments Computer Science Center
PO Box 655474 MS 238, Dallas, Texas 75265

             ====================

 From: Doug Faunt N6TQS 415-688-8269 <[e-mail]>

Err, Mr. Seastrom overreacted, but he's correct.  Using the script
given, the compression takes place at your machine, and the file is
transmitted uncompressed.  I suspect that Dan Bernstein has not got
official approval of what he's doing, which is why the strange method
of file transfer, and therefore an address at ohio-state, or nyu gives
him no standing from that.  Compressing the file before the transfer,
and using anonymous FTP is the standard way of doing this type of file
distribution.  A server, for both mail and telnet requests, is another
alternative.

You over-reacted also, and as moderator, it's part of your job to cool
flames, not fan them.
    respectfully, doug faunt <[e-mail]>

             ====================

 From: Frank Prindle <[e-mail]>

Patrick,

One small correction - the list is transmitted via telnet (TCP/IP
protocol) and is not transmitted as (and cannot be transmitted as) a
compressed file, because telnet protocol supports only text
transmissions.  The suffix .Z does indicate a compressed file (not .z,
but .Z), but the Unix command line given does the compression at the
receiving end (for what purpose, I'm not sure, since it is not too
much fun to search the file that way).

Also, any claim that this is a nearly complete list of internet users
is highly exaggerated.  It appears to be a compendium of registered
members of a small subset of Arpanet mailing lists, certainly not all,
and extremely far from a complete list of users; NADC.arpa alone has
over 1000 users capable of sending and receiving internet mail, and at
least 100 active in one or more mailing lists; the subject list
includes precisely 3 (curiously, I am one).

Several substantially larger and more organized lists exist: one, a
commercial venture called National E-Mail Registry includes all
commercial E-Mail systems in addition to
Arpanet/Milnet/UUCP/Bitnet/etc.....  Another is the "whois" database
maintained at SRI-NIC.arpa.  Both of these allow voluntary free
registration; the fact that they rely on individual manual
registration means that they still each cover only a minor subset of
the total population they are trying to list, but do list such things
as address, phone number, etc.

I realize that you were just relaying a bit of seemingly useful
information, and ended up caught in the middle of a controversy.  It
would have raised a lot less eyebrows if it just appeared as a
compressed file on some SIMTEL20 FTP database, and probably conserved
a lot of net resources too.  You might just pass this back to it's
creator.

             ====================

 From: Pat Stephenson <[e-mail]>

Patrick,

    First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the way in
which you run telecom digest.  I read it on Usenet; comp.dcom.telecom
is one of the best groups around.  Keep up the good work!

    However, I believe that you made a misstep today.  Mr Seastrom
pointed out two facts about Bernstein's methods of data transfer, and
drew the conclusion that Bernsteins method was *not a good thing*.  I
do *not* agree with Mr Seastroms conclusion.  His facts are, however,
correct.

Seastrom's two points were:

1) The data is *TRANSFERRED OVER THE NETWORK* UNCOMPRESSED.

2) The data is COMPRESSED *WHEN IT ARRIVES AT A RECEIVING SITE*
   (thus, overall, the compression is done many, many times instead of
    once)

Lets's look at Bernstein et al's command line:

>    telnet 128.146.1.5 4666 | tail +4 | compress > userlist.Z

1) the *only* data transfer command is "telnet".
2) the "tail" command will buffer the data as it arrives.
2) the "compress" command will compress the output of the tail
command.

Note that both "tail" and "compress" will run on the *local machine
only*.  Thus Seastrom's points of fact are correct - data is
transferred uncompressed, and compression takes place at every
receiver.

(In fact, one could get an uncompressed version of the data by saying:

    telnet 128.146.1.5 4666 | tail +4 > userlist

)

Again, I don't think these two points justify Seastrom's flame.  But,
as points of fact, they are true.

Patrick, I have the greatest regard for the way in which you run the
digest.  I think it is appropriate for you to keep up your high
standards by admitting when you are wrong, and apologizing to Mr
Seastrom.

Pat Stephenson.

             ====================

 From: David Albert <[e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(TELECOM Moderator) writes:

>What a laugh. Frankly, Mr. Seastrom, you don't know what you are talking
>about.

I'm afraid the laugh is on you, at least as far as the compression
argument is concerned.

>Please note also that contrary to the misguided information from the
>previous correspondent, the file *does come compressed*.

No it doesn't.  Reread the following instruction line, which have now
posted twice and emphasized once:

>  telnet 128.146.1.5 4666 | tail +4 | compress > userlist.Z

What this line does is, first, to transmit over the net the entire,
uncompressed file, and only *afterwards* to pipe it through "compress"
at the *recipient's* end, creating, to be sure, a file ending in ".Z".

>Mail any lengthy comments to this address. If you complain about the
                                            ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>operation of the list, make sure to suggest something better.
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Which is exactly what the previous poster did: he suggested that the
site decide offer anonymous ftp access, and that it compress the file
at its end.  His language may have been somewhat strong, but it was
not without at least some justification.

Please reread what you posted.

David Albert                  | "What are you trying to do,
UUCP: ...!harvard!albert          |   change the world?"
INTERNET: [e-mail]  | "No, just our little corner of it."

             ====================

 From: Andy Behrens <[e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> our Moderator writes:
  (stuff deleted)

Robert Seastrom is correct.
Patrick Townson is wrong.

The file *is* transmitted uncompressed.  If you follow the instructions
supplied by Ohio State

    telnet 128.146.1.5 4666 | tail +4 | compress > userlist.Z

You will transmit the uncompressed file (all 450K of it) to your own
machine, where it will be compressed and saved under the name
userlist.Z.  Compress is run at the receiving end to conserve disk
space; it has no effect on the way that the file is transmitted.
(There are apparently technical reasons why the ohio-state.edu machine
is unable to transmit compressed files in this case, but that's not
relevant here).

Snide remarks about "lessons for the elementary beginning student",
and "maybe RGS will go back and read it again" have little place in
this Digest, particularly when the statements being derogated are
correct.  If anyone else posted remarks like this to the Digest, I
would hope that the moderator would rebuke them.  As it is, I think
Patrick owes Robert Seastrom an apology.

             ====================

 From: Bill Fenner <[e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> you write:
|X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 426, message 2 of 8

      (stuff deleted)

Sorry, Patrick, RGS was right.  The list is not compressed as it is
sent.  If you look at that pipeline, | tail +4 removes the telnet
header, and | compress compresses the file locally.  To make sure, I
tried to telnet 128.146.1.5 4666 without any pipeline afterwards; it
was pure text.

|If you don't have tail or compress, just redirect the telnet output
|into a file.

Implying that it doesn't come compressed.  If you don't have compress,
you can't uncompress a compressed file.


    Bill

 Bitnet: [e-mail]     Bill Fenner          | aaaaaaaaa
 Internet: [e-mail]                          |            r
 UUCP: {gatech,rutgers}!psuvax1!psuhcx!wcf          |              g
 Fido: Sysop at 1:129/87 (814/238 9633) \hogbbs!wcf |                 h

             ====================

 From: "John R. Levine" <[e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> you write:

 (stuff deleted)

You know, it never hurts to be polite even when you're sure you're
right, because sometimes you're not.  This command line sucks the
uncompressed file over the net, throws away the first four lines which
are presumably headers, compresses it locally, and stores it in a
file.  You can't send compressed data through telnet because it's not
a transparent connection.  Blatting 900K of uncompressed data over the
chronically overloaded Internet is pretty antisocial; it's not hard to
find someone willing to make a compressed version available via FTP.
Or better, they could come up with a server that will string search
for a name and just return a short answer, like the NIC has.

Regards,
John Levine, [e-mail], {spdcc|ima|lotus}!esegue!johnl

             ====================

 From: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]> you write an
unfortunate retort to a complaint about a transfer of a large
uncompressed file.

The instructions are

>  telnet 128.146.1.5 4666 | tail +4 | compress > userlist.Z

>followed by a line of anything, terminated by a line feed (not carriage
>return). After a few minutes, depending on your network speed, telnet
>will finish and the compressed list will be in userlist.Z. If you

So far so good.

If you're going to be a unix pedant you should try to get it right.
The file doesn't "come compressed," and that's exactly why it has to
be piped through "compress," on the receiving host after transmission.
It ends up compressed because of that command (hence the .Z), but the
compression occurs on the local system, and it's pretty clear from the
instructions that the data gets sent along uncompressed.

>What a laugh. Frankly, Mr. Seastrom, you don't know what you are talking
>about.

Sigh.  Indeed?

Mr. Bernstein, would you consider revising the operation of special
port 4666 to allow for a compressed transmission?

[e-mail]

                   ===============================

Thanks very much to one and all who wrote; even those who requested that
they not be published. Sorry, Mr. Seastrom.

Issue 431 is in the hopper now. Watch for a couple Digests between now
and Friday morning.

Patrick Townson

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest Special: Eat Crow!
*****************************










Date:     Thu, 5 Oct 89 21:44:15 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #431
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Thu, 5 Oct 89 21:40:13 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 431

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Re: Telephone Cable "Rustling" in the Wild West :-) (Duke McMullan)
    Re: Telephone Cable "Rustling" in the Wild West :-) (Clayton Cramer)
    Re: Locatable Ringers (H. Shrikumar)
    Re: Phone Design for Humans (Ihor J. Kinal)
    Re: AT&T Blows Billing on Call To Shoup Salmon River Store (Judith Beall)
    Re: Long Distance Indicator (John Higdon)
    Re: Line Capture Device - RJ31X (John R. Levine)
    Re: NYTel Still On Strike and Vandalism (John Pimentel)
    Re: ANI Updates Wanted (Marvin Sirbu)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Duke McMullan n5gax <[e-mail]>
Date: Wed, 4 Oct 89 08:00:11 MDT
Subject: Re: Telephone Cable "Rustling" in the Wild West :-)
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM

In article <[e-mail]> kitty![e-mail].
net writes:
>    During the 1970's there was a particular problem with thefts of
>telephone cable in the southwestern U.S., especially Arizona, New Mexico
>and Texas.  The target was aerial lead-sheathed toll cable in remote
>areas of these states.  AT&T Long Lines was a particular victim.

There is a town called Las Vegas, located in northeastern New Mexico.
A few years back, when the price of copper was rising exponentially,
one of the phone people was driving out to do some routine
maintainence on some lines south of town. From up on a hill, he saw
four turkeys (human variety) in a pickup truck taking down the copper
lines on part of the local distribution net for that rural area.

He "phoned home" on the radio, and the Sheriff was dispatched. They
caught three of the four without difficulty, but the fourth had
disappeared. After a few minutes they found him hiding under the
truck.

I never heard what happened to those guys, but maybe I don't need to
know.

                    Phone home,
                        d

   "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." -- Mack the Knife
   Duke McMullan n5gax nss13429r phon505-255-4642 [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Clayton Cramer <optilink![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Telephone Cable "Rustling" in the Wild West :-)
Date: 4 Oct 89 16:47:49 GMT
Organization: Optilink Corporation, Petaluma, CA


In article <[e-mail]>, kitty![e-mail].
net (Larry Lippman) writes:

>     The modus operandi was for the perpetrators, under cover of
> darkness, to first cut the suspension strands and remove the lashing wire
> from a mile or so of cable, allowing the cable to drop to the ground.
> This portion of the act, being the most time-consuming, did not break
> electrical continuity and therefore set off any carrier loss-of-pilot
> alarms.  The next step was to cut one end, and then begin cutting the
> cable into lengths to be loaded into a truck.  With several perpetrators,
> a mile of cable could be cut up and loaded onto a truck LONG BEFORE anyone
> could localize the fault and dispatch a repair crew.

A similar problem, though with different motivations, bedeviled the
U.S. Army's telegraph lines in the same area in the 1870s and 1880s,
and led to the Army's experiments with heliographs.

Hostile Indians in the remote parts of the West would cut the Army's
telegraph lines.  At first, they would just cut the lines and let them
fall, but a down line was immediately obvious, and quickly repaired.
After a while, the Indians would cut the line, and use strips of
rawhide to hold the wire in place.  At first glance, it wasn't obvious
whether the Indians had cut the wire, or whether a broken wire had
been spliced by the Army.

Hence, the heliograph.

Clayton E. Cramer {pyramid,pixar,tekbspa}!optilink!cramer
"The tree of liberty must be watered periodically with the blood of tyrants
and patriots alike.  It is its natural manure." -- Thomas Jefferson
Disclaimer?  You must be kidding!  No company would hold opinions like mine!

------------------------------

From: "H.Shrikumar{[e-mail]}" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Locatable Ringers
Date: 4 Oct 89 21:14:27 GMT
Reply-To: "H.Shrikumar{[e-mail]}" <[e-mail]>
Organization: Nat'l Centre for S/w Tech. Bombay, now at Umass, Amherst


>In article <[e-mail]> Kenneth_R_Jongsma@
cup.portal.com writes:

>In a recent issue of the digest, someone mentioned that they wanted a
>phone that you could locate by the sound of its ring. .... We also
>all have the traditional AT&T 2500 telephones on our desks. Unfortunately,
>they are the new electronic ringer style [and all sound the same.]

Most ringers today give rather steady tones, which is what makes location
rather difficult. (By steady I mean not-much-swept-freqeuncy ).

Birds and animals in the wild use such noises to signal "DANGER, SCRAM"
So they are heard but they themselves cant be located easily. Now what
do the birds do when they want to say "I AM HERE !" .... they emit
a sweep of frequencies, or many chirps at different and steadily varying
pitch and loudness. That helps location.

Ergo - the solution to this problem in ergonomics !

( Comments Anyone ? )

  shrikumar ( [e-mail], [e-mail] )

Disclaimer: I know where I got this idea, ... in the wild !

------------------------------

From: Ihor J Kinal <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phone Design For Humans
Date: 4 Oct 89 19:38:27 GMT
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Dave Fiske) writes:

> We used to have this problem at home.  My father had a home office,
> with a separate line installed, and they could never tell whether it
> was the home or the office phone that was ringing.

> I managed to solve this problem for them, totally by accident.  I was
> rummaging through a bin of reduced-price clearance items in a
> Montgomery Ward store once, and found this little device which stifled
> your phone's normal ring, and instead played one of up to 8
> user-selectable tunes.

An unnecessarily hi-tech solution.  My family had the same problem
[my father is a Family Doctor - the office phone rang almost constantly].

The SIMPLE solution was to REMOVE the BELLs from the office phones.
They still made a whirr sound, instead of a noisy ring.  Much better,
and easily identifiable [plus easier to ignore at 3AM for the rest of
the family].  Note that this was technically illegal, since the phone
was telco property, but I presume that statute of limitations has
expired.

I also do the same for my bedroom phones - easier to ignore when I
don't want to answer the phone.  Unfotunately, my last phone expired
and the replacement has an electronic ringer, which I can only turn to
lo [still a bit annoying] or off [too quiet].

Ihor Kinal
<include standard disclaimers: I'm a software person, primarily>

P.S.  The other amusing thing was that for many years, the office and
home were NOT located in the same residence.  But my father still had
the office phone in both places.  I have no idea how much extra it
cost, but it was possible.  Some of the extensions needed to have
their ringers disabled, since the load was too high.

------------------------------

From: Judith Beall <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: AT&T Blows Billing on Call To Shoup Salmon River Store
Date: 5 Oct 89 07:59:07 GMT
Reply-To: Judith Beall <[e-mail]>
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
com (John R. Covert  28-Sep-1989 2142) writes:

>Well, the bill arrived, and AT&T blew it badly.
>I have the following entry on my bill for the period August 20-September 19:

>No. Date    Time           Place            Area-Number    *   Min:Sec  Amount
> 1  Aug 7   1000PM         EGYPT            208057121    R       5      8.27

>When I saw this, I knew no one had called Egypt from my phone, and I
>called AT&T to have the call taken off the bill.  The AT&T rep
>insisted that the "R" meant that the call had been direct dialled from
>my phone (not actually true; if I had been unable to dial for some
>reason it would have still been charged at the "R" rate).  I insisted
>that the call had not been placed from my phone and that there must be
>some sort of error.  I pointed out that I thought that it was strange
>that the call was outside the billing period and that it was at
>exactly 1000PM, indicating that there may have been some sort of
>manual ticketing involved.  AT&T agreed to take the call off the bill.
[some stuff deleted]
>Wanting to correct the problem and to prevent an AT&T security
>investigation of the supposed call to Egypt, I called AT&T again to
>explain what had actually happened and to offer to pay for the five
>minute call to Idaho.  The service rep I talked to really couldn't
>understand what I was talking about and told me that if AT&T had
>agreed to take the Egypt call off the bill, that was that, and I could
>have the call to Idaho for free.

I recently moved to a new apartment and had my phone lines installed,
and after the first month I finally got the bill. On it was a call billed
through AT&T <our LD company is MCI> reading something like this:

==================================
ITM Date   Time    Min    *    Place and Number Called       Charge
1   Aug16          20    ST    IRAQ     IQ   9641751130      40.83
==================================

In fact, this is exactly how it appears on the phone bill. Not only do
I not know anyone in Iraq, but our phone service was not installed
until August 23, and not even requested until Aug 22... <amazing, one
day! :-> > What does AT&T do about such things? Do I send this part of
the bill in and say "what's the deal?"  I thought maybe it was the
person who had service before us <we get collect calls at all hours
from all over the world for whoever used to have this number>, but
would it get reassigned that quickly? <213-737-xxxx> How does this
happen? I am a novice at this but am fascinated by the discussion, and
really am curious how something like this works.  And what happens
when I report it? What does AT&T do from there?

Being really curious,
Judy

------------------------------

From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Long Distance Indicator
Date: 5 Oct 89 16:45:11 GMT
Organization: Green Hills and Cows

In article <[e-mail]>, munnari!stcns3.stc.ozau!
[e-mail] (Dave Horsfall) writes:

> What?  You mean that you don't get a sort of blip-blip-blip on
> long-distance calls in USA?  I somehow assumed that was universal...

I wonder how many of the readers out there are really aware of the fact
that the itemized billing that we have in the US and Canada is somewhat
unusual in the world telephonic community. The usual system of billing
calls elsewhere is with "metering pulses". Each pulse is worth so much
money. On a local call, the pulses go by very slowly and on an
international call the pulses come rapid-fire.

As my sister in Japan once told me, the phone company just takes their
money out of your bank account every month. There is no call detail and
hence no billing disputes!

        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]      | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

From: "John R. Levine" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Line Capture Device - RJ31X
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Segue Software, Cambridge MA
Date: Wed, 4 Oct 89 02:39:51 GMT

An RJ-31 is a specially wired connector placed in series with the
phone line near where it enters the house, in front of all the other
phones.  You plug an 8-position miniature phone plug into it.  Four
wires are used: pins 5 and 4 are tip and ring from the phone company,
and pins 8 and 1 are tip and ring to the rest of the phones.  The
equipment you plug in, most often a burglar alarm, normally bridges 1
to 4 and 5 to 8, so the rest of the phones act normally.  When it
wants to make a call it can butt in, force a hangup, and do whatever
it wants.

There are little shorting bars in the RJ31 socket that bridge 1 to 4
and 5 to 8, so if you unplug the equipment the rest of your phones
work.

The best place for the RJ31 is inside the alarm control box where a
burglar can't unplug it easily, but they usually seem to be installed
near where the phone line enters the house.

Regards,

John R. Levine, Segue Software, POB 349, Cambridge MA 02238, [phone]
[e-mail], {ima|lotus}!esegue!johnl, [e-mail]
Massachusetts has 64 licensed drivers who are over 100 years old.  -The Globe

------------------------------

From: John Pimentel <frog![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: NYTel Still On Strike and Vandalism
Date: 5 Oct 89 21:32
Reply-To: John Pimentel <frog![e-mail]>
Organization: Charles River Data Systems, Framingham MA


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Roy Smith) writes:

>    Just in case you forgot that NYTel is still on strike and that
>vandalism is still going on, I heard on the radio a couple of days ago
[...]
>    Then again, maybe it had nothing to do with the strike --
>Metro North (Amtrack commuter service into Grand Central Terminal)
>reports continuing problems with people stealing the copper cables

Are you kidding? I an easier time believing that the boys on the line
are getting a "little" upset that they haven't won yet. After all, if
everyone in every company went on strike, because "we" didn't want to
pay our share of medical expenses, after agreeing to that very thing
the last time "we" went on strike, nothing would ever get done in this
country. As for the IBEW/CWA strike, well what will happen, is
probably the same thing that happened the last time, they will come
back accepting less than what they had when they went out. :-)

And as for the vandalism, as I said they are probably getting a "little"
upset and wish to invoke "public opinion".  Don't worry be happy :-)

Take care and have a good day.

John.

These are my soul opinions. If it's too hot in the kitchen, open a window.
As for the rest, standard disclaimer applies.  UUCP: frog!jp

------------------------------

Date: Thu,  5 Oct 89 13:09:59 -0400 (EDT)
From: Marvin Sirbu <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: ANI Updates Wanted

> [Moderator's Note: But unlike the telcos, AT&T provides the information
> for billing purposes.

AT&T provides caller identification over a Primary Rate Interface D
channel in real time as an ISDN service. (Although it does not exactly
conform to Q.931)  This is not the same as providing the information on
tape once a month for billing purposes.  The service is specifically
designed for telemarketing firms to be used to look up customer records.
It is CLI, not ANI.

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #431
*****************************











Date:     Fri, 6 Oct 89 22:38:19 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #432
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Fri, 6 Oct 89 22:35:03 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 432

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Phone Gimmicks Put Common Sense on Hold (TELECOM Moderator)
    Request for Long Distance Company Equal-Access Codes (Beezer)
    Oh No! Calling Line ID in PA (John Boteler)
    C&P CLASS, With Class! (John Boteler)
    SxS Payphones (Sam Ho)
    Refunds As Future Credits (Will Martin)
    Re: Another Cool Thing About GTE (Macy Hallock)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date:     Thu, 5 Oct 89 2:21:16 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Phone Gimmicks Put Common Sense on Hold

The following item appeared in Richard Roeper's column in the <Chicago
Sun Times>, Wednesday, October 4, 1989. I thought you might enjoy it.

           Phone Gimmicks Put Common Sense on Hold
           =======================================
              By Richard Roeper


"Hi kids, this is Jose Canseco of the Oakland A's. If you want to know
the true story about how fast I was driving when I got that ticket and
why I had a handgun in my car, call the Jose Canseco Hotline. Just
dial 1-900-xxx-xxxx...."  -- Television commercial

Maybe I'm preternaturally presumptuous, but something tells me that
when Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876, he did not
do it so youngsters could one day pay $1 a minute to hear a baseball
player's rationalizations for driving his Jaguar 125 m.p.h. and
keeping a loaded handgun in the car.

Nevertheless, the toll call industry is big business, with projected
revenues of $1.5 billion for 1989. There are more than 1000 of these
900 numbers, including --

+ The US Naval Observatory Master Clock
  "Eastern Time, 9 hours, 13 minutes, 45 seconds. Universal Time, 13
  hours, 13 minutes, 50 seconds."

+ New Kids on the Block Hotline
  "Hi, this is Donnie of the New Kids, and it's really cool to be able
  to talk to you again...."

+ Laugh Line
  "Did you hear about the ghost who could never lie to his wife? She
  could see right through him!"

+ True Romantic Confessions
  "My name is Corinne, and I'm a waitress in Reno. For a long time, I
  had this thing for my sister's boyfriend, and last week when she was
  out of town...."

Among my favorites are the Paula Abdul Hotline, Women's Private
Fantasies, Penn State Football Update, NBC Soapline and Telephone
Pals.

The first 900 number was established in 1980, but the concept did not
really take off until about 1986.

That's also about the time when the telephone took control of our
lives.

Until a few years ago, the phone was still a rather basic
communications device. You dialed a number; if someone answered you
were in business. If no one answered, it meant no one was home. If you
got a busy signal, it meant someone was already on the phone, so you
hung up and called back later.

Now there are more phone features and options than you would find in a
new car.

If you are expecting a call at home, but you have to go out, you can
forward your calls to another number. If you wish to take calls while
you are on the phone, there is call waiting. If you want to talk to
two parties at once, there's three way calling. If you want to place
calls from your car or your boat or your backyard or an airplane,
there are car phones and boat phones and cordless phones and airplane
phones. If you wear a beeper, you can be reached anywhere. If you wear
the Timely Beeper, which is a fake, self-activated beeping device, you
can pretend to receive an important call then cut out early on a
nightmare date or a disasterous business meeting.

As if all that was not enough, Illinois Bell is introducing several
new services to the Chicago area.

Repeat dialing allows you to dial the same number over and over again
for a 30 minute period. This would be a fun feature for the 'Fatal
Attraction' types who want to call ex-lovers AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN
AND AGAIN!!!!!

Call screening lets customers block calls from designated numbers.
This is an especially useful device if your ex-boyfriend is the kind
of guy who goes out on Friday night, pops down a dozen beers, comes
home at 3 AM, looks through the old photo album while listening to
'your song' and says to himself, "I've got a brilliant idea -- I'll
call her now and ramble incoherently, and she'll want me back for
sure!"

Automatic callback instructs your phone to call back the last incoming
call, whether it was answered or not. Say you're at home and you
receive an unsolicited sales call from some guy at 9 PM; wouldn't it
be fun to call the salesguy back and engage in some recreational
harassment of your own?

In addition to all these complications, on November 11, the suburbs
will switch to the new 708 area code. So for example, if you live in
Cicero and you want to call your buddy down the street at 63rd and
Pulaski, you'll have to dial 1-312 before his regular number.

Phone clutter knows no bounds. Toll-free numbers and toll-call numbers
and Dial 9 for an outside line and voice mail and designer phones and
credit card calls and designated ringing and Information, what city
please?  and TickeMaster phone jams and call identification.

Oh, for the days of basic black rotary dial phones and HUdson 3-2700!

There's only one person I know who still has the traditional dial
telephone -- my mother. I wanted to tell her how proud I am that she
has never given in to any of this phone gadgetry, so I gave her a
call.

And was instructed to leave my message after the beep.

             ====================

[Moderator's Note: For non-Chicagoans, 'HUdson 3-2700' was part of a
jingle which played night and day, it seems, on television and the
radio for a home improvement service. After telling about their services
in the late movie commercial slots, a man's voice would sing, 'Hudson
Three, Two Seven Hundred'.    PT]

------------------------------

From: Beezer <caeco!i-core![e-mail]>
Subject: Request For Long Distance Company Equal-Access Codes...
Organization: Bitsko's Bar & Grill, Public Access, Salt Lake City, UT
Date: Wed, 4 Oct 89 23:37:34 GMT

Hello,

    A few years ago, I saw a posting to the UseNet list- ing all
the 10xxx Long Distance Company Access Codes to ALL the companies in
the US.  It was something in the order of 8 pages - but unfortunately,
my hardcopy was accidentially trashed.  If someone could pull up their
lucky copy and post it, that would not only be great for me - but all.

    Just think, if you make a short call each time on a different
company, you could find the cheapest one with- in a few... oh, never
mind :).

Cordially,

       [e-mail]
    uunet!iconsys!caeco!i-core!beezer

[Moderator's Note: We get requests for this frequently. The most
updated copy of the list I know about is in the Telecom Archives file
at cs.bu.edu.  It can be obtained using ftp from there. From
correspondent's address, I assume he can't use ftp. Maybe someone will
send him a copy.  PT]

------------------------------

Subject: Oh No! Calling Line ID in PA.
Date: Thu, 5 Oct 89 1:57:05 EDT
From: John Boteler <csense![e-mail]>

Here we go again...

A judge in Pennsylvania has ruled that Calling LINE I.D. (not Calling
Face ID or Calling Person ID) is a violation of that state's wiretap
statute, which defines a wiretap as a "device which captures the
incoming electronic or other impulses which identify the originating
number of an instrument or device from which a wire or electronic
communication was transmitted."

The judge ordered that per-call blocking services be mandated, rather
than relying on the billing inserts describing the service and its
potential dangers to customers.

Technically, it has already been told on this circuit that per-call
blocking is available, so the question now is why Bell Atlantic feels
compelled to resist it. In any event, this is the outcome of what may
lead to other challenges to the offering of this service, noteworthy
when the Maryland and Virginia regions of Bell Atlantic are about to
have their respective switches turned on.

Bote
Old & Improved path!: uunet!comsea!csense!bote

New & Improved path!: {zardoz|uunet!tgate|cos!}ka3ovk!media!cyclops!csense!bote

------------------------------

Subject: C&P CLASS, With Class!
Date: Wed, 4 Oct 89 20:23:56 EDT
From: John Boteler <csense![e-mail]>

In reference to the ongoing discussion about certain government
agencies desiring anonymity in the age of Calling Line ID, it occurs
to me that Uncle Sam has more than a little pull with the local
operating company and that those lines requiring anonymity would be
granted it, no problem.

Further, as though this hasn't been hacked to death and back, the
ability to restrict display of a Calling Line ID is in the ISDN
specification; whether or not each BOC will implement it is another
question.

Bote
Old & Improved path!: uunet!comsea!csense!bote
New & Improved path!: {zardoz|uunet!tgate|cos!}ka3ovk!media!cyclops!csense!bote

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 5 Oct 89 11:44:07 PDT
From: Sam Ho <[e-mail]>
Subject: SxS payphones


I was at a conference near Monticello, Illinois (20 miles west of
Champaign and about 150 miles south of [Telecom Headquarters]).  The
pay phone there (Allerton House) was of the post-pay variety.  I
assume it was on a SxS switch, since when I tone-dialed 0-NPA-NNX-XXXX
I got an extended length of silence, with faint clicking as it pulsed
out the digits, followed by clunk! Bong! A T and T.  (As a side note,
it apparently still uses the cry-baby style of not-a-number signal,
too.)

The oddity is that there was a typed sticker noting that to use other
long distance carriers, dial the 6-digit access code or 0+10 digits,
and advise the operator of the handling.  I've never heard of 6-digit
access codes, and trying to dial 102220 got me a reorder before I
finished.  Dialing 950-1022 gets a reorder, too.

Besides, I've never heard of Equal Access on a SxS switch.  My best
guess (I didn't try it out) is that since I think post-pay phones work
by cutting the outbound audio until either the totalizer signals
payment or a zero is dialed, maybe the zero bounces the call out to a
tandem, so that 0-10xxx reaches other carriers.  Or maybe it's just
dial 0-NPA-NNX-XXX, wait for the operator, and say "Use MCI, please."

Any thoughts?  Incidentally, I think this is not an IBT area, since
the phone was an AE device.  Champaign itself is IBT, though.

Sam Ho
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date:     Thu, 5 Oct 89 14:37:21 CDT
From: Will Martin <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Refunds as Future Credits

This line was in the California PUC article:

>For phone customers, the refund would come as credits in future bills.

This same tactic has been used locally (St. Louis, MO -- SW Bell
territory) to credit previous overcharges. I find it annoying and
offensive. It deliberately discriminates against people whose
telephone service terminates or changes frequently due to moves.

For example, there was one such credit about two years or so ago,
that was spread out over a period of many months (or maybe a year),
with one quarter of the credit applied and then one or two months
went by with no credit, and then the next installment of the credit
was applied.

We lost a portion of this credit because this period extended past the
time when we terminated the phone service at my mother's house after
she died. She had had this phone service at that address for 35 years or
so, and certainly was entitled to the entire amount of credit. But her
account only got a portion of the credit she was due.

PUC's and the equivalent should require that this credit be issued in
a lump sum, not spread out over some long period. Actually, since the
telco required the bills be paid in cash, the return of overcharges
should be a refund check, not just a credit. The telco wouldn't accept
a credit for goods or services from you in lieu of cash as payment of
a phone bill, would it? Yet it expects to pay *you* back that way!

If it REALLY would be a hardship for the telco to pay back cash (their
upper management would have to eat lower-grade caviar in the executive
dining room for a couple weeks... :-), then it should be issued as a
transferable credit voucher, in one single total payment. Thus it
could be used as payment for the recipient's phone bill, or, if they
no longer had phone service, could be given to someone else (or sold)
who could use it on *their* phone bill. In any case, the credit should
be issued to everybody who paid the overcharge, even if they moved out
of the area or terminated their phone service in the meantime.

Will Martin

------------------------------

From: fmsystm![e-mail]
Date: Thu Oct  5 10:18:52 1989
Subject: Re: Another Cool Thing About GTE
Organization: F M Systems  Medina, Ohio USA

In article <[e-mail]> you write:

>GTE used to install modular jacks wired so that the polarity would be
>the opposite of what was standard in Bell areas.

I used to work for GTE Ohio (something I seldom admit in public).

