From telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Fri Jan 26 00:23:55 1990 Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by gaak.LCS.MIT.EDU via TCP with SMTP id AA24630; Fri, 26 Jan 90 00:21:49 EST Resent-Message-Id: <9001260521.AA24630@gaak.LCS.MIT.EDU> Received: from WINNIE.FIT.EDU by delta.eecs.nwu.edu id aa29008; 25 Jan 90 9:48 CST Received: from zach.fit.edu by winnie.fit.edu (5.57/Ultrix2.4-C) id AA01753; Thu, 25 Jan 90 10:29:14 EST Received: by zach.fit.edu (5.58/HARRIS-4.0) id AA06424; Thu, 25 Jan 90 10:29:39 EST Date: Thu, 25 Jan 90 10:29:39 EST From: Bill Huttig Message-Id: <9001251529.AA06424@zach.fit.edu> Apparently-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Resent-Date: Thu, 25 Jan 90 23:22:37 CST Resent-From: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Resent-To: ptownson@gaak.LCS.MIT.EDU Status: RO 25-Dec-85 00:24:00-PST,8760;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by SRI-CSL.ARPA with TCP; Wed 25 Dec 85 00:23:37-PST Date: 25 Dec 85 02:20-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #77 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Wednesday, December 25, 1985 2:20AM Volume 5, Issue 77 Today's Topics: Re: TELECOM Digest V5 #75 UPTA 9600 baud modems MNP and CCITT Faceplate for 2500 set needed Stupid GTE Commercial UPTA 9600 baud modems Re: MNP Proposed as Industry Standard ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon 23 Dec 85 12:15:42-PST From: STERNLIGHT Subject: Re: TELECOM Digest V5 #75 Werner Uhrig appears amazed at the notion that you can speed up Xmodem transfers by doing something at one end only (Mainstay's Turbo Download). This is a good example of what Kuhns was talking about in "The History of Scientific Revolutions" when he talked about being stuck in the paradigm. Of course, it's impossible. No, sorry Werner, I do it every day with Turbo Download, which speeds up my Compuserve transfers by a factor of 2 to 4 on 1200 and 2400 baud lines and saves me a LOT of money. Compuserve has no special software or equipment to work with Turbo Download; I suspect they never heard of it. They use the same Xmodem protocol most other people do. O.K., enough hints. Now that you know the answer to the puzzle is not advertising scam, think some more. (When I was an MIT undergraduate this was called "The proof is left to the student.") Best; --david-- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 24 Dec 85 13:38:11 EST From: Michael A. Grant Subject: UPTA 9600 baud modems Ok, here's the scoop: I called them up. It uses V.29. It's software selectable for 4800, 7200, or 9600 baud. It's full duplex, except, not really. It has about a 1 second timeout before switching directions. It's $895 for the IMB-PC version, $995 for a standalone RS-232 version. She said that it works fine over AT&T, but not so well over alterrnate carriers. The ad apeared in Byte, Dec. 85, p. 74. The address is: Electronic Vaults, Inc. 12347-E Sunrise Vally Drive Reston, VA 22091 (703) 620-3900 ------------------------------ Date: Tue 24 Dec 85 11:11:53-PST From: Ole Jorgen Jacobsen Subject: MNP and CCITT I believe that it is the (possibly unwritten) policy of CCITT *not* to accept any "de-facto" standard, but rather design something entirely from scratch so as not to give any vendor market advantage. I hope someone can correct me on this, but I fear the thruth is pretty bleak. ------------------------------ Date: Tue 24 Dec 85 11:15:04-PST From: Ole Jorgen Jacobsen Subject: Faceplate for 2500 set needed Any one know where I can find a faceplate for a 2500 phone set (the piece of plastic with the phone number and 12 holes for the keypad)? AT&T repair won't send out parts, but will take your phone and "fix" it for $16 plus shipping which seems rather unecessary for such a small item. Ole ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 24 Dec 85 15:47:43 EST From: davy@purdue-ecn.ARPA (Dave Curry) Subject: Stupid GTE Commercial Has anyone seen the stupid GTE commercial where they want you to call 1-800-GEE-NO-GTE? Has anyone counted how many digits are represented by "GEE-NO-GTE"? Maybe this is why GTE service is so poor -- we're supposed to be dialing an eigth digit! Oh, what some people won't go through for a cute phone number. --Dave Curry ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Dec 1985 00:57 EST From: "David D. Story" Subject: UPTA 9600 baud modems Is what you're saying that the modem is really half-duplex but with a one second timeout to simulate full duplex. For fast typing that will not satifice. For a CRC run as a protocol on top they would do well for a data tranfer modem. I will call and get teh techy spec. Maybe get a trial modem and link to one of their own sites/ Let's see what happens. Any other replies ? Dave ------------------------------ Date: 24 Dec 85 15:42:37 GMT From: "Barry A. Burke" Subject: Re: MNP Proposed as Industry Standard >> >> It's not clear whether >> >> anything can be gained (or if it's even possible) by running MNP in >> >> software in say, your PC's terminal emulator. > > My question was (intended to be), can I run MNP in software >if I have a terminal emulator running on a general-purpose computer system? >or is MNP hard-tied into the data-transmission circuits/algorithms in >the modem? > >Ralph's reply, which makes sense to me, seems to say that running >any error-correction protocol "closer" to the application is >a good thing. This would mean that running MNP in my terminal emulator >would be a good thing. > I obviously was not very explicit in my original posting regarding the above statement. What I am saying is that MNP is quite likely a time-based correction protocol, as it was developed to run on modem hardware (as opposed to X.PC, which was designed to run in the PC itself). To maintain the high throughput of MNP (it's effectively transparent on clean lines- low overhead), I suspect that a time-synchronous factor is included in the missed packet/packet framing componenet of MNP. This would enable packets to be simply framed and checksummed. X.PC, on the otherhand, must have a much more X.25-like framing in order to handle multiple sessions over the link. What I'm driving at is that MNP is a reasonably effective and efficient error correction protocol for the physical layer, but it probably can't well be implemented in software on a GP PC or timesharing system, because of it's origin as a component of a piece of comms hardware. Running MNP in userspace on your VAX might be much like running SDLC without any hardware to help- good luck. And while I agree that error correction (and recovery) really must be done at the application level, error recovery at lower levels can reduce the overal data-flow overhead, as the higher up the problems must be RECOVERED from, the more the overhead to perform the recovery (note that the DETECTION overhead is predictably constant at each level). So, for me, I'd prefer the following (as an example): PC Remote HOST ============ =========== APPLICATION <--- (Appl. ERROR CORRECTION) ---> APPLICATION CLIENT SERVER v v v v X.PC <--- (X.PC ERROR CORRECTION) ---> X.PC CLIENT [running on Host CPU] SERVER v v v v MNP <--- (MNP ERROR CORRECTION) ---> MNP MODEM [running in Modems] MODEM v v v v - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -/ /- - - - - - - - - - - - - Too much of today's Application software assumes clean, clear data transfer to/from the remote device- a case that's not even 99% true for direct connect devices, much less anyhting that connectes over phone lines. MNP (in my opinion) tries to make the phone lines look clear, but do NOT protect from every data error the Application may see. Likewise, X.PC (I've worked for years over X.25 links- the only thing that's assured is that whatever garbage you put in one side will come out the other, in the right order!). If you want error-free, you have to do error correction at the application. BUT since pending flushes, data re-packetizing, and retransmission is expressed in CPU & memory use overhead- you'll get a better PERFORMING package if you use a recovery protocol at several different layers. Remember, the best performing error recovery implementation is one that costs nothing to detect errors, and never has to correct any! -- LIVE: Barry A. Burke, (617) 965-8480 x26 USPS: Adelie Corporation, 288 Walnut St., Newtonville, MA 02160 UUCP: ..!{harvard | decvax!linus!axiom}!adelie!barry ARPA: adelie!barry@harvard.HARVARD.EDU, barry%adelie.UUCP@harvard.HARVARD.EDU ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 11-Jan-86 19:25:25-EST,12165;000000000000 Mail-From: JSOL created at 11-Jan-86 18:59:55 Date: 11 Jan 86 18:59-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #85 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Saturday, January 11, 1986 6:59PM Volume 5, Issue 85 Today's Topics: Touch Tone/Dial Pulse Dialing Re: Access Charges Microcom Re: Touch-Tone (tm) Line Charges DMI/CPI Touch-Tone (tm) Line Charges EA problems (help!) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri 10 Jan 86 11:12:15-PST From: HECTOR MYERSTON Subject: Touch Tone/Dial Pulse Dialing This concerns ESS machines only. When I worked on ESS software sometime back there was a a big program to convert all customer dial receivers to combimed TT/Dial. ANY customer served could outpulse either and the machine would recognize it. This obviously simplified assignment of Line Equipment. There is (was) a software feature called TOUCH-TONE Detection on Dial Pulse Lines. When this feature did its self-explanatory function, the switch would then (depending on the parameter settings.) either (1) Deny the call OR (2) Complete the call and print a message on the Maint TTY. What the operating companies did with the printouts is open to speculation, I suspect they ignored random casual use an went after the constant users. I agree its a rip to charge extra for something which aids TELCO in call completion. +HECTOR+ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Jan 86 12:41:52 pst From: sun!saber!msc@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Mark Callow) Subject: Re: Access Charges > "Access charges are really being used to prevent bypass" > How? Charging poeple more for their local service and for "access" to the long distance networks surely encourages people/companies to bypass the local operating company. ------------------------------ Date: 7 Jan 86 02:46:00 GMT From: John Levine Subject: Microcom Several people have asked who and where is Microcom. They are a modem maker that has been around for a while. Microcom, Inc. 1400A Providence Highway Norwood MA 02062 617-762-9310 Telex II 710-336-7802 MICROCOM NWD I hear that those not privileged to live in Massachusetts can call them at 800-322-ERA2. John Levine, ima!johnl ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Jan 86 17:24:42 pst From: decwrl!sun!ra!boylan@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Lee Boylan) Subject: Re: Touch-Tone (tm) Line Charges I, too, got a letter from Pacific Bell saying their equipment noticed that I was using a tone phone without paying for tone dialing. They by default would start charging for it, but they gave me a number to call. I told the lady I returned that phone, so she said they would fix my line so it wouldn't accept tones. It still accepts tones, but I don't tone dial that much, anymore, so they won't hastle me. Meanwhile, I gave my parents back east a tone phone which DOESN'T work for them, so I had to get them a pulse model. Since their exchange went through some big changes a short time back, I have to think they have new equipment. So there must be a way to ignore tones from people who don't pay the surcharge. I expect someday they will announce that it's just as much trouble to accept pulses as tones, so they will want to hit everybody for the surcharge. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Jan 86 23:54:53 est From: jem@BORAX.LCS.MIT.EDU (John E. McNamara) Subject: DMI/CPI OK, I'll take the bait. While I was working for DEC I worked with NTI (actually with Bell Northern Research) on creating the CPI spec. I later was given a copy of the DMI spec and had occasion to talk at some length with the ATTIS people who wrote it. Unfortnuately, since I left my copies of this material with DEC when I left, I might not be able to answer very specific questions, but I'd be happy to give a general outline. First, the issue of goals. DEC and NTI were very anxious to create a product which could be used immediately. They felt that the appropriate way to connect the TDM backplane of an electronic PBX and the TDM backplane of a computer would be via a TDM transmission facility. Hence, T1 carrier was chosen. The T1 interfaces made by NTI and other PBX manufacturers used "robbed bit signalling", and the T1 facilities that one could obtain were often of that type (although short point-to-point T1 need not be). AT&T was making noises about getting away from that signalling system "before the end of the decade", but this was Fall 1981, so that seemed a long way away and the product goal was speed to market with an economical product. The reason for the long-winded introduction is that I am now about to explain the evils of robbed bit signalling. In T1, at least when used with the most common channel banks, 24 channels produce 8 bit samples (192 bits) and an additional bit called the "framing bit" is added to produce a 193 bit frame. The frames occur at an 8KHz rate, i.e. one every 125 microseconds. The "framing bit" varies in a prescribed pattern (100011001110 or something like that). This pattern not only permits receiving equipment to eventually figure out where frames are, it also permits one to count the frames and identify every sixth frame, example. Now, in voice transmission, you don't REALLY need eight bits of sampling, do you? No, an occasional seven bit sample would never be noticed. SO, the T1 transmiting channel bank steals a sample bit in each channel on every sixth frame and uses that bit to convey on-hook/off-hook signalling information, i.e. both supervision and dial pulses. Touch-tone(R) would of course go right down the voice channel (but supervision is still in the robbed bits). Another property of much of the installed T1 base is that since binary 1's are pulses and 0's are no-pulse, a certain "density" of 1's is required to maintain clocking. The best way to insure you don't get in trouble is to make sure each 8-bit sample has at least one 1. In voice, this can be done by making silence be all 1-s and rarely if ever using the all-0's code. The Bell System devised a scheme called B8ZS coding which substituted aa particular illegal pulse pattern that violated the "every pulse must alternate polarity" rule in a specific way to mean "00000000" and recognized that at the receiving T1 terminal. However, this has/had not been widely installed. A final issue, not specifi to T1, is rate adaption, i.e. how do you send 4800 bps data on a 56,000 or 64,0000 bit facility. OK, with that background, here's what CPI and DMI do to solve these problems: Robbed bit signalling: CPI always assigns the high order (or is it low order?) bit as a 1. Since this bit is not being used, it doesn't matter if it's stolen for signalling. Unfortunately, this also limits the speed to 56,000 in the initial version of CPI. A new version is being / has been proposed by NTI which also offers a full 8-bit format for use on non-robbed-bit facilities. This format is in addition to the existing formats and offers full 64,00 bit capability. The DMI only operates on non-robbed-bit facilities and uses all 8 bits to obtain full 64,000 bit capability. All signalling is done over the 24th channel and uses a very elaborate protocol built on LAPB, etc. When people say that DMI is ISDN-compatible, what they really mean is that is uses 23 64Kb data channels and 1 64Kb signalling channel, like an ISDN primary rate interface does. This does not mean DMI and ISDN are compatible,, interoperable, or anything else. One-s Density Requirements: Since every CPI data byte has one of the bits permanently 1, to avoid the robbed bit problem, the density problem is also solved. In the NTI full-8-bit variation, I guess you just have to be careful. In DMI, their full 8-bit format also has to be careful. There are some other formats used (see Rate Adaption, below), and one of them is quite clever. It uses HDLC and inverts the data so that there are never more than 5 ZERO bits in a row, except for the six in a flag. Rate Adaption: Since the CPI uses only seven bits,, it has the following formats: For 56,000 bps, just pour the bits in, seven bits per frame. For 48,000 bps, just pour the bits in, six bits per frame. For async, put data in four-bit nibbles. The coding of the formats permits one to have "stuffer" bytes which are time fills, announce the next character as being EIA signalling information for modem pools, etc. An additional feature is that for speeds of 9600 and below the data nibbles are send high-nibble, low-nibble, high nibble, low nibble, etc, a total of three times. The bits are then voted on two out of three, a form of forward error correction. This sounds complex, but the DEC interface uses a fairly simple 2901 state machine to do it, as I recall. The DMI also has several formats, and my recollection is that the synchronous transmission formats are basically the same pour-it-in fashion as the CPI. There are two async formats, one used for "weird" speeds and one used for more conventional speeds. The weird speed one samples the line at high speed and treats the samples as high speed synchronous data. The standard speed format waits for twenty characters or eight milliseconds, whichever comes first. It then takes the characters accumulated and packages them as an HDLC message, inverts the data, and sends them on their way. Summary: CPI Pros: Fairly simple to implement, VLSI not required. Works with existing facilities and PBX interface boards. DMI Pros: More flexible in meeting long range requirements. Sorry for the long-windedness. Hope it's been some help. Regards, John ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Jan 1986 00:11 EST From: "David D. Story" Subject: Touch-Tone (tm) Line Charges It was ano olde AT&T trick when the introduction of Touch (tm) Tone was supposed to save the busy executive time. While being cheaper to operate, AT&T ergonomics (The wonderful world of Bell) had the leverage to charge for touch tone because they were originally meant for business and justifable for the rate increases. I originally saw the TT at New York's World Fair. That's 25 years ago. Well as far as your problem, don't pay and wait and see. ------------------------------ Date: Sat 11 Jan 86 00:13:53-EST From: Ron S Schnell Subject: EA problems (help!) It seems that whenever I (or anyone) uses SPRINT to dial ANY NUMBER in NPA 305, there is a half second delay. I have verified this by counting into the phone and having the other person attempt to count at thesame time. This is really annoying and I have called SPRINT Customer Service several times but they just keep giving me credit for the calls and it continues. Does anyone have any idea why this happens? Another (more serious) problem I have experienced, is that when I use many of the LD svcs other than AT&T and a couple of others, after being connected for a few seconds, the other person will dissapear for a fraction of a second. This makes it impossible for me to use my modem because carrier gets lost after being connected. This doesn't seem to happen to all areas...617 is one of them. The pitch of the static seems to change after that happens too, and often a lot of the static goes away. I would appreciate it if anyone could fill me in on what is happenning in either or both of these cases. #Ron (ronnie%sutcase.bitnet@wiscvm) (ronnie%mit-eddie.arpa) ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 14-Jan-86 02:30:59-EST,8489;000000000000 Mail-From: ELMO created at 14-Jan-86 00:47:35 Date: 14 Jan 86 00:47-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #86 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Tuesday, January 14, 1986 12:47AM Volume 5, Issue 86 Today's Topics: Re: Touch-Tone (tm) Line Charges Australian Local Phone Rates (query) Re: Re: calling party ID EA problems (help!) touch-tone Re: Touch-Tone (tm) Line Charges Alternate circuits New AT&T IDDD rates ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 11 Jan 86 14:18:05 pst From: decwrl!glacier!oliveb!tolerant!waynet@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Wayne Thompson) Subject: Re: Touch-Tone (tm) Line Charges Unfortunately, they can deny touch-tone service. When I moved recently I went for pulse dial rate. One day, out of curiostity, I switched my phone to TT and dialed. It was ignored completely and dial tone was still present. Sorry for the news. Wayne Thompson ..{bene,mordor,nsc,oliveb,pyramid,ucbvax}!tolerant!waynet ------------------------------ Date: 12 Jan 86 00:55 PST From: William Daul / McDonnell-Douglas / APD-ASD Subject: Australian Local Phone Rates (query) Does anyone know what the local Australian phone rates are like? What I would like to hear is that they DON'T have local measured service, that they have a monthly charge for local service. Thanks if anyone knows. --Bi// ------------------------------ From: kitty!larry@seismo.CSS.GOV Date: Sun, 12 Jan 86 10:31:21 EST Subject: Re: Re: calling party ID > In Los Angeles, emergency calls to 911 show up with the caller's address > and phone number at a CRT. What kind of set up is used here? What you are referring to is generally called Enhanced 911 since it provides detailed calling party identification, as opposed to plain old 911 which at best only provided a telephone number. A 911 call is routed to a special central office trunk circuit, with such trunk being similar to that of TSPS, in that the trunk (under attendant control) can hold the calling subscriber seized to the trunk, can re-ring the line, etc. This 911 trunk also has available to it the calling number of the subscriber line which called it; this calling number is sent over a data line to a telephone company data center which maintains a centralized data dase of subscriber line numbers against actual name, address, and possibly other information. The resultant identity data is then sent back (not necessarily by the same route) to the public safety organization where the 911 calls are answered, where it is displayed on a terminal. The general trend is to have centralized data bases on a statewide or LATA-wide basis of subscriber number correlated to name, address, etc., rather than to expect the information to reside in the actual central office where the call originated. This scheme also quiets some concerns of telephone company management about potential abuse of information if were too easily accessed by telephone company personnel; such would be the case if the data base resided in each central office. Most of the Enhanced 911 that has already been implemented has been done so with technical variations in each installation. To a certain extent this is unavoidable, but efforts are being made to standardize the apparatus and method of installation (at least from the standpoint of AT&T Network Systems and AT&T Technologies). One of the great benefits to be derived from standardization is that Enhanced 911 will eventually be available everywhere, with calls routed to the PROPER public safety agency for the address of the calling party; i.e., the telephone company data base will determine to which public service agency the call should be routed. Under these circumstances, a central office will no longer be an arbitrary boundary for the public safety agency answering 911 calls - which is only proper, since a given central office will often serve more than one political subdivision. ==> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York <== ==> UUCP {decvax|dual|rocksanne|rocksvax|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry <== ==> VOICE 716/741-9185 {rice|shell}!baylor!/ <== ==> FAX 716/741-9635 {G1, G2, G3 modes} duke!ethos!/ <== ==> seismo!/ <== ==> "Have you hugged your cat today?" ihnp4!/ <== ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 12 Jan 86 11:50:15 EST From: "Paul R. Grupp" Subject: EA problems (help!) The half second delay you refer to is the time it takes to bounce a signal off a 44Kmile orbit satelite. (186,000 Miles_per_Sec/(2*44,000 that's 1/4 sec up plus 1/4 sec back). -Paul ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13-JAN-1986 10:49 EST From: Ronald A. Jarrell Subject: touch-tone When I used to live in the D.C. area (C&P telephone..) if you had a real live A.T.&T phone and *didn't* have touch-tone service, you didn't even get the tones.. In fact, hitting a button wouldn't break dial-tone as I recall... -Ron Jarrell ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 86 10:19:46 EST From: Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) Subject: Re: Touch-Tone (tm) Line Charges New York World's Fair was in 1964-65. (Not yet 25 years ago.) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Jan 86 13:47:28 est From: Marvin Sirbu Subject: Alternate circuits Another (more serious) problem I have experienced, is that when I use many of the LD svcs other than AT&T and a couple of others, after being connected for a few seconds, the other person will dissapear for a fraction of a second. This makes it impossible for me to use my modem because carrier gets lost after being connected. This doesn't seem to happen to all areas...617 is one of them. The pitch of the static seems to change after that happens too, and often a lot of the static goes away. Telco circuits frequently have automatic monitoring ewuipment which is checking the quality of a line. Microwave systems in particular are subject to periodic fading or dropout due to atmoshperic conditions. When a poor microwave link is detected, the entire group of channels running over that link may be switched to a different tranmission facility -- thus both the temporary drop out and the better quality when you come back. ------------------------------ Date: 13-Jan-1986 1358 From: covert%castor.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (John Covert) Subject: New AT&T IDDD rates AT&T just lowered the rates to several countries effective 2 Jan, and this is what I've been able to get: 7A-1P 1P-6P 6P-7A 1.65 .99 1.23 .75 .99 .60 U.K. 1.89 1.14 1.41 .86 1.13 .69 Eire 1.94 1.09 1.46 .82 1.16 .65 Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Sweden, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Belgium, Austria 2.17 1.22 1.63 .92 1.30 .73 Greece, Gibralter, Finland, Luxembourg 2.23 1.25 1.67 .94 1.33 .75 Czechoslovakia, G.D.R., Romania Portugal, Poland, Yugoslavia, Iceland, Turkey, Cyprus,Hungary 6A-12N 12N-5P 5P-6A 2.12 1.09 1.60 .81 1.27 .66 South Africa 2P-8P 8P-3A 3A-2P 3.62 1.35 2.72 1.03 2.17 .81 Australia Remember that AT&T is not the only company providing voice service; you can (from many exchanges) prefix your call with 10222 for MCI or 10777 for GTE. With AT&T's new rates, they are the cheaper than GTE to the U.K. for calls lasting longer than three to seven minutes. By the way, if you have chosen a carrier other than AT&T as your default, you have to prefix 10288 to get AT&T, even for countries not served by your carrier. The other companies do not currently serve as many countries as AT&T, but GTE provides dial service to Bangladesh and Botswana, which requires an operator via AT&T. /john ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 15-Jan-86 03:04:24-EST,16971;000000000000 Mail-From: ELMO created at 15-Jan-86 01:52:05 Date: 15 Jan 86 01:52-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #87 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Wednesday, January 15, 1986 1:52AM Volume 5, Issue 87 Today's Topics: disabling touch-tone Satellite Delay (EA problems) Re: EA problems (help!) Re: CNA and Number Databases Re: Residential Busy-Out Problem Re: Touch-Tone (tm) Line Charges 10ATT USR Courier 2400 Re: Touch-Tone (tm) Line Charges Re: Faceplate for 2500 set needed Sun-2 vs. Hayes when used for both dialin and dialout ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 14 Jan 86 09:17 EST From: "Richard Kovalcik, Jr." Subject: disabling touch-tone Just because touch-tone doesn't work, doesn't mean it's disabled, especially if you have an older ATT or ITT phone. If you do not hear a tone when you push the button, then you have tip and ring backwards (reversed polarity). If you do hear the tone and it doesn't break dial tone, then touch-tone is disabled. P.S. Anyone seen those silly polarity reversers they sell for $5.95? I guess it's for people too scared to use a screwdriver on a junction box. ------------------------------ Date: Tue 14 Jan 86 12:07:00-EST From: Ron S Schnell Subject: Satellite Delay (EA problems) But when AT&T uses sattelite, how come there isn't a half second delay? ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Jan 86 08:36:18 pst From: decwrl!amdcad!mike@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Mike Parker) Subject: Re: EA problems (help!) Not that it matters, but I think it is 22,000 miles to geosynchronous orbit. The delay is 1/4 second one way, but the round trip ( which is important in echo situations ) is 1/2 seconds. I have heard that most long distance voice is done by satellite in one direction and by microwave in the other, this reduces the echo time to ~1/4 second and makes the echo less annoying. Mike ------------------------------ From: kitty!larry@seismo.CSS.GOV Date: Tue, 14 Jan 86 15:17:15 EST Subject: Re: CNA and Number Databases > In Denmark, there are several separate service numbers for directory > assistance: > 0015, 0016 ... International Directory Assistance, by country group > 0034 Name to number > (area code) 0034 Name to number for that area code > 0039 (??) Number to name-and-address > (area code) Number to name-and-address in that area code > So when I got here, there came a day when I needed number-to-name-and-address > lookup, and I called the operator to ask how to get that information, and > I was shocked to learn that the phone company apparently is barred by > regulation from providing that information to consumers, ("privacy") > ... When I was a kid during the 50's, I can distinctly remember that the information operator (old 411) could give out telephone listings by street number. This service seems to have disappeared after the great NNN-XXXX conversion, which in my area was around 1960. There was also a lot less concern about personal privacy in the 50's! ==> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York <== ==> UUCP {decvax|dual|rocksanne|rocksvax|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry <== ==> VOICE 716/741-9185 {rice|shell}!baylor!/ <== ==> FAX 716/741-9635 {G1, G2, G3 modes} duke!ethos!/ <== ==> seismo!/ <== ==> "Have you hugged your cat today?" ihnp4!/ <== ------------------------------ From: kitty!larry@seismo.CSS.GOV Date: Tue, 14 Jan 86 15:17:27 EST Subject: Re: Residential Busy-Out Problem > The problem is simply stated; my apartment has two extensions, > one a plastic drugstore fone and one a GTE touch-tone. For long > periods of time (but intermittantly and unpredictably) callers > from outside trying to reach us get a busy signal, when the extensions > are solidly hung up. The corollary of this from inside seems to be > an event where, for long periods of time etc., we can't get a dial tone. > This has been going on since last April, when we moved in. > C & P says they can't find any problem (we've never been able to get them > to monitor the line for a 24-hour period). > Does anyone have any good insights into this? Any possibility that it's > an "outside" problem? What prompts that question is that the telco junction > boxes or whatever they're called for the apt bldgs appear to be very > poorly secured; often I'll see one with the door hanging open. There could be a variety of reasons, including a telephone company problem in the central office (although that has the least probability). Since the telephone company has not been able to solve the problem, I guess it's up to you. I would therefore use the next time when you have no dial tone to perform some diagnosis: (1) Unplug both phones; can you get dial tone when only ONE telephone is plugged in? If so, then the OTHER phone is probably bad. Make certain that you can reproduce the problem before reaching a final conclusion. (2) Assuming (1) didn't tell you anything, what exactly do you HEAR when picking up the telephone without dial tone? If you hear a loud 60 Hz hum, or a hum mixed with dial tone, then you no doubt have a cable problem (hopefully in the telephone company's cable, and not your inside wiring). Do you hear sidetone (i.e., can you hear yourself talk), but WITHOUT any hum? If so, I would suspect a telephone company line equipment problem. (3) During times when the telephone works normally, do you hear excessive hum or noise (especially a scratching type noise)? Does it get worse during wet weather? If so, then it is most likely a telephone company outside cable problem. If it appears that you have hum or noise as above, call the telephone company and get on their case! In order of likelihood, here are the telephone company's trouble possibilities: (1) Bad outside cable. (2) Bad subscriber premises protector. (3) Bad central office protector. (4) Bad central office line equipment. (5) Overloaded (by traffic) or otherwise bad subscriber line concentrator, if your line is so equipped. While it is not too likely that your line is run through a line concentrator, your symptoms could be exactly caused by an line concentrator during an all paths busy condition; in this case there is really no hardware problem - just poor traffic engineering. (6) Bad subscriber line carrier equipment, if your line is so equipped. ==> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York <== ==> UUCP {decvax|dual|rocksanne|rocksvax|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry <== ==> VOICE 716/741-9185 {rice|shell}!baylor!/ <== ==> FAX 716/741-9635 {G1, G2, G3 modes} duke!ethos!/ <== ==> seismo!/ <== ==> "Have you hugged your cat today?" ihnp4!/ <== ------------------------------ From: kitty!larry@seismo.CSS.GOV Date: Tue, 14 Jan 86 15:17:00 EST Subject: Re: Touch-Tone (tm) Line Charges > I am appalled that NYNEX (?) would charge $5.- per month. It got worse. There was a New York Telephone (part of NYNEX) rate increase which took effect several weeks ago, and I just received a printout of our `Customer Service Record' today. The charge is now... $ 6.81/month. Since we have a PBX, all of our lines (even our dial-up data lines) are considered PBX trunks and have this monthly charge, which carries the USOC code of `TJB'. Our basic PBX trunk charge (including FCC access charge) is now $ 12.52 per month - which I don't consider too bad. The Touch-Tone charge sucks, though. > GTE here (Santa Barbara, CA) charges $1.-/month, and I am > a bit upset about that. I figured that I wouldn't pay it, > ... > Then last week, I got a letter saying that on January 21st, they'd > install new equipment to deny tone service to lines that didn't pay for it, > ... > I'm sure it will - given the present equipment - actually COST them to DENY > tone service. But does the facility to deny tone service actually exist ? It's a piece of cake to deny Touch-Tone (DTMF) service in any ESS office. While the dial pulse registers are capable of accepting both rotary dial or DTMF during a call (but not mixed), the ESS processor checks its `Directory Number Record' for the line requesting dial tone, and if DTMF is NOT permitted, the dial pulse register will be blocked from accepting DTMF. So, DTMF permission is just a lil' ole binary bit. In a crossbar office, to deny DTMF service the line merely needs to be assigned (by jumpering) to a line link frame location where the vertical location tells the dial tone marker to deny DTMF service. Because line equipment location to directory number translation occurs elsewhere in the crossbar office, changing link link frame location does not affect the directory number. Denying DTMF service could be a 10 to 15 minute job for a switchman in a crossbar office. It is my understanding that line link frame assignments are made in a crossbar office for traffic distribution purposes, and are made to INSURE DTMF service, but that no active effort is made for assignment to DENY DTMF service. However, anything is possible... In a step-by-step office which is equipped with DTMF-to-pulse converters between the line finder and first selector, to deny DTMF service merely requires that the subscriber line be connected to a line finder group without such converters - also a 10 to 15 minute job for a switchman. I don't know much about any other type of central office equipment which might be around which does not fit into the above categories. The point I am, trying to make is this: I STRONGLY SUSPECT that your telephone company is pulling your leg about ``installing new equipment'' to deny DTMF service. If the central office is presently equipped for DTMF, then it is virtually certain that it ALREADY has the capability of denying DTMF service. If I were to hazard a wild guess, I would speculate that you are in a crossbar office and that the letter you received is a scare tactic to increase revenue - because I don't believe that the telephone company really WANTS to have switchmen spend umpteen hours changing jumpers to specifically deny DTMF service. If you want to have some "fun", you might wish to challenge your telephone company on this point and demand that they tell you EXACTLY what new equipment they are installing - since I am skeptical that there IS any. Telephone companies can get away with a lot of things, but one thing which state Public Utilities Commissions take a dim view of is an outright lie. ==> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York <== ==> UUCP {decvax|dual|rocksanne|rocksvax|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry <== ==> VOICE 716/741-9185 {rice|shell}!baylor!/ <== ==> FAX 716/741-9635 {G1, G2, G3 modes} duke!ethos!/ <== ==> seismo!/ <== ==> "Have you hugged your cat today?" ihnp4!/ <== ------------------------------ Date: 14 Jan 86 13:06:31 PST (Tuesday) Subject: 10ATT From: Bruca A. Hamilton My sister lives in Charlotte, NC, and does not have Touch-Tone enabled, but her CO will accept 20 pulses/sec, if that tells you anything. Her default long-distance vendor is MCI. Over Christmas, I tried to call England, but kept getting "all circuits busy" recordings from MCI. Thinking that ATT might work, I tried dialing 10ATT-011-44-etc., but kept getting error message recordings. I even tried switching the phone from pulse to tone after dialing the 10ATT, but it didn't help. Any ideas? --Bruce ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1986 19:42 EST From: Jeffrey C Honig <$jch%clvm.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Subject: USR Courier 2400 I previously commented on problems with the Courier 2400 modems communicating with our Racal-Vadic 4401 modems. After some finger pointing the problem has been resolved by new firmware in the Courier 2400. My thanks to the technical support staff at U.S.Robotics and Racal-Vadic. After using a Courier 2400 at home for several days I'm very happy with it. It has significantly fewer problems with line noise than a Racal-Vadic 2400PA. Jeffrey C Honig Senior Systems Programer Clarkson University ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Jan 86 17:26:16 PST From: sdcsvax!sdcc3!bmcg!rodger@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: Touch-Tone (tm) Line Charges In article <8601090556.AA03648@ACC-SB-UNIX.ARPA> you write: >GTE here (Santa Barbara, CA) charges $1.-/month, and I am ... >actually COST them to DENY tone service. But does the facility to >deny tone service actually exist ? > >Just wondering .... > > Lars Poulsen @ Advanced Computer Communications > The facility DOES exist. Northern Telecom SL-1's, including the SL-100 Central Office switch is programmable (from the keybd) on a line by line basis for 10,or 20 pulses, digitone, or "true" DTMF, the switch doesn't care. Its all done in the software. -Rodger Cloud ------------------------------ From: dual!qantel!stv@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Date: Tue, 14 Jan 86 20:23:46 pst Subject: Re: Faceplate for 2500 set needed Reply-To: stv@qantel.UUCP (Steve Vance@ex2499) I needed one of these faceplates--the one on my phone cracked when I tried to file out two new squares to accomodate the * and # buttons on the new dial I had just installed (but that's another story). I went to my local Bell phone center store, chose a salesperson of the opposite sex, and smiled a lot while asking if they knew where I could get one. At first, they recommended I try the AT&T repair center (a mere $16), but then (seeing my crestfallen look), walked over to a cardboard box with a bunch of junk phones in it, pried off a faceplate, and gave it to me. It wasn't the right color, but the price was right ($0). You may have to try more than one phone center store before this technique will work for you. At least these places are listed in the phone book nowadays. If you are ugly, I recommend you coach a good-looking friend into helping you. Good luck. ------------------------------ Date: 9 Jan 86 21:54:29 GMT From: Arthur David Olson Subject: Sun-2 vs. Hayes when used for both dialin and dialout A colleague here at NIH is having problems using their Sun 2 and their Hayes modem. Inquiries are being made of Sun; I'm also posting this item so that if one of you knows something that Sun doesn't. . . The Sun is running 4.2bsd (release 1.1). The colleague wants to use the port connected to the Hayes both for dialing in and dialing out. However, there doesn't seem to be a single cable that can be put between the Sun's DB-25 connector and the Hayes's DB-25 connector that will allow for both dialing in and dialing out: * if you install a cable that *does* connect the Hayes modem's pin 8 (data carrier detect) to the Sun's pin 8 then dialing in works but you get a "can't synchronize with Hayes modem" message when you use a command like tip 5551212 * if you install a cable that *does not* connect the Hayes modem's pin 8 (data carrier detect) to the Sun's pin 8 then you can get commands like tip 5551212 to work but when you dial in the modem hangs up the phone almost immediately after answering it. (In all the above work, the "/etc/ttys" file was edited appropriately and a "kill -HUP 1" command was executed by the root user before attempts were made to dial in or dial out.) Have you experienced such problems? Do you know how to overcome them? If you do, I'd appreciate hearing from you. -- Sun is a Sun Microsystems trademark. Hayes is a Hayes (insert corporate lingo here) trademark. -- UUCP: ..decvax!seismo!elsie!ado ARPA: elsie!ado@seismo.ARPA DEC, VAX and Elsie are Digital Equipment and Borden trademarks ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 16-Jan-86 01:19:55-EST,10363;000000000000 Mail-From: ELMO created at 15-Jan-86 23:18:34 Date: 15 Jan 86 23:18-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #88 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Wednesday, January 15, 1986 11:18PM Volume 5, Issue 88 Today's Topics: Administravia: Bye Bye TELECOM Re: Enhanced 911 Re: Touch-Tone (tm) Line Charges dialing 10XXX long distance thru CENTREX-based least-cost router? Re: Touch-Tone Charges Re: Sun-2 vs. Hayes when used for both dialin and dialout ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed 15 Jan 86 14:05:36-EST From: Jon Solomon Subject: Administravia: Bye Bye TELECOM I am resigning as moderator of TELECOM effective immediately. TELECOM will continue to exist, but will be moderated by Eliot Moore (ELMO@MIT-XX.ARPA). Throughout TELECOM's 6 year history, I feel that I have met a really nice and knowledgeable bunch of telephone professionals, and I feel that TELECOM continues to play a vital role in network services, such as helping ARPA contractors (and others) find their way around the telephone network, both through finding cost-competitive alternatives to their present switching network, and through demonstrating their networks to the public. TELECOM has become more than just a q&a forum for people trying to get set up in the telephone game, It's role in the divestiture of AT&T was strong, explaining just what that meant for future telephone service. Questions from the simple "how do I connect my phone to the network", to the complex "Find the lowest cost method of routing Internet packets", to the informative "New England Telephone using DMS100 switching", have all been a part of the TELECOM experience. I will continue to read TELECOM, and stay on the sidelines and assist Eliot with duties he is no stranger to in moderating mailing lists. He has been the moderator of INFO-TERMS, and moderates INFO-IBMPC as well. I give a fond welcome to Eliot, and a fond farewell to TELECOM readers. Cheers, --JSol ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Jan 86 18:04 EST From: Bruce Subject: Re: Enhanced 911 Another advantage of Enhanced 911 is that you can give them information about yourself in advance and it will automatically be retrieved when you call 911. I have a friend whose sister is speech-impaired and was alone when the stove caught on fire. She called 911, the dispatcher automatically knew that she could not communicate well, heard the smoke detector in the background and was able to send the fire department. One would hope that they can do this without Enhanced 911, but it might have taken longer. In California, they fund the cost of the upgrades by a state-wide surcharge on telephone lines. I think it's well worth the nickel a month, and I'm hoping the rest of the country follows suit. --- Bruce Leban leban%umass.csnet ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Jan 86 13:03:14 EST From: ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!fritzj@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Fritz Friedlaender) Subject: Re: Touch-Tone (tm) Line Charges In article <8601090556.AA03648@ACC-SB-UNIX.ARPA> you write: >I am appalled that NYNEX (?) would charge $5.- per month. >GTE here (Santa Barbara, CA) charges $1.-/month, and I am >a bit upset about that. I figured that I wouldn't pay it, >since they had no means of denying me tone service anyway, >so I carefully registered the pulse-dialing equivalents of >whatever tone instruments I had, until the last time I moved >when they didn't even ask me any more what instruments I had. > >Then last week, I got a letter saying that on January 21st, they'd >install new equipment to deny tone service to lines that didn't >pay for it, and I could "upgrade" my line "for free" now (i.e. no >service charge, just an increased monthly charge) or if I asked for >the upgrade after Jan 21st, they'd charge $15 for the upgrade. >So I crumbled and let them get away with it. >Question: I know that it's a fraud in the sense that not only does it >not cost them extra to provide tone service (in fact it saves them >money, as Larry Lippman pointed out) (and they really oughta charge for >PULSE service) but I'm sure it will - given the present equipment - >actually COST them to DENY tone service. But does the facility to >deny tone service actually exist ? > >Just wondering .... > > Lars Poulsen @ Advanced Computer Communications > Yes, GTE installed a new, digital exchange in West Lafayette some 18 months ago, and unless you "subscribe" to tone service, you do not get it. Before the new exchange facilities were put in, you had the service, whether you paid or not. GTE gave perhaps ten days notice and when I returned from vacation, my tone phones would not work. They tried to collect for the installation, but I talked them out of it .... long story. Incidentally, I just read in the paper that the $1.20 monthly tone charge is being reduced by several Indiana telcos (GTE, Bell) because of higher than expected income from access charges - I don't quite understand the logic. For residence phones reduction is about $0.40, more for business - should certainly be zero, but tell that to your Public Service Commission lawyers. Hope this helps, F. J. Friedlaender @ Purdue University (fritzj@ee.purdue.edu) ------------------------------ Date: 15 Jan 1986 (Wednesday) 0428-EDT From: Christopher Shull Subject: dialing 10XXX long distance thru CENTREX-based least-cost router? In Tuesday, January 14th TELECOM Digest (Volume 5, Issue 86), John Covert identified the 10XXX numbers for MCI, GTE, and AT&T. Do these services require subscription? Are there other 10XXX numbers that do not require subscription? At the U of Penn we have a Bell of PA CENTREX, and through it we reportedly receive the "benefit" of least cost routing for long distance calls. However, because the phone bills to departments are generated within the University, we cannot tell how a particular call was routed. When calling Washington D.C. (from Philadelphia), I frequently get disconnected. I have been told that this is because I am routed via MCI. (MCI believes there is a market for lower quality telephone service.) I had asked if there was some way to specify an AT&T line in order to get better quality, our telecommunications office, naturally, said no. I would like to dial 9-10288-1-202-XXX-XXXX to get my call routed to AT&T lines. (Substitute the 10XXX of your choice.) This technique seems to work, in that I get the right party. Question is, am I really getting past the pesky automatic least-cost router? I have not yet been able to determine whether the line quality or reliability is any better. Thanks in advance! -Chris Christopher Shull Shull@Wharton.ARPA Decision Sciences Department The Wharton School (215) 898-5930 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 19104-6366 ------------------------------ Date: 15 Jan 86 12:22:00 PST From: Subject: Re: Touch-Tone Charges Reply-To: From: SAGE::MAILER 15-JAN-1986 07:09 To: LARS Subj: [Netmail From: hammond%lafite@mouton.ARPA (Rich A. Hammond at lafite.UUCP)] Re: Touch Tone Access Charges Date: Wed, 15 Jan 86 10:02:01 est From: hammond%lafite@mouton.ARPA (Rich A. Hammond at lafite.UUCP) Message-Id: <8601151502.AA29329@lafite.UUCP> To: lars@acc-sb-unix.arpa, lars@acc.arpa Subject: Re: Touch Tone Access Charges 1) You posted from acc-sb-unix.arpa, but said your return address was acc.arpa. Since our hosts lists those as 2 different places, I sent it to both. As I understand the system: 1) Charges for Touch-tone service are set by the local operating companies with the consent of the PUC (or it's equivalent). The extra charge for Touch tone service is essentially a tax on the "rich" (since it is a "premium" service) transferred to the "poor" (who use pulse dialing). This is influenced by "politics" since the local companies are still a monopoly and some redistribution of costs vs prices is done. Thus, there is typically (another example) a "lifeline" service grade that allows people to have a phone, at a less expensive rate. The cost is picked up by all other subscribers. 2) The cost to the phone companies of new equipment is typically depreciated over a long (i.e. 20 years) period of time, so we are in fact paying for equipment that was installed quite some time ago. Paying the costs over the long term is like buying a house with a mortgage, the total cost is more, but the monthly outlays are small. 3) The actual cost of providing the service isn't the problem, the problem is revenue. The telephone companies want to continue to make as much money as before, so if they charge less for Touch-tone, then the pulse service (or some other service) has to go up in price. You can guess at the reaction of the Public Utilities Commision to such a proposal, since they view Touch tone as a "premium" service. 4) Arguments that the phone companies should simply take in less money I won't buy, since I didn't hear those complaining about the cost volunteering to work for less this year than last, which is what they are asking the phone companies to do. Rich Hammond hammond@bellcore-cs-gw.arpa ------------------------------ From: sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!trwrb!trwrba!ries@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Date: Wed, 15 Jan 86 11:52:05 pst Subject: Re: Sun-2 vs. Hayes when used for both dialin and dialout While not necessarily a solution to this problem, there was a program posted to the net.sources recently that allowed user's to use the same line for dialing in and dialing out. This code was specifically for the BSD (aka SUN) versions of UNIX. This may be worth pursuing. Marc Ries TRW Operations and Support Group ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 18-Jan-86 14:33:15-EST,21087;000000000000 Mail-From: ELMO created at 18-Jan-86 13:29:48 Date: 18 Jan 86 13:29-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #89 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Saturday, January 18, 1986 1:29PM Volume 5, Issue 89 Today's Topics: Re: Australian Local Phone Rates TouchTone charges: Texas-PUC allowed "only" $1; plus LUXURY-tax??!! Judge Greene "chides 'Baby' Bells for their ambitions" re: Alternate carrier access through CENTREX Trivial Query Re: Touch-Tone Charges Administravia: Bye Bye JSOL (*Sigh*) Re: Sun-2 vs. Hayes when used for both dialin and dialout PROJECT VICORIA (multiple connections with only 1 phone line) Re: Alternate circuits Touchtone, GTE Sprint Echo and Contel ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 16 Jan 86 11:45:41 EST From: ucdavis!lll-crg!seismo!munnari!natmlab.oz!ronb@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Ron Baxter) Subject: Re: Australian Local Phone Rates Local calls in Australia cost about 15 cents (20 cents from pay phones) and are not timed. The major cities are each covered by a single local call area. ------------------------------ Date: Thu 16 Jan 86 05:26:21-CST From: Werner Uhrig Subject: TouchTone charges: Texas-PUC allowed "only" $1; plus LUXURY-tax??!! Late last year I noticed a new (minor) tax-item appearing on the "enhanced" phone-bill - a few cents only, but curiosity had the better of me. My friendly SWB-person clarified, that this is a tax which was being collected on the $1 TouchTone surcharge, starting October 85. Why? It's considered a luxury (non-necessity) and SWB is, therefore, collecting 5% sales-tax for State and City on that dollar since October 85. I wonder who had that bright idead .... ------------------------------ Date: Thu 16 Jan 86 05:45:03-CST From: Werner Uhrig Subject: Judge Greene "chides 'Baby' Bells for their ambitions" [from the Austin American Statesman, Jan 14, 1986] 'Baby' Bells chided for their "ambition" WASHINGTON(AP) - Accusing the seven regional Bell Telephone companies of "conglomerate ambitions" and "lack of interest" in providing good cheap local phone service, the judge who presided over the breakup of the Bell System restricted on Monday the companies' ability to expand rapidly. He told them they still must come to him for permission every time they want to enter into almost any business other than offering local telephone service. Pacific Telesis, Ameritech and US West, three of the seven companies created by the breakup, sought authority to offer certain telephone services without having to ask for specific waivers. All three companies expressed disappointment with the decision by US District Court Judge Harold H. Greene. .... As technology has changed since the divestiture on Jan 1, 1984, the companies have sought waivers to enter into related and unrelated businesses. A few months ago the same court established a detailed procedure and guidelines for the regional companies to follow in requesting waivers. Judge Greene ruled Monday that the companies were trying to "undercut that process" by labelling their motions "request for clarification" rather than "requests for waivers." In turning down the three companies' requests, Greene attacked the "rush to diversification" [by the 'regionals'] and accused them of "relative lack of interest in basic telephone service itself." Greene said he feared failures in some of the subsidiary businesses might lead to "high or repeated rate increases" as bailouts "should they be neglectful or commit errors which jeapordize the continued availability of the service." ------------------------------ Date: 16 Jan 1986 08:16:21-EST From: prindle@NADC Subject: re: Alternate carrier access through CENTREX You can determine which carrier you actually get by dialing 10xxx-1-700-555-4141 and listening to the recording you get. This may not be foolproof, as the CENTREX may handle the 700 differently than calls to D.C. from Philadelphia, but, more likely, it just gives up trying to route the call when it gets the 10xxx. ------------------------------ Date: 16 Jan 1986 1057-PST From: GONZALEZ@BBNV8 Subject: Trivial Query When I was younger, there was a book published in my town that listed people by their name and address, and included their occupation, employer, and phone number. Many of the adjacent towns had similar books, all published by one company. Understandably, this book is no longer available to the general public, since it gave a lot of information that people in urban areas don't want floating around. The reason I thought of this was that the last volumes were printed back in the days of named exchanges. Everyone's heard of "PEnnsylvania 6-5000" (736-5000), and New Yorkers may remember MUrray Hill 8 (688-XXXX), which was for another hotel. In my home town, there was PIlgrim 8 (748-XXX). In Plymouth, MA, there was PIlgrim 4 (744-XXXX). My home town, however, is several hundred miles south of Pilgrim country, however, so I believe that exchange names were the same throughout the country. What I'd like to know is what exchange names people remember. I'm afraid I've named the only ones I can recall. -Jim. "Remember when Cap'n Crunch was a cereal?" ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Jan 86 13:41:27 CST From: Will Martin -- AMXAL-RI Subject: Re: Touch-Tone Charges >4) Arguments that the phone companies should simply take in less money >I won't buy, since I didn't hear those complaining about the cost >volunteering to work for less this year than last, which is what they >are asking the phone companies to do. > >Rich Hammond hammond@bellcore-cs-gw.arpa You may not buy such arguments, but I certainly do. First off, I qualify under your criteria, though I disagree that such criteria have any bearing on this. I am a federal employee. There has been a federal pay freeze in effect. Inflation continues. Therefore, I AM volunteering to work for less money next year, as my salary remains the same while the value of the amount of money lessens. Therefore I (by your standards) must be speaking from a position of virtue and self-sacrifice, and my words thus have greater value, coming from such an admirable source. (need I add :-) ?) ('tis true, anyway...) Anyhow, to get to the meat of the matter -- the telcos (at least the oldline BOCs and probably AT&T itself) waste so much of the income they now extort from the customer base that they most certainly CAN take in less money and still provide improved service. From the little details (that add up to huge sums when taken in toto) like the fact that they don't bother to recycle the envelopes that come with the bills [if you turn in a perfectly good unused envelope when paying a bill in person they throw it away!], to the major wastage [Southwestern Bell just built a huge new office building in downtown St. Louis, putting in $400,000 worth of fancy marble in the lobby, and then covering it with another layer of decorative stone because they didn't like the way it looked!], vast executive-level salaries, fancy offices, and inflated administrative staffs, the telcos have a long history of throwing money away because they could always use their lawyers to manipulate the PUCs in every state to get just what they wanted. Consumer groups don't stand a chance against their resources, and they own enough legislators to control any and all applicable laws. When the telcos adopt the federal GS-schedule pay scale as their pay standard (which limits white-collar pay to the range of about $10 - $68 K which is enough to live on and get by if you live sanely), when the offices they work in have the same level of furnishings that mine have (adequate functionally but no particular fanciness or costs wasted on decor), and when all the corporate-level perks and indulgences like political and social donations are eliminated, THEN I'll accept that they are at a justifiable level of expense. If this situation was somehow forced upon them, and then an independent auditing calculated what the phone billing charges would be, I venture to surmise that our phone bills would be half or less of their current levels. Note that I am not saying that the "phone man" out there in the truck is getting overpaid and living a life of luxury at my expense. He might be, but I doubt it. The money is not going into the salaries of low-level personnel (though there are probably excessive numbers of clerical and secretarial types in the administrative offices whose jobs would be eliminated when those offices are pared down to strictly necessary levels); it is going into buildings, furnishings, empire-building, and the pockets of upper levels of a bloated and unneeded management, who have the maintenance of their own and their compatriots' comfort as their main interest, not the providing of the best possible telephone service at the lowest possible cost. Will Martin ------------------------------ Date: 16 Jan 86 15:11 EST (Thu) From: _Bob Subject: Administravia: Bye Bye JSOL (*Sigh*) From: Jon Solomon I am resigning as moderator of TELECOM effective immediately. On behalf of the readership of TELECOM, I move three cheers for JSOL. All the services he mentions in his farewell msg have been useful, but the best thing about TELECOM during his editorship has been the sense of intellectual curiousity JSOL brought to it. More than any other, this has been the digest for folks who need to know how things *work.* _B ------------------------------ From: ihnp4!gargoyle!phenix!nag@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Date: Thu, 16 Jan 86 10:43:18 cst Subject: Re: Sun-2 vs. Hayes when used for both dialin and dialout Your problem is a very common one, that took me a while to figure out on our Sun 2-170. To use it for both calling and out, youu must reconfigure the kernal. If you have a Standard Sun CPU Board: Edit your Kernal, and find a line like: device zs0 at mb0 csr 0xeec800 flags 0x3 priority 2 and change 0x3 to 0x2 for ttya, to 0x1 for ttyb, to 0x0 for both. If you have something else send me a note or check your administration manual under "Adding Hardware to your System" Jeff Kvam ------------------------------ Date: Fri 17 Jan 86 16:15:04-CST From: Werner Uhrig Subject: PROJECT VICORIA (multiple connections with only 1 phone line) [ from the Austin American Statesman, Tue Jan 14 1986 ] NEW PHONE SYSTEM LETS 2 TALK ON SAME LINE AT ONCE by John Markoff - San Francisco Examiner SAN FRANCISCO - Pacific Bell has lifted a veil of secrecy to detail a new communications service that will permit residential phone customers to use a single phone line for voice and computer functions at the same time. The system essentially converts a line that once allowed only a single conversation or computer connection to carry two voice signals and five computer signals simultaneously. As an example, a user could talk on the phone and connect his computer to a data service over the same line. Or, a burglar alarm could call the police even while the user was talking on the phone. Or, two people could make seperate calls at once. The Project Victoria system, scheduled for testing in Danville, Calif., the first week in March, is designed to make it simpler for electronic information services to be tapped by home computer users. It will also make it possible to offer home banking, energy monitoring and security services all at once to residential customers. Pacific Bell is stressing work-at-home and small-business applications of the system. Victoria will send digital information directly over telephone lines. Most residential phone-lines today carry only analog signals. This will save computer users the expense of high-speed modems - devices that convert analog to digital signals. Pacific Bell officials said one of the key advantages of the Victoria system is that it can easily be installed at existing telephone-company phone-switching centers or even be offered as a service by other companies that license it from Pacific Bell. No decisions have been made on how much the new service will cost or how it will be marketed. John Lucas, a Pacific Bell spokesman, said that if a new digital standard emerges, Victoria can be modified to be compatible. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Jan 86 00:29:51 EST From: "Robert L. Plouffe" There have been a few messages to the nets regarding the Telebit modem marketed by DCA as FASTLINKPC and manufactured by Telebit. It has its own protocol and is sold with Crosstalk-Fast which I understand is an adaptation of Crosstalk xvi by Micro-Stuf. It is said to be useable at average rates of 10kbps on dial up lines and completely adaptive to line conditions. I am doing a survey of that modem and would appreciate any opinions, tests, facts, etc regarding it. If there is sufficient interest, I will post the results to the net. Please respond directly to me since I am not on all of the mailing lists to which this is addressed. ------------------------------ From: kitty!larry@seismo.CSS.GOV Date: Sat, 18 Jan 86 11:38:04 EST Subject: Re: Alternate circuits >> Another (more serious) problem I have experienced, is that when I use >> many of the LD svcs other than AT&T and a couple of others, after being >> connected for a few seconds, the other person will dissapear for a >> fraction of a second. This makes it impossible for me to use my modem >> because carrier gets lost after being connected. This doesn't seem >> to happen to all areas...617 is one of them. The pitch of the static >> seems to change after that happens too, and often a lot of the static >> goes away. > Telco circuits frequently have automatic monitoring ewuipment which is > checking the quality of a line. Microwave systems in particular are subject > to periodic fading or dropout due to atmoshperic conditions. When a poor > microwave link is detected, the entire group of channels running over that > link may be switched to a different tranmission facility -- thus both the > temporary drop out and the better quality when you come back. Here are some additional explanations for speech clipping, where the other end of the conversation will "diasppear" for a fraction of a second: 1. Faulty or maladjusted echo supressors. Four-wire toll circuits greater than 500 miles in length generally have what are called echo supressors, which literally do just that - suppress talker "echo". Echo is the result of unavoidable impedance mismatches at the hybrid ends of toll circuits where four-wire lines (i.e., separate transmit and receive circuits) are converted to two-wire lines (which eventually go to the subscriber location). In general, an echo suppressor is an analog circuit which detects speech in one direction and then inserts an attenuation in the opposite direction. The concept of an echo suppressor allows speech in only one direction at one time, which is why you may not be able to "interrupt" someone on a toll circuit - because they can't hear you until they stop talking! Echo suppressors would be an anathema to full-duplex data usage were it not for the fact that echo suppressors are designed to be disabled when frequencies in the range of 2.0 to 2.3 KHz are detected. Modems either have enough energy distribution in this frequency range, or they send pilot tones for this particular purpose. 2. The use of a "statistical" method of voice circuit multiplexing called TASI (Time Assignment Speech Interopolation). TASI makes use of the fact that audible speech is present on a one-way voice channel only about 45 percent of the time. Therefore, using speech detection and switching circuitry, it is possible to create more input channels than physical channels; when speech is detected on a given input channel, that channel is switched to an idle physical channel, with the corrsponding action taking place at the opposite end of the circuit. During low traffic periods, a conversation may keep the same phsyical channel for its duration. When traffic is high, each successive word may go over a different physical channel. It is unavoidable that several milliseconds is speech is lost during the speech detection process. TASI was originally developed for undersea cables; there has been a resurgence in TASI use in recent years since integrated circuits have reduced the cost of manufacturing the required apparatus. ==> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York <== ==> UUCP {decvax|dual|rocksanne|rocksvax|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry <== ==> VOICE 716/741-9185 {rice|shell}!baylor!/ <== ==> FAX 716/741-9635 {G1, G2, G3 modes} duke!ethos!/ <== ==> seismo!/ <== ==> "Have you hugged your cat today?" ihnp4!