They have never paid much attention to line polarity.  All the 80 sets
they used to rent/sell had polarity guards.  They did not teach
polarity in their training classes, except for PBX's and data circuits
(which are normally done by a special class of installer, anyway)

We have to instruct GTE to straighten out the polarity on their
interface jacks to the phone systems we install.  And we have to call
them back regularly to fix lines they've flopped in routine repairs.
We never, ever have this problem with Ohio Bell.

       Macy Hallock               fmsystm![e-mail]
       F M Systems, Inc.          hal!ncoast!fmsystm!macy
       150 Highland Dr.           uunet!hal.cwru.edu!ncoast!fmsystm!macy
       Medina, OH 44256           Voice: 216-723-3000 X251
       Disclaimer:                My advice is worth what you paid for it.
       Alt.disclaimer:            Your milage may vary.
       Biz.disclaimer:            My opinions are my own. What do I know?


------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #432
*****************************










Date:     Fri, 6 Oct 89 23:38:08 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #433
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Fri, 6 Oct 89 23:30:15 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 433

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    New Acquisition for Rochester Telephone (C. E. Reid)
    Re: NPA Splits Before 1965 (Stan M. Krieger)
    Re: NPA Splits Before 1965 (Vernon C. Hoxie)
    Re: California Junk Fax Bill (John Higdon)
    Re: AT&T Blows Billing on Call (David W. Tamkin)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, 6 Oct 89 15:45 EDT
From: "C. E. Reid" <[e-mail]>
Subject: New Acquisition for Rochester Telephone

[Reprinted without permission from Democrat and Chronicle, a Gannett Rochester
Newspapers, Rochester, New York, Wednesday, October 4, 1989, page 10D]

           ROCHESTER TEL BUYING 4TH PHONE COMPANY IN WISCONSIN
              Local firm planning to speed up acquisitions

                By Phil Ebersole, Democrat and Chronicle

         Rochester Telephone Corp. executives, announcing their 11th
    telephone company acquisition so far this year, told financial
    analysts yesterday they expect the pace of acquisitions to
    accelerate.

         Their latest acquisitions, St. Croix Telephone Co., serving 5,300
    access lines in northwest Wisconsin, will be Rochester Tel's
    fourth acquisitions in Wisconsin, its 13th in the Midwest and its
    22nd overall.

         John K. Purcell, a Rochester Tel vice president in charge of
    acquisitions, hinted that Rochester Tel soon may make its first
    acquisition west of the Mississippi River.

         Minnesota, for example, would be a happy hunting ground from
    Rochester Tel's point of view.

         Companies with fewer than 15,000 access lines, the kind of small
    company Rochester Tel likes to buy, can increase rates up to 10
    percent a year, within certain financial limits, without review by
    Minnesota regulators.

         Purcell said he visits 95 to 100 telephone companies a year.  In
    all, there are 483 independent telephone companies in the United
    States serving more than 1,000 access lines.

         Fred R. Pestorius, vice president of finance, said Rochester Tel
    plans to speed up its pace of acquisitions.  Other parts of its
    strategy are to use technology to add new services and to expand
    unregulated businesses, such as the RCI Corp. long distance
    service, to achieve economies of scale.

         Small rural companies generally enjoy faster revenue and profit
    growth than Rochester Tel's core six-county service area around
    Rochester.

         Alan C. Hasselwander, president and chief executive officer, said
    that's because New York regulators require Rochester Tel to
    subsidize small rural telephone companies elsewhere in the state,
    mainly through the way long-distance revenue is shared.  By his
    calculations, those subsidies are equal to $2 a month for every
    access line.

         Small rural companies, on the other hand, receive subsidies, said
    David Mitchell, executive vice president of Rochester Tel's
    Telephone Group.  The logical conclusion, which he didn't draw
    explicitly, is that it makes sense for Rochester Tel to get on the
    receiving end.

         Rochester Tel also has a goal of having one-third of its access
    lines outside New York state so as not to be dependent on one
    state's regulators.  Currently, about 15 percent of its access
    lines are outside the state.

         Other companies -- notably Century Telephone Enterprises of
    Monroe, La., and Telephone & Data Systems Inc. of Chicago -- also
    are buying small telephone companies.

         Mitchel said Rochester Tel won't outbid its rivals by paying more
    than a company seems to be worth.  But Purcell said it has an
    advantage in its record of allowing its subsidiaries to continue
    to maintain their own separate identities.

         He also said Rochester Tel doesn't rule out buying larger
    companies, but so far none has been offered for sale.

         The St. Croix acquisition will include New Richmond Cable, a cable
    television company with about 1,200 customers.  It will be
    Rochester Tel's second rural cable television company, along with
    one in Indiana.

         "In our judgment, cable TV is a natural adjunct of the telephone
    business, offering great growth potential," Mitchell said.
    Federal law bars telephone companies from the cable TV business in
    all but the smallest rural communities.

         Hasselwander said there's a good chance the law will be changed
    and he'd like to enter the cable business in a few years, after
    completion of Rochester Tel's fiber optics network, which could
    carry many channels of TV signals.

         On Monday, Rochester Tel warned that profits for the second half
    of 1989 will be less than in 1988.  The stock price, which had
    gone up from $26.625 a share (adjusted for 2-for-1 split) to
    $44.875 on Friday, fell $2.50 a share on the news.  Yesterday it
    closed at $43.375, up $1.


------------------------------

From: S M Krieger <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: NPA Splits Before 1965
Date: 5 Oct 89 14:09:10 GMT
Organization: Summit NJ


> Here's a list of the affected states which obviously had only one code (with
> a zero in it, still serving the major city) at one time:

> New Jersey  201  (609)

> Additional ammunition:  telephone directories in New Jersey have listings in
> them of every prefix in the state, grouped by area code.  (Wish every state
> did this.)  In each list, a mark referring you to a footnote appears next to
> any central office code which is duplicated in both 201 and 609 areas.  Why?

> Allow me to speculate:  Because at one time New Jersey must have had only one
> area code with no prefix duplications.  609 was added early on with the
> knowledge that the state would outgrow 201 before DDD was widely implemented.
> Even though the state now had two area codes, there were still no prefix
> duplications and it was likely that 7-digit dialing applied statewide. (To my
> knowledge, New Jersey *never* had 1 + 7 digit dialing for intra-NPA toll
> calls.)  Eventually, as the concept of area codes caught on, New Jerseyites
> were required to dial 10 digits to reach people in the 'other' area of their
> state.  (This does not apply universally in NJ, however.  There is some
> code conservation with 7 digit calls across the border allowed.)

Here is what I remember, from memory, about 201 and 609.

Direct Distance Dialing came to Atlantic City in 1961.  Prior to DDD,
there were five central offices serving Atlantic City (ATlantic City
2,3,4,5, and 6) and one serving Brigantine (COlonial 6).  All calls
within these areas were made by dialing just the 5 digit number.  LD
calls were placed by the operator.  (Two things- obviously at the
time, there could be no duplication of numbers between the AT 6 and CO
6 exchanges; also at the time, the area served by AT 2 and AT 3;
specifically, that portion of Atlantic City south of where U.S. 40
ends, as well as the cities of Ventnor, Margate, and Longport, was
still developing; the only AT 3 numbers assigned were those of the
form AT3-1nnn).

When DDD came in 1961, and 7 digit dialing implemented, the AT 2 and 3
exchanges became 822 and 823, the AT 4, 5, and 6 exchanges became 344,
345, and 348, and the CO 6 exchange became 266.  Now, several other
things-

    1.  Although the area code instructions showed a national
        map, included the 201/609 split, we were told that no
        area code was required for any call within NJ; I guess
        this meant that 609 was being opened for future expansion.
        I think it was around 1963 that NJ Bell told us we would
        need to use the 201 area code for northern NJ.  (And
        confirming the speculation in the original article,
        the stories about the pending 201/908 split mentioned
        that originally 201 was the area code for the entire
        state.)

    2.  I guess the SXS office was retained for local calls, so
        any toll call out of Atlantic City required us to dial
        a 1 before the number.  Thus all calls to another area
        code had to be preceeded by a "1", and all calls within
        609 not to Atlantic City, Brigantine, Pleasantville,
        Somers Point, or Ocean City had to be preceeded by a "1"
        (and then the 7 digits).  This 1+ requirement for all
        toll calls was deleted a number of years later; I don't
        know exactly when because my family moved out of the
        Atlantic City area in 1964.

    3.  I don't know if the billing system was in place at the
        time DDD came, because whenever we made a toll call, an
        operator would first come on and ask what number we were
        calling from.  I think this lasted about a year.

I also remember as southern NJ was being cut over to DDD, there was a
mention that dialing instructions for calls from certain border areas
to Philadelphia had changed.  I think from places like Camden, to call
Philadelphia, all one had to do was dial 11 and then the Philadelphia
7 digit number.  When DDD, they had to dial 1 (215) (or maybe just
(215)) like the rest of us.

The listing of central office and locality in NJ phone books is pretty
old.  I don't know though why they flag duplicate central office
codes; it's not like we don't need an area code if the code is unique
to 201 or 609.

Stan Krieger
Summit, NJ
 ...!att!attunix!smk

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 6 Oct 89 07:52:29 MDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: NPA Splits Before 1965

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail].
com (Greg Monti) writes:

> I thought that, when Area Codes were 'invented' in 1946 (not 'implemented,'
> just 'invented'), the system was as follows:

> - States small enough to require only one area code got a zero as the center
> digit, with the other digits depending on population density or urbanization
> (higher numbers to more rural states).  The most urban, New Jersey, got the
> lowest number of this series, 201.  DC got 202.

> - States big enough to require more than one area code at the outset got all
> codes with a 1 as the center digit.  The outer digits were assigned in the
> same general way as described above.  New York got 212, the second and third
> most populous cities got 213 and 312, other big cities got 214, 412, 215,
> etc.

My father was Dial Traffic Engineer here in Denver when DDD was first
announced.  He explained that areas codes were assigned on the basis
of incoming long distance traffic to the area.  The areas having the
most traffic at the time were New York City ( 212 ) and Los Angeles
( 213 ) even though they were a continent apart.

These numbers were selected because they were the easiest to dial on a
rotary dial.  I'm not sure where the break point was in deciding
whether a center digit of zero was easier to dial than one with larger
end digits and a one in the center.  Obviously 202 was easier that
919.  Maybe just add up the digits and you get a list with N1N and
N0N's scrambled in the mid region?

Vernon C. Hoxie               {ncar,nbires,boulder,isis}!scicom!zebra!vern
3975 W. 29th Ave.                    voice: 303-477-1780
Denver, Colo., 80212                  TB+     uucp: 303-455-2670


------------------------------

From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: California Junk Fax Bill
Date: 6 Oct 89 03:25:52 GMT
Organization: Green Hills and Cows


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail].
boston.ma.us (John R. Levine) writes:

> The story about junk fax and the Connecticut governor is true, and was
> widely reported in the press when it happened.  Keep those junk faxes
> going to your elected representatives, folks.

I don't understand. Are you a supporter of junk fax? That would seem
to be the inferrence from your encouragement towards that activity.
But if you support junk fax, it would seem counterproductive to harass
legislators who might become irritated enough to strike back.

If you support legislation against junk fax, then I would assume that
our elected representatives are already aware of the problem, their
fax machines being overrun with unsolicited advertisements.

What I'm trying to say is that either there is a problem or there
isn't. If there is, you don't need to create a situation with faxing
campaigns. If there isn't, then those who are so concerned with junk
fax need to get a life and move on.

        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]      | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 6 Oct 89 12:02:15 CDT
From: "David W. Tamkin" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: AT&T Blows Billing on Call
Judith Beall wrote in TELECOM Digest, Volume 9, Issue 431:

| I recently moved to a new apartment and had my phone lines installed,
| and after the first month I finally got the bill. On it was a call billed
| through AT&T <our LD company is MCI> reading something like this:
|
| ==================================
| ITM Date   Time    Min    *    Place and Number Called       Charge
| 1   Aug16          20    ST    IRAQ     IQ   9641751130      40.83
| ==================================
|
| In fact, this is exactly how it appears on the phone bill. Not only do
| I not know anyone in Iraq, but our phone service was not installed
| until August 23, and not even requested until Aug 22.

This smells like some game-playing by a telephone company employee.  It
happened to me on my old number: two calling-card charges for calls
between two Chicago suburbs I hadn't been in for over two years, and I
had never even had an Illinois Bell calling card issued!  Sometimes
people just expect you to pay the bill without reading it or to dispute
the charge and let the provider eat it.  The AT&T page of your phone
bill should give a number to call for billing problems; they'll likely
remove the charge.  It wouldn't hurt to notify your local company as
well so that they know why your payment is short by $40.83 plus tax.
[I'm assuming that AT&T billed you through your local company.]

Perhaps Patrick Townson will share the story of telco employee fraud
that he told me the night of the Hinsdale fire.


David Tamkin  P.O Box 813  Rosemont, Illinois 60018-0813 |      BIX: dattier
[e-mail]  [phone] [phone] | GEnie: D.W.TAMKIN
Everyone on Chinet has his or her own opinion about this.|   CIS: 73720,1570

[Moderator's Note: Perhaps I will tell about the time a telco employee
defrauded me of several hundred local calling units. But I suspect what
the writer was discussing here was either customer fraud (there is a huge
amount on calls to/from Iran, Iraq and Nigeria), or it was a charge delayed
in billing somehow. I note her bill did not give a time -- just a date.
It may have belonged to the person who had the number before her, and it
could have been August 16, *1988* if it somehow fell out in billing and
spent the last year in adjustments or a suspense account pending investigation
and chargeback to the Iranian telephone administration, etc; then they
charged it back to AT&T with 'corrected' information, etc.  I'm sure if
she calls AT&T they will write it off.  I once got billed eight months
after the fact on a collect call I accepted from a little rural telco.  PT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #433
*****************************










Date:     Sat, 7 Oct 89 0:36:39 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #434
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sat, 7 Oct 89 00:35:34 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 434

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Western Electric 3A and 4A Speakerphones (Larry Lippman)
    Technical Question about Caller ID (Kent Hauser)
    SPRINT Down, and AT&T Overloaded (Doug Faunt)
    Ownership of Touch-Tone Trademark (David A. Cantor)
    Another Name For Differing Ring Patterns (David A. Cantor)
    7 khz Technology For ISDN (Colin Byers)
    Re: Locatable Ringers and More About 2500 Sets (Macy Hallock)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Western Electric 3A and 4A Speakerphones
Date: 5 Oct 89 23:52:39 EDT (Thu)
From: Larry Lippman <kitty![e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Louis J. Judice) writes:

> This discussion reminds me: Is there any source out there for buying
> a genuine new or used AT&T (WE) speakerphone Model 200?
> These are the three piece units (Phone, mike and speaker) with a zillion
> wires and cables protruding outwards.

    I don't know what a "Model 200" is, but from your description,
might you be referring to the WECO 3A speakerphone or WECO 4A
speakerphone?

    The WECO 3A speakerphone for standalone use consists of a
666-type transmitter unit with on/off switch and volume control, a
760-type loudspeaker unit, a 55-type control unit, and a 2012B
transformer.  This speakerphone could be used with any single or
multi-line telephone set that could be wired for A-lead control
(actually, the A-lead control could be eliminated, although this was
not a standard Bell System wiring option).  There were other options
for this speakerphone system in which the transmitter could be
incorporated within a Call Director or panel-type telephone set.  The
WECO 3A speakerphone used discrete transistor circuitry and was
designed in 1960 and introduced around 1962.  As far as I know, only
WECO and Northern Electric (Telecom) manufactured the 3A-type
speakerphone.

    The WECO 4A speakerphone consists of a 680-type transmitter, a
108-type loudspeaker, an interconnecting block, and a 85-type
transformer.  The amplifier and control unit was built into the
108-type loudspeaker.  The WECO 4A speakerphone used integrated
circuits and was introduced around 1974.  As far as I know, the 4A
speakerphone was manufactured by WECO and another firm, Precision
Components Inc., who marketed the product as the PC-4A Speakerphone.

    Both of the above speakerphones employed amplified hybrids
with voice-switched gain to minimize feedback.  The complete concept
of a switched-gain speakerphone is difficult to explain in this forum,
but suffice it to say that the transmit and receive sides of the
hybrid each have switchable gain which is adjusted so that the channel
having the stronger signal has the higher gain.  The result is that
undesirable echo and singing is virtually eliminated.  In addition,
there is a compensation circuit for ambient room noise referred to as
a NOGAD, Noise-Operated Gain Adjusting Device.  The 3A-type
speakerphone was the the epitome of clever discrete component design;
as an example, the gain control was effected by a special silicon
varistor bridge circuit called a "variolosser", whose effective
insertion loss was controlled by a DC bias voltage.

    The 4A speakerphone was a more compact, improved version of
the 3A speakerphone which looked a bit more "state of the art", but
its operating principle was pretty much the same as its predecessor.

    While the 3A speakerphone is hardly state of the art, it does
not sound too bad as long as one follows certain rules - like keeping
the transmitter at least 30 inches away from the loudspeaker.  The
55-type control unit in the 3A speakerphone is especially versatile,
and I have modified them to do all sorts of things over the years
using non-WECO transmitters and loudspeakers.  I have utilized the
55-type control unit as the heart of various door-answering and other
types of handsfree intercom systems.

> I've had these units in my office, along with newer AT&T (System 75/85
> compatible sets), and I don't think anything has ever rivaled their
> quality or durability. Fortunately I have one in my office now, but
> I'd like to get one for my home office.

    I agree!

    I still have 3A speakerphones in my house and in my office at
one of our facilities.  I think they still sound great, and may even
sound better than the fancy Northern Telecom SL-1 electronic handsfree
telephone in my office at another facility location.

    I don't know where you can obtain any of the above
speakerphones, but they do appear surplus from time to time.  While I
don't care to part with any extra units that I have, I would be
willing to furnish the complete schematics and technical data should
you manage to obtain one.

<> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. - Uniquex Corp. - Viatran Corp.
<> UUCP  {allegra|boulder|decvax|rutgers|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry
<> TEL [phone] | 716/773-1700  {hplabs|utzoo|uunet}!/      \uniquex!larry
<> FAX [phone] | 716/773-2488      "Have you hugged your cat today?"

------------------------------

From: Kent Hauser <tfd![e-mail]>
Subject: Technical Question About Caller ID
Date: 6 Oct 89 04:08:32 GMT
Organization: Twenty-First Designs, Wash, DC

How is the calling number transmitted under Caller ID?  All I can find
in my `Notes' is a comment that says it's on the subscriber pair.  Any
help (and the appropriate bellcore pub number) would be appreciated.


Kent Hauser            UUCP: {uunet!cucstud, sun!sundc}!tfd!kent
Twenty-First Designs        INET: sundc!tfd![e-mail]


------------------------------

Date: Fri, 6 Oct 89 09:19:01 -0700
From: Doug Faunt N6TQS 415-688-8269 <[e-mail]>
Subject: SPRINT Down, and AT&T Overloaded

As I sit here, it appears that SPRINT is down, at least locally, and
AT&T doesn't have enough capacity to handle the overflow.  This is
Menlo Park, California, 415-326.

[Moderator's Note: If you find out why, or some details of the
problem, please send a report here. Thanks.  PT]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 6 Oct 89 13:19:01 -0700
From: "David A. Cantor  06-Oct-1989 1609" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Ownership of Touch-Tone Trademark

There was discussion in the recent past about the status of the
trademark Touch-Tone.  Several people alleged that it was no longer a
trademark.

My most recent telephone bill from New England Telephone shows the
registered trademark symbol (a capital R in a circle) immediately
after the word Touch-Tone.  There isn't anything on the bill which
indicates whose registered trademark it is, though.

Dave C.

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 6 Oct 89 13:27:59 -0700
From: "David A. Cantor  06-Oct-1989 1618" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Another Name For Differing Ring Patterns

I am in the process of arranging to have my telephone service
transferred to a new apartment.  I currently have two phone lines and
intend to have two phone lines at the new location, but alas New
England Telephone can only connect one of them initially because, even
though my new apartment is wired correctly for two-line service, only
one of those lines is connected to the CO at present.  I will have to
wait until the strike is over before I can get my second line.

So I inquired whether I could get two different numbers which rang to
the same line with distinctive ring patterns.  The service rep checked
with her supervisor and informed me that yes, such a service does
exist, it was made available in the area into which I'm moving just 3
days prior to the strike, but they hadn't enabled it yet, so it won't
really be available until the strike is over.  It is called "Ring
Mate" in this area.

Dave C.

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 06 Oct 89 14:41:05 CDT
From: Colin Byers <[e-mail]>
Subject: 7 khz Technology for ISDN

I have been reading in the Sept 25, 1989 Communications Week on page
74 about the latest sound improvement for ISDN from AT&T.

My questions are:

1) How does making a 7khz signal improve the sound quality ?
   (I know about bandwidth but thought someone could go into
    more depth than the article covered...)

2) Why is getting a switched 56-kbps line so expensive relative to
   say a 64-kbps line?

3) What difficulties are preventing Bell from implementing this?

Thanks again,

Colin
Acknowledge-To: <CB06049@UAFSYSB>

------------------------------

From: fmsystm![e-mail]
Date: Thu Oct  5 18:07:36 1989
Subject: Re: Locatable Ringers and More About 2500 Sets
Organization: F M Systems  Medina, Ohio USA

In article <[e-mail]> lots of people wrote:

>In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail].
>boston.ma.us (John R. Levine) writes:
> ...
>> ROLM phones have for years had the option to set the ringing sound to
>> any of eight different warbles ranging from high and squeaky to fairly

>On mechanical ringers (in 500 or 2500 equipment) two rings can be
>made by swapping the left gong in one tel set with the right gong in
>the other.

>[Moderator's Note: The way we fixed this problem in our office (we use all
>2500 sets, several years old) was to open the case on each phone, get inside
>and adjust the clappers so they produced different results every third or
>fourth phone. The phones sit maybe 10-15 feet apart from each other. One
>of three or four will just go 'click-click-click', another makes a very
>feeble ring, still another has a good hearty ring, etc.

There were several different gong types made by WECO and
Stromberg-Carlson for this purpose.  The installer would intentionally
swap out one of the standard gongs on each instrument in a large
office full of 500/2500 sets this would make all the sets give a
distinctive sounding ring.  As far as I can tell, these special gongs
disappeared from the catalogs about the same time as the advent of
modular jack/cords on phones.  They worked well, but certain
combinations of gongs made for some really odd sounding ringers.

Today, in our interconnect co., we still install 2500 sets with
conventional mechanical ringers. (We use Premier 2500, but Comdial's
and Cortelco's are OK, too) We tell our customers that the 2500 is
still the most durable and reliable telephone instrument we know of.
Dumb, but dependable (a lot like Centrex, i guess ;-) )

I do not like the electronic ringers. It appears that some people with
certain types of hearing loss have trouble hearing the ring of these
as well.

We often use 2500 models with "TAP" (controlled timed on-hook flash)
buttons and message waiting lites.  The light acts as a visual ring
indication, as well as providing message waiting indication on PBX's
with the feature. The TAP or flash button makes transfers easy and the
hookswitch is timed to provide a postive disconnect.  These enhanced
sets are known by different nomenclatures depending on the mfr., but
we call them 2507's or MW/TAP sets (for message wait/TAP).  They make
single line operation behind PBX's and Centrex much easier for most
users.

We adjust the ringers by:

    1. Swap ringer gongs.  Try swapping between sets for effect.
           The right and left gongs have different tones.  Try a set
           with two left gongs, for instance.

    2. Adjust ringer normal springs and gongs.  The gongs are not
           center drilled, but are instead intentionally drilled off
           center to allow adjustment.  Rotate them slightly while the
           phone is ringing for effect.

    3. Use black electrical tape along the rims of the gongs to adjust
           tone and persistence of the gongs.  You get a different sound
           depending on where the tape is placed, and how long a piece
           you use.  (Note: REAL telephone men use gray electrical tape,
           not black!)

If you like 2500 sets, the very best were made in the late 70's and
early 80's by WECO, ITT and Stromberg-Carlson.  They had:

    1. Metal ringer frames
    2. Heavy metal baseplates. (Made by Led Zepplin?)
    3. The newer electronic bubble-feel type touch tone
           pads (no mechanical arms inside)
       (this is the most common item to fail on a 2500 set.
           the older pads failed much more often.)
    4. Polarity guards.
    5. Some were fully modular corded, but many were quarter mod.

Note that all 2500 sets by the standard mfr.'s are date stamped on the
bottom.  I buy used sets meeting the above specs often at Hamfests and
from brokers.  They are worth putting new plastic on.  They will often
outlast some of the newer sets.  Since the mfr.'s of decent 2500 sets
have all recently increased their warranty period to five years, the
quality has bounced back a bit, though.

Gee, I could be excommunicated from the Secret Society of Telephone
Installers for divulging these secrets!

BTW: Neon lights are indeed an excellent visual ring indication.  Try
using lights set up for standard 110VAC, often prepackaged in a
cartridge with pigtail lead.  This is what we use to retrofit message
waiting lights on standard 2500 sets.

Boy, I'm really in trouble with the SSTI now!

       Macy Hallock               fmsystm![e-mail]
       F M Systems, Inc.          hal!ncoast!fmsystm!macy
       150 Highland Dr.           uunet!hal.cwru.edu!ncoast!fmsystm!macy
       Medina, OH 44256           Voice: 216-723-3000 X251
       Disclaimer:                My advice is worth what you paid for it.
       Alt.disclaimer:            Your milage may vary.
       Biz.disclaimer:            My opinions are my own. What do I know?

Inside telephone joke:
Sounds made by Japanese crossbar switch: crick,crick, crick,crick
(and when the phone gets generator:)    ling,ling, ling,ling !
Hey, it was funny when I went to WECO No.5 Xbar school!

[Moderator's Note: In my office, I have a Comdial 2500 phone with a TAP
button. It's a great help with call-waiting, etc.  PT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #434
*****************************










Date:     Sun, 8 Oct 89 20:40:29 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #435
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sun, 8 Oct 89 20:40:27 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 435

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Telecommunications in Belgium - Part 2 (Alain Fontaine)
    A Problem of False 911 Calls (Larry Lippman)
    What Happens When a Phone Hangs Up? (Clive Dawson)
    More Comments on Busy Line Verification Facilities (Larry Lippman)
    Phone Design For Appearances (Debra Hisle)
    Caller ID (Sten Peeters)
    Home Office Telephone Question (Roger Rock Rosner)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, 06 Oct 89 15:54:26 +0100
From: "Alain FONTAINE (Postmaster - NAD)" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Telecommunications in Belgium - Part 2 - Numbering and dialing

Belgium  is  a  small  but   heavily  populated  country  :  about  10e7
inhabitants for about 30000 square kilometers. The country is divided in
40  zones only.  Each  zone number  starts  with a  zero,  which may  be
considered as an access code (international is double zero).

Zone numbers include  either two or three digits,  including the leading
zero. The  following numbers are currently  in use : 010->016,  019, 02,
03, 041, 050->059, 060->069, 071, 080->087,  091. The two zones with two
digits are big zones, and numbers inside them have seven digits (spelled
xxx.xx.xx) ; the other zones are  smaller, and numbers there only have 6
digits (spelled  xx.xx.xx). There is  thus room  for n *  10e8 different
numbers (where n  is < 1, maybe  in the 0.7->0.9 range).  Zones 041, 071
and 091  are centered  on big  towns, and  could potentially  become big
ones some  day.    I suppose this  is the reason  why the  other numbers
starting with 04, 07  and 09 have not been used.  A pseudo-zone, 017, is
used to  access the cellular phone  system, which by the  way is unified
between Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg.

Special services, including various  specialized operators, DA, etc have
numbers starting  with a '1', and  are always dialed locally.  There are
the '100' and '101' national emergency numbers (resp. fire/ambulance and
police). All others  have 4 digits. For most services,  the second digit
is '2'  or '3',  depending on the  language you wish  to use  (French or
Dutch).

'Green numbers' (aka 800 for  you North Americans) start with either 11,
15 or 17, and  have six digits. They are always  dialed locally, and are
valid all over the country. Those starting with '11' are completely free
for the caller, while  for the others a single unit  is counted for each
call. Those number may give access  to a foreign subscriber (for example
11.00.10 is ATT in the US - no other US carrier on the list).

Rotary dials are standard 1 to 0. If letters have been used, that's very
long  ago  : the  telephone  that  used to  sit  in  my parent's  house,
installed  in the  early  50's,  did not  have  letters...  DTMF is  now
commonplace, and is (of course) free.  In some regions, the RTT did even
replace all instruments  when a new DTMF CO was  installed. This did not
happen everywhere, however. Customers who  wanted a DTMF telephone could
still ask for  the replacement and pay  a flat fee (this  was before one
could *buy* and install).


------------------------------

Subject: A Problem of False 911 Calls
Date: 6 Oct 89 23:12:37 EDT (Fri)
From: Larry Lippman <kitty![e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
com (Jim English) writes:
> An interesting thing happened yesterday at work. Two cop cars pull up
> to the Data Center, and said that they received quite a few 911
> emergency calls that were traced to our address. Well it turns out
> that the phone number making the calls is our 2400 baud Public Network
> access number. One of the cops queried, "How do I write a summons to a
> computer?". It made me think, if thats as far as the 911 people can
> trace a call, and say our Network Control cannot trace it back to
> whoever originated it, how would 911 put a cap on computer pranksters?

    As far as I know, there is no way for either "original" 911
service or the E911 enhanced service to block calls from a given
number in any 911 central office serving area; i.e., there is no
action which can be taken on the part of the public safety agency
handling the 911 calls to prevent this problem from a _technical_
standpoint - except to demand that the telephone company discontinue
ALL telephone service to the offending lines.

    While it is theoretically possible for the software in an ESS
central office to block a given directory number line from dialing a
911 call, I have not heard of such a service offering.  Furthermore,
in my opinion it is unlikely such an option would ever be offered due
to potential liability on the part of the telephone company (if you
offer a feature such as this, then some telephone company craftsperson
at some time is going to screw up and disable 911 for a line *in
error*).

    As I understand the law enforcement community, this problem is
going to be dumped squarely upon the subscriber whose lines are being
used to make this calls.  The subscriber WILL SOMEHOW SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM, or someone in authority is going to be charged with "falsely
reporting an incident" (or the equivalent crime in your state) and/or
the public safety agency will request that the telephone company
disconnect service to the affected lines.

    Most telephone companies have a general provision included in
their tariffs permitting them to discontinue service to any subscriber
in the event that said subscriber uses their telephone service to
harass or otherwise interfere with the telephone service of other
subscribers.  Such a tariff provision could be invoked in this
instance of false 911 calls.  I can assure you that if this false call
problem is not solved, the responsible public safety agency will bring
considerable pressure to bear upon the telephone company to
discontinue service as mentioned above.

    Any public safety agency that I can think of really does not care
about the "intentions" of a subscriber whose telephone service is being
abused by third parties to make false 911 calls.  Such a public safety
agency wants the problem stopped NOW, somehow, some way, and they don't
care about the details.

<> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. - Uniquex Corp. - Viatran Corp.
<> UUCP  {allegra|boulder|decvax|rutgers|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry
<> TEL [phone] | 716/773-1700  {hplabs|utzoo|uunet}!/      \uniquex!larry
<> FAX [phone] | 716/773-2488      "Have you hugged your cat today?"

------------------------------

Date: Sat 7 Oct 89 11:50:53-CDT
From: Clive Dawson <[e-mail]>
Subject: What Happens When a Phone Hangs Up?

I've had several years of trouble-free operation from my Panasonic
KX-T2425 phone answering machine.  This changed about a month ago; it
now exhibits some very annoying behavior, but I'm not sure if this is
a problem with the machine, or whether it is caused by a change in the
behavior in the central office switch, or whether it is caused by a
change in the length of my outgoing message.  (This last possibility
didn't occur to me until just now, and may be the most likely.)

What happens is that anytime somebody decides to hang up and not leave
a message, I get a "message" anyway consisting of:

    One ring tone
    "If you'd like to make a call, please hang up and try again.
     If you need help, please hang up and dial your operator."
    One minute's worth of the loud, fast tone denoting that
    your phone has been left off-hook.

Skipping past as many as 5 or 6 of these a day is getting to be a pain.

Questions:

       -- Is it possible that my machine has lost its ability to
          detect a remote hang-up?  Do Panasonic machines detect
      remote hang-ups, or do they simply detect silence on the
      line in order to decide whether/when to start/stop recording?

       -- Is it correct for the off-hook warning stuff to be triggered
      under these circumstances?  Is this the norm?

       -- Is the length of time before the off-hook warning triggers
      a settable parameter in ESS switches?  The current timeout
      seems to be 30 seconds, which is precisely equal to the
      maximum length of an outgoing message on many (Panasonic, at
      least) answering machines.  This means that the warning
      starts just when the machine goes into record mode, checking
      for sound on the line in order to decide whether somebody is
      leaving a message.

       -- Would it be wishful thinking to believe I could convince
      the Telco folks to lengthen this timeout period to, say,
      45 seconds or a minute?

       -- Do other people have this problem?

I suppose the obvious thing to try is to reduce the length of my
outgoing message.  Maybe if I can get a few more seconds of silence
before the off-hook warning starts, the machine will properly conclude
that no message is forthcoming and hang up.

Any help/comments/suggestions appreciated!

Clive

------------------------------

Subject: More Comments on Busy Line Verification Facilities
Date: 6 Oct 89 21:51:11 EDT (Fri)
From: Larry Lippman <kitty![e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> claris!netcom!edg@ames.
arc.nasa.gov (Edward Greenberg) writes:
> We soon learned that we could reach the verification operator by
> dialing the affected prefix and 9901 (or, "official 1").  Then WE
> could tell the verification operator to do her thing.

    What you relate is rather unusual.  I can conceive of no
useful purpose in providing the facilities to terminate a central
office line from each CO in an official PBX trunk (the necessary
interface) at manual DSA position used for verification.  Telephone
companies *discourage* verification, and certainly would not provide
such direct access as a benefit to the customer; if the customer wants
verification, then they dial "0".  No telephone company personnel
would want to verify a line, either from a business office standpoint
or for installation/repair purposes.

    Even a craftsperson working on a repair problem has no need to
talk to a verification operator because a verification position has no
test apparatus and can tell a craftsperson almost nothing useful to
facilitate a repair.  A craftsperson working on a repair deals with a
local test desk equipped with various test and measurement apparatus,
which is furthermore staffed by a technically-qualified craftsperson.

    It seems more likely that you dialed a number which terminated
at a local test desk in a repair service bureau.  Every CO that I have
seen has a local number which terminates at a local test desk, which
may be local or remote to the CO; in some cases the local number is
less than 7 digits, like "770" or "951".  While a local test desk
certainly has access to test trunks from the affected CO and could in
effect perform the function of "busy line verification", I am rather
surprised that they would do so without challenging your identity.
Then again, I suppose that anything is possible in downstate New York.
:-)

    Also, according to an official New York Telephone Maintenance
Telephone Directory for the NYC and LI areas, the 9901 number (along
with the 9970) was commonly used as a "charge/no charge" test line
used for toll and coin line supervision testing.

> In about 1973 or '74, we could no longer reach a verification operator
> on official-1, but rather, 234-9901 would bring one up capable of
> verifying anywhere in 516.

    Almost all No. 1 and No. 3 Toll Board (combined with DSA)
positions have multiples for outside CO lines which terminate in the
position using an "official PBX trunk" circuit.  It is most likely
that you found such a direct CO line.  However, I would be extremely
surprised if in fact all of area code 516 was verified at a common DSA
facility, since there are MANY CO's in Nassau and Suffolk counties.  I
suspect that area code 516 is broken up into at least 3 DSA facilities
which handle verification.

<> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. - Uniquex Corp. - Viatran Corp.
<> UUCP  {allegra|boulder|decvax|rutgers|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry
<> TEL [phone] | 716/773-1700  {hplabs|utzoo|uunet}!/      \uniquex!larry
<> FAX [phone] | 716/773-2488      "Have you hugged your cat today?"

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 05 Oct 89 14:08:44 EDT
From: "Hisle, Debra" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Phone Design For Appearances

We're just finishing up a completely remodelling a bathroom and have
reached the select-a-phone stage.  The bathroom is done out in high
style, with a marble floor, glass block dividing walls, etc.
Showplace type of thing.  We've included wiring and box for a wall
phone.

We've got two lines into the house, so the phone needs to be a 2-line.
The problem seems to be finding a two-line wall phone.  A preliminary
survey (I went to Radio Shack last night) turned up (1) a "real"
wall-phone (the kind that predates Trim-line) that only comes in
Almond (absolutely ghastly choice, given the color scheme of the room)
or (2) a small number of feature phones.  We'd prefer a Trim-line
style, not much in the way of buttons, like Radio Shack USED to sell,
but discontinued.  We may end up moving one of this type from another
room, and getting a feature phone for that location.

The problem is, while looking at phones, I kept seeing attractive
one-line phones, that would complement the rest of the design in the
room.  (What I really like is a Trim-line style in a clear housing.)
So my question: is there ANY WAY to provide an external line switch to
a one line wall phone?  We're talking about a flush mounted to the
face plate type of wall phone, NOT one that has a cord dripping down
to a baseboard height outlet.  Or, should I just settle for the plain
white trim-line that I can move from another room?  And if I DO
settle, is there any kind of switch that can be provided for the
table-top phone with which I replace the trim-line?  (A mahogany boxed
model would do quite well in that room, actually.)  Selection of
two-line phones is so limited...

   Deb

[Moderator's Note: Get a mini-switch at Radio Shack to mount on the single
line instrument of your choice. It has to be a four-pole, double-throw
switch. From the phone center store (or Radio Shack, if they have it) get
a 'side ringer', or separate bell in a little box to mount elsewhere.
If you are content with having the phone ring for only one of the two lines
then you can skip the extra bell. Bring the four wires/two pairs into the
phone, up to the switch. Solder them on the switch so you either bring one
pair out to the network on the phone, or the other pair, by flipping the
switch. Drill a little hole in the phone shell. If you look on the inside
of the plastic, you will likely see little places where punch outs were
intended. Mount your switch in there. Now flipping it one way brings line
one to the network (and the bell, should the phone ring); and flipping it
the other way brings line two to the network (and bell). When the phone
is on-hook, however you have the switch set will detirmine which line will
ring the bell. Run a pair to the separate bell (and leave the switch by
default in the *opposite* position) if you want to have both lines ring
a bell. A better way is to get a switch which will do a couple things at
once and wire it so that whichever line is switched to the network, the
*opposite* pair is switched into the bell. Of course be sure and disconnect
the bell from the network, and require it to get fed only from the jumper
coming from your switch! This will enable you to be on one line and have
the phone actually ring if a call comes on the second line.   PT]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 4 Oct 89 20:04:45 EST
From: Sten Peeters <[e-mail]>
Subject: Caller ID

Does PA have a caller ID service yet because it was included in the list of
services I could get with my phone line.

                                        Sten
Name:Sten Peeters       proline:sp@pro-palace       UUCP:[e-mail]
pro-palace:215/678-4438     US mail:2005 buckman ave  Wyomissing, PA 19610
House Phone:[phone]     "Shortwave is AWESOME!!"-me

[Moderator's Note: Good question. I've heard some judge said no. Probably
the literature was printed before the decision, and it is temporarily not
available, until Bell of PA gets the decision overturned at a higher level.
Or they may petition a higher court to be allowed to continue offering it
pending reversal of the original decision.  PT]

------------------------------

From: Roger Rock Rosner <pyrdc!lighthouse!lighthouse.com![e-mail]>
Subject: Home Office Telephone Question
Organization: Lighthouse Design, Ltd.
Date: Sat, 7 Oct 89 20:34:59 GMT

Our company's office is located in a personal home.  We're thinking of
installing a phone line for the exclusive use of the company.  Are we
required to get a different (e.g., "commercial") type of phone
service?  If so, is the cost or service going to be significantly
different?

Thanks,
Roger Rosner
Lighthouse Design, Ltd.
Usenet:   ...!uunet!lighthouse!rock
Internet: [e-mail]
Phone:    [phone]

[Moderator's Note: Usually, a phone on which business is conducted is
considered a 'business phone' and the tariff for same applies. Since
the phone company does not listen to what you talk about on the phone,
they are hard pressed to prove the line is used for business; but if
you ask for a directory listing under 'Widget Company' or whatever, it
becomes apparent the phone is for business purposes, and the phone
company will bill it as such. The difference in cost is purely a
matter of what the telco in your community charges for one service and
charges for the other, but yes, usually business service is more
expensive.  PT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #435
*****************************










Date:     Sun, 8 Oct 89 21:56:27 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #436
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sun, 8 Oct 89 21:55:31 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 436

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Panel Telephones & Bell System "Turkeys" of the 1960's (Larry Lippman)
    PA Judge Rules Against Caller ID (Kenneth R. Jongsma)
    Cellular Rates in Rochester Are Low As Two Firms Compete (C. E. Reid)
    AT&T Long Lines (Gabe Wiener)
    DEX to Pac*Bell Billing Tapes ([e-mail])
    Re: Phones That Last Forever (Larry McElhiney)
    Re: Area Code Splits (was: Splits of NNX?) (Doug Davis)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Panel Telephones & Bell System "Turkeys" of the 1960's
Date: 7 Oct 89 16:15:37 EDT (Sat)
From: Larry Lippman <kitty![e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:
>  And does anyone besides me have fond memories of the Panel Phone
> (tm) ?  My parents still have the two we had installed about 20 years
> ago, and they work fine.  They were installed into the wall, requiring
> a hole about 8 x 10 inches, and have a non-tangling cord about 4 feet
> long which retracts into a hole in the panel.  They've never failed,
> despite the thousands of times my father said I was pulling too hard
> on the cord.  They'll never go modular, I'm afraid, and if they do
> fail, we'll have to call the plasterer, but they made a lot of sense.
> We even have one of those two-line knobs on one of them, though it's
> not hooked up to both lines any more.  An installer who came by the
> house a couple of years ago had never seen them before.

    Panel telephones were rather neat, and I remember them fondly
from the 1960's when they seemed so *futuristic*. :-)

    Panel telephones were also made as a 5-line keyset, along with
an internal speakerphone option (although an external 55-type
speakerphone control box was required).

    I don't believe that panel telephones are still manufactured
for single-line residential use, but an equivalent type of instrument
for installation in control consoles may still be manufactured by such
vendors as Allen-Tel, Northern Telecom and Plantronics.

    An interesting Bell System offering which came out in the
early 1960's (about the same time as the panel telephone) was the 1A
Home Interphone System.  This system required two-line "turn-key"
telephone sets, often of the Princess variety.  The system had
capabilities for answering one CO line and placing it on hold, in
addition to providing local intercommunication between telephone sets
within a residence.  There were also some handsfree intercom options,
which included the ability to answer the front door using an outdoor
transmitter/loudspeaker.  There was even a feature which integrated
the 1A Home Interphone System with a 1A or 1A1 key telephone system
for residences with up to three CO lines.

    The Bell System had grandiose plans during the 1960's for a 1A
Home Interphone System in every home, along with a chicken in every
pot, but alas, the 1A Home Interphone System was a turkey which was
over-priced and simply never sold to within a fraction of
expectations.

    Speaking of chickens and turkeys - believe it or not - there
was also the 2A Farm Interphone System.  This apparatus was similar to
that of the home variety, except that it had higher-power outdoor
loudspeakers for intercom purposes, in addition to providing
electronic tone ringing over the outdoor loudspeakers.  Some of the
BSP sections on the 2A Farm Interphone System have really precious
drawings of typical installations on a farm, including house, barn,
silo, a loudspeaker in a chicken coop, etc., along with a smiling
farmer (with overalls and hat) talking to a smiling wife (reminiscent
of Mrs. Cleaver) in a bedroom!

    If you think that the above interphone systems were turkeys
because very few were ever sold, there is something even worse, the
Edsel of the Bell System, PICTUREPHONE [tm].  Some years ago I heard a
rumor from a "well-placed source" at AT&T that the Bell System had
lost over $ 300 million on Picturephone; while that may not seem like
much money today, picture :-) it in terms of 1960's dollars and it
becomes much more significant.

<> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. - Uniquex Corp. - Viatran Corp.
<> UUCP  {allegra|boulder|decvax|rutgers|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry
<> TEL [phone] | 716/773-1700  {hplabs|utzoo|uunet}!/      \uniquex!larry
<> FAX [phone] | 716/773-2488      "Have you hugged your cat today?"

[Moderator's Note: There were also a few panel *pay* phones around.
The post office at 211 South Clark Street in Chicago has two of them
in the lobby. Slightly larger than the home models, these are also
completely recessed into the wall, with a single slot on the top for
the money. These were installed when this post office opened, in 1973.
Apartment building front door 'enterphone service' provided by
Illinois Bell (a CO-based service) also uses panel phones, but with
armored handsets instead of the old kind which retracted back into the
wall. And for quite a few years, *the* picturephone center was located
in the lobby of the Illinois Bell HQ building, 212 West Washington St.
They had a rather nice looking conference room set up, with camera,
speakers, etc, and they rented it out by the hour to companies wanting
to have picturephone conferences with a branch in some other city.  PT]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: PA Judge Rules Against Caller ID
Date: Sun,  8-Oct-89 13:37:18 PDT

In a large article that I will attempt to sumarize, this week's
Communication Week reports that a PA Judge has ruled that some CLASS
features are illegal under the states wiretap laws.

The judge ruled that premise devices that display the caller's number
constitutes a "trap and trace device" described and prohibited by the
state's Wiretap Act.

A "trap and trace device" is defined by the Act as "a device which
captures the incoming electronic or other impulses which identify the
originating number of an instrument or device from which a wire or
electronic communication was transmitted."

The judge ruled that to make the service legal, Bell Atlantic would
have to allow subscribers the right to block their number _on a per
call basis_. Bell Atlantic was not going to do this, rather relying on
bill inserts and advertising to make consumers aware of the potential
use of their number.

Interestingly enough, the judge also questioned some other CLASS
services and said that they should be investigated. One example he
gave was the Return Call service, where a subscriber could call the
last person that called him/her by pressing a code. This without
knowing the number being called.  The judge said that combining this
service with optional local service detailed billing would reveal the
callers number when the bill finally arrived a few weeks later.

[e-mail]

[Moderator's Note: What the judge does not seem to realize is that lots
of information is available when acquired *through billing channels* instead
of simply asking for other reasons. Did you ever wonder who a non-pub
number belonged to, and you could not get the information on it? Call it
via your calling card, or through third number billing, or with other
operator assistance. When the billing comes, *challenge it* at the business
office. "Who is this I am supposed to have called?"...."Do you know John
Smith, at 123 Main Street?"......"oh, is that who it was? Thanks, m'am...
yes, I will pay for it."  PT]

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 8 Oct 89 11:37 EDT
From: "C. E. Reid" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Cellular Rates in Rochester Are Low As Two Firms Compete

  [Reprinted without permission from SUNDAY DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE,
  Rochester, New York, October 8, 1989, Page 2F]

    CELLULAR RATES IN ROCHESTER ARE LOW AS 2 FIRMS COMPETE FOR CUSTOMERS

                         By Democrat and Chronicle

  Genesee Telephone Co. and Rochester Tel Mobile Communications say they
  offer among the lowest cellular telephone rates in the nation.

  Airtime rates for Genesee Telephone are:

     *  17.5 cents a minute during peak time, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday
        through Friday.

     *  16 cents a minute during off-peak time, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday
        through Friday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and holidays.

     *  14 cents a minute during night time, 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. all week.

  Association airtime rates for Rochester Tel Mobile are:

     *  17.5 cents a minute during daytime hours, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

     *  17 cents a minute during evening hours, 7 to 11 p.m.

     *  15 cents a minute during night hours, 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

  Those who aren't members of associations getting discounts from Rochester
  Tel Mobile must pay 35 cents an hour during daytime, 25 cents during
  evening and 20 cents at night.

  The charges are made for both outgoing and incoming calls.

  Customers of both companies pay a $20 monthly access fee.

  In addition, cellular telephone customers must pay message unit charges
  for local calls and toll charges for long distance calls.

  Genesee Tel customers pay standard message unit charges throughout the
  five-county Rochester area (Monroe, Wayne, Ontario, Livingston and
  Orleans counties).

  But, through a quirk in the system, Rochester Tel Mobile customers don't
  have to pay message unit charges for calls between locations in the five
  counties subject to long distance charges, such as calls between Sodus
  and Canandaigua.

  Both companies get discounts on long distance rates.

  Genesee Tel customers who call outside the Rochester area must pay 15
  cents a minute for calls elsewhere in New York state, 18 cents a minute
  for calls elsewhere east of the Mississippi and 22 cents a minute for
  calls west of the Mississippi.

  Rochester Tel Mobile offers 15 cents a minute for calls elsewhere in
  upstate New York, 28 cents a minute for calls to New York City and a 10
  percent average discount from AT&T rates for calls elsewhere in the
  United States.


------------------------------

From: Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]>
Subject: AT&T Long Lines
Reply-To: Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]>
Organization: Columbia University Center for Telecommunications Research
Date: Sat, 7 Oct 89 18:14:19 GMT

I was just thinking about the AT&T Long Lines that have been used in
this country for decades.  I'm sure all of these questions have
ridiculously simple answers, but here goes anyway.

1. Over the _really_ long runs, such as through the Rocky Mountains,
   or through the deserts of the southwest, how do they prevent
   line resistance from degrading the signal to a point where it would
   become undetectable?

2. When one of those lines is damaged out in the middle of nowhere,
   and the damage is _inside_ the cable, how do they locate it?
   Moreover, how do they splice in a new piece of cable?  In other
   words, how do they connect up those hundreds of individual lines?
   It would be like trying to rewire a spinal cord.

3. Are the long-lines used today by AT&T digital or analog?  Sprint
   obviously is touting their fiber-optics, but what is AT&T doing?
   Do they still use the analog long-lines that they've been using for
   years?  Or do they send the signals over them via a digital encoder?

Thanks...

Gabe Wiener - Columbia Univ.     "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings
[e-mail]             to be seriously considered as a means of
[e-mail]       communication. The device is inherently of
[e-mail]         no value to us."  -Western Union memo, 1877

------------------------------

From:  <[e-mail]>
Subject: DEX to Pac*Bell Billing Tapes
Reply-To:  <[e-mail]>
Organization: Network Telephone Services, Woodland Hills
Date: Sun, 8 Oct 89 21:33:56 GMT

I am in the process of taking AMA records from a DSC DEX switch and
converting them to a Pac*Bell Billing tape.  Does anyone know of any
software that runs on a vax that would help?  Seems the phone company
record standards are all in IBM EBSICKDICK (bletch) and I live in the
ASCII world.

Also, anyone know where there is a description of IBM tape labels?
The documentation I got from BELLCORE tells me everything but that.

Thanks Much!

  E+

                0
              +  @  +  @  +
            \ * | * /
            % + -- EGK -- + %
            / * | * \
              +  @  +  @  +
                0

------------------------------

From: 90784000 <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phones That Last Forever (From the company that lasts "forever")
Date: 8 Oct 89 00:32:25 GMT
Reply-To: Larry McElhiney <[e-mail]>
Organization: University of California, Santa Cruz


[Passed on as received from an anonymous AT&T employee...]

October 6, 1989

AT&T Announces Major Force Reduction

New York

AT&T Chairman Robert Allen announced the most comprehensive force
reduction in the company's history today.  Affected will be all
current AT&T employees who will be offered financial incentives to
leave the payroll by the end of 1989.  It is expected that by January
1, 1989, Mr. Allen will be the only employee left, with the long
distance network being controlled by the chairman's PC 6300 WGS.

During a question and answer session in front of Wall Street analysts.
Allen felt the plan "should not have an negative affect on current
service levels, as we will be utilizing the latest technology from
Bell Labs to take up the slack."

Allen was referring to "RALPH" (Replaces A Lot of People Here"), the
300,000 port AUDIX adjunct that will soon be installed at AT&T's
Madison Avenue headquarters.  Employees leaving the company will be
required to record a generic AUDIX message to handle AT&T's 450,000
calls per day.  Although "RALPH" does not return these calls,
customers should not notice any change, "our 2-year trial in New
Jersey proved this", Allen added.

Allen could not estimate the savings to AT&T by this move, saying
that, "in general terms, we're looking at saving a shitpot full of
dough".


[Humorous intent only]

------------------------------

From: Doug Davis <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Area Code Splits (was: Splits of NNX?)
Date: 3 Oct 89 15:50:02 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Logic Process  Dallas, Texas.


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (VLD/VMB)
writes:

>I assume that 817 is NOT affected by the 214/903 split.

That is what Southwestern Bell says...  But I bet it's not quite true.

>I had never before heard of Dallas and Fort Worth possibly
>becoming one area code.  I think there are some EMS (extended
>metro service) prefixes with 7 digit calling to both cities.

There are several EMS connections between them, (817)-467 being the
main Fort Worth EMS exchange, there are also some FX lines 488
(weatherford) and 994 (cellular), All of these are advertised as
"unaffected" by the split.

Presently and EMS customer dials 214-XXX-XXXX (notice the lack of 1 or
0) to call into Dallas.  I have to assume that people in Dallas
calling Fort Worth would dial 817-XXX-XXXX.

As a side note, it was a little less than a year ago when a person
with EMS or FX service into the 817 or 214 area could just dial direct
to either area code.  Seems that 214 started running out of NXX's and
they quickly (with less than two months warning) added the prefix
requirement.  :-(

There are also ajacent calling areas, like Arlington / Grand Praire
those poor people are just now getting used to prefixing 214/817 when
dialing across the street. ;-)  Since it appears that Waxahachie
will be 903, they should be good and warmed up, cause they are gonna
have to get used to dialing 903 as well, when calling someone down the
block.

Good trivia question, what's the most area codes in a local calling
(non EMS, or extra charge) area you know of?  I'm sure three isn't the
most, but it's gotta be up there.

Anyway, since my office is in one of the areas that will be serviced
by 903 and my home EMS service isn't supposed to be effected I wonder
if I will still be prefixing the calls with 214, or 903..  (check back
in late '90 and i'll let ya know ;-) )


Doug Davis/1030 Pleasant Valley Lane/Arlington/Texas/76015/817-467-3740
{sys1.tandy.com, motown!sys1, uiucuxc!sys1 lawnet, attctc, texbell} letni!doug
"ack, pifft!  *ZOT* RRRREEEEEEEAAAAOOOOOOWW!" -- Sound effects from the "Bill
The Cat'lprod(TM)" Commercial,  Available in better hardware stores near you.

[Moderator's Note: I think phones at the 'Four Corners Monument' (the only
place in the United States common to four state boundary lines) have local
service -- for whatever it is worth out in the desert -- to 303, 602, 505,
and 801. The Navajo Indian Reservation at Aneth, Utah has local service
on all four of the above. Any others?  PT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #436
*****************************










Date:     Mon, 9 Oct 89 0:20:08 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #437
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Mon, 9 Oct 89 00:15:22 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 437

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Western Union in Chicago, October 8-9, 1871 (TELECOM Moderator)
    Phone Equipment (Bill Huttig)
    Re: Inbound Pulse - Dial Detection (Tad Cook)
    Re: MacGyver on Last Night (10/2) (Sten Peeters)
    Re: California Junk Fax Bill (Tad Cook)
    Re: ANI Updates Wanted (Bill Huttig)
    Sometimes a Rude Suprise For Telephone Line "Rustlers" (Larry Lippman)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date:     Sun, 8 Oct 89 23:32:24 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Western Union in Chicago, October 8-9, 1871

Sunday, October 8, 1871 was a pretty typical day, said Robert Read, a
young man in the employ of the Western Union Telegraph Company in
Chicago.  He had gone to work as usual about 2:00 pm that afternoon at
the telegraph office downtown, where he worked full time as a
telegraph operator.

In an article in the [Chicago Tribune] in 1901, on the occasion of the
thirtieth anniversary of what was then commonly referred to simply as
'The Fire', Mr. Read discussed the events of that Sunday evening and
the Monday following. As those of us today remember without question
where we were and what we were doing when we heard of JFK's
assasination, and our elders recall in detail what they were doing
when the news of Pearl Harbor came over the radio, Read talked in
detail about the assasination of President Lincoln, then got into a
detailed account of the fire, and the operation of the telegraph
office at that time.

In those days, in addition to circuits from major cities across the
United States, the office had numerous local circuits around the city.
Nearly every major mercantile establishment, every bank, and every
hotel had a telegraph key, or sometimes more than one. The Chicago
Board of Trade alone had three keys. A few wealthy and important
citizens had them also, such as Mayor Mason. The federal courthouse
and City Hall were equipped.

Mr. Read pointed out that 'it was nice to work on Sunday or at night,
because the local keys were usually silent; on occassion the mayor
would have something to send, or the business men, but normally our
only traffic at night or Sunday was to or from out of the city, and
then not too much.'

He also pointed out that 'a benefit for the employees in those days
was they gave you a key to use at home; you had to pay for the key
but they let us send messages for free wherever we wanted. Many guys
just used their key to call down to the office and chat in their spare
time...'

Something similar to what we today would call an annunciator was used
in the office to tell what key was active at any given time. The
electrical current would cause a little colored strip of metal to sort
of bounce and 'flop over' with a louder than usual 'clicking noise'.
This caught the operator's attention, who would look and see what was
what, and respond accordingly.

The fire started about 9:30 pm that Sunday night, on the west side, at
what today in 1989 is numbered 837 West DeKoven Street. Ironically,
today the site is the Fire Prevention Bureau of the City of Chicago.
But in those days, it was a private home owned by a Mr. and Mrs.
O'Leary.

According to Read's account, and substantiated by other historical
accounts, the real panic began when the fire did the 'impossible', and
spread across the river into the downtown area. Everyone assumed the
fire would burn itself out when it reached the west bank of the
Chicago River....but the wind was quite strong, and some burning
embers were carried in the wind to the other bank where they landed on
one of the outbuildings of the Chicago Gas Works. A rather large
explosion soon followed when the Gas Works blew up, knocking most of
the south side of the city into darkness when the gas lamps went out.

Read said he watched it from the office, and the assumption was it had
to stop someplace, but the strong winds and limited resources of the
Fire Department combined to keep the inferno going. He said maybe it
was around 11 pm '.....and the guy who usually worked all night did
not show up; I was both annoyed and concerned. I couldn't leave until
he arrived, and the fire was obviously going to take our office sooner
or later.....about midnight, I guess, Mayor Mason came in with the
police superintendent and had me begin getting emergency help in. They
had me contact General Phillip Sheridan of the Army, to tell him they
needed troops and whatever assistance he could give.'

'Well you know those wires were not private, not like the telephone of
today (1901!!) where you can talk and assume no one is learning your
business with you. I guess within thirty minutes or so, most of the
guys I dealt with all over the United States were busy chattering
about 'that big fire they're having in Chicago'; which was good
actually, cause the relief efforts started that same night.'

'Finally about one o'clock, the fire had spread to the building next
to us and I sent a message out; I remember just what I said; to anyone
who is getting this message, I was signing off, if I did not get out
the roof would probably collapse on me.'

Read said he gathered up what papers and records he could, along with
the money in the cash drawer and locked everything in the 'fire proof
safe' and left the building. He had been out of the building less than
a minute when the building caught fire -- the dry timber it was -- and
in perhaps twenty minutes it was nothing but ashes, with the metal
safe standing there alone, along with melted keys and wire, some other
charred remains. Curiously, the wires exited the building in such a
way that the majority of them were not harmed at that point once they
left the building, but within an hour they had melted or the poles
around town had caught fire and fallen down.

He said he spent the rest of the night just wandering around downtown
watching the fire. '....I knew I would never see such a spectacle
again in all my life....and there was nothing I could do at the
office, since it was gone anyway....'

Read noted in the Tribune interview another pitiful aspect of the
fire: Where the firemen were making what efforts they could to control
the fire and limit its spread, no one thought to protect the Water
Works. In those days, like now, the water was drawn from Lake
Michigan, but the pressure in the mains was obtained by diverting some
water into a stream along-side the building, where a water wheel was
spinning. This water wheel in turn drove some hydraulic gears which
pumped air into the mains, forcing the water along from air pressure.
When the fire spread to the Water Works building itself, that was the
end of the pumping machinery, and at about 3:30 am Monday morning, the
city's water supply shut off.

At that point, said Read, the firemen said in essence to hell with it.
The fire continued burning virtually unabated until about 10:30 pm
Monday night when rain began falling which put out what was still
ablaze. The manager of the telegraph office and several of his men met
early Monday morning to survey the damage and get service restored as
soon as possible.

'By about noon, negotiations were complete and we bought a building
over on Canal Street near the Customs House, and we relocated in there
along with the post office.....what was just incredible was the tangle
of melted wire laying everywhere all over town....some of it melted by
the fire into the most grotesque shapes imaginable...it was about
three weeks before we were able to reconstruct everything; I don't
know to this day why the office records were not filed elsewhere;
sometimes we were just guessing about who had what before the
fire....'

'The main thing we figured was to get the out of town circuits going
again, and Tuesday afternoon they had strung up a wire that connected
in over at 18th Street which got us our line back to St. Louis and a
couple other places. Lucky we found some keys that had not been
damaged too badly and we were able to use them. I think in a minute or
less after the wire to St. Louis was restored they must have heard us
down there, cause they got on their key and started passing traffic
they had been holding for the past day and a half. I think everyone in
the United States at that point must have had friends or relatives or
business of some kind in Chicago because we got so much stuff in the
next twenty four hours you would not believe it. For about six months
after that, we had a huge amount of traffic around the clock it seems.
Relief agencies, government officials, newspapers wanting to know
about the fire; you name it. I think within about six months most of
the merchants downtown had rebuilt; I know the courthouse was rebuilt
and the Board of Trade rather soon, and the local wires were pretty
much back the way we had them I guess six or seven months later. By
the summer of '72 things were pretty much back to normal in our
office.'

Robert Read did mention, when prompted by the Tribune writer, that he
had been given a 'meritorious award' by Western Union afterward for
his efforts to protect company property the night of the fire. He
laughed and said 'you know, they opened the 'fire proof safe' the next
day -- everything in it was charred; I guess from the terrible heat of
the fire -- a lot of what I put in there that night were the records
they could have used in the weeks following had they not been rendered
illegible from the soot and heat.... maybe I should have carried them
all out of the building....home with me or something.'

Patrick Townson


------------------------------

From: Huttig <[e-mail]>
Subject: Phone Equipment
Date: 9 Oct 89 01:42:01 GMT
Reply-To: Huttig <[e-mail]>
Organization: Florida Institute of Tecnology, CS, Melbourne, FL


I am looking for a small phone system for my apartment.  I would like
to have the ability to expand later on.  I would like to at least
2 - lines
4 - extensions

I would like to have as many of the following as possible:

SMDR
Call Pick-up
Forwarding from either line out the other
Least Cost Routing

Bill


------------------------------


From: [e-mail] (Tad Cook)
Subject: Re: Inbound Pulse-Dial Detection
Date: 8 Oct 89 23:26:50 GMT
Organization: very little

If anyone on here knows of a system that can really detect end-to-end
pulse dialing reliably, please let me know.  Somehow I just don't
believe it.  How would you differentiate those clicks form noise?

Tad Cook
[e-mail]
MCI Mail: 3288544
Telex: 6503288544
Packet: KT7H @ N7HFZ


------------------------------

Date: Thu, 5 Oct 89 21:15:19 EST
From: Sten Peeters <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MacGyver on Last Night (10/2)


> Last night's (10/2/89) episode of MacGyver showed a short segment of
>a "bad guy" tapping into the telephone line at the "switching office"
>to the Phoenix Foundation. I thought it was a neat hi-tech thing!  :)
>I wondered if others have seen it and whether it is really how they
>tapped it or not.

I saw it too and it did come to mind but if it really was? I don't
know. I wonder if you could really get into a phone-co building that
easy though.
                                           Sten

Name:Sten Peeters       proline:sp@pro-palace       UUCP:[e-mail]
pro-palace:215/678-4438     US mail:2005 buckman ave  Wyomissing, PA 19610
House Phone:[phone]     "Shortwave is AWESOME!!"-me


------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Tad Cook)
Subject: Re: California Junk Fax Bill
Date: 8 Oct 89 23:14:43 GMT
Organization: very little


Regarding Junk Fax, I have been searching for verifiable first-person
accounts of actual junk fax, both on alt.fax, here, various telephone
BBS', at work and elsewhere, and have not been able to find ONE
account, other than the apochryphal stories in the media.

The only junk fax I have been able to find are the occasional ads for
fax paper from MR FAX that we used to get at work.

Tad Cook
[e-mail]


------------------------------

From: Huttig <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: ANI Updates Wanted
Date: 9 Oct 89 01:36:04 GMT
Reply-To: Bill Huttig <[e-mail]>
Organization: Florida Institute of Tecnology, CS, Melbourne, FL


What is the difference between ANI and CLI ?