/ <== ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Jan 86 03:04:21 PST From: ix742%sdcc6@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu (Jim Hayes) Subject: Touchtone, GTE Sprint Echo and Contel I've been off the net for a while, so here's my chance to catch up: ---------- Touchtone (TM) charges on residential lines by Pac Bell in San Diego: I was not asked whether I wanted it or not. But sure enough, the second I started using it, BINGO $1.50 per month. I make a lot of calls, and am impatient with: click-click-pause-click-click-click-pause. And by not using pulse-dialing, I'm saving the life of some $10 relay on a circuit card someplace and thereby avoiding interuption of my service. ---------- GTE Sprint Echo: AT&T uses land lines first, then combinations of satelite and microwave. GTE Sprint is the other way around. Satelites first, then down the line. In most areas, GTE has updated the equipment and software to digitally extract that echo. But it's not perfect. If the callers speak simultaneously, the echoes will bleed throught, but it really isn't that bad. The main complaints I have about GTE Sprint are their error recordings. They are distributed to all local sites, and it's up to each site to get the recording on the system. Most of the time, it sounds like someone held a cassette player next to a microphone. Most of the time, you can hear the PLAY button being pressed. This results in REALLY LOUSY recordings. The recordings are usually very loud and distorted, as well as the first few seconds fade in an out. The female recordings are very pleasant and polite when recorded correctly. Much better than AT&T or MCI. This is not just a local problem. Where ever I travel and mis-punch my secret code, I get something like this: 29 (BEEP) Your access code is incorrect, please verify it and try-again. (LOUD) (muffled) (LOUD and DISTORTED) (Jittery) (Flutter) -------- Contel: (Continental Telephone of California and Nevada) Recently (while skiing) in Mammoth Lakes California, I wanted to use GTE Sprint from a payphone. No local access, no 10777 or 950 service. So I called the operator: Me: "Yes, I'd like to use GTE sprint for a long distance call. How do I do so?" Op: "GTF Sprint?" (She did indeed say the 'F'.) "What's that?" Me: "An alternate long distance carrier." Op: "Oh no sir. (Giggle) We only support AT&T." So I used my calling card: Op: "What is your calling card number?" Me: "6xx4509x16xxxx" (The PIN has been removed to protect the stupid.) Op: "One moment while I verify it." (AT&T TONE: and tones as operator punches the number in: BEEP BEEP BEEP BLIP BLIP BEEP.) AT&T: "Card number is valid. Unlimited PIN" Op: "Go ahead sir, it's ringing." IS IT JUST ME OR ARE THEY IN THE DARK AGES? What was worse, I was dialing a local number and heard the equpment translating the tones to pulses for the step by step. REALLY SAD. Half the time, the thing wouldn't translate correctly. Well, that's all for now. I'm caught up. Thanks for listening! -- - Jim Hayes UC San Diego ARPA: ix742%sdcc6@sdcsvax.ARPA UUCP: {ihnp4,decvax,ucbvax}!sdcsvax!sdcc6!ix742 ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 19-Jan-86 21:58:50-EST,8460;000000000000 Mail-From: ELMO created at 19-Jan-86 20:30:05 Date: 19 Jan 86 20:30-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #90 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Sunday, January 19, 1986 8:30PM Volume 5, Issue 90 Today's Topics: call startup "dropout" on alternate carriers Echo Suppressors -- only on circuits 1850 miles or longer Touch-Tone Charges exchange names calling party ID Hackers vs. Conservatism Exchanges with names ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 17-Jan-86 11:11:17 PST From: vortex!lauren@rand-unix.ARPA (Lauren Weinstein) Subject: call startup "dropout" on alternate carriers I don't think that the person complaining about momentary carrier dropout at call answer time (upsetting his modem) was experiencing anything regarding microwave fading. In fact, I've had various people consistently note the same phenomenon. I've noted the problem myself on calls made via SPRINT, very consistently. And in fact, the dropout there is of consistent duration, ALWAYS appears, and IS often long enough to knock out a modem. While it is possible to program some modems so that they will accept the dropout period without losing carrier, this must nevertheless be considered to be another reason to avoid cheapo carriers for data calls. Actually, I avoid cheapo carriers for ALL calls whenever possible, but that's my own opinion (occasionally I get stuck using a non-AT&T carrier--but that's life). --Lauren-- ------------------------------ Date: 18-Jan-1986 2229 From: covert%castor.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (John Covert) Subject: Echo Suppressors -- only on circuits 1850 miles or longer ... echo suppressors should be applied on high-usage intertoll trunks longer than 1850 miles. -Notes on Distance Dialing, 1975, AT&T. Prior to about 1973 they were used on somewhat shorter circuits, but were never needed on circuits as short as 500 miles. The perfection of digital echo cancellors (and the availability at low cost) may allow them to be used on shorter circuits. They have drastically different performance characteristics than echo suppressors. /john ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Jan 86 21:09:45 pst From: amdcad!phil@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Phil Ngai) Subject: Touch-Tone Charges If we compare two monopolies, one run by government with strict and arbitrary controls on compensation, and one privately run with the ability to pay fairly and competitively to attract the best talent, I think most will agree the phone companies provide much better service than the Postal Service. Shocking though it may be, some people are worth more than $68K per year. If you can't pay what they are worth, you end up with inferior management. Maybe phone service could be provided a little cheaper but I suspect it couldn't be any better. I'm happy with the current prices and service levels. -- (C) 1986 Joe Random is not a valid copyright. Copyright 1986 Joe Random is. Phil Ngai +1 408 749 5720 UUCP: {ucbvax,decwrl,ihnp4,allegra}!amdcad!phil ARPA: amdcad!phil@decwrl.dec.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun 19 Jan 86 00:30:08-PST From: Doug Subject: exchange names >What I'd like to know is what exchange names people remember. I'm >afraid I've named the only ones I can recall. I remember ALpine, and POplar (the "new" exchange in town (I think the whole town was ALpine for a while)). These were in Columbia, SC., Southern Bell. I remember when they added the prefixes to 5 digit numbers. This must have been in the 50's. ------------------------------ Date: Friday, 17 January 1986 08:03-MST From: John Moore Subject: calling party ID In article <8601140621.AA12258@ucbvax.berkeley.edu> telecom@ucbvax.UUCP writes: >> In Los Angeles, emergency calls to 911 show up with the caller's address >> and phone number at a CRT. What kind of set up is used here? >Systems and AT&T Technologies). One of the great benefits to be derived from >standardization is that Enhanced 911 will eventually be available everywhere, >with calls routed to the PROPER public safety agency for the address of the >calling party; i.e., the telephone company data base will determine to which >public service agency the call should be routed. Under these circumstances, >a central office will no longer be an arbitrary boundary for the public safety >agency answering 911 calls - which is only proper, since a given central office >will often serve more than one political subdivision. > >==> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York <== An interesting aspect of this is related to mobile phones. What is the PROPER public safety agency for mobile phones? Enhanced 911 was recently installed in Phoenix, and we discovered that when we called it from our Ham Radio Autopatch system, the operators sometimes would not believe us because we reported incidents 20 miles from the "originating address"! With the increased sales of cellular phones, this problem will increase. The solution used in Phoenix is to program those numbers into the system so that they show up as "mobile", and to route them to the county sherrif's office rather than the jurisdiction of the "originating address". Another problem is that 911 operators often read back the number calling. Our autopatch numbers are secret to prevent people from dialing them and tying up the system. Oh well... -- John Moore (NJ7E/XE1HDO) {decvax|ihnp4|hao}!noao!terak!anasazi!john {hao!noao|decvax|ihnp4|seismo}!terak!anasazi!john terak!anasazi!john@SEISMO.CSS.GOV (602) 952-8205 (day or evening) 5302 E. Lafayette Blvd, Phoenix, Az, 85018 (home address) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 85 20:55:34 PST From: chris%ic@BERKELEY.EDU (Chris Guthrie) Subject: Hackers vs. Conservatism Reprinted from the Sacramento Bee: ANGRY CALLER TITHES UP FALWELL'S LINE A self-employed computer whiz in Atlanta is under orders from a telephone company to stop making harassing computerized calls to the Rev. Jerry Falwell's toll-free tithing line. Officials of Southern Bell said they would yank Edward Johnson's service if he didn't unhook his phone from a computer that automatically dials Falwell's "Old Time Gospel Hour" every 30 seconds, tying up the line and annoying the operators. Falwell aides said they would take legal action against him. Johnson't computer has been making the calls to the Lynchburg, Va., line day and night since April. Officials estimated that the computer has made 500,000 calls to Falwell's line. Johnson, 46, a computer analyst who said he wants to bog down Falwell's fund-raising operations and hurt the organization's morale, maintained that he is not impressed by the threats. He said he is considering moving his computer to a friend's telephone to continue the campaign. Falwell aides said they would take legal action against Johnson, who started his crusade against Falwell after his mother "almost gave the family farm away" to the television evangelist. Mark DeMoss, a Falwell assistant, said Falwell has lost a dollar for every call Johnson's computer has made. "We do plan legal action," DeMoss said. "Naturally toll-free calls in that quantity would constitute a pretty significant expense for us." Johnson's crusade stopped Friday at 11 a.m. when a Southern Bell security agent, acting on a complaint from Falwell's organization, called Johnson and ordered him to unhook his computer from his phone or lose his telephone service. ------------------------------ Date: Sun 19 Jan 86 14:51:38-PST From: Lynn Gold Subject: Exchanges with names I remember a couple: "WIndsor" from southeastern PA (Levittown), and "TRiangle" from south Jersey (Levittown, later Willingboro). --Lynn P.S.--Please don't blame me for my folks' affinity for Levitt housing. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 21-Jan-86 02:20:53-EST,9447;000000000000 Mail-From: ELMO created at 21-Jan-86 01:34:09 Date: 21 Jan 86 01:34-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #91 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Tuesday, January 21, 1986 1:34AM Volume 5, Issue 91 Today's Topics: Trivial Query New AT&T Dialable Countries effective 16 February Re: named exchanges Exchange names prefix meanings Re: Trivial Query Re: Trivial Query re: touch-tone Exchanges with names mobile 911 - San Francisco Re: Trivial Query Re: Sun-2 vs. Hayes when used for both dialin and dialout ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: kgdykes%watbun%waterloo.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA Date: Sun 19 Jan 1986 17:17 Subject: Trivial Query > From: GONZALEZ@BBNV8.ARPA > > the days of named exchanges. Everyone's heard of "PEnnsylvania 6-5000" > (736-5000),and New Yorkers may remember MUrray Hill 8 (688-XXXX), which was > for another hotel. In my home town, there was PIlgrim 8 (748-XXX). In > Plymouth, MA, there was PIlgrim 4 (744-XXXX). My home town, however, is > -Jim. Here in Waterloo,Ontario,Canada we too had the 74x exchanges (namely 742- 743- 744-) they were known as SHerwood- I was young at the time and have no idea of the origins of the name SHerwood (other than the SH match the numbers) (ie: does sherwood have some deep cosmic signifcance in thee history of thee world?) A request: could you summarize the replies and post?? [All replies please copy telecom, thanks - elmo] - Ken Dykes Software Development Group, U. of Waterloo Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. N2L 3G1 (+1 519) 885 1211 {ihnp4,decvax,allegra,utzoo}!watmath!watbun!kgdykes kgdykes%watbun%waterloo.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa ------------------------------ Date: 19-Jan-1986 2309 From: covert%castor.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (John Covert) Subject: New AT&T Dialable Countries effective 16 February Ascension Island 247 Bangladesh 880 (note: already dialable by Sprint) Benin 229 Bulgaria 359 (now all of Europe except Malta China (P.R.C.) 86 and the U.S.S.R. are dialable, not French Guiana 594 counting Albania, which has no service Gambia 220 at all) Macao 853 Togo 676 Zaire 243 Also, Guadaloupe is changing from 596 to 590. I don't know if Martinique, St. Barth's, and the French side of St. Martin stay in 596 or not. /john ------------------------------ Subject: Re: named exchanges Date: 19 Jan 86 23:10:49 EST (Sun) From: "Christopher A. Kent" The only one I remember was LIncoln, in suburban Detroit. When we moved from Detroit to Cincinnati in 1964, there were no named exchanges to be found. chris ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 Jan 86 23:12:09 EST From: "Stephen C. Hill" Subject: Exchange names I remember LYnbrook (LI, NY), WAllnut and CHestnut (Phila.) Here in the Metro DC area, there were JAckson (Arlington, VA) and SOuth(ern) in Alexandria, VA and LIncoln in the district. ------------------------------ Date: 20 Jan 86 12:58 GMT From: mkdt-ir@KOREA-EMH Subject: prefix meanings the following prefixes come from several cities, hence the different meanings... 22 capitol 27 brunswick, crescent 48 gulliver, hudson 52 jackson 68 murray 94 whitehall maj george rezac, seoul, korea ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Jan 86 06:16:53 pst From: matsko%ucbtopaz@BERKELEY.EDU Subject: Re: Trivial Query There are at least two references that contain people listed by address and phone number. One is the City Directory which has all the employer info and such. Also, head of household is listed and all residents over 18 (I think) According to the preface of the book, all of the City Directories should be on file at your local Chamber of Commerce or maybe city council (I never checked). The one for your area should be at one of your better libraires. The last time I looked at one for a large city (Pittsburgh) I found that the copy was updated in 1976 (this was in 1982-1983). That could be because the school library didn't have an up to date issue. There is a specific publisher of the Directories but I don't remember off hand. You could also check with real estate agents or appraisers if you really need one. Another directory is the Criss-Cross directory which lists people by address and phone number. It doesn't have the extensive information that the City Directory has, just the listings. I don't think that unlisted numbers are included in either of the directories. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Jan 86 07:04:02 PST From: ihnp4!ihuxn!agk@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: Trivial Query I grew up in VOlunteer3 in suburban St. Louis (became 863), area code 314. -andy kegel ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20-JAN-1986 14:10 EST From: Ronald A. Jarrell Subject: re: touch-tone Actually, from seeing a few messages about it, I think the other house I was trying it in was reveresed, since it worked fine in mine. -Ron ------------------------------ Date: Mon 20 Jan 86 16:42:42-PST From: Lynn Gazis Subject: Exchanges with names Mine, from a suburb of New York City, was WIlson (which, since Lynn Gold remembers WIndsor, puts a hole in the theory that they were the same all over). Lynn Gazis ------------------------------ Date: 20 Jan 86 17:19 PST From: Steve Kleiser / McDonnell Douglas ISG / ASD Subject: mobile 911 - San Francisco GTE Mobilenet in the San Francisco area seems to route all 911 calls to some central location of the California Highway Patrol. They immediately ask the mobile phone number, then the location, and the nature of the call. Then they "hand off" (that's the term they used during an actual call) to the appropriate agency. In my case, I have placed two 911 calls, both in regards to occupied disabled vehicles on the freeway, both in the San Jose area, and they "handed off" to the San Jose CHP office. I was hesitant to use 911 to report these disabled vehicles, but went ahead because I don't have much memory in the phone (10 slots) and therefore certainly don't have each agency's emergency and non-emergency numbers programmed. I later called Mobilnet and they felt that there were many reasonable non-emergency uses of 911 (like reporting suspicious activities / crimes in progress ...) But 911 is answered "CHP emergency line". Maybe they should remove the word emergency. It sounds intimidating. -steve- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Jan 86 11:00:25 est From: ucdavis!lll-crg!seismo!harvard!gcc-milo!zrm@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Zigurd R. Mednieks) Subject: Re: Trivial Query And the phone number of General Computer is HYperdrive 2 5500. What a gas! -Zigurd ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Jan 86 11:50:51 pst From: sun!saber!msc@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Mark Callow) Subject: Re: Sun-2 vs. Hayes when used for both dialin and dialout > While not necessarily a solution to this problem, there was > a program posted to the net.sources recently that allowed > user's to use the same line for dialing in and dialing out. > This code was specifically for the BSD (aka SUN) versions of > UNIX. This may be worth pursuing. > > Marc Ries > TRW Operations and Support Group You don't need any such program on Sun 1.1 and later. The Sun-2 serial driver allows dialin and dialout on a single line. You make 2 entries in /dev, a standard /dev/ttyxx for dialin and a /dev/cul0 for dialout. The minor device number for the dialout line is the same as for the dialin line but with the top (0x80) bit set. Just open the appropriate device and go. does appropriate sleeps and wakeups. You *must* have an active carrier (CD line) on that serial port. Software carriers won't work. DTR must also be active; i.e., the modem must be set to follow DTR. It works as follows. An open for dialin asserts DTR then blocks waiting for carrier. When someone dials up, the modem answers the phone and asserts carrier detect, the open completes and init execs getty as per usual. Once the dialin open has completed any attempts to open for dialout receive an ENXIO error. (Why they chose that over an EBUSY I don't know.) A dialout open request that occurs while the dialin open is blocked, is honoured immediately without carrier so you can send commands to the modem. Once the call out has finished, the driver goes back to state where the dialin request is blocked for carrier. It all works very well. Caveat: this is a compile time option in the driver. I'm only %90 certain that this is the distributed default. -Mark Callow ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 23-Jan-86 05:10:48-EST,17317;000000000000 Mail-From: ELMO created at 22-Jan-86 01:02:49 Date: 22 Jan 86 01:02-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #92 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Wednesday, January 22, 1986 1:02AM Volume 5, Issue 92 Today's Topics: Re: Trivial Query Australian Local Phone Rates Re: named exchanges Some named exchanges from the past Re: Trivial Query Exchange names trivial query on named exchanges Re: Trivial Query Named Exchanges EXHANGE names of yesteryear !!!! Re: Old Exchange Names EXCHANGE NAMES exchange names exchange names in Wilmington, Del. area The origin of "MUrray Hill" and friends ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 20 Jan 86 20:31:51 pst From: Dave Suess Subject: Re: Trivial Query Jim, For what it's worth, I remember my home town's exchange as "GReenfield" for 47x-xxxx (though, since this was for a small town in North Dakota, we only had to dial x-xxxx until touch-tone forced seven digits on us) (come to think of it, it was a small town -- but a BIG town, for North Dakota [6th or 7th largest]). Dave Suess zeus@aero2.arpa ------------------------------ From: Peter Lamb Date: Mon, 20 Jan 86 17:44:13 -0100 Subject: Australian Local Phone Rates In article <8601140618.AA12195@ucbvax.berkeley.edu> you write: >Does anyone know what the local Australian phone rates are like? What I would >like to hear is that they DON'T have local measured service, that they have a >monthly charge for local service. Thanks if anyone knows. --Bi// What they have is something in-between. Cost for a local call is fixed per call (~ $A0.15), cost for long distance is metered on time/distance basis. All plus fixed monthly line/receiver charge. A 'local' call in Aus. goes over a quite wide area - up to 40-50 miles even in metropolitan areas. Considering the size/low population the phone charges there are quite reasonable - imagine area ~= USA-Alaska with only 15m potential subscribers ...... -- Peter Lamb ({seismo|decvax}!mcvax!cernvax!ethz!prl) Institut fur Informatik ETH-Zentrum 8092 Zurich ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 21 Jan 86 13:59:47 CST From: Rich Zellich Subject: Re: named exchanges Well, named exchanges \used/ to be the name of the town (probably not true for large cities, though). For instance, my parents number hasn't changed since the day they moved into the house in 1946. It was orginally IMPerial 5201, then when the telco changed to standardized 2-letter/5-digit methodology, they were assigned a "new" number: HObart 7-5201. Still later, the telco changed to the current all-digit system and they now have 467-5201... which, of course, is what it was since 1946. The original IMPerial was because the exchange was physically located in the town of Imperial, MO, even though they lived in the town of Arnold, MO. The other towns around us also used a 3-letter exchange name matching the town (with a couple of possible exceptions where there were conflicts of some kind). ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 21 Jan 86 08:11:56 PST From: "David G. Cantor" Subject: Some named exchanges from the past Exchange Location -------- -------- MUrray hill Murray Hill, NJ (site of Bell Telephone Laboratories) HOllywood Hollywood, CA EXbrook Santa Monica, CA GRanite West Los Angeles, CA CRestview Beverly Hills, CA BRadshaw Beverly Hills, CA (FX service from Los Angeles) ULrich prefix for time service of Pacific Tel dgc David G. Cantor ARPA: dgc@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU UUCP: ...!{ihnp4, randvax, sdcrdcf, ucbvax}!ucla-cs!dgc ------------------------------ From: kitty!larry@seismo.CSS.GOV Date: Tue, 21 Jan 86 10:02:11 EST Subject: Re: Trivial Query > The reason I thought of this was that the last volumes were printed back in > the days of named exchanges. Everyone's heard of "PEnnsylvania 6-5000" > (736-5000), and New Yorkers may remember MUrray Hill 8 (688-XXXX), which was > for another hotel. In my home town, there was PIlgrim 8 (748-XXX). In > Plymouth, MA, there was PIlgrim 4 (744-XXXX). My home town, however, is > several hundred miles south of Pilgrim country, however, so I believe that > exchange names were the same throughout the country. What I'd like to know > is what exchange names people remember. Up until the NNN-XXXX conversion around 1960, the Buffalo, NY and surrounding area had six-digit dialing as NN-XXXX. The city of Buffalo seemed to like presidents, since the only exchanges I can remember were WAshington, MAdison and CLeveland. The suburban areas had more pastoral names such as RIverside and SPring. It is interesting to note that after the NNN-XXXX conversion, names were dropped in place of non-mnemonic letters. For example, MAdison 1234 became TL3-1234, RIverside 1234 became TR5-1234, etc. In the late 60's, the letters were replaced by numbers (with no actual dialed digit change). I don't know why N.Y. Telephone did not go all numbers in 1960 - since the letters were meaningless - unless they felt it too "traumatic" for a subscriber to abandon the use of letters for a central office prefix. Another oddity (at least in light of today's world) which I can recall is that some rural exchanges had variable lengths of dialed numbers. One particular exchange - Angola, N.Y. - had some numbers as NN-XXX and some as NN-XXXX. Of course, the rural exchanges were all SxS CDO's, and variable length numbering was quite possible. Another fond memory was the "cry-baby" sound used for a no-such-number tone. In my area, N.Y. Telephone seems to have dropped it in the early 60's, although I can recall hearing it in the late 70's from Rochester Telephone when I accidently dialed a wrong number. ==> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York <== ==> UUCP {decvax|dual|rocksanne|rocksvax|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry <== ==> VOICE 716/741-9185 {rice|shell}!baylor!/ <== ==> FAX 716/741-9635 {G1, G2, G3 modes} duke!ethos!/ <== ==> seismo!/ <== ==> "Have you hugged your cat today?" ihnp4!/ <== ------------------------------ Date: 21 Jan 1986 08:48-EST From: mss%dartmouth.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA Subject: Exchange names I can't speak for the rest of the universe, but in Toledo, OH at least, the names seemed to be related to where the office was located. The GReenwood and CHerry exchanges, for example, were on those streets. -Mark ------------------------------ Date: 21 Jan 1986 (Tuesday) 1324-EDT From: Christopher Shull Subject: trivial query on named exchanges When I moved to Philadelphia in 1979, I had never seen a named exchange before in my life. Although the phonebook no longer refers to them, they are still widely used, by both the average Joe and Bell of PA officials. In addition to the ones offered on the net already: PEnnsylvania 6-5000 a hotel WAlnut } { phones on Walnut and Chestnut CHestnut } { Streets had this exchange Some of the ones I have seen include: MUnicipal the Municipal (City Hall) numbers ELgin way out in the suburbs, as far as I can see near nothing called ELGIN EVergreen West Philly's Pine and Spruce Streets MArket Market Street BAltimore Baltimore Avenue, again, in West Philly One of the local "born-and-raised in South Philadelphia" wits suggests that PE wasn't for Pennsylvania, but for PEnnypacker. As far as I know, it could have been both, depending on the speaker. She also recalls some exchanges from South Philadelphia: FUlton (she says the kids rendered this as an obscenity) HOward PIlgrim Poplar another street and FIdelity Alas for our rapidly changing times, when the winds of technology and storms of progress destroy the poetry and symbolism of our telephone exchanges by burdening us with more numbers than can be softened with names. One thing numbers have over letters is that they are much easier to dial. Just try to dial such popular numbers as CAR-SALE, FRE-BEER, or NOS-MOKE. They may be easier to remember, but they sure are hard to dial or punch! Enjoy! -Chris Christopher Shull Shull@Wharton.ARPA Decision Sciences Department The Wharton School (215) 898-5930 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 19104-6366 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Jan 86 14:17:57 est From: ucdavis!lll-crg!seismo!rochester!ritcv!als5901@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (D) Subject: Re: Trivial Query Two things: I currently live in Stamford, CT, and the phone books you mentioned (the ones that give occupation, etc.) are still published in Stamford, and can be accessed at the local library. Its pretty neat to look up all the people you know and see what it says. This telephone book actually has the type of house livd in, number of people in the house, and the names of other people in the house. Secondly, I lived in Queens, NY for most of my life. I can remember a few exchange names: TWining (89) (I was TWining 6-etc.) BOulevard (26) (probably Queens Blvd.) Sorry, can't think of any more. Did you live in New York ?? Adam Siegel als5901!ritcv.UUCP ------------------------------ Date: Tuesday, 21 Jan 1986 09:41:55-PST From: libman%grok.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (Sandy Libman) Subject: Named Exchanges Re: Named Exchanges -- 1. There were 3-letter, 4-number phone numbers in some cities before they ran out of spellable and pronounceable combinations and had to go to 2-letter, 5-number ones. Examples: TRObridge (876-nnnn) in Cambridge, Mass. [You would pronounce a number as TRObridge-1234, not TRobridge-6-1234.] UNIversity (864-nnnn) also in Cambridge, Mass. This eventually became UNiversity-4 and UNiversity-8. LIVingston (548-nnnn) in Philadelphia, Pa. [I still remember my phone number from when I was 8. I don't remember some all-number numbers that I had after that.] 2. MERidian-1234 The Boston "time" number. (1234 could be any digits. People use the nmemonic NERVOUS to remember it.) WEather-6-1234 The Boston "weather" number. 3. Orlando, Fla. used to have four named exchanges. One of them was GArden-7 (427-nnnn). I think one was CHerry-1 or CHenney-1 (Chenney (pronounced CHAIN-y) was somebody important in Orlando history. There's also a highway named after him.) 4. ANdrew-8-8000 The most famous phone number in Boston. Adams and Swett, a carpet cleaning company in the area, had a radio jingle that went: "How many cookies did Andrew eat? Andrew ate 8000." 5. Who can forget the rock-and-roll song from the 50's with the line: "BEechwood 4 5 7 oh oh. You can call me up and have a date; any old ti-ime." [Actually, I could, and may have. I won't swear that the "5 7" is correct.] ------------------------------ Date: Tuesday, 21 Jan 1986 08:12:05-PST From: ostiguy%bna.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM Subject: EXHANGE names of yesteryear !!!! From: LLOYDJ::LLOYDJ 21-JAN-1986 11:07 To: BNA::OSTIGUY Subj: Old exchange names - easy to remember Exchange names: When I was a kid in Montreal Canada our exchange was YOrk 5862 when we moved to Worcester, Mass. PLeasant 7-XXXX was used and today I still use the PL to remember my sister's home phone. Lloyd J. Ostiguy ------------------------------ Date: Tuesday, 21 Jan 1986 07:47:53-PST From: potucek%candy.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (Gone Skiing - J.Potucek @261-3297) Subject: Re: Old Exchange Names From: CASTOR::COVERT "John Covert 21-Jan-1986 1032" 21-JAN-1986 10:32 To: CANDY::POTUCEK Subj: Please send to RHEA::DECWRL::"TELECOM@MIT-XX.ARPA" Network Mail received on 21-Jan-86 at 08:28 From: CANDY::POTUCEK "Gone Skiing - J.Potucek @261-3297" To: CASTOR::COVERT Subject: RE: Telecom Volume 5 : Issue 91 Ref: "Old Exchange Names" Baltimore Md.== MUlberry, IVanhoe Paterson NJ.== HUnter Passaic/Clifton NJ == PRescott ------------------------------ Date: Tuesday, 21 Jan 1986 05:21:22-PST From: berman%joel.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (Joel Berman DTN: 276-9692) Subject: EXCHANGE NAMES Quincy Ma. had GRAnite and MAYflower. Notice that the first three letters were the exchange. Later we got GRanite 9 so GRAnite changed to GRanite 2. We also had PREsident. Quincy was the site of much granite used in building Boston and two presidents came from Quincy. I don't know about the Pilgrims though. The first recording I remember is when we got dial phones. If one mistakenly dialed the zero instead of the letter "O" in the exchange a tape was heard asking you to dial O instead of 0. Even then I remember thinking, "If they know what I mean't why can't they just fix it for me." I can't remember what exchange had an "O" in it though. /joel ------------------------------ Date: Tuesday, 21 Jan 1986 05:53:00-PST From: goldstein%delni.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (Fred R. Goldstein dtn226-7388) Subject: exchange names No, there was never any nationwide exchange-name list. It always had local significance. Prior to the widespread introduction of dial phones (Bell was mostly manual into the 30s), you called an operator and asked for the number, like "Murray Hill 8-9971". At least when AT&T decided to impose ANC on us, they didn't take the letters off the dial. British Telecom did, which is too bad since most of their STD city codes are mnemonic with the letters. Also they just introduced "freefone 800" service, which could of course use the letters too. (Most "freefone" service is operator-handled in the UK; very primitive!) When dial came in, the original idea was "L3" - three letters in the number. But that was too tough to find words for, so they pretty much settled on "L2". But many exchanges show their L3 heritage. Boston has "COPley" (267), "HANcock" (426), "DEVonshire" (338), CAPitol, KENmore, etc.; Cambridge has HYAcinth (not HYperdrive!), ELIot, TROwbridge, and UNIversity; Brookline has BEAcon, ASPinwall, and REGent. Brighton has STAdium, and Arlington has MIDland. Of course, many exchanges only fit the L2 pattern, like Belmont's IVanhoe-4, WAtertown-4, Concord's EMerson-9, and Brighton's ALlston-4. All a lot sexier than All-number calling, eh? Maybe we should add letter translation to Signalling System 7! :^) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 21 Jan 86 8:19:17 EST From: Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) Subject: exchange names in Wilmington, Del. area I am compiling a list from several sources. From in and near New Castle County, Delaware, where I grew up (these are in Del. unless noted): OLympia 2,4,5,6,8--Wilmington POrter 2,4--Wilmington (NE part; broken out from OLympia in 1957) SPring 2 and PRospect 4--Wilmington (DuPont Co. only) CEdar 9--Hockessin WYman 4,8,9(?)--Newport (992 and, I think, 995, are too new to have had the WYman name; don't know right now about 999) ENdicott 8--Newark EAst 2,8--New Castle SYcamore 2,8--Holly Oak TErminal 4--Delaware City FRontier 8--Middletown OLive 3--Smyrna EXport 8--Elkton, Md. GLobe 9--Chester Heights, Pa. EXport 9--Westtown, Pa. TRemont 2,4,6--Chester, Pa. All of these (converted to numbers) are still in use; Pa. points listed here are in 215 area. ------------------------------ Date: Tue 21 Jan 86 19:14:26-PST From: Lynn Gold Subject: The origin of "MUrray Hill" and friends The reason they used words, rather than numbers, to convey this information to people was that at the time, numbers were considered "cold, unfriendly, and difficult to remember." Hence, we had these names for the exchanges. I'm not sure why the phone company did away with them; perhaps they got tired of thinking of names. --Lynn ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 25-Jan-86 06:10:11-EST,23454;000000000000 Mail-From: ELMO created at 25-Jan-86 05:02:53 Date: 25 Jan 86 05:02-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #93 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Saturday, January 25, 1986 5:02AM Volume 5, Issue 93 Today's Topics: Administravia - Named Exchanges Dial in/out on Suns under Sun OS 1.1 IDDD City Codes & Reverse Directories Re: CNA and Number Databases Alternate circuits Freefone and 1800 service (UK) X*Press Cable TV Data Service new Pacific undersea fiber optic cable coming Re: Trivial Query Exchange Names Named Exchanges Exchange Names Exchange Names Named Exchanges Exchange Names The origin of "MUrray Hill" and friends Trivial Query Trivial Query Re: Some named exchanges from the past ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat 25 Jan 86 04:29:45-EST From: Eliot Moore (Your Friendly Neighborhood Moderator) Subject: Administravia - Named Exchanges While initially entertaining, it has been suggested that Named Exchanges is getting old quickly. If the silent majority is bored, I need to know. Cheers, Elmo ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 21 Jan 86 21:29:01 pst From: ia-sun2!smeagol!gorbag!earle@csvax.caltech.edu (Greg Earle) Subject: Dial in/out on Suns under Sun OS 1.1 This was a well-known problem under 1.1. The best solution would be to upgrade his software first (not possible?); then get him a copy of the Sun Technical Report, which was issued 5 times in 1984. Volume 3 contains the necessary info on correct hookup; also the topic is covered in the release 1.2 release notes (another reason to upgrade). The basic gist is, (a) Did he do a mknod of /dev/cua0 with the same major number as his intended serial port, and a minor number of /dev/tty{hisport} + 128 ?? (b) Did he mv /dev/tty{his_port} to /dev/ttyd0 ?? (c) [Most important] he has to check the flags in the Configuration file for his kernel. If he is hooking the hayes up to one of the standard serial ports (SIO-A, or SIO-B; ttya ttyb), then the default "flags=x" setting in the "zs" entry for the Generic kernel is x=3, which means that the kernel is using *software* carrier detect on BOTH of the serial ports. You need to change this to 0 (hardware carrier on both) or 1 or 2 (hardware carrier on one or the other; 1 means hdwr. carrier on /dev/ttya, 2 on ttyb) >From page 5-4 of the 1.2 Release Notes - Errata Pages Create the appropriate device for your modem with the following series of commands: # cd /dev # mknod cua0 c 12 128 (for ttya) # chmod 600 cua0 # chown uucp cua0 # mv ttya ttyd0 # chmod 711 /usr/spool/uucp/{C.,D.,D.[systemname]} One important point omitted from the discussion of setting up your modem for both dial-out and dial-in on the same serial port is that the flags bit in the kernel corresponding to the serial port you're trying to set up has to be zero. This enables hardware carrier detect, so the Sun can tell when someone calls in or hangs up. If bit 'i' of flags is set to 1, this tells the kernel that line 'i' should be treated as hard-wired with carrier always present. For device zs0, bit 0 represents ttya and bit 1 represents ttyb. The default value in the GENERIC kernel is 3, indicating software carrier on both ports. You must have ... a modem cabled correctly to the workstation: you need a cable with pins 1 through 8 and pin 20 all wired straight thru. A full 25-pin ribbon cable will also work. Hope this helps him. Greg Earle JPL Spacecraft Data Systems group sdcrdcf!smeagol!earle (UUCP) ia-sun2!smeagol!earle@csvax.caltech.EDU (ARPA) ------------------------------ Date: 22 January 86 14:59-PST From: Kevin J. Burnett Subject: IDDD City Codes & Reverse Directories 1) Is there a way to get a list of the "city codes" (or whatever they're called) for the U.K., without calling an operator or anything? This would be useful for me.. 2) A Little while back A certain person called me up and somehow knew my full name, when I had only given him my first name. He said that he found me in a "reverse directory" like CNA in the city library. I thought that the "phone company" wasn't supposed to give out such information. [You typically have the right to REMOVE yourself from such a directory. They don't "give", they *SELL* it -elmo.] - Kevin ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Jan 86 18:02:15 EST From: Leonard Rosenblum Subject: Re: CNA and Number Databases Subject: Re: CNA and Number Databases Newsgroups: mod.telecom > In Denmark, there are several separate service numbers for directory > assistance: > 0039 (??) Number to name-and-address > (area code) Number to name-and-address in that area code > > Would someone who grew up with the rules here explain in what way > they personally feel that that policy would be wrong to introduce here ? I think it could create a lot of junk calls. That is: 1- Autodialing machines trying to sell things could be programmed more efficiently. 2- "private" telephone company codes (like test lines, etc) could be more easily discovered. 3- Harrassment can occur by knowing who has certain numbers that spell phrases such as "IAMDUMB", etc and if they exist. > (In other words, I don't want to hear how it happened to be the way it is, > but would you object strongly if it were changed, and if so, why ?) I am in favor of implementing a code "0039" since I am not afraid of any harrassing phone calls (thanks anwering machine :-) ) and that this additional info could be helpful when one writes down a number quickly and forgets who it belongs to. <<<--- Lenny --->>> --------------------------------------------------------------------- UUCP : {cmcl2,hao,harpo}!seismo!rochester!rocksvax!sunybcs!lrosen | ...{allegra,decvax,watmath}!sunybcs!lrosen | CSNET : lrosen@buffalo | ARPA : lrosen%buffalo.CSNET@csnet-relay | BITNET : lrosen@sunybcs OR v131dllf@sunyabva | ------------------------------ Date: 22 Jan 86 21:30:17 EST (Wed) From: clyde!infopro!rf@ucbvax.berkeley.edu () Subject: Alternate circuits Some unknown commentator writes: >> Another (more serious) problem I have experienced, is that when I use >> many of the LD svcs other than AT&T and a couple of others, after being >> connected for a few seconds, the other person will dissapear for a >> fraction of a second. This makes it impossible for me to use my modem >> because carrier gets lost after being connected. This doesn't seem >> to happen to all areas...617 is one of them. The pitch of the static >> seems to change after that happens too, and often a lot of the static >> goes away. The problem you've described occurs using Western Union's long distance telephone service when a call goes between at least two of our six switches to an area where equal access has not yet been installed. It is a known problem but has not even been adequately researched due to company politics. (I can't tell you it's expensive to fix; no-one knows how much it would cost to fix.) If Western Union is one of your trouble-giving carriers (& keep in mind that WU carries some overflow from other carriers), write: I'll forward you the address & number of our Office of Consumer Affairs. -- Randolph Fritz {ihnp4,decvax}!philabs!wu1!rf ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23-Jan-86 09:06:02 PST From: vortex!lauren@rand-unix.ARPA (Lauren Weinstein) Subject: Freefone and 1800 service (UK) In Britain at this time, they have both Freefone service and (increasingly) the International standard 1800 service. Freefone is sort of like Zenith numbers in the U.S. You call the operator and they complete the call. In the U.S. we give a Zenith number, in Britain you usually give a company name (not a number). 1800 service is being widely implemented in Europe and apparently also in Japan. Eventually many toll-free international numbers will be available through this mechanism. Also, when you compare phone rates in different countries, note that in most parts of the world (particularly Europe) all timed calls (and this usually includes all local calls) are billed on a pulse count basis. You don't usually get an itemized bill--you get a bill for N pulses at a particular time-of-day rate. In most cases, there simply ISN'T any itemized info available. The pulse counts are very hard to argue about if you feel there are errors. You can put in your own pulse meter at home--but then if there are erroneous pulses coming down the line both your meter and the telco meter will see it, and you won't have any way to know they weren't legit pulses! Even where the new System X (ESS) has been installed in Britain, British telcom converts the itemized billing info to pulse counts for billing purposes. Apparently they even have a little program which graphically draws meters from the itemized data so the billing people will be comfortable. I suppose they do have the itemized data on tape somewhere in this case if there are disputes--but good luck getting them to dig it up, I'll bet. Pulse count errors are almost always of the "too many pulses" variety, by the way, so they almost always favor telco. --Lauren-- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 Jan 86 19:58:22 PST From: ihnp4!islenet!bob@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: X*Press Cable TV Data Service The local major TV cable service here will start a new service for personal computer owners on Tuesday called X*Press, which provides an RS232 one-way broadcast data feed of news and financial information. X*Press Information Services (a partnership between McGraw-Hill Inc., Telecommunications Inc. and Telecrafter Corp.) is headquartered in Boulder Colorado and is said to have begun X*Press operations last September, currently having about 500 subscribers in Colorado, Sunnyvale, and Buffalo. Honolulu was apparently chosen to be the first major city in the country (Honolulu is the 11th most populous city in the US) because Paul Maxwell, president of X*Press has a "close business association" with the owners of Oceanic Cablevision. Maxwell aims to entice about 1% of Oceanic's 250,000 subscribers to sign up for X*Press. Installation fee is $50, which includes a decoder and wiring to a personal computer, and a $19.95/month service charge. Maxwell was quoted in a local newspaper article today comparing X*Press to various computer information utilities (specifically The Source, Compuserve and Dow Jones News Retrieval) which charge fees based upon an hourly (vs. monthly for X*Press) computer time charge which can exceed $20/hour during daytime hours in Hawaii. Bob Cunningham {dual|vortex|ihnp4}!islenet!bob Hawaii Institute of Geophysics, University of Hawaii ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 Jan 86 19:58:57 PST From: ihnp4!islenet!bob@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: new Pacific undersea fiber optic cable coming A gaggle of PTT executives from around the world will officially sign a complex $600 million contract Wednesday morning at the Kona Surf commiting to the installation of the HAW 4 / TPC 3 trans-Pacific undersea fiber optic cable system. For comparison, here are the major existing Pacific undersea cables (all analog/coax based): HAW 1 California-Hawaii 1957, 51 circuits HAW 2 California-Hawaii 1964, 143 HAW 3 California-Hawaii 1975, 845 TPC 1 Hawaii-Midway-Wake-Guam-Philippines 1964, <150 TPC 2 Hawaii-Guam-Okinawa-Japan-Shanghai 1975, 845 ANZCAN Canada-Hawaii-Fiji-Norfolk-Sydney ?, ? COMPAC Hawaii-Fiji-Auckland-Sydney ?, ? TASMAN Auckland-Sydney ?, ? SEACOM1 Guam-Hong Kong ?, ? SEACOM2 Guam-Papua New Guinea-Australia ?, ? APNG Papua New Guinea-Australia ?, ? TAIGU Guam-Taiwan ?, ? ? Japan-Korea ?, ? ? Japan-Nakhodka ?, ? HAW 4 will run from Point Arena in California (same terminus as HAW 1) to Makaha on Oahu. TPC 3 is essentially a continuation, running from Makaha and then splitting to run to both Guam and Ninomiya, Japan. Also set for construction is a separate cable, GP 2, between Guam and the Philippines. HAW 4 / TPC 3 is all fiber optic, with a capacity of 40,000 digitized phone lines ... about 8 times the total current trans-Pacific cable capacity. Roughly the same time, TAT 8 will be laid from North America to Europe, using a similarly-constructed cable. When complete, there will be a belt of digital fiber spanning 3/4 of the Earth's circumference. AT&T will be installing TAT 8, HAW 4, and approximately 1/2 of TPC 3. The remainder of TPC 3 (from the branching point) will be installed by Kokusai Denshin Denwa Co. Ltd. Completion is set for December, 1988. The companies and countries' PTTs involved with HAW 4 / TPC 3 are: AT&T Communications Hawaiian Telephone (GTE subsidiary) Teleglobe Hawaii ITT RCA Global Communications MCI International Western Union FTC Communications GTE Sprint TRT Communications Japan Philippines Australia New Zealand Taiwan South Korea the United Kingdom West Germany (don't ask me why...) The US companies originally wanted a direct Hawaii-Japan cable, but the Department of Defense insisted that Guam be included. Currently, despite extensive use of TASI on the undersea cables, the majority of trans-Pacific telecommunications is via satellite (INTELSAT for the international connections, domestic US satellites for the California-Hawaii link). After the new cables are installed, the balance in the Pacific should shift to about 56% satellite, 44% cable. Bob Cunningham {dual|vortex|ihnp4}!islenet!bob Hawaii Institute of Geophysics, University of Hawaii ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 21 Jan 86 12:39:41 cst From: ihnp4!stolaf!umn-cs!woolsey@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Jeff Woolsey) Subject: Re: Trivial Query In article <8601181850.AA09500@ucbvax.berkeley.edu> you write: >When I was younger, there was a book published in my town that listed people >by their name and address, and included their occupation, employer, and phone >number. Many of the adjacent towns had similar books, all published by one >company. Understandably, this book is no longer available to the general >public, since it gave a lot of information that people in urban areas don't >want floating around. We have suburban directories published here which (last time I saw one) included head-of-household's occupation, spouse's name, and names and year of birth of children. >What I'd like to know >is what exchange names people remember. I'm afraid I've named the only >ones I can recall. > > -Jim. > "Remember when Cap'n Crunch was a cereal?" >------ Well, I remember WAlnut and TAylor here in Minneapolis. And Cap'n Crunch still is a cereal... -- -- The aim of Nuclear Freeze is to prevent Nuclear Winter. Jeff Woolsey ...ihnp4{!stolaf}!umn-cs!woolsey woolsey@umn-cs.csnet ------------------------------ Date: Thu 23 Jan 86 10:03:41-PST From: Doug Subject: Exchange Names I just remembered another, from Columbia SC, SUnset. ------------------------------ Date: 23 Jan 86 10:56:24 PST (Thursday) From: Swenson.PA@Xerox.COM Subject: Named Exchanges I grew up in Berkeley, Calif. Berkeley had the only manual exchanges in a sea of dial-us kids wanted to be modern & have dial phones; the adults didn't always agree. The exchanges I grew up with were Berkeley, Ashburry, Thornwall. Note the capitalization-localy the two letter capitalization did not come into use until about WWII. I still have wooden coat hangers with advertising printed on them where the phone number is spelled with 1 letter capitalized. Party line identification: My phone was Berkeley 1199W; 1199J was across the street, while 1199 was some frends of ours in Albany, Calif, 4 or 5 miles away, on a 1 party line. Albany grew & finally got its own exchange, dial of course, LAndscape 5. This was the first 3 character exchange I knew of in the Bay Area, it was used to avoid conflicts with LAkehurst in Oakland. The number was then added to all exchanges-probably 2 0r 3 years later. BErkeley became BErkeley-7. Finally came reorginazation and dials. BErkeley was broken up (the phone company did not want reginal names)-most phones were moved to LAndscape 4 or 5 or 6 with the number unchanged. Pay phones in BErkeley were moved to CEdar-same dial pulses. Then came the elimination of names, just two letters +1 number and then conversion to all numbers. During WWII phones installed grew so much that AShburry had some five digit numbers. This was fixed when dials came in. Don't forget the San Francisco exchange CHina. A manual exchange, operators spoke Cantonese & English. If the called party was not at home, the operator would try to find him/her at other places. Long gone, of course. ------------------------------ Date: Thu 23 Jan 86 11:20:13-PST From: BLUCAS@SRI-KL.ARPA Subject: Exchange Names When I was growing up in SF we had at least 26 exchange names. With a little help from my friends, I think I got them all--all letters of the alphabet. At one point Phoneco added a digit to the exchange--ours became Evergreen 6, but there was no other Evergreen. None of the exchanges in TELECOM so far (except for the one Evergreen) duplicated SF names--and there is no common thread apparent in the words--just what the alphabet required, I guess. Any old SFers can have my list, but it doesn't seem as tho' it would have national appeal so I won't list them now. Thanks to the person who injected this interesting little exercise. Barbara Lucas@SRI in California. ------------------------------ From: Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) Subject: Exchange Names PEnnsylvania 6-5000 was in New York City. A 1976 Phila. directory has PEnnypacker 5. ELgin, "way out in [ Phila.] suburbs", is at Newtown Square, between Upper Darby and West Chester along West Chester Pike (Pa. route 3). Exchange names were dropped to: 1. save operator time by not having to spell out unfamiliar office names. 2. eliminate confusion between O and 0. Plus, some prefixes can't be rendered as names. ------------------------------ Date: Thu 23 Jan 86 14:27:04-PST From: HECTOR MYERSTON Subject: Named Exchanges How about the non-exchange, non-dialable, ZEnith X-XXXX numbers?. These were pre 800 800 numbers. "Call you local operator and ask for ZEnithX-XXXX, no cost to calling party". The California Highway Patrol was (is?) ZEnith 1-9000. The operator not only completed the call but completed it to the NEAREST CHP office. An early example of a brain-ware defined network. +HECTOR+ ------------------------------ Date: Thu 23 Jan 86 23:38:07-EST From: "Bob Soron" Subject: Exchange Names Growing up in Arlington, Mass., we had MIssion Hill 3, 6, and 8. I was always baffled about why they needed two words to represent two letters, especially since they only used the first two letters of the first word anyway. We always just said "Mission." I don't know if any of Arlington's neighborhoods were ever called "Mission Hill," but if so I never heard of them. ...Bob ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jan 86 09:50 EST From: Frankston@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: The origin of "MUrray Hill" and friends The question of why telco got rid of the numbers is probably well documented in their human factors studies. I'll note that one problem with exchange names is that they can be highly dependent upon correct pronunciation and idiosyncracies. For example, I still think that "MUrray hill" as being "Murray Hill". (MU vs MH). Perhaps I am unusual, but I find the numeric exchange names easier to deal with for two reasons. One ks that I can touch-dial a numeric exchange and don't have to worry about where the V or H keys are. But the other is that there are so many fewer of them. 445 is 225 and not CAt-5 or CAtsup-5 (of course CA-5 is then the same as KE-5) or ABacrombe-5 or ... This is not to say that such things as 800-NOTHING is not easier than 800-668-4464 but rather that the unobvious idea that a numeric string can be the easier form is interesting and perhaps surprising. But then again, maybe I've been working with computers too long. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jan 86 13:16:08 PST From: ihnp4!houxm!hou2g!zap@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: Trivial Query I can remember RIverside and DIamond. locale was Sharon, PA. pat corbett ------------------------------ Date: 24 Jan 86 20:56-EST From: James Dorf Subject: Trivial Query ----- ----Inserted Text Follows This Line---- > It is interesting to note that after the NNN-XXXX conversion, names > were dropped in place of non-mnemonic letters. For example, MAdison 1234 > became TL3-1234, RIverside 1234 became TR5-1234, etc. In the late 60's, the > letters were replaced by numbers (with no actual dialed digit change). the letters were meaningless - unless they felt it too "traumatic" for a I disagree about them changing from mnemonic to non-mnemonic nnx assignments on purpose (why, just to wean us off them?). You cited above "RIverside" being changed to "TR5" but "TR" stands for "TRafalgar". I still first think of "TRafalgar6" and "ENdicott2" for my Aunt's in N.Y.C. Another memory of "LOngacre4" for my dad's old office in the Empire State Bldg. "TL" above doesn't strike a bell for me but I bet it stands for something.../jad ------------------------------ Date: 24 Jan 86 20:42-EST From: James Dorf Subject: Re: Some named exchanges from the past ----- So far, no one has mentioned that they have all kinds of them up here... My phone number is BOston6-4404. They have BOston2, BO6, and BO7... A favorite of mine is the KEnmore6 exchange which encompasses Boston's Kenmore Square (right near Boston Univ. (which has 353 and soon 354 all to it's huge Centrex)). This is getting a little boring, but those who know me are aware of my need to get my 10 cents (now 25 in some cities) in! /jad p.s. Yeah! It's still 10 cents here in Boston! ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 27-Jan-86 03:31:25-EST,5987;000000000000 Mail-From: ELMO created at 27-Jan-86 03:03:02 Date: 27 Jan 86 03:03-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #94 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Monday, January 27, 1986 3:03AM Volume 5, Issue 94 Today's Topics: Pulse metering Equal access and the customer Re: PROJECT VICTORIA (multiple connections with only 1 phone line) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat 25 Jan 86 10:11:28-PST From: Ole Jorgen Jacobsen Subject: Pulse metering The pulse metering method used in the UK (as described by Lauren) is used to the customers advantage in payphones where "you pays for what you gets" (as the old saying goes). When you make a long-distance or international call, the pulse rate changes, so that your 5 or 10 pence doesn't last as long, BUT you can still make a call anywhere which is nice. I hate having to deposit huge amounts for the "initial 3 minutes", when I make 20 second calls to say "I have arrived" or whatever from US payphones. (Example: San Francisco to Palo Alto: $.45, or New York to Barbados: $6.20). The latest in pay-phones in the UK is the PhoneCard, you buy cards which come in various values, 20 units, 40 units and so on. (One "unit" = 10 pence). These cards are used on special phones which display the remaining units on your card (I believe they are stored magnetically). Again you pay for what you get and you're not faced with additional calling card or credit card overhead charges. Best of all, you don't need change! While I favor itemized billing, don't forget that it costs a great deal of money to install that type of billing equipment and that the operating conditions have not been as "market driven" in the UK as they have in the US. Things are changing however and you *can* get itemized billing in certain areas of the country. Ole ------------------------------ Date: 25 Jan 86 21:09:21 EST From: *Hobbit* Subject: Equal access and the customer It is becoming increasingly clear to me that the local operating companies [at least here in Bell Atlantic territory] are attempting to *suppress* knowledge of 10XXX-format dialing capability. [This, oddly enough, is called "Tenex dialing" by the biz office people ... are they going to have twenex dialing someday?] The point is, half the employees don't know what no-pick is or how 10XXX really works. A lot of them will tell you that you need to sign up with the carrier before you can successfully use a different carrier than your default 1+ one. It is *company policy* that they cannot provide any information about other carriers, specifically what 10XXX carrier codes are recognized by a given office. To get this info you have to call the Teleconsumer people in DC and get the list for your area, which has a good possibility of being outdated or inaccurate. Bell people also don't deal with 950 at all and will very likely deny all knowledge of its existence. The point is that the general public is being in effect lied to, and not given the information they want about how divestiture is affecting their service. This angers me and I am trying to educate as many people as I can reach about equal access and how it works. They are always amazed to learn that they can dial a call through an alternate carrier without having an account with them first. Why is this suppresssion being done? Because the billing arrangements with the other carriers, i.e. you are what's called a "casual caller" on a carrier you don't have your own account with, are so hairy and horrendous that making a call on an alternate seems to introduce a nominal *6* month delay in getting the bill to the customer, and there seems to be a large margin for screwup that may lose the billing completely. In some areas that recently went equal access, you walk up to a public phone, dial 10XXX 1 301 4nn qqqq, and talk to your friend in Maryland for a while for free, because the carrier had no idea that the calling number was a pay station. This shows that a lot of the carriers are still in their Mom-n-Pop stage and can't handle the intricacies of getting the bills to the right places. The LOC's know this too, and to avoid the chance that people will take advantage of this "legalized toll fraud", they withhold the information. Could some of the other readers who have had equal access for a while, and who have made "casual" calls with different carriers relate their experiences with how the billing was handled [if at all] and what kind of charges showed up? I am burningly curious if this lossage exists everywhere, or just around here in NJ. My home office is just about to go equal access [although the Piscataway office that handles Rutgers has had it for a while]. I intend to place calls and keep careful records of date/time and carrier used, and see how long it takes them to figure out who I am. I also urge my colleagues to do likewise, so the carriers will be *forced* to get their acts together. Maybe the local operating companies will get a little more reasonable about the whole thing if they are forced to by the public. _H* ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Jan 86 19:58:45 est From: cbpavo.cbosgd.ATT.UUCP!mark (Mark Horton) Subject: Re: PROJECT VICTORIA (multiple connections with only 1 phone line) Is this one of those situations where the media strips out all technical information from press releases so the general public can understand it? Mark [Sounds like Pacific Bell is up to its usual tricks, trying to lock us into their system, and accordingly, their tariffs. -elmo] ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 28-Jan-86 02:39:19-EST,5834;000000000000 Mail-From: ELMO created at 28-Jan-86 02:12:21 Date: 28 Jan 86 02:12-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #95 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Tuesday, January 28, 1986 2:12AM Volume 5, Issue 95 Today's Topics: Pulse metering pulse metering in the UK (payphones) delays in 10XXX dialed call billing Billing of 10XXX calls MIT Communications Forum (Read! -Elmo) PROJECT VICTORIA (multiple connections with only 1 phone line) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 27 Jan 86 03:40:41 EST From: David Vinayak Wallace Subject: Pulse metering Date: Sat 25 Jan 86 10:11:28-PST From: Ole Jorgen Jacobsen The latest in pay-phones in the UK is the PhoneCard, you buy cards which come in various values, 20 units, 40 units and so on. (One "unit" = 10 pence). These cards are used on special phones which display the remaining units on your card (I believe they are stored magnetically). Again you pay for what you get and you're not faced with additional calling card or credit card overhead charges. Best of all, you don't need change! They have these in Japan. Unfortunately, there aren't many phone which accept them, so at this point they're more of a novelty. The NTT man I was visiting in the south of Japan was amused that I used one to call him from Tokyo. Another fact of about using Japanese pay phones is that, due to the shortage of international lines, pay phones are dropped to the bottom priority for (international) outgoing trunks. Worse yet, the pay phones themselves are specialised -- only the green ones (the same ones which accept the cards) will make international calls. So in effect, if you want to make an international call from a pay phone in Japan, do it at night from the centre of a big city. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27-Jan-86 10:43:06 PST From: vortex!lauren@rand-unix.ARPA (Lauren Weinstein) Subject: pulse metering in the UK (payphones) Frankly, I found this to be one of the most annoying aspects of payphones in the UK, at least on the older style phones (which still seem to be in most areas) that won't refund over-deposits. Even on local calls, you're forced to stuff additional 10 pence coins into the slot (interrupting your call at the start after the initial tone pips as well). But what may be the worst part is that you have to carry around a wad of 10p coins to make even short calls, and those coins, while only worth about 14.5 U.S. cents at current exchange rates, are rather big and heavy coins--very inconvenient to carry around in quantity. Yes, the card phones are appearing, but they still seem pretty rare and your card is useless at "ordinary" phone boxes. --Lauren-- ------------------------------ Date: Mon 27 Jan 86 15:29:03-PST From: David Roode Subject: delays in 10XXX dialed call billing My request for SPRINT was lost in communication between SPRINT and the local office, so I access SPRINT via 10XXX for a few calls during the 2 month period I was still defaulting to AT&T. SPRINT had my number in their records. Nevertheless, the calls I made that way were billed with a 3-4 month delay by the local operating company for Sprint, instead of being put on my Sprint bill. Now, possibly there had been a lag in recording data at Sprint, but maybe Sprint bills all 10XXX dialed calls via the local company. ------------------------------ Date: Mon 27 Jan 86 18:03:11-PST From: Jim DeLaHunt Subject: Billing of 10XXX calls I am a Spring Equal Access customer under Pacific Bell in Northern California (Palo Alto). My phone was connected in September, but direct dial didn't work for a while, so in the first few weeks I dialled via Sprint using 10-777. Calls that I made from October 6 through October 27 appeared on my bill for the period November 15 - December 14, or about four weeks late. Calls that I later made with 1+ dialling were billed on time. --Jim DeLaHunt JDLH @ SU-Sushi Stanford University ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Jan 86 22:33 EST From: Kahin@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: MIT Communications Forum (Read! -Elmo) A number of people have expressed an interest in documentation for the MIT Communications Forum seminars. Seminar reports are available a few months after each seminar. The first report is free; additional reports are $2.00 each. Requests should be addressed to Rena Themistocles, MIT Communications Forum, E40-241, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139. Or phone 617-253-3144. Archival tapes may be borrowed for a $15.00 handling charge; these are usually available right after the seminar. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Jan 86 12:07:45 pst From: amdcad!phil@lll-crg.ARPA (Phil Ngai) Subject: PROJECT VICTORIA (multiple connections with only 1 phone line) >They also seem to imply that you don't need more pairs. ISDN needs 2 >pairs instead of 1. I wonder if Victoria really only needs 1 pair? I believe ISDN has several different interfaces and that one of them uses a single 2-wire interface. The exact data format and whether and what kind of echo cancellation will be used are still under discussion. -- I love to go skiing on a Super Bowl Sunday. Phil Ngai +1 408 749 5720 UUCP: {ucbvax,decwrl,ihnp4,allegra}!amdcad!phil ARPA: amdcad!phil@decwrl.dec.com ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 29-Jan-86 01:34:31-EST,6414;000000000000 Mail-From: ELMO created at 28-Jan-86 23:33:22 Date: 28 Jan 86 23:33-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #96 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Tuesday, January 28, 1986 11:33PM Volume 5, Issue 96 Today's Topics: Tones, and other fun things Overseas Payfoehns Re: Billing of 10XXX calls Conferencing Device ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 28 Jan 86 03:25:19 EST From: *Hobbit* Subject: Tones, and other fun things It sounds a tad less than legal for PacTel to *hassle* you for using touchtones and tell you that you can't. If they are legally entitled to charge you if they "find" you using tones, then there isn't much you could do about that [although we know it's not a usage-sensitive charge]. But to call you up and rake you over the coals about it is not very professional of them. I would yell very loudly at the highest company rep that you could find and make sure that something was done about it. What they should really do, if it worries them all that much, is to quietly disable your touchtone bit and wait for you to call in and place an order. Well, I pick up my horn here in Highland Park, NJ and check if equal access works here yet [it's promised Feb. 1]. 10222# and I get this recording of a guy saying "channel 7, RA 1" repeatedly. I get this on *all* 10XXX- format calls, either to real numbers or just raising the carrier's switch via 10XXX#. Well, at least they appear to be working on the cutover. Oh, interestinly enough 10288 is the only exception; it behaves like you'd expect AT&T to. Yippee. _H* ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Jan 86 9:38:30 EST From: Barry Nelson Subject: Overseas Payfoehns I can relate to the mess in U.K. with payphones. The Italian payphones didn't give you any warning before your time was up so you had to stay ahead of it or lose your connection (which took several tries to get). While I was doing consulting in Italia it became obvious that the answer was NOT carrying around five kilos of their special 'gettoni' (copper slugs slotted for the fones). Sure, you could buy them at newsstands, if they were open. So I got into the habit of seeking out a friendly cafe/bar with a 'telefono a scatti'. Literally translated it means 'clicking phone'. It had a meter, which the manager would reset before each use, and another which presumably accumulated his monthly total. The user would dial the call himself and then, upon call acceptance, would hear clicks on the line. The period of these clicks varied with the distance to the callee - local calls: almost one per two minutes; intercontinental: several clicks per second. At the end of your call, or series of calls, the manager would look at the meter and charge you 150 liras for each click (or whatever the market would bear!). You then paid, or put it on your bar tab. One interesting thing about this method was that calls to New York cost about the same as calls to Hong Kong. I think the maximum rate the little machine could register was equivalent to seventy dollars an hour. (The office in Milan also got a single, huge monthly bill with no real way to determine who called where or when or for how long. There's a big Italian aftermarket in office Dialed Number Recorders.) You also have to 'request' an overseas connection when calling from certain areas of Italy. They call you back (in a couple of hours) when your line is ready to try making a call. Do we Americans take great phone service for granted? What would YOU do if you often had to wait ten to fifteen minutes to get a dial tone? 