------------------------------

Subject: Sometimes a Rude Surprise for Telephone Line "Rustlers"
Date: 9 Oct 89 00:21:52 EDT (Mon)
From: Larry Lippman <kitty![e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> ee5391aa%hydra.unm.edu@
ariel.unm.edu (Duke McMullan n5gax) writes:
> There is a town called Las Vegas, located in northeastern New Mexico.
> A few years back, when the price of copper was rising exponentially,
> one of the phone people was driving out to do some routine
> maintainence on some lines south of town. From up on a hill, he saw
> four turkeys (human variety) in a pickup truck taking down the copper
> lines on part of the local distribution net for that rural area.
> He "phoned home" on the radio, and the Sheriff was dispatched.
> ...
> I never heard what happened to those guys, but maybe I don't need to know.

    Besides being arrested, some telephone "rustlers" who steal
open wire lines (still common in the west) are in for another rude
surprise: some wire which they laboriously remove that *looks* like
copper, is really copper-clad steel - and is worth essentially
nothing.  I know of one instance where this happened.

    Copper, even of the "hardened" variety, is simply no where
near as strong as steel.  Most open wire lines which have been erected
or replaced in the past 30 years use copper-clad steel, also known as
"copper-weld".  Copper-clad steel is used in other outdoor
applications, such as 1-pr through 6-pr aerial drop wire, "bridle
wire" used to make connection to open-wire lines, etc.

<> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. - Uniquex Corp. - Viatran Corp.
<> UUCP  {allegra|boulder|decvax|rutgers|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry
<> TEL [phone] | 716/773-1700  {hplabs|utzoo|uunet}!/      \uniquex!larry
<> FAX [phone] | 716/773-2488      "Have you hugged your cat today?"


------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #437
*****************************










Date:     Tue, 10 Oct 89 23:33:29 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #438
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Tue, 10 Oct 89 23:32:35 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 438

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Re: What Happens When a Phone Hangs Up? (John Higdon)
    Re: What Happens When a Phone Hangs Up? (Roy M. Silvernail)
    Re: Panel Telephones & Bell System "Turkeys" of the 1960's (John R. Levine)
    Re: Panel Telephones & Bell System "Turkeys" of the 1960's (Mike Morris)
    Re: AT&T Long Lines (Hector Myerston)
    Re: Area Code Splits (was: Splits of NNX?) (John R. Levine)
    Re: SxS Payphones (John R. Covert)

[Moderator's Note: There was no Digest issued Tuesday morning because the
eecs machine was down for several hours overnight due to a problem.  PT]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: What Happens When a Phone Hangs Up?
Date: 10 Oct 89 04:02:29 GMT
Organization: Green Hills and Cows


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Clive
Dawson) writes:
> I've had several years of trouble-free operation from my Panasonic
> KX-T2425 phone answering machine. This changed about a month ago;
> ...
> Questions:

(and some answers)

>        -- Is it possible that my machine has lost its ability to
>           detect a remote hang-up?  Do Panasonic machines detect
>         remote hang-ups, or do they simply detect silence on the
>         line in order to decide whether/when to start/stop recording?

Possibly, but more likely, your telco has installed a new switch,
probably a DMS running a rotten generic that doesn't provide reliable
CPC. This is that brief interruption in battery that lets key systems
and answering machines know that the distant party has hung up.

>        -- Is it correct for the off-hook warning stuff to be triggered
>           under these circumstances?  Is this the norm?

It is possible that your CO now reverts to that off-hook stuff
immediately after the distant party has disconnected. You might check
it manually by having a friend hang up after calling you and seeing
what happens.

>        -- Is the length of time before the off-hook warning triggers
>           a settable parameter in ESS switches?  The current timeout
>         seems to be 30 seconds, which is precisely equal to the
>         maximum length of an outgoing message on many (Panasonic, at
>         least) answering machines.  This means that the warning
>         starts just when the machine goes into record mode, checking
>         for sound on the line in order to decide whether somebody is
>         leaving a message.

All of the Panasonic answering machines that I have encountered detect
and utilized CPC. On my 1ESS lines, my old Panasonic would reset
immediately, even if the caller hung up just a few seconds into the
outgoing announcement (OGM, for you Panasonic afficianados). It must
also be pointed out that the 1/1A ESS switches have the BEST CPC in
telephony. It is immediate, solid (at least 600 ms), and totally
realiable.

>        -- Would it be wishful thinking to believe I could convince
>         the Telco folks to lengthen this timeout period to, say,
>         45 seconds or a minute?

Oh yes, I'm afraid so. Those timeouts are "cast in stone" in the
generic. While they can be adjusted in the field, I can't imagine a
telco monkeying with them because a residential subscriber was
inconvenienced in the operation of his answering machine. What you
might complain about instead is the lack of reliable CPC. I know of
people who have complained very loudly and have actually been rewarded
with results in this area. The NT DMS is notorious for this problem but
it is also correctable with the proper programming.

>        -- Do other people have this problem?

You bet.

> I suppose the obvious thing to try is to reduce the length of my
> outgoing message.  Maybe if I can get a few more seconds of silence
> before the off-hook warning starts, the machine will properly conclude
> that no message is forthcoming and hang up.

That would be one band-aid solution. I would first start with your telco
and find out if they have installed a DMS recently. If so, rag on them
about CPC. If not, find out what it is (and then rag on them about
CPC).

        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]      | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

From: "Roy M. Silvernail" <comcon![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: What Happens When a Phone Hangs Up?
Date: 10 Oct 89 02:23:35 GMT
Organization: Computer Connection


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Clive
Dawson) writes:
> I've had several years of trouble-free operation from my Panasonic
> a message, I get a "message" anyway consisting of:
>
[message deleted]
>      If you need help, please hang up and dial your operator."
> Skipping past as many as 5 or 6 of these a day is getting to be a pain.

In Anchorage, the message is "I'm sorry... you have exceeded the time
allowed to place a call. Please hang up and try your call again. This is
a recording... 907... 33." (the 33 is the first 2 digits of my exchange)

>        -- Is it possible that my machine has lost its ability to
>           detect a remote hang-up?  Do Panasonic machines detect
>           remote hang-ups, or do they simply detect silence on the
>         line in order to decide whether/when to start/stop recording?

My machine is a Code-a-Phone. I believe it only detects silence, and not
a genuine early hang-up.

>        -- Is it correct for the off-hook warning stuff to be triggered
>          under these circumstances?  Is this the norm?

My best guess is that callers hear my machine pick up and hang up right
away, or hang up a split-second *before* my machine picks up. Either
way, it seems to trigger the off-hook warning. On the bright side, the
fast reorder-like screech causes my machine to hang up, so I only have
to fast-forward past the voice.

[...]
>        -- Do other people have this problem?
 Yup.... :-(


Roy M. Silvernail | UUCP: uunet!comcon!roy | "Life in the arctic is no picnic"
[ah, but it's my account... of course I opine!]             -touristy T-shirt
SnailMail: P.O. Box 210856, Anchorage, Alaska, 99521-0856, U.S.A., Earth, etc.


------------------------------

From: "John R. Levine" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Panel Telephones & Bell System "Turkeys" of the 1960's
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Segue Software, Cambridge MA
Date: Mon, 9 Oct 89 15:11:51 GMT

In article <[e-mail]> kitty![e-mail]
(Larry Lippman) writes:
>    An interesting Bell System offering which came out in the
>early 1960's (about the same time as the panel telephone) was the 1A
>Home Interphone System.  ...

We had one of these in our house in Cambridge when we moved here in
1981.  It had long since been de-tarriffed, but we could keep it and
pay several dollars per month as long as we wanted.  The previous
owner told me that the last time it broke in the mid 1970s they had to
fly someone up from Philadelphia, nobody else remembered how to fix
it.  It wasn't working very well, so I called repair and they told me
that they couldn't fix it, take it or leave it, so I left it and they
came and removed all of the old grey dial sets and put in modular
jacks.

One nice thing is that because of the Interphone our house is wired
with 12-pair cable (all of which they had to snake, the house was
built in the 1880s) terminating in a punch-down block in the basement.
Next to the punch-down block, there is also a box full of relays
similar to that for a 1A key system that the installer left here.
("We don't want it, either.")

>    The Bell System had grandiose plans during the 1960's for a 1A
>Home Interphone System in every home, ...

They must have been nuts -- wiring every house in the country with 12 pair?
If it had been at all successful, we all shoulda bought copper mining stock.


John R. Levine, Segue Software, POB 349, Cambridge MA 02238, [phone]
[e-mail], {ima|lotus|spdcc}!esegue!johnl
Massachusetts has over 100,000 unlicensed drivers.  -The Globe

------------------------------

From: Mike Morris <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Panel Telephones & Bell System "Turkeys" of the 1960's
Date: 10 Oct 89 05:20:45 GMT
Reply-To: Mike Morris <[e-mail]>


(Larry Lippman) writes:
%
%    Panel telephones were rather neat, and I remember them fondly
%from the 1960's when they seemed so *futuristic*. :-)
%
%    Panel telephones were also made as a 5-line keyset, along with
%an internal speakerphone option (although an external 55-type
%speakerphone control box was required).

I saw a 5-line speakerphone version at a swap meet onetime, and am still
kicking myself for passing it up because the speakerphone control box
was missing.  Five months later I picked up 3 complete speakerphones
for $5.  An acquaintance told me that he saw a couple of 9-line units.

%    I don't believe that panel telephones are still manufactured
%for single-line residential use, but an equivalent type of instrument
%for installation in control consoles may still be manufactured by such
%vendors as Allen-Tel, Northern Telecom and Plantronics.

Or Plant Equipment Inc, in South Laguna, CA.  They have a very interesting
catalog.

%    An interesting Bell System offering which came out in the
%early 1960's (about the same time as the panel telephone) was the 1A
%Home Interphone System.  This system required two-line "turn-key"
%telephone sets, often of the Princess variety.  The system had
%capabilities for answering one CO line and placing it on hold, in
%addition to providing local intercommunication between telephone sets
%within a residence.  There were also some handsfree intercom options,
%which included the ability to answer the front door using an outdoor
%transmitter/loudspeaker.  There was even a feature which integrated
%the 1A Home Interphone System with a 1A or 1A1 key telephone system
%for residences with up to three CO lines.

I'd love to see the BSP on that.

%    The Bell System had grandiose plans during the 1960's for a 1A
%Home Interphone System in every home, along with a chicken in every
%pot, but alas, the 1A Home Interphone System was a turkey which was
%over-priced and simply never sold to within a fraction of
%expectations.

%    Speaking of chickens and turkeys - believe it or not - there
%was also the 2A Farm Interphone System.  This apparatus was similar to
%that of the home variety, except that it had higher-power outdoor
%loudspeakers for intercom purposes, in addition to providing
%electronic tone ringing over the outdoor loudspeakers.  Some of the
%BSP sections on the 2A Farm Interphone System have really precious
%drawings of typical installations on a farm, including house, barn,
%silo, a loudspeaker in a chicken coop, etc., along with a smiling
%farmer (with overalls and hat) talking to a smiling wife (reminiscent
%of Mrs. Cleaver) in a bedroom!

When I was working at a 3rd party Teletype(tm) repair shop in the 1979
-1980 timeframe we had two buildings, and a crossbar PBX.  We had
sleeved the line relays for extensions 200, 201 and 202, and connected
them to a pair of relays hooked to a pair of 2A amplifiers.  Dialing 200
would pull in both relays and page in poth buildings, 201 paged in the
north one, 202 in the south building.  When the night bell was enabled
from the console, it's dry contacts "rang" on both amplifiers via the
ring cycle contacts in the interrupter from an old 551B key system (the
Hitachi AX2S switch had night bell contacts that latched shut).  The 2A
amplifier was based on germanium transistor technology, and had a relay-
enabled built-in oscillator.  We also keyed the "ring" tone with a time
clock for breaks and lunch.

I still have a xerox of the 2A BSP, and yes, the drawings are very
cute.  I think that the system could have been marketed better - the
hardware worked well, and would have been ideal in small businesses.

Mike Morris                      UUCP: [e-mail]
                                 ICBM: 34.12 N, 118.02 W
#Include quote.cute.standard     PSTN: 818-447-7052
#Include disclaimer.standard     cat flames.all > /dev/null

------------------------------

From: Hector Myerston <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: AT&T Long Lines
Date: 9 Oct 89 16:40:31 GMT
Reply-To: Hector Myerston <unix![e-mail]>
Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park, CA


Err.... Long Lines is a name not a descriptor.  The actual "Lines" are
the Long Distance network consisting of Microwave, Coax, Fiber and
yes, "lines" or cable.  All of these utilize some form multiplexing
carriers with their attendant repeaters to compensate for the
distances involved.


------------------------------

From: "John R. Levine" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Area Code Splits (was: Splits of NNX?)
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Segue Software, Cambridge MA
Date: Mon, 9 Oct 89 15:22:57 GMT

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
writes:
>Good trivia question, what's the most area codes in a local calling
>(non EMS, or extra charge) area you know of?  ...

This is kind of cheating, but cellular customers in New York City get
local calls to all of 201, 212, 718, 516, and (I think) 914.  When 201
splits, they'll get 908 as well.

Even POTS customers in New York get message unit calls to 212, 718, 516,
and 914.


John R. Levine, Segue Software, POB 349, Cambridge MA 02238, [phone]
[e-mail], {ima|lotus|spdcc}!esegue!johnl
Massachusetts has over 100,000 unlicensed drivers.  -The Globe

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 9 Oct 89 05:57:07 -0700
From: "John R. Covert  09-Oct-1989 0853" <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: SxS Payphones

>Besides, I've never heard of Equal Access on a SxS switch.

The 508-448 C.O. in Groton, Mass. (and I suspect all SxS C.O.s in
Mass.)  allows you to dial 10xxx codes.  Implementation of equal
access in SxS is quite easy, since "1" as the first digit drops you
right into an intelligent toll switch.  Whether carrier-pick is
implemented or not, which would require the customer database to exist
in the intelligent switch (which gets ANI from the step), I can't tell
you.

/john

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #438
*****************************










Date:     Wed, 11 Oct 89 0:31:35 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #439
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Wed, 11 Oct 89 00:30:29 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 439

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Re: Technical Question About Caller ID (Ed Frankenberry)
    Re: Phone Gimmicks Put Common Sense on Hold (Roy Smith)
    Re: Telecommunications in Belgium - Part 2 (Dik T. Winter)
    Re: Caller ID (Jeffrey James Bryan Carpenter)
    Re: Line Capture Device - RJ31X (Jamie Hanrahan)
    Re: Sometimes a Rude Surprise for Line "Rustlers" (Michael H. Warfield)
    Re: Telephone Cable "Rustling" in the Wild West :) (Gideon Yuvall)
    Re: SPRINT Down, and AT&T Overloaded (John Higdon)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Re: Technical Question About Caller ID
Date: Mon, 09 Oct 89 10:53:05 -0400
From: Ed Frankenberry <[e-mail]>

The calling number delivery specification is found in Bellcore
TR-TSY-000030, "SPCS Customer Premises Equipment Data Interface",
issue 1, November 1988.  This technical reference describes the data
signaling used from the central office.  The receiving side is
basically a simplex FSK modem operating at 1200 bps (like a Bell 202)
during the silent interval following the first ring.

For a generic description of the service, see TR-TSY-000031, "CLASS
Feature: Calling Number Delivery", issue 2, June 1988.  There's also
another memo, TR-TSY-000391, "CLASS Feature: Calling Number Delivery
Blocking", issue 2, June 1988, if you're interested.  These documents
can be ordered from:

    Bellcore Customer Service
    60 New England Avenue, Room 1B252
    Piscataway, NJ 08854-4196
    201-699-5800

------------------------------

From: Roy Smith <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phone Gimmicks Put Common Sense on Hold
Date: 9 Oct 89 13:35:22 GMT
Reply-To: Roy Smith <[e-mail]>
Organization: Public Health Research Inst. (NY, NY)


> X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 432, message 1 of 7
> The following item appeared in Richard Roeper's column in the <Chicago
> Sun Times>, Wednesday, October 4, 1989.

> "Hi kids, this is Jose Canseco of the Oakland A's. If you want to know
> the true story about how fast I was driving when I got that ticket [...]

     This isn't for real, is it?  If it is, it certainly fits any
reasonable definition of obscene that I can think of.  Even paying $20
to hear Wanda tell me what she wants to do to me isn't as bad.

    Yesterday, I saw a commercial twice (during the Giants-Eagles
football game, which also qualified as obscene) which urged people to
call one of two numbers ($2 for the first minute) to register their
opinion on abortion: Should it be legal or not?  The votes will be
tallied and sent to the appropriate legislators (who, if they have any
sense, will toss them in the trash, where they belong).

    This one really bothered me.  I'm sure there are a lot of
rabidly pro- or anti-abortionists who leapt to their phones to make
sure their vote was counted, if for no other reason than because they
feared that if they didn't, the other side would out-call them and
win.  I don't mind people expressing their opinions (even if I don't
agree with them) and I don't, in theory, mind people taking polls, but
what these guys were doing was just being mercinaries, willing to
fight for whichever side would bid higher for their services, or more
accurately, for both sides at the same time.

Roy Smith,
Public Health Research Institute 455 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016
{att,philabs,cmcl2,rutgers,hombre}!phri!roy -or-
[e-mail] "The connector is the network"

------------------------------

From: "Dik T. Winter" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Telecommunications in Belgium - Part 2 - Numbering and dialing
Date: 9 Oct 89 16:03:46 GMT
Organization: CWI, Amsterdam


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Alain
FONTAINE (Postmaster - NAD)) writes:
 > Zone numbers include  either two or three digits,  including the leading
 > zero. The  following numbers are currently  in use : 010->016,  019, 02,
 > 03, 041, 050->059, 060->069, 071, 080->087,  091. The two zones with two
 > digits are big zones, and numbers inside them have seven digits (spelled
 > xxx.xx.xx) ; the other zones are  smaller, and numbers there only have 6
 > digits (spelled  xx.xx.xx). There is  thus room  for n *  10e8 different
 > numbers (where n  is < 1, maybe  in the 0.7->0.9 range).  Zones 041, 071
 > and 091  are centered  on big  towns, and  could potentially  become big
 > ones some  day.    I suppose this  is the reason  why the  other numbers
 > starting with 04, 07  and 09 have not been used.

This is an historical artifact.  Some (ten?) years ago all telephone
numbers in Belgium were changed.  Before that time a telephone number
consisted of a two digit area code (including leading zero) and a 6
digit local number, or a three digit area code plus a 5 digit local
number.  So a telephone number was always 8 digits including area
code.  This changed overnight throughout Belgium to a telephone number
of 9 digits including area code.  In most places the local number got
an additional digit.  The exceptions were the cities with area codes
(at that time) of 04, 07 and 09; there the area code was changed and
the local number unchanged.

 > Special services, including various  specialized operators, DA, etc have
 > numbers starting  with a '1', and  are always dialed locally.  There are
 > the '100' and '101' national emergency numbers (resp. fire/ambulance and
 > police). All others  have 4 digits. For most services,  the second digit
 > is '2'  or '3',  depending on the  language you wish  to use  (French or
 > Dutch).

When I was in Belgium this summer I checked it, but as far as I know
all special numbers are 3 digits starting with either 1 or 9.  I
remember something like 985 information in French and 995 information
in Dutch.  But I believe this is different for the different areas.
I.e. some areas do not have information in French, while others do not
have it in Dutch while a few in the German speaking part have also
German numbers.

 > Rotary dials are standard 1 to 0. If letters have been used, that's very
 > long  ago  : the  telephone  that  used to  sit  in  my parent's  house,
 > installed  in the  early  50's,  did not  have  letters...

Like most places in Europe letters were not used very much.  I
remember a Belgian telephone that had the French layout for letters
(that was some 30 years ago), but these letters were never used.  The
only reason was probably that the telephone was French made.  (The
French layout is similar to USA/UK layout, except for the position of
letter O, which was, together with Q and Z, positioned with digit 0.)

dik t. winter,
cwi, amsterdam, nederland INTERNET : [e-mail]  BITNET/EARN: dik@mcvax

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 9 Oct 89 16:15:51 -0400
From: Jeffrey James Bryan Carpenter <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Caller ID
Organization: University of Pittsburgh, Computing and Information Services


In article <[e-mail]> you write:
>Does PA have a caller ID service yet because it was included in the list of
>services I could get with my phone line.

I checked with Bell of PA on Friday, and they told me that it is being
tested in select areas of Harrisburg and Philadelphia righ now.  It is
hoped that it will become widely available (CO's where it can be
programmed) in the first quarter of 1991 (!!).


Jeffrey J. B. Carpenter, University of Pittsburgh, Computer Center
USMAIL: 600 Epsilon Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15238
[phone], FAX [phone] | [e-mail] | [e-mail]
[e-mail] or [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: simpact.com![e-mail]
Subject: Re: Line Capture Device - RJ31X
Date: 10 Oct 89 02:47:18 PDT
Organization: Simpact Associates, San Diego CA

In article <[e-mail]>,
 [e-mail] (John R. Levine) writes:
> An RJ-31 is a specially wired connector placed in series with the
> phone line near where it enters the house, in front of all the other
> phones...
  (nice description of RJ-31 elided)
> The best place for the RJ31 is inside the alarm control box where a
> burglar can't unplug it easily, but they usually seem to be installed
> near where the phone line enters the house.

This reminds me of a place I used to work which had an autodialing
burglar alarm.  The alarm was triggered by opening any of several
protected doors from the public corridor into the private office
space, with a 30-sec or so delay.  Authorized personnel were supposed
to come in through one particular door, near which was the keypad
which would let you cancel the alarm before it called the alarm
company.

The alarm control box was installed right next to the keypad.  An
intruder would have no doubt as to what the box was because when the
timeout expired the box could be heard pulse-dialing with a relay
(click-click-click...  click-click-click-click-click... etc.).  The
sound was unmistakeably that of a telephone dialer at work.

Of course the box was locked.  But, leading out from the box and
stapled to the wall in plain view was the standard beige-jacketed
4-conductor inside phone wire!  Obviously if one didn't want to take
time forcing the lock on the control box, a simple snip of the phone
wire would keep the box from calling anybody!  And, since it used
pulse dial, there'd be plenty of time to hear the dialing, notice the
wire, and cut it...

The same place had a lock on the elevators, so that after hours, you
had to use a key or the elevators wouldn't stop at their floor.  (The
stairwell doors were normally locked from the stair side.)  The
control panel on which the lock was mounted (inside each elevator car)
was secured by six ordinary phillips-head screws.  The keyswitch was
positioned right next to the button for the floor, making its function
rather obvious ("Gee!  This button doesn't work!  I'll bet this lock
has something to do with it!").  Unless its backside was protected in
some way a simple clip lead across its terminals would suffice to "hot
wire" the elevator.

No doubt they had paid big bucks for all this stuff, and felt
secure... I pointed all this out once, but they didn't want to hear
it, to put it mildly.

    --- Jamie Hanrahan, Simpact Associates, San Diego CA
Chair, VMSnet [DECUS uucp] and Internals Working Groups, DECUS VAX Systems SIG
Internet:  [e-mail], or if that fails, [e-mail]
Uucp:  ...{crash,scubed,decwrl}!simpact!jeh


------------------------------

From: "Michael H. Warfield (Mike" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Sometimes a Rude Surprise for Telephone Line "Rustlers"
Date: 10 Oct 89 03:29:49 GMT
Reply-To: "Michael H. Warfield (Mike" <wittsend![e-mail]>
Organization: Lanier Network Knitting Circle - Thaumaturgy & Speculums Division


In article <[e-mail]> kitty![e-mail]
(Larry Lippman) writes:
>surprise: some wire which they laboriously remove that *looks* like
>copper, is really copper-clad steel - and is worth essentially
>nothing.

    As related in "Broadcast Engineering" several years ago (more
than twelve) a radio station had been having a problem with "copper
rustlers" stealing their antenna grounding radials.  These are
conductive lines which radiate outward from the base of AM
transmitting antennas to provide a good ground plane.  (Note FM and TV
do not require them because they are higher in frequecny, the "tower"
is not the radiating element, and the antennas are structured
differently.) This particular station had a marshly low land near it's
antennas where the radials had to be elevated over the ground, thus
making them easy prey.

This caused frequent and severe distortions to their transmitted
field, to say nothing of the frequent cost of replacing long stretches
of heavy gauge (#12 or better) copper wire.  A bright engineer decided
to replace a significant number of the radials with barbed wire.  The
rustling stopped shortly there after, although evidence did show they
tried (remember most of this was done at night and in this case over
treacherous ground).  Later "proof of performance" tests showed their
radiated pattern still remainded well within FCC specs and the barbed
wire remains there to this day.  (Although some of the blood stains
may have washed away :-) ).

Michael H. Warfield  (The Mad Wizard)    | gatech.edu!galbp!wittsend!mhw
  (404)  270-2123 / 270-2098        | [e-mail]
An optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds.
A pessimist is sure of it!

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Gideon Yuvall)
Subject: Re: Telephone Cable "Rustling" in the Wild West :-)
Date: 10 Oct 89 03:33:59 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Gideon Yuvall)
Organization: Microsoft Corp., Redmond WA


Similar things happened in Sinai: the Bedouin would pull out
Israeli 'phone-lines, and sell off the copper. One of their
lawyers argued that it was unclear who owned Sinai, and that
therefore nobody could outlaw this practice. He won the case;
after that, the Bedouin would be charged, not with stealing
the copper, but with smuggling it into Israel.


Gideon Yuval, [e-mail], 206-882-8080 (fax:[phone];TWX:160520)


------------------------------

From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: SPRINT Down, and AT&T Overloaded
Date: 10 Oct 89 03:37:31 GMT
Organization: Green Hills and Cows


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Doug
Faunt N6TQS 415-688-8269) writes:

> As I sit here, it appears that SPRINT is down, at least locally, and
> AT&T doesn't have enough capacity to handle the overflow.  This is
> Menlo Park, California, 415-326.

According to the media, some construction crew dug through a fiber
optic cable in the area. The service was restored within a few hours.

        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]      | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #439
*****************************










Date:     Wed, 11 Oct 89 1:29:32 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #440
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Wed, 11 Oct 89 01:25:33 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 440

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Area Codes --> Locations (Joe Kittel)
    Selective Call Interuption (David Lesher)
    NYNEX Strike Update (John R. Levine)
    Dial Pulsing into Completed Call Connections (Larry Lippman)
    The Hottest Answering Machine (Lee C. Moore)
    PC Sytems to Handle Phone Inquiries? (Jim Henry)
    Coordinate Tape Info Request ([e-mail])
    Talking Pushbuttons (Carl Moore)
    Phone Billing in the UK (Kevin Hopkins)
    Longest Time Allowed For Intercept? (Bob Frankston)
    AT&T As a "Backup" For US Sprint et al (Hector Myerston)
    Wrong Number (Rich Zellich)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Joe Kittel <hp-sdd!hpfcmgw.HP.COM![e-mail]>
Subject: Area Codes --> Locations
Date: 26 Sep 89 16:36:07 GMT
Organization: HP Fort Collins, CO


Has anyone seen a listing of up-to-date area codes, by area codes?  In other
words a list you can use to "map" an area code to a location.  I've found
a current list I have to be useful, but it's becoming out-of-date.

Please e-mail a copy, or post it if you must (don't seem to be able to
read notes very often).

Joe Kittel
Hewlett-Packard
hplabs!hpfcla!joe-k

------------------------------

From: David Lesher <[e-mail]>
Subject: Selective Call Interupption
Date: Mon, 9 Oct 89 9:20:53 EDT
Reply-To: David Lesher <[e-mail]>

SBT offers 'Ring Master' whereby for more $$ (of course) you can
have several different number assignments on one actual pair.
Then you receive different rings {long short short,
long short long short, short short short, etc} to identify
which number is being called.

They also offer call interuption. (IMHO-a system designed by
those who hawk high blood pressure medication)

Now if you have both, do you get long and short beeps in your
ear to identify incoming calls?

A host is a host & from coast to [e-mail]
no one will talk to a host that's close..............(305) 255-RTFM
Unless the host (that isn't close)......................pob 570-335
is busy, hung or dead....................................33257-0335

[Moderator's Note: As a matter of fact, in the version of this offered by
Illinois Bell, called 'Selective Ringing', you *do* get distinctive call
waiting tones for each line. You get a chirp and a pause, two chirps and
a pause, or a chirp-pause-chirp. And for some reason, unlike 'normal'
call-waiting here, where you get notified on the first ring, and again
on the fourth ring (as the caller hears the rings), when associated with
Starline, we get only the first chirp(s)....no reminder chirp(s). When
your service is on the newest of the digital switches here, the person
you are talking to doesn't even hear them! Originally, the person you
were talking to would get a 'ker-chunk!' as the line dropped for a second.
Now all he hears is less than a second of dead silence if you are the
person talking. If *he* is talking at the time, he hears nothing.  PT]

------------------------------

Subject: NYNEX Strike Update
Date: 9 Oct 89 11:30:38 EDT (Mon)
From: "John R. Levine" <[e-mail]>

A judge here in Massachusetts finally cut off unemployment benefits to
NYNEX workers because NYNEX persuaded him that there has been a "significant
curtailment of business."  This puts more pressure on the strikers to settle.

On the other hand, yesterday's Boston Sunday Globe reports that many
large business customers who are NYNEX's bread and butter are now bypassing
NYNEX to hook up to LD carriers, since NYNEX can't hook them up at this
point anyway.  They are unlikely to un-bypass when the strike is over, and
this will be a major hit on access line revenues.  It also says that the
overtime they have to pay to non-striking supervisors working 60 hour weeks
appears to consume most of the savings they get from not paying the strikers.

No report on talks, though.

Regards,

John Levine, [e-mail], {spdcc|ima|lotus}!esegue!johnl

------------------------------

Subject: Dial Pulsing into Completed Call Connections
Date: 7 Oct 89 16:56:38 EDT (Sat)
From: Larry Lippman <kitty![e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> portal!cup.portal.com!
[e-mail] writes:

> I have been getting quite a few requests to add inbound pulse-dial (click)
> detection to the voice mail boards I design.  Since this is fairly easy to
> do (we have two DSP's on the board, one dedicated to call progress), we will
> be adding this to some future software release.  The question is, we have not
> been able to find any phone lines that allow the calling party to pulse dial
> any number higher than 2 or 3 without dropping the line.  Is this just local
> to our area (GTE, Pac*Bell), or is this a widespread problem.  I know there
> is a company selling boards that just detect the inbound pulses, so there
> must be some place it works.

> Please note:  I am not talking about loop current detect, just the sound of
> the clicks transmitted through the network from the calling party.

    Most central office apparatus handling subscriber loop
signaling requires a line open of at least 150 ms before disconnect.
At a dialing rate of 10 pps with 60% break, the 60 ms line opens
during dial pulsing are no where near long enough to cause a loop
disconnect.  The 150 ms timing is determined by one of the following,
depending upon the type of CO apparatus: release time of slow-release
"B"-relay in a trunk circuit; electronic timer equivalent of "B"-relay
in a trunk circuit; or programmed loop supervision scan time in ESS
apparatus.

    Therefore, theoretically, dialing into a completed connection
with returned answer supervision should not result in a disconnect.

    However, from a practical standpoint, such a disconnect will
happen, and ONE CANNOT ASSUME THAT PULSE DIALING INTO A COMPLETED
CONNECTION IS A RELIABLE METHOD OF SIGNALING.

    The most common reason why disconnect will occur is
maladjustment of DX signaling circuits and SF signaling circuits.
Such maladjustment is generally undetected since it will not interfere
with dialing PRIOR TO RETURN OF ANSWER SUPERVISION - which accounts
for the ONLY type of dialing situation that a telephone company will
ever consider.

    Pulsing tests and apparatus lineup on a DX or SF circuit are
always conducted in the absence of answer supervision; after all, when
you dial a normal telephone call, your dialing MUST be completed prior
to answer on the far end!  Properly balancing a DX circuit to pulse
without distortion in the presence of answer supervision is much more
exacting than balancing such a circuit to pulse without distortion in
the absence of answer supervision.  Improper SF level adjustments on
an SF signaling circuit, such as an E-type or F-type unit, will also
result in dial pulse distortion.

    Now, what happens is that the resultant dial pulse distortion
causes an effective line open which is long enough to be interpreted
as a valid CO apparatus disconnect signal.

    The above disconnect situation could not happen on a call
where the interoffice trunk path was say, totally T-carrier, because
signaling in the presence of returned answer supervision is not an
adjustment problem on digital carrier apparatus.  However, introduce a
DX or SF trunk segment, and the problem is likely to occur.

    There is nothing that you, as a vendor of telephone apparatus
seeking to interpret dial clicks, can do about this problem.  It is
beyond your control, and not an area which can be subject to any
regulatory complaint.

    My personal opinion - which you can take with grain of salt -
is to NOT offer this dial pulse detection option.  The negative
reaction of customers who become disconnected may well offset the
positive value of this attempted feature.

<> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. - Uniquex Corp. - Viatran Corp.
<> UUCP  {allegra|boulder|decvax|rutgers|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry
<> TEL [phone] | 716/773-1700  {hplabs|utzoo|uunet}!/      \uniquex!larry
<> FAX [phone] | 716/773-2488      "Have you hugged your cat today?"

------------------------------

Date: 9 Oct 89 11:23:18 PDT (Monday)
Subject: The Hottest Answering Machine
From: [e-mail]

Because of a service person who went wild in my house, I am now
shopping for a new answering machine.  I am taking this opportunity to
by a top-of-the-line machine.  Is there any machine that is currently
considered the best, hottest or most feature-full (consumer) answering
machine?

If there is sufficient interest, I will summarize for the group.

Thanks,

Lee Moore -- Xerox Webster Research Center, Webster, NY, USA
Arpa Internet:    [e-mail]
UUCP:        {allegra, rutgers, cornell}!rochester!rocksanne!lee
DDN:        [phone]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 9 Oct 89 14:46:58 -0700
From: Jim Henry <[e-mail]>
Subject: PC Sytems to Handle Phone Inquiries?
Reply-To: Jim Henry <[e-mail]>
Organization: RAND Corp., Santa Monica, Ca.


I would like to design a system which allows a telephone caller to
check the status of an order by telephone without human intervention.
What I envision is a card in a PC that can answer a ringing phone,
deliver a recorded greeting, listen to a series of touch tones and
make the numbers available to a database program.  The database
program would check the order and instruct the card to deliver one of
two recorded resposnses, ready or not ready.

Of course the budget to do any of this is limited.  Is there
reasonably priced hardware that could do this?  Are there better ways
of approaching this problem?  Are there problems with doing this that
I'm overlooking?

Thanks for any ideas you can pass along.

------------------------------

From:  <[e-mail]>
Subject: Coordinate Tape Info Request
Reply-To:  <[e-mail]>
Organization: Network Telephone Services, Woodland Hills
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 89 00:12:51 GMT

I just loaded my Bellcore V&H Coordinate tape onto my VAX to help with
my project I mentioned in an earlier post, my new question is:

What are the units of those coordinates?  and What document am I
missing that would tell me this?

Thanks!
  E+

                0
              +  @  +  @  +
            \ * | * /
            % + -- EGK -- + %
            / * | * \
              +  @  +  @  +
                0

------------------------------

Date:     Tue, 10 Oct 89 10:16:16 EDT
From:     Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Talking Pushbuttons

In Lancaster, Pa. recently, I used a pay phone with this address
printed on it: Contel Executone, 2300 N. 5th St., Reading, PA 19605

For each button I push when punching in a phone number, a voice calls
out the digit I have punched in.  However, you go back to the normal
beeps for a telephone credit card number.  The other information:

Complies with part 68, FCC rule
FCC Registration No. E3F_5N3-7113
Ringer Equivalence 1.2B

------------------------------

Subject: Phone Billing in the UK
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 89 14:25:46 +0100
From: Kevin Hopkins <[e-mail]>


John Higdon wrote:

> ... The usual system of billing
> calls elsewhere is with "metering pulses". Each pulse is worth so much
> money. On a local call, the pulses go by very slowly and on an
> international call the pulses come rapid-fire.

This is the situation in the UK, though BT are giving a trial to a
"sort of" itemised billing. On certain exchanges (I presume the newer
System X ones) BT are sending customers itemised bills, but only for
calls of 50p or over.

Most residential line calls are under 50p each as they are made
outside office hours. Meter units are 5.06p each and a unit gives you
around 5 mins of a local call off-peak (I think). 50p for a local call
is for a long call! Medium to long distance calls may go over the 50p.
The only calls which will really show up on the bills are the ones to
car phones (STD codes 0836 and 0860), to value added services (0898,
0055, 0066, 0077) and international calls.

I don't know if BT charge for itemised billing (a possibility) and I
think the facility is only available in a very small part of the
country.

P.S.    Is there anyone in BT who can answer these questions. Not BT
    Research Martlesham but BT Phones.

+--------------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| [e-mail] | Kevin Hopkins,              |
| or    ..!mcvax!ukc!nott-cs!K.Hopkins         | Department of Computer Science,|
| or in the UK: [e-mail]         | University of Nottingham,      |
| CHAT-LINE: [phone] x 3815         | Nottingham, ENGLAND, NG7 2RD   |
+--------------------------------------------+--------------------------------+

------------------------------

From: Bob Frankston (BFrankston) <lotus![e-mail]>
Subject: Longest Time Allowed For Intercept?
Date: Mon, 9 Oct 89 21:40:27 EDT

Recently my wife got a call.  Turns out the person was given our old
number and got a recording giving our new number.  Nothing unusual
except that we moved 8 years ago!

[Moderator's Note: For many years during the 1950-60 period, a famous
house of prostitution in Chicago apparently known all over the United
States, if not the world, had the number DElaware 7-1515. When the
joint was finally raided for the umpteenth time and the place closed
for good, IBT said the number would not be re-assigned until the
volume of calls to the number decreased. (They had been getting 30-40
calls daily for their `outcall service'.) Ten years later, there were
still two or three calls daily, apparently from businessmen around the
world who had never updated their little black books. I think the
number was re-assigned after about twelve years.  PT]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: 10 Oct 89  09:38 PST
Subject: AT&T as a "Backup" For US Sprint et al
Organization: SRI Intl, Inc., Menlo Park, CA  94025  [[phone]]

     It must be amusing (or maybe depressing) to AT&T network planners
to find that whenever one of the other Common Carriers experiences
outages, the expectation is that AT&T will be able to instantly
provide overflow capacity at a pre-divestiture P.01 grade of service.

     Such outages are usually reported as "SPRINT fiber cut, AT&T
circuits overloaded" as if each were equally to blame!.  The fact that
the OCCs routinely use AT&T facilities to complete calls to remote
locations is equally unknown to press and public.

     It would interesting to find out how much of AT&T's traffic
SPRINT or MCI could carry in a emergency.

     In fact, one of the strengths of the OCCs is that they have such
great backup facilities: AT&T.  [On this basis it makes sense to use
an OCC as your principal carrier with AT&T as backup/overflow] It will
be interesting to see what happens as AT&T adjusts its network to
reflect its share of the market.


------------------------------

Date:     Tue, 10 Oct 89 7:59:10 CDT
From: Rich Zellich <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Wrong Number


There was an odd letter in the letters-to-the-editor in the St. Louis
Post- Dispatch last weekend: A writer from Australia was asking
*anyone* locally to help some poor woman who was worried about her
water being cut off by the utility company.

It seems that he answered the phone and the caller was some woman who
was worried about her water being cut off because of a billing
problem; he told her she must have a wrong number, she read off his
number, he asked where she was calling from, she hesitated and then
said "St. Louis" and hung up.

Worried that she might actually have her water cut off, he wrote the
letter to the St. Louis newspaper in an attempt to help.

The Post-Dispatch people did just enough checking to find that the
number in question was an East-side (Illinois, that is; East side of
the Mississippi to us St. Louisians) number in area code 618.
Apparently the woman should have dialed 1-618-xxx-yyyy and instead
somehow dialed 011-61-8-xxx-yyyy to reach a valid number in Australia.

Sometimes you *can* get an overseas number without a lot of hassle!

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #440
*****************************










Date:     Wed, 11 Oct 89 21:00:50 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #441
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Wed, 11 Oct 89 21:00:00 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 441

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Some Comments About AT&T Long Lines & Transmission Systems (Larry Lippman)
    Numerical List of NPA's and NXX Count (Dave Esan)
    Signalling Methods With Caller ID (Miguel Cruz)
    Help: Construct a Set of Code Words (Eric Ho)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Some Comments About AT&T Long Lines & Transmission Systems
Date: 11 Oct 89 19:51:28 EDT (Wed)
From: Larry Lippman <kitty![e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
columbia.edu (Gabe Wiener) writes:

> I was just thinking about the AT&T Long Lines that have been used in
> this country for decades.  I'm sure all of these questions have
> ridiculously simple answers, but here goes anyway.

> 1. Over the _really_ long runs, such as through the Rocky Mountains,
>    or through the deserts of the southwest, how do they prevent
>    line resistance from degrading the signal to a point where it would
>    become undetectable?

    For the "really long runs" to which you refer, we are dealing
with coaxial cable and microwave systems, as opposed to individual
pairs per circuit, and/or short-haul carrier such as N-type FDM or T1
PCM.  Analog coaxial cable and microwave systems all work on
single-sideband suppressed carrier to provide FDM (Frequency Division
Multiplex).

    Analog coaxial cable transmission systems, such as L1, L3, L4
and L5 carrier utilize various types of repeaters which are placed at
periodic intervals along the cable route.  L1 repeater spacing is 8
miles; L3 is 4 miles; L4 is 2 miles; and L5 is 1 mile.  Most repeaters
are self-powered using DC which is superimposed over the RF signal on
the coaxial cable center conductor.  Every 160 miles for L1, L3 and L4
and every 75 miles for L5 are power feed points which are located in
small repeater buildings or hardened underground facilities.  These
power feed points require AC power, but have back-up batteries and
generators.

    Microwave transmission systems are by their very nature
limited by the curvature of the earth, and therefore require repeater
towers every 20 to 30 miles, with each tower obtaining local power
with battery/generator backup.  Some examples of long haul microwave
systems are the TD-2, TD-3, TH-1 and TH-3.

    Digital coaxial cable transmission systems, like the T4M,
require digital *regenerators* (like a repeater, but not quite the
same) every mile, with each regenerator being powered by DC
superimposed on the coaxial cable center conductor.

    Incidentaly, the capacity and specs of the L-type coaxial
cable systems, as per their original design are:

L1 (obsolete) 600 channels per two coaxial tubes    ~2.8 MHz bandwidth
L3         1,860 channels per two coaxial tubes    ~8.3 MHz bandwidth
L4         3,600 channels per two coaxial tubes    ~18 MHz bandwidth
L5        10,800 channels per two coaxial tubes    ~70 MHz bandwidth

    Most L-type coaxial cable systems use either 12-tube or
20-tube coaxial cables.  Accordingly, as an example, an L4 system
using a 20-tube cable (with 2 tubes spare) provides a total of 32,400
voice-grade channels per cable.  That's a LOT of channels!  L5 is
three times greater in capacity.

    The L-type coaxial cable systems are used to provide
"hardened" communication routes which are relatively immune to natural
and man-made distaster (including nuclear war).  As a result, the
hardened routes are always underground, but some non-hardened L-type
coaxial cable are above ground.  Underground routes are also preferred
because they result in greater transmission stability since cable
temperature changes are minimized; when one is trying to push maximum
bandwidth from a coaxial cable and maintain amplitude stability,
temperature effects become significant.

    Digital methods (PCM) are being used to update both coaxial
cable and microwave facilities.  As an example, the T4M system
transmits digital data at a rate of 274 megabits/sec (DS4), and can
use the same coaxial cable as in the L5 system; L5 and T4M can
furthermore co-exist in the same cable.  In the case of the T4M,
however, the repeater modules are replaced with regenerator modules
for the designated coaxial tubes.

    It is important to understand that practical digital
transmission systems require MUCH MORE BANDWIDTH THAN ANALOG SYSTEMS.
While a single T4M channel with two coaxial tubes (one for each
direction) provides 4,032 individual voice-grade circuits, the
equivalent L5 analog FDM channel provides 10,800 voice grade circuits.
Stated another way, the T4M system will handle 168 24-channel D1
channel banks.

    A new generation of microwave systems have been designed to
directly interface with digital carrier.  As examples, the 1A Radio
Digital System will handle one 1.544 megabit/sec DS1 line per channel;
the 3A Radio Digital System will handle one 44.736 megabit/sec DS3
line per channel; and the 18A Digital Radio System will handle one 274
megabit/sec DS4 line per channel.

    There are also DS4 interfaces for fiber optic systems.  It is
therefore possible for a signal to leave one customer premises as
digital and travel thousands of miles through all manner of wire,
coaxial cable, microwave and fiber optic systems and enter a second
customer premises while remaining 100% digital.

> 2. When one of those lines is damaged out in the middle of nowhere,
>    and the damage is _inside_ the cable, how do they locate it?

    There are two general methods of fault location, usually
performed sequentially.  The first involves supervisory pilot tones to
localize repeater and/or gross cable faults.  Obviously, if there are
say 16 repeaters in a given line segment, and from ONE END of the
segment supervisory pilot tones can only be received from repeaters 1
through 11, then the fault is most likely between repeater 11 and
repeater 12.  A similar feature using audio tones is used to localize
faulty regenerators in digital transmission systems.

    Once an approximate fault location is made as above, entry to
the cable is made from a repeater location where impedance
measurements can be taken and/or a time domain reflectometer be used
to pinpoint the exact fault location, often to within a few feet.

>    Moreover, how do they splice in a new piece of cable?

        Very carefully. :-)

    Critical circuits are generally re-routed using alternate
facilities to permit any cable work.  Splicing coaxial cable is not
trivial, and some time must be allowed following a splice for moisture
to be purged from the cable tubes, and for the transmission
characteristics of the cable to stabilize before equalization can be
performed and the cable placed in service.

>    In other
>    words, how do they connect up those hundreds of individual lines?

    One at a time. :-)

    As implied above, on long-haul coaxial cable circuits there
are comparatively few lines since multiplex is used.  A 20-tube
coaxial cable has, of course, 20 tubes, plus maybe a dozen or so 19
AWG conventional pairs for order wire, repeater power and test
purposes.

>    It would be like trying to rewire a spinal cord.

    Nah, it's not that complex once you get into it.

> 3. Are the long-lines used today by AT&T digital or analog?  Sprint
>    obviously is touting their fiber-optics, but what is AT&T doing?
>    Do they still use the analog long-lines that they've been using for
>    years?  Or do they send the signals over them via a digital encoder?

    I'm afraid that I have been out of the mainstream of the
telephone industry far too long to quantitatively comment on the
percentage of digital versus analog FDM circuits in use by AT&T.  The
only thing I can state with certainty is that there is still a
SIGNIFICANT number of "long line" circuits which run through analog
FDM facilities.  One of the reasons why a large number of analog
circuits remain is that going digital using the same cable facility
results in at LEAST 2-1/2 TIMES >FEWER< voice-grade channels.  It is
not easy to economically justify converting, say, an existing L5
facility to T4M while at the same time >reducing< its channel capacity
by 250% just to go digital for the sake of going digital.

    Sprint, as an example, has somewhat of an "unfair" advantage
over AT&T.  Sprint started with ZERO plant investment, and immediately
had the freedom to go state-of-the-art digital over the MOST LUCRATIVE
high-density circuit routes.  AT&T does not have this luxury, and
furthermore has a lot of toll plant serving CO's in the middle of
nowhere where circuit revenue is far less that circuit installation
and maintenance cost.

    The eventual goal is, of course, for AT&T to have all-digital
network using fiber-optic communications, but the reality of the
situation is that so much money is invested in existing microwave and
coaxial cable plant, including FDM carrier, that it will be a LONG
time before the goal of an all-digital transmission network can be
realized by AT&T.  Don't forget, the AT&T network is larger than
Sprint by orders of magnitude!

<> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. - Uniquex Corp. - Viatran Corp.
<> UUCP  {allegra|boulder|decvax|rutgers|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry
<> TEL [phone] | 716/773-1700  {hplabs|utzoo|uunet}!/      \uniquex!larry
<> FAX [phone] | 716/773-2488      "Have you hugged your cat today?"

------------------------------

From: Dave Esan <moscom![e-mail]>
Subject: Numerical List of NPA's and NXX Count
Date: 11 Oct 89 20:42:22 GMT
Reply-To: Dave Esan <moscom![e-mail]>
Organization: Moscom Corp., E. Rochester, NY


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
com (John R. Covert  13-Sep-1989 2056) writes:
>X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 376, message 2 of 6

>   >From:    GMONTI       "Greg Monti"     12-SEP-1989 16:56:25.63
>   >Subj:    TD Submission:  NPA 215

>How full is Area Code 215 (Philadelphia and environs)?  215 may be the most
>populated Area Code in the U.S. which does not yet use prefixes containing a
>1 or a 0 as the second digit.

Well I took that as a bit of a challenge.  Using the BellCore V&H tape that
just arrived (and finally had information on area code 708 on it), I found
the following information:

npa    # of nxx   npa    # of nxx   npa    # of nxx   npa    # of nxx
312:     769      301:       650        313:     586      403:     575
214:     671      212:       624        205:     583      416:     573
213:     662      404:       611        415:     580      202:     566
201:     660      919:       603        512:     576      215:     555

215 is actually the 16th fullest npa in North America.  Note of course that
312 is splitting, and will reduce its number of nxx's in the next 6 months,
214 is scheduled for a split, as is 201.  202 and 301 will have more room now
that they must dial a 1 to other DC area codes, 415 is scheduled for a split.
416 recently removed the has allowed the implementation of NXX where previously
only NNX was allowed.

Most interesting to me is that 212, and 213 which both have split in the last
five years are nearly full enough to qualify for a another split.

For those interested, I include in numerical order all the npas, and their
count of nxx's.  Yes, 302 (Delaware) has the fewest (97).

     # of      # of      # of      # of      # of     # of      # of
npa  nxx  npa  nxx  npa  nxx  npa  nxx  npa  nxx  npa  nxx  npa  nxx

201: 660  303: 468  405: 475  507: 251    609: 250  713: 474  815: 271
202: 566  304: 315  406: 323  508: 339    612: 482  714: 504  816: 428
203: 445  305: 422  407: 333  509: 224    613: 262  715: 294  817: 443
204: 334  306: 426  408: 266  512: 576    614: 379  716: 347  818: 312
205: 583  307: 137  409: 263  513: 448    615: 494  717: 453  819: 295
206: 510  308: 189  412: 408  514: 445    616: 349  718: 365  901: 205
207: 325  309: 250  413: 126  515: 389    617: 330  719: 146  902: 246
208: 263  312: 769  414: 420  516: 339    618: 311  801: 300  904: 464
209: 297  313: 586  415: 580  517: 303    619: 433  802: 171  905: 260
212: 624  314: 494  416: 573  518: 236    701: 341  803: 467  906: 108
213: 662  315: 246  417: 189  519: 326    702: 247  804: 446  907: 337
214: 671  316: 345  418: 348  601: 379    703: 513  805: 250  912: 306
215: 555  317: 378  419: 319  602: 552    704: 310  806: 236  913: 417
216: 521  318: 321  501: 512  603: 219    705: 253  807: 101  914: 311
217: 341  319: 319  502: 328  604: 523    706: 158  808: 226  915: 275
218: 268  401: 120  503: 481  605: 320    707: 163  809: 449  916: 371
219: 329  402: 392  504: 306  606: 256    708: 415  812: 259  918: 274
301: 650  403: 575  505: 288  607: 158    709: 240  813: 449  919: 603
302:  97  404: 611  506: 157  608: 226    712: 264  814: 250

 -->        David Esan                rochester!moscom!de

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 11 Oct 89 15:04:34 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Signalling Methods With Caller ID


Just wondered... There's been a lot of discussion on the methods used
for signalling with the new Caller ID systems; naturally it all went
in one ear and out the other.

My question is this: would it be possible (not that I have any idea
why I'd want to) to make a device which could mimic the signals sent
from the CO such that when I called someone with a Caller ID box,
once they answered, I could make numbers appear on their little
screen?

Or does the box ignore signals once a phone is off-hook?  Or are the
signals out of the bandwidth that would make it from my phone to
their phone?

[e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Eric Ho <[e-mail]>
Date: Wed, 11 Oct 89 04:57:36 edt
Subject: Help: Construct a Set of Code Words.

    I want to know how to construct a set of Code Words (ie. 10 bits
each) such that the Hamming distance is x (x is any integer).

    Please e-mail directly to me instead of replying here.

    Thanks in advance.

Eric Ho
BitNet:   [e-mail]
          [e-mail]
          [e-mail]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #441
*****************************










Date:     Wed, 11 Oct 89 21:53:25 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #442
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Wed, 11 Oct 89 21:50:13 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 442

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    900-voting (@vlsi.ll.mit.edu:black@ll-micro)
    1-900-IMA-JERK (John Croll)
    Re: What Happens When a Phone Hangs Up? (Steve Pozgaj)
    Re: What Happens When a Phone Hangs Up? (Clive Dawson)
    Re: Phone Design For Humans (Robert L. Oliver)
    Re: Equal Access Pay Phones (Robert L. Oliver)
    Re: More Comments on Busy Line Verification Facilities (Joel B. Levin)
    Re: Ownership of Touch-Tone Trademark (Peggy Shambo)
    Re: Possible California PUC Changes (Linc Madison)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 11 Oct 89 10:52:56 EDT
From: @vlsi.ll.mit.edu:black@ll-micro
Subject: 900-Voting

    If people are dumb enough to waste $1 or so for specious
voting on abortion, or whatever, that's their problem (and a LOT of
profit for the perpetrating goons!).  There's a local politically-
oriented talk show on Monday nights in Boston, which always has a call
in 95-cent question.  Last week's was: Should the speed limit be
raised to 65 MPH?  Guess what the outcome was: 91% YES.  Mass. is
basically a police state on the roads now.

On the other channel, Monday night football promotes another 95-cent
question: vote for your favorite kickoff return, etc.

No reason to be upset, these are as unscientific [non-=statistical] as
a poll can get!!

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 11 Oct 89 09:03:53 -0700
From: John Croll <[e-mail]>
Subject: 1-900-IMA-JERK

In Telecom Digest Volume 9, issue 439, Roy Smith (<[e-mail]>)
wrote:
>> X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 432, message 1 of 7
>> The following item appeared in Richard Roeper's column in the <Chicago
>> Sun Times>, Wednesday, October 4, 1989.

>> "Hi kids, this is Jose Canseco of the Oakland A's. If you want to know
>> the true story about how fast I was driving when I got that ticket [...]

>     This isn't for real, is it?  If it is, it certainly fits any
>reasonable definition of obscene that I can think of.  Even paying $20
>to hear Wanda tell me what she wants to do to me isn't as bad.

Actually, unfortunately, this is for real.  You can dial the number
and hear a few minutes of incredibly boring Jose Canseco.  Just
because somebody is good at hitting a baseball doesn't mean he's not a
twit.  (In fact, being good enough at hitting a baseball to make a
million dollars a year probably means you are a twit.)

I read somewhere that this gimmick is the bright idea of Jose's
agents, who are always on the lookout for ways to cash in on Jose's
name (not to mention the names of the other people the agency
handles).  They justified it by saying that people know up front that
it costs real money, and that people really want to know what Jose
thinks about stuff.  It also, incidentally, pays Jose (and his agents)
a nice piece of change.

I like to watch the guy play ball (did you see the 500+ foot home run
he hit in Toronto?), but I never listen to what he says because it's
so stupid.  Apparently there's at least one fan in Oakland who agrees:
During the last regular season game televised from Oakland, I saw a
sign in the outfield bleachers that read: "Hey Jose! 1-900-IMA-JERK!"
My sentiments exactly.

John

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 11 Oct 89 08:53:46 EDT
From: Steve Pozgaj <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re:  What Happens When a Phone Hangs Up?
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Steve Pozgaj)
Organization: Digital Media Networks Inc. Toronto, Ontario, Canada

In article <[e-mail]> (Clive Dawson) writes:

> ... What happens is that anytime somebody decides to hang up and not leave
> a message, I get a "message" anyway consisting of [description deleted] ...

>       -- Do other people have this problem?

Yes! I bought my first answering machine over a year ago.  It was a
two-cassette model, with a list of features a mile long.  It had
*exactly* the same problem as Clive mentions, except the recorded
message was something like  "The number you have dialed is a long
distance number ...".

Anyway, I tested this with a friend, putting in every manner of call
(long message, short message, no message, and combinations in
sequence).  The bottom line: the machine screws up if a hangup occurs
*before* the outgoing message completes.

Solution: I bought an el-cheapo machine (single micro-cassette), but
it serves perfectly (remote answer, excellent response, hangups or
otherwise).

Note: a friend explained that the VOX (voice activated control)
circuits on these machines are their key features.  I suppose my
former machine (sorry, I even forgot the name, but it was made in
Italy) had a lousy one and my current el-cheapo Korean machine has a
good one.  You might check yours.

I can give you the name of the el-cheapo, if you like.  (Again, I've
forgotten it.  I decided to shop by telling the clerk what *features*
I need, not the *brand name*, and it worked!  But I have a
non-household name product.)


------------------------------

Date: Wed 11 Oct 89 11:44:59-CDT
From: Clive Dawson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re:  What Happens When a Phone Hangs Up?

John-
  Regarding my answering machine problems dealing with hang-ups,
thanks for the great advice!  It turns out that my exchange is,
indeed, served by a DMS-100 switch.  I called the phone company
and asked to speak to somebody at my CO.  The conversation went
something like this:

    SWB:  Fairfax.  Can I help you?
    Me:   Can I speak to a technician?  I have a question about
          the DMS-100 switch.
    SWB:  Are you a vendor?
    Me:   No, I'm a customer.
        SWB:  A customer?  How did you get this number?!
    Me:   I called the Southwestern Bell and they connected me.
    SWB:  Well, you should have called the repair number.
    Me:   Yes, but then it would have taken two extra days to
          finally get the person I need to talk to.  I just have
          a question.
    SWB:  Well, hold on then.
        ...
    SWB:  This is -----, can I help you?
    Me:   Yes, I have an answering machine which can't detect
          when the other person hangs up.  I think it might have
          something to do with the CPC signal.
    SWB:  What's your phone number?

          I give it to him, and hear him typing something on
          a keyboard.  Thirty seconds later:

    SWB:  OK, I've set an option on your line which will fix the
          problem.
    Me:   Thanks a lot!!
    SWB:  Sure.  Any time.

Sure enough, the problem is fixed.  Rarely have I had such a
satisfying encounter with the phone company!!  (I love it when
I can successfully bypass the first n layers of bureaucracy, and
talk to the person who can actually DO something!)

Clive

------------------------------

From: "Robert L. Oliver" <hutch![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phone Design For Humans (Turnbutton 25xx deskset)
Date: 11 Oct 89 01:25:46 GMT
Organization: Rabbit Software Corp., Malvern, PA


In article <[e-mail]>, claris!netcom!edg@ames.
arc.nasa.gov (Edward Greenberg) writes:

> >[Moderator's Note: But you know what I *really* miss are the 2515
> >sets. Those were the 2500 'two line turn button' sets, with the plastic
> >knob in the corner for selection of line one or two. ... PT]

> ...
> One of my favorite phones is a 2500 set with a headset jack in the
> back.  What I wouldn't give for a few more of those.

Really?  How much would you give?  You might be pleased to know that AT&T
Technologies, Inc. STILL MANUFACTURES these, or something similar,
apparently to the ORIGINAL "Survive a nuclear war" specifications (and in the
U.S.A.)!

As I mentioned in an earlier article, we just installed a new AT&T
System 25.  Since some of our single line people required headsets,
and since there was some shortage of "new-improved" style phones or
their headset adapters, we were given BRAND NEW 2514BMW (!) sets,
complete with headset jack on the back and Plantronics headsets, which
AT&T resells (ouch).  On our phones (2514), however, the "turn button"
is to switch between the headset and the handset, rather than between
lines like on the 2515 mentioned by PT.  Also, when the button is
PRESSED (not turned) it produces a timed break for putting people on
hold in the System 25.

NOW, the problem that remains is that people walk up to when you're
wearing the headset, and they can't readily tell if you're on the
phone or not.  If they are familiar with the phone, they'll carefully
inspect the turnbuttom to see if it's in the "on" position, meaning
headset, meaning you're probably in the middle of a call.  But it's
hard to see that.

What would be nice is if the turnbutton had a light in it that lit up
when you were using the line (just like the buttons on the old
multi-line desk sets we recently praised).

Would this be hard to add?


Robert Oliver
Rabbit Software Corp.        [phone]
7 Great Valley Parkway East     [e-mail]
Malvern, PA  19355        ...!uunet!cbmvax!hutch!robert

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Robert L. Oliver)
Subject: Re: Equal Access Pay Phones
Date: 5 Oct 89 01:26:53 GMT
Organization: Rabbit Software Corp., Malvern, PA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail].
com (John R. Covert) writes:

> Wonder what, if anything, I will get charged for this little
> experiment.

> Greg Monti, Arlington, Virginia;  workplace [phone]

Through my own experiences with Alternate Operator Services, I would
roughly estimate that your next phone bill won't contain much of a
surprise.

Several months from now, however, you'll receive a bill nearly
exceeding the National Debt of the U.S.

Do you have a small country to mortgage?

------------------------------

From: Joel B Levin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: More Comments on Busy Line Verification Facilities
Date: 11 Oct 89 20:21:51 GMT
Reply-To: Joel B Levin <[e-mail]>
Organization: BBN Communications Corporation


In article <[e-mail]> kitty![e-mail]
(Larry Lippman) writes:

|In article <[e-mail]> claris!netcom!edg@ames.
|arc.nasa.gov (Edward Greenberg) writes:
|> We soon learned that we could reach the verification operator by
|> dialing the affected prefix and 9901 (or, "official 1").  Then WE
|> could tell the verification operator to do her thing.
|
|    What you relate is rather unusual.  I can conceive of no...

When I was an undergrad in greater Boston (~20 years ago) and we did a
little desultory phone hacking (we spent most of our energy cracking
the Computer Center's SDS-940 :-)), we learned about some set of
numbers I no longer recall exactly.

NNX-9901, -9902, -9903, etc. (or some subset thereof) could be used to
reach what we believed to be a verification operator, a rates-and-
routing operator, and a DA or TSPS supervisor (or both).  I don't
remember whether all NNX's supported this.  Certainly all the business
offices were NNX-9950 (our radio station was -9550 and we got a lot of
wrong numbers).

A lot of these things I am sure are no longer true.

Nets: [e-mail]  |
 or {...}!bbn!levin  |
POTS: [phone]  |

[Moderator's Note: All the 9900 series of numbers used to be used by
IBT and many other telcos. IBT still uses quite a few of them. Years
ago, 9900 and 9901 were the Chief Operator; 9902 was verification;
9903 through 9906 were direct lines to Directory Enquiry. 9954 looped
around to 9955 and outpulsed '611', to get the repair desk in a given
office. If you were quick enough, you could dial anything you wanted
out on 9955 if you got your dialing finished before the call-extender
cut in. 9990 through 9999 were test lines; always busy, silent
termination, etc. 994x and 996x generally just terminated in the
frames on the supervisor's desk or vicinity. Finally, 9411 was nearly
always the business office.  That much has stayed intact: The Illinois
Bell Corporate Headquarters in Chicago is 312-727-9411.  PT]

------------------------------

From: Peggy Shambo <[e-mail]>
Date: Tue Oct 10 21:53:34 1989
Subject: Re: Ownership of Touch-Tone Trademark
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Peggy Shambo)
Organization: ddsw1.MCS.COM Contributor, Mundelein, IL


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
com (David A. Cantor  06-Oct-1989 1609) writes:

>My most recent telephone bill from New England Telephone shows the
>registered trademark symbol (a capital R in a circle) immediately
>after the word Touch-Tone.  There isn't anything on the bill which
>indicates whose registered trademark it is, though.

British Telecom bought ownership of the Touch-Tone name after AT&T gave it
up with divestiture.  It was up for grabs, apparently, so they registered or
copyrighted or whatever it was that one does with something like that.


Peg Shambo           | Anybody know of any IDMS/ADSO positions in
[e-mail]  | the South of England? (London, Southampton,
             | Portsmouth, Bournemouth would all be nice)


------------------------------

Date: Wed, 11 Oct 89 14:59:40 PDT
From: Linc Madison <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Possible California PUC Changes
Organization: University of California, Berkeley

>   The story below is from the Los Angeles Times of October 1, 1989,
>
>              Rewriting the Book on Phone Rates
>                  by Bruce Keppel
>
>   (San Francisco)... what may be the most far-reaching regulatory
>proposal every made by the California Public Utilities Commission.

The big regulatory reform *I'm* waiting for is on in-state long
distance charges.  It costs me more to call Los Angeles at NIGHT rate
than to call the East Coast during DAY rate -- on the SAME long
distance company (true for AT&T, Sprint, and MCI, all three).  Even
more expensive than calling Los Angeles (400 miles) is calling Ukiah
(150 or 200 miles), because the latter is in my LATA and thus Pac*Bell
monopoly territory.  Indeed, it seems that most of my phone calls are
charged INVERSELY proportional to distance.