'This document contains opinions of the author which are not attributable to BBN Communications Corp. or to its management.' Barry C. Nelson Network Consultant / International Product Marketing ------------------------------ Date: Tue 28 Jan 86 16:07:40-EST From: Robert Lenoil Subject: Re: Billing of 10XXX calls Before my ALLNET dial 1 service started, I used 10444, as well as occassionally dialing up their switch if I wasn't at home. The 10444 calls appeared on my New England Tel bill, the ones direct to the switch were billed directly by ALLNET. My bills didn't start coming directly from ALLNET until my 1+ took effect, and I was told that even though my direct-to-switch and 10444 calls together totalled above $25, I could not receive a volume discount, since they were billed entirely separately. The only 10xxx number that I've received bills direct from the carrier is MCI; whether it costs the carrier more to do this or not I do not know. (Humorous anecdote: ALLNET apparently contracted with New England Tel to handle its 10444 billing; the number on the ALLNET portion of the New England Tel bill to call about billing problems is New England Tel's own customer service number. I remember my first bill I had a billing problem, and gave the folks at customer service a call; but they were unaware that they were doing Allnet's billing, and gave me the standard "call the carrier" pitch. After some pleading, the attendant put me on hold and found out that, yes, I had come to the right place. She did not, however, know how to make the appropriate adjustments, and called me back the next day, after having learned how to use the new system.) ------------------------------ Date: Monday, 27 January 1986 08:51-EST From: todd%bu-cs.csnet@csnet-relay (Todd Cooper) Subject: Conferencing Device I saw the answer a while back -- I KNOW that you could probably answer it -- How can I bridge two different phone lines to set up a "conference' call between the two lines.... what electronics does it need? -- where could I look up the parts for this probably over simplistic circuit. --------------------------- Todd Cooper UUCP: ...!harvard!bu-cs!todd ...!harvard!think!festiv!todd CSNET: todd@bu-cs BITNET: cscpyqc@bostonu USNail: 29 Gordon Street #201, Brighton, MA 02135 ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 30-Jan-86 12:42:57-EST,3185;000000000000 Mail-From: ELMO created at 30-Jan-86 04:30:34 Date: 30 Jan 86 04:30-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #97 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Thursday, January 30, 1986 4:30AM Volume 5, Issue 97 Today's Topics: Re: Equal access and the customer Telecommunications History & Trivia ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 29 Jan 86 12:22 EST From: Frankston@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: Re: Equal access and the customer A related question is how to specify the carrier one wants when calling from a hotel. They typically seem to disable 10xxx dialing and select a carrier on the basis of minimum signal to noise ratio and maximum delay. Also, what is the deal on the ATT calling card. Since that number is shared by the local operating company now, what are the rules on it being usable by alternate carriers and what is the reality. ------------------------------ From: kitty!larry@seismo.CSS.GOV Date: Wed, 29 Jan 86 13:18:21 EST Subject: Telecommunications History & Trivia Just today I found the real answer to a question which has piqued my curiosity for many years: What does the `E' and `M' stand for in the term ``E&M signaling''? No one - including people I have asked who work for the "Bell System" - has ever been able to answer other than "the letters have no meaning, but were arbitrary lead designations in a long-forgotten signaling system". According to an AT&T Long Lines training manual from the early 1940's (which I recently rescued from the trash), the `E' stands for ``Ear'', and the `M' stands for ``Mouth''. Think about it; it actually makes SENSE. Telecommunications history has always been an interest of mine, and one of my favorite reference sources is a two volume set entitled: "A History of Science and Engineering in the Bell System", which is profusely illustrated and covers the time period of 1875 to 1925 in Volume I, and 1925 to 1975 in Volume II. These books were both written and published by Bell Telephone Laboratories. I bought my set directly from the BTL publications department about ten years ago. I don't know if copies are still available, but I would highly recommend these books for anyone with similar interests. There are also good sections on the history of computers and military electronics. As detailed (~ 1,900 pages total) as these books are, though, they still couldn't answer the E&M lead question... ==> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York <== ==> UUCP {decvax|dual|rocksanne|rocksvax|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry <== ==> VOICE 716/741-9185 {rice|shell}!baylor!/ <== ==> FAX 716/741-9635 {G1, G2, G3 modes} duke!ethos!/ <== ==> seismo!/ <== ==> "Have you hugged your cat today?" ihnp4!/ <== ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 31-Jan-86 02:44:51-EST,3823;000000000000 Mail-From: ELMO created at 31-Jan-86 00:16:24 Date: 31 Jan 86 00:16-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #98 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Friday, January 31, 1986 12:16AM Volume 5, Issue 98 Today's Topics: Re: Telecommunications History & Trivia Info Needed on WECO Data Sets ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 30 Jan 86 11:58:28 pst From: Curt Mayer Subject: Re: Telecommunications History & Trivia Reply-To: freak@nsc.UUCP (Curt Mayer) In article <8601300934.AA08968@ucbvax.berkeley.edu> kitty!larry@SEISMO.CSS.GOV writes: > > Just today I found the real answer to a question which has piqued my >curiosity for many years: What does the `E' and `M' stand for in the term >``E&M signaling''? No one - including people I have asked who work for the >"Bell System" - has ever been able to answer other than "the letters have no >meaning, but were arbitrary lead designations in a long-forgotten signaling >system". > According to an AT&T Long Lines training manual from the early 1940's >(which I recently rescued from the trash), the `E' stands for ``Ear'', and the >`M' stands for ``Mouth''. Think about it; it actually makes SENSE. another good one is the original meaning of the tip and ring lines. funny thing about >ring<, is that it has nothing to do with the ringer in the phone. the story i got from a telecommunications guru was there once was a little plug, looked a lot like a coax plug, and the middle (the tip) was called tip, and the outside (the ring) was called ring. kind of makes you wonder about terms like UNIX mean :-> curt ------------------------------ Date: Tuesday, 21 January 1986 09:37-MST From: Larry Lippman Subject: Info Needed on WECO Data Sets Being a pack rat all my life who could never stand to see "usable" items scrapped or otherwise discarded, I have a rather formidable collection of WECO data sets; most, if not all of these data sets are now MD-ed. Some of these data sets still have potential value to me for dedicated line use within our buildings (like 108's, 201's, and 202's), but I am having difficulty in getting SD's, CD's and BSP data from my "usual" sources because these data sets are now MD-ed - even though some are only 4-5 years old. Can anyone be of assistance in furnishing this information, or telling me where to obtain it? Since these data sets are no longer manufactured and are no longer competitive with state-of-the-art items, I would think that the supporting information (SD's, etc.) would no longer be considered proprietary by AT&T - so I do not believe that I am asking anyone to furnish proprietary information. If there is a proper source in AT&T where I can formally request such information, I would appreciate being advised of where to contact; I will pay a reasonable document reproduction fee. I will furnish a more specific list of what information I require upon request. Thanks for anyone's assistance. ==> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York <== ==> UUCP {decvax|dual|rocksanne|rocksvax|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry <== ==> VOICE 716/741-9185 {rice|shell}!baylor!/ <== ==> FAX 716/741-9635 {G1, G2, G3 modes} duke!ethos!/ <== ==> seismo!/ <== ==> "Have you hugged your cat today?" ihnp4!/ <== ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 1-Feb-86 23:05:32-EST,13032;000000000000 Mail-From: ELMO created at 1-Feb-86 22:39:21 Date: 1 Feb 86 22:39-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #99 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Saturday, February 1, 1986 10:39PM Volume 5, Issue 99 Today's Topics: Re: Equal access and the customer 10xxx service Reprint Re: 10XXX codes Emergencies and modems Emergencies and modems Telecommunications History & Trivia Telecommunications History & Trivia Re: Telecommunications History & Trivia ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 31 Jan 86 13:29:37 est From: ucdavis!lll-crg!seismo!rochester!ritcv!spw2562@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (D) Subject: Re: Equal access and the customer Since you're educating people, how about educating me as to what 10XXX, no-pick, and 950 are? I've gathered from the discussions in mod.telecom that you can select different long distance carriers with 10XXX, but how does this work, how do you dial with it, and where can I write to find out what's available in my area? [Buffalo(home), and Rochester(college)] thanx in advance... ============================================================================== Steve Wall @ Rochester Institute of Technology Usenet: ..!rochester!ritcv!spw2562 (Fishhook) Unix 4.2 BSD BITNET: SPW2562@RITVAXC (Snoopy) VAX/VMS 4.2 ------------------------------ From: NBaheti.es@PARC-MAXC.ARPA Date: 31 Jan 86 17:18:48 PST Subject: 10xxx service How exactly does the 10xxx method work? I know it is only available on ESS networks (the other spits it back out) and it is for using an ALDS. Could I, for instance, use it like so: I chose AT&T, but would like to use MCI for a certain call; I dial 10xxx (xxx being MCI's ALDS I.D. code #), then the areacode and number? Or would I have to have chosen MCI as my carrier to do this? This would be ideal, as I could flip-flop between companies depending on their rates while still keeping AT&T for normal useage. Also, is there a list of the 10xxx codes that I can choose from get somewhere? Thanks in advance for your help... [Most ALDS' who have billing arrangements with the local telco will allow you to place calls through them via 10XXX dialing, even if you have not chosen them as your primary carrier. SBS, whose rates are typically significantly lower, does not. -elmo] --Arun Baheti arpa: NBaheti.es@Xerox.COM uucp: ...litvax!flkvax!trwrb!group3!anb02!arun arpa: Bug%Mit-OZ@Mit-MC [PLEASE reply to Xerox if possible!] RCPM: CP/M Connection @ 213-530-0670 [24hrs; 300/1200/2400] ------------------------------ Date: Sat 1 Feb 86 22:18:16-EST From: Eliot Moore Subject: Reprint Re: 10XXX codes Date: 27 Sep 85 19:18:56 EDT From: *Hobbit* Subject: Okay, buckaroos, here it is Here, taken from a flyer sent out by the Teleconsumer Hotline people, is an expanded carrier list. They are pretty good people; it's a splinter group of something called the Telecommunications Research and Action center, located in Washington DC. Call them at 800 332 1124 to get a similar list for your own local area. There will be a lot of overlap, so you may find this helpful. [Equal access codes are prefixed with 10, of course..] EA Company Cust. svc [serving area, code name number defaults to "most"] --------------------------------------------------------------- tba Garden State Telemktg. 201 539 6900 [Northern Jersey] 007 Telemarketing 202 783 7213 [DC, Philly, parts of VA] 054 Eastern Telephone 215 628 4111 [Philly] 066 Lexitel 800 631 4835 211 RCI 800 458 7000 [phy pbg +] 220 WU ??? [to be announced] 221 Telesaver 201 488 4417, 202 982 1169 [eastern cities] 222 MCI 800 624 6240 235 Inteleplex 609 348 0050 [Southern NJ] 288 AT&T 800 222 0300 333 US Telecom 800 531 1985 444 Allnet 800 982 8888 488 ITT 800 526 3000 777 GTE Sprint 800 521 4949 850 Tollkall 800 646 1676 [Northern NJ] 855 Network plus 703 352 1171 [DC metro area] 888 SBS Skyline 800 368 6900,235 2001 [no auto EA, need acct] Many of these allow what's called "casual callers", which is simply a person who picks a given carrier for a given call, without actually having an account with them. The carrier codes may vary, but the larger ones seem to have the same number everywhere [how did they arrange this, I wonder??]. _H* ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Jan 86 22:53:47 EST From: ihnp4!utzoo!lsuc!dave@seismo.CSS.GOV Subject: Emergencies and modems Well, if you're lucky, the operator cutting in will cause one of the modems to disconnect. Call-waiting beeps do that, of course. Dave Sherman The Law Society of Upper Canada Toronto ihnp4!utzoo!lsuc!dave ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Jan 86 22:53:42 EST From: ihnp4!utzoo!lsuc!msb@seismo.CSS.GOV Subject: Emergencies and modems Consider this scenario: "Operator, can I help you?" "This is an emergency. I have to call 967-1111, and the line is busy. Can you break in, please?" "Certainly; one moment... " Well, what now? What we'd like is for the operator to break the existing connection and ring the phone. Can operators actually do this, or can they only break into calls and request that the parties relinquish the line? I don't want to miss an emergency call just because I'm typing netnews into a home terminal... uucp: { decvax | ihnp4 | watmath | ... } !utzoo!lsuc!msb also via { hplabs | petsd | ... } !pesnta!lsuc!msb Mark Brader and uw-beaver!utcsri!lsuc!msb ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Jan 86 12:25:02 PST From: ihnp4!ihlpg!timborn@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: Telecommunications History & Trivia The BTL classes use the Ear and Mouth designations to help you remember which is which. Frankly I like the Ear & Mouth story better, but I ran across this: "Basic Telephone Switching Systems", second edition, David Tally, Hayden Publishing, p.41 `The E and M system received its name from historical designations on old circuit drawings. The E referred to the middle "e" in received and the M from the "m" in transmit.' tim born ...ihnp4!ihlpg!timborn ------------------------------ Date: 31 Jan 86 11:59:33 EST (Fri) From: floyd!clyde!burl!wts@ucbvax.berkeley.edu () Subject: Telecommunications History & Trivia In article <8601300934.AA08968@ucbvax.berkeley.edu> you write: > > Just today I found the real answer to a question which has piqued my >curiosity for many years: What does the `E' and `M' stand for in the term >``E&M signaling''? No one - including people I have asked who work for the >"Bell System" - has ever been able to answer other than "the letters have no >meaning, but were arbitrary lead designations in a long-forgotten signaling >system". > According to an AT&T Long Lines training manual from the early 1940's >(which I recently rescued from the trash), the `E' stands for ``Ear'', and the >`M' stands for ``Mouth''. Think about it; it actually makes SENSE. > Telecommunications history has always been an interest of mine, and >one of my favorite reference sources is a two volume set entitled: "A History >of Science and Engineering in the Bell System", which is profusely illustrated >and covers the time period of 1875 to 1925 in Volume I, and 1925 to 1975 in >Volume II. These books were both written and published by Bell Telephone >Laboratories. I bought my set directly from the BTL publications department >about ten years ago. I don't know if copies are still available, but I would >highly recommend these books for anyone with similar interests. There are also >good sections on the history of computers and military electronics. >As detailed (~ 1,900 pages total) as these books are, though, they still >couldn't answer the E&M lead question... > >==> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York <== >==> UUCP {decvax|dual|rocksanne|rocksvax|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry <== >==> VOICE 716/741-9185 {rice|shell}!baylor!/ <== >==> FAX 716/741-9635 {G1, G2, G3 modes} duke!ethos!/ <== >==> seismo!/ <== >==> "Have you hugged your cat today?" ihnp4!/ <== [] A variety of interesting publications are still available from AT&T. A listing of the texts in the now 5 volume series that Larry mentions two of are listed below: DESCRIPTION SELECT CODE PRICE A History of Engineering and Science in the Bell System 500-467 $47.00ea The Early Years (1875-1926) This first volume the AT&T History Series of Engineering and Science in the Bell System offers a detailed over- view of the first 50 years of telephone technology. The narrative goes well beyond a simple statement of events to deal with the "how" and "why" of technological innovation. A History of Engineering and Science in the Bell System 500-468 $47.00ea National Service in War and Peace (1925-1975) This second volume focuses on the Bell System's contri- butions to national defense before and during WWII and in the cold war missles crises that followed. The central subject is engineering for urgent national defense - how the technology of communications was adapted quickly and in many ways to the compelling needs of a nation at war. (Also, detailed descriptions of radar development, Nike, Nike Ajax, Nike Hercules, Nike II, Nike-X, Sprint, Spartan, Sentinal, Safeguard missle and ABM programs, sonar, early gun directors, you-name-it. (wts)) A History of Engineering and Science in the Bell System 500-469 $47.00ea Switching Technology (1925-1975) This third volume chronicles how switching, which during the early years was characterized by the introduction of and improvements in manual switchboards, became completely automated. Discussed are major innovations that produced generations of switches operating at higher and higher speeds and handling functions of increasing complexity and flexibility. A History of Engineering and Science in the Bell System 500-470 $47.00ea Physical Science (1925-1980) This fourth volume records AT&T Bell Laboratories research work in the area of physics, chemistry, and material sciences. It tells the stories behind major discoveries and inventions, including accounts by some of the people involved in the work. Of special interest is an account of the genesis of the transistor, including reminiscences written expressly for this volume by W.H. Brittain. A History of Engineering and Science in the Bell System 500-471 $47.00ea Communications Sciences (1925-1980) (No catalog description printed for this volume - wts) The above may be obtained from: AT&T Customer Information Center Marketing Department P.O. Box 19901 Indianapolis, IN 46219 Make checks payable to: AT&T Technologies Inc. Phone orders: 800/432-6600 Operator 102 Outside Continental U.S. 317/352-8557 AMEX MasterCard VISA Foreign Orders - Payment Must be made by International Money Order or Checks Drawn on U.S. banks payable in U.S. Dollars. To receive a complete catalog of various other AT&T publications, call the 800 number shown above, and ask Operator 102 for Select Code 000-011 - Commercial Sales Documentation Catalog. William T. Sykes AT&T Federal Systems Burlington, NC 27215 burl!wts ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Jan 86 10:00:25 EST From: Ron Natalie Subject: Re: Telecommunications History & Trivia re >another good one is the original meaning of the tip and ring lines. >funny thing about >ring<, is that it has nothing to do with the ringer in the >phone. the story i got from a telecommunications guru was there once was >a little plug, looked a lot like a coax plug, and the middle (the tip) was >called tip, and the outside (the ring) was called ring. Give me a break. Of course tip and ring have nothing to do with the ringer. The standard "PHONE" plug has two conducters one on the tip and the other on the sleeve or "ring." The "ring" side is more descriptive of the jack where the contact actually is a ring. UNIX by the way is a PUN, but the letters are not an acronym for anything. -Ron ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 4-Feb-86 04:17:23-EST,8987;000000000000 Mail-From: ELMO created at 4-Feb-86 03:50:31 Date: 4 Feb 86 03:50-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #100 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Tuesday, February 4, 1986 3:50AM Volume 5, Issue 100 Today's Topics: "Unix" Equal access and the customer Third party 900- number billing 10XXX Codes Tip, ring & sleeve 10xxx Equal Access blues Equal access for non-Bell areas ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 2 Feb 86 17:11 EST From: Frankston@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: "Unix" The term "Unix" is derived from "Multics". Whereas Multics emphasised MULTI user, Unix was more personalized. Of course, there is the castrated Multics model also. [End of discussion. --Elmo] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Feb 1986 18:22 EST From: Jon Solomon Subject: Equal access and the customer First of all, each of these services (10XXX, no pick, and 950) are not available in all areas yet, but if yours has it you can usually talk to the Telephone company about it. 950 service Basically it's a local call which you can make but you don't have to pay for even if you have measured service. This is usually what carriers use just before switching to Equal Access (that's 10xxx). (Sprint = 950-0777, MCI = 950-1022, ATT doesn't have one I think, one that usually works alot of places is SBS Skyline at 950-1088). 10XXX - Equal Access. Your "default" carrier is what you get by dialing 1+ (ATT for non EA areas). If you want to use a different carrier, you can dial their 10xxx number (sprint is 10777 MCI is 10222, ATT is 10288 nationwide, there are others). No pick - that's what you can sometimes specify so that 1+ doesn't work. You *have* to pick a carrier each time you make a long distance call. It's a form of Equal Access. Hope that helps. --JSol ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Feb 86 02:48:26 EST From: "Stephen C. Hill" Subject: Third party 900- number billing I am currently at a small standstill with my LOC. For three of the last four months, I have been getting many 900 number calls billed to me. They are plainly marked as having come from a local hotel's main number. (The calls are all to sports lines, so would not be surprised to learn that bookmaking is taking place.) I have called the LOC each month and they have just told me to remove the calls from my total (one fellow DID mention that I should remember to deduct $nn for the rebated taxes.) That's fine, but I really would like to understand how this scam happens. Is there anything that the list can suggest to remedy the situation, short of removing my ability (as well as their's) to place third party calls to my number? The bogus bill is not over $20/month yet, but it is growing exponentially. ------------------------------ Date: 3 Feb 86 12:09 EST From: Denber.wbst@Xerox.COM Subject: 10XXX Codes I find it amusing that while EA codes consisting of three identical digits (222, 333, etc.) seem to be very popular in the list you gave, nobody chose the code 666. We all know whose number *that* is. Here is Rochester, we are only now beginning to get equal access. Rochester Teleclone is cutting the system over one exchange at a time over a period of two or three years. - Michel ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Feb 86 18:11:12 pst From: Edward M. Embick Subject: Tip, ring & sleeve >re >>another good one is the original meaning of the tip and ring lines. >>funny thing about >ring<, is that it has nothing to do with the ringer in the >>phone. the story i got from a telecommunications guru was there once was >>a little plug, looked a lot like a coax plug, and the middle (the tip) was >>called tip, and the outside (the ring) was called ring. >Give me a break. Of course tip and ring have nothing to do with the ringer. >The standard "PHONE" plug has two conducters one on the tip and the other >on the sleeve or "ring." The "ring" side is more descriptive of the jack >where the contact actually is a ring. (ron@Brl) I believe if you examine the standard "classic" phone plug you'll find it has three contacts on it. When I worked for Western Electric many many years ago, much of the cabling we installed had several groups of 3 wires in it. These wires were referred to by the group designator and tip, ring, or sleeve to identify the leads corresponding to the phone plug contacts. ______________________ ___ ___ ___________| | / || || | | \___||___||___________| | ^Tip ^Ring ^Sleeve |______________________| [Elmo- thanks to all who submitted on this. This msg had the best illustration] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ed Embick (the more paths I make, the more paths they break! waaaaaaa....) Computer Sciences Corp. embick@noscvax.UUCP or 4045 Hancock St. {akgua,allegra,decvax,ihnp4,ucbvax}!sdcsvax!noscvax!embick San Diego, CA 92110 MILNET: EMBICK@NOSC (619) 225-8401 x516 ------------------------------ From: NBaheti.es@Xerox.COM Date: 3 Feb 86 20:05:55 PST Subject: 10xxx Equal Access blues Reply-To: Arun Thanks to all who replied to my earlier message about the 10xxx equal access. I now understand completely what is going on (no thanks to the local operators). It works fine on ESS number, but my non-ESS blasts tones in my ear and tells me to call my operator. Hence this message... AT&T is, as far as I'm concerned, the best phone company for my needs and I would like to stay with it for my dial 1 access, but they are quite hostile when it comes to equal access. I called my operator and asked him what was wrong with trying to use 10xxx on my non-ESS # (I didn't at that time remember that it wasn't under ESS *sigh*), but he simply gave me the run-around: "I am trying to use the 10 equal-access system and keep getting an error message. Can you help me, please?" "Use 228 for AT&T, sir." "I know; I want to use an ALDS, not AT&T for this call." "Sorry sir, I don't know anything about that." "But you just told me how to do it for AT&T..." "That's different, sir." "How so? Isn't it the same process on these lines? Just 10+3digits, right?" "I suppose so. But we only know how to work 10 access with the AT&T code, which is 228." "Ahh. Now, lets say I wanted to use AT&T on this line for a call, what would I do?" "It obvious you know how to use the servcie, sir. I'm afraid I don't know how to work the ALDS systems. Sorry, but it appears that I can't help you, sir." "Yes, it appears that way. Thank you, operator." "Thank you for using AT&T, sir." After remembering that the line I was trying to use wasn't ESS, I gave up on trying to do it, but what is the problem with the operators? They never used to be this hostile. "Life sure was easier before the break-up... had to have been one of the only things that worked in this country..." --Arun Baheti arpa: NBaheti.es@Xerox.COM uucp: ...litvax!flkvax!trwrb!group3!anb02!arun arpa: Bug%Mit-OZ@Mit-MC [PLEASE reply to Xerox if possible!] RCPM: CP/M Connection @ 213-530-0670 [24hrs; 300/1200/2400] ------------------------------ Subject: Equal access for non-Bell areas Date: 04 Feb 86 00:22:48 EST (Tue) From: "Christopher A. Kent" I have the distinct displeasure of living in an area served by GTE. At the moment, I have no choice about my long distance carrier; it's AT&T. Even so, I apparently can't take part in any of AT&T's premiums, because I'm not a direct customer. I have an account with Sprint, but they don't have a local access point. (Some noise about abuse of accounts in a college town.) 950 service seems to be unheard of. What I'm wondering is what requirements have been placed on operating companies that *weren't* part of the Bell System before the Breakup, as far as equal access goes? I don't expect to be here much longer, but I'm curious if the folks in West Lafayette, IN, can ever expect to be able to choose their favorite LD carrier? Cheers, chris ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 5-Feb-86 03:06:46-EST,5410;000000000000 Mail-From: ELMO created at 5-Feb-86 02:29:21 Date: 5 Feb 86 02:29-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #101 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Wednesday, February 5, 1986 2:29AM Volume 5, Issue 101 Today's Topics: Equal Access Third party 900- number billing 10xxx Equal Access blues Equal Access Telco problems Re: Telecommunications History & Trivia ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue 4 Feb 86 08:19:38-PST From: HECTOR MYERSTON Subject: Equal Access 1. Acronym-confusion is behind much of the Equal Access problems recently raised. What is ALDS? If you mean an alternate Long Distance Service then I believe that IEC (Inter Exchange Carrier or the older OCC (Other (than AT&T) Common Carrier) are more descriptive. The operator probably thought you were trying to call a carrier called ALDS. LEC for Local Exchange Carrier has replaced LOC. 2. In California (and I believe nation-wide) there is no such thing as an EA "no-pick". Per "The Judge"'s order anyone not choosing an IEC is allocated to one based on % of those choosing. They didn't say it was going to be easy (or efficient) +HECTOR+ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 4 Feb 1986 11:33 EST From: Jon Solomon Subject: Third party 900- number billing As far as I know, you are not supposed to be able to third party bill a 900 number. Around here (boston and suburbs), 900 service doesn't work from coin phones or charge-a-calls and 0-900-xxx-xxxx doesn't work at all from anywhere. You should be able to point this out to the LOC and explain that those calls shouldn't be on your bill at all. Additionally, in most states calls from "non secure" (i.e. non public) lines require verification before a call can be third-partied. Do you have a calling card? You might consider changing the number on your card. Another option is to change your number altogether though that's a bit drastic. If it were me and it weren't happening on my main incoming line, I would change the number. The main line is sort of nice (it spells out my name), so I might be more reluctant to change that number. Interesting. --JSol ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 4 Feb 1986 11:35 EST From: Jon Solomon Subject: 10xxx Equal Access blues misprint: ATT's number is 288 not 228. --JSol ------------------------------ Date: Tue 4 Feb 86 10:54:47-PST From: David Roode Subject: Equal Access After the message from the reader who was trying to badge the AT&T operator into telling him how to use other services, I now understand why the local phone company will convert to a system where 00 or 10288 0 is required to reach the AT&T operator, and a simple 0 reaches a new operator service provided by the local company. ------------------------------ Date: 4 Feb 1986 1819-PST From: STERNLIGHT@USC-ECL.ARPA Subject: Telco problems In a recent Telecom Digest, Arun Baheti tells a sad story of local telco (or maybe it was AT&T) non-support. He should know that the magic words are "Let me talk to your supervisor." Employees seem to be required to drop everything and immediately pass the call under those circumstances. For EXTREMELY difficult cases, the meta-magic words (spoken to a supervisor) are "Let me talk to your manager." That always works like a charm, although they may need to take your number and have him call you back. I have never found a supervisor who was uncooperative, although occasionally some have been powerless or uninformed on very technical points. I have NEVER found a manager who couldn't get things done, and they seem to be able to call each other and work around the system where necessary. P.S. The use of "him" isn't sexist; on the 3-4 occasions over the past 10 years when I had to go to the manager level, they have been male. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 4 Feb 86 12:42:51 pst From: vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tikal!amc!ivester@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Paul Ivester) Subject: Re: Telecommunications History & Trivia > According to an AT&T Long Lines training manual from the early 1940's >(which I recently rescued from the trash), the `E' stands for ``Ear'', and the >`M' stands for ``Mouth''. Think about it; it actually makes SENSE. The Ear and Mouth are supposedly mnemonics made up because no one knew what E & M stand for. Supposedly, the actual origin was that the E came from the E in rEceive and the M came from the M in transMit. (I think I read this in Talley's "Basic Telephone Switching Systems"). This seems to me to be a mnemonic also, however. It probably came from two terminals in a bank of terminals marked A to Z or something like that in some long obsolete piece of equipment. ps. I found H of E & T in the B S to be very facinating too. If I ever find one I would probably buy myself a copy. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 6-Feb-86 02:48:39-EST,12982;000000000000 Mail-From: ELMO created at 6-Feb-86 02:31:29 Date: 6 Feb 86 02:31-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #102 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Thursday, February 6, 1986 2:31AM Volume 5, Issue 102 Today's Topics: Non-Bell Areas Rumor Re: Reprint Re: 10XXX codes HR 3378 Text. HR3378 Update/Latest Issues. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 5 Feb 86 10:30:33 est From: Marvin Sirbu Subject: Non-Bell Areas The FCC has placed the independents under roughly the same constraints as the MFJ puts the BOCs to provide Equal Access. However, since more of the independents consist of small telcos with antiquated equipment, more of them will be able to avoid the Sept 86 deadline for conversion, just as the BOCs can avoid it if theya have old equipment. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Feb 86 15:29:30 EST From: Mike Grant Subject: Rumor [...] I've heard that there's a company that's going to market a nationwide directory assistance database on a CD-ROM for use with your favorite home computer. When this happens, all anyone will have to do to have their own CNA database is sort the the data the way they need it. -Mike ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Feb 86 16:50:29 EST From: dyer@harvard.HARVARD.EDU (Steve Dyer) Subject: Re: Reprint Re: 10XXX codes If you call the 800 number in the previous posting, they say that they don't handle New England and don't distribute a list with codes for New England. ------------------------------ Date: 5 Feb 1986 13:16-PST Subject: HR 3378 Text. From: the tty of Geoffrey S. Goodfellow An on-line copy of HR 3378, the proposed Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1985, can be FTP'd from [SRI-CSL]HR3378.TXT with ANONYMOUS login. If you're unable to FTP a copy, i will be happy to netmail you a copy if requested. g ------------------------------ Date: 5 Feb 1986 11:36-PST Subject: HR3378 Update/Latest Issues. From: the tty of Geoffrey S. Goodfellow INDUSTRIAL COMMUNICATIONS, January 31, 1986--Page 11,12&13. TANDY JOINS AMATEURS IN EXPRESSING DOUBT OVER "INTERCEPTION' TABOOS IN PRIVACY BILL Capitol Hill this week resumed its work on a push to update the Federal Wiretap Law (1968), which seeks to extend privacy protection well beyond plain old-fashioned telephone talk. And as the third round of hearings came to a close Thursday, it became apparent that in trying to do too much at once, legislators may be unable to do anything at all. Providers of cellular telephone service previously said in a hearing that their subscribers have the same right to protection of the privacy of their conversations as do users of landline telephones (IC, Oct. 4, 1985). And, not one person testifying before congressional committees has disagreed that cellular conversations deserve to be protected from eavesdroppers. It is only when the conversation turns to the broader implications of the current House bill (HR 3378) that the users of non-cellular radio spectrum begin to muster a front of strong opposition. When Congress looks to extend privacy protection to virtually all "electronic communications," amateur radio operators lead the defense against what they consider an assault on the public's right to free access of the airwaves. In moving to update the nation's privacy laws to include new and future communications technologies, Congress overlooked some extremely crucial technical considerations, according to at least one manufacturer and several amateur radio groups. The House Subcommittee on Courts, Civil Liberties and the Administration of Justice this week heard from telephone companies and amateur radio groups on the merits and faults of its version of the pending Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1985 (HR 3378). It was introduced by subcommittee Chairman Robert Kastenmeier (D-Wis.) If enacted, the bill would substantially redefine and extend the protections of the 1968 Federal Wiretap Law to all "electronic communications," which are defined as "any transmission of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic or photoelectric system." Further, the bill states that "interception" of this type of electronic communications would be illegal--except for a few specific exceptions. Tandy Looks for More Explicit Language for Privacy Exception ------------------------------------------------------------ Tandy Corp., in its schizophrenic capacity as maker/marketer of scanners, cordless phones and (just recently) cellular phones, told the subcommittee that it would have to withhold its support because the Congress has failed to make these exceptions broad or explicit enough. While acknowledging that privacy needs to be protected for certain types of communication, the manufacturer said, "The bill may be overly inclusive and extend protection to categories of communications in which there has never been any perception or expectation of privacy." The company's position, made by George A. Kuhnreich, vice president for corporate planning and governmental affairs, is that the protection provided by the bill should be narrowed to "the willful interception" of "cellular communications as well as to all forms of encrypted communications." Tandy further recommends that the bill be amended to make clear that it will remain legal to use scanners to intercept communications "readily accessible to the public"--such as walkie-talkie, Citizens' Band , and police or public safety channels. But the bill's "over-inclusiveness," Kuhnreich said, protects such communications as ship-to-shore, which traditionally have been monitored by "scores of mariners" for safety reasons. "As a blue-water sailor myself--I want everybody possible to hear my mayday," he said. Tandy estimates that there are more than 350,000 amateur radio operators in the United States, 40-60 million CBs and walkie-talkies, and more than 50 million short wave multiband receivers--perhaps over 120 million receivers that potentially could be affected by HR 3378. In order for these users to gain maximum benefit from their equipment, the more narrow protections are recommended. According to the bill's language, communications not covered under the law would include those: *Made through an electronic communications system "designed so that such electronic communications is readily accessible to the public." *Transmitted by any station "for the use of the general public, which relates to ships, aircraft, vehicles, or persons in distress." *Transmitted by a "walkie-talkie, or a police or fire communications system readily accessible to the public"' *"By any amateur radio station operator or by a Citizens Band radio operator." Amateur groups, while the beneficiary of some exemptions, told Kastenmeier"s subcommittee that these exemptions don't go far enough. Amateur Radio Reps See Freedom of the Airwaves as the Fundamental Issue. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Two amateur radio groups gave the user side of the picture, presenting legislators with a virtual laundry list of exemptions they would need before amateurs could support the bill. Problems could result from the sweeping legislation, without adequate attention to the "interception" issue, according to the American Radio Relay League. ARRL President Dr. Larry E. Price stressed that his folks neither expect nor want privacy in their communications. Moreover, amateurs are "expected to, and do, provide regular public service and emergency communications," particularly during disasters when regular communications are disrupted. They have developed "packet networks" of computer data banks and provide "phone patches" to connect overseas servicemen with their families. The ARRL requested that the language of the final bill clearly exempt these and any other uses of the amateur bands and also the use of scanner receivers by amateurs to monitor frequencies outside the amateur bands (military, civil air patrol, Coast Guard, police, and weather service frequencies). The Association of North America Radio Clubs (ANARC), represented by Executive Secretary Richard T. Colgan, had both the most detailed and most strongly worded objections to the proposed bill. (The organization represents 18 radio-short-wave and scanner-listening organizations with more than 10,000 U.S. members.) The bill"s "vague and overly broad language," he said, "could make it possible to prohibit the public from using most of the spectrum." The bill"s current wording, for example, would make it illegal for a radio user to tune in to find the source of interference with his television. The bill also does not exempt the General Mobile Radio Service. Should GMRS users not be allowed to tune in to find an available frequency? Colgan called for a more specific definition of some of the bill"s terminology: There should be a clear differentiation between the radio signal itself and the information it carries. All radio signals are "readily accessible to the public"' but the information they carry is what should be protected. Therefore, the bill should make clear that it is prohibiting "interception" of the signal, as acquisition of the information content, and not "listening" or "monitoring," which is merely receipt of the signal. Push Between "Privacy" and "Security" Highlights Scanner/User Rights Debate --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The ANARC stand is that the airwaves should be free--those who expect privacy should be provided it by encryption, either user or carrier provided. Colgan mentioned and demonstrated a number of inexpensive encryption devices for cellular telephones: A microchip for less than $10 to provide voice inversion and a $40 digital voice-protection system. What this solution fails to take into account is that such encryption technology must also be incorporated at the cellular switch, and, in fact, must be on an end-to-end basis, according to Telocator Network of America's Barbara Phillips, director of government relations. Further, it puts more responsibility (and cost) on the shoulders of the cellular user than is reasonable, she added. These problems of a "free airwave" voiced by Tandy and the amateurs brings up THE controversial aspect of the bill addressed by both common carrier and private radio interests. And they point out the basic philosophical controversy of the bill: Is it the responsibility of the hobbyist to respect the privacy of radio users, or is it the responsibility of the (cellular) radio user to take steps to guard against the illegal and malicious interception of conversations. In making these distinctions and trying to draw a legal line, Congress may pit concerns over radio privacy directly against concerns over longstanding proper radio practice. The National Association of Business and Educational Radio Inc. (NABER) (business radio) have both brought to the subcommittee"s attention their concerns that "incidental" or "nonmalicious" interception language should be added. NABER contends that under the rules of the present bill, technicians servicing radios, or even licensees looking for a vacant channel, could be found culpable. At Telocator Network of America, cellular interests are persuaded that there is ample protection for cellular users in other parts of the bill's language, and agree that not all "reception" should be considered "interception". According to the association"s president, Thomas Lamoureux, "This kind of strict application is clearly not the intent of our interest in privacy." Encryption of communications that users wish to keep private might provide the ultimate answer to the problem of illegal interception. One of the points brought up by both the bill's sponsors and those giving testimony was the difficulty of enforcement by an already overtaxed criminal justice system. Given the 120 million-plus receivers in operation, the law might prove to be ultimately unenforceable and could make a whole group of otherwise law-abiding citizens wonder if they are criminals. The subcommittee will hold further hearings Feb. 26. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 9-Feb-86 23:03:52-EST,13606;000000000000 Mail-From: ELMO created at 9-Feb-86 01:01:07 Date: 9 Feb 86 01:01-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #103 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Sunday, February 9, 1986 1:01AM Volume 5, Issue 103 Today's Topics: Re: TELECOM Digest V5 #102 [Non-Bell Areas] Re: 10xxx Equal Access blues {delete} HR 3378 Text. More info on FoneAlone device Computer-Supported Cooperative Work: CALL FOR PAPERS Since you all asked... X.PC and MNP implementations Re: Emergencies and modems 10-EA follow-up ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: TELECOM Digest V5 #102 [Non-Bell Areas] Date: 06 Feb 86 13:55:15 EST (Thu) From: "Christopher A. Kent" > From: Marvin Sirbu > > The FCC has placed the independents under roughly the same constraints as the > MFJ puts the BOCs to provide Equal Access. However, since more of the > independents consist of small telcos with antiquated equipment, more of them > will be able to avoid the Sept 86 deadline for conversion, just as the BOCs > can avoid it if theya have old equipment. Yah, but our exchange is a three-year-old ESS clone. I guess I'll call the business office and see what I can find out about 317-463. chris ------------------------------ From: bellcore!ihnp4!ihlpl!res@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Date: Thu, 6 Feb 86 18:25:27 est Subject: Re: 10xxx Equal Access blues > AT&T is, as far as I'm concerned, the best phone company for my > needs and I would like to stay with it for my dial 1 access, but they > are quite hostile when it comes to equal access. I > called my operator and asked him what was wrong with trying to use > 10xxx on my non-ESS # (I didn't at that time remember that it wasn't > under ESS *sigh*), but he simply gave me the run-around: > > "I am trying to use the 10 equal-access system and keep getting > an error message. Can you help me, please?" > "Use 228 for AT&T, sir." > "I know; I want to use an ALDS, not AT&T for this call." > "Sorry sir, I don't know anything about that." > > After remembering that the line I was trying to use wasn't ESS, I gave > up on trying to do it, but what is the problem with the operators? > They never used to be this hostile. "Life sure was > easier before the break-up... had to have been one of the only > things that worked in this country..." Of course the operator encouraged you to use 288 -- you were NOT talking to an ALDS operator. Do you think that an MCI or SPRINT operator (if such exist) would gladly tell you how to use AT&T??!! Remember, the telecommunications world has changed. You the consumer are now getting the competitive telecommunications services the Justice Department and the Courts have ordered. It is tough, but AT&T is learning how to survive and do business in this non-Bell-System environment. A good way to NOT survive is to tell your customers how to easily use your competitor's services! (Although, maybe they will decide that they are willing to pay the small differential in cost to get decent quality lines after sampling the alternatives!). Rich Strebendt ...!ihnp4!iwsl6!res ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Feb 86 02:35:21 EST From: "Stephen C. Hill" Subject:{delete} HR 3378 Text. Two items, Geoff: 1. How do you get full text of legislation in machine readable form. Do you key it all in? 2. Now that you are back in my neck of the country, would you be interested in getting together? I'm located in Alexandria, VA. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Feb 86 09:43:24 pst From: calma!smithson@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Brian Smithson) Subject: More info on FoneAlone device A previous posting described a device called "FoneAlone" which disconnects one telephone device when another device on the same line is picked up. It is especially handy for interrupting an answering machine when you want to actually *talk* to the person calling. Well, I wrote for information and later ordered one. It arrived promptly, and does exactly what it is supposed to. I connected it to my answering machine, which is set to answer on two rings. When someone calls and gets the machine, picking up a telephone causes the machine to be disconnected immediately, and allows the machine to complete its cycle and reset for the next call. This is much more convenient than dashing off to the room where the machine is, turning it off, and then having to remember to turn it back on and let it cycle through. The device costs $29.95, and can be ordered from Sparrevohn Engineering, 143 Nieto Ave., Long Beach, CA 90803 (213) 443-7240. Of course, I have nothing to do with this firm except as a customer. It seems to be such a useful device, I'm really suprised that no one else has marketed one! Sparrevohn also has a portable autodialer with a built-in clock and calculator for about $35 or so. Looked pretty nice if you need something like that. -Brian Smithson ucbvax!calma!smithson ------------------------------ Date: Fri 7 Feb 86 16:39:40-EST From: Irene Greif Subject: Computer-Supported Cooperative Work: CALL FOR PAPERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- PRELIMINARY CALL FOR PAPERS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONFERENCE ON COMPUTER-SUPPORTED COOPERATIVE WORK Austin, Texas December 3-5, 1986 sponsored by Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC) Software Technology Program (STP) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONFERENCE CHAIR: Herb Krasner, MCC STP PROGRAM CHAIR: Irene Greif, MIT Laboratory for Computer Science PROGRAM COMMITTEE: John Seely Brown, Xerox PARC Christine Bullen, MIT Center for Information Systems Research (CISR) Paul Cashman, DEC Bill Curtis, MCC STP Clarence A. Ellis, MCC STP Douglas C. Engelbart, McDonnell Douglas George Huber, University of Texas Thomas Malone, MIT Sloan School of Management Margarethe Olson, NYU Graduate School of Business Administration Ben Shneiderman, University of Maryland Mark Stefik, Xerox PARC Lucy Suchman, Xerox PARC Terry Winograd, Stanford University LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS: Bryan Fugate, MCC STP ------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONFERENCE THEME -- SUGGESTED TOPICS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This conference takes an interdisciplinary look at computer-supported cooperative work from technological, sociological, organizational, cognitive and task domain points of view. It grows from two past conferences: the DEC/MIT Workshop on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work in August, 1984 and the MCC Interdisciplinary Design Symposium in May, 1985. The previous conferences drew participants from computer science, organization design, cognitive science, sociology, artificial intelligence and practical engineering disciplines. We hope to incorporate an even broader range of research and application perspectives on groups and group work at this meeting. We are soliciting new papers on the following representative topics: * Experiences with technology for cooperative work * Computer-based environments that support cooperation: co-authorship, project management, large-scale design of computer systems * Empirical studies of cooperation/teamwork * Impact of computer technology on group behavior, organizational structures and work practices * Underlying technologies: data bases, structured documents and hypertext, access controls and privacy * Theoretical models for analyzing group work: "roles", communication protocols, coordination constraints * Multi-media conferencing * Group decision support systems * Domain-specific requirements for computer-supported group work In order to encourage an informal and informative atmosphere, the conference's size will be limited. The program will include invited speakers, paper sessions, panel sessions and informal interest groups. We invite proposals for panels and discussion groups as well as papers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ INFORMATION FOR AUTHORS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ IMPORTANT DATES Submission deadline: July 1, 1986 Acceptance Notification: Sept 1, 1986 Final Version Due: Oct 1, 1986 Conference Date: Dec 3-5, 1986 Fifteen (15) copies of a double-spaced extended abstract of 10-12 pages in length should be submitted to: Dr. Irene Greif MIT Laboratory for Computer Science 545 Technology Square Cambridge, MA 02139 phone (617)- 253-5987 e-mail: greif@mit-xx.lcs.mit.edu People who have limited access to copiers, or for whom overseas airmail costs will be a burden, should submit only one copy. Suggestions for panels and interest group meetings should be 1-2 pages long. Submit these short proposals either by sending fifteen copies to the address above, or by mailing one copy to the email address above. A conference proceedings will be available at the meeting and published by Ablex. COOPERATING SOCIETIES: Software Psychology Society College of Information Systems of The Institute for Management Sciences ACM SigOA (pending) ACM SigCHI (pending) ACM SigSOFT (pending) IEEE Computer Society (pending) For more information call Barbara Smith, MCC STP at 512-834-3336 or by netmail to basmith@mcc.arpa ------------------------------ Date: 7 Feb 86 18:33:08 EST From: *Hobbit* Subject: Since you all asked... A lengthy explanation of equal access can be had by grabbing, via anonymous FTP, equal.access from Rutgers [red.rutgers.edu for you new-wavers]. Printed copies will be available at upcoming Boskone, if you're going. _H* ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 8 Feb 86 01:10:47 est From: Ken Mandelberg Subject: X.PC and MNP implementations I understood that there was a public domain source code implementation of X.PC available, can anyone send me a pointer? As a related question, has anyone bought the $100 Microcom package documenting MNP? If so what does it include? Ken Mandelberg Emory University Dept of Math and CS Atlanta, Ga 30322 {akgua,sb1,gatech,decvax}!emory!km USENET km@emory CSNET km.emory@csnet-relay ARPANET ------------------------------ From: bellcore!ihnp4!chinet!editor@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Date: Sat, 8 Feb 86 07:14:41 est Subject: Re: Emergencies and modems Nope. The operators can do nothing. We succeed only once. A friend convinced a plant man to let him on and he whistled loud and long. There was so much garbazh on my screen that I disconnected and he was able to call me. It's a daily event around here: "I tried to call you but your /deleted/ modem...!" We finally got a second line. Meanwhile, if you leave the modem connected the caller connects to the modem. Unable to whistle ASCII, he's in trouble -- and so am I. Alex Zell ...ihnp4!chinet!editor... -- Alex Zell ihnp4!chinet!editor I'd rather be on Pictou Island, N.S. ------------------------------ From: NBaheti.es@Xerox.COM Date: 8 Feb 86 20:32:20 PST Subject: 10-EA follow-up You mentioned asking for the supervisor, I tried again and explained what I meant by ALDS, and got the same junk from the operator so I said the magic words and got the supervisor. She was just as clued out as the operator! I didn't go to the manager, but I figure she/he would be just as confused or unwilling to help me. It seems that they have been given orders not to help using other companies than AT&T. *sigh* By the way, the company was Pacific Bell, and it was an AT&T operator. For tho,se of you who can use the "choose- a-servce" thing in your area I suggest it strongly. I have been flip-flopping between companies all night and it works great. There is a difference in quality, tho so for data you may have to watch out. --Arun Baheti NBaheti.es@Xerox.COM CP/M Connection @ 213-530-0670 ps - They don't say use "288" now, they say dial "AT&T"... It actually makes sense, dial ATT to use AT&T via 10-EA. One good thing about the breakup is that now they seem to be thinking; I guess they have to, eh? pps - To use 10-EA you will need a pricing chart. The non-AT&T companies are willing to send you one with their prices if you call their 800-number. AT&T's are in the phone book. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 12-Feb-86 02:25:09-EST,3768;000000000000 Mail-From: ELMO created at 11-Feb-86 01:26:12 Date: 11 Feb 86 01:26-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #104 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Tuesday, February 11, 1986 1:26AM Volume 5, Issue 104 Today's Topics: Where to get miscellaneous telephone supplies Nationwide Directory Assistance (on CD) Re: Rumor ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 8 Feb 86 22:25:05 PST From: "David G. Cantor" Subject: Where to get miscellaneous telephone supplies There have a been a number of requests from telecom readers on where to obtain items such as telephone faceplates, magnetos, networks, etc. I have just received a small mail-order catalogue which lists many such items. It is from Surplus Savings Center P.O. Box 117 Waymart, PA 18472 dgc ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Feb 86 13:55:17 -0100 From: hplabs!seismo!ircam!mf@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Michel Fingerhut) Subject: Nationwide Directory Assistance (on CD) In article <8602060733.AA12585@ucbvax.berkeley.edu> Mike says: > I've heard that there's a company that's going to market a nationwide > directory assistance database on a CD-ROM for use with your favorite > home computer. [...] France has a nation-wide computerized such system. You hook your Minitel (a special terminal-cum-modem given free by the Telephone Company to any user upon request) to the phone line, dial 11, and then can look up phone numbers anywhere in France according to different search keys, such as name, occupation (e.g., physicians or travel agencies etc...), street address. And the service is free for the 1st 2 minutes or so. Incidentally, many nationwide computerized public and private services now use this Minitel. For instance, banks, which allow one to monitor one's checking account through minitel; train and airlines; real estate; entertainment; dating; and many more. And it works! Michel ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1986 00:43-EDT From: Ralph.Hyre@ius2.cs.cmu.edu.ARPA Subject: Re: Rumor In article <8602060733.AA12585@ucbvax.berkeley.edu> you write: >[...] > >I've heard that there's a company that's going to market a nationwide >directory assistance database on a CD-ROM for use with your favorite >home computer. When this happens, all anyone will have to do to have >their own CNA database is sort the the data the way they need it. >-Mike The interesting questions here are: Will the company itself provide a CNA database with a number -> person index as well as the typical person -> number. (The Grolier's encyclopedia disks are interesting and useful for just this reason.) What the government do (if anything) about possible abuses. Will it be legal for a person to sell his own CNA database? (If so, why hasn't anyone done this before? Are there really Phone Police that enforce CNA access :-) Where I come from (Cincinnati, OH) the only places I've heard of having CNA databases are law enforcement and otherg government agencies. As I understand it, CNA stands for Called Number Authority. The phone company keeps a list of number-person correspondences, which are available in many cities by simply calling (presumably) secret phone number. (The CNA operator answers and says 'Number, please?', you give number, they give name.) The general public does not/is not supposed to have access to this information. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 13-Feb-86 23:25:51-EST,9466;000000000000 Mail-From: ELMO created at 13-Feb-86 03:57:48 Date: 13 Feb 86 03:57-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #105 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Thursday, February 13, 1986 3:57AM Volume 5, Issue 105 Today's Topics: What if...? CNA on CD CNA French Directory Assistance Terminals Re: More info on FoneAlone device CNA on CD ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue 11 Feb 86 13:51:35-PST From: Ole Jorgen Jacobsen Subject: What if...? I have a (legal) question about the use of ALDS (with or without equal access). Suppose I try to dial a number via carrier X and their network doesn't cover that area (this is typically the case for a lot of international calls), I get a recorded message which says: "To dial this number, you must hang up, dial 10288 plus the number" Suppose further that I am a dumb user and blindly follow the instructions, thinking I am still using the "cheap services of carrier X". Instead I get a large bill from AT&T. Can I refuse to pay and sue carrier X?? Ole PS. Recordings like the one cited *do* exist, no mention of AT&T is made which is rather interesting ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 86 22:26:47 cst From: allegra!ihnp4!umn-cs!woolsey@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Jeff Woolsey) Subject: CNA on CD In article <8602110631.AA14409@ucbvax.berkeley.edu> Ralph.Hyre@IUS2.CS.CMU.EDU writes: > >What the government do (if anything) about possible abuses. Will it be legal >for a person to sell his own CNA database? (If so, why hasn't anyone done >this before? Here in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area, there are four alternatives: 1) There is a publication known as Cole's (I think) directory, available to businesses and without restriction to the public at libraries, which is a compilation of name, address, and phone number data organized by name, by address, and by phone number. The information is collected by periodic door-to-door survey. It is possible to keep your name out of this directory without a monthly charge. 2) Polk's directory is very similar to Cole's above in every respect, including availablilty, except that I found it a little more current and complete. 3) To quote from page 2 of the 1986 Minneapolis Consumer Directory (Yellow Pages): "STREET ADDRESS DIRECTORIES AVAILABLE "Street Address directories are available for several Northwestern Bell communities. Listings are arranged in street address order with the corresponding name and phone number following each listing. In a separate section, listings are arranged in telephone number sequence. Northwestern Bell publishes Street Address directories semi-annually for Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, Omaha, Nebraska, and Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Call your Service Representative for pricing and ordering information." I was able to peruse copies of these directories at my leisure at the larger county libraries in the area, but they want some form of ID so that you do not walk off with them, as they contain a notice inside the covers stating that they are leased and old editions must be returned in order to get new ones. For the three cases above, the unconventional sortings are known variously as pink pages and blue pages. 4) To quote from page 11 of ibid. : "CURRENT NAME & ADDRESS SERVICE" "1 + 402-580-2255" "With this service you can obtain the name and address for any listed telephone number. This service is updated daily and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and serves Northwestern Bell's five states (Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota). For 50 cents, plus the long distance charge, you can obtain 2 listings per call. Non-published numbers are not available. "For more information on current name and address service in Minnesota call 535-5316." This is essentially a very current version of the published directories above, except that evidently "non-directory" listings are also available. >As I understand it, CNA stands for Called Number Authority. The phone company >keeps a list of number-person correspondences, which are available in many >cities by simply calling (presumably) secret phone number. (The CNA operator >answers and says 'Number, please?', you give number, they give name.) The >general public does not/is not supposed to have access to this information. The number is obviously not secret here. It is from the quoted text that I had assumed that CNA meant Current Name & Address. Some public libraries have a collection of recent telephone directories for most major cities around the world. It may be possible to glean this information for other cities by consulting such a collection. -- Honk honk! Why, it's Wobbles, the goose! Jeff Woolsey ...ihnp4{!stolaf}!umn-cs!woolsey woolsey@umn-cs.csnet ------------------------------ Date: 12-Feb-1986 0800 From: covert%castor.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (John Covert) Subject: CNA CNA stands for "Customer Name and Address." Although not available to the public in most areas, it is available in some. For example, in Alabama, Directory Assistance provides this service for the same price as a normal D.A. call. This is also true in all of Northwestern Bell: 402 580-2255. And Chicago: 312 796-9600. /john ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12-Feb-86 12:23:45 PST From: vortex!lauren@rand-unix.ARPA (Lauren Weinstein) Subject: French Directory Assistance Terminals On the other hand, the terminals have only limited keyboards, operate in 1200/75 bps mode (or some other similar rate) and have not been very popular. The whole idea was to save the cost of phone books, but the population has been giving extremely mixed reviews to the service, finding that in many cases a physical phone book is far more convenient, and often can give faster response time! --Lauren-- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 86 09:53:55 pst From: calma!smithson@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Brian Smithson) Subject: Re: More info on FoneAlone device One of the mod.telecom readers discovered that the phone number I had posted was incorrect. The correct phone number for Sparrevohn Engineering (Long Beach, CA) is (213)433-7240. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 86 11:43:05 est From: D Gary Grady Subject: CNA on CD Reply-To: D Gary Grady In article <8602110631.AA14409@ucbvax.berkeley.edu> Ralph.Hyre@IUS2.CS.CMU.EDU writes: >As I understand it, CNA stands for Called Number Authority. The phone company >keeps a list of number-person correspondences, which are available in many >cities by simply calling (presumably) secret phone number. (The CNA operator >answers and says 'Number, please?', you give number, they give name.) The >general public does not/is not supposed to have access to this information. Most cities of any size have a "city directory." This is distinct from the usual phone book and is produced by one of a number of city directory publishers for banks, real estate agents, and other commercial users. It contains business and government listings, demographic information, and lists of individuals. I believe at least a few of these directories have multiple listings by different sequences, including by street address and by telephone number. I recall a movie in which the villain's henchmen were after a witness to a crime. They locate her former employer and tried to get her address by claiming they had found something that belonged to her. The employer refused to reveal the address but did call her. The evildoers wrote down the number dialed and looked it up in the city directory. So, in this far-fetched instance at least, there is potential for abuse of such a listing. At times there may be a potential benefit. I trust you will keep the following story to yourself. One place I worked allowed employees to make personal long distance calls for which we later made reimbursement, after the bill came. On one occasion I called Source EDP (an employment agency) in Atlanta to get their free salary survey, just for the heck of it. I forgot to write down the number on my long distance log. The bill came. No one claimed the call. So the bookkeeper called the phone company to find out what name went with the number. "Who called Source EDP?" we were asked. I confessed and paid up, and assumed that was the end of the matter. Not so, however. Evidently suspecting I was hunting for a new job (I really wasn't) my employer soon gave me a *very* substantial raise and a promotion. It's an ill wind that blows nobody good! -- D Gary Grady Duke U Comp Center, Durham, NC 27706 (919) 684-3695 USENET: {seismo,decvax,ihnp4,akgua,etc.}!mcnc!ecsvax!dgary ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 21-Feb-86 21:17:46-EST,8831;000000000000 Mail-From: ELMO created at 21-Feb-86 21:15:51 Date: 17 Feb 86 00:36-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #106 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Monday, February 17, 1986 12:36AM Volume 5, Issue 106 Today's Topics: [The Economist] BRITAIN'S TELECOMS: Value-added regulation [InfoWord-86/2/10] pointer to 2 articles of interest Where phone solicitors get their numbers from Network Interface CNA Re: TELECOM Digest V5 #105 [French Directory Assistance Terminals] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu 13 Feb 86 03:48:06-CST From: Werner Uhrig Subject: [The Economist] BRITAIN'S TELECOMS: Value-added regulation [ from The Economist, Vol.298 #7432, February 8, 1986 ] BRITAIN'S TELECOMS: Value-added regulation -------------------------------------------- Britain's telecoms regulators are trying to ring a change. Although British Telecom and its officially sanctioned competitor, Mercury, are guaranteed until at least 1990 a duopoly of basic telecoms services (including voice and telex transmission), politicians propose to cut the red tape tying data-transmission services, the fastest growing part of the business. To do so, they must stand the regulation of Britain's telecoms on its head. The regulators are gathering comments on the second draft of their proposals to put their political masters' wishes into effect. Criticism of the first draft centred on the proposed rules for newcomers and the distinction between regulated basic services - like residential telephone services - and "value-added" ones, such as videotext and electronic mail, in which more competition will be allowed. The line between basic and value-added services is nigh impossible to draw. When BT was privatised in 1984, regulators drew up a definition of value-added services, and then decreed that everything that did not fall into that category should be regulated as basic service. Now they propose to turn the approach around by defining basic services, and allowing competition everywhere else. Chief beneficiary of the new rules will be "managed data networks". First proposed by a joint venture between BT and IBM - but turned down by regulators for fear that these two giants would suffocate the market - managed data networks typically provide higher quality data transmission than is afforded by BT's usual service. They include, for example, more security against errors or snooping, more facilities to allow different sorts of computers to talk to each other. Today, managed data networks fall into the regulated telecommunications category simply because nobody had thought of them when the definition of value-added service was written. But reversing the regulatory burden of proof is not the only way in which the new rules would promote such services. The official idea now (prompted by the telecoms industry) is to allow managed data networks a special class of licence. Instead of licensing the individual supplier of a MDN, the government would limit itself to approving the service itself. Anyone would then be allowed to offer a similar package. IBM (without BT), ICL, and GM's subsidiary EDS are all designing such networks that - pace, the regulators - could eventually be offered to the public. Where these firms lead, others follow. BT has little to fear from this new competition in the short term. Although the new MDN will take some business away from BT services like Packet Switch Stream, they must send their data over BT's basic telephone lines. By extending the range of services, competition should boost sluggish growth in demand for BT's basic services. But MDN could evolve into a more serious threat to BT. To provide the new services, operators of MDN must build up switching and message-processing capabilities outside BT's network. They will use modern digital equipment and aim at the most profitable high-volume customers. The result could easily be a group of mini-Mercuries all ready to jump into the more direct competition with BT - and waiting to be unleashed by tomorrow's regulators. ------------------------------ Date: Thu 13 Feb 86 04:20:06-CST From: Werner Uhrig Subject: [InfoWord-86/2/10] pointer to 2 articles of interest [ InfoWorld, Vol. 8 #6, Feb 10, 86 ] (page 10) MICRO/PBX LINKS UNVEILED [ AT&T and Northern Telecom announced products to increase use of their PBXs for data transmission between computers ] "'The PC/PBX Connection' provides transfer of ASCII and binary files .... it offers built-in VT-100 adn AT&T-4410/5410 asynchronous terminal emulation, modem pooling, and the capability to simultaneously transfer data, run a microcomputer application, and use the phone [for voice]. The system also provides enhanced phone services, including a directory of up to 255 voice and data calling numbers, an a log of all phone calls made." [ pointers to add-on software from Touchstone Software to turn 'The PC/PBX Connection' into a full-fledged LAN with file transfer, Email, printer sharing, etc. ] "Northern Telecom's LANSTAR ...[supports Macintoshes, PCs and various other micros, minis, and mainframes] " (page 19) John Gantz's "TECH STREET" column: Can AT&T Make Money in Today's Free Market? [an interesting commentary and analysis of AT&T's present, past, and future] " The divestiture of 1984 was, in essence, AT&T's method of shedding assets that were becoming technologically obsolete. So AT&T marvels at the way the government let it pull all this financial hocus-pocus and thanks its lucky stars that it's no longer delivering dial tones." ------------------------------ Date: Thu 13 Feb 86 04:33:33-PST From: Lynn Gold Subject: Where phone solicitors get their numbers from As someone who, many years ago, worked as a telephone solicitor, yes, Cole's looks just like a set of the white pages except that it organizes phone numbers by address rather than by name. This allows a phone solicitor to, in effect, go "up and down the street." I was under the impression that the phone company doesn't regularly make Cole's readily available to the general public, though. --Lynn ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Feb 86 11:24:47 EST From: Bob Clements Subject: Network Interface I would appreciate knowing what, if anything, is the difference between a modular jack and a network interface, other than what's written on it. I seem to recall seeing ads for test gear that mentioned the "electrical signature" of a network interface. Is that right, or is my memory bad? I'm not talking about the lightning arrestor at the building entrance. Just the thing that looks like a RJ41 socket but says "Network Interface" and has legalese written on it. Is there anything in it besides the socket? Thanks, /Rcc ------------------------------ Date: Thursday, 13 Feb 1986 11:21:22-PST From: waters%viking.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM Subject: CNA Calling the CNA in each area is not as simple as giving them a phone number, then they give you a name. A caller must first provide an identification number and name. I suppose one might be able to find this information for a specific person and use that. Lester Waters [CNA policies vary from state to state. -Ed.] ------------------------------ Subject: Re: TELECOM Digest V5 #105 [French Directory Assistance Terminals] Date: 14 Feb 86 16:36:58 EST (Fri) From: "Christopher A. Kent" While a lot of people may not care for the Minitel terminals for directory assistance, there's a networking culture building up. Several large catalog-based operations offer Minitel service instead of mail- or voice-based ordering (for a fee to the PTT, of course.) There's also a conferencing service offered, much like the conference groups on the Source and elsewhere. An article that I saw over Christmas gave an outsiders view of the whole thing, describing a culture much like Usenet for conferenced groups on various subjects, as well as real-time communications, often for romantic encounters. Communication is typcially based on handles rather than real names, and there are some serious Minitel junkies out there. And my impression was that it was quite expensive (but I don't recall any hard numbers.) chris ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* ------- 6-Mar-86 04:11:34-EST,8916;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Thu 6 Mar 86 04:11:28-EST Date: 17 Feb 86 00:36-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #106 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Monday, February 17, 1986 12:36AM Volume 5, Issue 106 Today's Topics: [The Economist] BRITAIN'S TELECOMS: Value-added regulation [InfoWord-86/2/10] pointer to 2 articles of interest Where phone solicitors get their numbers from Network Interface CNA Re: TELECOM Digest V5 #105 [French Directory Assistance Terminals] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu 13 Feb 86 03:48:06-CST From: Werner Uhrig Subject: [The Economist] BRITAIN'S TELECOMS: Value-added regulation [ from The Economist, Vol.298 #7432, February 8, 1986 ] BRITAIN'S TELECOMS: Value-added regulation -------------------------------------------- Britain's telecoms regulators are trying to ring a change. Although British Telecom and its officially sanctioned competitor, Mercury, are guaranteed until at least 1990 a duopoly of basic telecoms services (including voice and telex transmission), politicians propose to cut the red tape tying data-transmission services, the fastest growing part of the business. To do so, they must stand the regulation of Britain's telecoms on its head. The regulators are gathering comments on the second draft of their proposals to put their political masters' wishes into effect. Criticism of the first draft centred on the proposed rules for newcomers and the distinction between regulated basic services - like residential telephone services - and "value-added" ones, such as videotext and electronic mail, in which more competition will be allowed. The line between basic and value-added services is nigh impossible to draw. When BT was privatised in 1984, regulators drew up a definition of value-added services, and then decreed that everything that did not fall into that category should be regulated as basic service. Now they propose to turn the approach around by defining basic services, and allowing competition everywhere else. Chief beneficiary of the new rules will be "managed data networks". First proposed by a joint venture between BT and IBM - but turned down by regulators for fear that these two giants would suffocate the market - managed data networks typically provide higher quality data transmission than is afforded by BT's usual service. They include, for example, more security against errors or snooping, more facilities to allow different sorts of computers to talk to each other. Today, managed data networks fall into the regulated telecommunications category simply because nobody had thought of them when the definition of value-added service was written. But reversing the regulatory burden of proof is not the only way in which the new rules would promote such services. The official idea now (prompted by the telecoms industry) is to allow managed data networks a special class of licence. Instead of licensing the individual supplier of a MDN, the government would limit itself to approving the service itself. Anyone would then be allowed to offer a similar package. IBM (without BT), ICL, and GM's subsidiary EDS are all designing such networks that - pace, the regulators - could eventually be offered to the public. Where these firms lead, others follow. BT has little to fear from this new competition in the short term. Although the new MDN will take some business away from BT services like Packet Switch Stream, they must send their data over BT's basic telephone lines. By extending the range of services, competition should boost sluggish growth in demand for BT's basic services. But MDN could evolve into a more serious threat to BT. To provide the new services, operators of MDN must build up switching and message-processing capabilities outside BT's network. They will use modern digital equipment and aim at the most profitable high-volume customers. The result could easily be a group of mini-Mercuries all ready to jump into the more direct competition with BT - and waiting to be unleashed by tomorrow's regulators. ------------------------------ Date: Thu 13 Feb 86 04:20:06-CST From: Werner Uhrig Subject: [InfoWord-86/2/10] pointer to 2 articles of interest [ InfoWorld, Vol. 8 #6, Feb 10, 86 ] (page 10) MICRO/PBX LINKS UNVEILED [ AT&T and Northern Telecom announced products to increase use of their PBXs for data transmission between computers ] "'The PC/PBX Connection' provides transfer of ASCII and binary files .... it offers built-in VT-100 adn AT&T-4410/5410 asynchronous terminal emulation, modem pooling, and the capability to simultaneously transfer data, run a microcomputer application, and use the phone [for voice]. The system also provides enhanced phone services, including a directory of up to 255 voice and data calling numbers, an a log of all phone calls made." [ pointers to add-on software from Touchstone Software to turn 'The PC/PBX Connection' into a full-fledged LAN with file transfer, Email, printer sharing, etc. ] "Northern Telecom's LANSTAR ...[supports Macintoshes, PCs and various other micros, minis, and mainframes] " (page 19) John Gantz's "TECH STREET" column: Can AT&T Make Money in Today's Free Market? [an interesting commentary and analysis of AT&T's present, past, and future] " The divestiture of 1984 was, in essence, AT&T's method of shedding assets that were becoming technologically obsolete. So AT&T marvels at the way the government let it pull all this financial hocus-pocus and thanks its lucky stars that it's no longer delivering dial tones." ------------------------------ Date: Thu 13 Feb 86 04:33:33-PST From: Lynn Gold Subject: Where phone solicitors get their numbers from As someone who, many years ago, worked as a telephone solicitor, yes, Cole's looks just like a set of the white pages except that it organizes phone numbers by address rather than by name. This allows a phone solicitor to, in effect, go "up and down the street." I was under the impression that the phone company doesn't regularly make Cole's readily available to the general public, though. --Lynn ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Feb 86 11:24:47 EST From: Bob Clements Subject: Network Interface I would appreciate knowing what, if anything, is the difference between a modular jack and a network interface, other than what's written on it. I seem to recall seeing ads for test gear that mentioned the "electrical signature" of a network interface. Is that right, or is my memory bad? I'm not talking about the lightning arrestor at the building entrance. Just the thing that looks like a RJ41 socket but says "Network Interface" and has legalese written on it. Is there anything in it besides the socket? Thanks, /Rcc ------------------------------ Date: Thursday, 13 Feb 1986 11:21:22-PST From: waters%viking.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM Subject: CNA Calling the CNA in each area is not as simple as giving them a phone number, then they give you a name. A caller must first provide an identification number and name. I suppose one might be able to find this information for a specific person and use that. Lester Waters [CNA policies vary from state to state. -Ed.] ------------------------------ Subject: Re: TELECOM Digest V5 #105 [French Directory Assistance Terminals] Date: 14 Feb 86 16:36:58 EST (Fri) From: "Christopher A. Kent" While a lot of people may not care for the Minitel terminals for directory assistance, there's a networking culture building up. Several large catalog-based operations offer Minitel service instead of mail- or voice-based ordering (for a fee to the PTT, of course.) There's also a conferencing service offered, much like the conference groups on the Source and elsewhere. An article that I saw over Christmas gave an outsiders view of the whole thing, describing a culture much like Usenet for conferenced groups on various subjects, as well as real-time communications, often for romantic encounters. Communication is typcially based on handles rather than real names, and there are some serious Minitel junkies out there. And my impression was that it was quite expensive (but I don't recall any hard numbers.) chris ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* ------- 9-Mar-86 03:18:07-EST,10307;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Sun 9 Mar 86 03:18:05-EST Date: 9 Mar 86 01:12-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #107 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Sunday, March 9, 1986 1:12AM Volume 5, Issue 107 Today's Topics: Network Interface Answer Supervision problems UK Telephone sets vs USA sets MCI opinions wanted Cheap Cellular Promotion TIP: how to disable "Call Waiting" Wireless Speakerfone? Network Interface Wall Street Journal suppliment of February 24, 1986 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 22 Feb 1986 23:17:38-EST From: rdsnyder at MIT-CCC Subject: Network Interface The network interface itself is a small (~1.5cm*~3cm) pc board with 3 components on it. (I haven't seen one for about 6 months, so I hope I remember everything correctly.) The components are wired in series. They consist of a capacitor (.1uF < value < 1uF), a resistor, and a device packaged in a WE case of the sort used for the 100A varistor found across a U1 receiver in a phone handset. This device was black and had a red band painted around the middle (sic), so it must be symmetrical. I would guess it is a varistor rated somewhere in the tens of volts. I would guess that an AC voltage higher than the varistor voltage is applied to the subscriber line and the impedance is measured. This test signal sounds a lot like a ringing voltage, but it might be of a higher frequency to prevent ringing the subscriber's ringer. The first network interface I saw was just the plain, unenclosed pc board connected across the protector block (lightning arrester), but I believe it is more popular to use the type where the pc board is installed inside a WE type 625 modular jack with the "Network Interface"+legalese label on it. Since the network interface is installed on the telco side of the "point of demarcation," I would suspect that its purpose is to allow the telco to test the continuity of the subscriber's cable pair upon receiving a trouble report from the subscriber so that they would not have to send a repairperson to the customer premises. Whether they would actually do this and lose the exorbitant fee of a premises visit is another question. I don't think that a network interface or a lack thereof is that critical at this time. Anyone who has heard the words "network interface" knows how to test his line at the protector and if you report trouble, the telco will probably send a repairperson anyhow. -Ross Snyder ------------------------------ Date: 22 Feb 1986 23:17:50-EST From: rdsnyder at MIT-CCC Subject: Answer Supervision problems A few days ago, I received my monthly bill for my 950-1033 service from US Telecom. On the bill were two calls which I had made to an exchange in NPA 303 (Colorado), but which only rang and were never answered. One call was for 5.1 minutes and the other was for 1.6 minutes. When I called US Telecom customer service, the representative FLATLY REFUSED to give me credit for the calls. She said that they would not give credit for calls of that length. When I had her supervisor call me back, he also refused to consider giving me credit. I had heard a rumor that only ATT and MCI actually get answer supervision from the BOCs, and that the other LD carriers simply use a time-out method to determine whether a call is answered. Since the phone I was calling was located in a somewhat remote location, I let it ring quite some time before hanging up. This caused the US Telecom timer to time out, making them believe I had been connected. When I asked the US Telecom supervisor whether they got answer supervision, he said, "No, we don't get call supervision, but we have programmed our computers so that they VIRTUALLY never make this sort of error."(emphasis added) He told me that I let the phone ring too long. He said that US Telecom suggests to only let the phone ring "8 to 10 times." He seems to be admitting that they occasionally do bill customers for unanswered calls, but remaining unwilling to give credit (which totalled only $1.12). I would hate to think what would happen if they incorrectly billed a customer for several dollars or tens or hundreds of dollars... I would appreciate it if someone verify this rumor about which LD carriers actually get answer supervision. I STRONGLY DISCOURAGE doing business with US Telecom if customer service means anything to you. As soon as I got off the phone with US Telecom, I called MCI to get 950 service from them, since they are the only LD carrier that offers it and presumably gets answer supervision. In the past, when I used ATT in a non-equal-access exchange, I used to let the phone ring for 10 minutes or so without being charged. ATT seems to have the right attitude: Why try to save a few erlangs if it means losing a lot of customers? -Ross Snyder ------------------------------ Date: 23 Feb 86 20:58:23 PST (Sunday) From: Kluger.osbunorth at Xerox.COM Subject: UK Telephone sets vs USA sets Hello, I'll be moving to the UK soon, to the London area. Do you know if my trusty American manufactured phones can be used in Britain? Info on pulse or DTMF would be appreciated. If it's technically possible, is it approved by the UK regulators? Thanks, Larry ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Feb 86 12:44:42 EST From: David Vinayak Wallace Reply-To: Gumby at MC.LCS.MIT.EDU Subject: MCI opinions wanted I was considering signing up for MCI, which will give me a good (read convenient) deal through American Express. Could any current/former users of MCI comment on their: 1> Signal quality. I'm not planning on sending data; just voice when I'm travelling. 2> Coverage. Are their significant gaps in their service area? 3> Service. Do you have reservations about dealing with them? Thanks, david ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Feb 86 16:09:48 EST From: Robert Jesse Subject: Cheap Cellular Promotion [From Personal Communications Technology magazine, Feb. 1986, p. 48] Commonwealth Mobile Services recently offered three months of service to first-time cellular customers at $.99 a day including equipment rental, plus air-time charges, in the Northeast Pennsylvania market area. The price includes a Motorola phone, free installation and free access to the system. ------------------------------ Date: Tue 25 Feb 86 07:41:54-CST From: Werner Uhrig Subject: TIP: how to disable "Call Waiting" [ found in MacBriefs, Vol.1#2, page 14 ] TIP: CALL WAITING ZAPPED by Tom Edwards, mini'app'les, 8/10, Oct 1, 1985, p12 Your "smart" modem goes to answer a second call while you're on-line, downloading something. The program jumps out of receive mode and tells you FILE TRANSFER UNSUCCESSFUL. CARRIER LOST. To avoid this, phone company suggests: 1) prefix your dialing with 1170 (for pulse dialers, *70 (for tone dialers). 2) continue by dialing the number that you want to reach; dial straight through the 'fast busy' signal you hear. [ given this problem, I don't have the Call-Waiting feature. so I can't verify that this works. Also, while I've seen several postings warning people about the problem and asking for solutions, I've never seen anyone mentioning *70 or 1170. Does this work everywhere? Does anyone know other, potentially, useful 11xx/*xx codes? ---Werner] {Cancel-Call-Waiting has been carried in previous digests, but is worth mentioning again. It only works in offices where the software is installed, on ESS and DMS switches. You can test for it - dial *70; if you get a confirmation tone and then dialtone, you have the feature. -elmo} ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Feb 86 10:21:19 pst From: dual!saber!msc at ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Mark Callow) Subject: Wireless Speakerfone? I'm looking for a combination wireless and speaker phone. I've seen one in the Sharper Image catalogue which has two handsets (wireless plus regular-phone) plus the speaker phone. You can dial from either the base station or from the wireless handset. This is what I'm looking for except I don't need the regular handset. Can anyone recommend anything suitable? -- >From the TARDIS of Mark Callow msc@saber.uucp, sun!saber!msc@decwrl.dec.com ...{ihnp4,sun}!saber!msc "Boards are long and hard and made of wood" ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Feb 1986 15:02 EST From: Jon Solomon Subject: Network Interface A Network Interface is a box which has a jack on it just like a regular wall jack, but it also has a peice of electronics (Don't ask me what it does, I don't know offhand, but I heard a while ago that it simulated a telephone on the line for test purposes) within, which accounts for why it looks larger than a regular phone jack. Network Interfaces aren't meant to be used as jacks (although I use mine for that purpose), you are expected to plug a wire adaptor into them and wire your house from that, using standard jacks where you would like them. Hope that helps. --JSol ------------------------------ Date: 25 Feb 86 14:22:49 PST (Tue) From: kremen at aero Subject: Wall Street Journal suppliment of February 24, 1986 On February 24, the Wall Street Journal was in three parts instead of its usual two. The third part was a tabloid feature titled "Telecommunications - Wrestling with choise". It is a series of well-written articles about many of the topics that have been discussed on this forum for the past several years. If you can get a copy, I urge you to read it. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* ------- 9-Mar-86 05:45:08-EST,15289;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Sun 9 Mar 86 05:45:05-EST Date: 6 Mar 86 01:35-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #108 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Thursday, March 6, 1986 1:35AM Volume 5, Issue 108 Today's Topics: Administravia - Mysterious Digests WE wiring info? wanted: cheap rs232 autodialer RS-232 problem How many digits? Busy retry phones IDDD to Overseas Directory Assistance Country Code List Equal Access in Southwestern Bell ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri 07 Mar 86 21:51:34-EST From: Eliot Moore (The Moderator) Subject: Administrvia - Mysterious Digests Most of you should have received three copies of #106. A born-again copy of #107 should have preceeded this issued. Regards, Elmo ------------------------------ Date: Thu 27 Feb 86 14:41:04-PST From: Ole Jorgen Jacobsen Subject: WE wiring info? Today I had occasion to rewire an old rotary Western Electric phone (built in October 1962). It had been used on a PBX and two out of the four wires that go to the bell coil were hooked up to what is normally "line 2", i.e. yellow and black. Hence the bell did not work. After much trial and error, I finally found another (much younger) rotary phone and was relieved to find that the everything inside was exactly the same, right down to the color coding of the wires. Thus I was able to get the bell working again by hooking the two wires to "A" and "F" on the network block. These phones were obviously built to operate in many configurations, (party-line, PBX, and so on). What I would like to know is where I could get any documentation,- wiring diagrams,- that describes all of this (both 500 and 2500 sets). This may have been asked before, apologies if I missed it. Ole ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Mar 86 08:01:42 est From: jqj@gvax.cs.cornell.edu (J Q Johnson) Subject: wanted: cheap rs232 autodialer I need to purchase several (30?) inexpensive off the shelf touch-tone autodialers that accept their dialing instructions as an RS232 connection and output to a standard rj11 jack. The application is an office where everyone has a networked workstation with a spare rs232 port, and a new pbx (ATT Sys 85) with woefully inadequate speed dialing capabilities. Price (I would guess about $20) and packaging (the smaller the better) are critical characteristics. If you can suggest a vendor, please contact me directly: jqj@cornell.arpa or jqj@gvax.cs.cornell.edu jqj@crnlcs.bitnet cornell!jqj ------------------------------ Date: Tue 4 Mar 86 14:16:02-EST From: Philip A. Earnhardt Subject: RS-232 problem We have a noise problem with our RS-232 lines at work. We run pins 1,2, and 3 (with 7 shorted to 1) for 2 lines in every office. Unfortunately, the 6 wires are run on a single cable; the 2 lines are not shielded from each other. This still works OK if someone has 2 terminals in their office or on terminals with multiple ports. However, folks who use a T-switch to switch between their 2 lines in their office will reliably send garbage down the unselected line. Has anyone solved a similar problem? I'm guessing the what will is to put a load between pins 1 and 3 on the unselected line. To do this automatically, we'd use a matrix switch instead of the t-switch: Computer A ====== Terminal * Computer A == == Terminal O \/ R /\ Computer B ====== Resistor * Computer B == == Resistor Will this work? Am I in any danger of damaging our computer terminal boards? Any estimate of an appropriate value for the resistor? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Mar 86 01:14:45 EST From: David Vinayak Wallace Subject: How many digits? In several countries they are in the process of changing the number of digits in a phone number -- from four to five, five to six, or six to seven. Since we're running out of area codes, I started to wonder how much it would cost to make telephone numbers eight digits long. For ease of changeover assume a flag day on which everyone has, say, a zero appended to their current phone number. How much would it cost the phone companies and how much would it cost everybody to change their COBOL programs? any guesses? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Mar 86 08:44 EST From: "Steven H. Gutfreund" Subject: Busy retry phones Could someone send me a list of companys that sell phones (or attachments) that have automatic retry on busy signals. I am looking for something inexpensive, perhaps only an add-on attachment. You can send directly to me. gutfreund@umass-cs.csnet ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Mar 86 19:34:34 cst From: huynh@puff.wisc.edu (adventurer extraordinaire) Subject: IDDD to Overseas Directory Assistance Is there anyway to access directory assistance overseas ? Someone has told me that the local telephone network is an ESS no.5 (whatever it means). If it is possible without going through the operator .... I would like to get directory assistance in both France and Australia. Thanx in advance ... Mike Huynh huynh@puff.wisc.edu @pokey.wisc.edu ------------------------------ Date: 01-Mar-1986 0237 From: covert%castor.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (John Covert) Subject: Country Code List Attached is a country code list which includes all codes I know of. If you *know* of any corrections (new code assignments, incorrect assignments, incorrect country names, etc.) please send them to me. Thanks/john World Numbering Zone 1 (Integrated Numbering Area) 1 Canada, USA Including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Christopher and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent Note: Mexico locations with Zone 1 style area codes are a hack for use from the U.S. and Canada *only* and are not official. World Numbering Zone 2: Africa, Greenland, Aruba 20 Egypt 212 Morocco (also has 210, 211 assigned, but not used) 213 Algeria (also has 214, 214 assigned, but not used) 216 Tunisia 218 Libya (also has 219 assigned, but not used) 220 The Gambia 221 Senegal 222 Mauritania 223 Mali 224 Guinea 225 Ivory Coast 226 Upper Volta 227 Niger 228 Togo 229 Benin 230 Mauritius 231 Liberia 232 Sierra Leone 233 Ghana 234 Nigeria 235 Chad 236 Central African Republic 237 Cameroon 238 Cape Verde Islands 239 Sao Tome and Principe 240 Equatorial Guinea 241 Gabon 242 Congo 243 Zaire 244 Angola 245 Guinea-Bissau 247 Ascension Island 248 Seychelles 249 Sudan 250 Rwanda 251 Ethiopia 252 Somali 253 Djibouti 254 Kenya 255 Tanzania 256 Uganda 257 Burundi 258 Mozambique 260 Zambia 261 Malagasy Republic 262 Reunion (France) 263 Zimbabwe 264 Namibia 265 Malawi 266 Lesotho 267 Botswana 268 Swaziland 269 Comoros and Mayotte 27 South Africa 297 Aruba (remaining Netherlands Antilles are 599) 299 Greenland Spare: 246, 259, 28, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 298 World Numbering Zones 3 & 4: Europe except Soviet Union 30 Greece 31 Netherlands 32 Belgium 33 France 33 078 Andorra 33 93 Monaco 34 Spain 350 Gibraltar 351 Portugal 352 Luxembourg 353 Ireland 354 Iceland 355 Albania 356 Malta 357 Cyprus 358 Finland 359 Bulgaria 36 Hungary 37 German Democratic Republic (East) 38 Yugoslavia 39 Italy 39 541 San Marino 39 6 Vatican City 40 Romania 41 Switzerland 41 75 Liechtenstein 42 Czechoslovakia 43 Austria 44 United Kingdom 45 Denmark 46 Sweden 47 Norway 48 Poland 49 Federal Republic of Germany (West) World Numbering Zone 5: Mexico, Central and South America + St. Pierre & Miquelon 501 Belize 502 Guatemala 503 El Salvador 504 Honduras 505 Nicaragua 506 Costa Rica 507 Panama 508 St. Pierre et Miquelon (France) 509 Haiti 51 Peru 52 Mexico 53 Cuba 53 99 Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base (located on Cuba) 54 Argentina 55 Brazil 56 Chile 57 Columbia 58 Venezuela 590 Guadaloupe (France) 591 Bolivia 592 Guyana 593 Ecuador 594 French Guiana 595 Paraguay 596 French Antilles (St. Barthelemy, Martinique, St. Martin) 597 Suriname 598 Uruguay 599 Netherlands Antilles (St. Maarten, Saba, Statia, Curacao, Bonaire, but not Aruba: 297) Spare: 500 World Numbering Zone 6: Pacific 60 Malaysia 61 Australia 62 Indonesia 63 Philippines 64 New Zealand 65 Singapore 66 Thailand 670 Saipan 671 Guam 672 Timor 673 Brunei 674 Nauru 675 Papua New Guinea 676 Tonga 677 Solomon Islands 678 New Hebrides 679 Fiji 681 Wallis and Futuna 682 Cook Islands 683 Niue 684 American Samoa 685 Western Samoa 686 Gilbert and Ellice Islands 687 New Caledonia 688 Tuvalu 689 French Polynesia 691 Micronesia 692 Marshall Islands Spare: 680, 690, 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 698, 699 World Numbering Zone 7 7 Union of Soviet Socialist Republics World Numbering Zone 8: East Asia + Marisat 81 Japan 82 South Korea 84 Viet Nam 852 Hong Kong 853 Macao 855 Khmer Republic 856 Laos 86 China (People's Republic) 871 Marisat, Atlantic Ocean 872 Marisat, Pacific Ocean 873 Marisat, Indian Ocean 880 Bangladesh 886 Taiwan Spare: 80, 83, 850, 851, 854, 857, 858, 859, 870, 874, 875, 876, 877, 878, 879, 881, 882, 883, 884, 885, 887, 88, 889, 89 World Numbering Zone 9: Middle East, Indian Subcontinent 90 Turkey 91 India 92 Pakistan 93 Afghanistan 94 Sri Lanka 95 Burma 960 Maldives 961 Lebanon 962 Jordan 963 Syria 964 Iraq 965 Kuwait 966 Saudi Arabia 967 Yemen Arab Republic 968 Oman 969 Yemen (People's Democratic Republic of) (Aden) 971 United Arab Emirates 972 Israel 973 Bahrain 974 Qatar 976 Mongolia 977 Nepal 98 Iran Spare: 970, 975, 978, 979, 99 ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Mar 86 19:10:46 CST From: Paul Milazzo Subject: Equal Access in Southwestern Bell I recently moved just outside the area served by my previous CO, and thus had to order new service. At that time I designated the LD carrier I wanted for each new line. One of the last pieces of mail to arrive at my old address was a letter from Southwestern Bell announcing Equal Access (which has been available for ages), and asking me to designate a default LD carrier for one of my old lines. Since I had already cancelled service on that line, I simply discarded the letter. Yesterday the post office forwarded another letter from SWB, this one telling me I have been "randomly" assigned to AT&T, which will begin providing +1 service on April 4th. That's pretty amazing, considering the line has been disconnected for almost six weeks... At any rate, the letter was accompanied by several interesting pieces of information, including a brochure explaining "Easy Access" (i.e. 1+) dialing. The brochure, in standard SWB silly-question/obvious-answer format, includes the following points, some of which should help to dispel the notion that all LOCs are trying to "suppress" information about 10XXX dialing: Q: Do I have to pick a long-distance company if I don't want Easy Access Dialing? A: No. [...] Without Easy Access Dialing, you'll have to dial a five-digit access code to make most long-distance calls. If you decide you don't want Easy Access Dialing, you'll need to notify Southwestern Bell Telephone by calling the local business office. Then, you'll contact the long-distance companies for their access codes and to establish an account, if required. Q: If I pick a company for Easy Access Dialing, does that mean I can use only that company for long-distance calls? A: No, not at all. You may use another long-distance company by dialing that company's access code before dialing the number. Long-distance companies can provide you with their access codes. Q: Just how will you decide which company I'm assigned to? A: The assigning to long-distance companies will be done randomly on a percentage basis. Customers who do not respond to the first mailing will be assigned to various long-distance companies based on the number of customers who picked each long distance company after the first letter. [...] A computer will randomly select the proper percentage of customers to be assigned to the various companies. [...] In my opinion, the brochure was reasonably informative, and did not make any attempt to suppress knowledge of 10XXX dialing. Of course, they did not explicitly mention the 10XXX format. Instead, all of the documentation refers to "five-digit access codes" supplied by each LD carrier. This does not strike me as entirely unreasonable, as the average customer will not know which carriers require you to have an account, and will thus have to call the carrier anyway. The letter I received DID include a list of all the carriers from among which I could choose, and the access code and customer service telephone number of each. That list included a number of carriers of whom I had never heard, so for all the 10XXX aficionados out there, I have reproduced an abbreviated and re-sorted version below. Forgive me if I incorrectly capitalized anyone's company name; the original list was in upper case only. 080 Amtel 084 LDS Metromedia Long Distance 085 Westel, Inc. 203 Cytel 220 Western Union Long Distance 222A MCI 222B American Express Expressphone/MCI Dial "1" 222C Sears/MCI Dial "1" 223 TDX Systems, Inc. (for business only) 288 AT&T Long Distance Service 333 US Telecom 366 American Telco, Inc. 444 ALLNET(r) Dial 1 Service 464 Houston Network, Inc. 488 ITT - Longer Distance Service 777A GTE Sprint Direct Dial Service 800 Satelco 824 ATC/Directline 888 SBS Skyline Paul G. Milazzo Dept. of Computer Science Rice University, Houston, TX Domain: milazzo@rice.EDU, milazzo@rice.ARPA BITNET: milazzo@ricenet, milazzo@ricecsvm UUCP: {cbosgd,convex,hp-pcd,sun,waltz}!rice!milazzo ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 11-Mar-86 02:17:09-EST,9646;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Tue 11 Mar 86 02:17:06-EST Date: 11 Mar 86 00:14-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #109 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Tuesday, March 11, 1986 12:14AM Volume 5, Issue 109 Today's Topics: Re: UK vs USA Phonesets Re: RS-232 problem Re: Busy retry phones answering supervision How Many Digits? CNA Bureaus Not-so-Cheap rs232 autodialer ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun 9 Mar 86 02:45:33-PST From: Ole Jorgen Jacobsen Subject: Re: UK vs USA Phonesets You can use rotary US phones in the UK without any problems, even if the specs may be a little different (I am happily using a 1932 UK phone here, it's only different in that it goes ting-a-linga-ling when you rotary dial on another phone connected to the same line, in the UK the anti-tinkle circuit is done by mutually excluding the bells of both phones when either is off hook, -if you get my meaning). Forget DTMF, Britain never had and never will have it. I have only once used a phone there which had DTMF and it was connected to a hotel PBX. When the famous "System X" gets installed, the functionality (including * and #) of DTMF will be provided, but digitally. The advantages of being conservative and centrally regulated is that one can occasionally skip a generation of development, which is excatly what is happening with DTMF and the UK. Of course, using US phones on UK lines is illegal and I doubt very much that you can get an individual instrument certified, since this requires "destructive testing" (I am serious!), but I wouldn't let that worry you. (You should pay your TV licence however or they might come after you with the detector van! But for 50 pounds or so you'll get the best TV programs the world has to offer including news from other countries, sorry about the digression). Ole ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 8 Mar 86 20:02:16 pst From: ucdavis!lll-lcc!well!rab@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Bob Bickford) Subject: Re: RS-232 problem Methinks you should not tie pins 1 and 7 together. Just leave pin 1 completely out of the connection; it's only a frame ground and if you're in the same building you don't need it. We don't use it! Most T-switches do *not* switch the pin #1 connection, so there may be the source of the trouble: they're always tied together. The resistors should go to a 12v reference, not to ground, although ground will work with many receiver IC's. I would expect there is already a resistor in the interface PCB, going to 12v, and if you added one to ground at the switch you'd get a tendency to float to 6v, maybe leading to more noise than you have now. (assuming you use the same value, namely 10K ohms) ------------------------------ Date: 9 Mar 86 19:53-EST From: James Dorf Subject: Re: Busy retry phones I vote for the DEMON DIALER as the all-purpose dialer with the features that beat out any competition. The creators, who I seem to recall as having associations with M.I.T., really thought of everything when designing this *action-packed* little "black box". In my nearly 5 years of trouble-free experience, I cannot think of even one situation when the DEMON was unable to handle *any* activity/task. The only problem is it's high cost: I bought mine back then (in N.Y.C.) for about $180.00 (yuk!) but I cannot stress enough my EXTREME satisfaction! I know that much of this has been discussed before, but here goes... My favorite (notable) FEATURES: * redial of ***BUSY*** or ***UNANSWERED*** phones The thing handles both of the above by sounding a somewhat loud, distinctive signal upon success. A speaker phone or loudspeaker is very useful to hear the success signal. Also, although the "receiver is off-the-hook" during these, incoming calls can come in during the WAITING TIME between automatic outgoing dialer attempts. * MNEMONIC keyword codes for stored numbers: This is an *incredible* boon for autodialers! One "names" each stored number with a 2-6 digit keyword. The variable length keywords lend themselves to CHARACTER mnemonics like dialing the letters "OZ" for the MIT-OZ dialups or dialing the letters "JSOL" to call good 'ole JSol... After all, what's the use of having to refer to a HARDCOPY LIST of keywords when one doesn't remember a keyword? * great FLEXIBILITY for handling *special dialing* procedures (e.g. Long Distance carriers, "PBX" systems, etc.) I hope I haven't bored anyone with this "time-honored" information but... well... now I've cast my vote! Regards to all/jad ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9-Mar-86 12:25:12 PST From: vortex!lauren@rand-unix.ARPA (Lauren Weinstein) Subject: answering supervision The question of whether or not a LD carrier properly detects answered calls is based on two factors: 1) The local network interface at the CALLED end of a given circuit 2) Arrangements to pass supervision info back to billing computers AT&T's network is designed to properly detect and pass back answering supervision for all calls. The other carriers vary widely, not only on a carrier by carrier basis but also in some cases on a call by call basis. Some carriers simply don't pass info back at all, and operate totally on a timed basis to "guess" about when a call is answered. Some other carriers pass the info back properly on SOME calls, depending on the sort of trunk interfacing (e.g. equal access) in place at the CALLED end of the circuit. In other words, if a carrier has equal access in place at the point you're CALLING, and if they have facilities to pass that info back to their billing computers, answering supervision will be available for that call. If you happen to be calling a point that is not interfaced in that manner, you may often find yourself billed based on a timing "guess" instead of answering supervision--so you may well get billed for a call that never answered in such a case. --Lauren-- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Mar 86 08:49:25 est From: Marvin Sirbu Subject: How Many Digits? The US does not have any plans to increase the number of digits in a phone number from seven to eight anytime soon. After all, ten digits for area codes and numbers is in theory ten billion telephones. What is going to happen -- in about 1995 -- is that we are going to run out of area codes if we can only use numbers of the form "N 0/1 N". The current planning therefore, is that the restriction on area codes to "N 0/1 N" will be lifted in about 1995. This will necessitate MANDATORY 1+ dialing for long distance calls, because it will no longer be possible to differentiate area codes from exchange codes by looking at the second digit. All those COBOL programs out there that do edit checks on the area code to restrict it to "N 0/1 N" will have to be changed, but -- thank heaven -- you won't have to change all the record sizes for eight digit phone numbers. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Mar 86 20:46:58 EST From: Douglas Humphrey Subject: CNA Bureaus In the Washington D.C. area, the CNA Bureaus do not require any identification from the caller; you just give them the number and they give you the data. Strangely the numbers are not local calls to the D.C. calling area though, being down in West Virginia. The Non-Pub Bureau seems to work the same way, allowing you to do DA lookup on Non-Published numbers. The only thing that has changes in either of these services in years is that the Bell breakup caused the Bureaus to be broken up into different calling numbers for each area, rather than a single number per company (i.e. C&P). There was a list made available long before the breakup that listed all of the numbers for the entire CONUS. These changed with the breakup, but our friend Ma Bell made sure that most of the numbers had Intercept on them giving the new numbers..... They even screw themselves up, so don't be so hard on them when they screw you up too..... Doug Humphrey DEH @ ENEEVAX ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Mar 86 13:14:51 pst From: sun!fluke.uucp!tikal!tna@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Tom Anderson) Subject: Not-so-Cheap rs232 autodialer >I need to purchase several (30?) inexpensive off the shelf touch-tone >autodialers that accept their dialing instructions as an RS232 >connection and output to a standard rj11 jack. The company I work for sells a product that has the line control features of a modem without the modem, and thus, can be used as an autodialer. It is no where near your suggested price, however - I think it sells for about $300. If you want more info, let me know. -- Thomas N. Anderson ...uw-beaver!tikal!tna Teltone Corporation, 10801 120th Ave NE, Kirkland, WA 98033 (206) 827-9626 "This Statement is False." ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 20-Mar-86 00:48:30-EST,14413;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Thu 20 Mar 86 00:48:28-EST Date: 12 Mar 86 00:24-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #110 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Wednesday, March 12, 1986 12:24AM Volume 5, Issue 110 Today's Topics: Speaker phone Re: Equal Access in SW Bell territory IDDD to Overseas Directory Assistance IDDD to Overseas Directory Assistance Wanted: opinions on CDS and Multi-Tech modems Want information on Zipper modem Re: Want information on Zipper modem Thoughts on ADCoMM 96/48 Modem Commercial Email: AT&T, MCI, CompuServe news AT&T mail AT&T mail ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: NBaheti.es@Xerox.COM (Arun Baheti) Date: 11 Mar 86 15:45:17 EST Subject: Speaker phone I'm looking for a cheap speakerphone for use at home. Quality doesn't have to be th best, but it shouldn't sound like I have my head in a bucket (echo echo echo...) :-). Please reply via telecom or directly to me with any info you may have on the matter. Thanks... --Arun Baheti NBaheti.es@Xerox ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Mar 86 15:05:35 CST From: Will Martin -- AMXAL-RI Subject: Re: Equal Access in SW Bell territory Paul's experience with the chaotic mode in which SW Bell seems to be implementing Equal Access is probably fairly universal in this BOC's area -- I'm in St. Louis, under SW Bell, and what has happened to me has been along the same lines... When the Equal Access push started here, early last year (I believe), we residential subscribers got the usual handouts and mailings. AT&T sent more than any other carrier, and only two or so of the alternates ever sent me any literature at all. I wanted AT&T anyway, so sent back their card with my phone number and signature. Some months later, I received more literature from AT&T, with a request to send in a signed card *again*, and, I do believe, this happened yet one more time, with them asking for a third signed card. All of these were business-reply mail, and I complied (at least one of the later mailings had some rather-flaky explanation about why they needed this info yet again, but I don't recall the details). Anyway, some months back, I receive a letter from SW Bell, stating that I had never responded to their request that I choose an LD carrier, and enclosing a form to mark, and an envelope, *not* business-reply mail, but requiring postage, with an address in Michigan, not here in St. Louis where SW Bell's regional HQ is located. I then called the business office to inquire about this, because I not only had already selected AT&T and notified them multiple times, and they were supposed to pass this data on to SW Bell, but I had never gotten the first "selection form" that this SW Bell letter referred to. Also, I wanted to ask about the Michigan address, and why this was not Business-Reply Mail, when AT&T had done us the courtesy of using that format so we need not use our own postage for this nonsense. They hemmed and hawed about the notification business, explained the Michigan address by saying that they were using an outside firm to tabulate the responses, and had no excuse for not using Business Reply on the envelope. They DID, though, offer to register my choice then and there, during that phone call, so that I would not have to send in the form. I told them "AT&T" and that seemed to be that. Then, not long ago, I got the exact same letter that Paul referred to, telling me that I had been "randomly" assigned to AT&T because I had not chosen a carrier. Since I had wanted AT&T anyway, I did nothing. However, I wonder if this letter was really the result of a random assignment, and all my preceeding notifications went into a black hole somewhere, or if the "random assignment" was a lie and this was the final result of my numerous notifications. I suppose I'll never know... Have things been as off-the-wall in other BOC's, or is SW Bell leading in the contest for "most confused operations"? Regards, Will ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Mar 86 03:38:23 EST From: David Vinayak Wallace Subject: IDDD to Overseas Directory Assistance Date: Wed, 5 Mar 86 19:34:34 cst From: huynh at puff.wisc.edu (adventurer extraordinaire) Is there anyway to access directory assistance overseas ? Someone has told me that the local telephone network is an ESS no.5 (whatever it means). If it is possible without going through the operator .... I would like to get directory assistance in both France and Australia. Your best bet is via the operator. French directory assistance is almost impossible to get even within France! (They start out with a recording telling you to look it up in the book!) ------------------------------ From: ima!johnl@bbncca Date: Fri Mar 7 13:24:45 1986 Subject: IDDD to Overseas Directory Assistance I only know of two ways to get international D.A.: Either through the operator, not recommended because it costs, or else by calling AT&T's international information service at 1-800-874-4000. I expect that direct dial for information is a long way off, because there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of agreement from one country to another about how you call D.A. ------------------------------ Date: 20 Feb 86 21:39:27 GMT From: roy%phri.UUCP@SEISMO.CSS.GOV (Roy Smith) Subject: Wanted: opinions on CDS and Multi-Tech modems In evaluating 2400 bps rack-mount modems for regular dial-in and uucp dial-out use, we've narrowed the list down to the Concord Data Systems CDS-224 and the Multi-Tech MultiModem-224. Both are in the $400-500 per card price range and seem to have all the standard 212A/V.22bis features. Both claim Hayes compatability (which isn't something I would brag about myself). The Multi-Tech has optional class 3 MNP error correction. Anybody out there have experience with either of these units (good or bad) that they would like to share? I'm especially interested in hearing about the Multi-Tech because I've never heard of them before a couple of weeks ago. -- Roy Smith, {allegra,philabs}!phri!roy System Administrator, Public Health Research Institute 455 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016 ------------------------------ Date: 24 Feb 86 20:29:47 GMT From: albert%kim.berkeley.edu.BERKELEY.EDU Subject: Want information on Zipper modem In March, '86 Byte Magazine, there is an ad on page 431 for a: CCITT V22, V22BIS, Bell 212A, and Bell 103 Compatible modem called the Zipper for $399. It says 2400 baud, but I guess from the compatibilities that it is 300 and 1200 also. It has a 2 year warranty. Does anyone know anything about it? Also, does anyone have any experience with Priority 1 Electronics (it's their ad). Anthony Albert ..!ucbvax!kim!albert albert%kim.berkeley.edu ------------------------------ Date: 2 Mar 86 05:59:18 GMT From: mark%cbosgd.UUCP@SEISMO.CSS.GOV (Mark Horton) Subject: Re: Want information on Zipper modem I ordered a Zipper from Priority 1. When it hadn't arrived in a few days, I called to find out why. It turns out that 2400 baud Zipper is in very short supply. The first shipment (of 30 modems) was in customs that day (Friday Feb 28) and the 30 modems were expected at Priority 1 Monday the 3rd. My order was apparently not in the first 100 on their list. They had no idea when the second shipment might arrive. They also tell me the Zipper is a Hayes clone - no extra features. What I'm really looking for is a 2400 baud Hayes compatible modem which also supports a reasonably user-friendly command set, with things like a prompt, echoing, and a help command. Things like the old Ventel or Penril are fine, but not Cermetek. I also need Hayes compatibility because I'm tired of not being able to use software that only knows how to dial a Hayes. MNP would be nice but isn't essential. I understand Prometheus has Hayes compatible modems with a user-friendly front end, but only goes to 1200 baud. Modem ads don't mention user friendly interfaces - apparently they all assume you have a program in your PC that handles all that. Foo. Any suggestions? Mark ------------------------------ Date: 3 Mar 86 04:39:56 GMT From: gatech!drillsys!sob@SEISMO.CSS.GOV (Stan Barber) Subject: Thoughts on ADCoMM 96/48 Modem The ADCoMM 96/48 High Speed Modem/Multiplexor allows the use of a terminal and a separate printer at 9600 baud (adjusted for line quality) over a standard dialup phone line or a leased line. It also has auto-dial and auto-answer capabilities and can be controlled from the terminal keyboard as can many other intelligent modems. The ADCoMM can communicate with both the printer and the terminal at 9600 baud with independent data streams fed from the remote unit. It uses data compressions and Phase Shift Keying to maximize throughput. It will also fall back to half speed automatically when line quality causes large numbers of errors (which is will correct before sending the data out the ports). Either serial or parallel printers can be supported off the printer port with the other port being a standard serial line. I had this unit for about a month using it to work on a programming project on a system across town. I had absolutely no apparent errors when using the systems. There did seems to be times when there was a bit of delay between the time I pushed a key and having it echo on the screen, but it was not annoying to me at all. I also tested the built-in 300 baud Bell 103A standard mode which worked fine as well. I have a few problems with the modem. First, the keyboard dialog with the modem follows no current "standard" for intelligent modems. This is really just annoying and no big problem. It would seem they could have had a "Hayes emulation mode" so that people who have programs that are used to using a Hayes would have no problem using this modem as well. Second, I wish the low-speed mode was 1200 baud Bell 212A. The modem has a 10 number built-in directory which would be quiet useful if the low-speed was 1200 baud instead of 300. One nice thing about the low speed mode is that the terminal still runs at 9600 baud and the modem speed matches the line so you don't have to mess with your terminal set-up when you want to change speeds. I did not have a chance to test the printer port option at all, nor do I know how it does for long distance hops (some might argue that across metro Houston is long distance). If someone does have a chance to check these features out, please post an update to this overview. This modem is made by Carterfone Communications Corporation, 1341 W. Mockingbird Lane, Suite 1100 West, Dallas, TX 75247. The phone is (214) 630-9700. I believe the price is about $1800 each, but I am not sure. I have no connection to this company what so ever, but I thought someone might benefit from my experience with this modem. -- Stan Barber Netnews Administrator Teleco DST ------------------------------ Date: Thu 27 Feb 86 13:42:46-CST From: Werner Uhrig Subject: Commercial Email: AT&T, MCI, CompuServe news [ from the Austin American Statesman - Feb 26, 86 ] AT&T STARTS ELECTRONIC MAIL Washington - AT&T on Tuesday began offerering an electronic mail service that will instantly send a short message for 40 cents and more than 2 typewritten pages for about 80 cents. That compares to 22-cents to mail a letter. MCI, COMPUSERVE LINK UP Washington - MCI Communications Corp. and CompuServe Inc on Tuesday linked their electronic mail services, creating the world's largest interconnected electronic mail network. Together, the companies serve a half-million subscribers. Subscribers of the Washington based MCI and Columbus, Ohio-based CompuServe can create and send messages to subscribers on either network using the same access methods and commands they now use. [ does anyone know more details? ---Werner ] ------------------------------ From: Date: Wed, 5 Mar 86 17:13:35 PST Subject: AT&T mail MIS-Week just released a story on a new commercial electronic mail system by AT&T. I'm not sure what they have to offer or what the costs will be but I am intrigued by an interesting feature where they will forward your incoming mail to your home UUCP account. I'm lookng for details if anyone has info. The AT&T information number for it is (800) 367-7225 ext. 720. They will send literature but are otherwise uninformed. Bret Marquis (sdcsvax,ihnp4) bang!bam bang!bam@NOSC.ARPA ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Mar 1986 15:06 EST From: Jon Solomon Subject: AT&T mail I just called the number and at least on this coast they are more informative. Their service seems to be designed to compete with MCI Mail (surprise!). For $2.00/month you can maintain a mailbox on their system. You can have mail forwarded to your unix machine for a fee. If you send mail out from your unix machine into their network the service is free (I'll bet there's just a uucp path). Inside the system they charge for outgoing mail but not incoming mail. (This leaves a small hole where a company can have field mailboxes in the system designed to receive broadcast messages, and the originator can be on a unix system, and no additional charges would incur). The rates are quite reasonable (40c for less than 400 characters, 80c for 400-7500 chars, and probably higher for more). If I didn't have the vast resources of the ARPA Internet at my fingertips, I'd consider this service a viable alternative. Cheers, --JSol ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 3-Apr-86 04:48:19-EST,9333;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Thu 3 Apr 86 04:48:18-EST Date: 19 Mar 86 21:50-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #111 (2nd transmission, April 2nd) To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Wednesday, March 19, 1986 9:50PM Volume 5, Issue 111 Today's Topics: Re: Wanted: opinions on CDS and Multi-Tech modems Commercial Email: AT&T, MCI, CompuServe news telephone line interface needed DTMF in the UK Re: RS-232 problem Re: RS-232 problem addendum to area codes Correction Re: SW Bell and Equal Access Telephone Credit Cards ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 12 Mar 1986 16:22:37-EST From: rdsnyder@MIT-CCC Subject: Re: Wanted: opinions on CDS and Multi-Tech modems Multi-Tech is a small company located in New Brighton, MN, just outside Minneapolis. They have been around for about ten to fifteen years now and have specialized in commercial and industrial modems. We bought a MT212AH 1200-bps 212A-compatible modem from them a few years ago. It is obvious from its design that they have not had much experience in the consumer market. The DIP switches all come configured so that the modem could be connected to a mainframe for dialup use, which is not always ideal for home use. They have since gained experience at building consumer-oriented modems, but this is probably irrelevant since you are looking at rack-mount stuff. Since we bought one of the first MT212AH's, we did have some trouble with the auto-answer circuitry after a few months. We took the modem back to the factory, where they not only fixed the problem, which probably only took a few minutes, but also replaced the lithium battery, updated the PROM's, replaced plug-in AC transformer, and modified the amplifier circuit for the built-in speaker to increase the volume. This was all under the one-year warranty and cost us nothing. -Ross Snyder ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Mar 86 00:45:05 EST From: David Vinayak Wallace Subject: Commercial Email: AT&T, MCI, CompuServe news Date: Thu 27 Feb 86 13:42:46-CST From: Werner Uhrig [ from the Austin American Statesman - Feb 26, 86 ] Washington - MCI Communications Corp. and CompuServe Inc on Tuesday linked their electronic mail services, creating the world's largest interconnected electronic mail network. Together, the companies serve a half-million subscribers. How does the internet compare? What about internet+bitnet+uucp+csnet? That should add up to about 500k. ------------------------------ Date: 14 Mar 1986 11:54-EST From: David.Anderson@K.CS.CMU.EDU Subject: telephone line interface needed A friend is designing a phone gadget, and is trying to locate an inexpensive approved phone line interface chip. Any recommendations? The only one he has located so far costs $50, and that seems rather high. --david ------------------------------ From: Derek Bergin Date: Fri, 14 Mar 86 13:27:07 GMT Subject: DTMF in the UK In reply to OLE@sri-nic.arpa.UUCP > Forget DTMF, Britain never had and never will have it. I have only > once used a phone there which had DTMF and it was connected to a > hotel PBX. When the famous "System X" gets installed, the functionality > (including * and #) of DTMF will be provided, but digitally. Uh I may be out of date but when I designed the in-exchange tester for DTMF on system X they were still planning to put it in. The digital signalling only comes with ISDN - or so I understand it. PS. As far as I know the SEP 2 Local System X test site at Coventry Spires is using DTMF (or MF4 as they call it) for some customers. ------------------------------ From: ihnp4!rosevax!rose3!dan@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Date: Mon, 17 Mar 86 17:09:45 cst Subject: Re: RS-232 problem In article <8603060705.AA05792@ucbvax.berkeley.edu> you write: >We have a noise problem with our RS-232 lines at work. We had a similiar problem with an HP computer. Most computers and terminals have termination on their inputs, so that an unconnected line doesn't fly all over. HP didn't on their older serial interfaces. Without any cable on the board, there was no problem. But with a cable (and no terminal at the other end) the board would see a solid stream of garbage. So I suspect that your computer doesn't have any termination on its input lines. Or maybe the resistors are too high a value. Your solution should work, but could be much simpliar. Don't worry about switching the resistors. An RS-232 driver will have no problem driving against a 4.7K resistor. Just add resistors to the inputs (no need to worry about the computer's serial output lines). This will then keep the lines quiet when there is no terminal on either line. Dan Messinger Rosemount Inc ihnp4!rosevax!rose3!dan ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Mar 86 09:41:03 pst From: Edward M. Embick Subject: Re: RS-232 problem We have a similar setup here in CSC's complex in San Diego. We are running 3 wire communications, but unlike you we are running pins 2 (TD), 3 (RD), and 7 (SG) only between the computer and the terminals. The RS-232 25 pin connectors have pins 4 and 5 and pins 6, 8 and 20 shorted at the terminal end and at the host. We run our lines several hundred feet in a very noisy environment without serious problems. The terminals are operating at 9600 baud. I believe the problem you are experiencing is due to the transmit line (pin 2) not being terminated at the data terminal end. It acts like a very long antenna. Any electrical noise, or something like a login prompt from the host, will be transmitted to the host. The host, upon receiving the garbage, will respond with something if a terminating character is detected. This response goes out over the receive line (pin 3) and is picked up by the transmit line (pin 2), etc., etc. etc. This also can occur when a terminal is powered off and the UART completes the connection between pins 2 and 3, as well as with an AB switch. We solved the problem by having the AB switch short pin 2 to pin 7 on the line to the host that is not connected to the terminal. This does no damage to the host port, and keeps it from talking to itself. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ed Embick (the more paths I make, the more paths they break! waaaaaaa....) Computer Sciences Corp. embick@noscvax.UUCP or 4045 Hancock St. {akgua,allegra,decvax,ihnp4,ucbvax}!sdcsvax!noscvax!embick San Diego, CA 92110 MILNET: EMBICK@NOSC (619) 225-8401 x516 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Mar 86 10:53:48 EST From: Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) Subject: addendum to area codes Area codes were recently noted in this digest as having the form "N 0/1 N". They can also have the form "N 0 1" (excluding the 800 toll-free service or 900 "dial-it" service). [Some telcos, notably Pacific[*]Bell insist that (800) is NOT an area code. -elmo] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Mar 86 9:33:34 CST From: William Martin Subject: Correction Re: SW Bell and Equal Access Hi! Thanks to Carl Moore for asking me about this -- it caused me to look at my paperwork and I caught an error in my previous submission about SW Bell and Equal Access. I had said that the users' choices were to be mailed to "an address in Michigan" -- this was wrong, since I had misremembered the state abbreviation on the envelope. It was Minnesota, not Michigan. For those who might find the info useful, here's the address: Easy Access Dialing Southwestern Bell Telephone Caller #8 Burnsville, MN 55337 (Perhaps this firm is handling the access assignment for a number of BOC's?) I don't know if "caller #8" is the same as "Box #8" or "Drawer #8"; have not seen that address form before. Regards, Will ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Mar 86 20:32:09 EST From: Brint Cooper Subject: Telephone Credit Cards Information, please, on non-ATT carriers' credit cards. In particular, 1. Is the credit-card charge a fixed surcharge per call? 2. Is a tone phone required for placing a call? 3. Are there places in the US where the credit card cannot be used for placing a call? 4. Can the credit card be used for calling back to the U.S. from any overseas points? 5. Do any of these answers change when one's local service obtains 'equal access?' Thanks, Brint Cooper ARPA: abc@brl.arpa UUCP: ...