What POSSIBLE justification can there be for leaving in-state rates so
high?  I pay six or seven times as much for some in-state calls as I
would for comparable-distance interstate calls.

   Linc Madison
   [e-mail]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #442
*****************************










Date:     Thu, 12 Oct 89 0:04:58 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #443
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Thu, 12 Oct 89 00:00:03 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 443

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Apartment Door Answering Service & More on Picturephone (Larry Lippman)
    ADAS Applications in Chicago (TELECOM Moderator)
    Re: Panel Telephones & Bell System "Turkeys" of the 1960's (John Higdon)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Apartment Door Answering Service & More on Picturephone [tm]
Date: 10 Oct 89 21:31:33 EDT (Tue)
From: Larry Lippman <kitty![e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> the Telecom Moderator
writes:

> Apartment building front door 'enterphone service' provided by
> Illinois Bell (a CO-based service) also uses panel phones, but with
> armored handsets instead of the old kind which retracted back into the wall.

    The service to which you refer is known as ADAS (Apartment
Door Answering Service), and was primarily available in CO's served by
No. 1 ESS and No. 2 ESS.  There was actual ADAS hardware in the CO
which was connected to each subscriber line, but I never actually saw
it and don't know any technical details.

    The lobby telephone was a touch-tone panel telephone, with the
prospective visitor dialing an abbreviated 3-digit number (selected
from a directory chart) to reach the desired apartment.  A
call-waiting feature was automatically implemented with ADAS in the
event that a regular CO call was in progress at the time of an ADAS
call, or vice versa.  The entrance door was opened by the subscriber
dialing a particular single digit.

    A CO pair provided a switched 48 volts to operate an interface
relay in the apartment building, with the contacts of this relay being
connected to an electric strike which opened the entrance door.  More
than one entrance door/electric strike could be accommodated.  The
timing interval for the electric door strike was controlled in the CO,
and was a customer-specified option.

    With the advent of divestiture and related changes in the way
BOC's operate, I suspect that ADAS may be no longer offered for new
installations, although I could be wrong.  I haven't seen an ADAS
installation in a good many years.

> And for quite a few years, *the* picturephone center was located
> in the lobby of the Illinois Bell HQ building, 212 West Washington St.
> They had a rather nice looking conference room set up, with camera,
> speakers, etc, and they rented it out by the hour to companies wanting
> to have picturephone conferences with a branch in some other city.  PT]

    As far as I know, the Bell System Picturephone >CENTERS< did
not in fact use the station apparatus which is commonly referred to as
"Picturephone".  Instead, the Picturephone Centers used conventional
video cameras and monitors, with the camera being typically hidden
behind a wooden panel, having just its lens protrude.  While the
station-variety Picturephone service used video bandwidth compression
to about 1 MHz, as far as I know, the Picturephone Centers arranged
their conferences using a standard broadcast-quality 6 MHz monochrome
video channel.

    I have taken part in a few Picturephone Center conferences,
with the most recent being about 12 years ago; in fact, somewhere I
still have a souvenir ball-point pen given out by New York Telephone
after attending a conference at their Picturephone Center at Columbus
Circle in Manhattan. :-) The Bell System charged exorbitant rates for
use of Picturephone Centers, which hardly placed Picturephone
conference center use within the reach of "the masses".  I suspect
that offering Picturephone Centers was merely a face-saving effort on
the part of the Bell System to keep the Picturephone name "alive",
since it had obviously died as a customer station offering.  As
implied above, the Picturephone Centers offered no service which had
any resemblance to the proposed *switched* Picturephone service of the
1960's.

    The original switched station Picturephone concept was rather
clever, and so was the circuit design.  There were neither integrated
nor digital circuits in the original Picturephone design, and the
resultant size and performance did indeed represent a significant
design achievement.

    Incidentaly, having once been directly involved in the
telephone industry, and having known many people at AT&T, Bell Labs
and the Bell System operating companies, I have tried, tried, and
tried over the years to get my hands on a surplus Picturephone station
instrument - with no success.  A significant amount of Picturephone
apparatus - ranging from Picturephone station sets to CO line
repeaters to special KTU's to 5-line keysets with *pink-colored* keys
for Picturephone-equipped lines - was manufactured in the, ahem,
"anticipation" of sales which never materialized.  All of this
apparatus seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth; it has
either been quietly scrapped over the years, or now resides in a
super-secret storage location, perhaps presided over by Elvis Presley.
:-)

    I would be most curious to know if any other Telecom readers
have ever managed to lay their hands on any surplus Picturephone
apparatus.  I have known a few Bell Labs employees who were ham radio
operators and had real motivation to obtain surplus Picturephone
apparatus for amateur television purposes - but even they were
unsuccessful in their efforts.

<> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. - Uniquex Corp. - Viatran Corp.
<> UUCP  {allegra|boulder|decvax|rutgers|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry
<> TEL [phone] | 716/773-1700  {hplabs|utzoo|uunet}!/      \uniquex!larry
<> FAX [phone] | 716/773-2488      "Have you hugged your cat today?"

[Moderator's Note: When I said '*the* picturephone center' I did not mean
there was only one everywhere; I meant only one in Chicago. For a few years
in the early seventies, there were maybe a couple dozen customers with
picturephone service here. IBT had a little booth set up in the lobby where
the public could go to call the relatively few people who had the service;
mostly businesses used the service to display their wares.  PT]

------------------------------

Date:     Wed, 11 Oct 89 23:31:51 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject:  ADAS Applications in Chicago

In the first article in this issue of the Digest, Larry Lippman gives
a technical description of Automatic Door Answering Service, or ADAS.
In this message, I will describe three installations here in Chicago.
Each of the three has certain things in common with the other two, yet
each has certain features not found on the other two.

First, some definitions: The pre-divestiture ADAS here was marketed by
Illinois Bell as 'Enterphone Service'. It was a CO-based offering,
with all equipment in the central office except for the relay which
allowed the building entrance door to be unlatched. After divestiture,
this service could no longer be provided by Illinois Bell; however
existing customers were grandfathered; several still remain in
operation.

The post-divestiture ADAS is marketed by *Illinois Bell
Communications*, (a subsidiary of Ameritech, as is Illinois Bell
*Telephone Company*) under the name 'Interphone Service'. This is
premise-based equipment, and the unit they were selling a couple
years ago was manufactured by GTE/Canada.

Both systems do essentially the same thing: A panel phone is located
near the entrance to the apartment building or small office complex.
Vistors use the phone to dial a three digit code number, from a
directory of tenants posted there. The three digit code, for security
reasons, does not relate to any specific apartment or building
location. It is up to the person who answers the call to give you that
information.

In both instances, the three digits dialed are translated to a
specific wire pair (either a dedicated pair from the CO to the
apartment, or a house pair to the apartment in the case of
Interphone). The device camps-on the pair and first tests for busy. If
the line is free, it rings the telephone attached. If the line is
busy, it sends a 'call-waiting' tone.

The telephone rings in a different way (usually two short rings) to
advise the apartment dweller of the nature of the call; allowing it to
go unanswered if desired, without fear of missing a 'real' phone call.
The apartment occupant answers the phone. In the case of call-waiting,
the CO line is put on hold while the door is answered. After
conversation with the party at the door, the occupant can choose to
admit the visitor or deny entrance. Dialing '4' causes the electric
striker on the door to release for a given period, usually five to ten
seconds. Dialing '6' denies entrance. If either the occupant or the
visitor simply terminates the conversation by replacing the receiver,
this is treated as a denial. If a call was on hold, it 'rings back' to
remind the person to continue the original call.

In either case, the phone line is disconnected, and the occupant is
automatically returned to the call in progress if there was one, or is
given dial tone. Calls from the front door are limited to a total of
sixty seconds, including the time the phone is ringing.

Less sophisticated systems use an auto-dialer as part of the premise
equipment to dial the directory number of the occupant. A hazard to
this approach is that unless the occupant has call-waiting, a visitor
at the door would recieve a busy-signal. This style of unit is not
used very often these days for this reason, as well as for security
problems.

The I/Enterphone system does not honor call-forwarding, nor will it
send a signal to a physically-bridged off premise extension, such as
an answering service. The CO-based system will allow an OPX to
manipulate the entranceway, but only if by coincidence the pair from
the CO is multipled somewhere in the vicinity of the subscriber's
premises and no one bothered to open it up. Both systems are subject
to having answering machines accept the call if no one is at home;
thus a visitor at the front door can leave a message for the resident
if desired.

If the occupant for whatever reason does not have telephone service,
then an accomodation is made as follows: In the CO-based version,
Illinois Bell provides the occupant with a black, rotary-dial phone
good for answering the door only. At any other time, the phone is
dead. No battery, no sidetone, nothing. It has no directory number --
just a pair assignment. In the premise-based version, the vendor
supplies a few phones to the proprietor, or landlord, who is
responsible for giving out the phones to new tenants until such time
as their regular phone service is connected and they have instruments
of their own. If a tenant has more than one phone line, then usually
when the ADAS is installed, one line or the other is selected for use
with the door. In some cases, the ADAS line is kept on a separate
instrument not associated with phone service even if the tenant does
have a phone.

Illinois Bell *Telephone* leases their CO-based ADAS for about $100
per month. They charge $50 for the common equipment at the CO; $10.75
for the front door phone and CO line; $10.75 for the circuit to the
front door and associated relay (which is on premises); plus $1.00 per
tenant/ month. Typically, an apartment building with Enterphone has
between 30-50 apartments being serviced. Repair of the system with a
four hour turnaround, seven days per week, twenty-four hours per day
is guaranteed.  The landlord of course is responsible for repair of
the door and the electric striker, plus the wiring from the premises
relay to the door.  The building address is flagged in business office
records so that any change in service; disconnection of service;
installation of new service or whatever MUST take into account the
pairs from the CO dedicated to the building. A tenant may be cut due
to a credit disconnect, but the Enterphone stays on, since this is
billed to the landlord. The pairs can never be assigned to another
location, and are tagged this way in the CO.

The Illinois Bell Communications premise-based system is offered for
sale only. No lease is available, however there are repair packages
offered.  Like the CO version, once in operation, the incoming pairs
from the CO terminating in the building IT, or main terminal are
tagged, and installers who come to the building for any reason MUST
make sure not to swap out house pairs and CO pairs without keeping
things where they belong on the Interphone.

One Interphone system here uses a panel speakerphone rather than a
regular phone at the front door. It goes 'off hook' when the first
digit of three is pressed on the buttons. Another building here uses
Interphone also, but that system has both a front and back entrance
connected. Tenants dial '4' to open front door, '5' to open back door
and '6' to deny entrance at either. In addition, this building has
an 'extension' of the front door phone at a desk where the receptionist
is seated. The receptionist can call any apartment to announce guests
already in the lobby. The receptionist also has a code on the outside
phone (dial zero) for someone wishing entrance such as a delivery person.
A third building here has Enterphone, but it is hooked up in such a way
that the manager and building engineer both have 'extensions' to the
front door phone in their apartments, and can call tenants.

Interphone can be equipped with a special, secret three digit code which
functions like a 'loop around': Dial it, and the system responds by
simply unlocking the door. Needless to say for security reasons, this
information remains a secret with the building manager or caretaker.

Interphone code numbers can be changed easily with simple programming
using a phone plugged into the control unit. Enterphone code numbers
are a bit more difficult, and require a change order in the business
office, with attendant fees for the work, etc, and a lot of beaurocratic
hassles.


Patrick Townson

------------------------------

From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Panel Telephones & Bell System "Turkeys" of the 1960's
Date: 12 Oct 89 02:56:44 GMT
Organization: Green Hills and Cows


The majority of public telephones at San Jose and San Francisco
International airports are of the "panel" variety. There are also many
of them in the BART stations and in many public buildings. It is very
strange to hear them spoken of as if they were extinct.

I also remember the "three-slot" type which looked very much like the
single slot but apparently had the standard (of the era) "dings" and
"gongs" mechanism behind the panel.

However, while we're on the subject of turkeys, the "card dialer"
deserves at least an honorable mention. The touch tone model, while a
little spiffier than its rotary counterpart, seemed to be a journey to
the absurd. The effort in locating the correct card, inserting it into
the slot, then letting it dial was more effort than dialing the number
in the first place. Programming the cards (by punching out the little
holes) was an exercise in complexity. And then of course, you couldn't
reprogram the cards; they were discarded, meaning that you had to
depend on telco for an endless supply. The cards were not free.

        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]      | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #443
*****************************










Date:     Thu, 12 Oct 89 1:12:53 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #444
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Thu, 12 Oct 89 01:10:04 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 444

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    MCI Sues AT&T - Charges Deceptive Advertising (TELECOM Moderator)
    Taking Off the Gloves ([e-mail])
    Re: SPRINT Down, and AT&T Overloaded (Mike Morris)
    Re: Phone Design For Appearances (Dave Levenson)
    New $108 Million Phone System For Illinois (TELECOM Moderator)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date:     Thu, 12 Oct 89 0:43:57 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject:  MCI Sues AT&T - Charges Deceptive Advertising

AT&T is using false and malicious advertising to protect its
long-distance business, MCI Communications Corp. charges in a lawsuit
filed Tuesday.

MCI, whose 10 percent market share makes it a distant number two to
AT&T's 75 percent, says its giant rival is resorting to false claims
in the hope of stemming the loss of 100,000 customers to MCI each week.

AT&T, however, says it will defend itself with a countersuit.
According to AT&T spokesman Herb Linnen: "We welcome the opportunity
to discuss who is misleading whom...we have been quite concerned for
some time now about MCI's misleading print and broadcast advertising.
We have taken our complaints directly to MCI without success."

He added, "AT&T stands behind its advertising."

This latest litigation is simply the latest chapter in MCI's long and
very bitter battle with AT&T, which began in the 1970's when MCI
successfully broke AT&T's long-distance monopoly by offering
'Execunet', the first long-distance service bypassing AT&T offered to
the public. The two companies have battled each other at the Federal
Communications Commission, which authorizes the rates for each, ever
since. This is the first time since AT&T's divestiture that the
arguments have been taken into a courtroom.

In an interview, MCI Chairman William McGowan said that "AT&T ads are
sleazy", and he noted that the nine month old campaign grew
increasingly negative, forcing MCI into the courts.

AT&T responded saying that MCI is resorting to the courts since
"...they just can't hack it in the marketplace...."

McGowan responded that he believes a lawsuit is the only way to fight
a company which is spending two million dollars a day on advertising.
He said, "Our budget is big -- $51 million -- but how do you compete
with someone who is nine or ten times your size in advertising?"

MCI is still studying the impact of the latest round of AT&T ads, but
McGowan said he is sure MCI should have gained "a lot more" than
100,000 customers per week if not for the advertising. The advertising
has not affected professional telecommunications managers, but does
have an impact on individual and small business customers, he said.

The MCI suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, DC, alleges
that AT&T's advertising campaign "maliciously attacked MCI's honesty
and the value of MCI's products and service by falsely and deceptively
representing that it is superior to its competitors in general, and
MCI in particular, in terms of trustworthiness, quality and price.

MCI's suit cites AT&T ads that assert MCI's rates are cheaper than
AT&T's only when calls are made over 900 miles away and after 7 p.m.
MCI's suit also takes umbrage at AT&T's advertisement which states
that MCI customers "might have better luck calling Mars than trying to
reach MCI representatives for an explanation of their bills."

The ads, the suit charges, also claim non-AT&T companies provide slow
telephone connections; that other companies do not operate worldwide
like AT&T; and that competing 800, facsimile and WATS services are
inferior.

The suit says AT&T "has wrongfully profited and MCI has been damaged
by being wrongfully thwarted from maximizing its sales potential."

The suit asks the court to order AT&T to ***discontinue advertising
its services for a period of one year*** and that advertisements after
that time be approved by the court and carry a notice to that effect
in the advertisement itself. Additionally, it asks for profits
"wrongfully amassed" by AT&T on the sale of its products and services
during the past year, plus interest and legal fees.

McGowan was particularly irked by a claim that MCI's fax service has
57 percent more problems than AT&T faxes. He said that number was
arrived at by figuring the difference between AT&T service -- with 4.9
percent errors -- and MCI, with 7.7 percent errors. Rather than
reporting the 2.8 percent difference, the ad claims a 57 percent
higher rate -- the percentage increase between 4.9 percent and 7.7
percent.

"Talk about misleading," McGowan said.

"Yes, talk about misleading," said Herb Linnen. "They've survived this
long in part based on the deceptions they've used on a public not well
educated on the technical aspects of telephony....we'll clear this up
once and for all in court with a countersuit."

Patrick Townson

------------------------------

Subject: Taking off the gloves
Date: Wed, 11 Oct 89 13:20:52 -0700
From: [e-mail]

Last night I saw an ad for AT&T's promise to fix service problems on
800 numbers within an hour.  It was pretty amusing to see the ad close
with pictures of a telemarketing office with everybody busy
(presumably because they use AT&T) and then change to another office
with people sitting around.  The voice over said you should use AT&T
800 in your office or the only thing you might hear is .....  and then
they cut to a picture of a pin dropping.

                                Malcolm

------------------------------

From: Mike Morris <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: SPRINT Down, and AT&T Overloaded
Date: 12 Oct 89 04:29:56 GMT
Reply-To: Mike Morris <[e-mail]>


(John Higdon) writes:

%(Doug Faunt N6TQS 415-688-8269) writes:

%> As I sit here, it appears that SPRINT is down, at least locally, and
%> AT&T doesn't have enough capacity to handle the overflow.  This is
%> Menlo Park, California, 415-326.

%According to the media, some construction crew dug through a fiber
%optic cable in the area. The service was restored within a few hours.

Another case of "Backhoe Fade"!  (A common problem in Los Angeles)

Mike Morris                      UUCP: [e-mail]
                                 ICBM: 34.12 N, 118.02 W
#Include quote.cute.standard     PSTN: 818-447-7052
#Include disclaimer.standard     cat flames.all > /dev/null

------------------------------

From: Dave Levenson <westmark![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phone Design For Appearances
Date: 12 Oct 89 04:23:22 GMT
Organization: Westmark, Inc., Warren, NJ, USA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Hisle, Debra) writes:

> We're just finishing up a completely remodelling a bathroom and have
> reached the select-a-phone stage.
 ...
> table-top phone with which I replace the trim-line?  (A mahogany boxed
> model would do quite well in that room, actually.)


Check the local electrical code.  In many places, a telephone
installed in the bathroom _must_ be wall-mounted or, if a table-top
set is used, it must be anchored to the table.  Apparently, they
don't want to have it fall into the bathtub while ringing, or while
generating D.C. pulses with a high-voltage 'kick' on the line, or it
may "reach out and shock someone" through the conductive bathwater.


Dave Levenson                Voice: [phone]
Westmark, Inc.               Internet: [e-mail]
Warren, NJ, USA              UUCP: {uunet | rutgers | att}!westmark!dave
[The Man in the Mooney]      AT&T Mail: !westmark!dave


------------------------------

Date:     Thu, 12 Oct 89 0:58:45 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject:  New $108 Million Phone System For Illinois

We taxpayers in Illinois bought a new $108 million phone system for
the State of Illinois last week, which according to Sprint is supposed
to save $50 million over the next seven years.

With the new system came a new prefix for State of Illinois offices in
Chicago and a few other 'minor glitches' as the first phase of the
system switched into operation.

The network, intended to give Illinois government state-of-the-art
technology at cheaper prices was inaugarated last week for state
buildings in Chicago, Joliet, Collinsville and Springfield.

"There were some minor glitches that had to be worked out", said
Michael Lang, a spokesman for the Central Management Services
Department, which oversees the state's telecommunications network.

I guess so. The 'minor glitches' include calls to state telephones
being disconnected in mid-conversation, a problem still not remedied
several days later.

The most noticeable change for most callers -- other than having to
call two or three times to complete one conversation -- was the new
prefix assigned in Chicago. Now it is 814 plus the extension instead
of 917 as in the past, for the 5000 telephone lines in the State of
Ilinois Center in Chicago.

With the new system, connections will allegedly be much clearer and
cheaper because the equipment is programmed to 'least-cost routing' to
complete calls.

When completely installed, sometime in 1991, the new system will also
transmit video images. The new system was installed by Illinois Bell
and Sprint under a joint venture contract over the next seven years
that calls for a complete redesign of the telecommunications network
here. Also included in the contract is a provision to train government
employees to staff, manage and repair the system as needed.

Patrick Townson

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #444
*****************************










Date:     Thu, 12 Oct 89 21:40:16 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #445
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Thu, 12 Oct 89 21:35:32 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 445

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Re: Numerical List of NPA's and NXX Count (Carl Moore)
    Re: Numerical List of NPA's and NXX Count (John R. Levine)
    Re: Coordinate Tape Info Request (Eric Schnoebelen)
    Re: Selective Call Interupption (John Higdon)
    Re: AT&T Long Lines (Art Gentry)
    Re: Phone Design For Appearances (Debra Hisle)
    Re: Phone Design For Humans (Robert E. Seastrom)
    Re: What Happens When a Phone Hangs Up? (Linc Madison)
    Re: Phone Gimmicks Put Common Sense on Hold (Marc T. Kaufman)
    Re: Wrong Number (Carl Moore)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date:     Thu, 12 Oct 89 10:25:29 EDT
From:     Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Re: Numerical List of NPA's and NXX Count

You write:
> 416 recently removed the has allowed the implementation of NXX where
> previously only NNX was allowed.

Did you mean to delete "removed the"?  Also, you are sure you are
referring to 416 (Ontario) instead of 415 (Calif.)?  (If 416, it's new
info for me.)  Yes, I see that just before this excerpt you said "415
is scheduled for a split.".

> 202 and 301 will have more room now that they must dial a 1 to other
> DC area codes.

This wording is confusing.  The upshot of earlier notes in & out of
Telecom is that Md. & Va. suburbs are being removed from area code
202; therefore, 202 will have more room.  This does not affect the
room in areas 301 or 703 except that some prefixes previously-forbidden
near DC (i.e., duplicating DC or the suburbs across the Potomac) will
be allowed there.  Local calls in the DC area will require 10 digits
if crossing area code boundary (no leading 1, which is required on
toll calls from there), thus permitting some current 11-digit local &
extended area calls in the DC area to reduce to 7 digits later.

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Numerical List of NPA's and NXX Count
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Segue Software, Cambridge MA
Date: 12 Oct 89 14:23:16 EDT (Thu)
From: "John R. Levine" <[e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> Dave Esan <moscom!de@
cs.rochester.edu> writes:

>215 is actually the 16th fullest npa in North America [with 555 prefixes]...
>Yes, 302 (Delaware) has the fewest (97).

That makes sense.  215 and 302 are both geographically quite compact
and relatively urbanized.  That means there are relatively few places
that need prefixes of their own, so the telco can fill up a prefix
before issuing a new one.

Compare that to 907, Alaska, with 337 prefixes and 403, Alberta, the
Yukon, and part of the NWT, with 575.  Neither contains very many
people, but they're all spread out and so you have lots of prefixes
serving only a few hundred people each.

------------------------------

From: Eric Schnoebelen <convex![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Coordinate Tape Info Request
Date: 12 Oct 89 19:11:37 GMT
Reply-To: Eric Schnoebelen <convex![e-mail]>
Organization: Central Iowa (Model) Railroad, Dallas, Tx.

[ I started to mail this, then thought it might be of general interest.
    Enjoy, Eric ]

In article <[e-mail]> you write:

-I just loaded my Bellcore V&H Coordinate tape onto my VAX to help with
-my project I mentioned in an earlier post, my new question is:

-What are the units of those coordinates?  and What document am I
-missing that would tell me this?

Well, it is my understanding that the units in the V&H master database
are miles.  This allows the milage based costing of the phone company
services to be calculated using the simple distance formula:

sqrt( (x1- x2)^2 + (y1 - y2)^2 )

although the phone companies really use the following formula:

sqrt( ( (v1 - v2)^2 + (h1 -h2)^2 )/10 ).

Don't ask me why.... I once asked the resident network design
engineers, and they gave me an answer that I don't really remember,
but could be summed up as they really didn't know either....

Hope this helps,

Eric Schnoebelen                [e-mail]
"My other computer is a Convex"            [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Selective Call Interupption
Date: 12 Oct 89 08:19:13 GMT
Organization: Green Hills and Cows


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail].
edu (David Lesher) writes:

> SBT offers 'Ring Master' whereby for more $$ (of course) you can
> have several different number assignments on one actual pair.

This is but one of the "simulated facilities" features made possible
by electronic switching. The term "simulated facilities" is actually
an in-house term used by Pac*Bell personnel.

Call waiting and "Ring Master" are commonly known SF services, where
telco provides some of the functionality of additional equipment
without actually tying it up (call waiting--"like having two lines",
etc.), but Pac*Bell has the best scam going. It's called WATS service
when associated with Commstar.

If you have a WATS line with Commstar, you don't actually have a
physical line. You dial a code (such as *14) to "access" the WATS from
any line in the Commstar group. This is "simulated facilities" at its
finest. You pay the monthly for the WATS ($25.00) but the telco
doesn't have to provide a line. Dialing the code simply executes a
class of service change for that call (changes the billing number).

Fun with your phone: Dial the number readback code. Your number is
announced. Then dial your WATS code followed by the number readback
code. The POTS number for your "simulated facilities" WATS line is
announced.

> [Moderator's Note: As a matter of fact, in the version of this offered by
> Illinois Bell, called 'Selective Ringing', you *do* get distinctive call
> waiting tones for each line. You get a chirp and a pause, two chirps and
> a pause, or a chirp-pause-chirp. And for some reason, unlike 'normal'
> call-waiting here, where you get notified on the first ring, and again
> on the fourth ring (as the caller hears the rings), when associated with
> Starline, we get only the first chirp(s)....no reminder chirp(s).

This appears to be part and parcel of that mini-Centrex-type service.
You only get one "beep" on Commstar Call Waiting as well. Incidently,
I am told that Commstar (or Starline) is simply a sub-group of a real
Centrex group. If you know others with Starline or Commstar in your
prefix, there are some interesting tricks you can do. Even so, it is
possible to transfer any call on your line to any other phone in your
switch, regardless of prefix or features on the destination line.

        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]      | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

From: Art Gentry <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: AT&T Long Lines
Date: 9 Oct 89 20:32:56 GMT
Organization: AT&T Kansas City, MO.


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail].
columbia.edu (Gabe Wiener) writes:

> I was just thinking about the AT&T Long Lines that have been used in
> this country for decades.  I'm sure all of these questions have
> ridiculously simple answers, but here goes anyway.

> 1. Over the _really_ long runs, such as through the Rocky Mountains,
>    or through the deserts of the southwest, how do they prevent
>    line resistance from degrading the signal to a point where it would
>    become undetectable?

We use repeaters, spaced anywhere from 1 to 30 miles, depending on the
type of carrier technology.  These repeaters are powered by DC current
carried down the same pairs of the transmission.  Each direction takes
one pair, one for the E->W and the other for W->E (no, I'm sorry, but
AT&T does not go N->S or S->N <smile>) Actually, all repeaters will
show an East/West transmission, just to keep things easy.

On the older technology based repeaters, they were vacumn tube
amplifiers; later came solid state amps; and now with digital
transmission, they are not repeaters anymore, but rather regenerators.
They actually regenerate the signal at each repeater location, rather
than just amplify it.  This has the immediate advantage of not
amplifying the noise base along with the signal.

> 2. When one of those lines is damaged out in the middle of nowhere,
> and the damage is _inside_ the cable, how do they locate it?
> Moreover, how do they splice in a new piece of cable?  In other
> words, how do they connect up those hundreds of individual lines?
> It would be like trying to rewire a spinal cord.

Ahhhh, back in the good-ol-days....:-} All the wires within a cable
are color coded, in pairs.  In larger cables, pairs were grouped into
bunches, which in turn, were color coded themselves.  So while tedious,
it was not overly difficult to match pairs in a splice.  As to locating
the fault, it's really pretty simple, you just measure the resistance
out to the fault, use a formula (which has long since escaped me) to
figure out the distance from the test board to the problem.  Careful
measurments and calculations would usually drop the splicer right on top
of the problem.

> 3. Are the long-lines used today by AT&T digital or analog?  Sprint
> obviously is touting their fiber-optics, but what is AT&T doing?
> Do they still use the analog long-lines that they've been using for
> years?  Or do they send the signals over them via a digital encoder?

The answers are: we are rapidly converting our entire network over to
digital transmission, where we are in that project, I can only guess.
I've been out of the toll end of the business for about 10 years now;
yes, we still have some analog facilities on-line, but they are being
replaced; and yes, we do use digital encoders, crude way to call it,
but in fact that's basicly what they do.

> Thanks...

You're welcome...

| R. Arthur Gentry     AT&T Communications     Kansas City, MO     64106 |
| Email: attctc!kcdev!gentry        ATTMail: attmail!kc4rtm!gentry       |
| The UNIX BBS: 816-221-0475        The Bedroom BBS: 816-637-4183        |
| $include {std_disclaimer.h}       "I will make a quess" - Spock - STIV |

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 12 Oct 1989 13:35:58 EDT
From: "Hisle, Debra" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phone Design For Appearances

On Thu, 12 Oct 89 04:23:22 GMT Dave Levenson <westmark![e-mail]>
said:

>In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
>(Hisle, Debra) writes:

>> We're just finishing up a completely remodelling a bathroom and have
>> reached the select-a-phone stage.
> ...
>> table-top phone with which I replace the trim-line?  (A mahogany boxed
>> model would do quite well in that room, actually.)

>Check the local electrical code.  In many places, a telephone
>installed in the bathroom _must_ be wall-mounted or, if a table-top
>set is used, it must be anchored to the table.  Apparently, they
>don't want to have it fall into the bathtub while ringing, or while
>generating D.C. pulses with a high-voltage 'kick' on the line, or it
>may "reach out and shock someone" through the conductive bathwater.

Unfortunately, Mr. Levenson has missed the meaning of my posting,
probably due to scanning/excerption.  In my article, I referred to a
decent solution phone, no longer marketed by Radio Shack, and
mentioned that I have one, in another room.  THAT room is the
candidate for a single-line-with-external- switch phone; NOT the
bathroom.  Mahogany boxed would be a lovely choice for the library,
but I just can't see it in an Art Deco bath.  The phone for the bath
WILL be wall-mounted -- to an actual wall-mount plate, NOT just
mounted on screws like most feature phones will do, in fact.

Thanks to our moderator, I have a viable approach to either building an
unassuming switch box, or modifying a nice wall-phone.  In further
developments, I've found in the Fordham catalog that SWBell makes a 2-line
Trim-line wall-phone, which will probably fit the bill.  My husband and I have
run into difficulties agreeing on designer phones anyway -- he can't get used
to the idea of a clear phone, actually.


Debra Hisle
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY  USA
SYSDEB or DEBBIE at UKCC or ukcc.uky.edu

------------------------------

Date: Mon,  9 Oct 89 11:57:24 EDT
From: "Robert E. Seastrom" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phone Design For Humans

In TELECOM Digest V9 #434 you write:

> [Moderator's Note: In my office, I have a Comdial 2500 phone with a TAP
> button. It's a great help with call-waiting, etc.  PT]

We have two of these here at the house.  I've disabled the Sure-Hangup
feature on the switchhook after getting zapped once too many when
flashing in the traditional manner.  They're pretty decent phones,
good sound quality and all, but I do wish that they were a bit more
tolerable to physical abuse.  These phones are in the kitchen and are
forever getting yanked off the counter and hitting the floor.  Do you
know of any other phones besides the WECO 2500 that are really
tolerant of living in a house full of abusive hackers?

                               ---Rob

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 11 Oct 89 15:05:11 PDT
From: Linc Madison <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: What Happens When a Phone Hangs Up?
Organization: University of California, Berkeley

In a reply to the question about answering machines detecting hang-ups,
someone mentioned the CO switch providing "reliable CPC."  What is CPC?

  Linc Madison

(If you think this question is of general interest, feel free to post it.)

------------------------------

From: "Marc T. Kaufman" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phone Gimmicks Put Common Sense on Hold
Date: 12 Oct 89 05:38:57 GMT
Reply-To: "Marc T. Kaufman" <[e-mail]>
Organization: Computer Science Department, Stanford University


In article <[e-mail]> Roy Smith <roy%phri@
uunet.uu.net> writes:

-> X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 432, message 1 of 7
-> The following item appeared in Richard Roeper's column in the <Chicago
-> Sun Times>, Wednesday, October 4, 1989.