{seismo,decvax,cbosgd}!brl!abc ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* ------- 5-Apr-86 03:23:31-EST,12249;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Sat 5 Apr 86 03:23:29-EST Date: 27 Mar 86 01:14-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #112 (2nd transmission, April 4) To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Thursday, March 27, 1986 1:14AM Volume 5, Issue 112 Today's Topics: data and voice over leased line Alternative 2400 bps, Hayes compatible, X.PC & MNP multi-modem... Re: telephone line interface needed Another line interface question nonPrivacy of Electronic Mail 18Kbps dial-Up modem Need contact address at Bell South ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 21 Mar 86 10:57:06 EST From: munnari!natmlab.oz!mse@seismo.CSS.GOV (Martin Ewing) Subject: data and voice over leased line I am interested in multiplexed data and voice on voice-grade lines. The typical circuit is a leased line of 300 km or so, used between our University PBX and our field station (maybe a PBX or maybe something more primitive). During the day the line would be used more than 50% of the time for normal voice calls, and voice would have priority. Off-hours, however, we would give equal priority to computer traffic (VAX DECnet at whatever baud rate we can get). Presently, we have a scheme by which the remote VAX can originate a call to the campus over the tieline, but this is awkward to use. What I'd really like is a data channel (1200 bps or more, preferably synchronous) multiplexed with a digital (if necessary) voice channel, with the usual PBX control signals. Flow control (XON/XOFF if asynchronous) on the data line would be acceptable to throttle back during speech. Ideally, the full bandwidth would be available for data during periods of no speech or no voice circuit. Four or five years ago I looked into commercial products offering some of these features, but I couldn't find anything credible at a reasonable price. (Has to be competitive with the tieline rental - i.e. <<$800/mo). There was a digital speech product with multiplexors from Codex(?), but it was quite expensive. I was told it was suitable for dedicated satellite links. Does anyone have information on this? I have the same situation in both the US and Australia, so either CCITT or US standards would be relevant. Thanks. -Martin Ewing, CSIRO Div. of Radiophysics Mail: P.O. Box 76, Epping, NSW 2121 Australia Caltech/NRAO: mse@phobos or PHOBOS::mse Internet: munnari!natmlab.oz!mse@seismo.CSS.GOV BITnet: mse@CITPHOBO UUCP: ...!seismo!munnari!natmlab.oz!mse Telephone: +61 2 868-0222 Telex: AA26230 ASTRO ------------------------------ Date: 21 Mar 86 23:40:00 EST From: "CHRISTOPHER E. SHULL" Subject: Alternative 2400 bps, Hayes compatible, X.PC & MNP multi-modem... Reply-To: "CHRISTOPHER E. SHULL" We just got a CTS Fabri-Tek modem. It seems to perform as specified, although we have not yet checked out many of its features. The news item from PC Week (Vol.3,No.4, January 28, 1986, page 19) follows without permission: 2,400-bps Modems Introduce For $395 from CTS Fabri-Tek EDEN PRAIRIE, MN -- CTS Fabri-Tek Inc. has introduced a new line of 2,000- bit-per-second (bps) modems priced less than $400. The CTS 2400 series modems are auto-answer, auto-dial, Hayes-compatible 2,400-bps modems, each priced at $395, according to Joseph A. Scarpa, general manager of CTS Datacomm Products Division. The modems in the series include stand-alone, internal half-card and rack-mount models and support full-duplex (simultaneous two-way) operation and both synchronous and asynchronous transmission. The modems support speeds of 110, 300, 600, 1,200, and 2,400 bps. They are compatible with the CCITT V.22 bis and Bell 212A and 103/113 standards, as well as the Hayes AT commands set, according to Scarpa. The modems feature remote and local diagnostics and "integral adaptive equalizing" to reduce transmission errors. Adaptive equalizing is the capability to automatically detect poor or "noisy" telephone line quality and adjust transmission speed to reduce errors. CTS also offers optional built-in Micro-com Networking Protocol (MNP) error correction and the X.PC error correcting protocol in the bundled communications software, Scarpa added. The CTS 2424AD is the stand-alone model and supports both synchronous and asynchronous transmissions at both 1,200 and 2,400 bps. The CTS 2424ADH is the Hayes-compatible equivalent model.[sic] The CTS Half-Pak #24 is the 2,400-bps half-card internal modem that fits into any expansion slot in the IBM PC, XT, AT or Portable PC and compatibles. It includes an on-board speaker for line monitoring and Hayes compatibility. The CTS 2424RM is the rack-mount model that fits into CTS's 16-slot Universal RackModem System, along with the company's 1,200-bps 212RM modem. For additional information, contact CTS Datacomm at 6900 Shady Oak Road, Eden Prairie, Minn. 55344 (612) 941-9100. Note: CTS Datacomm does not sell their modems directly, but will refer you to a local distributor. I ended up getting a very nice educational discount. Good luck. Chris Christopher E. Shull Decision Sciences Department The Wharton School Shull@Wharton.ARPA University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 19104-6366 (215) 898-5930 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 22 Mar 86 09:37:55 pst From: ssc-vax!clark@uw-beaver.arpa (Roger Clark Swann) Subject: Re: telephone line interface needed > The only one he has located so far costs $50, and that seems rather > high. David, The unit your friend has found for $50 is a bargin if it's an FCC Registered device with the usual isolation and protection that goes along with that certification. My guess is that your friend can get by with a much less sophisticated interface circuit for a *cheap* home project. As I understand it, there are two rules that need to be followed : 1) The equipment to be hooked on the line should be well isolated from any *high* power source such as the local power utility (i.e. the 120 Volt outlet ). This is very important since it would be very easy for a ground loop or some kind of fault to distroy the phone network and/or cause harm to some technician working on the network. If I remember corretly, the FCC registration requirements include a section that states that the unit being certified must stand a 1000 volt plus surge (don't remember how long). This is why much of the consumer telephone equipment on the market is powered from batteries or from the phone line directly. For building up some home project, one can usually get away with using a transformer module that plugs into the outlet. It would be best to add some transient protection on the low voltage side of the power supply. 2) The other item concerns the signal levels transmitted over the phone network. There should be some limiting circuits in the equipment to be connected to the phone network that prevents over-driving the line. I don't have the *standards* right now, and I am sure there is someone else more qualified than I in this area. Without knowing more details on the type device your friend is trying to connect to the line, I can't be specific about the circuitry involved. One other bit of advice, please don't use the public phone network as a *test-bed* to check out home brew telecom equipment. Do the test and verification on the bench before the equipment is placed in sevice.... >>>> Roger Swann !ssc-vax!clark ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 22 Mar 86 09:50:01 pst From: ssc-vax!clark@uw-beaver.arpa (Roger Clark Swann) Subject: Another line interface question The posting by David Anderson recently prompted the question : I would like to how telcos around the nation are currently handling customer provided terminal equipment ? When customer provided equipment first came on the market several years ago, Pacific Northwest Bell made a big deal about having the FCC reg. numbers and the manufacturer, etc., when non PNB devices were connected to the line. However, in the last year or so , they have taken a much more open policy . I have interpreted it as: Hook what ever you want to the network, but if it causes a problem, (i.e disrupts service ), we will come after you. Roger Swann !ssc-vax!clark ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Mar 86 17:51 EST From: Frankston@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: nonPrivacy of Electronic Mail I am sending this to telecom as opposed to email mailing lists since the issues are ones of policy and not technical. I was looking at the GEnie service. In reading through their user agreement, I was struck by the following clause: b) The Company reserves the right to monitor access to the GEnie Service by its subscribers and to remove, at its sole discretion, without notice, any information, material or software which it believes to be unlawful or objectionable. Does anyone know more about the stated policies of other service providers? Or how this compares with the US post office? I realize that some services go through great lengths to assure that their employees don't read the mail, but I'd like to know more about which ones are careful and what stated policies are. Thanks. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Mar 86 16:36 EST From: "Steven H. Gutfreund" Subject: 18Kbps dial-Up modem The March 24, ELECTRONICS has an interesting article about a 18 KBPS modem. The modem uses data compresion, so the actual throughput is 14Kbs, but the interesting part is what they are calling Damqam (dynamically adaptive multicarrier quadrature amplitude mdulation). Basically they have 512 avaliable carries each spaced at 7.9 Hz. In real time it senses the line quality (S/N ratios and other data) and chooses 400 carries to send on simultaneously. Each carrier can be encoded with up to six bits of data (depending on line quality at that frequency). Some carriers may be sending at speeds as low as 7.3 baud. They expect the system to be used for both file transfer and interactive applications (they see the need for fast interactive applications) so they send in either large or small packets (also decided on the fly). In addition they are 103, 212A, and V.22 compatible. I have no connection with this company. If you want information about the Fastlink Modem, the company name is Digital Communications Associates Inc & Telebit Corp. They are located in Alpharetta, GA. They sell it stand alone and as an IBM PC card. The price seemed right for those markets. - Steven Gutfreund [So now they claim 18kbps, huh? Hopefully with the advent of V.32-compliant modems (CDS is "shipping") we will see the end of proprietary protocols for high bit rate communication. -elmo] ------------------------------ Date: 26 March 86 21:10 EST From: RMXJ%CORNELLA.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU Subject: Need contact address at Bell South I am trying to obtain the name and mailing address of a contact person at Bell South who is responsible for the Conference that they (Bell South) organized in China in October, 1985. I recollect seeing this information in a quarterly statement from them that came out in either November or December of 1985, but cannot locate my own. I would appreciate any leads on this information. Thank you for your assistance with this matter. Sincerely yours, --- Gligor Tashkovich RMXJ%CORNELLA.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* ------- 10-Apr-86 06:30:14-EST,14872;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Thu 10 Apr 86 06:30:11-EST Date: 10 Apr 86 02:55-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #113 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Thursday, April 10, 1986 2:55AM Volume 5, Issue 113 Today's Topics: USR Password Modem burns up while turned off MCI info Modeling software request nonPrivacy of Electronic Mail - GEnie replies Privacy of commercial electronic mail Re: 18Kbps dial-Up modem Re: 18Kbps Modems wireless extension International Directory Assistance/ESS Re: DTMF in the UK ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 30 Mar 86 13:38:45 EST From: J Eric Roskos Subject: USR Password Modem burns up while turned off This anecdote is about a problem with my USR Password modem. It is a potentially dangerous problem, so I thought I should write a posting about it, so you can avoid the problem. This morning I worked for about 4 hours using my USR Password modem, then turned off the modem and computer and went to get lunch at Burger King. When I came back about a half hour later, I smelled a burned phenolic PC board, so I started looking around for where the smell was coming from. When I felt my modem, I found it was very hot, and looking at the top noticed a small circular depression about the size of a dime near the power cord. About that time, the transformer made a strange noise, so I unplugged it. When I unplugged the transformer, it was extremely hot. Looking more closely at the outside while it cooled off, I found a similar hole in the bottom of the modem, and that the transformer had begun to melt, such that there was a big sag in the middle of its plastic cover. Once it had cooled off, I took the modem apart. Inside, I found that the problem was a small ceramic capacitor, C34. It had completely burned up, leaving only ash, some melted metal from its plates, and a lot of smoke inside the modem. The nearby phenolic material of the PC board had also boiled off, leaving exposed fiberglass fabric; and a nearby ferrite toroid with some enameled wire wound on it seemed to have had the enamel partly evaporated off. Well, I replaced C34 and put the modem back together, and I'm typing this with it, so it at least seems to be working; although the speaker doesn't work any more (I haven't taken it apart again to see why that is yet). However, if I hadn't come back when I did, I suspect it would have continued to melt, which could have been a fire hazard. The reason it happened is that C34 is apparently part of an RFI filter on the incoming power supply cord, which stays connected (along with the small coil wound around the toroid, and another capacitor, C35) even when the modem is off. For some reason, C34 shorted (I don't know why; there is no lightning (it's a clear day, in fact) and it wasn't hot in here), causing the above problems. This is an early model of the modem; it has handwritten serial number 2950 on it, so newer models may not be built the same way. However, the moral of this story is: it's best not to leave the modem plugged in, and if you really want to be safe, put a fuse on there... [Another moral of this story, for you folks who design these things, is to keep in mind this sort of failure mode! Nowadays I see a lot of things designed with components out beyond the power switch...] -- -- E. Roskos ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Apr 86 06:00:53 EST From: David Vinayak Wallace Subject: MCI info A while back I sent out a message asking people what they thought of MCI, which I could get via American Express. Six people wrote back saying "Their transmission quality is poor." Three wrote back and said "Their transmission quality is acceptable." One of those nine said "They're hard to use outside your home area" (which is not a problem in the Amex case). So general opinion of this small sample is not good. However I received this response also (the only one pertaining to the specific service I mentioned): ---------- Begin Forwarded Message ---------- Date: 11 Mar 86 09:34:02 PST From: POWERS at IBM-SJ.ARPA To: gumby I have used the MCI service through American Express for my personal calls (easy way to separate them from regular business calls) for over 2 years, with good results. Transmission is usually good for both voice and data... there's an occasional bad connection, but I'm not sure it is any more often than with any other carrier. I haven't gotten the "that location is not available on the network" recording in a very long time... I suspect they go to WATS for the locations they don't serve directly. I like it, personally. ----------- End Forwarded Message ----------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 Mar 86 08:40:17 PST From: august@Jpl-VLSI.ARPA Subject: Modeling software request I am in need of software (operational on IBMPC or VAX, source if possible) which performs Longley-Rice and any other propagation analysis/prediction analysis. I am primarily interested in VHF and UHF spectrum, however will tak anything which may be modified to perform in those spectrum. Thanks in advance. Richard ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 5 Apr 1986 08:30 MST From: Keith Petersen Subject: nonPrivacy of Electronic Mail - GEnie replies I sent a copy of the recent Telecom posting questioning the policy of GEnie with regards to privacy of electronic mail. Here is the official response from the Manager, Bill Louden: Date: March 31, 1986 08:21 EST From: LOUDEN@GENIE Bill Louden To: W8SDZ Keith Petersen, CP/M SysOp Sub: privacy of email The wording in paragraph b) refers to any public message left on any of the various bulletin boards (or any public area) on GEnie and does not include electronic mail sent from one individual to another individual. GEnie is similar to other broadcast media (such as television, newspapers etc) and as such we are bound by federal laws and commonly accepted standards of practice to remove public messages that do not conform to these standards or laws. Electronic mail is a totally private communications vehicle and as such, GEnie has a policy that prohibits GEnie staff members from covertly reading another user's mail. The GEnie Service and Staff will conform to existing laws and regulations regarding privacy of information and will protect the privacy of the user from internal and/or external influences according to the laws. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 29 Mar 86 17:19:47 EST From: "Keith F. Lynch" Subject: Privacy of commercial electronic mail From: Frankston@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA b) The Company reserves the right to monitor access ... They might not read your mail. They might say this only so that you can't sue them if one of their employees starts snooping in your mail. Assuming this is their real policy, and they do read much much of everyone's mail, I would be curious as to their reaction if someone started sending encrypted mail (encrypted and decrypted in the PCs of the sender and recipient). ...Keith ------------------------------ From: caip!unirot!halloran@seismo.CSS.GOV Date: Thu, 3 Apr 86 08:42:57 est Subject: Re: 18Kbps dial-Up modem Reply-To: unirot!halloran@seismo.CSS.GOV (Bob Halloran) In article <8603270640.AA06695@ucbvax.berkeley.edu> GUTFREUND@UMASS-CS.CSNET ("Steven H. Gutfreund") writes: >The March 24, ELECTRONICS has an interesting article about a 18 KBPS modem. >[So now they claim 18kbps, huh? Hopefully with the advent of V.32-compliant > modems (CDS is "shipping") we will see the end of proprietary > protocols for high bit rate communication. -elmo] DCA's response to V.32 is that it may give you 9600 on a relatively clean line, but that the fallback-by-halves (4800, 2400, ...) that is used as line quality degrades cuts potential throughput rather sharply. The method used in the Fastlink allows for very small decrements (< 100bps) in line speed. Another advantage of the Fastlink is builtin error-correction. [V.32 specifies forward-error-correction -elmo] A client is using these on an 'intra-state' link (DC metro to Richmond VA). Over alternative common carrier they're still getting about 7200 bps throughput. On a multihop test, coast-to-coast and back on about three different carriers, they still got over 7Kb/s throughput on standard voice lines (and error-free). That's not bad, in my book. Robert Halloran ============================================================================= UUCP: ..topaz!caip!unirot!halloran USPS: 19 Culver Ct, Old Bridge NJ 08857 Ph: (201) 251-7514 Disclaimer: My opinions are my own. Quote: "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro..." -- Hunter Thompson ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 9 Apr 86 22:28:17 EST Subject: Re: 18Kbps Modems Being a user of these things, I have to say that Elmo's comment about non-standard modems and the hoped-for demise of non-standard modems is not for everyone. I have fastlinks, and they run very well indeed, and they manage to get unreal amounts of data across phone lines that would normaly not support bell 212 useage. Being a commercial establishment (when not using this vax I'm on) I would be glad for everyone else in the world to have to back off to 4800 baud half of the time while I continue to operate at over 9600 (often much higher) on the same phone lines. Certainly gives me the edge. Also, we have turned off the extensive software driven error correction that we used to run on both ends of our links because in the thousands of hours of transmission time we have used since we got them, over sprint, mci and other horrors, we have NEVER had so much as one error from the modems. Their error detection and re-transmission works very well too. Let the people in the standards world (I used to be on CCITT questions) get it together and understand that technology has made it possible to have your cake and eat it too, and that an obsolete standard does more harm than good. Also, when was the last time you were able to buy a new set of ROMs for your standard compliant modem for $99 that took its top speed from 14kbps to 18kbps ? Some time soon, maybe I'll be able to buy a set that do LAPB pad stuff for me ? Who knows ? Doug Humphrey DEH @ ENEEVAX Digital Express Inc. ------------------------------ From: Liudvikas Bukys Subject: wireless extension I am buying a new house which has had no phone lines wired inside. Does anyone know of any products which would allow me to avoid fishing wire through walls? All of the wireless phones I have seen have the hook switch (I don't know what else to call it) built into the base; the phone can only be far away when it is off-hook. I need a phone which will have the hook switch in the phone, not the base. Liudvikas Bukys bukys@rochester.arpa ------------------------------ Date: Tue 1 Apr 86 16:22:36-EST From: D.Reuben Subject: International Directory Assistance/ESS I noticed in Telecom 110 that someone mentioned that using the operator to get international directory assistance costs...As far as I know, its free, and I've called the operator numerous times from payphones and asked for DA in England or Australia, and it didn't cost anything. Directory assistance to Canada (by dialing an area code in Canada +555-1212) is also free, and if you go to an older payphone and the call doesn't go through, tell the operator...I've done it a few time, and all they keep saying is "60 Cents, please...". When you tell them its to Canada they say ""What state is Canada in?", so you might have to remind them that Canada is actually an international call and that the ac-555-1212 call should go through for free. On many newer payphones (ie, in ESS exchanges that have been told what the Canadian area codes are, or something like that) it seems that they go through without any problem... Also, there are direct numbers for DA in foreign countries, but your AT&T will bill you for them since I don't think they have the capability to single out calls for international locations which should be toll free. So you have to call the operator and she will do international (non-Canadian) DA calls for you for free. Also, if you have trouble getting DA in France, have the US operator route you to an operator in France (not a DA operator, just a regular operator), and from there ask the French operator to get DA. I've tried this a few times and it seems to work if the US operator can't get French DA directly... Finally, does anyone know what the difference is between an ESS exchange and a DMS-100? I think a DMS-100 is a type of ESS, but what is the difference? Is it designed to cover a few exchanges and act like it was a single exchange, or is it a slight variation on a 5ESS or what? Also, what type of ESS's can accept (ie, be programmed for) "Select Call Waiting" with the *71 (or 1171 for pulse) feature? I was under the impression that all could but recently was told it could only be made available on a ESS5. Any help would be appreciated... Thanks, D. Reuben Reuben@Weslyn.Bitnet ------------------------------ Date: Thu 3 Apr 86 08:47:50-PST From: Ole Jorgen Jacobsen Subject: Re: DTMF in the UK Sorry bout that, didn't mean to put your design on the shelf, honest! I guess I spoke too confidently about the (non-) future of DTMF in Britain. Taking a US phone to the UK and waiting for them to go DTMF could turn out to be a lenghty exercise however. Britain recently went from rotary to push-button (with rotary converters) style phones, so it seems there are no immediate plans to go tone, experimental areas notwithstanding. In fact, I would hazard to guess that by the time they are ready to do so ISDN will be upon us. (But this time I am *guessing* rather than *stating*) Blush, blush! ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 13-Apr-86 03:50:53-EST,8373;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Sun 13 Apr 86 03:50:52-EST Date: 13 Apr 86 02:03-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #114 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Sunday, April 13, 1986 2:03AM Volume 5, Issue 114 Today's Topics: Put the quarter back in the pay phone! Auto-dial modems and Alternate Long Distance Carriers DCA Fastlinks (10-18Kbps) Re: International Directory Assistance/ESS error correcting modems ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 9 Apr 86 23:44:11 PST From: "David G. Cantor" Subject: Put the quarter back in the pay phone! If the pay phone returns your quarter after you have completed a call, be sure to put it back in; otherwise the Hackensack Cops will get you. Today's (Wednesday, April 9, 1986) New York Times carries an article headlined "In Hackensack, Phone Call Overseas Presented Bargain". Here are some excerpts" "Hackensack, NJ, April 8 -- For weeks, people have been travelling far and wide to reach the pay phones here: The attraction is free international telepnone calls. "Technology in an electronic switching center here failed New Jersey Bell, and for nearly two months perhaps half the international calls placed from 400 pay phones around town went through without charge, according to a spokesman for the Company, Ted Spencer. "'Apparently a problem developed in a computer program -- in the software,' Mr. Spencer said. 'We don't have a record of the calls that got through. They bypassed the billing system.' "Mr. Spencer said the problem has been resolved, adding that New Jersey Bell had no way of determining financial loss. "The problem came to light, Capt. Emil Canestrino, a Hackensack Detective, said today, after the arrest Saturday of an Israeli Vice Consul, Hannan Moked, after he and his wife, Ilana, had made a two-hour call from the lobby of a Sears office tower here without paying. Mr. Spencer said the charge for the call was $104.82. "Mr. and Mrs. Moked were charged with theft of service, Captain Canestrino said. ... "Hackensack police say they became suspicious about the pay phones in early February ... [they] notified New Jersey Bell. "Detectives were assigned to the Sears lobby. People who talked for long periods without depositing coins were followed to their cars, Captain Canestrino said. License plates were jotted down, and the callers were traced back to New York City and towns in New Jersey, ... "Mr. Spencer said the phone company had acted as quickly as it could. "It took us a few weeks to determine there was a problem and set up the surveillance." A number of questions arise: 1. Why didn't the "phone company" force operator intervention for all calls on these phones? 2. Failing that, why didn't it post signs stating that the phones were broken and operating under the honor system, and that users should put the estimated cost of the call in the telephone (or mail a check later). 3. Since the system was broken, how did Mr. Spencer know that the charge for the call was $104.82? 4. Is there any possibility that Mr. and Mrs. Moked will ever go to trial? or will the DA simply quietly drop the charges? Will the DA chew out the police for wasting his time on this kind of idiocy? Will Captain Canestrino become Chief of Police? What would have happened if the pay phones had been privately owned? Once again we see why, for years, the "phone company" was referred to as "Ma Bell" (If you don't behave by her rules, she will spank you!). dgc David G. Cantor ARPA: dgc@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU UUCP: ...!{ihnp4, randvax, sdcrdcf, ucbvax}!ucla-cs!dgc ------------------------------ Date: 10 Apr 1986 13:40:06-EST From: prindle@NADC Subject: Auto-dial modems and Alternate Long Distance Carriers Why do most ALDCs chose a dial-tone which sounds so bizarre (more like a high pitched hum) that some auto-dial modems cannot recognize it as a dial-tone? Thus, dial sequences which dial into an ALDC switch, wait for second dial tone, and dial access code/phone number, end up waiting forever. I thought the pitch and frequency content of a dial-tone was fairly well standardized in the civilized U.S. Are modem manufacturers (or makers of the associated tone recognition chips) aware of this problem and taking any steps to alleviate it? Is the proper solution to mandate standard tones on the ALDCs or to build the modems to accept a looser definition of a dial-tone (like anything that has a constant frequency spectrum, regardless of what it is, for a second or more)? Has the problem already been solved by newer modems? Does this problem also plague phone instruments with memory dialers which wait for dial tones? Frank Prindle Prindle@NADC.arpa ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Apr 86 01:55:55 EST From: "Minh N. Hoang" Subject: DCA Fastlinks (10-18Kbps) I've just read a few comparisons between the DCA Fastlinks and the coming V.32 modems and I'm a bit confused. The Fastlinks should be inherently half-duplex while the V.32s are full-duplex using echo-cancellation techniques. There were a few claims that the avg. rate for the Fastlinks is 7.2 Kbps. Is that for both ends or just one end streaming and the other side ack'ing? If it's just from one end then the real rate of the V.32 is 2 x 9.6 = 19.2 Kbps, more than twice the Fastlinks'. Then they don't seem that great, costing roughly half the price and delivering about half the performance, if your data transmission is mostly one way. However, if your data transmission requirement is heavy bidirectional traffic, the V.32 wins big. Typically, it will also be used with synchronous protocols (Fastlinks can't) and that boots the 'real data' rate up by 20% by not sending start/stop bits. --- Minh ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Apr 86 10:17:26 est From: Robert Atkinson Subject: Re: International Directory Assistance/ESS Reply-To: Robert Atkinson >Finally, does anyone know what the difference is between an ESS exchange >and a DMS-100? I think a DMS-100 is a type of ESS, but what is the >difference? Is it designed to cover a few exchanges and act like it was >a single exchange, or is it a slight variation on a 5ESS or what? Also, > >D. Reuben >Reuben@Weslyn.Bitnet It is my understanding that the DMS family and the ESS family of exchanges are competing products. The DMS family (of which DMS-100 is a member) is manufactured by Northern Telecom, while Western Electric is responsible for the ESS. The DMS is totally digital. I don't know about the ESS. -bob atkinson rgatkinson%waterloo.csnet ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11-Apr-86 12:06:46 PST From: vortex!lauren@rand-unix.ARPA (Lauren Weinstein) Subject: error correcting modems It is a fallacy to assume that when error correcting modems are in place you don't need error detection/correction in the software. In practice, not only do noise errors creep in between the modems and the computers, but the problems of buffer overflow and flow control related errors, on both sides, can be quite serious, particularly at "higher" speeds. In my own experiments with various software, I've found that removing or even relaxing the per-packet error checking characteristics of software when using error-correcting modems generally does little or nothing to increase throughput, and in fact you frequently end up with decreased throughput since flow control problems (and the resulting need to resend large quantities of data) can be intense on even slightly noisy phone lines or when dealing with even moderately loaded systems. --Lauren-- ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 19-Apr-86 01:48:28-EST,6095;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Sat 19 Apr 86 01:48:20-EST Date: 18 Apr 86 23:45-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #115 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Friday, April 18, 1986 11:45PM Volume 5, Issue 115 Today's Topics: Error Correction for V.22bis Re: Put the quarter back in the pay phone! AT&T Calling Cards RS232 Line Monitor conference phones ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 14 Apr 1986 15:50-EST Subject: Error Correction for V.22bis From: WTHOMPSON@F.BBN.COM I notice that several vendors of 2400 bps modems forego using MNP or other error-correcting protocols. I am curious about this, since it would seem that a *blip* on a 2400 bps dial-up connection would do much more harm than on a 1200 bps link. Yes? (By "much more" I mean more than twice as much data would be affected.) Why then, not protect the transmission? One reason would seem to be economics. As I understand it, adding MNP adds about $100 to the cost. Another reason might be overhead, that adding packetization reduces the net throughput. Are there other considerations? ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Apr 86 15:23:00 est From: David Leibold Subject: Re: Put the quarter back in the pay phone! Reply-To: David Leibold In article <860410.074411z.07079.dgc@JASON.LOCUS.UCLA.EDU> dgc@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU ("David G. Cantor") writes: >A number of questions arise: . . . >3. Since the system was broken, how did Mr. Spencer know that the > charge for the call was $104.82? ... and since when did payphones begin to accept pennies. Maybe we've been missing an innovation up here in the Great White North. [1/2 * :-)] ------------------------------ Date: Wed 16 Apr 86 00:44:59-EST From: * D. Reuben * Subject: AT&T Calling Cards Recently after dialing 0+ac+dest # on a paypohne to use my calling card, I noticed that all I got was the AT&T CAlling Card tone and failed to get the "Please dial your card number or 0 for an operator now" message. I believe that the message hasnt been used for some time, yet I was used to dialing in my calling card # directly after the tone and thus not waiting for the message. I have noticed this in the New York/NJ metro area, as well as in the Southern New England Telephone (a BOC) territory of Connecticut. However, the message still seems to be used in Pacific Telephone territory as well as in other areas of the country. Why would Ny Telephone, New Jersey Bell, SNET, and whatever other company remove this message, leading to more confusion for both inexperienced calling card users as well as for operators who inevitably field the calls when the customer doesnt hear the message and waits? I would think that it make more sense to free the operators of this sort of work, and removing the messages doesnt facilitate this. I also noticed that if you intially dial an out-of-state (or inter- LATA as well, I guess) call, you get a recording that says "Thank you for choosing AT&T", rather than the normal, soft "Thahhhnk you...". For every other call (regardless of the destination number) the "Thank you " message is returned, be it a "sequence" call or a local call (and thus handled by the BOC or other operating co.). Does this have anything to do with the doing away of the "please dial..." message? Well, I realize this isnt exactly a "hot" topic in telecommunications, but Id be interested in hearing why they bothered to change the message. Thanks, Doug Reuben Reuben@Weslyn.Bitnet ____________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Apr 86 14:10:14 EST From: Michael Grant Subject: RS232 Line Monitor On many occasions I need to monitor an RS232 line. I grab a spare terminal at work, insert a breakout box in the line I want to examine, pull off pin 1 and either 2 or 3 depending on wether I want to look at transmit or recieve. I feed them into pins 1 and 3 on the spare terminal. At work, we use vt220's, (barf), and if you are familiar with them, you may know that you can put them into a mode where they display any control characters that are send down the line. This setup makes a real nice debugging tool for modems, and such. But, if I want to examine both what's going to the device, and comming from it, I need 2 terminals set up in this way, (one looking at pin 2, the other looking at pin 3.) Any of you bright EE's out there know of any way to combine the output of those 2 pins without disturbing them, and feeding them into one pin? An OR gate won't really work because data can get lost. What I think is needed is 2 seperate circuts to decode the serial into parrallel, mash the 2 possible incomming bytes together, and feed it to the terminal at twice the incomming speed. Any ideas on how to build such a circut? -Mike Grant ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Apr 86 09:29:17 est From: idis!george (George Rosenberg) Subject: conference phones I have two two line phones that each have a conference feature. I installed them on the same two lines, but I am not certain whether I wired up the polarity the same in each unit. Is there a possibility of a short if the conference feature is accidentally enabled on both phones? Is it required that there be circuitry in the phones to prevent this? George Rosenberg {decvax,mcnc,pitt,cmucspt}!idis!george ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 28-Apr-86 03:29:08-EDT,17653;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Mon 28 Apr 86 03:29:06-EDT Date: 28 Apr 86 01:12-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #116 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Monday, April 28, 1986 1:12AM Volume 5, Issue 116 Today's Topics: HBO gets Hacked:: We Interrupt This Program ... for a Viewer Protest. HBO gets Hacked:: We Interrupt This Program ... for a Viewer Protest. How the time REALLY changes Re: RS232 Monitors error correcting modems Privately owned payphones... forwarding feature on two-line phone? Two-line conference Call forwarding bug? 5ESS upgrade and modem noise? KSU Blues Bug in Racal-Vadic Maxwell 1200 Modem ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 27 Apr 1986 15:51-PDT Subject: HBO gets Hacked:: We Interrupt This Program ... for a Viewer Protest. From: the tty of Geoffrey S. Goodfellow NEW YORK (AP) - A video hacker calling himself ''Captain Midnight'' startled cable television viewers from Maine to the Plains early Sunday when he interrupted a movie on Home Box Office with a printed message protesting HBO's scrambling of its satellite-to-earth TV signals. ''It's a criminal, willful interference of a government-licensed satellite broadcast,'' fumed David Pritchard, an HBO vice president, who said the cable system had received sabotage threats in recent months. Pritchard said HBO planned to report the incident to the Federal Communications Commission. ''It's kind of like terrorism of the airwaves,'' said Greg Mahany, who was watching in Middletown, Ohio, when the message interrupted ''The Falcon and The Snowman.'' The message, printed in white letters on a color-bar test pattern background, read: ''Goodevening HBO from Captain Midnight. $12.95 a month? No way! (Showtime-Movie Channel Beware.)'' Mahany said that at first the picture flipped back and forth between the message and the movie, making it seem like ''HBO was trying to get its signal back. ... It looked like a fight for control of the microwave beam.'' The message appeared at 12:30 a.m., Eastern time, and remained on the air about five minutes. It was seen in the eastern two-thirds of the nation, which accounts for more than half of HBO's 14.6 million subscribing households. Pritchard said the hacker, apparently with the use of a satellite dish and a powerful transmitter, effectively replaced HBO's signal with his own. For some reason - possibly because Captain Midnight's signal was better-timed or more powerful - HBO's satellite received the hacker's signal instead of HBO's and beamed it down to HBO's earth relay stations. Sunday's intrusion was immediately noticed at HBO's communications center in Hauppauge, N.Y., but it was not clear whether the hacker ended his own message or was forced off by HBO. Pritchard said HBO would have no comment on that. ''We have implemented some technical remedies, and we're pursuing others,'' he said. ''This represents a clear danger to every satellite user.'' Pritchard said action like Sunday morning's had been threatened in letters to HBO and in magazines read by dish owners. ''We'd been threatened for the last four or five months with something like this if we didn't reconsider our plan to scramble,'' he said. ''They said they'd do something. They didn't say what.'' The HBO cable signal is scrambled to prevent reception in homes wired for cable television but not equipped with an HBO converter. Until earlier this year, satellite dish owners were able to intercept the unscrambled signal HBO bounces off satellites to the earth stations that relay the signal via cable. In January, however, HBO began scrambling all its satellite-to-earth signals. HBO told dish owners who had been watching for free they would have to buy a descrambler for $395 and pay $12.95 a month. Another leading pay cable service, Showtime, announced plans for a similar system. Pritchard said about 6,000 dish owners put down the cash for the decoder and signed up for HBO or its sister service, Cinemax. But the proposal has been unpopular with others. ''They say things like, 'The airwaves are free,' and 'They (HBO) are using government satellites that our taxes pay for,''' Pritchard said. Pritchard said HBO's programs are its property, and it leases space from privately owned satellites. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 27 Apr 1986 22:39 MDT From: "Frank J. Wancho" Subject: HBO gets Hacked:: We Interrupt This Program ... for a Viewer Protest. Until earlier this year, satellite dish owners were able to intercept the unscrambled signal HBO bounces off satellites to the earth stations that relay the signal via cable. It is interesting to note that while protective "alledgedly" and similar words are freely sprinkled in newsprint, the writer of the above chose "intercept" over "receive". The word "intercept" implies "theft", a criminal act. That "intercept" was unmodified and not a quote implies the allegation was accepted as fact proven in court. Is this indeed the case, or simply the viewpoint held by the programming services? If the latter, then it was inappropriate and perhaps biased to use "intercept". Just asking... --Frank ------------------------------ Date: Sun 27 Apr 86 15:40:57-PDT From: Jim DeLaHunt Subject: How the time REALLY changes Since the definition of the correct time is the speaking clock one hears by calling 767-nnnn (e.g. POP-CORN), I decided to see how it handled the change to daylight time. (This is the same curiosity that prompts one to climb into the fridge to see if the light really goes out when the door is shut, or to hide in a forest and wait for a tree to fall.) To avoid the rush of other curious folks, I called at 1:25 A.M. PST, and put the phone down ... only to hear, "The time is 1:27 and thirty seconds. The time is 2:27 and forty seconds." So that's how the time REALLY changes. Now I'm off to the refrigerator.... --Jim DeLaHunt, Stanford University JDLH @ SU-Sushi.ARPA  ------------------------------ Date: Sat 19 Apr 86 14:40:49-EST From: Philip A. Earnhardt Subject: Re: RS232 Monitors What I think is needed is 2 seperate circuts to decode the serial into parrallel, mash the 2 possible incomming bytes together, and feed it to the terminal at twice the incomming speed. Any ideas on how to build such a circut? If you need to look at both lines, it seems as if you would need to know what's coming in from what line. What you're describing obviously won't do that. You could get a terminal with windowing and multiple input ports (like the Human Designed Systems 200 terminal), displaying the two character streams in different windows. However, such terminals are usually notoriously slow at switching between lines. Also, you get no static information about the timing interaction between the character streams. If you really do need to see the timing interaction, use the right tools. Last time I needed to do anything like this, I used the Spectron D-584 scope. It passively captures up to 4k of ASCII in both directions, displaying transmit and receive data on alternate lines on the display. The 584 will also let you calculate the CRC-16 polynomial on an arbitrary block of characters, useful for debugging our communictions problem. At the time I was doing this ('81), these guys cost about $15K a piece, but prices must have come down. They're also available for weekly/monthly rental. If you're doing simple terminal connections, a breakout box and/or literal mode on a terminal is probably adequate. If you have a real communications problem, it's worth it to bring in the heavy guns. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 19-Apr-86 11:33:31 PST From: vortex!lauren@rand-unix.ARPA (Lauren Weinstein) Subject: error correcting modems There are some interesting reasons why the "fancy" error correcting systems (e.g. MNP) can cause problems with 2400 bps modems. Without going into massive detail here, these include flow control complexities on both ends of the connection, increased microcode problems, etc. A number of 2400 bps modems that worked OK without MNP have been seriously reduced in both reliability and basic compatibility (i.e. broken!) by their manufacturers in the process of attempts at MNP implementations. There are other issues, both technical and economic, that can also play a significant role. --Lauren-- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 19 Apr 1986 23:49 EST From: "David D. Story" Subject: Privately owned payphones... I recently received a phone solicitation offering privately owned payphones where the owner is responsible for the servicing and and collection and only pays the phone company the line charge + noise charge. Has anyone else heard of this and what are the problems regarding safeguarding privacy, refunding. If I own the phone do I have the right to tap the phone at the box ? (I live in a very high crime neighborhood). If I don't have a lock-out on the coin slot and leave the phone in disrepair (regardless of the line charge) can I be forced to maintenance the phone. Has anyone tried this for an investment (ha ha). I think the price is about 1200 dollars for the phone itself but I don't know yet about how this company is set up. Perhaps they do the maintenance and other services. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 21 Apr 86 12:38:57 est From: saj@PREP.AI.MIT.EDU (Scott Jones) Subject: forwarding feature on two-line phone? Has anyone ever seen a "dynamic" forwarding feature on a two-line phone? I want to be able to call into the phone, have it answer, and then allow me to call another number (from the two-line phone site). It wouldn't be very hard to make such a device... I just wondered if anyone was already selling it? --Scott Jones ------------------------------ Date: Wed 23 Apr 86 16:40:07-EST From: * D. Reuben * Subject: Two-line conference I have a couple of two line conference phones at home, and it has been my experience that if the polarity is reversed, Touch Tones wont work on the line that has the wrong polarity, or if placing a new call using the conference feature, you wont be able to dial any Touch Tones if one of the lines has reverse polarity. A second problem that SOMETIMES occurs if the polarity is reversed is that the conference will be noisy, IE, have electric humming and buzzing sounds. This generally occurs if you have an old three wire system installed in your house, with current both for the telephone set (48 volts DC?) and current to light up the dial of your handset (on Trimline, Princess, and other assorted older phones that used separate current). You will probably know for sure that the polarity is reversed in this case since the buzzing will be so loud from the AC for the light that you wont be able to hear to conversation... Incidentally, I have very little use for these "conference" phones... Most of them seem only to connect the two lines together, which can easily be done by a simple 2-circuit switch, saving you the cost of getting a phone with this "enhanced" feature. The conference quality is really poor, usually the three parties cant hear each other well (especially the people who are being conferenced together- the originator can usually hear them pretty well, but weaker). Instead of a special phone that does this, I would recommend getting Three-Way calling from your local BOC or other operating co. This way, all the phones on the line will have the conference feature...I realize that in many cases paying $2 extra a month isn't worth it, but I've found that despite the cost its preferable to conference phones... (I realize I got a bit off the topic here...sorry...) Doug Reuben Reuben@Weslyn.Bitnet ____________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 86 22:00:12 PST From: "David G. Cantor" Subject: Call forwarding bug? I recently set my UCLA office phone to call-forward to my home, where I was working. I received a call from a Department secretary stating that she was going to call-transfer an incoming call to me. She was calling my UCLA office phone and being forwarded to my home phone (she was unaware of this). The telephone exchange is a Northern-Telecom DL100 owned by UCLA. I checked with the UCLA telephone office and it seems that call-transfer requires that at least one of the parties be on a line local to the exchange, itself -- this means that as long as the secretary remained part of the call, everything worked (which explains why she was able to switch back and forth between me and the person calling me). But when she hung up, this rule was violated and hence we were disconnected. Is this a bug in the system or is it required by some arcane rule of a regulatary agency? dgc ------------------------------ Date: Thursday, 27 March 1986 19:36-MST From: Mark Horton Subject: 5ESS upgrade and modem noise? Our central office recently upgraded from a #5 Crossbar to a #5ESS. Our dialup/dialout lines are on a Centrex, so they changed from a crossbar Centrex to an ESS Centrex at the same time. I've been getting complaints from people about our calling them. It seems that we're having noise problems that I never used to notice. This isn't the famous }~ phase shift problem. Two examples: (1) When we call oucs (in a GTE area of Athens, Ohio) the connection starts up fine, but a few minutes into the connection carrier is lost. This also happens when they call us. (2) When we call utcs (in Toronto, Canada) the connection starts up OK, but if we send them two or more ASCII characters together at 1200 baud (which of course UUCP does) some of them get garbled. For example, with the three character sequence "70\r", the 7 is OK, but the 0 and return turn into something else. If I insert delays between the three characters, it gets as far as the next thing we send them. Our dialout modems are Penrils, mostly at 1200 baud with 212 protocol. Our dialups are 212's at 1200 baud. We also have 300 and 2400 baud capability. Any explanations or suggestions would be much appreciated. In particular, a blurb from PC Network claims that line noise goes away at 2400 baud, due to an adaptive line adjustment. I haven't been noticing problems at 2400 baud, but we talk to relatively few hosts at that speed. Should we be urging these impoverished universities to shell out cash for 2400 baud? Is there something we can ask Ohio Bell to do? What causes this? Is it likely to be related to the 5ESS upgrade? Thanks, Mark Horton ------------------------------ From: mark a roman Date: Wed, 23 Apr 86 18:41:02 EST Subject: KSU Blues Reply-To: marcus@athena.mit.edu (mark a roman) Greetings. I'm working on a 5 line KSU and I could use some info, pointers, etc. I've got a couple of units giving me problems on this setup, a K207 and a K216. Haven't been able to dig up any documentation, etc. etc despite by best efforts. The problem is in the ringing. Apparently one of the units has malfunctioned and now I am unable to hear fones ring when they should be. Power supply appears to be OK. 400D KTU's still operate fine. They're mounted on a 584C backplane with the rest of the gear, and an interrupter is installed for the blinking lights. (The steady lamp feature for a busy line has also recently bit it. Possibly related?) Any pointers to sources of parts for this insanity &/or info, documentation, advice, (no sorrow please), etc. would be most appreciated. Reply as above or post on net if there is link problem. mark ------------------------------ Date: 22 Mar 86 20:14:45 GMT From: "William C. Carton" Subject: Bug in Racal-Vadic Maxwell 1200 Modem Beware: maxwell 1200s dial the DTMF tone for "3" when you dial "#". This caused the field service department of Axiom Technology much anxiety and consternation, attempting to access a secret trunk through a ROLM switch recently. Racal-Vadic engineering is FINALLY on the case, after trying to discredit me by saying "You know, over 20,000 of these things have been shipped; how can YOU be reporting a NEW bug?!?" Get the new PROMS, they are up to REV 70, at least, by now. This feature is a documented feature; if you need it, it SHOULD NOT BE a charge-for fix. Bill Carton (the Roadie), Axiom Technology Corp., Newton. MA ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 7-May-86 02:29:02-EDT,17886;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Wed 7 May 86 02:29:00-EDT Date: 3 May 86 16:51-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #117 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Saturday, May 3, 1986 4:51PM Volume 5, Issue 117 Today's Topics: HBO Hack service areas, by prefix modem evaluation - Telebit Trailblazer modem evaluation - Telebit Trailblazer modem evaluation - Telebit Trailblazer Privately owned payphones Interminable ringing Getting a long-distance line inside one exchange ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon 28 Apr 86 09:38:54-MDT From: William G. Martin Subject: HBO Hack One aspect I haven't heard mentioned in the news coverage and net comments about that HBO overpowering hack... Was the pirate uplink signal also in a scrambled mode? If not, and it was cleartext or unscrambled, how was it visible on the cable systems where the signal was going through a descrambler? Does the descrambler automatically turn itself off when a clear or unscrambled signal appears at its input? If not, I would have thought that the pirate's clear signal would have been garbaged by descramblers on each downlink, which would have been acting as "scramblers" in this case. Will ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 30 Apr 86 23:36:23 EDT From: Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) Subject: service areas, by prefix Some phone books will show you the different areas served by the local prefixes (example: calling area of Laurel, Maryland), and some will go even further: The Wilmington (Del.) directory used to show the distinction between Holly Oak prefixes 475 (Arden and vicinity) and 792,798 (Claymont, Holly Oak proper, & vicinity); and the distinction between Wilmington prefixes 478 (Talleyville area) and 762,764 (northeast city of Wilmington plus nearby suburbs including Edgemoor) and 652 etc. (downtown Wilmington and suburbs north & south). Having the same calling area as Wilmington but using the place name "Newport" are 994,995,998,999 in western suburbs (Newport, Stanton, Midway, Marshallton, most of Elsmere). My question: how to determine such breakdowns in other areas without resorting to "the hard way" of data collection. ------------------------------ Date: Wednesday, 23 April 1986 10:49-MST From: Brian Kantor Subject: modem evaluation - Telebit Trailblazer I recently had a pair of Telebit Trailblazer modems here for evaluation. These are the multiple-carrier devices that claim 9600 bits/sec or better on a normal dial-up phone line. The price seemed to be around $2000-$2500 or so, but was clearly adjustable. They apparently to work by packetising your input, spreading the bits out over a bunch of low-baud-rate carriers, reassembling that at the far end, and unpacketising it. There is some sort of error checking and correction (retransmission??) as part of the packeting/unpacketing. Or at least, that is how the salescritter explained it to me - the manual was kinda thin on that point. These things are sophisticated - they have enough circuitry in them that the wall-mount power supply is larger than most, and there is a (thankfully quiet) cooling fan. I'm told it has a 68000 in it. I tested them both in interactive dial-up service (vi, rn, and other typical things you'd do in a normal Unix session) and in file transfer (uucp, kermit, xmodem) applications. In interactive use, they are FAST! It's lovely to see your screen paint in just a second or so. Its really GREAT for paging through a file or reading news. BUT: These modems aren't full-duplex in the FAST mode. They apparently simulate full-duplex by turning the line around quickly, but there is a very noticeable echo delay when using them with a terminal. This is especially true when using 'vi', which often generates a burst of cursor positioning commands in response to a single keystroke. It looks jumpy. In the several days that I had the modems hooked up, I found the 1-3 second delay quite disconcerting and annoying. Note that in 300, 1200, or 2400 bits/sec mode, there is no delay - it works just like my USR Courier - perhaps better. In microcomputer file transfer use (kermit and xmodem) it works pretty well. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to run all that fast! Apparently the packetising and turnaround delay are enough that the protocol doesn't run at anywhere near full speed because its waiting for the acknowledgement of the previous packet. Undoubtably a protocol that allows for more than one packet to be in flight would work much better. Telebit has a version of Crosstalk for the IBM PC that they claim makes very fast file transfers - I guess its tuned for use with their modem's time delays and error correction characteristics. I didn't test it. With uucp, these modems work really well. However, the uucp transfers weren't much faster than those at 480 char/sec. I've seen (somewhere in the dark past of the net) a note that showed that normal uucp gained very little speed running above 4800 baud. It is probably that effect that I'm seeing here, rather than anything the modem is doing. Thus there is some question in my mind as to whether it would be worth having this fast a modem for uucp use. The error correction seems to work very well. I can't recall having seen even one garbled or spurious character in the 3 or 4 days I was using the modem. We're on a NT DMS-100 telephone switch, and its real unusual to see that low an error rate. Also, the modem maintains a couple of statistics, including the average bit rate being achieved. It seemed to run around 17Kbit for my usage, and slightly lower for another person who tried them from a bit farther away (presumably a slightly different quality of the phone connection). Conclusions: for windowed protocols that don't falter on line turnaround delays, and for interactive use where you either can use local echo or tolerate long echo delays, these will work well. I'm not going to buy any of them now, because the price/performance ratio for our applications just doesn't seem to make it worthwhile. (Especially since 9600 baud modems are supposed to be just around the June corner at about $700 each, or so the salescritters would have me believe.) decvax\ brian@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu Brian Kantor ihnp4 >--- sdcsvax --- brian ucbvax/ Kantor@Nosc ------------------------------ Date: Thursday, 24 April 1986 14:06-MST From: Phil Ngai Subject: modem evaluation - Telebit Trailblazer In article <1703@sdcsvax.UUCP> brian@sdcsvax.UUCP (Brian Kantor) writes: >It looks jumpy. In the several days that I had the >modems hooked up, I found the 1-3 second delay quite disconcerting and >annoying. I was expecting this to be the case. >With uucp, these modems work really well. However, the uucp transfers >weren't much faster than those at 480 char/sec. I've seen (somewhere >in the dark past of the net) a note that showed that normal uucp gained >very little speed running above 4800 baud. 4.3 BSD uucp has a couple of alternatives to the normal "g" protocol which may be worth trying. The "f" protocol is intended for use over an X.25 network and may be better able to deal with delays. The "t" protocol is intended to let you run uucp over a TCP network. We use it here as a kludge for transferring news and it runs really fast. It would be interesting to find out if either of these protocols worked better with the Telebit. >since 9600 baud modems are supposed to be just around the June corner >at about $700 each, or so the salescritters would have me believe.) [More V.29 kludges, no doubt -elmo] I've seen the CDS V.32 full duplex 9600 over dialup modems but they are about $3500. Also, they are sync only, although you can get converters I assume. phil -- Phil Ngai +1 408 749 5720 UUCP: {ucbvax,decwrl,ihnp4,allegra}!amdcad!phil ARPA: amdcad!phil@decwrl.dec.com ------------------------------ Date: Friday, 25 April 1986 03:54-MST From: Phil Sih Subject: modem evaluation - Telebit Trailblazer In article <1703@sdcsvax.UUCP>, brian@sdcsvax.UUCP (Brian Kantor) writes: ... > These things are sophisticated - they have enough circuitry in them > that the wall-mount power supply is larger than most, and there is a > (thankfully quiet) cooling fan. I'm told it has a 68000 in it. I was quite surprised to find out the Trailblazer has more CPU power in it than just about any PC out there today. Specifically it has a 68K and a TI 320 signal processing CPU. I'm even more surprised to hear it has a fan in a wall-mount power supply! (Never seen that yet.) ... > file or reading news. BUT: These modems aren't full-duplex in the > FAST mode. They apparently simulate full-duplex by turning the line > around quickly, but there is a very noticeable echo delay when using ... > modems hooked up, I found the 1-3 second delay quite disconcerting and > annoying. > Telebit is supposed to be working on or have completed a new rev of their modem which I was told significantly reduces this problem. You should make sure you don't have old product. Lower bit rates are FDX. > In microcomputer file transfer use (kermit and xmodem) it works pretty > well. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to run all that fast! Apparently > the packetising and turnaround delay are enough that the protocol > doesn't run at anywhere near full speed because its waiting for the > acknowledgement of the previous packet. Undoubtably a protocol that > allows for more than one packet to be in flight would work much > better. Telebit has a version of Crosstalk for the IBM PC that they > claim makes very fast file transfers - I guess its tuned for use with > their modem's time delays and error correction characteristics. I > didn't test it. The limit on file xfers in this case may not be the modem/comm line. I heard Telebit needed the special version of Crosstalk because the PC could not keep up with the data rate from the modem. Also, since the Trailblazer protocol is reliable, there is no need for host level packet acks. You just dump the data and it comes out correct on the other end. That's what their "Packetized Ensemble Protocol" is supposed to do for you. This makes me think they just cut out the file level packet acks all together in their Xtalk. > > With uucp, these modems work really well. However, the uucp transfers > weren't much faster than those at 480 char/sec. I've seen (somewhere > in the dark past of the net) a note that showed that normal uucp gained > very little speed running above 4800 baud. It is probably that effect > that I'm seeing here, rather than anything the modem is doing. Thus > there is some question in my mind as to whether it would be worth > having this fast a modem for uucp use. > If anyone has any information on this I would very much like to hear about it. > Also, the modem maintains a couple of statistics, including the average > bit rate being achieved. It seemed to run around 17Kbit for my usage, > and slightly lower for another person who tried them from a bit farther > away (presumably a slightly different quality of the phone > connection). I heard a president from one very well known Scotts Valley micro software company took one to Europe, hooked the sucker up and got 8-9kbps throughput. Variable performance is to be expected with this product. It adjusts the rate at which it can send information over the line based on the channel characteristics and noise. There have been some good articles in mags like Datacommunications covering this and Telebit has some reasonable lit. > > Conclusions: for windowed protocols that don't falter on line > turnaround delays, and for interactive use where you either can use > local echo or tolerate long echo delays, these will work well. I'm not > going to buy any of them now, because the price/performance ratio for > our applications just doesn't seem to make it worthwhile. (Especially > since 9600 baud modems are supposed to be just around the June corner > at about $700 each, or so the salescritters would have me believe.) > They could sell it for a lot less, but part of the problem is there are not enough applications out there yet that can adequately exploit a >10kbps dialup connection that is reliable. I would like to see more myself. Thanks for your report, this is the first one I have seen from a real end user. ------------------------------ Date: Thu 1 May 86 23:19:24-EDT From: * D. Reuben * Subject: Privately owned payphones >I recently received a phone solicitation for privately owned payphones > where the owner is responsible for the servicing... >Has anyone heard of this and what are the problems regarding ...privacy, > and refunding? I really wouldn't recommend that you purchase a non-Bell payphone or use one in a place of business that cant protect the phones against vandalism. I have seen many locations in the New York area that purchase these phones only to find them very quickly vandalized. Secondly, another reason I wouldn't recommend purchasing these phones is that many do not allow for 0+ calls or 950 calls. (Let alone Equal Access 10xxx calls...!). I tried making a calling card call on one of these, and after dialing the 0+305 (the area code I was calling), the phone cancelled the dial tone and sent me a message on its little display "please deposit 25 cents". So I put the 25 cents in, dialed the call, it accepted the quarter after I dialed 0+305, and then hung up. After calling the 800 number to get a refund (which came 7 weeks later), I decided to go to a familiar Bell payphone and use my calling card, which needless to say worked the first time without any difficulty. When making any type of 0+ calls or for that matter 950 calls the same problem always happens. Thirdly, the phones only seem to be programmed to charge 50 cents for out-of-state directory assistance calls, when AT&T charges 60 cents. I tried 1-700-555-4141 to see if the phone used an alternate LD (since it wasn't an assigned payphone line I assume the store could have chosen another LD co.), but needless to say it didn't work either. If the phone were still using AT&T, wouldn't the owners be losing 10 cents per directory assistance call? Also, the phones are the flimsy GTE kind, with the square, hard-to-push metal casing around the buttons, which makes it even easier to misdial (How people in GTE territory get used to this I'll never know...) Almost everyone who tried to use the payphones finally gave up and used the row of phones outside rather than waste time with the private ones... Well, I guess this sounded very pro-Bell, but lets face it, they knew what they were doing when they designed the payphone, and these other companies have a lot of catching up to do...A WHOLE LOT!! Reuben@Weslyn.Bitnet ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 May 86 17:14:58 EDT From: Will Martin Subject: Interminable ringing Under what circumstances will a called but unanswered telephone continue to ring after the calling party has hung up? This seems to happen here at the office sometimes; we are under Centrex, and also can be reached via arcane systems like Autovon and FTS, if that makes any difference. A phone in an empty office may ring forever; when finally picked up, there will be silence or some indeterminate noises heard. Hanging it up and picking up again gets dial tone immediately, so there is no party left at the calling end. Will ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 May 86 13:04:45 edt From: allegra!phri!roy@seismo.CSS.GOV (Roy Smith) Subject: Getting a long-distance line inside one exchange Does anybody know a (legal) way to force a local call to be routed over long-distance trunks? Here's the situation: I've got some new modems that are just about unusable at 2400 baud because of line noise. I usually dial in from home (718 area -> 212 area) and get lots of garbage. Other users elsewhere in the 212 and 718 areas have the same problem. When I try to play with the modems at work, I can't reproduce the problem because the local phone lines are cleaner than the long distance lines (I guess). If I make an intra-PBX call from my office to the machine, I get no noise. If I dial 9 to get an outside line and then 7 digits to get back into the building's PBX and thence to the modems (like I'm doing right now), everything is still nice and clean. What I would like to do is be able to sit next to the answer modem so I can fiddle with it while I'm connected via a long-distance line. Is there any way I can get a intra-exchange call routed like this? I'm even willing to pay for the toll call (rather a switch from your typical phone-phreak, no?) Roy Smith, {allegra,philabs}!phri!roy System Administrator, Public Health Research Institute 455 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016 ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* ------- 21-May-86 03:01:08-EDT,18079;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Wed 21 May 86 03:01:06-EDT Date: 12 May 86 23:45-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #118 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Monday, May 12, 1986 11:45PM Volume 5, Issue 118 Today's Topics: May '86 Consumer Reports Dear CommunicationsWeek I've got a "coupling transformer".. Re: Interminable ringing; LD billing Premiere service Re: HBO Hack HBO pirate Telebit modem, etc. Long Distance routing Faster modem article Directory Assistance Billing ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat 3 May 86 23:23:18-EDT From: Philip A. Earnhardt Subject: May '86 Consumer Reports The May issue of Consumer Reports dedicates 16 pages to telecom: phones, answering machines, long-distance carriers, and measured vs. flat rate for local service. The long-distance article points out exactly what Lauren has said would happen--there isn't a heck of a lot of difference in pricing between the companies. They list the 10xxx codes for the 7 (soon to be 6) major LD carriers and describe how to experiment with various carriers. (The information packet from NYNEX didn't even hint that other carriers could be used.) The LD article is the most useful consumer information I've seen on equal access (next to telecom, of course). If you have friends with a lot of questions, this may be a good document to have them read first. ------------------------------ Date: 4 May 1986 14:02-PDT Subject: Dear CommunicationsWeek From: the tty of Geoffrey S. Goodfellow It was a sorrowful sight to see CommunicationsWeek pejoratively malign the image of hackers in your April 21st article on "Toll Carrier American Network Fears Being 'Hacked' To Pieces" by Brian Watson. You portrayed hackers as bands of juvenile delinquents and unscrupulous trespassers who are bent on ripping off the telephone system. This is not what hacking is about in the least. Hackers are individuals who take delight in learning about computing, seek to stretch a system's capabilities, write code for the sheer fun of it and appreciate the intrinsic beauty of software. Persons engaged in the theft of long distance toll service should not be erroneously labeled as hackers. There is not a jot of evidence of improper conduct in hacking and I wish CommunicationsWeek would not use the term as if there were. You're giving a lot of us hackers a bad name. Geoffrey S. Goodfellow Director, Technology Development, Cellular Radio Corp., Vienna, VA, Hacker & Coauthor, "The Hacker's Dictionary -- A Guide To The World of Computer Wizards." (Harper & Row) ------------------------------ Date: Sun 4 May 86 23:43:06-EDT From: "Mark Becker" Subject: I've got a "coupling transformer".. ..that has six (!) windings on it. I've got the manufacturer's spec sheet; this thing appears to be a Prem "SPT-126". Okay. The interconnect shown on the sheet has me confused. I see where the tip and ring leads get wired into the transformer.. but there are two leads coming out on the primary side; one is labelled the "A" lead and the other the "B" lead . What is supposed to go there? Should I short the leads together? Is there some kind of balancing or compensation network which should be inserted? Please reply directly - I'm not on the distribution list. Thanks - ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 May 86 18:27:21 CDT From: bill@crys.wisc.edu (Bill Cox) Subject: Re: Interminable ringing; LD billing In article <8605041018.AA06207@ucbvax.berkeley.edu>, wmartin@BRL.ARPA (Will Martin) writes: > Under what circumstances will a called but unanswered telephone continue > to ring after the calling party has hung up? > ... > A phone in an empty office may ring forever; when finally picked up, > there will be silence or some indeterminate noises heard. Hanging it up > and picking up again gets dial tone immediately, so there is no party > left at the calling end. I believe that at least one cause is the increasing popularity of 3-way calling (from your local phone company and on pbxs). If the caller doesn't go on-hook for the 5 seconds or so it takes to disconnect, the ringing continues while the caller makes a second call. I do this myself from time to time. If the called party 'answers', they get the blind end of what the pbx thinks is a 3-way call. The ringing continues until answered, or until the caller goes on-hook for > 5 seconds. By the way, what is the effect on long-distance billing of these ghost calls? I've often wondered what happens if you have 3-way calling, dial a number, and hang up. The called number keeps ringing for at least five seconds, yes? Then if it's picked up, you get charged for the call. Long distance carriers that bill by elapsed time rather than using supervision could have a real windfall here...the calls wouldn't always show as the 1-minute ones Western Union used to bill me for, they would look more like 'real' calls. bill ------------------------------ Date: 6 May 86 17:30:59 EDT From: *Hobbit* Subject: Premiere service Around here they just started dunning us with a similar package called RSVP [Residence Service Variety Package]. With all the cheap processing power on the market these days, it seems kind of silly to do all this local-type stuff in your home by making the CO do it. Anyway: Standard: User transfer - transfer a call to another of your RSVP lines Call hold - what you'd expect Call pickup - snarf an incoming call from another line Automatic transfer - transfer on busy or no answer Conferencing - what you'd expect Intercom - call from one RSVP line to another with a digit Standard feature package costs $8/month. But of course you need lots of lines, which will bring this much higher... Optional: Distinctive ring/call wait tone - Allows you to tell where an incoming call originated from Toll restriction - block either long distance or >1 message unit calls Additional call pickup - create your own "blocks" of pickup groups Optional features are an additional $3.50/month each. The last sentence in the flyer is "Either way, you'll start a simpler, more liveable life - today." I wonder how hard they thought about that before they sent it off to the print shop??? _H* ------------------------------ Date: Wed 7 May 86 12:55:54-MDT From: William G. Martin Subject: Re: HBO Hack To answer my own question that was included in Telecom #117: This has been thrashed out pretty thoroughly on the Videotech list by now (I had sent my query to both Telecom and Videotech). It appears that the descramblers will automatically go to pass-through mode when an unscrambled signal appears at its input, and that the pirate's signal overrode the HBO uplink signal until they boosted their normally low power to override him. The pirate signal, being in the clear, just turned off the descramblers for the period of time it was being relayed by the satellite. Will ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7-May-86 10:36:32 PDT From: vortex!lauren@rand-unix.ARPA (Lauren Weinstein) Subject: HBO pirate The pirate "simply" captured the transponder with ordinary, unscrambled video. When the far-end decoders sensed the loss of scrambling, they switched to "clear" mode and passed the video directly. The pirate almost certainly was at a commercial uplink point and not using homemade equipment. Finding him or her would be exceedingly complex unless someone associated with the person starts bragging. --Lauren-- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7-May-86 10:19:57 PDT From: vortex!lauren@rand-unix.ARPA (Lauren Weinstein) Subject: Telebit modem, etc. To get decent performance from these modems is complicated. The problems of system loading, flow control, dropped input characters, and other similar problems require very careful analysis to choose an "optimum" solution that will be generally useful. An earlier version of the following message was sent to net.dcom a few days ago. Below is an updated verson: ---- It would be best to wait for some time before drawing any final conclusions one way or the other on the Trailblazer. I've done (and continue to do) various testing with a pair of these, and there are a number of firmware problems in the unit that I've pointed out to them and that they are working on fixing. There have already been significant variations between previous firmware revisions. The "half-duplex" nature of the modem is actually less important than one would think, since the modems buffer data in both directions and perform a variety of other tricks. However, a more serious problem relates to flow control. While the modems do error correct (between the modems) in 9600 bps mode, data overflow errors and other errors can frequently appear between the modems and the computers. This is especially serious with many Unix systems, which may have problems accepting longish streams of input even at moderately low speeds on serial lines. Since most standard Unix systems have no (or unreliable) serial line hardware flow control, and since ^S/^Q flow controls may be unreliable and usually introduce other problems, the flow control issues become quite sticky. To get good performance, you end up needing to keep normal per-packet checking in programs like xmodem, uucp, kermit, etc., otherwise computer<->modem and flow control error rates get very high very fast. Protocols (like for running above real X.25/TCP links) designed to run on top of "conventional" error-free links generally perform badly in these sorts of situations, both due to modem characteristics and flow control problems. That is, when the underlying communications path isn't already totally error-corrected and flow-controlled from computer to computer, not just from modem to modem, there's trouble with those sorts of protocols. In other words, protocols designed to run over X.25 or TCP links will not perform well when they're not actually being run over X.25/TCP-type computer to computer error corrected and flow-controlled links. Factors such as system loading, type of serial port hardware, and a variety of other issues all enter the picture. I'm in communication with the modem manufacturer about the issues involved, and have been discussing possible solutions with their engineers. Experiments are also being conducted involving minimal changes to software to help avoid such problems, the most promising of which currently would seem to include continuing to use normal per-packet checking and correcting but bumping software packet sizes to higher values as but one step among a number of other changes that will be needed. As I implied above, however, this is not as simple as it might sound, due to a variety of issues. In any case, it's being worked on. Since the Telebit engineers have been quite responsive, I expect to see future firmware revisions give increasingly good performance, and other changes may also help solve some of the more general issues associated with this sort of technology. One possibility is the addition of a true full duplex "reverse channel" to the modem, which would enable much more software to work without modification. Whether or not all of this effort is worthwhile, in the light of existing 9600 bps full-duplex modems, is not clear. I have yet to have any hands-on experience with V.32 (Trellis coding) full-duplex modems, so I don't have any personal data on their performance characteristics in various environments. Presumably the pricing of V.32 modems will fall, but the exact timing of such price changes is unclear at this moment. There are indeed rumors that these V.32 modems may have problems on some sorts of telephone circuits. This whole area of Telebit vs. V.32, etc. is so volatile right now that I personally feel the best solution is to just sit back and wait a while to see what happens and take a good look after the dust settles. The telebit modem firmware is in a state of flux currently--that's one of the reasons I recommend a "wait and see" philosophy for the time being. Minor changes in the firmware may make major differences in terms of improving or degrading performance with any given communications protocols, so putting too much effort into this area at this time, with the firmware being subject to change in some significant areas shortly, doesn't seem like a really good idea. In the meantime, my own experiments with a pair of these modems are continuing, and I've been promised alpha releases of all new firmware for the beasties. Once the firmware settles down and I have some solid results from my experiments, I should be able to make some more concise recommendations one way or another. --Lauren-- ------------------------------ Date: Thu 8 May 86 23:09:20-EDT From: * D. Reuben * Subject: Long Distance routing >Does anyone know of a (legal) way to force a local call to be routed >over long distance trunks? There are a few ways that I know of to route a local call over long distance trunks, and still do it legally, without seizing the trunks. One expensive was is to use Alliance Teleconferencing. To do this, dial 0-700-456-1000 (or 100x where X is from 1 to 4 for different Alliance centers. The -1000 is the nearest one, in the case of the 212 area code it would be Alliance in White Plains). After you are connected, you will be prompted by a series of messages on how to use it. Basically, you should ask for a conference size of 2, and then proceed to dial the (local) number that you wanted routed over a long distance trunk. If you want a really long connection, try 0-700-456-1001, which is Alliance in LA. By using Alliance, you are calling a "bridge", and then calling your office back after you reached the bridge. The Alliance rates are 25 cents per minute to call the bridge, plus the rates from the bridge (conference center) to the location(s) you are dialing. To NYC from White Plains it is about 14 cents during the daytime, so it would cost about 19 cents a minute to use Alliance. You can also get someone with Call Forwarding in an area a distance away to temporarily forward his calls back to you, thus also placing the call over long distance circuits. This is probably cheaper than Alliance (depending where this person who forwards the calls is), but I would think more difficult to set up for now and then for testing purposes. If you subscribe to an alternate service like Metrophone, Sprint, or any other service which lists their nationwide dialups, you can call one port in a long distance city, and then call yourself back FROM that city. (IE, if you use Sprint, call lets say the port in Fresno, and from Fresno call back to NY...This should be a real test of long distance connections over your modem since most of these long distance services have pitiful transcontinental connections...AT&T's Alliance, on the other hand, seems to always have the highest grade possible, even better than a normal AT&T call...Strange...). In any event, depending on your long distance service, this call may or may not be cheaper than Alliance or call forwarding, so check the LD co's rate sheet. If you need more details about how to try this out, please let me know...Hope this helped a bit... Doug Reuben Reuben@Weslyn.Bitnet ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 8 May 86 19:32 MST From: DPickett@HIS-PHOENIX-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: Faster modem article There is a very nice article in the latest Electronic Design on the new faster modems. Individual descriptions and pricing and comparative ability and features and extent to which they match standards, if any. This mag is free to the influential engineers who fill out a questionaire successfully, and gives very good perspective on the progress of semi- conductors and their uses. ------------------------------ From: ima!johnl@bbncca Date: Fri May 9 13:51:19 1986 Subject: Directory Assistance Billing My home phone is subscribed to SBS for long distance service. I dial my calls with 1+ and SBS completes them and sends me the bill. So far so good. But most months, my regular local phone bill arrives and on it AT&T is charging me for one or two long distance directory assistance calls. I've called them each time and they take the charge off, but it's pretty strange. AT&T claims that they couldn't be wrong -- my local telco (New England Tel) must be misrouting some of my D.A. calls. This seems pretty unlikely to me. I do make occasional D.A. calls, and they do show up on the SBS bill, as they should. To make things worse, AT&T says they cannot provide the details of the alleged D.A. calls but will starting sometime soon. Needless to say, New England Tel hasn't the slightest idea, either. Any brigt ideas. Has some evil daemon hacked the Cambridge phone exchange? Do other readers have the same problem? Signed, Puzzled (John Levine, ima!johnl or Levine@YALE.EDU) ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* ------- 5-Jun-86 22:59:31-EDT,8229;000000000000 Mail-From: JSOL created at 5-Jun-86 22:56:51 Date: 5 Jun 86 22:53-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #120 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Thursday, June 5, 1986 10:53PM Volume 5, Issue 120 Today's Topics: Selective call waiting feature on GTEDS-5? Rescued from the brink of the garbage can Truth in Advertising MNP Protocol [I have resumed moderating TELECOM for the time being. ELMO has been unable to get online. The last issue never made it to print, so if you don't see an entry you submitted, submit it again. Don't expect issue 119 to come out, and if it does, it will be a miracle. Also if you submitted a "please add me/please remove" request to TELECOM-REQUEST@XX and it hasn't been done, please resubmit it again. --JSol] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 23 May 86 12:50:55 PDT From: crg@uw-june.arpa (Charlie Garthwaite) Subject: Selective call waiting feature on GTEDS-5? Can anyone tell me if I should be able to have the selective call waiting feature discussed here previously on a line served by a GTEDS-5 (206-822-)? The ability to block call waiting signal during data calls is what I'm interested in. The service rep at GTE/NW says they don't offer the feature but I'm wondering if they don't know they have it or really don't have it. If there are more specific questions I should ask GTE about the CO gear please advise. Thank you. ------------------------------ Date: 1 Jun 86 17:37:08 EDT From: *Hobbit* Subject: Rescued from the brink of the garbage can [From Communications Week, May 12 1986] SOFTWARE BUGS COST GTE SPRINT MILLIONS IN UNBILLED CALLS by Dave Rovnan Burlingame, Calif - GTE Sprint Communications Corp. failed to bill customers for millions of dollars worth of calls made between Feb. 21 and April 26 of this year, Communications Week has learned. Sources said the failure cost Sprint between $10 million and $20 million. GTE Sprint confirmed an error had been made but would not comment on the value of missed calls. The errors were made through 10 of Sprint's 58 switches because programming bugs prevented software from recognizing regular long distance calls, a company spokeswoman said. Regular calls made by Sprint's business and residential customers went undetected in those 10 switches until officials at Sprint noticed a drop in the overall number of messages, said the spokeswoman. Other Sprint services were unaffected by the billing mistakes. With Sprint collecting approximately $1 billion in revenues a year, $20 million represents about 2 percent of the company's annual revenue. But one analyst called the size of the error unprecedented. All of the carriers have had billing troubles to a certain extent, according to Fritz Ringling of the Gartner Group, Stamford, Conn. But mistakes amounting to 2 percent of Sprint's yearly revenue are "substantial", Ringling said. Sprint employees are currently consulting records to see which among the thousands of calls made during that period were billed and which went unbilled. The company will soon begin to bill customers retroactively for the calls, the spokeswoman said. While Sprint is uncertain how it will recover its lost revenue, the spokeswoman said customers will not receive a single enormous bill aimed at collecting the unpaid amounts. The errors apparently happened because programmers made billing software changes in some, but not all, of Sprint's switches. The omissions have since been corrected. The locations of the switches were not released by the company. A Sprint sales official in Chicago said he was not aware of any billing problems affecting his customers in Wisconsin or Illinois. Some analysts, like Ringling, were surprised at the size of the error and the length of time it went unnoticed. One knowledgeable observer, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that no carrier had previously committed an error of this magnitude. Most analysts, however, observed that billing errors by interexchange carriers are common. The analysts said that due to the numerous changes the companies have made with the advent of equal access, some errors have occurred and may recur. While Sprint's error is relatively large, it will not make the difference between profit and loss for the carrier, according to Jack Grubman of Paine Webber. "At $350 million a quarter in revenue, $20 million, if only one time, isn't going to represent that big a deal." GTE Sprint is in the process of consummating a merger with Kansas City-based US Telecom Inc., the long distance unit of United Telecom Inc. The agreement is expected to be consummated in July. ************************************** A toast to equal access! _H* ------------------------------ Date: Tue 3 Jun 86 11:28:12-PDT From: HECTOR MYERSTON Subject: Truth in Advertising ...."Sprint's International WATS service offers 1st cabin sound quality at super saver rates" Hmmmm.... an apt metaphor...Sprint DOES sound like one is the cabin of an in-flight jet. BTW didn't they change their name to US Sprint?? +HECTOR+ ------------------------------ Date: Tue 3 Jun 86 18:20:20-EDT From: Philip A. Earnhardt Subject: MNP Protocol I recently got a pair of Vadic 2400PA. They implement Class 3 MNP communications. My company's file transfer protocol uses DEC DDCMP for error-free transmissions. Generally, we can specify the windowing (pipelining) for DDCMP to 0 or 1, but one of our implementations only has a windowing of 0 (no pipelining). The reults of a timing trials are as follows: Window No Error Correction Error Correction 1 213 cps 210 cps 0 190 cps 127 cps The dramatic fall off with no windowing seems to be caused by the timeout that the modem takes before it decides to packetize a sub-size number of characters (there's clearly a precise term for this...). We probably lose on the last part of our data packet and on the returned acknowledge packet. Since everything hangs until that ack is returned, the timeout time is probably added in twice per packet. A pipelining implementation has enough time to get the ACK back and the timeouts are (mostly) not impeding throughput. Other than knowing how our DDCMP implementation works, the above paragraph is guesswork. The Vadic documentation contains NO information about how MNP works, how much memory their beasties have, how big the packet size is, etc. Vadic technical support doesn't when it comes to MNP. I would be very interested to know what MNP is up to. Specifically, what is the minimal number of characters in a MNP Class 3 packet? How long does the protocol take to decide that it should go ahead and send a partial packet out? Is this rigidly specified in the protocol? Would bad things happen if the timeout were set to the 1/240 of a second (one character)? Why do I care? Why not just turn off error correction? Or turn it on when we need it? Mostly because it would be really nice if it worked, and we could just leave it on with a small performance loss. Everything is too complicated. My apologies if this sounds like a condemnation of Vadic. I have no idea if anyone else is doing any better. If there are any Vadic employees on this list who can help me out, send me personal mail. --phil PS One general caveat about the 2400PAs with MNP on: when no characters are being sent in either direction, the modems are still sending characters to each other (This is useful??). When things aren't working and you see the transmit light going off on its own, it's a tremendous source of confusion. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 12-Jun-86 23:28:28-EDT,7990;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Thu 12 Jun 86 23:28:26-EDT Date: 12 Jun 86 21:39-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #121 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Thursday, June 12, 1986 9:39PM Volume 5, Issue 121 Today's Topics: DDCMP + MNP? Updated Country Code list MNP Protocol ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 06-Jun-1986 0919 From: goldstein%delni.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (Fred R. Goldstein dtn226-7388) Subject: DDCMP + MNP? While it may be interesting to speculate over why MNP Class 3 and DDCMP work slowly together, I've gotta ask, WHY BOTHER? Both DDCMP and MNP are error-detecting Data Link Layer (OSI model Layer 2) protocols. DDCMP has been around a lot longer, and is typically implemented in the host computer (i.e., on the DMR board in a VAX). MNP is implemented in the modem, and handles terminal traffic, which (by definition, since async terminals don't correct for errors) could use the help. But running them both together is a waste, since DDCMP will correct the same errors that MNP is trying to correct, so if you have MNP on, DDCMP will never see an error (if MNP works as well). You also have overhead from each protocols' checksum field. So turn off MNP when using DDCMP! Turn it back on when running async terminals. One good data link layer at a time is enough. fred ------------------------------ Date: 15-May-1986 1352 From: covert%covert.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (John R. Covert) Subject: Updated Country Code list This list has now been "harmonized" with CCITT Recomendation E.163, Australian and French telephone books, and AT&T literature. Please send me any information you may have showing differences. /john World Numbering Zone 1 (Integrated Numbering Area) 1 Canada, USA including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Barbados, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Bahamas, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Christopher and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Bequia, Mustique, Prune (Palm) Island, Union Island), Trinidad and Tobago Note: Mexico locations with Zone 1 style area codes are a hack for use from the U.S. and Canada *only* and are not official. World Numbering Zone 2: Africa, Greenland, Faroe Islands, Aruba 20 Egypt 21 Integrated Numbering Area: Morocco (212 in service, also has 210, 211 assigned, but not used) Algeria (213 in service, also has 214, 215 assigned, but not used) Tunisia (216 in service, also has 217 assigned, but not used) Libya (218 in service, also has 219 assigned, but not used) 220 The Gambia 221 Senegal 222 Mauritania 223 Mali 224 Guinea 225 Ivory Coast 226 Burkina Faso (Upper Volta) 227 Niger 228 Togo 229 Benin 230 Mauritius 231 Liberia 232 Sierra Leone 233 Ghana 234 Nigeria 235 Chad 236 Central African Republic 237 Cameroon 238 Cape Verde 239 Sao Tome and Principe 240 Equatorial Guinea 241 Gabon 242 Congo 243 Zaire 244 Angola 245 Guinea-Bissau 246 Diego Garcia 247 Ascension Island 248 Seychelles 249 Sudan 250 Rwanda 251 Ethiopia 252 Somalia 253 Djibouti 254 Kenya 255 Tanzania including Zanzibar 256 Uganda 257 Burundi 258 Mozambique 259 Zanzibar (this code is assigned in E.163, but use Tanzania, 255 54) 260 Zambia 261 Madagascar 262 Reunion (France) 263 Zimbabwe 264 Namibia 265 Malawi 266 Lesotho 267 Botswana 268 Swaziland 269 Comoros and Mayotte 27 South Africa 297 Aruba (Autonomous from the Netherlands Antilles as of 1 Jan 86) 298 Faroe Islands (Denmark) 299 Greenland Spare: 28, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296 World Numbering Zones 3 & 4: Europe except Soviet Union 30 Greece 31 Netherlands 32 Belgium 33 France 33 078 Andorra 33 93 Monaco 34 Spain 350 Gibraltar 351 Portugal 352 Luxembourg 353 Ireland 354 Iceland 355 Albania 356 Malta 357 Cyprus 358 Finland 359 Bulgaria 36 Hungary 37 German Democratic Republic (East) 38 Yugoslavia 39 Italy 39 541 San Marino 3966982 Vatican City 40 Romania 41 Switzerland 41 75 Liechtenstein 42 Czechoslovakia 43 Austria 44 United Kingdom 45 Denmark 46 Sweden 47 Norway 48 Poland 49 Federal Republic of Germany (West) World Numbering Zone 5: Mexico, Central and South America + St. Pierre & Miquelon 500 Falkland Islands 501 Belize 502 Guatemala 503 El Salvador 504 Honduras 505 Nicaragua 506 Costa Rica 507 Panama 508 St. Pierre et Miquelon (France) 509 Haiti 51 Peru 52 Mexico 53 Cuba 53 99 Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base (located on Cuba) 54 Argentina 55 Brazil 56 Chile 57 Columbia 58 Venezuela 590 Guadeloupe (France) 591 Bolivia 592 Guyana 593 Ecuador 594 French Guiana 595 Paraguay 596 French Antilles (St. Barthelemy, St. Martin), Martinique 597 Suriname 598 Uruguay 599 Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten, Saba, Statia, Curacao, Bonaire) World Numbering Zone 6: Pacific 60 Malaysia 61 Australia 62 Indonesia 63 Philippines 64 New Zealand 65 Singapore 66 Thailand 670 Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) 671 Guam 672 Australian External Territories (Norfolk Island) 673 Brunei 674 Nauru 675 Papua New Guinea 676 Tonga 677 Solomon Islands 678 Vanuatu (New Hebrides) 679 Fiji 680 Palau 681 Wallis and Futuna 682 Cook Islands 683 Niue 684 American Samoa 685 Western Samoa 686 Kiribati Republic (Gilbert Islands) 687 New Caledonia 688 Tuvalu (Ellice Islands) 689 French Polynesia 690 Tokelan 691 Micronesia 692 Marshall Islands Spare: 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 698, 699 World Numbering Zone 7 7 Union of Soviet Socialist Republics World Numbering Zone 8: East Asia + Marisat 81 Japan 82 Korea (Republic of) (South) 84 Viet Nam 850 Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North) 852 Hong Kong 853 Macao 855 Khmer Republic 856 Laos 86 China (People's Republic) 871 Marisat, Atlantic Ocean 872 Marisat, Pacific Ocean 873 Marisat, Indian Ocean 880 Bangladesh 886 Taiwan Spare: 80, 83, 851, 854, 857, 858, 859, 870, 874, 875, 876, 877, 878, 879, 881, 882, 883, 884, 885, 887, 888, 889, 89 World Numbering Zone 9: Middle East, Indian Subcontinent 90 Turkey 91 India 92 Pakistan 93 Afghanistan 94 Sri Lanka 95 Burma 960 Maldives 961 Lebanon 962 Jordan 963 Syria 964 Iraq 965 Kuwait 966 Saudi Arabia 967 Yemen Arab Republic 968 Oman 969 Yemen (People's Democratic Republic of) (Aden) 971 United Arab Emirates 972 Israel 973 Bahrain 974 Qatar 976 Mongolia 977 Nepal 98 Iran Spare: 970, 975, 978, 979, 99 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Jun 86 11:20 MST From: DPickett@HIS-PHOENIX-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: MNP Protocol If the modem sends characters all the time, TYMNET will love it, as they charge "by the character". I suppose that they will filter this out when they support it. It would be nice if they would send the first character right away, and if they accumulate a few more before they can send again, increase the packet size to that number. They might wait until the start bit of the next character is possible (in async) and send immediately only if the device is not keeping up (i.e. no sort of block mode is active), otherwise fill a standard block, or one that increases in size dynamically in response to the host activity and decreasing with increasing error rate. This is too much to hope for (They probably tried it once, and it worked too good, so the dropped it). The block sizes can also reflect the balance of in/out flow so as to avoid too large a delay of input when massive output is active. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 13-Jun-86 21:09:30-EDT,7990;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Fri 13 Jun 86 21:09:23-EDT Date: 12 Jun 86 21:39-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #121 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Thursday, June 12, 1986 9:39PM Volume 5, Issue 121 Today's Topics: DDCMP + MNP? Updated Country Code list MNP Protocol ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 06-Jun-1986 0919 From: goldstein%delni.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (Fred R. Goldstein dtn226-7388) Subject: DDCMP + MNP? While it may be interesting to speculate over why MNP Class 3 and DDCMP work slowly together, I've gotta ask, WHY BOTHER? Both DDCMP and MNP are error-detecting Data Link Layer (OSI model Layer 2) protocols. DDCMP has been around a lot longer, and is typically implemented in the host computer (i.e., on the DMR board in a VAX). MNP is implemented in the modem, and handles terminal traffic, which (by definition, since async terminals don't correct for errors) could use the help. But running them both together is a waste, since DDCMP will correct the same errors that MNP is trying to correct, so if you have MNP on, DDCMP will never see an error (if MNP works as well). You also have overhead from each protocols' checksum field. So turn off MNP when using DDCMP! Turn it back on when running async terminals. One good data link layer at a time is enough. fred ------------------------------ Date: 15-May-1986 1352 From: covert%covert.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (John R. Covert) Subject: Updated Country Code list This list has now been "harmonized" with CCITT Recomendation E.163, Australian and French telephone books, and AT&T literature. Please send me any information you may have showing differences. /john World Numbering Zone 1 (Integrated Numbering Area) 1 Canada, USA including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Barbados, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Bahamas, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Christopher and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Bequia, Mustique, Prune (Palm) Island, Union Island), Trinidad and Tobago Note: Mexico locations with Zone 1 style area codes are a hack for use from the U.S. and Canada *only* and are not official. World Numbering Zone 2: Africa, Greenland, Faroe Islands, Aruba 20 Egypt 21 Integrated Numbering Area: Morocco (212 in service, also has 210, 211 assigned, but not used) Algeria (213 in service, also has 214, 215 assigned, but not used) Tunisia (216 in service, also has 217 assigned, but not used) Libya (218 in service, also has 219 assigned, but not used) 220 The Gambia 221 Senegal 222 Mauritania 223 Mali 224 Guinea 225 Ivory Coast 226 Burkina Faso (Upper Volta) 227 Niger 228 Togo 229 Benin 230 Mauritius 231 Liberia 232 Sierra Leone 233 Ghana 234 Nigeria 235 Chad 236 Central African Republic 237 Cameroon 238 Cape Verde 239 Sao Tome and Principe 240 Equatorial Guinea 241 Gabon 242 Congo 243 Zaire 244 Angola 245 Guinea-Bissau 246 Diego Garcia 247 Ascension Island 248 Seychelles 249 Sudan 250 Rwanda 251 Ethiopia 252 Somalia 253 Djibouti 254 Kenya 255 Tanzania including Zanzibar 256 Uganda 257 Burundi 258 Mozambique 259 Zanzibar (this code is assigned in E.163, but use Tanzania, 255 54) 260 Zambia 261 Madagascar 262 Reunion (France) 263 Zimbabwe 264 Namibia 265 Malawi 266 Lesotho 267 Botswana 268 Swaziland 269 Comoros and Mayotte 27 South Africa 297 Aruba (Autonomous from the Netherlands Antilles as of 1 Jan 86) 298 Faroe Islands (Denmark) 299 Greenland Spare: 28, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296 World Numbering Zones 3 & 4: Europe except Soviet Union 30 Greece 31 Netherlands 32 Belgium 33 France 33 078 Andorra 33 93 Monaco 34 Spain 350 Gibraltar 351 Portugal 352 Luxembourg 353 Ireland 354 Iceland 355 Albania 356 Malta 357 Cyprus 358 Finland 359 Bulgaria 36 Hungary 37 German Democratic Republic (East) 38 Yugoslavia 39 Italy 39 541 San Marino 3966982 Vatican City 40 Romania 41 Switzerland 41 75 Liechtenstein 42 Czechoslovakia 43 Austria 44 United Kingdom 45 Denmark 46 Sweden 47 Norway 48 Poland 49 Federal Republic of Germany (West) World Numbering Zone 5: Mexico, Central and South America + St. Pierre & Miquelon 500 Falkland Islands 501 Belize 502 Guatemala 503 El Salvador 504 Honduras 505 Nicaragua 506 Costa Rica 507 Panama 508 St. Pierre et Miquelon (France) 509 Haiti 51 Peru 52 Mexico 53 Cuba 53 99 Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base (located on Cuba) 54 Argentina 55 Brazil 56 Chile 57 Columbia 58 Venezuela 590 Guadeloupe (France) 591 Bolivia 592 Guyana 593 Ecuador 594 French Guiana 595 Paraguay 596 French Antilles (St. Barthelemy, St. Martin), Martinique 597 Suriname 598 Uruguay 599 Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten, Saba, Statia, Curacao, Bonaire) World Numbering Zone 6: Pacific 60 Malaysia 61 Australia 62 Indonesia 63 Philippines 64 New Zealand 65 Singapore 66 Thailand 670 Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) 671 Guam 672 Australian External Territories (Norfolk Island) 673 Brunei 674 Nauru 675 Papua New Guinea 676 Tonga 677 Solomon Islands 678 Vanuatu (New Hebrides) 679 Fiji 680 Palau 681 Wallis and Futuna 682 Cook Islands 683 Niue 684 American Samoa 685 Western Samoa 686 Kiribati Republic (Gilbert Islands) 687 New Caledonia 688 Tuvalu (Ellice Islands) 689 French Polynesia 690 Tokelan 691 Micronesia 692 Marshall Islands Spare: 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 698, 699 World Numbering Zone 7 7 Union of Soviet Socialist Republics World Numbering Zone 8: East Asia + Marisat 81 Japan 82 Korea (Republic of) (South) 84 Viet Nam 850 Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North) 852 Hong Kong 853 Macao 855 Khmer Republic 856 Laos 86 China (People's Republic) 871 Marisat, Atlantic Ocean 872 Marisat, Pacific Ocean 873 Marisat, Indian Ocean 880 Bangladesh 886 Taiwan Spare: 80, 83, 851, 854, 857, 858, 859, 870, 874, 875, 876, 877, 878, 879, 881, 882, 883, 884, 885, 887, 888, 889, 89 World Numbering Zone 9: Middle East, Indian Subcontinent 90 Turkey 91 India 92 Pakistan 93 Afghanistan 94 Sri Lanka 95 Burma 960 Maldives 961 Lebanon 962 Jordan 963 Syria 964 Iraq 965 Kuwait 966 Saudi Arabia 967 Yemen Arab Republic 968 Oman 969 Yemen (People's Democratic Republic of) (Aden) 971 United Arab Emirates 972 Israel 973 Bahrain 974 Qatar 976 Mongolia 977 Nepal 98 Iran Spare: 970, 975, 978, 979, 99 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Jun 86 11:20 MST From: DPickett@HIS-PHOENIX-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: MNP Protocol If the modem sends characters all the time, TYMNET will love it, as they charge "by the character". I suppose that they will filter this out when they support it. It would be nice if they would send the first character right away, and if they accumulate a few more before they can send again, increase the packet size to that number. They might wait until the start bit of the next character is possible (in async) and send immediately only if the device is not keeping up (i.e. no sort of block mode is active), otherwise fill a standard block, or one that increases in size dynamically in response to the host activity and decreasing with increasing error rate. This is too much to hope for (They probably tried it once, and it worked too good, so the dropped it). The block sizes can also reflect the balance of in/out flow so as to avoid too large a delay of input when massive output is active. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 21-Jun-86 04:22:13-EDT,15721;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Sat 21 Jun 86 04:22:09-EDT Date: 21 Jun 86 03:22-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #122 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Saturday, June 21, 1986 3:22AM Volume 5, Issue 122 Today's Topics: Northern Telecom DMS-100 digital switch problems Legal Safety Pins (Satellite Dishes and Scanners) Leased line comparisons New Long Distance Rate Comparison Chart ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 13 Jun 1986 06:06 MDT From: Keith Petersen Subject: Northern Telecom DMS-100 digital switch problems On Wednesday, May 28, the Southfield, MI (suburb of Detroit) Michigan Bell ESS office's Northern Telecom DMS100 digital switch went down for almost the whole afternoon, reportedly depriving 35,000 subscribers of service (they couldn't even get a dial tone). Thursday, May 29, it occurred again sometime in mid-morning and the digital switch was down for almost the entire business day (it came back around 5:30 pm local time), this time reportedly taking out 50,000 subscribers, including the police and fire departments. In an interview, a spokesman for Michigan Bell was quoted as saying they don't know what caused the problem. He went on to say they are working closely with Northern Telecom to find the cause. A spokesman for Northern Telecom, in a recent telephone conversation, said that some 20-30 software updates for the DMS100 were necessary to cure certain problems with passing 212a and V22.bis modem signals through the switch. It is unclear at this time if these updates have any bearing on the outages of the past two days. According to sources at Michigan Bell and Northern Telecom, the updates have not been done to the DMS100 digital switch in the Southfield central office. They are reportedly scheduled to be done on June 7th. Stay tuned... --Keith Petersen Arpa: W8SDZ@SIMTEL20.ARPA uucp: {ihnp4,allegra,cmcl2,dual,decvax,mcnc,mcvax,vax135}!seismo!w8sdz ------------------------------ From: nomdenet@isi-vaxa.ARPA (Bert White) Date: 18 Jun 1986 1247-PDT (Wednesday) Subject: Legal Safety Pins (Satellite Dishes and Scanners) Strictly speaking, the article below shouldn't be here, but it seems relevant. Followups probably should go to telecom. Has anyone heard of the Senate Bill, S 1667, referred to below? From Alexander Cockburn's column "Ashes and Diamonds" in the Los Angeles Weekly, June 6-12, 1986. (C) 1986, Los Angeles Weekly, Inc. (The Weekly is a region-wide throw-away.) There are people in this world who buy a lot of expensive gear in electronics stores and then try to talk to astronauts or hear the news coming in and out of Air Force One. In both categories is to be found a 26-year-old fellow of my acquaintance named David Torres, a free- lance photojournalist who lives on the upper West Side of Manhattan a mile or so south of the George Washington Bridge. Among David's coups, which have made him a byword in the ham-radio world, was his triumph in talking from his lodgings to Owen Garriott (call letters W5LFL), an astronaut who was on that date (November 29, 1983) aboard the space shuttle Columbia. David also monitored President Reagan aboard Air Force One as Reagan gave the go-ahead to the Pentagon to intercept the plane taking off from Cairo with the hijackers of the Achille Lauro. (The scrambler aboard Air Force One was broken on that particular day.) More recently, Torres had an enjoyable time reviewing a long and rather desperate conversation between a secretary aboard Air Force One and an office temp in the White House Situation Room. There was, said the temp, a message for Reagan's eyes only. The woman on the plane told here the president wasn't there -- he'd gone off to the Waldorf. Eventually they decided that if the people in the Situation Room really thought it was urgent they'd contact Nancy and she could take it out to Andrews Air Force Base, where she was due to meet Ron before going off for the weekend to Camp David. [ ... irrelevant snide comment ...] This is the kind of thing that makes Torres' blood pulse faster. After the Reagan-to-Pentagon intercept he was visited by the Secret Service and the FBI, who asked him how he knew classified frequencies. Torres directed their attention to an informative book compiled by noted radio enthusiast Tom Kneitel (call letters KTAES [sic]) and published by CRB Research, P.O. Box 56, Commack, NY 11725. But Torres' pleasures may be short-lived. A bill now working its way through the Senate and the House (S 1667) would outlaw a scanner from listening to mobile phones, 800-MHz cellular telephones or frequencies from 151 to 153 MHz, any federal government transmission between 163 and 174 MHz, and the classified military band between 216 MHz and 420 MHz. Under the proposed bill (though the House Judiciary Committee will soon review a new draft), if you listen to these, you ae subject to a $5,000 fine, confiscation of equipment, six months in jail -- or all of the above. Torres is very mad about this, and I don't blame him. Scanners don't kill people, guns kill people. And look how nice Congress has been to the gun lobby. "They're trying to stuff plugs in our ears," Torres laments. "The present act says we can listen to any broadcasts as long as we don't interfere with TV broadcasts or tap in. I see nothing wrong in listening to anything over the airwaves unless the government has proof that I am using this to commit a crime, or blow up a building, or assassinate the president, or jump into the middle of a federal investigation." Chalk up another one for secrecy in the age of Reagan, even though the Senate sponsors are the "liberals" Leahy and Matthias. Liberals are always like that. It takes a libertarian to hold the line on such matters. Or a powerful network. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 Jun 86 13:53:14 EDT From: Schragge@huey.udel.EDU Subject: Leased line comparisons At the University of Delaware, we are looking to install 9600 and 56 kb long distance lines to other universities. The lines are to conform to AT&T 3002 conditioning for synchronous, full duplex data transmission. At present we are receiving bids from AT&T, MCI, and SPRINT. Does anyone have some relevant experiences with any of these companies with leased lines? If you do please relay them to : schragge@huey.udel.edu Thanks in advance, Paul Schragger [On the left coast, MCI and Sprint seem quite disinterested in providing data circuits. All MCI quotes I've received for intrastate service have been higher than AT&T. I've never heard of 3002 series for 56Kb, only DDS. Suggest you also consult ITT; they don't serve many cities, but have extremely competitive rates for microwave circuits where you can get them. -Elmo] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Jun 86 07:52:53 pdt From: Jim Celoni S.J. Subject: New Long Distance Rate Comparison Chart Reply-To: celoni@Navajo.UUCP (Jim Celoni, S.J.) Long-distance rate comparison 6-18-86 ALL: Allnet SPR: US Sprint (GTE Sprint + US Telecom) MCI: MCI Communications (MCI + SBS) ITT: ITT Longer Distance ATT: AT&T Communications Rates below are standard residential, assume no minimum monthly usage, and may be in error. Low-mileage intrastate rate bands merged. Corrections welcome. Interstate calls: First minute Additional minute As of 5'86 7'85 7'86 7'85 6'86 DAY ALL SPR MCI ITT ATT ALL SPR MCI ITT ATT 1-10 19.24 35.00 19.30 29.00 24.14 17.76 17.40 15.89 17.70 12.07 11-22 24.60 42.00 24.66 36.00 31.03 23.07 23.30 20.85 22.70 16.38 23-40 32.40 47.00 32.46 39.00 36.20 27.66 27.40 23.83 27.90 21.55 41-55 32.40 47.00 32.46 39.00 36.20 27.66 27.40 23.83 27.90 21.55 56-70 35.04 49.00 35.10 43.00 43.96 32.61 31.70 27.80 31.90 28.45 71-110 35.04 49.00 35.10 43.00 43.96 32.61 31.70 27.80 31.90 28.45 111-124 35.04 49.00 35.10 43.00 43.96 32.61 31.70 27.80 31.90 28.45 125-170 36.12 49.00 36.18 45.00 43.96 34.59 32.90 29.79 33.90 30.17 171-245 36.12 49.00 36.18 45.00 43.96 34.59 32.90 29.79 33.90 30.17 246-292 36.12 49.00 36.18 45.00 43.96 34.59 32.90 29.79 33.90 30.17 293-430 43.94 50.00 39.15 46.00 44.82 36.41 34.80 31.78 33.90 31.89 431-925 46.92 52.00 40.55 51.00 47.41 37.34 35.30 32.77 35.90 32.76 926-1910 49.14 53.00 42.24 53.00 49.13 38.48 36.30 33.76 36.90 33.62 1911-3000 53.27 62.00 46.32 59.00 56.03 41.52 38.70 35.75 39.90 37.07 3001-4250 57.33 64.00 51.04 65.00 57.75 42.32 42.40 38.73 44.90 38.79 4251-5750 57.77 67.00 52.80 68.00 60.34 43.27 44.50 40.71 46.90 40.51 EVE ALL SPR MCI ITT ATT ALL SPR MCI ITT ATT 1-10 13.65 20.00 13.68 17.40 14.48 10.66 10.80 9.49 10.62 7.24 11-22 16.53 24.00 16.56 21.60 18.62 14.18 14.40 12.49 13.62 9.83 23-40 21.37 25.00 18.58 23.40 21.72 16.60 15.10 14.33 16.74 12.93 41-55 21.37 25.00 18.58 23.40 21.72 16.60 15.10 14.33 16.74 12.93 56-70 21.37 29.40 19.06 25.80 26.38 19.57 19.50 16.72 19.14 17.07 71-110 21.37 29.40 19.06 25.80 26.38 19.57 19.50 16.72 19.14 17.07 111-124 21.37 29.40 19.06 25.80 26.38 19.57 19.50 16.72 19.14 17.07 125-170 21.46 29.40 19.06 27.00 26.38 20.76 20.40 17.91 20.34 18.10 171-245 21.46 29.40 19.06 27.00 26.38 20.76 20.40 17.91 20.34 18.10 246-292 21.46 29.40 19.06 27.00 26.38 20.76 20.40 17.91 20.34 18.10 293-430 21.46 30.20 19.07 27.60 26.89 21.37 21.60 19.06 20.34 19.14 431-925 28.58 32.00 25.38 30.60 28.45 22.54 22.00 19.70 21.54 19.65 926-1910 31.26 32.40 25.92 31.80 29.48 23.14 22.60 20.30 22.14 20.17 1911-3000 34.60 36.80 30.24 35.40 33.62 24.92 24.40 21.49 23.94 22.24 3001-4250 33.82 38.20 31.32 39.00 34.65 25.39 26.70 23.28 26.94 23.27 4251-5750 34.21 40.40 32.40 40.80 36.20 25.69 27.90 24.48 28.14 24.31 NITE ALL SPR MCI ITT ATT ALL SPR MCI ITT ATT 1-10 14.39 9.00 9.12 11.60 10.64 7.19 6.00 6.98 7.08 5.32 11-22 17.19 14.20 11.04 14.40 13.68 9.59 8.00 9.16 9.08 7.22 23-40 19.19 18.00 13.30 15.60 15.96 11.19 11.00 10.46 11.16 9.50 41-55 19.19 18.00 13.30 15.60 15.96 11.19 11.00 10.46 11.16 9.50 56-70 20.39 19.20 13.40 17.20 19.38 13.19 13.00 12.21 12.76 12.54 71-110 20.39 19.20 13.40 17.20 19.38 13.19 13.00 12.21 12.76 12.54 111-124 20.39 19.20 13.40 17.20 19.38 13.19 13.00 12.21 12.76 12.54 125-170 20.39 19.40 13.49 18.00 19.38 13.99 14.00 13.08 13.56 13.30 171-245 20.39 19.40 13.49 18.00 19.38 13.99 14.00 13.08 13.56 13.30 246-292 20.39 19.40 13.49 18.00 19.38 13.99 14.00 13.08 13.56 13.30 293-430 20.79 19.40 13.49 18.40 19.76 14.79 14.70 13.40 13.56 14.06 431-925 21.99 21.00 18.61 20.40 20.90 15.19 15.00 14.39 14.36 14.44 926-1910 22.39 21.40 20.06 21.20 21.66 15.59 15.30 14.83 14.76 14.82 1911-3000 25.99 25.00 20.94 23.60 24.70 16.79 16.40 15.70 15.96 16.34 3001-4250 26.79 25.40 23.95 26.00 25.46 17.99 18.00 17.01 17.96 17.10 4251-5750 27.99 27.00 24.90 27.20 26.60 18.79 18.40 17.88 18.76 17.86 Calls within California: First minute Additional minute CA-DAY ALL SPR MCI ITT ATT ALL SPR MCI ITT ATT 1-10 18.05 38.95 21.00 22.70 23.00 8.46 22.95 9.90 18.70 11.00 11-22 25.00 38.95 29.00 27.00 29.00 15.00 22.95 16.00 18.70 16.00 23-40 35.00 38.95 36.00 37.00 37.00 20.00 22.95 22.00 22.00 21.00 41-55 38.77 42.85 43.00 43.00 44.00 22.63 24.85 24.75 24.50 25.00 56-70 38.77 42.85 43.00 43.00 44.00 22.63 24.85 24.75 24.50 25.00 71-110 40.97 45.75 44.00 46.00 47.00 23.97 26.75 26.00 27.00 27.00 111-124 41.47 46.75 45.00 47.00 50.00 24.97 27.75 28.00 28.50 29.00 125-170 41.47 46.75 45.00 47.00 50.00 24.97 27.75 28.00 28.50 29.00 171-245 44.97 47.75 48.60 49.00 54.00 27.97 28.75 30.00 29.50 31.00 246-292 47.47 55.75 51.30 54.00 57.00 29.97 33.75 33.00 34.00 34.00 293-430 47.47 55.75 51.30 54.00 57.00 29.97 33.75 33.00 34.00 34.00 431-925 47.47 55.75 51.30 54.00 57.00 29.97 33.75 33.00 34.00 34.00 CA-EVE ALL SPR MCI ITT ATT ALL SPR MCI ITT ATT 1-10 12.83 29.95 15.50 17.02 17.25 6.01 17.20 7.42 14.03 8.25 11-22 20.00 29.95 21.00 20.25 21.75 11.00 17.20 12.00 14.03 12.00 23-40 26.00 29.95 27.00 27.75 27.75 15.00 17.20 16.00 16.50 15.75 41-55 29.20 30.85 32.00 32.25 33.00 17.03 18.70 18.57 18.37 18.75 56-70 29.20 30.85 32.00 32.25 33.00 17.03 18.70 18.57 18.37 18.75 71-110 30.70 33.75 33.00 34.50 35.25 17.95 19.75 19.25 20.25 20.25 111-124 31.08 34.75 33.74 35.25 37.50 18.70 20.75 20.75 21.37 21.75 125-170 31.08 34.75 33.74 35.25 37.50 18.70 20.75 20.75 21.37 21.75 171-245 33.70 35.75 36.45 36.75 40.50 20.95 21.75 22.25 22.12 23.25 246-292 35.58 39.75 38.48 40.50 42.75 22.45 24.75 24.50 25.50 25.50 293-430 35.58 39.75 38.48 40.50 42.75 22.45 24.75 24.50 25.50 25.50 431-925 35.58 39.75 38.48 40.50 42.75 22.45 24.75 24.50 25.50 25.50 CA-NITE ALL SPR MCI ITT ATT ALL SPR MCI ITT ATT 1-10 8.55 19.95 10.00 11.35 11.50 4.01 11.45 4.95 9.35 5.50 11-22 13.00 19.95 14.00 13.50 14.50 7.00 11.45 8.00 9.35 8.00 23-40 17.00 19.95 18.00 18.50 18.50 10.00 11.45 11.00 11.00 10.50 41-55 19.45 20.85 21.00 21.50 22.00 11.34 12.45 12.37 12.25 12.50 56-70 19.45 20.85 21.00 21.50 22.00 11.34 12.45 12.37 12.25 12.50 71-110 20.45 21.75 22.00 23.00 23.50 11.95 13.45 12.50 13.50 13.50 111-124 20.70 22.75 22.50 23.50 25.00 12.45 14.45 13.50 14.25 14.50 125-170 20.70 22.75 22.50 23.50 25.00 12.45 14.45 13.50 14.25 14.50 171-245 22.45 23.75 24.30 24.50 27.00 13.95 15.45 14.50 14.75 15.50 246-292 23.70 24.75 25.65 27.00 28.50 14.95 16.75 16.00 17.00 17.00 293-430 23.70 24.75 25.65 27.00 28.50 14.95 16.75 16.00 17.00 17.00 431-925 23.70 24.75 25.65 27.00 28.50 14.95 16.75 16.00 17.00 17.00 ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 27-Jun-86 04:48:25-EDT,9767;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Fri 27 Jun 86 04:48:24-EDT Date: 27 Jun 86 03:27-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #123 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Friday, June 27, 1986 3:27AM Volume 5, Issue 123 Today's Topics: MNP, File Transfer Integrity 5 Digit Carrier Access Codes Telephone Line Interfacing Circuits Area code occupancy list ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon 23 Jun 86 23:06:58-EDT From: Philip A. Earnhardt Subject: MNP, File Transfer Integrity > While it may be interesting to speculate over why MNP Class 3 and DDCMP > work slowly together, I've gotta ask, WHY BOTHER? I was using the DDCMP throughput as a metric for the effects of MNP. If I had had some sophisticated test equipment, I could have measured the exact latency for various-sized packets across the modems. Vadic should provide the exact technical information about MNP and their implementation of it. Using reverse engineering to get this information is a poor second. Why do manufactures make high-performance equipment and then fail to provide information on how to maximize its performance? > But running them both together is a waste, since DDCMP will correct the same > errors that MNP is trying to correct, so if you have MNP on, DDCMP will > never see an error (if MNP works as well). Wrong. Over an all-night transfer session, I lost 5 DDCMP packets while using MNP. Why? Probably because of inadequate buffering. Perhaps I had a marginal connection of one of my RS232 cables. Perhaps the night janitor accidentally unplugged a connection and then put it back. .... Anyone who simply trusts modem MNP to get their data across will eventually lose. Any competent network designer trusting modem MNP for file transfer data integrity should know better. > So turn off MNP when using DDCMP! Turn it back on when running async > terminals. One good data link layer at a time is enough. How about when I want to have an interactive connection to a remote machine then run a file transfer? Since MNP can only be turned on/off at the start of the connection, you're suggesting I should keep re-establishing the connection to alternate between interactive connection (with MNP) and DDCMP file transfer (without). I'd have enough headaches keeping it straight--never mind trying to train other people to do this. If MNP were optimally tuned, the loss in throughput for DDCMP would be much less. We could just leave MNP on all the time and forget about it. The 2400PA modems have about a 100ms delay for full-duplex echoing of a single character. Vadic claims the origional MicroCom modems they saw had a 100ms timeout, giving a latency of about 220ms! These delays are enough to really bother most typists. The crux of my problem with MNP is that such protocols could support quick-response and high throughput simultaneously. From what I've seen, MNP is optimized for high total throughput of continuous streams of data, particularly when line quality starts to degrade. I would be far more satisfied if they targeted for fast packet turnaround (which may imply a little faster performance dropoff if line quality is bad). I feel this would maximize the usefulness of error-correction for terminal users while minimizing the loss in throughput to the end-to-end file transfer programs. ------------------------------ Date: 23 Jun 86 23:30:00 EDT From: Subject: 5 Digit Carrier Access Codes Reply-To: Does anyone have a list of the current 5 digit carrier access codes? Please send all lists to me. I will compile and post one massive list to the digest if there is enough interest. Gregg gregg@ru-aim.arpa ------------------------------ From: topaz!petsd!pedsgo!tom@seismo.CSS.GOV Date: Wed, 25 Jun 86 07:25:41 edt Subject: Telephone Line Interfacing Circuits Reply-To: pedsgo!tom@seismo.CSS.GOV (Tom Gillispie) Can anyone point me to some good books or magazine articles about converting between the 600-ohm 2-wire interface used on dial lines and op-amp type audio circuits? Practical circuits/examples would help me the most, but well-written theory will still help. I have purchased an old UDS DAA which does not separate the transmitted and received signals. It has only a 600-ohm 2-wire connection for the 'data' signals. I want to use it with circuitry that handles the received portion alone (DTMF decoding) and with circuitry that handles the transmitted portion alone (voice synthesis, etc.). The DAA will give me a legal I/F to a dial line, but that wont do me much good if I cant get audio data into and out of the thing. I have a EE degree but have spent the past 5 years doing software work, and alot of my efforts in school went to learning practical digital circuits, not analog circuits. If I get some good leads I will check them out (this may take some time) and post a summary. Thanks very much, in advance! NAME: Tom Gillispie UUCP: ...{pesnta|prcrs|princeton|topaz|hjuxa|vax135}!petsd!pedsgo!tom USnail: CONCURRENT Computer Corporation (a Perkin-Elmer Company) M/S 307, 106 Apple St., Tinton Falls, NJ 07724 MA BELL:(201) 758-7321 ------------------------------ Date: 26-Jun-1986 1109 From: goldstein%delni.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (Fred R. Goldstein dtn226-7388) Subject: Area code occupancy list New England Telephone has announced that NPA617 (Eastern Mass.) is being split, with the area outside (inner) Metro Boston and some of the South Shore being moved into the new NPA508. Joy of joys for the affected! Worcester, Lowell, Maynard and New Bedford all get a new area code, along with suburbs like Framingham and Concord. Yet the Western Mass. NPA413 is practically empty. (Who drew the original lines?!?) In the meantime, the ISDN Standards Committee T1D1 (which I'm on) has faced the question of how to set up a numbering plan for North America, based on extending the present plan to include non-local exchange ISDNs? For example, Telenet wants their own NXX codes. Bellcore has offered them an area code, but from the "interchangeable" range (like "552"), so it won't be dialable from telephones until we prepare to run out of current-style area codes. If we give the other carriers NXX codes, some area codes may exhaust earlier. That will, of course, force the rest of the network to catch up and go to universal 1+ dialing before the presently-estimated 1995 date. This got me thinking: How close to full up are the NPAs? So I hacked the following together based upon the V&H tape used for billing. Sorry I couldn't make it multi-column or get states listed. This may be a clue as to which codes split next. (I've added my own comments.) fred NPA COUNT COMMENTS 201 543 North Jersey. Getting right up there. 202 437 203 349 204 308 205 522 206 431 207 306 208 246 209 257 212 467 213 524 Los Angeles already split off 818. 214 542 A Dallas split is rumored soon. 215 481 216 477 217 325 218 267 219 307 301 538 Maryland. Busier than 617. 302 73 Delaware. Every state gets one, y'know. 303 557 Colorado has been growing... 304 298 305 540 Miami too. 306 416 307 133 Wyoming. 308 186 309 237 312 640 Why hasn't Chicago split yet? 313 504 314 454 315 228 316 332 317 325 318 298 319 308 401 108 Rhode Island. 402 385 403 544 Alberta and some NWT - Canada's busiest 404 456 405 462 406 316 407 0 408 216 409 255 410 0 412 377 413 109 W. Mass - what a waste of a good code! 414 378 415 483 San Francisco, also rumored for split. 416 433 417 181 418 327 419 304 501 480 502 310 503 441 504 267 505 261 506 143 507 249 508 0 509 213 512 501 San Antonio, TX. 513 396 514 363 515 377 516 283 517 285 518 211 519 286 601 358 602 440 603 193 604 480 605 310 606 240 607 146 608 210 609 204 610 0 612 424 613 220 614 338 615 430 616 317 617 533 E. Mass - splitting off 508 in 1988 618 300 619 329 701 333 702 195 703 415 704 265 705 239 706 96 Northwest Mexico hack, not a real NPA 707 145 708 0 709 237 710 0 Unlisted code used for AT&T Government services. 712 265 713 414 714 364 715 288 716 322 717 410 718 294 719 0 801 265 802 167 803 396 804 371 805 193 806 225 807 97 W. Ontario - another waste. 808 163 809 340 810 0 812 243 813 344 814 237 815 255 816 401 817 381 818 240 819 282 900 24 901 178 902 221 903 0 904 356 905 206 906 109 Upper Michigan, tied with 413. 907 340 908 0 909 0 910 0 912 270 913 399 914 256 915 257 916 319 917 0 918 257 919 510 North Carolina's growing quickly. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 1-Jul-86 03:33:09-EDT,14326;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Tue 1 Jul 86 03:32:50-EDT Date: 1 Jul 86 02:02-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #124 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Tuesday, July 1, 1986 2:02AM Volume 5, Issue 124 Today's Topics: NPA 413 Re: phone line surges and spikes Re: phone line surges and spikes 2400 bps modem incompatabilities ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 27 Jun 86 9:11:54 EDT From: John Linn Subject: NPA 413 With regard to the area code occupancy list in TELECOM Digest V5 #123 -- I've also wondered about why Massachusetts was split between 617 and 413 in such an unbalanced fashion, and why the shorter-to-dial code was given to the smaller and less populous portion. I have a vague recollection from some historical literature that Springfield, MA (in 413) was involved in some of the earliest DDD service tests in the 50's, and this might account for assignment of a low-numbered code (Does anyone have any specifics on this? I don't have any references available.). Alternately, it might result from the heuristic "thou shalt try not to put an NPA boundary through a heavily populated region". Whatever the reason, the result is surely anomalous! --jl ------------------------------ Date: 13 Jun 86 03:58:13 GMT From: larry%kitty.UUCP@SEISMO.CSS.GOV (Larry Lippman) Subject: Re: phone line surges and spikes In article <3607@reed.UUCP>, kamath@reed.UUCP (Sean Kamath) writes: > > Well, there has been a lot of talk lately about line voltages, and I > don't know if this has come up. I know it is possible to buy surge > suppressors for AC & phone lines. I know there are such thing as phone > line spikes (I hear them at 1 am on my ultra-cheap phone from time-life > books, or whatever.), so the question is, is it as easy as installing a > MOV in the line? I'm sort of worried what might be getting rammed into > my internal modem. Anyone got any ideas? Most telephone line transients result from lightning strikes causing current to be dissipated through the sheath of the telephone cable to ground. This INCLUDES cable which is buried underground. A voltage is induced in the individual telephone cable conductors due to the HUGE currents and magnetic fields which accompany a lightning strike (to give you an idea how large the currents are, lightning strike currents are measure in KILOamperes, with a typical lightning strike being 100 kA). Except in extreme cases, the lightning voltage itself therefore never hits the individual conductors (which would cause destruction of dielectric), but its propagated through capacitance and inductance between the cable sheath and its pairs. The resulting transients are "longitudinal" in nature, being from each wire of a pair to ground; these transients are NOT generally from conductor-to-conductor. What does the above mean in practical terms? For one, placing a MOV (Metal Oxide Varistor) just across tip and ring will do almost zip for providing transient protection. You need TWO MOV's, one from tip to ground, and one from ring to ground. And I mean GROUND, like a #12 AWG wire to a water pipe - NOT the third wire of an AC power outlet. Because the MOV is not going to be very effective unless a low impedance path to earth ground exists. So, it is possible to build your own telephone line surge protector using two MOV's as indicated above. However, it is not quite that simple since the MOV's have to be carefully selected. First, the MOV should exhibit a leakage current flow at 50 volts DC of LESS THAN 500 microamperes, which is equivalent to a resistance of at LEAST 100,000 ohms. At 130 volts DC, the leakage current should still be less than 1,000 microamperes. Exceeding these values can CAUSE TROUBLE with your telephone line, such as: (1) false ring tripping; (2) hum and noise due to longitudinal unbalance; and (3) trouble indications at the telephone company central office due to automatic line insulation testing equipment thinking your line is in trouble. The effective breakdown potential of the MOV should be around 180 volts DC to preclude any false trouble indications. In my opinion, any product which claims to be a telephone line surge protector and consists of a single MOV across tip and ring is ALMOST WORTHLESS. You need to go between the conductors and ground, for the reasons mentioned above. I don't want to get off on a tangent here, but there is something which is better than a a MOV: a gaseous discharge tube, especially what is called a "three element" gaseous discharge tube. These devices exhibit an infinite impedance in the "off" state, and conduct much faster than a MOV. In telephone parlence, these are referred to as "rare gas protectors". However, the cost of such a component is several times the cost of a MOV. ==> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York ==> UUCP {bbncca|decvax|rocksanne|rocksvax|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry ==> VOICE 716/688-1231 {rice|shell}!baylor!/ ==> FAX 716/741-9635 {G1, G2, G3 modes} seismo!/ ==> "Have you hugged your cat today?" ihnp4!/ ------------------------------ Date: 13 Jun 86 04:15:16 GMT From: wtm%neoucom.UUCP@SEISMO.CSS.GOV (Bill Mayhew) Subject: Re: phone line surges and spikes The author of the original article mentions hearing chips from his cheap phone at about 1:00 am. Sounds like an automated test procedure being run on his loop. Where I live is what used to be Bell territory. I think we have ESS-IV (but I'm not sure, so please no flames, I'm ignorant). I've noticed that regularly at 2:30 a.m. my circa 1930 Stromberg-Carlson crank phone emits a single "ding-dong", while all the other phones are silent. I think that it's bell coil and coupling capacitor have a low enough frequency response to pick up the polarity reversal of some kind of automated subscriber loop test. Now for the real question. Ma Bell has a protector block where the line comes in the house. Everybody has these, as this is regulated by law as well as internal telephone edict. Basically, the protector is a spark gap(s) and silicon resistors that blow when the gap sparks, thus isolating the network from you. Sorry if the descirption isn't 100% correct--this is the kind I know, but there are several types of protectors around. I'm describing mine, which was installed in 1929. Point is, the protector block is really more meant to protect the network from you rather than you from it. You might want to consider some additional protection. A gas discharge tube is the best way to go, as it responds quickly enough to present a reasonable amount of protection. Several places sell phone spike protectors, which are actually gas tubes in little plastic boxes sold at considerable mark- up. Since modems mix outside power & electronics with Ma Bell electronics, they are quite closely regulated and scrutinized. Of course, in these days of deregulation and Hong Kong imports, there may be some laxity in quality control of off-brands. As long as you have a major brand modem, you can probably be reasonably assured that it already has mov and/or gas tube protection inside. (I've torn quite a few apart, and so far all the ones I've seen have it!) Note that a gas tube often looks like an overgrown ceramic diode with glass/metal seals on the ends. Check your modem. Most of all beware about what you connect to your phone line. It sure isn't cool the screw up the network by attaching a weird device. You might possibly screw up your neighbor's line too if you goof up--this is because many lines are spilt by using duplexing transformers. (This practice is common in my neighborhood which is fairly old, and has fews lines.) By the way, 2 years ago my house had a direct lightning hit. It blew up part of the chimney and shattered a big mirror (due to current flow in the silver heating the glass). Several of the light switches were vaporized. At the time, I had three Bell phones and a cordless. The three Bell phones and protector block were o.k., but the cordless was fried. (There were just two wires sticking out of the pc board where the MOV used to be!) Needless to say, everytime there is a thunderstorm, I still get a little nervous now! (I was home at the time.) ~~Bill Bill Mayhew -Elec. Engr. Div. Basic Medical Sciences N. E. Ohio Coll. of Med. Rootstown, OH 44272 USA (216) 325-2511 ...!allegra!neoucom!wtm (wtm@neoucom) ------------------------------ Date: 14 Jun 86 19:09:33 GMT From: brian@sdcsvax.berkeley.edu (Brian Kantor) Subject: 2400 bps modem incompatabilities Recently whilst trying to select 2400 baud modems for our dial-in lines on campus, I ran into an interesting problem. Some 2400 bps modems wouldn't connect to others at 2400 bps, but would connect by falling back to 1200. After casting about with a certain degree of futility trying to find someone who could tell me WHY this was, I finally got ahold of an engineer at Anchor Automation who explained it to me. (By the way, I'm completely impressed with these people and their willingness to solve problems!) [Brief flame to other modem companies: Yes, goddamnit, I know your modems talk to each other. My problem is that I've got one hundred and seven dial-in lines (at last count) and I have no control over what the people out there are going to dial in with. Telling me to have them all buy your modem to solve the problem is not the answer.] So here's how I understand it (imperfect at best, but I couldn't find this information written anywhere, so here goes): When you call a 1200/2400 bps modem, it answers in either of two ways. If it is a CCITT-V.22bis compliant modem, it answers with 3.3 seconds of 2100Hz tone, then 75 mS of silence, and then a burst of training signals to get the other modem to adjust to the line. If the answering modem receives training signals in response, it assumes that it will be talking 2400 bps using 16-QAM and you have a 2400 bps connection. If instead of the training signals, it receives 4- PSK from the originating modem in response to its answering tones, it assumes that it will be a 1200 bps connection and switches off the training and (in the USA) uses 4-PSK (Bell 212 standard). [European modems use CCITT-V.22 (not V.22bis) for 1200 bps. Some modems claim to handle this as well as 212 for 1200 bps, but I've not been testing that!] Here's the rub: some of the 1200/2400 modems don't answer using the CCITT V.22bis handshake. They instead answer with a different handshake (the engineer referred to it as the Bell 2400 bps handshake): After going off-hook, the "Bell handshake" answering modem sends 2125Hz (which is pretty close to the CCITT 2100Hz tone) and waits for the originating modem to respond either with 1200bps 4-PSK or with QAM training signals. It then switches to the appropriate mode, and either sends some training signals for 2400, or 4-PSK for 1200. Some modems can handle both kinds of handshakes. I have, for example, no problem calling a Courier with a Courier, anything with a Racal- Vadic or a MultiTech, etc. But my Courier can't call my Case-Rixon; an Anchor didn't connect to the Courier, etc. No, I don't have a chart of what talks to what, for reasons that I'll explain: The point here is that I'm not interested really in what talks to what on a brand-name basis. I want instead to find some brands that "do the right thing" for both handshakes, and recommend those. So far I've found a couple (Racal-Vadic and Multitech come to mind) and I'll choose among those and others based on other factors, such as interface, reliability, mounting, etc. for the list of ones I recommend. (And then the purchasing people and telephone people get into the act, so who knows what we'll buy - or when....) But the other manufacturers need to get on the stick and get it right. It seems to me that stating that a modem is CCITT-V.22bis compliant also means that it does the CCITT handshake, and yet I can call several of the modems out there and just by listening (no 75mS interruption, guys!) tell that they're using the "bell handshake". And the ones that I've tested that answer with the "bell handshake" don't seem to accept the CCITT handshake when you dial out. Moral: It may be 2400 bps but they're not all compatable. C'mon, guys! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Modem manufacturers! Heed my words! Since there is a published international standard and one other non-compliant "standard", you need to accept both! And you should probably default to the international standard when you answer. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Listening test: I call the modem and listen. After it goes off hook, I hear in my telephone either 1) a steady high-pitched tone, then a very brief interruption, then another slightly-different-pitch tone, then it disconnects. -or- 2) a steady high-pitched tone that lasts until it disconnects. I surmise that #1 is the CCITT handshake. I just tried this with a Case-Rixon 1224 and a USR Courier. The Case-Rixon did #1, the Courier did #2. If I call both on a conference call, I hear what could be a 25Hz beat note between them during the first tone on answer. So, I'm not disparaging anybody's modems. But I wish there was more standardisation so that I don't have to buy one of each to test them before we make some big mistake.... Brian Kantor decvax\ brian@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu ihnp4 >--- sdcsvax --- brian ucbvax/ Kantor@Nosc ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 4-Jul-86 03:02:25-EDT,3625;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Fri 4 Jul 86 03:02:24-EDT Date: 4 Jul 86 02:20-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #125 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Friday, July 4, 1986 2:20AM Volume 5, Issue 125 Today's Topics: The MNP Spec Yellow Pages Gotcha's Equal Access in Pound Ridge ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue 1 Jul 86 12:53:43-EDT From: Philip A. Earnhardt Subject: The MNP Spec MicroCom has a 50-page public-domain spec of the lower-class levels of MNP. They charge a publication fee of $100. Does anyone on the east coast already have a copy of this spec they would let me copy? [$100 for 50 pages doesn't sound very public-domain to me -elmo] MicroCom also claims to do much better in minimizing the latency in sending out a packet. In particular, when they get the first character, they immediately start shipping the packet header out the comm line. This sounds much more promising than the 20ms delay Vadic described. I'll try to get a demo of a full-duplex connection of MicroCom modems in a couple of weeks. ------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 Jul 86 16:36:34 edt From: David Fay Subject: Yellow Pages Gotcha's We've all had the experience of looking in the Yellow Pages for some common business category and being unable to find it. The cross-referencing systems added recently by phone companies help but don't always include even common categories. At the same time, if you browse through the Yellow Pages as I do, you will find wonderfully archaic or obscure categories listed. It's a wonder that the average person can find anything at all in the Yellow Pages. I'm looking for examples of really irritating Yellow Pages categorizations. Any contributions? I'll kick it off with my current gripes about my local 1986-87 NYNEX YP. I can't find any listing for video arcades, not under video, games, or even amusements. There are listings for manufacturers and distributors of video games (or amusement devices in the phone company dialect), but none for arcades. They must be in there somewhere. No video arcades, but if you're looking for an abbatoir - no problem. That happens to be the first listing in the book. Just to make this interesting, accompany submissions with information about who publishes your Yellow Pages so we know who the culprits are. David Fay ...!harvard!bunny!daf1 ------------------------------ Date: 03 July 86 19:36 EDT From: RMXJ@CORNELLA Subject: Equal Access in Pound Ridge The phone companies finally got their act together in my small town of Pound Ridge, NY in the upper northeast corner of Westchester County. We used to be able to dial our neighbors simply by dialing the last 4 digits and our local calling area spilled over into Connecticut towns as well. Well, this past Saturday, everything has been changed. We know have to dial all 7 digits to call our neighbors and the phone has been having palpitations as it adjusts to the new system. Ma Bell (we selected AT&T since the other companies don't adequately service our area) says it is for the better, but this town of 4,500 isn't so sure. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 10-Jul-86 02:50:39-EDT,3921;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Thu 10 Jul 86 02:50:20-EDT Date: 10 Jul 86 01:53-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #126 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Thursday, July 10, 1986 1:53AM Volume 5, Issue 126 Today's Topics: getting a busy signal at the wrong time Yello Pages Yellow Pages AT&T vs. Novation lawsuit? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri 4 Jul 86 06:05:04-EDT From: Philip A. Earnhardt Subject: getting a busy signal at the wrong time My home phone is in the (617) 354 exchange, and the modems at work are in (617) 426. About 10% of the time when I call work, I get a fast busy signal on the line for about 2 seconds, then the modem answers the phone. In other words, I get a fast busy when I should be getting a ringing sound! Is there some reasonable explanation why I should be hearing the fast busy or is something broken? If something is broken, who should I report it to? ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 5 Jul 86 12:39:24 EDT From: Michael Grant Subject: Yello Pages In Washington DC, we will soon have 3, (or is it going to be 4?) yellow pages. One published by C&P, another by SouthWestern Bell, and yet another by the Independent Yellow Pages Co. Why 3? Why more than one? Why do I have to look in multiple books to find what I want? Seems like complete overkill to me. Some cities even have a different YP for the east half of the city than the west half. YP adds are *expensive*. These companies, (at least C&P is), are making a killing! The next thing you know, they'll be charging us to list in the white pages, and then to find someone's number, you'll need 20 books! Death to all but one YP company per region! -Mike p.s. I don't want to start people flaming about their regional YP's, flame at me, not the list. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Jul 86 17:20:50 edt From: Graeme Hirst Subject: Yellow Pages > I'm looking for examples of really irritating Yellow Pages categorizations. The Toronto Yellow pages (published by Tele-Direct) does not list Handymen (or Handypersons) under any conceivable category. Nor was the Yellow Pages Shopper's Aid number (which offers assistance in the use of the Yellow Pages) able to help me. Looking for a shop that specializes in fine fountain pens, I found that Pens is listed only in the Business Directory, not Consumers. The stores I wanted were lumped in with companies that print promotional slogans on pens for advertising. And prostitutes are listed under Escort Services. ------------------------------ Date: 9 July 86 11:03-PST From: KJBSF@SLACVM Subject: AT&T vs. Novation lawsuit? Date: 9 July 1986, 10:58:34 PST From: Kevin J. Burnett x3330 To: Subject: AT&T vs. Novation lawsuit? There has been some talk on info-apple that AT&T have successfully sued Novation over the Apple-Cat modem, which apparently is the premier modem among phone phreaks. The Cat can generate all the tones phreaks love, 2600Hz, KP, MF tones. (it doesn't support them DIRECTLY, but the modem has oscillators (or whatever) in it that make it capable of many sounds, even crude voice synthesis) I don't understand how AT&T could get away with this kind of bullying. The people they should be suing are the ones who developed TSPS in their infinite wisdom. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 13-Jul-86 22:19:08-EDT,5885;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Sun 13 Jul 86 22:19:07-EDT Date: 12 Jul 86 22:34-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #127 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Saturday, July 12, 1986 10:34PM Volume 5, Issue 127 Today's Topics: Multiple Yellow Pages Late night call problems... Apple Cat II Modem COCOT reform in Philadelphia! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu 10 Jul 86 07:57:15-PDT From: HECTOR MYERSTON Subject: Multiple Yellow Pages The idea for a single Yellow Pages per city is terrific. It makes for a much orderly and efficient society. Next we could do the same for newsmagazines (why both Time AND Newsweek?), newspapers and eventually textbooks. We could export the excess Yellow Page capacity to places like the Soviet Union where there are none. ------------------------------ Date: Wed 2 Jul 86 03:01:26-EDT From: D. Reuben Subject: Late night call problems... Recently I tried making a call from my ESS line (ESS-5, I think) at about 3 AM, EDT, from New York to California. Each time I tried the call, I was sent to a nonsense recording stating that "You have reached a non-working number in the 976 exchange in New York". Obviously, I wasn't dialing 212 for NY, nor was I dialing a 976 number. I assume that it was just sent there since they didn't have a better recording, but what interests me is that why this happens EVERY day, at about 3AM? Is it due to testing, or are they getting the day's billing records or something? I noticed that this only holds true for AT&T, and on ESS exchanges. (My Crossbar doesn't seem to do this, and any Equal Access code other than AT&T's will let the call go through...) Seems interesting that they would have to do this on an ESS and NOT on a Crossbar... Also, I have noticed at time that features such as Call Forwarding and Speed Calling won't work on the ESS. For example, I tried forwarding my calls out-of-state, which normally works fine, but a few times (in the early evening it seems) all I get is a re-order, and when I call the Telco they say "It must be a problem on YOUR end"...(IE, I must have forwarded it wrong) However, after trying it repeated times, the same thing still happens. Occasionally, a Speed Calling call will return a re-order, but if I dial it direct (IE, enter all the digits) it will go through fine. Anyone know why it does this? I would be interested to hear if anyone does, Thanks, Doug Reuben@Weslyn.Bitnet ------------------------------ Date: Wed 9 Jul 86 00:25:52-EDT From: D. Reuben <> Subject: Apple Cat II Modem I think that the POSSESSION of a Blue Box or any device that can be used as a blue box is illegal. However, I realize that this is somewhat ridiculous, since the human voice can make the 2600 HZ signal that will drop a trunk in your control. (I am not sure about MF tones, as I have never heard of anyone routing calls by whistling :-) ) Therefore, perhaps AT&T does have a case. I am really not sure if its POSSESSION or USE, or perhaps even use with intent to defraud, however, I think I can recall reading of people who had blue boxes taken away from them simply because they had one, and not because there was any proof that they used it. Maybe some of the Bell people could answer this more fully... Doug Reuben@Weslyn.Bitnet or doug@unirot.UUCP (if you can't send over Bitnet, not that this relatively short post should generate much response :-) ) ------------------------------ Date: 11 Jul 1986 22:57:31-EDT From: prindle@NADC Subject: COCOT reform in Philadelphia! Walked up to one of those new *programmable* pay phones (Customer Owned Coin Operated Telephone) and dialed 950-1xxx (my friendly, and cheap, long distance company, toll free number) and was told to deposit something on the order of $2.10!! Looked all over the phone for who to contact - found nothing! Com- plained bitterly to Pa. PUC. Got a call from Bell of Pa. to get details. They said that it was probably OK that they didn't put through my 950 call properly (?), but that it was quite wrong not to post an address or phone number to contact in case of trouble. They would contact the owner. Got a copy of letter to owner - shape up or ship out within X days. Lo and behold, about X-1 days later, a sticker appears on the pay phone with the number of the owning company (no surprise), and the 950-1xxx now works perfectly (big surprise) right down to the LCD display on the phone thanking me for placing a FREE call. Now, as far as I can tell, the phone works just about like a regular Bell of Pa. pay phone (wait till equal access!). Now, if they could just figure out how to keep the general public from bashing that little LCD display with a rock or whatever, they would have caught up with *TPC*. Frank Prindle Prindle@NADC.arpa [We have a pair of these at the corner convenience store - they nicely charge $.25 for a $.20 local coin call, and $.55 for some local calls that cross area code boundaries. While they do list the "trouble" number, the phone that recognizes it as a "free call" traps to some error handler after dialtone, and the other one wants $.25! I don't think these beasts will last long. -elmo] ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 22-Jul-86 03:10:28-EDT,5885;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Tue 22 Jul 86 03:10:26-EDT Date: 12 Jul 86 22:34-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #127 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Saturday, July 12, 1986 10:34PM Volume 5, Issue 127 Today's Topics: Multiple Yellow Pages Late night call problems... Apple Cat II Modem COCOT reform in Philadelphia! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu 10 Jul 86 07:57:15-PDT From: HECTOR MYERSTON Subject: Multiple Yellow Pages The idea for a single Yellow Pages per city is terrific. It makes for a much orderly and efficient society. Next we could do the same for newsmagazines (why both Time AND Newsweek?), newspapers and eventually textbooks. We could export the excess Yellow Page capacity to places like the Soviet Union where there are none. ------------------------------ Date: Wed 2 Jul 86 03:01:26-EDT From: D. Reuben Subject: Late night call problems... Recently I tried making a call from my ESS line (ESS-5, I think) at about 3 AM, EDT, from New York to California. Each time I tried the call, I was sent to a nonsense recording stating that "You have reached a non-working number in the 976 exchange in New York". Obviously, I wasn't dialing 212 for NY, nor was I dialing a 976 number. I assume that it was just sent there since they didn't have a better recording, but what interests me is that why this happens EVERY day, at about 3AM? Is it due to testing, or are they getting the day's billing records or something? I noticed that this only holds true for AT&T, and on ESS exchanges. (My Crossbar doesn't seem to do this, and any Equal Access code other than AT&T's will let the call go through...) Seems interesting that they would have to do this on an ESS and NOT on a Crossbar... Also, I have noticed at time that features such as Call Forwarding and Speed Calling won't work on the ESS. For example, I tried forwarding my calls out-of-state, which normally works fine, but a few times (in the early evening it seems) all I get is a re-order, and when I call the Telco they say "It must be a problem on YOUR end"...(IE, I must have forwarded it wrong) However, after trying it repeated times, the same thing still happens. Occasionally, a Speed Calling call will return a re-order, but if I dial it direct (IE, enter all the digits) it will go through fine. Anyone know why it does this? I would be interested to hear if anyone does, Thanks, Doug Reuben@Weslyn.Bitnet ------------------------------ Date: Wed 9 Jul 86 00:25:52-EDT From: D. Reuben <> Subject: Apple Cat II Modem I think that the POSSESSION of a Blue Box or any device that can be used as a blue box is illegal. However, I realize that this is somewhat ridiculous, since the human voice can make the 2600 HZ signal that will drop a trunk in your control. (I am not sure about MF tones, as I have never heard of anyone routing calls by whistling :-) ) Therefore, perhaps AT&T does have a case. I am really not sure if its POSSESSION or USE, or perhaps even use with intent to defraud, however, I think I can recall reading of people who had blue boxes taken away from them simply because they had one, and not because there was any proof that they used it. Maybe some of the Bell people could answer this more fully... Doug Reuben@Weslyn.Bitnet or doug@unirot.UUCP (if you can't send over Bitnet, not that this relatively short post should generate much response :-) ) ------------------------------ Date: 11 Jul 1986 22:57:31-EDT From: prindle@NADC Subject: COCOT reform in Philadelphia! Walked up to one of those new *programmable* pay phones (Customer Owned Coin Operated Telephone) and dialed 950-1xxx (my friendly, and cheap, long distance company, toll free number) and was told to deposit something on the order of $2.10!! Looked all over the phone for who to contact - found nothing! Com- plained bitterly to Pa. PUC. Got a call from Bell of Pa. to get details. They said that it was probably OK that they didn't put through my 950 call properly (?), but that it was quite wrong not to post an address or phone number to contact in case of trouble. They would contact the owner. Got a copy of letter to owner - shape up or ship out within X days. Lo and behold, about X-1 days later, a sticker appears on the pay phone with the number of the owning company (no surprise), and the 950-1xxx now works perfectly (big surprise) right down to the LCD display on the phone thanking me for placing a FREE call. Now, as far as I can tell, the phone works just about like a regular Bell of Pa. pay phone (wait till equal access!). Now, if they could just figure out how to keep the general public from bashing that little LCD display with a rock or whatever, they would have caught up with *TPC*. Frank Prindle Prindle@NADC.arpa [We have a pair of these at the corner convenience store - they nicely charge $.25 for a $.20 local coin call, and $.55 for some local calls that cross area code boundaries. While they do list the "trouble" number, the phone that recognizes it as a "free call" traps to some error handler after dialtone, and the other one wants $.25! I don't think these beasts will last long. -elmo] ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 22-Jul-86 05:41:13-EDT,13273;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Tue 22 Jul 86 05:41:11-EDT Date: 22 Jul 86 01:51-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #128 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Tuesday, July 22, 1986 1:51AM Volume 5, Issue 128 Today's Topics: Residential hunt groups Blue Box Legalities Programmable devices emulating blue boxes vanity numbers Just when AT&T thought it was safe to go back into the water telephone query Northern Telecom DMS-100 digital switch update Communications Act of 1986 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 13 Jul 1986 14:57 EDT (Sun) From: "Leonard N. Foner" Subject: Residential hunt groups I'm moving to Watertown, MA, area code 617. I want two lines installed, with hunting between them (I don't care if the upper line hunts back down to the lower one, since I expect I'll only give out the bottom line in the group). Now, before I talk to telephone people who probably don't know what's going on, I'd like to check something. I recall that hunt groups, of any size, are free if you just ask for them---no additional charges over what you'd be charged for N lines that aren't in a hunt group. Is this correct? Also, a hypothetical: while I expect that both lines will have identical service on them, is it possible to get different types of service for lines in a hunt group? (In other words, one line might have Suburban Contiguous while the other might have a smaller non-message-unit range or whatever.) Thanx much. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Jul 86 21:34:56 PDT From: Phil Lapsley Subject: Blue Box Legalities In some states (California being the one I know) possession of a blue boxe or plans for a blue box is illegal (502.7 California Penal Code). Actually, this generalizes to any scheme or device to avoid payment of toll charges. But hasn't telecom digest gone through this subject already? ... Phil [Telecom occasionally re-hashes old subjects. If you read 502.7 closely, you will note that with regards to PLANS, only possession for sale, advertisement of, transfer of or offer of are criminal acts. Mere possession (for "educational purposes", no doubt) is not covered. -Elmo] ------------------------------ Date: 14-Jul-1986 1843 From: covert%covert.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (John R. Covert) Subject: Programmable devices emulating blue boxes >The Cat can generate all the tones phreaks love, 2600Hz, KP, MF tones. Almost any computer with any sort of audio output (even just a driver on a register bit) can be programmed to do this. >I think that the POSSESSION of a Blue Box or any device that can be used >as a blue box is illegal. I am really not sure if its POSSESSION or USE, >or perhaps even use with intent to defraud. As usual, it depends on the state. In some states, even the PLANS for a blue box (such as were published in the ham magazine 73 some years ago) are illegal to possess. If there's any truth to the stories that Novation was successfully sued, I would hope someone would post the details here. Was it a criminal or a civil suit? My guess is that Novation was simply unfortunate. I suspect some phone phreak wrote the program to generate the tones and got it widely distributed, leaving no trace as to his own identity. Someone could probably deliberately shaft a competitor (maybe anyone smaller than AT&T; that leaves out IBM even though they have hardware that will do this) by the right phone calls to AT&T security. /john ------------------------------ Date: Wed 16 Jul 86 19:11:43-PDT From: Mark Lottor Subject: vanity numbers Pacific Bell will start offering personalized phone numbers. It will be $10 to get and $1.50 a month. No further details, I just heard it on the news. ------------------------------ Date: 18-Jul-1986 1346 From: covert%covert.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (John R. Covert) Subject: Just when AT&T thought it was safe to go back into the water >From the Wall Street Journal, 26-June-86, included without permission. Survey: Sharks Prefer AT&T Lines By Wide Margin Over Sprint, MCI ------ ------ ------ ---- ----- -- ---- ------ ---- ------- --- By Bob Davis Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal Just when American Telephone & Telegraph Co. thought it was safe to go into the water, sharks began dining on its newest undersea telephone-communications cable. It seems the sharks just can't get enough of AT&T experimental underwater fiber-optic telephone cable near the Canary Islands. They munch on its plastic covering, gnaw on its electrical innards and eventually short-circuit it-even though they may electrocute themselves in the process. At least, "we came up with some pretty effective shark bait," says an AT&T spokeswoman. At first, AT&T engineers didn't know what was causing the cable failures. Then they raised the cable and found rows of shark teeth sticking out of it. "Sharks will always be attracted to magnetic fields," which the fiber-optic cables create, says James Barrett, an AT&T engineering official. Transatlantic Race That's the big problem because AT&T is hurrying to complete the world's first transatlantic fiber-optic cable by 1988. The cable uses glass fibers instead of copper wires to transmit conversation and data. AT&T's old cables generally are shark- free because they don't emit much magnetism. But a shark bite helped knock out the Canary Island fiber-optic cable for a full week. AT&T says it can combat the sharks by reinforcing stretches of the cable with steel wire and quickly patching breaks that occur. But the company's shark problem has attracted another kind of predator. Space Shark Communications Satellite Corp. (Comsat) a Washington, D.C., satellite company, is pressing Congress to spend $119 million next fiscal year on a new satellite system that will compete with fiber optics. Meanwhile, Comsat officials are turning AT&T fish difficulty to their own advantage: Shark attacks "may cause a delay of six months to a year," in laying AT&T's transatlantic cable, asserts John Evans, a Comsat vice president. AT&T denies any such delay. And even Comsat's lobbyist, Thomas Scully, doubts that Congress will swallow the fish story. He reasons: "If I were at AT&T and I saw an article saying the biggest problem facing fiber optics is that fish eat the cable, I'd say, "Boy, the satellite people are desperate." -30- Notes: The person from whom I originally received this article was immediately sceptical of the reports of magnetic fields from fiber optic cables. But unlike short-haul terrestrial fiber cables, where the fiber would not emit any fields, undersea cables must carry high voltage power to the undersea repeaters, which would result in both electric and magnetic fields around and along the cable. The article is further misleading in stating that old cables are shark-free because they don't emit much magnetism. It appears that the real reason here is more likely to be because the conventional cables are a larger diameter which the sharks can't so easily get their teeth around. And finally, experiments have shown that sharks are attracted to electrical fields which many of their prey emit. There is little to no data about magnetic fields and shark. I have, however, read articles about other animals using magnetic fields for navigation. /john ------------------------------ Date: 18 Jul 86 10:45:00 PST From: Subject: telephone query Reply-To: I'll soon be moving to a new house, and am planning on turning in the phones I'm renting from GTE and buying new phones. I'd appreciate any recomendations or warnings about the following types: 1) Cordless I'm thinking top-of-the-line here, preferably with: selectable channels (for neighbor interference) programmable security codes (for unauthorized line use) two-way paging speakerphone base station pulse/tone dialing 49/46 mHz 2) Desk/Office Here I'm thinking of a two line phone. I'd like to put one line on my residence number and the other on the line my modem normally uses. Thus I can use the modem line if the other line is in use. Features of interest: 10-30 stored number autodial separate ringer tone and ringer controls conference capability (between the two lines) pulse/tone dialing 3) Clock/Radio/Telephone This one would be for the master bedroom. Features I can think of: adjustable display brightness adjustable ringer volume (hopefully to off) Thanks in advance for any help! Art@ACC.ARPA ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1986 22:12 MDT From: Keith Petersen Subject: Northern Telecom DMS-100 digital switch update The 20-30 software updates that were scheduled to be made to the Northern Telecom DMS-100 switch (which were supposed to solve the problems of garbled modem connections) were done in the Southfield Michigan exchange ESS office. Now, instead of 2 out of 3 calls being garbled, it's about 1 out of 3 - certainly an improvement but still more to go. About two weeks ago Michigan Bell changed several more ESS offices in the Detroit area to Northern Telecom DMS-100 digital switches, including the one where my RCP/M system is located. This has resulted in numerous complaints from my modem callers about garbled connections. Even from my home, which is only one exchange away, about one out of three calls to that system result in garble problems at 1200 or 2400 bps. Some 300 baud callers report being unable to connect at all and others say they lose the connection during their session. That phone number was previously on a crossbar switch. A Michigan Bell employee who asked not to be quoted by name said that the Royal Oak office (a major hub center for the suburbs) was slated to have a DMS-100 installed soon and Michigan Bell has decided to put that switch in another office of less importance. He went on to say (this is unsubstantiated) that Michigan Bell has cancelled all future orders with Northern Telecom for DMS-100's and will instead in the future be using Western Electic digital switches. He also said that in order to fix these problems they are going to have to lock all the oscillators in the various digital switch frames together to a common master oscillator, and further that they are going to have to lock all the exchanges to a master oscillator at some central point. Another source told me that he has heard that 70% of ALL digital switches being installed in ESS offices in the U.S.A. are Northern Telecom DMS-100's. Looks like modem users are in for it. We'll probably have to change the technology of modems to make them ignore the discontinuities caused by the 8 kHz switching in these digital switches. --Keith Disclaimer: I have no proof that the above is true, only the word of sources that I trust. Tests I have personally made, however, did track down modem garble problems at work to the DMS-100 digital switch in the central office. The problems disappeared after I got them to change that phone number over to a crossbar switch. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 20 Jul 86 00:52:24 pdt From: well!tenney@lll-lcc.ARPA (Glenn S. Tenney) Subject: Communications Act of 1986 I am submitting this to mod.telecom. If I see it appear on the net, I'll post a reference to it in net.legal/news/mail. The Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986, which has passed the House, now is a bill in the Senate (S.2575). This one Act affects every usenet, bitnet, bbs, shortwave listener, TV viewer, etc. So that you can see what is being proposed, I have keyed it in fairly quickly. There may be some errors, so please do NOT consider this as the official bill. I have made a few abbreviations (ie. FCC, FBI, USC) which should be obvious in context. I entered this in four parts and later combined them and think I got all 52 pages. If you want your own official copy, send your request to: Senate Document Room Hart Senate Office Building, B 004 Washington, D.C. 20510-7016 I disclaim my typing skills, but good luck anyway. Maybe this will evoke some discussion or maybe even letters to our Senators. [This text is available as XX:ELECTRONIC-COMMUNICATIONS-PRIVACY.ACT-OF-1986 and is available for public FTP -elmo] -- Glenn Tenney UUCP: {hplabs,glacier,lll-crg,ihnp4!ptsfa}!well!tenney ARPA: well!tenney@LLL-CRG.ARPA Delphi and MCI Mail: TENNEY ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 23-Jul-86 04:05:13-EDT,13273;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Wed 23 Jul 86 04:05:04-EDT Date: 22 Jul 86 01:51-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #128 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Tuesday, July 22, 1986 1:51AM Volume 5, Issue 128 Today's Topics: Residential hunt groups Blue Box Legalities Programmable devices emulating blue boxes vanity numbers Just when AT&T thought it was safe to go back into the water telephone query Northern Telecom DMS-100 digital switch update Communications Act of 1986 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 13 Jul 1986 14:57 EDT (Sun) From: "Leonard N. Foner" Subject: Residential hunt groups I'm moving to Watertown, MA, area code 617. I want two lines installed, with hunting between them (I don't care if the upper line hunts back down to the lower one, since I expect I'll only give out the bottom line in the group). Now, before I talk to telephone people who probably don't know what's going on, I'd like to check something. I recall that hunt groups, of any size, are free if you just ask for them---no additional charges over what you'd be charged for N lines that aren't in a hunt group. Is this correct? Also, a hypothetical: while I expect that both lines will have identical service on them, is it possible to get different types of service for lines in a hunt group? (In other words, one line might have Suburban Contiguous while the other might have a smaller non-message-unit range or whatever.) Thanx much. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Jul 86 21:34:56 PDT From: Phil Lapsley Subject: Blue Box Legalities In some states (California being the one I know) possession of a blue boxe or plans for a blue box is illegal (502.7 California Penal Code). Actually, this generalizes to any scheme or device to avoid payment of toll charges. But hasn't telecom digest gone through this subject already? ... Phil [Telecom occasionally re-hashes old subjects. If you read 502.7 closely, you will note that with regards to PLANS, only possession for sale, advertisement of, transfer of or offer of are criminal acts. Mere possession (for "educational purposes", no doubt) is not covered. -Elmo] ------------------------------ Date: 14-Jul-1986 1843 From: covert%covert.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (John R. Covert) Subject: Programmable devices emulating blue boxes >The Cat can generate all the tones phreaks love, 2600Hz, KP, MF tones. Almost any computer with any sort of audio output (even just a driver on a register bit) can be programmed to do this. >I think that the POSSESSION of a Blue Box or any device that can be used >as a blue box is illegal. I am really not sure if its POSSESSION or USE, >or perhaps even use with intent to defraud. As usual, it depends on the state. In some states, even the PLANS for a blue box (such as were published in the ham magazine 73 some years ago) are illegal to possess. If there's any truth to the stories that Novation was successfully sued, I would hope someone would post the details here. Was it a criminal or a civil suit? My guess is that Novation was simply unfortunate. I suspect some phone phreak wrote the program to generate the tones and got it widely distributed, leaving no trace as to his own identity. Someone could probably deliberately shaft a competitor (maybe anyone smaller than AT&T; that leaves out IBM even though they have hardware that will do this) by the right phone calls to AT&T security. /john ------------------------------ Date: Wed 16 Jul 86 19:11:43-PDT From: Mark Lottor Subject: vanity numbers Pacific Bell will start offering personalized phone numbers. It will be $10 to get and $1.50 a month. No further details, I just heard it on the news. ------------------------------ Date: 18-Jul-1986 1346 From: covert%covert.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (John R. Covert) Subject: Just when AT&T thought it was safe to go back into the water >From the Wall Street Journal, 26-June-86, included without permission. Survey: Sharks Prefer AT&T Lines By Wide Margin Over Sprint, MCI ------ ------ ------ ---- ----- -- ---- ------ ---- ------- --- By Bob Davis Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal Just when American Telephone & Telegraph Co. thought it was safe to go into the water, sharks began dining on its newest undersea telephone-communications cable. It seems the sharks just can't get enough of AT&T experimental underwater fiber-optic telephone cable near the Canary Islands. They munch on its plastic covering, gnaw on its electrical innards and eventually short-circuit it-even though they may electrocute themselves in the process. At least, "we came up with some pretty effective shark bait," says an AT&T spokeswoman. At first, AT&T engineers didn't know what was causing the cable failures. Then they raised the cable and found rows of shark teeth sticking out of it. "Sharks will always be attracted to magnetic fields," which the fiber-optic cables create, says James Barrett, an AT&T engineering official. Transatlantic Race That's the big problem because AT&T is hurrying to complete the world's first transatlantic fiber-optic cable by 1988. The cable uses glass fibers instead of copper wires to transmit conversation and data. AT&T's old cables generally are shark- free because they don't emit much magnetism. But a shark bite helped knock out the Canary Island fiber-optic cable for a full week. AT&T says it can combat the sharks by reinforcing stretches of the cable with steel wire and quickly patching breaks that occur. But the company's shark problem has attracted another kind of predator. Space Shark Communications Satellite Corp. (Comsat) a Washington, D.C., satellite company, is pressing Congress to spend $119 million next fiscal year on a new satellite system that will compete with fiber optics. Meanwhile, Comsat officials are turning AT&T fish difficulty to their own advantage: Shark attacks "may cause a delay of six months to a year," in laying AT&T's transatlantic cable, asserts John Evans, a Comsat vice president. AT&T denies any such delay. And even Comsat's lobbyist, Thomas Scully, doubts that Congress will swallow the fish story. He reasons: "If I were at AT&T and I saw an article saying the biggest problem facing fiber optics is that fish eat the cable, I'd say, "Boy, the satellite people are desperate." -30- Notes: The person from whom I originally received this article was immediately sceptical of the reports of magnetic fields from fiber optic cables. But unlike short-haul terrestrial fiber cables, where the fiber would not emit any fields, undersea cables must carry high voltage power to the undersea repeaters, which would result in both electric and magnetic fields around and along the cable. The article is further misleading in stating that old cables are shark-free because they don't emit much magnetism. It appears that the real reason here is more likely to be because the conventional cables are a larger diameter which the sharks can't so easily get their teeth around. And finally, experiments have shown that sharks are attracted to electrical fields which many of their prey emit. There is little to no data about magnetic fields and shark. I have, however, read articles about other animals using magnetic fields for navigation. /john ------------------------------ Date: 18 Jul 86 10:45:00 PST From: Subject: telephone query Reply-To: I'll soon be moving to a new house, and am planning on turning in the phones I'm renting from GTE and buying new phones. I'd appreciate any recomendations or warnings about the following types: 1) Cordless I'm thinking top-of-the-line here, preferably with: selectable channels (for neighbor interference) programmable security codes (for unauthorized line use) two-way paging speakerphone base station pulse/tone dialing 49/46 mHz 2) Desk/Office Here I'm thinking of a two line phone. I'd like to put one line on my residence number and the other on the line my modem normally uses. Thus I can use the modem line if the other line is in use. Features of interest: 10-30 stored number autodial separate ringer tone and ringer controls conference capability (between the two lines) pulse/tone dialing 3) Clock/Radio/Telephone This one would be for the master bedroom. Features I can think of: adjustable display brightness adjustable ringer volume (hopefully to off) Thanks in advance for any help! Art@ACC.ARPA ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1986 22:12 MDT From: Keith Petersen Subject: Northern Telecom DMS-100 digital switch update The 20-30 software updates that were scheduled to be made to the Northern Telecom DMS-100 switch (which were supposed to solve the problems of garbled modem connections) were done in the Southfield Michigan exchange ESS office. Now, instead of 2 out of 3 calls being garbled, it's about 1 out of 3 - certainly an improvement but still more to go. About two weeks ago Michigan Bell changed several more ESS offices in the Detroit area to Northern Telecom DMS-100 digital switches, including the one where my RCP/M system is located. This has resulted in numerous complaints from my modem callers about garbled connections. Even from my home, which is only one exchange away, about one out of three calls to that system result in garble problems at 1200 or 2400 bps. Some 300 baud callers report being unable to connect at all and others say they lose the connection during their session. That phone number was previously on a crossbar switch. A Michigan Bell employee who asked not to be quoted by name said that the Royal Oak office (a major hub center for the suburbs) was slated to have a DMS-100 installed soon and Michigan Bell has decided to put that switch in another office of less importance. He went on to say (this is unsubstantiated) that Michigan Bell has cancelled all future orders with Northern Telecom for DMS-100's and will instead in the future be using Western Electic digital switches. He also said that in order to fix these problems they are going to have to lock all the oscillators in the various digital switch frames together to a common master oscillator, and further that they are going to have to lock all the exchanges to a master oscillator at some central point. Another source told me that he has heard that 70% of ALL digital switches being installed in ESS offices in the U.S.A. are Northern Telecom DMS-100's. Looks like modem users are in for it. We'll probably have to change the technology of modems to make them ignore the discontinuities caused by the 8 kHz switching in these digital switches. --Keith Disclaimer: I have no proof that the above is true, only the word of sources that I trust. Tests I have personally made, however, did track down modem garble problems at work to the DMS-100 digital switch in the central office. The problems disappeared after I got them to change that phone number over to a crossbar switch. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 20 Jul 86 00:52:24 pdt From: well!tenney@lll-lcc.ARPA (Glenn S. Tenney) Subject: Communications Act of 1986 I am submitting this to mod.telecom. If I see it appear on the net, I'll post a reference to it in net.legal/news/mail. The Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986, which has passed the House, now is a bill in the Senate (S.2575). This one Act affects every usenet, bitnet, bbs, shortwave listener, TV viewer, etc. So that you can see what is being proposed, I have keyed it in fairly quickly. There may be some errors, so please do NOT consider this as the official bill. I have made a few abbreviations (ie. FCC, FBI, USC) which should be obvious in context. I entered this in four parts and later combined them and think I got all 52 pages. If you want your own official copy, send your request to: Senate Document Room Hart Senate Office Building, B 004 Washington, D.C. 20510-7016 I disclaim my typing skills, but good luck anyway. Maybe this will evoke some discussion or maybe even letters to our Senators. [This text is available as XX:ELECTRONIC-COMMUNICATIONS-PRIVACY.ACT-OF-1986 and is available for public FTP -elmo] -- Glenn Tenney UUCP: {hplabs,glacier,lll-crg,ihnp4!ptsfa}!well!tenney ARPA: well!tenney@LLL-CRG.ARPA Delphi and MCI Mail: TENNEY ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 23-Jul-86 05:17:05-EDT,8960;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Wed 23 Jul 86 05:17:04-EDT Date: 23 Jul 86 03:15-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #129 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Wednesday, July 23, 1986 3:15AM Volume 5, Issue 129 Today's Topics: Re: vanity numbers Re: Residential hunt groups Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 Legalalities Re: Blue Boxes ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 22 Jul 86 07:35:09 EDT From: Chris Maio Subject: Re: vanity numbers Those "vanity numbers" sound like the user just gets to specify their own phone number; New York Telephone provides this for free, including searching for an unallocated phone number based on simple criteria (e.g. for my two home phones, I specified the last 4 digits and they found two exchanges where those numbers weren't in use). I'd imagine that such searches require almost no effort, so charging for that kind of non-service seems pretty slimy; I wonder how they justify the monthly fee? Chris P.S. One thing to watch out for is what the number was used for in the past, and why it isn't in use: it would be pretty annoying to pay extra for a vanity number and wind up with a number that's etched into the wall in a men's room somewhere, or very close to a radio station's phone-in contest line. [Pacific Bell has to-date been willing to check number availability, although only about 10% of "disconnected" numbers have ever been available when I've requested them. Unfortunately, I'm afraid, this service will only heighten demand for "vanity" numbers, now that the public will KNOW they can have them. -Elmo] ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jul 86 07:45 EDT From: Frankston@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: Re: Residential hunt groups I've had residential hunt in Boston for the last 15 years. There is no charge. They will give you a little grief if you want to have different services. Since I've always gone with metropolitan unlimited I haven't had to face this, but I have the impression one can get the split if one tries hard enough. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jul 86 9:48:02 EDT From: Bobby Jesse Subject: Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 To spark further interest and letter writing, I submit excerpts of a letter I sent to several parties in February 1986: Dear Senator Mathias: [....] Let me state clearly that I believe the Act in its present form is *bad* legislation. There is a need to strengthen the 1968 wire- tapping laws in some respects, but S-2575 extends "protection" beyond that which is technically reasonable or even believable. In particular, I agree that wiretapping protection should be independent of the *content* and representation of a message. That is, video, facsimile, digital, etc. signals deserve just the same protection as voice signal. The problem is that S-2575 treats the medium of transmission (radio, wire, photoelectric) just as generally as the content, and this is in fundamental conflict with the differing physical behavior of the different media. Some means of transmission are inherently point-to-point -- wire, narrowbeam microwave, and the like. Information thus sent is targeted to a particular recipient, much as first class mail is enveloped and addressed to a particular person. And those communications deserve much the same legal protection as first class mail. Most electromagnetic emissions (radio), in contrast, are inherently omnidirectional -- that is, just as physically available to many people as to the intended recipient. It is no more reasonable to make illegal the reception of [some] such broadcasts than it would be to forbid the reading of certain pages of the Washington Post. But if this argument is ignored, with the claim that it is *vital* that the public not be permitted to receive some radio broadcasts (or to read certain pages of the Post), would the resulting legislation be useful? The answer is no -- a prudent, informed businessman would no sooner discuss confidential matters on an unencrypted cellular radio- telephone call than he would publish the same material in the Post. In both cases, he knows [or should know] that the media of trans- mission are inherently available to the public, and that with or without S-2575, it would not be prudent to shout his affairs to the public. [...] the sort of protection S-2575 attempts to provide is worse than useless. It lulls those who don't understand the technology into a false sense of security, believing that their communications are not being overheard, simply because it is illegal to overhear them. No doubt this is exactly why the cellular telephone industry supports the Bill -- a pacified public will buy more cellphones and use them more freely. [....] Respectfully yours, /s/ R. Jesse ======= The Mobile Communications Division of the Electronic Industries Assoc. [EIA] distributed around Capitol Hill an excellent letter dated July 10, 1986 to the same general effect as the above, with some additional points: + "In the case of cordless telephones the FCC requires product labeling to inform the consumer that 'privacy of communications may not be ensured when using this phone.' We believe that consumer education is a more appropriate response to this issue than is the proposed legislation." + the General Counsel of the FCC told the US DoJ in April 86 "'...we propose that the Safe Streets Act not prohibit interception of the radio portion of telephone communications where the interception is neither divulged nor used for the benefit of the interceptor or another not entitled thereto.'" + "There is also Congressional precedent acknowledging the concept of encryption. When Congress adopted Section 705 of the Communications Act in 1984, it exempted from penalty the interception of satellite cable programming by individuals for private viewing if 'the programming involved is not encrypted.'" ======= Readers of Telecom might think that there would be widespread opposition to this bill. Not so! The ease (unanimous voice vote?) and silence with which it passed the House is evidence. The EIA appears to be the first major voice to rise against it generally. [I understand that the Amateur Radio Relay League was objecting in the early stages, but was placated by additional language excluding ham bands, and has been more or less quiet since.] In contrast, the support for the Bill is vocal and very well organized. And the weight of the booboisie is behind it with the simplistic notion that "decent people don't listen in on other people's phone calls. let's make it illegal." And we can guess that if the bill becomes law, we'll hear no objection from the Supreme Court. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jul 86 15:33:57 EDT From: Douglas Humphrey Subject: Legalalities Re: Blue Boxes Concerning Blue Boxes, and what is illegal, it depends upon the laws of the State that you are in. In most states, they can get you for 'possession of a device capable of defrauding the phone company' which is a literal quote from some summons papers I have here from a time when a friend in Virginia got nailed. No need to show intent because the device has only one obvious purpose and capability which is defrauding the phone company. Possession of it is defacto evidence of intent (in the eyes of the courts, anyway). Blue boxes still work very well, but it is getting to be a game of Find The MF Trunk, since so much of the long distance facilities are onto CCIS and other out-of-band signaling methods. Still, there are a lot of trunks out there, and many of them will do the 'right thing' when whistled at. Rumor has it that there are places where trunks cross over into Canada which have a set of MF translaters on them to let the CCIS gear talk inband to some older MF gear up north, allowing the 2600 to go to the border unseen (who looks for it on CCIS trunks ?) but have the desired effect just over the border. >From there it would be possible to hit international senders and come back into the US, or go wherever else the sender can take you. Me ? No. Haven't touched the stuff in years. Too risky by half. Shamefully paying for all my long distance..... Doug ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 24-Jul-86 04:16:45-EDT,13789;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Thu 24 Jul 86 04:16:42-EDT Date: 24 Jul 86 03:00-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #130 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Thursday, July 24, 1986 3:00AM Volume 5, Issue 130 Today's Topics: Interview with MNP protocol author ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 22 Jul 1986 22:30 MDT From: Keith Petersen Subject: Interview with MNP protocol author By permission of the publisher... [Micom Propoganda removed, this article is rather biased, as one would expect. In that light, I will allow for one series of rebuttals in the next digest. Any further discussion will be directed to the Protocols@Rutgers digest. -Elmo] ==== Originally published by Black Box Corporation in the Black Box COMMUNICATOR. ERROR CORRECTION IN MODEMS... AND THE MNP PROTOCOL An Interview with Greg Pearson, the Developer of MNP ****************************************************** "(Error correction in modems) is a transparent solution to a problem that's been with us all the time -- noisy telephone lines." ****************************************************** Sending information, minus the errors, is a top priority among data communicators everywhere. As a result, more and more modems are being equipped with the MNP link protocol in their firmware. Many people feel that this is the most effecicent way to eliminate errors in today's high-speed dial-up communications. And Greg Pearson, MICOM's Chief Software Development Manager for Analog Products, is one of them. The MNP Protocol is his brainchild -- the product of Greg Pearson's attempt to develop a complete protocol, one with several layers that perform independently of the others. Needless to say, he was successful. BBC: In much of your published material on MNP, you've stressed that MNP has the richest set of protocols -- that it includes both a full- fledged link protocol as well as higher level protocols like session and file transfer. To begin our discussion on error correction in modems, can you tell us what you mean by a "full-fledged link protocol" -- and then give an overview of the different types of error correcting techniques? PEARSON: For one thing, a full-fledged link protocol has to provide layer independence. By that I mean that it doesn't depend on the layer above it to operate effectively. Since error-control is offered at the link protocol layer, it's important that it be independent. And that's not the case with the X.PC protocol. X.PC is actually a layer 3 protocol that integrates certain aspects of layer 2 from the OSI Reference Model. If you're a real architectural purest, you wouldn't do this. As for the different types of error correcting techniques used for point-to-point error correction to date, in the hobbyiest world -- or rather, the retail-oriented market -- three come to mind right away. They are Xmodem, X.PC and MNP. In a sense, these three techniques have been used to accomplish the same work, but in different environments. For example, many personal computer software packages use the Xmodem protocol for the error-free transmission of files over a dial-up telephone connection. But if a user wants to send an error-free file from a PC into TYMNET(R), X.PC would be used since it's the protocol used by TYMNET. On the other hand, if you wanted to do the same thing -- that is, send any data error-free over a dial-up connection -- with the protocol built into the modems themselves, you would use MNP. BBC: Can one protocol be replaced by another? PEARSON: Well, you could use X.PC or MNP in the same application as the Xmodem protocol. Basically, Xmodem is a very simple technique -- one that's good for file transfer but not for interactive traffic. And, as I just mentioned, X.PC is a software protocol approach used by TYMNET. A couple of companies have put X.PC into the firmware of their modems, but there are some significant disadvantages in doing that -- and the most noticable to the user is the difference in throughput. If you take a look at the market, the use of the MNP error-control protocol in modems is by far the preferred choice. It's currently used in the products of something like 16 or 18 modem vendors. ************************************************** "Imagine sending all of WAR AND PEACE with the probability of getting only one 1-bit error." ************************************************** BBC: Can you explain what you mean by throughput? PEARSON: Yes. When you have a 2400 bps modem without error control, the user can expect to send 2400 bits per second. When you implement X.PC in the firmware of that modem, it uses 9% of those 2400 bits per second for protocol purposes. So you could expect, in the best case, a throughput that would be 91% of the line speed. Now when using MNP in the firmware, you have a different situation. This, for the most part, is due to a feature that I refer to as "switch-to-sync." BBC: You talk about this feature in one of your articles, saying that it's an exclusive advantage of the MNP protocol. Can you explain what happens as a result of switch-to-sync? PEARSON: What happens is the transmission starts in the character- oriented mode -- or asynchronous mode. But if the modems at both ends of that transmission are equipped with MNP error-correction, the transmission will switch to bit-synchronous between the modems. As a result, the transmission is much more efficient. BBC: How does that affect the through-put of an MNP-equipped modem? PEARSON: Let me take you through the whole argument. When a user is connected to a V.22 bis 2400 bps modem, that user is operating in an asynchronous character mode. For every eight data bits transmitted, there is a start bit and a stop bit. That means that the user is sending 240 characters in 2400 bits -- or ten bits per character. Now, when an MNP error-correcting modem is sending data, it doesn't send the user's start and stop bits required in the asynchronous mode. So for every ten bits sent by the user, MNP only sends eight -- i.e. MNP is sending data 20% more efficiently than the user because it's sending 20% fewer bits. As for the bandwidth, MNP uses 11% for protocol mechanisms. So even though it loses 11% efficiency there, it gains 20% from the switch- to-sync operation -- and that puts you 9% ahead of the game. What that all boils down to is that MNP, on an error-free line, will impose no throughput degradation when built into the firmware of your modem. And because of the unique switch-to-sync feature, MNP is functionally like SDLC or HDLC, the two popular synchronous link layer protocols. BBC: What does this all mean to the user? PEARSON: You can have your cake and eat it too. The ideal aspect of the MNP link protocol is that you can have it either way -- character- oriented or bit-synchronous. Other protocols give you no options. BBC: What you're saying, then, is that MNP offers you a lot more flexibility than other protocols. PEARSON: That's right. And it has all the classical features of a layer 2 protocol: it's full-duplexed -- that is, it can send and receive data at the same time -- it has error detection based on a very powerful 16-bit CRC, ithas retransmission for error correction, and it can reliably send a keyboard break signal... all of which actually makes it more powerful than HDLC. BBC: You mentioned the 16-bit CRC, or Cyclic Redundancy Check. Can you explain that? Also, tell us what actually happens in this type of retransmission error correction. I believe you refer to it as the 'go-back-n' method of correction. PEARSON: Any protocol, in order to provide an error-free transmission, must have two things. One -- it has to provide a way for the receiver to know if an error has occurred. That's error detection. The technique employed in MNP for this error detection uses a polynomial function to calculate a 16-bit number which is a function of all the data sent in a particular message. The MNP error-correcting protocol then sends those 16-bits at the end of its message. The receiver -- as it is receiving the message -- calculates its own version of this 16-bit number. Then it compares its number with the 16-bit number sent with the message. If the numbers are the same, the message is free from errors. If the numbers are different, an error has occurred somewhere in the message. That's how errors are detected. Once an error is detected, the receiver brings the error correction mechanism provided by the MNP link protocol into play. That correction mechanism calls for the receiver to send a message back to the sender. The sender -- recognizing that the last correct message sent before the error was data message number 'n' -- is cued to go back to the message following message 'n'. In other words, if the sender has sent five messages, and the receiver detects an error in message 4, the sender will 'go back' to message 4 and begin retransmitting information again. For all practical purposes, the result of the MNP link is error-free transmission. Using the 16-bit redundancy check, it will detect every error which is 16 bits or smaller, with 100% probability. As a result, the chances of an error occurring are actually so small that you can, in practice, ignore them. Imagine sending all of WAR AND PEACE with the probability of getting only one 1-bit error. That's what you could expect from an error-control protocol that uses the 16-bit CRC. ******************************************************** "(MNP) is a very healthy protocol over long-delay channels, and that's important to dial-up users. You'd be surprised how many of your local calls today are being routed over satellite..." ******************************************************** BBC: MNP also has the ability to send a number of messages before any acknowledgement is required. Can you explain this? PEARSON: Any link protocol that's going to work well over telephone lines must have this ability. If you're making a transcontinental call and it's transmitted by satellite, you don't want to wait for an acknowledgement from the receiver after each message. That's how Xmodem works. What you want to be able to do is send a number of messages at one time. MNP lets you have up to eight outstanding messages before an acknowledgement is required. And MNP is designed in such a way that only under the worst conditions would a sender ever have to wait between transmissions. It's a very healthy protocol over long-delay channels, and that's important to dial-up users. You'd be surprised how many of your local calls today are being routed over satellite or microwave. BBC: You've talked about MNP becoming the de facto standard -- the unofficial standard for dial-up connections. On what factors would this really depend? How much does the demand for error-controlling, high-speed modems influence this? PEARSON: A year ago, there was some question as to whether the V.22 bis 2400 bps modem was really going to take off. I don't think that's much of an issue anymore. The price of these modems has come way down -- to the point that a 2400 bps modem can cost less than a Hayes(R) 1200. The higher speed modems are here to stay. What affect does this have on the demand for error control in modems? First of all, we're pushing more bits through the same width pipe -- and we're getting more errors as a result. Secondly -- because we're sending more bits at a time -- whenever we do get an error, it really clobbers more bits. Finally, there's the way we're sending bits through the channels. When we get an error, it takes longer for the modem to recover -- so when you lose one character, you're actually losing a whole slew of characters. In short, our communications are much more error sensitive today. And we have a dramatically increased need to control errors because of that. A good way of doing that is by putting the protocol right in the firmware of a modem -- a way that doesn't really interfere with your through-put. It's a transparent solution to a problem that's been with us all the time -- noisy telephone lines. # # # -by Betsy Momich Publications Department Black Box Corporation ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 27-Jul-86 21:12:17-EDT,16102;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Sun 27 Jul 86 21:12:15-EDT Date: 27 Jul 86 20:00-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #131 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Sunday, July 27, 1986 8:00PM Volume 5, Issue 131 Today's Topics: Do long cords cause errors? Hunting charges Re: Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 Re: Programmable devices emulating blue boxes HBO Hacker Captian Midnight Caught Re: Residential hunt groups ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 24 July 1986, 09:12:22 EDT Subject: Do long cords cause errors? The following is an excerpt from a local bulletin board concerning accessing our main computer from home. Would anybody care to comment on the assertion that long telephone cords/long modem cables might cause the error rate on a line to go up drastically? > I think I have more-or-less solved my line error problem. While I was > crawling under my PC desk disconnecting a defective monitor, I noticed > that I had the remaining 5 feet of the 6-foot RS232 cable neatly coiled > & tied with cable ties, and hanging down behind the desk. Laying right > on top of it was an equally neat coil of the remaining 5 feet of the > 6-foot modem telephone cable! I separated the two, and the error rate > dropped somewhat. Then I made up a new short telephone cable -- just > long enough to reach from the modem to the telephone outlet, and the > error rate dropped significantly. I vaguely remember when I undid > the rat's nest & coiled those cables -- it roughly corresponds to when > the error problem became persistent. > > I have had the new arrangement for about two months now, & the error > rate has remained reasonably low, so (knock wood) I feel safe in > saying that my problem is solved. > > I don't know whether the mechanism causing the errors was coupling > from the phone line to the RS232 cable or vice-versa. One would > normally expect the RS232 cable to be more noise-resistent, but one > also wouldn't expect the RS232 cable to radiate noise when the terminal > was idle, and I was indeed getting errors while idle. > > The connection still isn't rock-solid -- I think I am getting more > errors than with the original rats-next arrangement. Some day I will > get around to making up a short RS232 cable and see if that improves > things further. Victor S. Miller victor@ibm.com IBM Research, Yorktown Heights ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1986 20:59 MDT From: WANCHO@SIMTEL20.ARPA Subject: Hunting charges Apparently there is a charge for converting to hunting (it used to be free when we were under Mountain Bell and before the Split - we are now under Southwestern Bell...). I converted my lines to hunt (and dropped call forwarding) after I was told it would be free, and then got the bill. I complained and the charges were removed, but only because it was their mistake for the misinformation by the order taker, an old-timer... Note that I said it was a conversion. The initial installation of hunting may be free. The only requirements for hunting at no charge is that the lines terminate in the same residence even though two different exchanges may be involved. It seems that there are few qualified order takers who even know what hunting is, much less anything else about it, like charges. I've always been referred to a specialist who will "call back no later than" +2 working days... The best part about hunting is that you get one combined bill and no monthly additional charge. (The bill is charged to the first number in the hunt group, which also means that any other numbers in the group are automatically unlisted, for free!) --Frank ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 Date: Wed, 23 Jul 86 14:31:57 -0500 From: ptb@mitre-bedford.ARPA This seems like a "off the wall" solution to a potentially serious problem. I can sympathize with the feeling of "I dont want people listening to my cellular telephone". The problem is that I dont see THIS really solving the problem. In the first place, how is someone who is new to scanning (as I am) going to be able to distinguish between unencrypted police and fire communications, which are unprotected, and an unencrypted DoD or other communication, that is protected, before the carrier comes on if a radio is in search mode. Is the Congress going to make illegal (at a felony level) something that can be "committed" by someone without their knowledge. What about if I am in the bathroom or otherwise unable to hear the scanner. Is this still a crime? How are law enforcement agencies going to enforce this law? Are they going to get search warrants for everyone who has an outdoor antenna? (And this will not work at all for people who have a scanner in a room, with an indoor antenna....) Are they going to subpoena all of Bearcat's, Radio Shack's, etc. sales slips looking for people who have scanners and then place bugs in the devices to make sure that they are not picking up anything illegal? This wont work for those of us who bought the little buggers from someone second-hand.... C'mon guys.... Even if they can prove that someone HAS A DEVICE TO DO THIS, it does not seem possible to prove that the person involved has actually broken the law, because there is no way of telling if the scanner actually stopped on a particular channel. (Even if that channel is programmed into its memory, it is possible that any signals were out of range or not transmitting at the time the scanner was kerchunking through that frequency). Nor will making possession of a device capable of receiving certain transmissions work because: a) It is a very large category, involving almost all scanners, general coverage receivers, etc. b) The scanners can be used for legal purposes (I use mine for monitoring the Amateur Radio 2 meter and 440 mhz bands.) It seems the last time we had a law that tried to do something like this was at the time of Prohibition. It seems like that got repealed too, but only after the law practically spawned a lot of the Organized Crime around today. Does history have to repeat itself here? The current law is probably adequate for dealing with people who divulge the content of common carrier messages to someone else or use it for their own personal gain. What is really needed here is some kind of encryption key, maybe based on the (unique) telephone number of the cordless phone, if that is really what people want to protect. FCC certainly has the power (they regualte all transmitters of common carriers) to promulgate a standard to take care of this problem. A bit can be set in a digitized data stream to indicate if the caller is running the encryption or not. I agree that there is a privacy problem to be dealt with, but making it illegal to receive items is not going to really prevent problems because it is just not enforceable. The solution is to develop a unified encryption standard, and then let the users choose between whether or not privacy is important to them. I just do not have sympathy for people who on one hand want complete secrecy of what they are saying and on the other hand want to put it on a broadcast medium at the cheapest possible price and have legislation "solve" the problem for them. My feeling is that at least some of the responsibility lies with the sender to send a private message over a secured medium. Peter Baldwin (ptb@mitre-bedford) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Jul 86 19:14:02 EDT From: kitty!larry@seismo.CSS.GOV Subject: Re: Programmable devices emulating blue boxes In article <8607142300.AA01181@decwrl.DEC.COM>, covert@COVERT.DEC.COM (John R. Covert) writes: > >I think that the POSSESSION of a Blue Box or any device that can be used > >as a blue box is illegal. I am really not sure if its POSSESSION or USE, > >or perhaps even use with intent to defraud. > > As usual, it depends on the state. In some states, even the PLANS for a > blue box (such as were published in the ham magazine 73 some years ago) > are illegal to possess. In New York State, possession of a ``blue box'' is only a crime if the device is actually used for toll fraud, or attempted toll fraud. The possession of a blue box is no different from other criminal possession laws, such as "possession of burglar tools", "possession of a deadly weapon", "possession of eavesdropping devices", etc. A common screwdriver can be considered a "burglar tool" or even a "deadly weapon", provided that it WAS USED AS SUCH. Possession of a screwdriver per se, is of course, not illegal. A blue box is merely an electronic device which generates tones, and is no different from a number of pieces of test equipment sold to the electronics or telecommunications industry. In New York State, anyone can possess such devices PROVIDED they are not used for unlawful purposes; i.e., unlawful possession can ONLY be charged IN CONJUNCTION WITH a charge for unlawful use (or attempted unlawful use). I would be awfully suprised if possession of "plans" for a blue box were unlawful in any state, since such a situation would impinge on freedom of speech issues. On the other hand, DISSEMINATION of "plans" for blue boxes for the specific INTENT (with intent being clearly proven) of being used to defraud may be unlawful in some states. However, neither possession (per se) nor dissemination of plans for blue boxes are unlawful in New York State. > If there's any truth to the stories that Novation was successfully sued, > a civil suit? My guess is that Novation was simply unfortunate. I would be awfully surprised if Novation were actually sued unless they openly advertised the device for fraudulent purposes (which I find improbable to believe). MF signaling has clearly entered the private sector, as it has been available for several years in many areas from a telephone company CO on DID trunks to customer-owned PABX's equipped with direct inward dialing. Clearly customers owning and companies maintaining such PABX's have a need to possess MF senders for test purposes. Northeast Electronics (divsion of Northern Telcom) will be glad to sell anyone a TTS-59C MF sender for about $ 1.5 K; this device will certainly make a "first class" blue box. :-) ==> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York ==> UUCP: {allegra|decvax|rocksanne|rocksvax|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry ==> VOICE: 716/688-1231 {hplabs|ihnp4|seismo}!