-> "Hi kids, this is Jose Canseco of the Oakland A's. If you want to know
-> the true story about how fast I was driving when I got that ticket [...]

>     This isn't for real, is it?  If it is, it certainly fits any
>reasonable definition of obscene that I can think of.  Even paying $20
>to hear Wanda tell me what she wants to do to me isn't as bad.

The followup to this is that Jose is holding a drawing for some World
Series tickets.  First you call his 900- number.  The recording tells
you ANOTHER 900- number to call to enter the drawing.

I guess even celebrities can be sleaze.

Marc Kaufman ([e-mail])

------------------------------

Date:     Thu, 12 Oct 89 16:18:36 EDT
From:     Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Re:  Wrong Number

61 is the Australia country code, and 8 is the city code for
Adelaide.  In taking some notes from a recent New York Times
Magazine, I had to catch myself confusing 61_2 (city code is
that of Sydney) with area 612 in Minnesota, where I have been
to this year.

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #445
*****************************










Date:     Thu, 12 Oct 89 23:48:55 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #446
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Thu, 12 Oct 89 23:45:48 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 446

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Digital Facilities at AT&T (Paul Flynn)
    Re: AT&T Long Lines (Ernest H. Robl)
    IBT Museum and WVOA (Peter Fleszar)
    Making a Line Busy (Christopher Owens)
    NUA for Compuserve? (Wolf Paul)
    Re: Phone Cards (munnari!ucsvc.unimelb.edu.au!U5434122)
    Re: Swedish Cordless Phones (Christer Olsson)
    Re: MCI Sues AT&T (Victor Schwartz)
    Re: What Happens When a Phone Hangs Up? (Fred E.J. Linton)

[Moderator's Note: Some of our subscribers are being plagued with
duplicate and even triplicate (quintuplicate!) copies of each issue in
their mailbox.  This is largely limited to Bitnet subscribers, and
somehow relates to the movement of digests from here to the Bitnet
gateway machine and onward.  My apologies to all concerned. As one
correspondent noted, "...telecom *is* a very prolific group; but it
isn't funny anymore!"  I know it isn't. The problem is under review. PT]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: houdi![e-mail]
Date: Thu Oct 12 16:56:45 EDT 1989
Subject: Digital Facilities at AT&T

In Volume 9 Issue 441 of TELECOM Digest, Larry Lippmann offers a
thorough review of coaxial cable and microwave radio technologies and
points out that these system require more bandwidth to carry digital
signals compared to analog signals.  Then, he goes on to say that
because of the large embedded base of analog technology in the AT&T
network, it will be a long time before AT&T's network is 100% digital.

I pulled out my copy of the 1988 AT&T Annual Report, published in
February 1989, to see if it had anything to say on this subject.
Here's what I found on page 4:

"By mid-1989, 95 percent of our domestic switched traffic will be
carried digitally, increasing to 100 percent by the end of 1990.  By
the end of 1992, all private-line facilities will be digital as well.
With our new digital lightwave systems, we quadrupled our domestic
fiber-optic capacity and, by laying the first trans-Atlantic
fiber-optic cable, doubled circuit capacity between the United States
and Europe.  We plan to install more fiber-optic cable in the Pacific,
Caribbean and the Atlantic."

Obviously, Larry's discussion left out all the fiber we have in our
network.  We have been deploying fiber-optic cable for several years.
In fact, we have more route miles of fiber than any other carrier.
Keep in mind, too, that the capacity of a fiber cable is quite high.
The 1.7 gigabit/sec systems that we have been installing for the past
year or two have a capacity of 36 DS3s, or 24,192 voice-grade
circuits.  And that is for one pair of fibers.  A typical cable has
many pairs of fiber, many of them still sitting unlit.  We also have a
significant amount of digital coax and radio already out there.

So, it won't take as long as Larry fears for AT&T's network to become
predominantly digital.  It has already happened.  I'm not even sure
that the targets I quoted above for becoming 100% digital are still
valid.  Given the number of times AT&T has decided to accelerate its
digitization plans, those public statements from February could be out
of date already.

Paul Flynn     [e-mail]
AT&T Bell Laboratories, Holmdel, NJ

------------------------------

From: "Ernest H. Robl" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: AT&T Long Lines
Organization: UNC Educational Computing Service
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 89 17:05:42 GMT

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Hector Myerston) writes:

> Err.... Long Lines is a name not a descriptor.  The actual "Lines" are
> the Long Distance network consisting of Microwave, Coax, Fiber and
> yes, "lines" or cable.  All of these utilize some form multiplexing
> carriers with their attendant repeaters to compensate for the
> distances involved.

And, if I remember correctly, AT&T Long Lines is also the name of a
ship (presumably owned by AT&T) that is used in laying trans- ocean
cables.  I saw the ship docked in a North Carolina port about a year
ago, and it was quite obvious what it was from (1) the name, (2) the
deck equipment, and (3) the AT&T colors and logo.

  Ernest

My opinions are my own and probably not IBM-compatible.--ehr
Ernest H. Robl  (ehr@ecsvax)  [phone] w; [phone] h
Systems Specialist (Tandem System Manager), Library Systems,
027 Perkins Library, Duke University, Durham, NC  27706  U.S.A.

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 12 Oct 89 16:52 EDT
From: Peter Fleszar <[e-mail]>
Subject: IBT Museum and WVOA

Hello there. Just a couple of wee little points from little ol' me.

I was in Chicago for the first time on Friday 10/6.  Really loved it.
But I was in for a little disappointment when I went to IBT
headquarters downtown looking for the Telephone Pioneer museum.  Seems
that IBT is gutting ("renovating") the inside of their building, so
they decided to remove "expendable" spaces like the aforementioned
exhibit room.  The receptionist was friendly and sympathetic - she
said that the management types never realized how popular the room
was, but that it probably won't be coming back.  I had to satisfy my
telephone fix at the centrex display on the street level.  Not quite
the same. :-(

Also, WVOA is now the 105.1 classical FM station in DeRuyter, NY,
formerly WOIV (and a number of other things).  It's owned by Forus
Communications, a religious broadcasting group, and broadcasts
satellite-programmed classical music to a hell of a lot of cows in
rural upstate New York.  I actually preferred the former religious
format - when in the right mood, I considered it high comedy. :-)

The new WVOA was once part of the New York State Rural Radio Network,
a group of five stations covering the territory from Buffalo to Albany
programmed from the current WQNY in Ithaca.  The network was put on
the air by the GLF farm cooperative, was sold several times, then
wound up in the hands of ConTel (a favorite organization of this news-
group).  The FCC cried foul, so ConTel was forced to divest in an
interesting fashion -- they turned all five stations over to Pat
Robertson's CBN for *free* in 1970 or thereabouts. The stations were
sold off individually in the early 80s.

    The usual incoherent ramblings from Peter Fleszar, pre-unemployed
    liberal arts student at Cornell University.
    [e-mail]  [e-mail]
    ...cornell!vax5.cit.cornell.edu!dt5y  [e-mail]

[Moderator's Note: I think -- I hope! -- the Telephone Pioneers will have
their exhibit once again when the renovation is finished. Maybe if a few
Digest readers called IBT Headquarters Public Relations Department (312-
727-9411) and asked nicely, something would be done. Or, write IBT at
212 West Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60606. It would really be a shame
to see the exhibit gone forever.  PT]

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 12 Oct 89 12:05:39 EDT
From: Christopher Owens <[e-mail]>
Subject: Making a Line Busy


I have a two-line residential installation in which calls hunt to the
second line if the first line is busy.  Periodically I want to force
all calls to the second line.  What is the correct way to make a line
busy?  I know that leaving the phone off the hook ties up CO equipment
and can cause a trouble flag to drop on the line.  Dialling some other
number and leaving both phones off hook seems like overkill.  Is there
any other way?

[Moderator's Note: Call forwarding would do the trick. Forward line one
to line two. Of course, unless you have unmeasured local service, you
will pay a unit each time a call is forwarded. Maybe it is worth it to
you.  PT]

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 12 Oct 89 17:18:28 +0100
From: wolf paul <iiasa2![e-mail]>
Subject: NUA for Compuserve?

I have just moved from Dallas, TX to Vienna, Austria, and am wondering
how to access Compuserve from here.

We do have a gateway to Tymnet/Telenet here, so I guess if I had a NUA
for Compuserve, I should be able to access them.

Can anyone help me out with CIS' NUA?


Wolf N. Paul, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
Schloss Laxenburg, Schlossplatz 1, A - 2361 Laxenburg, Austria, Europe
Phone: (Office) [43] (2236) 71521-465      (Home) [43] (1) 22-46-913
UUCP:   uunet!mcvax!tuvie!iiasa!wnp      W.U.ESL: 62864642
DOMAIN: [e-mail]               TLX/TWX: 910-380-8748 WNP UD

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Phone Cards
Date: 13 Oct 89 09:44:42 (UTC+10:00)
Organization: The University of Melbourne

In article <[e-mail]> cgch![e-mail].
net (Tom Hofmann) writes:

>>What I would like to know:  Isn't there a country (or LDC in the US)
>>where phone calls can be paid be regular, internationally accepted
>>credit cards (Visa, Master Card, American Express, etc.)? ...

In Australia we have card phones which accept Amex and Visa, but not
MC, for some reason.  They also accept most bank debit cards, and the
domestic Australian credit card 'Bankcard'.

To operate the phone, you lift the handpiece and swipe your card.  If
the card is a debit card, you are prompted to enter your PIN.  Then
you must select the account you wish to charge: credit, savings or
cheque account.

The telephone then verifies the card, PIN, and looks up your current
balance for cheque or savings accounts, showing you the funds you have
available.

Only then are you presented with a dial tone.

Unfortunately, the minimum cost is $1.20 ($US1.00), so you have to
make a LD call or 4 local calls ( 30c each, untimed ) for it to be
worth it.

Current call cost is displayed as the call progresses.

These phones are usually found in airports, major hotels and post offices.

------------------------------

From: CHRISTER OLSSON <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Swedish Cordless Phones
Date: 12 Oct 89 21:17:22 +0100
Organization: Chalmers Univ. of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden

> CORDLESS TELEPHONES--A new generation of cordless telephones is
> appearing in Europe, which are being called "the poor man's mobile
> telephone". At the same time, the current cordless phones in Sweden
> cost more than cellular telephones in many other countries.

'The new generation of cordless telephones' isn't cordless telephones.
It's digital handheld mobile telephones in same size as the smallest
mobile telephone today.

It`s not a Swedish standard, it's a new European standard.  The first
telephones will appear in late 1990 and the first system-installation
of the new mobile-telephone system is coming to Norwegians in their
capital city Oslo for testing.

Today's mobile phones cost about $2000 in Sweden; legal cordless
phones about $500 - $900. The smallest handheld mobile phones cost
a whole $4000. The new digital `poor man's mobile phone' could cost
$300 - $400 in the future.

> Cordless telephones have become popular all over the Western World and
> the Far East.  The exception is Sweden, where cordless telephones
> remain too expensive for ordinary households.  In fact, Swedish
> cordless telephones cost more than the mobile or cellular telephones
> used in automobiles in other countries.

No, mobile phones cost two to three times more than legal cordless phones.

> The British decision is controversial, because European standards have
> yet to be decided. Britain hopes to sell its CT-2 system to the rest
> of Europe, so that the same pocket telephone can be used anywhere in
> the continent. It now looks as thought the French have accepted the
> British system, for their "Pointel" public cordless network.

Forget the British CT-2 system.

        /Christer Olsson
   -- Some hackers was here --

------------------------------

Date: 12 Oct 89 08:19:41 PDT (Thursday)
Subject: Re: MCI Sues AT&T
From: [e-mail]

>McGowan was particularly irked by a claim that MCI's fax service has
>57 percent more problems than AT&T faxes. He said that number was
>arrived at by figuring the difference between AT&T service -- with 4.9
>percent errors -- and MCI, with 7.7 percent errors. Rather than
>reporting the 2.8 percent difference, the ad claims a 57 percent
>higher rate -- the percentage increase between 4.9 percent and 7.7
>percent.

>"Talk about misleading," McGowan said.

I'm not a fan of AT&T, but 7.7 percent errors vs. 4.9 percent errors
IS a 57 percent higher error rate!

If these were plane crashes we were talking about, we would certainly
say that airline X has 57 percent more crashes than airline Y.

Saying that MCI has 2.8 percent more errors would be misleading.

I think McGowan should get "particularly irked" about some OTHER
example of misleading advertising on the part of AT&T.

Victor Schwartz

[Moderator's Note: McGowan is asking that AT&T be forced to discontinue
all advertising of their products and services for a full year, and then
at that point to submit future ads for judicial review and approval.
Knowing McGowan, I'm amazed he didn't simply ask that AT&T be forced to
discontinue all operations and turn over all their customers to him. That
would make it a lot easier to build his empire.   PT]

------------------------------

From: "Fred E.J. Linton" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: What Happens When a Phone Hangs Up?
Date: 12 Oct 89 23:26:36 GMT


In article <[e-mail]>,
[e-mail] (Clive Dawson) writes, in part:

> Questions:
>                    ... or do they simply detect silence on the
>       line in order to decide whether/when to start/stop recording?

That's certainly what my non-Panasonic does.

>        -- Is it correct for the off-hook warning stuff to be triggered
>       under these circumstances?  Is this the norm?

In my area (New Haven, (203)), it's your not being connected yet to
anything AND not having dialed another digit for 15 or 20 seconds that
triggers an off-hook/please-finish-dialing-or-hang-up-and-dial-again
message.

>        -- Do other people have this problem?

I used to have a machine that spewed a message for twenty seconds and
then listened for thirty-five (and then unceremoniously hung up).
This often brought in about ten seconds of dial tone (generated after
the caller hung up immediately upon hearing my machine), ten seconds
of silence, and the first few seconds of the off-hook warning.

> I suppose the obvious thing to try is to reduce the length of my
> outgoing message.

Yes -- I currently have a fifteen second outgoing message, and my
machine hangs up after six seconds of EITHER silence OR dialtone.
Usually my hang-ups hear enough of my message that I get only the six
seconds of silence; rarely, though, they hang up so quickly that the
silence period times out during my message or just barely after it
ends; then six seconds of dialtone get recorded before my machine
senses it's only dialtone and hangs up.


                                    -- Fred

ARPA/Internet:  [e-mail]
Bitnet:         FLINTON%eagle@WESLEYAN[.bitnet]
from uucp:      ...!{research, mtune!arpa, uunet}!eagle.Wesleyan.EDU!FLinton
on ATT-Mail:    !fejlinton
Tel.:           + 1 203 776 2210 (home)  OR  + 1 203 347 9411 xt 2249 (work)
Telex:          <USA> + 15 122 3413   FEJLINTON
CompuServe ID:  72037,1054
F-Net (guest):  [e-mail]    OR    ...!inria.inria.fr!linton

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #446
*****************************










Date:     Sat, 14 Oct 89 14:02:48 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #447
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sat, 14 Oct 89 14:00:06 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 447

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Re: More on Picturephone (Syd Weinstein)
    Re: Phone Design For Humans (Robert L. Oliver)
    Re: Possible California PUC Changes (Roy M. Silvernail)
    Measured service: What Does It Cost? (Roy M. Silvernail)
    What is SONET? (Guy Middleton)
    Questions About Teleports (George Paul)
    Re: Numerical List of NPA's and NXX Count (Sandy Mustard)
    V&H Table Coordinates (Ian Merritt via Jon Solomon)
    Re: What Happens When a Phone Hangs Up? (Gabe Weiner)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Syd Weinstein <[e-mail]>
Date: Thu Oct 12 22:55:55 1989
Subject: Re: More on Picturephone [tm]
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Syd Weinstein)
Organization: Datacomp Systems, Inc., Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006

In article <[e-mail]> Larry Lippman
writes:
>    I would be most curious to know if any other Telecom readers
>have ever managed to lay their hands on any surplus Picturephone
>apparatus.  I have known a few Bell Labs employees who were ham radio
>operators and had real motivation to obtain surplus Picturephone
>apparatus for amateur television purposes - but even they were
>unsuccessful in their efforts.

Last time I saw real picturephone station equipment was in the basement
of a friend of mine whos father worked at Bell Labs and his father
had req'd the stuff for an experiment.  That was over fifteen years ago.
(It was the second generation picture phone equipment).

>[Moderator's Note: When I said '*the* picturephone center' I did not mean
>there was only one everywhere; I meant only one in Chicago. For a few years
>in the early seventies, there were maybe a couple dozen customers with
>picturephone service here. IBT had a little booth set up in the lobby where
>the public could go to call the relatively few people who had the service;
>mostly businesses used the service to display their wares.  PT]

What I do remember was the Bell Picturephone demonstration centers in
major cities.  Ours in Philadelphia was in the Franklin Institute a
local science museum.  There were two booths with first generation
picturephones and a common phone outside, and two repeater monitors
above the booths.  The phones were sort of standard touch tone phones
with ten buttons as normal (no * or # yet), but they also had an 11'th
button, a P where the # is now.  You pushed the P to make a picture
call as the first digit.

The two booths only talked to each other, but the common phone on the
display was able to call about ten other demo centers, including
Chicago and Wash. DC.  I was hooked to the repeater monitors above the
booths.

It was all rather impressive for the early 1960's.  At that time, it
was expected that if you wanted to make a picture phone call, you
would just dial P then the number, else 1 then the number for voice
only.  I don't know if the 1960's picturephone was 6MHz or 1Mhz like
the version 2 system.  In version 1, the camera was not directable
down to a piece of paper, that was a later idea.  All in all, the
picture was very acceptable, little long distance noise at all, even
on calls to Chicago.

=====================================================================
Sydney S. Weinstein, CDP, CCP Elm Coordinator Datacomp Systems,
Inc.                Voice: [phone] [e-mail] or
{bpa,vu-vlsi}!dsinc!syd     FAX: [phone]

------------------------------

From: "Robert L. Oliver" <hutch![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phone Design For Humans
Date: 5 Oct 89 02:36:21 GMT
Organization: Rabbit Software Corp., Malvern, PA

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Roy Smith) writes:
>     With all this talk about non-ergonomic rings, I thought I would
> bring up another mis-feature.  Our ATT System-25 at work doesn't have call
> forwarding, it has what we've come to refer to as call following.

We just installed a brand new System 25 here.  It DOES have call
forwarding AND following.  I suggest you look into a software upgrade.

The System 25's a nice improvement over our old ITT 3100.

I won't restate the gripes about the new desk phones that are too
light.

Ours are the size of the old 500s, but they're empty, since the
electro- mechanical innards have been replaced by silicon and such.
The phone bottoms have LARGE cavities, since AT&T decided not to
"enclose" the unused space; the bottom of the phone receeds up inside,
if you follow.  One can actually put the phone down ON TOP of
paperweights, bottles of Liquid PaperTM, and such and hide things
underneath!  I personally haven't found a good use yet.

TO THE System 25 DESIGNERS, if you're listening:

ITEM 1
Our old ITT 3100 had a very non-Bell feature called "call park" which
allowed you to park a call on one of several non-existant extensions.
A bit more versatile than being reduced to transferring a call.  The
System 25 has call park, but you can only park onto YOUR extension
number (called a "PDC").  Thus, single-line users can't park more than
one call.  Bit of a problem when you're trying to answer the night
bell from a single line phone and you get a second call.

The dedicated park extensions also had the benefit of allowing you to
easily refer to them.  E.g., since there might be ten of them, 160
through 169, you could page someone over the PA system and say simply
"Call for Ken Shaby on Park Zero".  With the S25, since ANY number may
be a park, you have to be more specific ("Park One-Six-Zero").  And if
the pagEE didn't realize the page was for him/her until late into the
message (often the case), they may have only gotten the "Zero" which
used to be fine; now they need the other two digits they missed.

ITEM 2
Single-line phones can't do last-number-redial!!! That's gotta be only
a software change, since multi-line phones can do it, I would think
(as far as I know, all phones are handled by the same sort of card in
the 25).  They CAN do "camp-on-a-busy-line", but that only works for
INTERNAL calls.  I need redial on external calls

BUT I LIKE THE SYSTEM 25.  Don't get me wrong...

Trivia note: The "Master Console" (option, I believe) of the System 25
is a re-labeled AT&T Unix PC!  Yes, the original AT&T/Convergent Tech.
machine (was it called a system 7100 or something?) that was AT&T's
much-touted Byte-front-covered not-so-huge success.

------------------------------

From: "Roy M. Silvernail" <comcon![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Possible California PUC Changes
Date: 14 Oct 89 06:36:28 GMT
Organization: Computer Connection


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail].
edu (Linc Madison) writes:

> The story below is from the Los Angeles Times of October 1, 1989,
> distance charges.  It costs me more to call Los Angeles at NIGHT rate
> than to call the East Coast during DAY rate -- on the SAME long
> distance company (true for AT&T, Sprint, and MCI, all three).  Even
> more expensive than calling Los Angeles (400 miles) is calling Ukiah
> (150 or 200 miles), because the latter is in my LATA and thus Pac*Bell
> monopoly territory.  Indeed, it seems that most of my phone calls are
> charged INVERSELY proportional to distance.
>
> What POSSIBLE justification can there be for leaving in-state rates so
> high?  I pay six or seven times as much for some in-state calls as I
> would for comparable-distance interstate calls.

Alaskans have much the same situation. I live in Anchorage, but I used
to live in Kenai, about 60 air miles south. Calls from Kenai to
Anchorage, *night* rate, were about $6 an hour, last time I checked.
Compare this with about $6.50 an hour to _Seattle_ from Kenai on GCI.

GCI is collecting signatures now to get in-state competition on the
ballot. Alascom accuses GCI of wanting to skim the heavy-traffic
routes and leave the Bush under-serviced, but a GCI rep recently
dismissed that allegation. "Give us half that AT&T subsidy you rarely
mention, and we'll be happy to service the whole state." Indeed, since
deregulation began to force interstate rates down, Alaska's in-state
rates have risen! Only one in-state reduction, of only 2 or 3 percent,
was ever made by Alascom, and that seemed to be in answer to a barrage
of ads by GCI asking for permission to compete.

The situation extends farther than telephone service. Alaskanet
provides the state's only packet-switching access. Through Alaskanet,
you can access Tymnet or Telenet. (Tymnet is transparent; Telenet
needs a login sequence) This connection is, however, subject to a
Gateway surcharge of 4 dollars an hour! Translation? Accessing any of
the major services like CompuServe or PeopleLink ends up at full
prime-time rates 24 hours a day. Also, we don't get PC Pursuit access,
and I'm not sure I could get on StarLink from here. The single good
deal in net access is Computer Connection, the Usenet node here. (and
he does it by calling UUNET through GCI)


Roy M. Silvernail | UUCP: uunet!comcon!roy | "Life in the arctic is no picnic"
[ah, but it's my account... of course I opine!]             -touristy T-shirt
SnailMail: P.O. Box 210856, Anchorage, Alaska, 99521-0856, U.S.A., Earth, etc.

------------------------------

From: "Roy M. Silvernail" <comcon![e-mail]>
Subject: Measured Service: What Does It Cost?
Date: 14 Oct 89 06:13:34 GMT
Organization: Computer Connection

Last week, voters in Anchorage turned back an attempt by the Mayor to
sell our telephone utility to Pacific Telecom. (Anchorage Telephone
Utility is reported to be the last Muni-owned phone company in the
U.S.)  The publicity fight was intense, and pretty one-sided from
PTI's 1 million dollar ad budget.

As a result of debating the issue (I campaigned against the sale), I
have had lots of requests for information. One of the possibilities
raised was restructuring of rates and instituting measured service to
gain an effective rate increase in the face of promises to hold the
line. I'd like to get some input from the net...

Do you have measured service? What are the actual rates? Do you have
to juggle zones? Do you have a free-call area? If you were there for
the beginning of measured service, what was the introduction like?
(was there a public outcry? Was the public even consulted?)

Anecdotes are welcome, too. Please e-mail to save bandwidth, and I'll
summarize and send it to Patrick for consideration.

For the record, PTI owns 62 local Alaskan wireline providers and
Alascom, the state's only in-state long-distance company. One of the
biggest arguments against the sale was that PTI (based in Vancouver,
Washington) would have attained 80% ownership of Alaska's phone
service.


Roy M. Silvernail | UUCP: uunet!comcon!roy | "Life in the arctic is no picnic"
[ah, but it's my account... of course I opine!]             -touristy T-shirt
SnailMail: P.O. Box 210856, Anchorage, Alaska, 99521-0856, U.S.A., Earth, etc.

------------------------------

From: Guy Middleton <[e-mail]>
Subject: What is SONET?
Date: 14 Oct 89 00:04:24 GMT
Reply-To: Guy Middleton <[e-mail]>
Organization: University of Waterloo [MFCF/ICR]


I read in the newspaper today about some Northern Telecom fibre-optic
equipment that uses a signalling technology called SONET.  Does anybody know
what SONET actually is?

------------------------------

Date: 14 Oct 89 20:41:00 +1000 (Sat)
From: George_Paul <munnari!agsm.oz.au![e-mail]>
Subject: Questions About Teleports

Could someone please help me with information on Teleports.  What
relationship do they have to networks?  Why should they be used?  Are
they useful?

------------------------------

From: Sandy Mustard <sdrc![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Numerical List of NPA's and NXX Count
Date: 13 Oct 89 17:19:23 GMT
Organization: Structural Dynamics Research Corp., Cincinnati

What is the Bellcore V&H tape?

Thanks
Sandy Mustard
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 13 Oct 89 11:39:19 PDT
From: [e-mail] (Ian Merritt)
Subject: V&H Table Coordinates

I was looking through the tables and noticed that there is no
correspondance between the V&H coordinates given and the latitude and
longitude.  It appears that the grid is skewed so that its vertical
lines do not line up with the meridians on the map, its horizontals
don't match the parallels, and to boot, it is numbered from the top
down (i.e. 0h is somwehere around 70 degrees latitude, and it
increases as north latitude decreases, and 0v is somewhere off the
east coast and increases as you move west.

Do you know what the basis is for the coordinate system used?  Perhaps if not,
you could pass this on to John Covert?

[Moderator's Note: The above was written to Jon Solomon, who passed it
along to the Digest for consideration by all subscribers.   PT]

------------------------------

From: Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: What Happens When a Phone Hangs Up?
Reply-To: Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]>
Organization: Columbia University Center for Telecommunications Research
Date: Sat, 14 Oct 89 15:38:50 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
edu (Linc Madison) writes:

>In a reply to the question about answering machines detecting hang-ups,
>someone mentioned the CO switch providing "reliable CPC."  What is CPC?

I believe that CPC is "Calling Party Control," an electrical signal of
some sort that the CO can send down the line to signal when the caller
has hung up.  The benefits of this are obvious.  An answering machine
can now tell immediately when a person has hung up, rather than having
to listen for 10 seconds of silence.


Gabe Wiener - Columbia Univ.     "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings
[e-mail]             to be seriously considered as a means of
[e-mail]       communication. The device is inherently of
[e-mail]         no value to us."  -Western Union memo, 1877

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #447
*****************************










Date:     Sat, 14 Oct 89 15:14:42 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #448
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sat, 14 Oct 89 15:10:41 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 448

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Picture Phones at Rochester Institute of Technology (Mike Koziol)
    Re: Call Letters (Joel B. Levin)
    Re: Telephone Set Design (Joel B. Levin)
    Re: New $108 Million Phone System For Illinois (Donald L. Ritchey)
    Re: Phone Billing in the UK (H. Shrikumar)
    Re: 1-900-IMA-JERK (Edward Greenberg)
    Re: Fax Over TCP/IP (Steve Elias)
    Re: Telegrams, Teletypes, and Clocks (Joel B. Levin)
    Re: AT&T as a "Backup" For US Sprint, et al (Ed Kern)
    Help! 2500SM Set Wiring (Louis J. Judice)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, 13 Oct 89 07:34:42 EDT
From: Mike Koziol <[e-mail]>
Subject: Picture Phones at Rochester Institute of Technology

Concerning the discussion about picture phones. When I first came here
to the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1974 we were just
completing some construction for the National Technical Institute for
the Deaf (NTID). NTID was to be a showplace for visitors and
government types to show what could as far as educating the deaf.

Anyway we had about 20 locations on campus, both offices and public
areas, that had picture phone installed. I didn't spend a lot of time
experimenting with them but they were pretty interesting. They were
removed around '79-'80 as I recall, mainly because of lack of use and
maintenance problems.

As I recall they were manufactured by Stromberg-Carlson but I could be
very wrong about this. The last I heard about them was that they were
stacked up in a storage room somewhere. This was about 5 years ago. I
guess it's time to go a lookin'.

------------------------------

From: Joel B Levin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Call Letters
Date: Fri, 13 Oct 89 10:52:15 EDT

Even though this is not really a Telecom topic, and the thread has
mostly passed by, I want to mention two more which may be of some
interest.

One is historical.  The station which was CBS owned and operated when
I came to this area, and which passed to the hands of The Helen
Broadcasting Company (named for the wife of a fast food chain owner I
think) and is now going to the Boston Celtics, still is and I hope
will continue to be named after its founder.  One of the older
stations in this area is WEEI, started by the Edison Electric
Illuminating Company, which itself no longer exists under that name.

Readers who have occasion to watch Mystery, Masterpiece Theatre, Nova,
or This Old House (among others) may have noticed the "WGBH Boston"
logo that precedes these programs.  It is named for the place not in
Boston but in nearby Canton where the transmitter of the affiliated
(and older) public radio station is located, in the Great Blue Hills
reservation.

Anyone want to hear about KVNU and KLGN radio in northern Utah?  No, I
thought not.

    /JBL

------------------------------

From: Joel B Levin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Telephone Set Design
Date: Fri, 13 Oct 89 10:54:57 EDT

To me a _real_ telephone is one which, when you pull it off your desk,
leaves a dent on the floor but itself emerges unscathed.

    /JBL

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 13 Oct 89 09:37:36 CDT
From: Donald L Ritchey <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: New $108 Million Phone System For Illinois

[e-mail] (TELECOM Moderator):
In article (Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>), you wrote

> We taxpayers in Illinois bought a new $108 million phone system for
> the State of Illinois last week, which according to Sprint is supposed
> to save $50 million over the next seven years.

> With the new system came a new prefix for State of Illinois offices in
> Chicago and a few other 'minor glitches' as the first phase of the
> system switched into operation.


When I first heard about this contract several months ago on a local
PBS radio station, I heard the director of telecommunications for the
State of Illinois defending the contract with the rather absurd
statement that they had chosen to go with US Sprint for the carrier
because

    "... Sprint used fiber optics that traveled at the speed of
light, but the alternative carriers used microwave transmission that
only traveled at the speed of sound..."

Or words to that effect.

Sounds like someone got sold a real bill of goods (or Illinois
politics in business as usual).

Don Ritchey       [e-mail]
(or in real life) [e-mail]
AT&T Bell Labs IH 1D-409
Naperville, IL 60566
[phone]

------------------------------

From: "H.Shrikumar{[e-mail]}" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phone Billing in the UK
Date: 13 Oct 89 22:28:33 GMT
Reply-To: "H.Shrikumar{[e-mail]}" <[e-mail]>
Organization: NCST, Bombay. Curently at Umas, Amherst


In article <[e-mail]>
    [e-mail] writes:

>X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 440, message 9 of 12
>John Higdon wrote:

>> ... The usual system of billing
>> calls elsewhere is with "metering pulses". Each pulse is worth so much
>> money. On a local call, the pulses go by very slowly and on an
>> international call the pulses come rapid-fire.

In India too, where we have these metering pulses, most places dont
not get itemized billing. However, the new electronic exchanges that
are now being set up provide metering pulses only as a sort as
"backward compatibility" to the local exchanges that demand it.  (or
perhaps, customer premises equipment, as in hotels). Such exchanges
provide itemized billing on ISD/STD calls.

BTW, these metering pulses cause havoc with dial-up data-comm. They
are audible right through the subscribes phone set. We have spent a
good amount of time with various combinations of modems and metering
pulse rates.

With STD calls (pulses every few seconds), MNP modems seem to work.
Without MNP, the error rates UUCP sees are quite high.  For
International ISD calls, even MNP modems fail to sychronise
consistently. The rather loud clicks seem to affect the AGC, one can
hear the modem monitor speaker "breathe" after each pulse.

Also interesting to note is that the Trailblazer Telebit modems also
fail to synchronise their PEP protocol with pulses as fast as 1/sec.
The pulses coming every second interferes with their "fast-turnaround"
which is about the same rate.

We finally had to persuade our local phone authorities to find ways of
giving us a pulse-free connection. We were fortunate, but not all
smaller organizations might have been so. Only then did the academic
network in India begin to take off !!

Is the experience similar in Europe ?

  shrikumar ( [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail] )


------------------------------

From: Edward Greenberg <netcom![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: 1-900-IMA-JERK
Date: 13 Oct 89 18:16:02 GMT
Reply-To: Edward Greenberg <netcom![e-mail]>
Organization: NetCom- The Bay Area's Public Access Unix System {408 997-9175}


Jose now has two 900 numbers.  Calling the first one tells you that
he wants to "reward his loyal fans and callers" by giving away 25
pairs of series tickets.  He instructs you to call a second 900 number
to record your name and address for the giveaway.  Thus is costs $4.00
minimum to register.

If you have a contest, it has to be "no purchase necessary to enter"
so Jose has a second method.  You can mail in an entry, but the
address is listed at the very end of Jose's first recording.  At
$1/each additional minute this means it costs $11 to get the address.

One side effect of this is that the San Jose Mercury News is
publishing a daily synopsis of the Jose line, as well as all the
addresses and phone numbers, so you can stay "informed(??)" for a
quarter.
                -edg

P.S.  I'm going to a Pacific Bell Audiotext seminar next tuesday, to
learn how to "turn information into cash."  Naturally, I'll write up
my experience.


Ed Greenberg
uunet!apple!netcom!edg

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 13 Oct 89 22:32:56 EDT
From: Steve Elias <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Fax Over TCP/IP
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Hubert D.)
Organization: Rice University, Houston

[Moderator's Note: This is a reply to a message which first appeared in
comp.protocols. Mr. Elias passed along this response which was sent to
that group by (Hubert D).   PT]

I suggest using the CCITT group 4 document transmition standard instead
of the CCITT group 3 specification which is used over the phone lines.  The
group 4 spec uses ONE compression table for the entire file; group 3
uses a compression table for EVERY line.  The internetwork is a much
more reliable medium than the telephone lines.  So, a protocol which
suits the medium should be used.


Hubert Daugherty             Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
[e-mail]                                   Rice University
[phone]                               Houston, TX 77252

------------------------------

From: Joel B Levin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Telegrams, Teletypes, and Clocks
Date: Fri, 13 Oct 89 10:53:50 EDT

I have some additional comments on the general topics of Western
Union, teletypes, clocks and telegraph offices.

I visited a telegraph office once, on a school field trip over thirty
years ago, in a small city (about 17,000 and a university).  My
recollection is of the standard marble top counter with the pads and
the machinery behind.

One thing no one has mentioned is what I think was the standard form
of a telegram in those days: the telegram was printed not on the form,
but on a long strip of gummed paper.  This was fed through a little
dispenser (not unlike those sometimes used today for taping up boxes)
which allowed the operator to simultaneously gum the strip and apply
it to the form.  It had a serrated tip so the operator could tear it
at the right edge of the paper and start a new line below at the left.
It is my recollection that telegrams were often prepared much the same
way that we much later did Telexes: a paper tape was punched off line,
then read through at speed (such as it was).  This of course allowed
the correction of errors.

Telegrams had a feature (and may still for all I know) of repeating in
a string all numeric words at the bottom of the telegram, including
any figures in the body of the telegram as well as street addresses
and postal zones in the header.  Presumably this was done for
reliability, since transmission or transcription errors are much less
tolerable in numbers than in text.

There has been some discussion of the 5-level teletypes.  I played
with a Telex machine for a time, though I had already had a lot of
experience with paper tape on the 8-level Model 33 (as a minicomputer
I/O device).  As delete (then called rub-out, for good reason) was
used in the ASCII devices to obliterate errors, since it was coded as
all eight holes punched, LTRS, which had all five holes punched, was
used on the Telex machine. This reset the device to its unshifted
state, was otherwise a "no-op" character, and so was used as leader
and trailer on a strip which contained a message.  [There's a lot more
that comes to mind on the topic of those mechanical beasts, but I'd
better pass.]

As an undergraduate, I too worked in a radio station which had Western
Union clock service for the first couple years I was there.  Our
station also had the hourly signal wired through the control panel to
an oscillator so it could cause a beep on the air if enabled (since we
broadcast a lot of classical music, we didn't want it on all the
time).

It was a skill practiced by the announcers to "make beep" following
any program that ended on the hour.  In particular, one had to know
exactly when beep would occur.  The clock lost perhaps a half second
an hour, so you knew beep would happen when the second hand was one
and a half ticks away from the top; if you were going to make it, you
could signal the controlman (we used a two person operation) who would
push the button to enable beep.  Then at just the right time, the red
light on the clock would flash, the second hand would leap to the top
of the clock and freeze there for a whole second, and the world would
proceed as usual.  If the WU line was down for a few hours, it became
a little tricky to figure out at what second beep would come when it
was restored, as the clock might be off a little by then.

Then we came back one year, a bland white clock was on the wall, and
beep  passed into legend.


------------------------------

Date: Fri, 13 Oct 89 23:42:56 EST
From: Ed Kern <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: AT&T as a "Backup" For US Sprint et al


        Reminds me of a call I made through ITT (10999) recently to
312/772-0347 (recently disconnected)...  instead of getting the usual
recording from Illinois Bell (like I would get using US Sprint or
AT&T) I got a message telling me that "ITT is unable to complete my
call to this number.  Please hang up, dial 10288, then one plus the
area code and number.  AT&T will bill you for the call".......

        Ed Kern         "Are you finished with that baked potato?"
        Wyomissing, PA                                  -M. Fichter
        Voice:  215/678-5741             ProLine:  pro-palace!ekk
        UUCP:  crash!pro-palace!ekk      ARPA:  crash!pro-palace![e-mail]
        Internet:  crash![e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 13 Oct 89 15:40:23 -0700
From: "Louis J. Judice  13-Oct-1989 1834" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Help! 2500SM Set Wiring

Well, I found a perfect 4A speakerphone at a ham radio flea market
last weekend. Thanks to all those who suggested this!!!

I ordered (and received) - an AT&T 2500SM single line phone to get
full features (on-hook dialing, etc). I paid $40 for the 4A and $70
for the telephone - not bad considering the 4A lists for $340.

But, when I opened the 2500SM today, it did not come with a wiring
harness.  I guess I'll pick up a ten lead cable at Radio Shack
tonight. But here is the problem. The instructions I have for the 182
connecting block don't give the labels of the connections inside the
phone. I checked one at work today, and copied where the wires go, but
that phone was cabled up with a 25 lead connector - not lug-ended
leads.

So, does anyone know where the 182 SIGNALS go to in the phone:

TIP
RING (these are easy!)
A1
R1
T1
P4IR
P3IT
LK
AG

(I know what some of these do, like LK, and AG short out when the
phone is on-hook, etc. But if anyone can help thanks in advance!)

Lou

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #448
*****************************










Date:     Sat, 14 Oct 89 21:16:37 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #449
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sat, 14 Oct 89 21:15:30 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 449

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Some Comments on the History of Repertory Telephone Dialers (Larry Lippman)
    Line Noise Killer (author unknown, via Edward Lee at Chinet)
    Re: Area Codes --> Locations (Lang Zerner)
    Re: NUA for Compuserve? (Andy Behrens)
    The Lighter Side: Phone Number Jingles (John Boteler)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Some Comments on the History of Repertory Telephone Dialers
Date: 13 Oct 89 20:31:27 EDT (Fri)
From: Larry Lippman <kitty![e-mail]>

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(John Higdon) writes:

> However, while we're on the subject of turkeys, the "card dialer"
> deserves at least an honorable mention. The touch tone model, while a
> little spiffier than its rotary counterpart, seemed to be a journey to
> the absurd. The effort in locating the correct card, inserting it into
> the slot, then letting it dial was more effort than dialing the number
> in the first place. Programming the cards (by punching out the little
> holes) was an exercise in complexity. And then of course, you couldn't
> reprogram the cards; they were discarded, meaning that you had to
> depend on telco for an endless supply. The cards were not free.

    There was something even worse than the card dialers - a
dialer imported from Germany that the Bell System briefly offered
during the early 1960's.  This dialer was called "Telerapid", and it
had a capacity of 50 numbers.  The programming was done by using a
special wrench to remove a toothed-wheel having something like 125
teeth; there was one toothed-wheel per stored number.  Using a special
tool, teeth were cut out to leave only those teeth which corresponded
to dial pulse line opens.  This meant that cutting the toothed wheel
also determined the interdigital timing interval!  The operation of
this dialer was totally mechanical and was actuated by selecting the
desired number using a slider arm, and then pushing a lever; the
toothed wheel therefore made a complete revolution in about 12
seconds.

    The first electronic dialer was the "Rapidial", and was
offered during the early 1960's.  Rapidial used a a writing tape
backed by a magnetic tape which scrolled behind a window.  The window
would allow just one number to appear between two lines, and dialing
was initiated by pressing a start bar.  The dialing was stored through
magnetic recording of a tone on the magnetic tape.  A movable head
operated by a motor scanned cross the magnetic tape to extract the
digit pulses.  The Rapidial contained a built-in rotary dial used
solely for encoding pulses on new number entries.

    Rapidial was the size of a small Sherman Tank. :-)

    Actually, Rapidial was indeed HUGE, and occupied the surface
area and volume of almost FOUR 500-type telephone sets!

    A few years later year came Son of Rapidial, more commonly
known as Magicall.  The Magicall dialer worked on the same principle
was Rapidial, but it was considerably smaller.  Making the small size
possible was an external power supply and an external programming
dial.  Magicall had a small motor which rapidly moved the number tape
in response to an UP/DOWN key.  Even with this motorized drive, going
from one end of a 1,000 number tape to the other took half a minute or
more; it was really faster to look up the number in a book!  The tape
was "pre-alphabetized" and divided into sections of the alphabet whose
size was determined by some joker's best guess as to the probability
frequency distribution of the first letter of names.

    I don't remember how many numbers Rapidial could store, but
Magicall came in two sizes: 400 and 1,000 numbers.

    The card dialer telephones were clever, but relatively
useless.  They came in both rotary and touch-tone versions, in
addition to both single-line and 5-line keyset models.

    The Western Electric Touchamatic [tm] telephone ushered in the
era of all-electronic repertory dialers and dialer/telephones.

    Compared to today's repertory dialer functions as implemented
through integrated circuits and ESS or EPABX speedcalling, the above
electromechanical dialers are extremely crude.  I must confess,
however, that in the past I had both Magicall dialers and card dialer
telephones in different offices, and I felt pretty smug and
state-of-the-art at the time while using them! :-)

    Times change, though, and now I have repertory dialing
features out the wazoo.  In my Grand Island office I have this fancy
Northern Telecom SL-1 telephone with: (1) last-number re-dial; (2)
"hot key" dedicated dialer key for a single number; (3) personal
extension speed-dialing list; and (4) SL-1 system-wide speed-dialing
list.  And the damnest thing is that in the four months since we
installed the SL-1, I don't have one single number programmed in my
speed-dialing list!

<> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. - Uniquex Corp. - Viatran Corp.
<> UUCP  {allegra|boulder|decvax|rutgers|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry
<> TEL [phone] | 716/773-1700  {hplabs|utzoo|uunet}!/      \uniquex!larry
<> FAX [phone] | 716/773-2488      "Have you hugged your cat today?"

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Edward Lee)
Subject: Line Noise Killer
Date: 27 Jul 89 09:57:15 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Edward Lee)
Organization: Chinet - Chicago, Ill

[Moderator's Note: This was on a local group on Chinet, and I thought it
might be of interest to readers here.   PT]


I obtained the following file last year from CBBS #1.
My thanks go to the uncredited author.
          ==================================

Modem Noise Killer (alpha version)

With this circuit diagram, some basic tools including a soldering
iron, and four or five components from Radio Shack, you should be able
to cut the noise/garbage that appears on your computer's screen.

I started this project out of frustration at using a US Robotics 2400
baud modem and getting a fare amount of junk when connecting at that
speed.  Knowing that capacitors make good noise filters, I threw this
together.

This is very easy to build, however conditions may be different due to
modem type, amount of line noise, old or new switching equipment
(Bell's equipment), and on and on.  So it may not work as well for you
in every case.  If it does work, or if you've managed to tweek it to
your computer/modem setup I' d like to hear from you.

I'd also appreciate any of you electronic wizzards out there wanting
to offer any improvements.  Let's make this work for everyone!

Please read this entire message and see if you understand it before
you begin.

OK, what you'll need from Radio Shack:


1 #279-374 Modular line cord if you don't already have one.
You won't need one if your phone has a modular plug in its
base.  $4.95

1 #279-420 Modular surface mount jack (4 or 6 conductor)
$4.49

1 #271-1720 Potentiometer.  This is a 5k audio taper
variable resistor.  $1.09

1 #272-1055 Capacitor.  Any non-polarized 1.0 to 1.5 uf cap
should do.  Paper, Mylar, or metal film caps should be used,
although #272-996 may work as well.  (272-996 is a
non-polarized electrolytic cap) $.79

1 100 ohm resistor - quarter or half watt.  $.19

1 #279-357 Y-type or duplex modular connector.  Don't buy
this until you've read the section on connecting the Noise
Killer below.  (A, B,or C) $4.95

First off, open the modular block.  You normally just pry them open
with a screwdriver.  Inside you'll find up to 6 wires.  Very carefully
cut out all but the green and red wires.  The ones you'll be removing
should be black, yellow, white, and blue.  These wires won't be needed
and may be in the way.  So cut them as close to where they enter the
plug as possible.  The other end of these wires have a spade lug
connector that is screwed into the plastic.  Unscrew and remove that
end of the wires as well.  Now, you should have two wires left, green
and red.

Solder one end of the capacitor to the green wire.  Solder the other
end of the capacitor to the center lug of the potentiometer (there are
three lugs on this critter).  Solder one end of the resistor to the
red wire.  You may want to shorten the leads of the resistor first.
Solder the other end of the resistor to either one of the remaining
outside lugs of the potentiometer.  Doesn't matter which.

Now to wrap it up, make a hole in the lid of the mod block to stick
the shaft of the potentiometer through.  Don't make this hole dead
center as the other parts may not fit into the body of the mod block
if you do.  See how things will fit in order to find where the hole
will go.

Well, now that you've got it built you'll need to test it.  First
twist the shaft on the potentiometer until it stops.  You won't know
which way to turn it until later.  It doesn't matter which way now.
You also need to determine where to plug the Noise Killer onto the
telephone line.  It can be done by one of several ways:

    A.  If your modem has two modular plugs in back, connect the
    Noise Killer into one of them using a line cord.  (a line
    cord is a straight cord that connects a phone to the wall
    outlet.  Usually silver in color)

    B.  If your phone is modular, you can unplug the cord from
    the back of it after you're on-line and plug the cord into
    the Noise Killer.

    C.  You may have to buy a Y-type modular adaptor.  Plug the
    adaptor into a wall outlet, plug the modem into one side
    and the Noise Killer into the other.  Call a BBS that has
    known noise problems.  After you've connected and garbage
    begins to appear, plug the Noise Killer into the phone line
    as described above.

If you have turned the shaft on the potentiometer the wrong way you'll
find out now.  You may get a lot of garbage or even disconnected.  If
this happens, turn the shaft the other way until it stops and try
again.  If you don't notice much difference when you plug the Noise
Killer in, that may be a good sign.  Type in a few commands and look
for garbage characters on the screen.  If there still is, turn the
shaft slowly until most of it is gone.  If nothing seems to happen at
all, turn the shaft slowly from one side to the other.  You should get
plenty of garbage or disconnected at some point.  If you don't, reread
this message to make sure you've connected it right.

***END OF ORIGNAL FILE***
            ======================

ADDITION TO ORIGNAL FILE - 2/29/88 - Mike McCauley - CIS
71505,1173

First, a personal recomendation.  _THIS WORKS!!!_ I have been plagued
with noise at 2400 for some time.  I went round and round with Ma Bell
on it, and after they sent out several "repair persons" who were, to
be kind, of limited help in the matter, I threw in the towel.  I saw
this file on a board up east a few days ago, and thought I'd bite.
Threw the gismo together in about 10 minutes, took another five to
adjust the pot for best results on my worst conection, and guess what?
No more worst connecion! A few pointers:

1) The pot need not be either 5K or audio taper.  I used a 10K 15 turn
trim pot.  Suggest you use what is handy.  2) I used 2MFD's of
capacitance (two 1MFD's in parallel) Two R.S.  p/n 272-1055 work fine.
Remember that about 90 Volts will appear across red & green at ring,
so the caps should be rated at 100VDC+.  3) I ended up with a final
series resistance value (100 ohm + pot) of 2.75K.  I speculate that
one could probably use 2MFD and a fixed 2.7K resistor and do the job
90% of the time.  The adjustment of the pot is not very critical.
Changes of +/- 1K made little difference in the performance of the
circuit.

Hope it works as well for you as it did for me.

Mike McCauley
            ==============================
Second addition:
26 July 1989

The Noise Killer also works well for me.  I own a Product R&D 2400 bps
modem and have been irritated by noisy modem connections to Chinet and
CBBS #1 for the past few years.  Today, I went to a Radio Shack store
and bought the parts for the Noise Killer for less than $4 dollars and
built it in less than an hour.  (I am a klutz with a soldering iron.)

I used all the parts listed in the original message except for the
modular surface mount jack.  The Radio Shack store I visited did not
have the jack, so I instead bought a #279-1261 Flexible Telephone
Extension Cord for $1.20 (it was on sale).  I already had the modular
line cord and the Y-type modular phone adaptor, but I did not need to
use the latter.  Turning the stick of the 5k audio taper potentiometer
counter-clockwise almost all the way made the connections to Chinet
and CBBS #1 nearly noise-free.  I continue to tune the noise filter.

Parts list (not including modular phone cable)        Cost

#271-012  Two 100 ohm resistors (use only 1) 1/2 watt $0.19
#279-1261 Flexible Telephone Extension Cord 30 ft.    $4.99  ($1.20)
#271-1720 Audio taper potentiometer 5k ohms           $1.09
#272-1055 1.0 MFD @200 volt metalized film capacitor  $0.99

-Ed L
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Sat Oct 14 04:26:06 1989
From: Lang Zerner <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Area Codes --> Locations
Organization: The Great Escape, Inc

I know a number at Bellcore which lets you key an area code and
exchange, then speaks the location name using what sounds like a
DECtalk speech synthesiser.  This is the same list which the BOCs use
to determine call location for printing your bill, so it is kept very
up to date.  Because the location names are limited to a maximum
number of characters in length, some of them are unpronounceable.  The
speech sysnthesiser spells these out.

If you want the number, mail me and I'll send it to you.

Be seeing you...

Lang Zerner
[e-mail]   UUCP:bionet!asylum!langz   ARPA:[e-mail]
"...and every morning we had to go and LICK the road clean with our TONGUES!"


------------------------------

From: Andy Behrens <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: NUA for Compuserve?
Date: 14 Oct 89 20:42:32 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse

Telenet has a gateway to Compuserve.

Connect to address 31102020020200 and type a few carriage returns, and
Compuserve will ask for your User Id.

Use address 31102020020205 if you need to supply a host name.

Live justly, love gently, walk humbly.
                    Andy Behrens
                    [e-mail]

uucp:   {harvard,rutgers,decvax}!dartvax!coat!andyb
bitnet: andyb%coat@dartcms1
Burlington Coat, PO Box 729, Lebanon, N.H. 03766    [phone]

------------------------------

Subject: The Lighter Side: Phone Number Jingles
Date: Fri, 13 Oct 89 18:42:18 EDT
From: John Boteler <csense![e-mail]>

In reference to our Illustrious Moderator's note about the jingle
helping the hapless telephone user to remember HUdson 3-2700, I was
reminded of the good ol' days and a story from my college psychology
instructor.

In discussing how our analog brains work, the subject of telephone
number jingles in advertisments came up. She pointed out how such a
simple device could jog our memories.

It must have worked because I have never forgotten this one.

Picture it: a small boy next to a huge pile of cookies with chocolate
around his mouth, and the jingle

"How many cookies did Andrew eat?

     ANdrew 8-8000"

Any other neat ones?

Bote
Old & Improved path!: uunet!comsea!csense!bote
New & Improved path!: {zardoz|uunet!tgate|cos!}ka3ovk!media!cyclops!csense!bote

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #449
*****************************










Date:     Sun, 15 Oct 89 9:48:25 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
To:       [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V9 #450
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sun, 15 Oct 89 09:45:30 CDT    Volume 9 : Issue 450

Today's Topics:                             Moderator: Patrick Townson

    Caller ID Saves A Life! (TELECOM Moderator)
    Info on ISDN Gateway Services? (Gregory G. Woodbury)
    Various and Sundry Telecom Stuff ([e-mail])
    What is Autovon? (Gabe Wiener)
    Re: V&H Table Coordinates (John R. Levine)
    Re: Apartment Door Answering Service (Dave Levenson)
    Re: Questions About Teleports (Scott Loftesness)
    Re: Questions About Teleports (Jamie Hanrahan)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date:     Sun, 15 Oct 89 9:27:12 CDT
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Caller ID Saves A Life!

For those of you who think Caller ID is the worst scourge to ever come
to the telephone industry, consider this case from Van Nuys, CA about
three weeks ago:

Penny and Michael Rodgers are a typical family living in Van Nuys.
Their son Jameson is three years old. While Mr. Rodgers was gone to
work one day, Mrs. Rodgers became violently ill and began choking.
While the nature of her illness was not discussed in the newspaper
account, what was noted was that she collapsed on the floor in the
family's home, and was choking and gasping for air.

Little Jameson saw his mother there and tried to talk to her. She
would not, because she could not, answer him. But he knew what to do
because his parents had taught him that in any dangerous situation;
ie, if anyone tried to hurt him, or his parents; or if anything seemed
to be wrong, he was to push the button on the autodialer connected to
the phone which had the picture of the policeman. That, he was told,
would summon the police and bring help.

The autodialer was programmed to simply dial 911, which conneced to
the Emergency Services dispatcher at the Van Nuys, CA, Police and Fire
Department.

Jameson lifted the receiver and pushed the button. He wasn't able to
tell the lady who answered where he lived, and he did not know for
sure how to say his last name. But he knew he was Jameson, three years
old, and that his mother was laying on the floor and would not speak
to him; and that she was coughing and 'breathing funny'.

By using her Caller ID display, the emergency dispatcher was able to
locate the phone number and address of Jameson and his mother. Once
the ambulance and paramedics were enroute, the dispatcher asked
Jameson to go outside and wait for them to arrive, then take them to
his mother when they arrived, about two minutes later.

The City of Van Nuys recommended a 'hero award' for little Jameson,
and at a ceremony last week, the tape recording of his conversation
with the emergency dispatcher was played back. Police officials
pointed out there were two lessons to be learned from the experience:
One, that all children should be taught, at the earliest possible age,
how to summon emergency help over the telephone from '911'; and two,
that without the Caller ID enhancement to the community's Emergency
Service line, there would have been no way to get help to Mrs. Rodgers
in time to save her life.

He noted that prior to the installation of Caller ID, there had been
several objections to the service; 'violation of privacy' being the
major complaint.  Some people apparently felt they had the 'right' to
talk to the police anonymously, and that this 'right' superceded the
rights of the police and fire departments to administer their duties
effeciently and effectively.

"We think caller ID was responsible for saving Mrs. Rodgers' life."

Patrick Townson

------------------------------

From: "Gregory G. Woodbury" <wolves.uucp![e-mail]>
Subject: Info on ISDN Gateway Services?
Reply-To: "Gregory G. Woodbury" <wolves.uucp![e-mail]>
Organization: Wolves Den UNIX BBS
Date: Sun, 15 Oct 89 03:17:17 GMT

        I have been hearing that various RBOC's are investigating the
gatewaying of ISDN service to information providers.  To me this seems
clearly a way of using the ISDN capabilities to provide direct access
to services similar to Compu$erve or GEnie.  I have also noted that
the Hon Mr Green has prevented the phone companies from providing the
information services themselves.

    Given that the phone co's are not doing this for free, and
that the service providers are also out to make money (usually) does
it seem reasonable to think that a "community electronic message
service" (municipal EBBS) could become a "service provider" that could
be gatewayed to?

    Or am I way off the mark and misunderstanding the gateways
that are being discussed in relation to the phone companies?

Gregory G. Woodbury Sysop/owner Wolves Den UNIX BBS, Durham NC
UUCP: ...dukcds!wolves!ggw ...dukeac!wolves!ggw [use the maps!]
Domain: [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail]
Phone: [phone] (Home) [phone] (Work)
[The line eater is a boojum snark! ]  <standard disclaimers apply>

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Various and Sundry Telecom Stuff
Date: Sat, 14-Oct-89 20:36:04 PDT

I've had a few interesting interaction with phone companies this week
and thought I'd share them with you:

Nashville, TN - Tried to make a AT&T calling card call from a payphone
in the airport.  10288 did not work, so I tried 00.  That got me a
local operator who instructed me to dial 00 to access AT&T.  I
explained that I *did* dial 00 and got her, not AT&T, so she
tranferred me.  The AT&T operator could not understand why I would be
trying to place a calling card call through her, so I explained that I
was at the airport and calling from a COCOT that would not accept
10288.  She agreed to place the call but said she was surprised to
hear of the problem because "they aren't supposed to block access
anymore".  Interesting.

Jessup, MD - We're using ITT for LD in our office and have done so for
about a month.  Friday afternoon we received a call from ITT informing
us that they recently bought/were bought by (?) a company with a 100%
fiber optic network in place and that our service would be switched to
that service in about a week.  Does anyone know anything about this
"merger"?

Columbia, MD - I recently moved into a new apartment complex and found
that only two pair had been run to the apartments (surprising in that
this place was built in 1989!).  Of course, the Network Interface is
located in the next building in a utility closet, so I can't get C&P
to run the extra pair for my third line.

Does anyone know of a way to get three lines worth of service up to
the apartment on two lines worth of wiring?  HELP!

[e-mail]

Fidonet 1:109/506

No Place Like Home BBS  301-730-9072 or 301-596-6450

------------------------------

From: Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]>
Subject: What is Autovon?
Reply-To: Gabe Wiener <[e-mail]>
Organization: Columbia University Center for Telecommunications Research
Date: Sun, 15 Oct 89 06:13:37 GMT

Someone recently mentioned to me that the military has an exclusive
telephone system called "Autovon."  He said that the term "Autovon"
referred to that system the way we might use the word "Bell" to refer
to the civilian system (or at least the way we would have used the
word Bell 10 years ago!).

Can anyone give us a little background on this system?  History?
Operation?  etc....

Thanks!

Gabe Wiener - Columbia Univ.     "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings
[e-mail]             to be seriously considered as a means of
[e-mail]       communication. The device is inherently of
[e-mail]         no value to us."  -Western Union memo, 1877

------------------------------

Subject: Re: V&H Table Coordinates
Organization: Segue Software, Cambridge MA
Date: 15 Oct 89 00:47:36 EDT (Sun)
From: "John R. Levine" <[e-mail]>

I can't say anything about the specific coordinate system that the V&H
tapes use, but I can contribute something I learned in a cartography
class a while ago.  Using latitude and longitude to compute distances
is not easy because lines of longitude are not parallel.  One minute
of longitude is longer in Miami than in Boston, so straightforward
sqrt(x*x + y*y) formulae would tend to overcharge customers in the
north and undercharge customers in the south.

This is closely related to the problem of producing maps on flat
pieces of paper.  There are zillions of projections that cartographers
have used to map the curved surface of the earth to a flat map.  The
most familar is the Mercator projection which preserves angles at the
cost of severe area and distance distortion.  There are also
equal-area projections that distort angles so but make equal areas on
the map correspond to equal areas on the surface of the earth.  In a
computer mapping project, I used the Albers equal area projection
which is commonly used for maps of the 48 states; it has an origin in
the Pacific, southwest of California, and distances measured in meters
north and east of that point.  Plotting X and Y map coordinates give a
reasonable looking map since the projection has already been done.

The V&H tape uses some other projection that I expect is intended to
make equal distances equal.  Any given projection is tuned to the area
that it is intended to display; the Albers projection is tuned for the
lower 48 and does not do very well for Alaska and Hawaii.  I'd be
interested to hear if V&H has some non-linear hack for Alaska and
Hawaii, or if they figure that they're so far away from everything
else that the projection errors are unlikely to put many calls in the
wrong rate band.

Regards,
John Levine, [e-mail], {spdcc|ima|lotus}!esegue!johnl

------------------------------

From: Dave Levenson <westmark![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Apartment Door Answering Service & More on Picturephone [tm]
Date: 15 Oct 89 13:11:41 GMT
Organization: Westmark, Inc., Warren, NJ, USA


In article <[e-mail]>, kitty![e-mail].
net (Larry Lippman) writes:
> In article <[e-mail]> the Telecom Moderator
> writes:

> > Apartment building front door 'enterphone service' provided by
> > Illinois Bell (a CO-based service) also uses panel phones, but with
> > armored handsets instead of the old kind which retracted back into the wall
 ...
>     With the advent of divestiture and related changes in the way
> BOC's operate, I suspect that ADAS may be no longer offered for new
> installations, although I could be wrong.  I haven't seen an ADAS
> installation in a good many years.

My parents have a condo in Bethesda, Maryland (a Washington, DC
suburb) in which ADAS was installed during the last year.  At the same
time it was installed, they were offered equal access, call-waiting,
and several other custom-calling features.  From the sound of things,
I think they had number 5 crossbar switching until the time of great
changes.  It now sounds more like 5ESS.  (Does anybody know for sure?
It's 301-229 for the curious.)

This may mean that the 5ESS supports ADAS.  It may also be a CPE-based
version of the same service.  Perhaps the armored panel phone in the
foyer detects the touch tone from the resident's set and unlocks the
door?  I don't remember seeing any brand name on the set.

When I visit, the directions on the phone tell me to dial # and their
appartment number.  When I lift the handset, there is no battery or
sound in the receiver.  When I enter the #, I hear what sounds like CO
dialtone.  I then enter their three-digit appartment number, and hear
the three touch-tones in the receiver.  As soon as I have entered
three digirts, the phone dials their 7-digit number, using
pulse-dialing (I hear the pulses in the handset).  The microphone is
dead (i.e. no side-tone) until after dialing is complete, but is
enabled during ringing.

When they answer, they dial 9 to admit me.  I hear the first few tens
of milliseconds of their tone signal, and then silence.  About 500
msec later, the entry door goes "thunk-buzzzzzz" and I am given
access.

Does anyone recognize this system?


Dave Levenson                Voice: [phone]
Westmark, Inc.               Internet: [e-mail]
Warren, NJ, USA              UUCP: {uunet | rutgers | att}!westmark!dave
[The Man in the Mooney]      AT&T Mail: !westmark!dave


------------------------------

Date: 14 Oct 89 19:58:17 EDT
From: Scott Loftesness W3VS (HamNet) <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Questions About Teleports

George_Paul <munnari!agsm.oz.au![e-mail]> writes:

>Could someone please help me with information on Teleports.  What
>relationship do they have to networks?  Why should they be used?  Are
>they useful?

Teleports offer alternative local access connections.  Two major
examples are Teleport-New York (TCNY) and Teleport-Boston (TCB), both
members of the Teleport Communications Group (TCG).  In both cases,
fiber optic local loop networks have been constructed in New York and
Boston which provide alternatives to the local exchange companies (New
York Telephone and New England Telephone in these cases - both NYNEX
companies).  The TCG companies offer DS-0 (56/64 kbps), DS-1 (1.544
mbps) and DS-3 (45 mbps) services on their fiber systems serving
business customers.

Scott Loftesness
[e-mail]


------------------------------

From: simpact.com![e-mail]
Subject: Re: Questions About Teleports
Date: 15 Oct 89 06:54:17 PDT
Organization: Simpact Associates, San Diego CA

In article <[e-mail]>, munnari!agsm.oz.au!
[e-mail] (George_Paul) writes:
> Could someone please help me with information on Teleports.  What
> relationship do they have to networks?  Why should they be used?  Are
> they useful?

Teleports are useful, but have their problems when the sending and
receiving stations are separated by large amounds of latitude,
longitude, or altitude, due to conservation of momentum and/or energy.
Systems which automatically compensate for these shifts are still
under development.

The definitive work on this subject is an essay by Larry Niven,
"Theory and Practice of Teleportation", reprinted in the _All The
Myriad Ways_ collection.

(Sorry, folks, I couldn't resist!  :-)

    --- Jamie Hanrahan, Simpact Associates, San Diego CA
Chair, VMSnet [DECUS uucp] and Internals Working Groups, DECUS VAX Systems SIG
Internet:  [e-mail], or if that fails, [e-mail]
Uucp:  ...{crash,scubed,decwrl}!simpact!jeh


------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V9 #450
*****************************