/ ==> FAX: 716/741-9635 {G1,G2,G3} "Have you hugged your cat today?" ------------------------------ Date: 23 Jul 1986 17:08-PDT Subject: HBO Hacker Captian Midnight Caught From: the tty of Geoffrey S. Goodfellow JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Investigators using a complicated process of elimination have unmasked ''Captain Midnight,'' who admitted in court he overrode HBO's satellite delivery system to transmit a message. John R. MacDougall, owner of a home satellite dish business in Ocala that officials said was hurt by cable companies' decisions to scramble their signals, agreed to plead guilty to illegal transmission of a satellite signal in exchange for a $5,000 fine and one year probation. He could have faced a maximum $10,000 fine and a year imprisonment. MacDougall, who was released on a $5,000 bond, and his attorney, John M. Green Jr., refused to comment as they left the federal court building Tuesday after entering the plea before a U.S. magistrate. Sentencing is set for Aug. 26 and MacDougall can retract his plea if the judge will not accept the arrangement. Early on April 27, MacDougall was the only one working at a satellite transmission center called Central Florida Teleport with the kind of equipment needed to disrupt the HBO signal, officials said. Although the video sneak attack was only a minor annoyance to HBO and its viewers, the Federal Communications Commission launched a massive investigation because of the potential problems a less selective video hacker might cause. ''The potential for damage to critical satellite frequencies cannot be underestimated,'' said Richard M. Smith, chief of the FCC's field operations bureau. He noted that critical telephone calls, air traffic control, military data and medical information are sent by satellite and that even an accidental interruption of one of these messages could cause dire consequences. On April 27, HBO viewers saw a message replace the movie ''The Falcon and the Snowman.'' The message said: ''Goodevening HBO ''From Captain Midnight ''$12.95 month ''No way! ''(Showtime Movie Channel beware.)'' The wording was an apparent reference to HBO's decision to scramble its satellite-delivered signal so it could not be watched by those not paying for HBO, officials said. ''His company was sustaining substantial losses because of the scrambing of HBO and threats of other scrambling,'' said Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence Gentile III. MacDougall also interrupted HBO video signals on April 20, when he transmitted a color bar pattern, officials said. On Jan. 15, HBO became the first cable TV network to scramble its signal full time. Showtime and The Movie Channel scrambled their programming full time on May 27. The scrambling makes pictures unwatchable without a descrambler and slowed sales of satellite dishes. Of 580 satellite facilities with a transmitting dish large enough to overpower HBO's signal, less than a dozen had sufficient power and the right kind of electronic typewriter to write the protest message Captain Midnight transmitted, investigators said. The investigation focused on Ocala after a tipster vacationing in Florida reported to the FCC an overheard telephone call about Captain Midnight. The tipster provided the caller's description and license plate number. The caller who was overheard was not the suspect, but the FCC said the information provided proved extremely beneficial. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Jul 86 21:21:47 EDT From: Ken Rossen Subject: Re: Residential hunt groups > while I expect that both lines will have identical service on them, is > it possible to get different types of service for lines in a hunt > group? (In other words, one line might have Suburban Contiguous while > the other might have a smaller non-message-unit range or whatever.) I doubt you can do this. My exchange is served by New England Telephone as well, though I don't live in the same area code, and the company reps refused to allow me different grades of basic service in the same residence. I've wondered, though, what would happen if the phone is in another building, though on the same property. This only becomes an issue when we build our barn. e.g., They won't let me have measured service on my second line in the house because I can make all my local calls on the unlimited line, but am I allowed to have measured service on the barn phone, since I'd have to go into my house to make a "free" local call? I'd be interested to hear what you find out about hunt groups. -- Ken Rossen ...!{ihnp4,harvard,seismo}!bbnccv!krossen ____or____ krossen@bbn.com -or- krossen@bbnccp.arpa ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 29-Jul-86 05:24:04-EDT,5916;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Tue 29 Jul 86 05:24:02-EDT Date: 29 Jul 86 04:03-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #132 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Tuesday, July 29, 1986 4:03AM Volume 5, Issue 132 Today's Topics: Usage Sensitive Pricing Re: hunt groups Residential hunt groups Re: answering machine security ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 27 Jul 86 18:05:59 edt From: Marvin Sirbu Subject: Usage Sensitive Pricing Rolla Edward Park and Bridger Mitchell of the Rand Corporation have just published a VERY interesting study on the economics of Usage Sensitive Pricing. (Rand Report R-3404-RC, "Optimal Peak-Load Pricing for Local Telephone Calls, June 1986") They conclude that, in most cases, usage sensitive pricing for telephone calls does very little to improve economic efficiency, and may actually REDUCE total welfare. The essence of their argument is as follows: The idea of usage sensitive pricing is to shift usage away from the peak hours so you don't have to build as much peak capacity, thus saving money. In practice however, there may be twenty hours a year that account for the real peak demand. Yet a practical usage sensitive pricing scheme will set some charge for the same hours of the day (say 10 am to 4 pm) during every business day of the year. For most of those days, traffic is below the peak anyway and the charge serves only to reduce welfare by discouraging calls which could have been handled easily. Ideally, if you could just set a usage sensitive charge differently for every hour of the year (8736 separate rates) you could get some improvement; in practice you can't so you don't. This type of argument could slow the move to USP in State rate cases. Well worth reading if you are thinking of filing comments. Marvin Sirbu Carnegie Mellon ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 27 Jul 86 19:32:47 PDT From: Jordan Hayes Subject: Re: hunt groups Here in California (Pacific Bell) there are two seemingly identical services that have radically different pricing schemes. One is called a "hunt group" that costs $20/line to install (2 lines == $40, even if line a -> line b is the only thing you want) + $0.50/month per line. The other is called "Auto Busy Forwarding" that is $10 to install for the a->b and $3.50/month ... All of my questions to the various people on the phone (and their supervisors ...) brought no concrete answers ("Oh, well, yes, I suppose it *does* sound like the same service, doesn't it?" ... it's tough to get good help these days ...) /jordan [Actually the first-year pricing is exactly the same. Call Forwarding-Busy goes one step farther than regular hunting in that it will work across exchanges. If you want some more fun, try and have them explain the difference between Call Forwarding-Busy and Call Forwarding-Busy/Extended. -elmo] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 27 Jul 86 23:06:55 EDT From: Jon Solomon Subject: Residential hunt groups New England Telephone doesn't allow measured service and unmeasured (flat rate) service to exist in the same residential area (barns would be covered under this). However of the flat rate services (suburban, metropolitan, and just flat rate service), you can have whatever combination you want. At my residence I have 4 metropolitan services and 1 bay state service plan. --jsol ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 27 Jul 86 16:34:39 EDT From: Douglas Humphrey Subject: Re: answering machine security I am reminded by this machine of the hack that you can do to any regular telephone, in which you place a PLL (phase locked loop) in the phone, and change the wiring on the switchook so that the phone can be taken off hook without the removal of the handset. When calling the phone, you transmit the tone that the PLL is looking for down the line. In most cases a connection to the target phone is made during the 'quiet' period of the interupter (the thing that determines your ringing cycle and timing), allowing the PLL to see the audio tone and answer the phone before it actualy rings. Even if it hits on the start of a ring signal, all you wil will hear is a brief blip of a ring from the phone once. Now the phone is off hook, just as if someone had answered it. Think about how sensitive phone microphones are; with amplification, you can hear anything said just about anywhere in the house. Modern technology is moving to make this impossible, but slowly. Most ESS systems will not connect the voice path to the local loop (your phone line) until after the signaling (ringing) has been answered, so in that case this would not work. Large parts of the country are still on crossbar, and in fact there are areas that are served by ESS systems which actualy are on #5 crossbar with electronic translation, and they may never go to real ESS. In this world where people will but poison in cold capsules just for fun, I would recomend that you carefully check out any device that you place in your home that allows for ANY level of remote control. Will it shoot cyanide at you while you sleep ? Hardly likely. But do be on the lookout for some sort of code that does the 'listen in on the house' trick WITHOUT the bleep or the 30 second timeout..... Paranoid ? No. Who's asking ?!? Doug ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 31-Jul-86 04:23:26-EDT,8720;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Thu 31 Jul 86 04:23:24-EDT Date: 31 Jul 86 02:25-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #133 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Thursday, July 31, 1986 2:25AM Volume 5, Issue 133 Today's Topics: No. 5 X-Bar with ETS? Only DTMF on DID trunks Vadic 2400PA Modem Bug MNP Re: Hunting charges - Now: Unlisted number charges line hunting rules; AppleCat E-Com Privacy Act ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 29-Jul-1986 0523 From: covert%covert.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (John R. Covert) Subject: No. 5 X-Bar with ETS? >and in fact there are areas that are served by ESS systems which >actualy are on #5 crossbar with electronic translation, and they >may never go to real ESS. Really? I've never heard of this sort of central office. I bet you're thinking of 4A toll machines with ETS. /john ------------------------------ Date: 29-Jul-1986 0534 From: covert%covert.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (John R. Covert) Subject: Only DTMF on DID trunks >MF signaling has clearly entered the private sector, as it has been available >for several years in many areas from a telephone company CO on DID trunks to >customer-owned PABX's equipped with direct inward dialing. Clearly customers >owning and companies maintaining such PABX's have a need to possess MF senders >for test purposes. Only partly true. I have yet to see a TELCO willing to send anything but dial pulse or DTMF (Touch-Tone) on PBX DID trunks, and in some cases even getting that is quite difficult. MF seems to only be used on PBX-PBX tie trunks, and never on any PBXs from Western Electric. /john ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 29 Jul 86 22:43 EDT From: Earnhardt@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: Vadic 2400PA Modem Bug The Vadic 2400PA modem has a bug in the support of the break signal. When using the modem with a terminal at 1200 baud, break works fine. When using with a terminal at 2400 baud to a remote 1200 baud system (using the 212 protocol) the break signal does NOT work. Presumably the "speed conversion" feature of the 2400PA is not clever enough to double the time that the signal line is held by the terminal when transmitting out on the line. Even though the lack of a break signal with speed conversion will probably not lose a lot of customers, this is another example of my experience with the option-loaded 2400 baud modems: they are complicated. Setup can take a long time. There can be permutations of the configurations that are useless in non-obvious ways. Modems are getting pretty close to being computers all by themselves. Modem manufacturers are pretty inexperienced in software. It may be a while before modems gain the robustness and ease of use that was around in the 1200 baud days. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 29 Jul 86 23:17 EDT From: Earnhardt@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: MNP Several big problems with MicroCom MNP were not mentioned in the interview. First, while there are N companies who have implemented the protocol, there is no immediate way of knowing if the implementations are tuned. MicroCom does have seminars in implemting MNP, but companies are often interested in reienventing (or perhaps reiemplemting) the wheel. In fact, since MicroCom sells modems itself, it has a vested interest in having its implementation of MNP work "better" than anyone else's. Only Class 1 through Class 3 MNP are free for other modem companies to use. Class 3 only has about a 10% increase in efficiency over the carrier speed. The dramatic throughput increases start appearing in Class 4 and Class 5, which must be licensed. I'd be interested in knowing what percentage of non-MicroCom MNP modems are above and below the Class 3 boundary. There are already modem manufacturers that are using a "superset" of MNP. Some manufacturers are extending capabilities of MNP; some are circumventing the royalties associated with the higher-level implementations. These actions will limit the universality of the high-performance MNP levels. Finally, as has been noted in Telecom already, no modem-to-modem packetization protocol can guarantee reliable end-to-end transmission of information. There must be some additional mechanism to assure that the information is correctly getting transferred. Any reliable byte stream must have its packetization/retransmission facilities exist in the source and destination machines. By its implementation, MNP is not be the answer for error-free communications. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 28 Jul 86 23:01:08 edt From: Henry Schaffer Subject: Re: Hunting charges - Now: Unlisted number charges >... > The best part about hunting is that you get one combined bill and no > monthly additional charge. (The bill is charged to the first number > in the hunt group, which also means that any other numbers in the > group are automatically unlisted, for free!) > > --Frank Southern Bell doesn't charge for unlisted numbers if you also have a listed number. (This is logical considering why they have a charge for unlisted numbers.) --henry schaffer n c state univ ------------------------------ Date: 30-Jul-1986 1053 From: goldstein%delni.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (Fred R. Goldstein dtn226-7388) Subject: line hunting rules; AppleCat Whether or not it is possible to have line hunting between lines with different services is a matter of tariff. New England Telephone's Rhode Island and New Hampshire tariffs, as I recall, allow residential measured service only if there is no flat-rate service on site. RI only allows it if it's the one and only line on the premises -- they view it as a lifeline option. Mass., on the other hand, views it as a perfectly normal option so there are no restrictions on mixing measured ($5.25/month including $2 CALC) with, say, Bay State East or Metropolitan. The Mass. tariff is full of complex options which you can mix and match. For example, there's: Measured, Contiguous, Suburban, Metropolitan, Circle, Bay State East, Extended Community Calling. Not all in all places, though. Re: The Novation modem is a blue box? Having just read "Hackers" by Steven Levy (hey, it's in paperback), I can pass along the tidbit that the AppleCat modem was designed by none other than John Draper, a.k.a. Captain Crunch, the notorious and compulsive phone phreak. He knew exactly what he was doing! Great hack, though. I wonder if I can get one to work with my PDT-11. Someone mentioned that MF is common on customer premises because of DID service. Not true, at least in the US of A! There is no readily available telco service that uses MF signaling in CPE. PBXs don't have MF registers or outpulsers. DID service is usually rotary pulse only, because that works when the line is split prior to answer supervision. The CO to PBX talk path only opens up when there's an answer and the call is billed. The PBX to CO direction is always open in order to pass ringback or intercept, which are free (unsupervised). DTMF (Touch-tone) is now available for DID, but the PBX has to promise not to cheat. MF is not used, period. MF is used on Centrex to Centrex tie lines, but not on Centrex to PBX tie lines, since that would hit the customer premise. Phone companies are a bit paranoid about MF, I guess. fred ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 30 Jul 86 17:59:55 EDT From: Bobby Jesse Subject: E-Com Privacy Act The Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 has passed the house and is now being considered by the Senate (S-2575). It is expected to pass committee within a week, and could pass the Senate floor anytime thereafter. Most people automatically consider "privacy protection" to be a good thing. Indeed, the vote in the House was unanimous. Only technologically aware people readily see the deficiencies. Fellow TELECOM readers who feel strongly about the issue are urged to WRITE and TELEPHONE their senators (and Senators Mathias, Moynihan, and Gore) to help them understand the scientific reality. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 6-Aug-86 02:15:48-EDT,5140;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Wed 6 Aug 86 02:15:46-EDT Date: 4 Aug 86 02:10-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #134 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Monday, August 4, 1986 2:10AM Volume 5, Issue 134 Today's Topics: Re: answering machine security captain midnight's demise Long Cords Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 Colorado Springs -- new area code different kinds of service ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 31 Jul 86 09:40:47 edt From: Henry Schaffer Subject: Re: answering machine security > I am reminded by this machine of the hack that you can do to any regular > telephone, in which you place a PLL (phase locked loop) in the phone, and > will hear is a brief blip of a ring from the phone once. > ... > Now the phone is off hook, just as if someone had answered it. Think > about how sensitive phone microphones are; with amplification, you > can hear anything said just about anywhere in the house. > > Modern technology is moving to make this impossible, but slowly. > ... > > Doug I believe that this is known in the trade as an "infinity tap". My understanding of the origin of the term is that you can be any distance away from the premises and still listen in. --henry schaffer n c state univ ------------------------------ Date: 1 Aug 86 00:01:53 EDT From: *Hobbit* Subject: captain midnight's demise I want to know how this "tipster" "overheard" certain phone calls and how he could glean any idea that he was listening to the perpetrators??? Something smells awfully fishy here. _H* ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 30 Jul 86 14:30:34 edt From: hplabs!caip!seismo!c3pe!charles@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU Subject: Long Cords In article <8607280012.AA15349@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> you write: >The following is an excerpt from a local bulletin board concerning >accessing our main computer from home. Would anybody care to >comment on the assertion that long telephone cords/long modem cables >might cause the error rate on a line to go up drastically? It sounds like the *coiling* of the telephone cord is the most likely culprit. Considering the length from home to central office, I really don't think that shortening the length from wall jack to modem, per se, helped matters. I *do* know that automobile ignition wires have a cross- induction problem when you run them side-by-side for long distances, and if a data communication path is marginal anyway (as this one sounds), any "signal-shaping" modifications (like a coil to cut high frequencies??) would likely only hurt matters. On the other hand, I'd still be surprised to find that coiling the phone cord could make any noticeable difference in signal quality. -Charles Green at C3 Inc. {{styx!seismo,cvl}!decuac,dolqci}!c3pe!charles You hear the howling of the Winchester. The voltage spike hits! You crash.-More ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 2 Aug 1986 14:21 EDT From: "David D. Story" Subject: Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 This is nothing compared to living in the City with nosy building people near your junction box, especially N.Y., where you might think the way they are treated that they are the Senate Buruea of Investigation. They come complete with priviledged radio communications to Police and others. These Guys Are the Ones to Control. Not only do they have networks for spotting but work in close enough proximity to go through your garbage, bug your apartment, tap your phone, use information gathered. I know ! I have been a victim of some of their partial information gathering and I it has costed me contractual business !!!!! ------------------------------ Date: 02-Aug-1986 2223 From: covert%covert.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (John R. Covert) Subject: Colorado Springs -- new area code The Colorado Springs LATA will be leaving 303 and moving into a new area code, 719, some time in 1988. This leaves only 407, 708, 908, and 909 vacant. Chicago (312) is expected to split fairly soon; it will probably be 708 or 909, since 407 and 908 are valid NXXs within 312. /john ------------------------------ Date: 3 Aug 86 00:17:33 EDT From: *Hobbit* Subject: different kinds of service A relatively reliable way to obtain flat rate and measured in the same residence is to put in two separate work orders. Costs a bit more but it usually works, since they never seem to cross-check what kind of service exists in the residence already. _H* ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* ------- 10-Aug-86 18:10:31-EDT,9730;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Sun 10 Aug 86 18:10:22-EDT Date: 10 Aug 86 16:59-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #135 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Sunday, August 10, 1986 4:59PM Volume 5, Issue 135 Today's Topics: Charges for Unlisted Service Cancel-Call-Waiting (*70) 950-1088 Mixing Service Classes Area Codes Telecommunications in Israel Telenet PC Pursuit will not upload certain files ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 4 Aug 86 13:38:30 PDT (Monday) Subject: Charges for Unlisted Service From: "Arthur_Axelrod.WBST128"@Xerox.COM " Southern Bell doesn't charge for unlisted numbers if you also have a listed number. (This is logical considering why they have a charge for unlisted numbers.) --henry schaffer n c state univ" Why does the TelCo have a charge for unlisted numbers? I've never really understood that. Why is it logical to not charge for unlisting one if you have another that is listed? Art Axelrod Xerox Webster Research Center ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Aug 86 15:54:23 pdt From: ssc-vax!clark@uw-beaver.arpa (Roger Clark Swann) Subject: Cancel-Call-Waiting (*70) Someone recently asked me about cancelling call waiting while using a modem on the line... Someone else suggested using: *70 555-1234 to do this.... I have never heard of being able to turn off this feature. Has anyone else ? Roger uucp: ssc-vax!clark [Cancel-call-waiting is a long overdue feature slowly being implemented in ESS and DMS switches across the country. You'll have to check with your local business office to see if it yet available in your area. To use the feature, preceed your call with *70; you will hear the "confirmation tone" and then dial tone, after which you dial your destination number. --Elmo] ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 5 Aug 86 23:53 EDT From: Frankston@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: 950-1088 Who is 1088? There is an ad (in Computer Retail News) that gies the number to dial as Newfangled toll-free phone: 950-1088 (tone) 2-CRANIUM If no access try 800-446-4462 (tone) 2-CRANIUM who is supplying the service? Looks like a telemarketing service that has national access as if it were an ALDC. [950-1088 was SBS, now MCI. Like the other carriers, they are stuck offering non-800 toll-free numbers. These services ("InSprint") have been available for years, but the confusion in usage obviously inhibits their effectiveness. -elmo] ------------------------------ Date: Wed 6 Aug 86 00:19:06-PDT From: Mark Crispin Subject: Mixing Service Classes Here in Pacific Bell land, I have 5 phone lines to my residence. Three are flat rate (1 voice, 2 data); the other two are measured since they are only used for incoming data connections. They're quite happy to offer flat rate and measured to the same residence. What they won't do is offer lifeline (the cheapest rate) and some other service. Now, here's what pisses me off. I only want my voice line listed, but they are charging me for unlisted service on one of my data lines. They claim that you have to pay for unlisted service for at least one of your lines. I'm also paying a couple of bucks a month to have busy transfer between the data line I give everybody the phone number for and its backup. I guess I'm getting back in my own little way. Out here they charge you to have the lines collected into a single bill (you can get two lines put together on one bill at no charge if they are on the same exchange). Since I pay my bills by electronic banking, it is no skin off my back to pay for each line separately. Pac Bell has to pay a few extra pennies to bill me 5 times a month. Maybe someday they'll learn and make consolidated billing a free (or preferably discounted) service. ------------------------------ Date: 06-Aug-1986 1250 From: covert%covert.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (John R. Covert) Subject: Area Codes In Issue 134 I wrote: >The Colorado Springs LATA will be leaving 303 and moving into a new >area code, 719, some time in 1988. > >This leaves only 407, 708, 908, and 909 vacant. Chicago (312) is expected to >split fairly soon; it will probably be 708 or 909, since 407 and 908 are valid >NXXs within 312. It has been pointed out that I missed another vacant one, 917. In addition, 903 has been retired for about five years now and could be reused. The future of N10, N00, and N10 codes is unknown. /john ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 8 Aug 86 20:02:32 PDT From: ihnp4!chinet!wmf@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: Telecommunications in Israel Reply-To: chinet!wmf@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (William M. Fischer) I'm posting this for a friend -- so please, no net replies. He is moving from Chicago to Tel Aviv at the end of August. He has been an active telecommunicator here for a couple of years, and wants to stay involved. He has a couple of questions: (1) Are there any PC-DOS-oriented BBSes in Israel? If so, what are the phone numbers? (2) What is the easiest way of sending messages and files between Tel Aviv and Chicago? One way he knows of is via Bitnet between Tel Aviv University and Northwestern University. Is there a better way? (3) He has a Courier 2400 modem. Are there any problems in running this? I will summarize replies here at a later date. Thanx to all in advance, Bill Fischer ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 9 Aug 1986 21:59 MDT From: Keith Petersen Subject: Telenet PC Pursuit will not upload certain files The following is relayed from GEnie's CP/M RoundTable. --Keith Petersen Arpa: W8SDZ@SIMTEL20.ARPA uucp: {ihnp4,allegra,cmcl2,dual,decvax,mcnc,mcvax,vax135}!seismo!w8sdz GEnie Mail: W8SDZ RCP/M Royal Oak: 313-759-6569 ---forwarded message--- TO: All PC Pursuit Users WARNING: PC Pursuit will not upload certain files! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - As if the busy signals and disconnects were not enough (sigh), listen to this... Under certain circumstances, files may not be uploaded to a remote system with Christensen ("XMODEM") protocol using the PC Pursuit service of GTE Telenet. In particular, the three-byte ASCII sequence (binary <0DH, 40H, 0DH>) is ALWAYS interpreted as an escape to Telenet command level. If this sequence occurs in an appropriate place within a file, that file cannot be uploaded! The typical effect with most file transfer programs is the occurrence of repeated local timeout errors, and an apparent loss of connection when the user returns to terminal mode to attempt recovery after the transfer is aborted. I have verified the above with Telenet customer service and engineering representatives. Their response was that this is an unfortunate result of the established Telenet command structure, and it is not likely that any attempt will be made to provide a solution to this problem for PC Pursuit customers! (Considering the difficulty of making network connections at almost any hour of the night, I'm sure there must be A LOT of us PC Pursuers out there... At $25 per month each, I had hoped we deserved a better response than that.) Note that this situation is unlikely to occur within an ASCII text file produced on CP/M or MS-DOS systems, since CR is almost always followed by LF in such files. But it is certainly possible within a binary (e.g. .COM) file. (The high bit of each byte is insignificant to Telenet, so there are actually eight different 3-byte binary sequences which may cause this problem.) Also, there is a small likelihood of this occurring even during a text file transfer, due to the binary record count and checksum or CRC bytes which are generated by the protocol. From my own experience, the problem seems most likely to occur within SQueezed files. As a possible workaround to this problem, I would suggest trying either of the following: 1. Change the file compression. I.e., (un)SQueeze or (un)CRUNCH the file, as appropriate to its original form. Then leave a message to the remote system's SysOp requesting that the file be restored after it is received. 2. If you are using XMODEM-CRC mode, try Checksum mode (or vice- versa). If you are using 1K-byte (YMODEM) transfers, try using the slower 128-byte transfers instead. Either of these changes may allow recovery from a small class of situations which could cause the problem. The following facts should also be noted: 1. This problem occurs only with uploads. Downloads from a remote system are not affected. 2. Once such a file transfer has been aborted, you have NOT lost your connection to the remote system! Simply issue the command CONT (continue) at the Telenet @ prompt. I hope this information will save others the hours of aggravation it has caused me. Bob Freed Newton Centre, MA August 6, 1986 ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 13-Aug-86 06:24:45-EDT,9597;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Wed 13 Aug 86 06:24:44-EDT Date: 13 Aug 86 04:25-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #136 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Wednesday, August 13, 1986 4:25AM Volume 5, Issue 136 Today's Topics: Re: Mixing Service Classes Re: Mixing Service Classes Re: Charges for Unlisted Service Telephone/Clock Radio with direct keyboard entry alarm(s) Community College Course in Telecommunications Telenet PC Pursuit file upload problem solved ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon 11 Aug 86 07:24:40-CDT From: Werner Uhrig Subject: Re: Mixing Service Classes RE: They're quite happy to offer flat rate and measured to the same residence when I asked SWB here in Austin, they did not cede that option. But then, I think I did not try to push the matter with any higher-ups which (now it seems) I should have done. RE: Now, here's what pisses me off. I only want my voice line listed, but they are charging me for unlisted service on one of my data lines. They claim that you have to pay for unlisted service for at least one of your lines. I solved that problem by having the numbers listed with fictitious names without a street-address. try: QWERTY, NOANSWER if you want to be conspicuous. no extra charge. [Hear hear! -Elmo] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Aug 86 11:52:05 pdt From: well!mo@lll-crg.ARPA (Maurice Weitman) Subject: Re: Mixing Service Classes Reply-To: mo@well.UUCP (Maurice Weitman) In article <8608102105.AA09209@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> MRC%PANDA@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA (Mark Crispin) writes: >Here in Pacific Bell land, I have 5 phone lines to my residence. >[...] >Now, here's what pisses me off. I only want my voice line listed, but >they are charging me for unlisted service on one of my data lines. They >claim that you have to pay for unlisted service for at least one of your >lines. >[...] >I guess I'm getting back in my own little way. >[...] Here's a better way to get back at the tarriff-quoting, beaurocratic bimbos: beat them at their own game. Tell them you want the other lines listed in some fictitious name. I've got mine listed in W.C. Fields's character's names. Here's your chance to be R. Milhouse Nixon, Che Guevera, Y.A. Boguslisting, etc. My understanding is they've got to do and it's free. Some day they'll catch on and stop charging for things that don't cost, or actually save them money. Til then, we can play their silly games, can't we? ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 12 Aug 86 04:48:35 PDT From: hoptoad!gnu@lll-crg.ARPA (John Gilmore) Subject: Re: Charges for Unlisted Service Consider it a stupidity charge. My "unlisted" phones are simply listed "in the name of another roommate" whose name is unlikely to be looked up. Some of my friends have "Emma Goldman"s phone in their house. ------------------------------ Date: 12 Aug 86 15:26:50 PDT (Tuesday) Subject: Telephone/Clock Radio with direct keyboard entry alarm(s) From: schwartz.osbunorth@Xerox.COM (Victor S. Schwartz) I have purchased a number of clock radios over the years, and I have developed a list of features I have found very useful. Now I am contemplating the purchase of a combination clock radio/telephone, but the one feature I deem essential to such a combination seems to be missing from every model on the market: I would like to be able to set the alarm time(s) by direct keyboard entry... which would logically be accomplished via the keypad on the telephone. I.e., to set an alarm for 6:30 AM I would key in 6...3...0... perhaps followed by an AM indicator. This technique is opposed to the clumsy Fast/Slow or Hour/Minute buttons found on most digital clock radios. Unfortunately, virtually all the combination clock radio/telephones on the market consist of a clock radio with a telephone "stuck" on the cabinet. Aside from a mute switch (to quiet the radio when you pick up the telephone), there is NO integration between the telephone functions and the clock radio functions. If anyone has discovered a model which meets this requirement, please provide details. Many thanx, Victor Schwartz ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Aug 86 22:09:02 EDT From: "Cpt. Jerome A. DiGennaro AV 298-2703" Subject: Community College Course in Telecommunications The local community college where I teach has asked me to put together a course on telecommunications. I am wondering if anyone on the net could provide some of the answers to the following questions. Are any 2 or 4 year colleges offering a degree in telecommunications? If so, what is the curriculum like? Are there any decent textbooks that could be used in teaching this course? What topics would you the people in the field expect to be taught in such a course? Please respond directly to me. Thanks. [Please CC Telecom -Elmo] Jerry DiGennaro ARPA/BITNET: jerryd@brl.arpa AT&T: (301) 278-2703/5759 UUCP: ...{seismo,unc,decvax,cbosgd}!brl-smoke!jerryd ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1986 00:27 MDT From: Keith Petersen Subject: Telenet PC Pursuit file upload problem solved A fix for the PC Pursuit XMODEM file upload problem has been found. --cut here--PCP-FIX.MSG--cut here-- TO: All PC Pursuit Users SUBJECT: PC Pursuit file upload problem solved! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - My previous warning message (PCP-WARN.MSG) reported the inability of GTE Telenet's PC Pursuit service to upload certain files using Christensen ("XMODEM") protocol. In particular, files containing the three-byte ASCII sequence (binary <0DH, 40H, 0DH>) cannot normally be uploaded, since this sequence (and any variation with high bits set in any of the three bytes) causes an escape to Telenet command level. In response to my initial inquiry about this problem, Telenet customer service and engineering representatives informed me that no solution was likely. I am now pleased to report that this information was incorrect! It is possible to upload files containing the three-byte Telenet escape sequence by following the procedure described below. After connecting to the remote modem (C DIALxxx/xx command), escape to Telenet command level by typing (cr) @ (cr). Then issue the following two commands at the Telenet @ prompts (where (cr) indicates RETURN or ENTER as appropriate to your keyboard): @SET? 1:0 (cr) PAR1:0 @CONT (cr) The SET? (Set Parameter) command disables subsequent recognition of the normal Telenet escape sequence. (The PAR1:0 message is a response from Telenet.) The CONT (Continue) command then returns control to the remote modem. Note that the above commands may be entered at any time after connecting to the remote dialing area via the Telenet C (Connect) command (i.e., before or after issuing a Hayes modem ATDT dialing command to connect to a remote system). However, these commands should be used with caution... Once they have been entered, there is no way to escape back to Telenet command level in order to issue a D (Disconnect) command! I.e., connection to another dialing area can only be made by hanging up (dropping carrier) and then re-dialing into your local Telenet access node. My thanks to Telenet Director of Marketing, Kevin Abt (the "Father of PC Pursuit") for researching this problem and providing the above information. Kevin also reports that GTE is actively responding to the enormous popularity of PC Pursuit by expanding capacity and enhancing the system. They have just completed a several-week effort to increase the number of outgoing modems in each of the 14 metropolitan areas currently served by PC Pursuit. (I have personally noticed a marked improvement in the time required to obtain network connections.) They are now in the process of testing 2400 bps service and new modems which provide enhanced call progress reporting, for deployment in all PC Pursuit cities. They are also soliciting requests for additional cities for future service. To keep abreast of the latest developments and/or to provide feedback to Kevin, call the NET-EXCHANGE, a FIDO BBS in the Washington, DC (DIAL202) area at (703)-689-3561. Bob Freed Newton Centre, MA August 11, 1986 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [Footnote: PC Pursuit has additional toll restriction in some cities. There is a list of prefixes available from the marketing folks. What worked previously may now yield "BUSY"... generally they're allowing short-distance calls (Pac Bell calls 'em "ZUM") but not the toll calls ("Nearby Rate"). Also, I discovered some weeks back that N0X/N1X prefixes universally yield "BUSY" - presumably necessary for the 415 dialouts. No word on a fix yet. -Elmo] ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 19-Aug-86 03:40:53-EDT,7498;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Tue 19 Aug 86 03:40:52-EDT Date: 19 Aug 86 02:38-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #137 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Tuesday, August 19, 1986 2:38AM Volume 5, Issue 137 Today's Topics: Communications Course Material Telecom Colleges Combined billing curiosities Re: 950-1088 New Generic in Acton #2BESS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 13 Aug 86 11:12:04 EDT From: Robert Willis Subject: Communications Course Material Jerry, Telecommunications is a large subject area. You did not give any indication of particular subareas. You also didn't mention the background level of the students. Since you said that the course is for a local community college (2 year?), I assume that you are looking for an introductory survey course for people interested in computers (e.g., potential C.S/E.E. or management majors). Andrew Tanenbaum's "Computer Networks" [Prentice-Hall, 1981] covers the ISO OSI model at a level that can be appreciated by people whose backgrounds differ widely. It is also humorous at times. By his own words: "The book is intended as a text for juniors, seniors, and graduate students in computer science, electrical engineering, and related disciplines. The only prerequisites are a general familiarity with computer systems and programming, although a little knowledge of elementary calculus and elementary probability theory is useful, but not essential." This book explains *what* a network is, and *how* it logically operates. Topics include topology design, routing issues, delay and throughput analysis, layer protocols, packet-switching vs. virtual-circuit tradeoffs, and network security, to mention just a few. This could be sufficient for an introductory course. Other things that might be included in an advanced telecommunications course are *how* a network physically works (e.g., principles of transmission, AM/FM theory, modulation, fiber optics), elementary coding and information theory, and the history, economics and politics of communications (e.g., phone company monopoly, deregulation, F.C.C.). Many of these topics were taught in several graudate telecommunications courses given at M.I.T. [Hi Marvin!] Good luck with the course. Bob ------------------------------ Date: Thu 14 Aug 86 08:06:07-PDT From: HECTOR MYERSTON Subject: Telecom Colleges The number of colleges offering some sort of Telecom degree is growing. Univ of Colorado at Boulder has had a program for quite a while as does Golden Gate University in SF where I teach. A search of the recent trades will reveal at least half a dozen more. Golden Gate offers both an Undergraduate and a Graduate program. Decision #1. What type of program? There are basically three approaches: (1) EE level Telecom Engineering (2) Hands-on Telecom Technology (3) Telecom Management Nr (1) produces Engineers who go into research and development and are seldom heards from again (in the Telecom World). Nr (2) produces Technicians who are now being called Service Engrs or Service Managers. No glamor but they make around $40K in this area almost right off the bat. Nr (3) produces folks who (should) know how to manage systems with out being tied by the minutae of cabling, levels etc Golden Gate is Nr (3) Question #2. There ARE quite a few good texts as well as some real clinkers. James Martin has about a dozen on the market which seems to be a ramdon scramble of the same paragraphs in each. Lee's ABC's of Tel- communications is nice for anthropologist studying Stroeger Step-by-Step switching and barbed wire ground-return loops. They were was last updated after the big war, If a (management) book was written prior to 1985 it is probably useless +HECTOR+ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Aug 86 13:50:08 pdt From: dual!paul@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (Paul Wilcox-Baker) Subject: Combined billing curiosities In article <8608102105.AA09209@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> Mark Crispin writes: > I guess I'm getting back in my own little way. Out here they charge you to > have the lines collected into a single bill (you can get two lines put > together on one bill at no charge if they are on the same exchange). Consolidated billing is interesting. Despite what the phone company says initially, it is not the same as just having the two bills added. If you have ORTS (Optional Residence Telephone Service), you pay a certain amount to get cheaper calls to certain prefixes. With separate billing you need this service for each line. With combined billing, this applies to both lines in the combined billing. Paul Wilcox-Baker ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 15 Aug 86 11:41:50 EDT From: johnl%ima.UUCP@CCA.CCA.COM Subject: Re: 950-1088 950-1088 was indeed the feature group B access number for SBS. Now I can't figure out what it is. When MCI took over SBS' customers, they sent us all MCI cards, which work on MCI's number, 950-1022. They also said that 950-1088 would continue to work for a month or so. That was two months ago. Now, 950-1088 still answers, but neither my SBS number nor my MCI number work for making calls -- I always get a recording saying that the number is bad. Any ideas? Here's a hint -- SBS had you dial your code and the desired number, without pause. MCI has you dial 0+number, wait for tone, then your 14-digit charge number which is in the same format as a telco calling card but not the same number. I get the message after dialing about 7 digits (SBS numbers were of varying lengths, but usually 7 or 10 digits.) Perhaps 1088 is now just for SBS' auto-collect service, in which the caller dials a code number and it calls the phone number associated with the code and bills the recipient. John Levine, ima!johnl or Levine@YALE.EDU ------------------------------ Date: 16-Aug-1986 1013 From: covert%covert.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (John R. Covert) Subject: New Generic in Acton #2BESS In preparation for the arrival of Equal Access in Acton (November date) the new Generic has just been loaded. In addition to Equal Access (10xxx, but no translations loaded yet), this new Generic includes *70-Cancel Call Waiting, acceptance of the "#" after "0" when calling the operator to disable timing (this used to result in reorder), acceptance of the "#" after a 12-digit IDDD number (though only useful on 11-digit or shorter numbers, it is now ignored rather than causing a reorder), 0 for local telco operator, 00 for "your long-distance company" operator (though at the moment both are going to AT&T, I'm sure the NET trunks will be brought in very soon, since the next towns on both sides have them) and "010" for your LD company operator with the overseas light lit (that may have already been there, but I think not). /john ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 22-Aug-86 04:37:31-EDT,4108;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Fri 22 Aug 86 04:37:30-EDT Date: 22 Aug 86 03:44-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #138 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Friday, August 22, 1986 3:44AM Volume 5, Issue 138 Today's Topics: 10xxx from phone booths Course Material How much data in the telephone network? Telephone Costs ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: NBaheti.es@Xerox.COM Date: 19 Aug 86 15:44:14 EDT Subject: 10xxx from phone booths At many of Pacific Bell's phone booths (none of GTE's tho) I notice the curious label "10xxx dialing available from this phone". First I tried to simply connect to a few companies carriers (as can be done at home on my ESS line) via 10xxx# which worked fine; I got thru to the companies carriers but since I didn't have a valid charge code I couldn't do anything. From home if I dial "10xxx-xxx-xxx-xxxx" I can connect to a long distance number and my line will be billed; is there some way to do this at a pay phone? Perhaps putting in coins and then trying to dial out thru an ALDS? Calling the operator got me nowhere -- some didn't even appear to know what 10xxx dialing was! GTE's booths don't support any form of 10xxx, but their operators knew it existed. While on the topic of ESS: do any of you Pac-Tel'ers know when they plan to upgrade the last few exchanges??? On one of my phone lines I can't even direct-dial international calls. --Arun Baheti arpa: NBaheti.es@Xerox arpa: Baheti%MIT-OZ@MIT-MC.ARPA uucp: ...ucbvax!trwrb!flkvax!group3!anb02!arun ...scgvaxd!group3!anb02!arun ...wright!anb02!arun ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Aug 86 17:20:23 edt From: Marvin Sirbu Subject: Course Material I have been searching for some time for a good text on telecommunications for IS managers: no such text exists. Among those *acceptable* if not *good* texts, you should examine: Telecommunications for Management, Meadow and TEdesco (McGraw Hill, 1985) Telecommunications Primer, Langley, (Pitman 1983) Understanding Modern Communications, Dordick (McGraw Hill 1986) Data Communications, Techo (Plenum 1980) Understanding Communications Systems, Cannon and Luecke (Texas Instruments, 1984) Good luck! Marvin Sirbu Carnegie Mellon University ------------------------------ From: Erik E. Fair Subject: How much data in the telephone network? Excluding explicit data services, does anyone know what percentage of the calls made through the telephone network are really data transfers (i.e. modems)? Erik E. Fair styx!fair fair@lll-tis-b.arpa ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Aug 86 13:46:11 EDT From: Brint Cooper Subject: Telephone Costs The local free newspaper at Aberdeen Proving Ground today carried a story about the costs of telephone service. In summary, it reported that the APG telephone bill averages about $25,000 per month. Other public sources have put the number of personnel at APG at approximately 12,000. There are three or four major laboratories at APG and several other important activities. I'd like comparative information for commercial and industrial organizations of a similar size. The total telecommunications (excluding datacom) bill for a typical month or year, the size of the organization, and the type of work that it does. As usual, if there are sufficient responses, I'll post a table to the distribution. Thanks, --- Brint Cooper ARPA: abc@brl.arpa UUCP: ...{seismo,unc,decvax,cbosgd}!brl-smoke!abc ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 24-Aug-86 06:42:22-EDT,5001;000000000000 Mail-From: ELMO created at 24-Aug-86 05:20:14 Date: 24 Aug 86 05:20-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #139 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Sunday, August 24, 1986 5:20AM Volume 5, Issue 139 Today's Topics: Problem with Multitech 224E Average cost of phones in business Telecom Colleges AT&T to build Air Traffic Link Re: 10xxx from phone booths 10xxx from pay phones ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thursday, 7 August 1986 12:21-MDT From: naftoli%aecom.UUCP@BRL.ARPA (Robert N. Berlinger) Subject: Problem with Multitech 224E I use a Multitech 224E modem to connect to our system from home at 2400 baud with group 3 MNP protocol. This all worked fine until recently when it mysteriously stopped working. The modem works fine on any other phone line, and also works fine at 1200 baud. 2400 is a no go. I measured the voltage on the phone line and it was only ~13 volts. I thought that all phone lines are supposed to be 48 volts (all others that I tested were). Could this be causing the problem? It works ok (a bit noisy and low volume) for voice. How would I go about getting NY Tel. to fix this? They usually are unwilling to listen to any problems dealing with data equipment. Robert Berlinger Systems Analyst Albert Einstein College of Medicine UUCP: ...{philabs,cucard,pegasus,ihnp4,rocky2}!aecom!naftoli ------------------------------ Date: 22-Aug-1986 0951 From: goldstein%delni.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (Fred R. Goldstein dtn226-7388) Subject: Average cost of phones in business While most companies consider their actual phone bills to be proprietary information, one guideline commonly used by consultants, PBX companies etc. is to expect a usage bill to average $50/month/phone. So if a company has 1000 phones, their annual phone bill, exclusive of equipment, runs about $600k. Of course there's a HUGE range of variation around that seat-of-the-pants number. If Aberdeen has 12k employees and $25k monthly bill, then they're making most of their calls off the bill. Perhaps the $25k bill is for the local phone company only, and most usage is on Autovon and FTS. Heavy e-mail users run smaller phone bills. Purchasing agent types run huge bills; if they don't, they're not doing their job! fred ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 22 Aug 86 12:49:40 CDT From: wucec2!rfh0023@seismo.CSS.GOV (Ramon Fernando Herrera) Subject: Telecom Colleges The September 1, 1985 issue of Datamation has an article: "Who's Teaching Telecom" by David Stamps. ------------------------------ Date: Sat 23 Aug 86 16:26:31-CDT From: Werner Uhrig Subject: AT&T to build Air Traffic Link [ from Electronics Week, August 21, page 100 ] The FAA has picked AT&T to design, test, and manufacture a new voice and signaling system to control communications bewteen air-traffic controllers adn pilots. It will be installed at 2,035 locations over the next six years. The initial contract award is worth $66 million with a total value of over $120 million. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Aug 86 13:04:51 pdt From: Michael C. Berch Subject: Re: 10xxx from phone booths Reply-To: mcb%lll-tis-b.ARPA@lll-tis-gw.arpa (Michael C. Berch) > While on the topic of ESS: do any of you Pac-Tel'ers know when > they plan to upgrade the last few exchanges??? On one of my phone > lines I can't even direct-dial international calls. My home is in the "Millbrae" central office area (415-697), and we cannot perform IDDD, and do not have 1+ or 10xxx dialing. At a community fair PacBell had an information booth. When I asked about these items they couldn't find our exchange in the scheduled list for Equal Access, and said that some "would never be done" because the CO equipment is too archaic. Is this possible? Is there a certain data by which all access work must be completed? Is this covered by the AT&T judgment or by state PUCs? This isn't a rural crossbar exchange; it's right next to SF International Airport... Michael C. Berch ARPA: mcb@lll-tis-b.ARPA UUCP: {ihnp4,dual,sun}!lll-lcc!styx!mcb ------------------------------ Date: 22 Aug 1986 08:36:33-EDT From: prindle@NADC Subject: 10xxx from pay phones Here in Bell-of-Pa territory, you just dial 10xxx-1-xxx-xxx-xxxx and it ties you in to 10xxx's switch waiting for your authorization number - no need to follow the authorization by the number being called, since it has already been entered. Frank Prindle Prindle@NADC.arpa ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 28-Aug-86 05:16:41-EDT,14374;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Thu 28 Aug 86 05:16:39-EDT Date: 28 Aug 86 04:01-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #140 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Thursday, August 28, 1986 4:01AM Volume 5, Issue 140 Today's Topics: Toll Restrictor Problem with Multitech 224E Dialing Sequence Question 10xxx dialing New Area Code for Central Florida India Telephone Torture. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 25 Aug 86 11:25 EST From: davidsen%kbsvax.tcpip@ge-crd.arpa Subject: Toll Restrictor I would like to have a device to prevent outgoing long distance calls from my system. This will prevent abuse when rates are high. What I want is a box which will go between the modem and phone line, and monitor the outgoing tones. If the first tone is not a "1", the call is allowed, otherwise the line is disconnected. This sounds like an obvious item to have available, but I haven't seen it advertized, and the local phone stores don't seem to have it. Can anyone recommend such a device, or should I just build my own? -bill davidsen seismo!rochester!steinmetz!--\ / \ ihnp4! unirot ------------->---> crdos1!davidsen \ / chinet! ---------------------/ (davidsen@ge-crd.ARPA) "Stupidity, like virtue, is its own reward" ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 24 Aug 86 19:11:46 EDT From: jsol@BU-CS.BU.EDU Subject: Problem with Multitech 224E If you are getting low volume on voice calls, you can complain about that. Otherwise, you are probably out of luck. --jsol ------------------------------ Date: 25 Aug 1986 12:31 CDT (Mon) From: Paul Fuqua Subject: Dialing Sequence Question I have a question about equal access: is the dialing sequence supposed to be 10xxx + ac + number, or am I mistaken? My exchange (214-340) changed over several months ago, and I've tried occasionally to dial using the sequence above, but never successfully. Last night I had an idea, and tried 10xxx + 1 + ac + number instead, and that worked. Anybody know what's going on? pf [The latter is correct -Elmo] ------------------------------ Date: 26 Aug 1986 07:20-EDT From: Daniel.Zigmond@spice.cs.cmu.edu Subject: 10xxx dialing Just for fun, I tried dialing 10xxx calls last night. I surprised to find that it worked, actually. I called 10xxx-1-nnn-nnn-nnnn and was immediately connected. Now, my question is: How will I be billed for this call? Will the company whose code is xxx actually send me a separate bill for the one call I made using their service? I'm anxious to find out. [Some of the charges will appear on your regular phone bill, as the RBOC's are in the business of bill-processing for 10XXX calls for some carriers. Naturally, they retain an effective means of enforcing payment where the ALDS folks don't: they can shut off your phone. -Elmo] By the way, here is a list (complete?) of companies available through 10xxx: xxx Company ------------------------------------------ 007 Telemarketing 054 Eastern Telephone 066 Lexitel 080 Amtel 084 LDS Metromedia 085 Westel 203 Cytel 211 RCI 220 Western Union 221 Telesaver 222 MCI 223 TDX Systems 235 Inteleplex 288 AT&T 333 US Telecom 366 American Telco 444 Allnet 464 Houston Network 488 ITT 777 GTE Sprint 800 Satelco 824 ATC/Directline 850 Tollkal 855 Network Plus 888 SBS Skyline The list comes from this month's 2600 magazine. I tried 220, 444, and 777 last night, so I can only be sure about those services. Not all of the companies serve the entire country (specifically, Telemarketing, Eastern Telephone, Telesaver, Inteleplex, Tollkal, and Network Plus do not). If there are some companies that provide 10xxx service that are not on the list, please let me know as I plan to check out all of these to see who has the lowest price/best service. Dan ------------------------------ Date: 26-Aug-1986 2343 From: covert%covert.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (John R. Covert) Subject: New Area Code for Central Florida Effective April 1988, the northern part of area code 305 will split off to become 407. This leaves only 708, 903, 908, 909, and 917 vacant. (And 708 is still rumored to be about to be assigned to Chicago.) /john ------------------------------ Date: 26 Aug 1986 07:46-PDT Subject: India Telephone Torture. From: the tty of Geoffrey S. Goodfellow Telephone Torture Sends Politican on Rampage, Operators on Strike By VICTORIA GRAHAM NEW DELHI, India (AP) - This is a true story about modern India. The villain is the telephone, taken for granted in much of the world, but in India regarded as an instrument of torture. The leading man is a former Cabinet minister, once a powerful politician who defied Sikh death threats, but a man humbled by the telephone and a call that wouldn't come through, even at gunpoint. Twenty-six hours and 20 minutes after booking, he got the call. The leading lady is played by hundreds of low-paid, sari-clad, shrieking operators, described by the politician as ''fat, lazy gossips, drinking tea in a lousy telephone system, the worst in the world.'' Comparing themselves to Kali, the Hindu goddess of destruction, the operators went on a three-day wildcat strike, smashing switchboards, crippling service and demanding that the politician, former Home Minister Prakash Chand Sethi, be jailed or held as insane. Some call the telephone melodrama farce, or soap opera, or morality play. The drama has not been played out, but this is how it began: Last Friday at 12:50 a.m., Sethi, a member of Parliament, decided enough was enough. He had waited four hours and 20 minutes and made five pleas to an operator to get a top priority ''lightning'' call to Bombay from his home. He warned the operator he was on his way to her office and set off with his son-in-law and three armed bodyguards, assigned to him because his life had been threatened. He was in charge of domestic security when the army attacked the Sikhs' Golden Temple in June 1984. Sethi took his Czechoslovak-made, licensed revolver, explaining later that security rules ''require me to hold onto my gun.'' Brushing past guards at the downtown exchange, the capital's telephone nerve center, the midnight raiders stormed to the ninth floor and demanded to see the offending operator, Miss Kiran. ''I am a public man with a grouse,'' he later said. ''This place should be thrown open to citizens so they can see what a mess the telephone system is.'' Then accounts differ. Miss Kiran said she peeked from the ladies room and saw a man in a white pajama suit - drunk, staggering, swaggering and abusive - advancing with three guards toward the switchboard. She said she came out and he grabbed her arms, waving his revolver and blowing cigar smoke into her face. ''Do you know who I am? Do you want to live in this world?'' witnesses quoted Sethi as saying. ''I can buy girls like you for five rupees (40 cents).'' They said a male shop steward interceded, but the 65-year-old Sethi roughed him up and tore his clothes, then collapsed on the floor for 30 minutes. Miss Kiran bolted the exit to keep him there until police arrived. ''I'll jump from the ninth floor and die but I will have justice,'' she told reporters. Police charged Sethi with trespassing, disturbing the peace, using filthy and abusive language and assaulting a public servant on duty. He was not arrested. Sethi says he was petrified when operators surrounded him and wouldn't let him go. Then, he says, the shop steward knocked him out. He got home at 3:30 a.m. Saturday and says a doctor certified he was not drunk. But about 4,000 operators and staff disputed Sethi's account. By dawn they launched a strike, demanding his arrest. Domestic and overseas bookings weere paralyzed. Some emergency police numbers were dead. Other services were crippled. Women sat atop switchboards, twisted their headsets apart and shouted, ''Death to Sethi!'' Still, Sethi's fury struck a responsive chord. India's telephone system is notorious for inefficiency, rude operators, equipment that smacks of bullock-cart technology, and thousands of dead phones. Frustrated subscribers have been known to smash telephones. ''The level of inefficiency, callousness and simple insolence in the telephone exchanges would drive anyone mad,'' the Hindustan Times editorialized Monday. But the strike was an embarrassment. Over the weekend, police and soldiers got involved. Signal corps engineers worked without pause to repair equipment. Outside, husbands and boyfriends waited for their women. The women dropped notes complaining they were locked on the top floor, unable to eat or go to the bathroom, because they refused to work. After 2 1/2 days, on Sunday night the government announced the strike was over and Sethi had apologized, but many strikers denied it and so did Sethi. Sethi claimed the goverment fabricated a letter over his signature. The protest subsided Monday, but the telephone saga went on. Sethi, waving a cordless Japanese telephone, said, ''In India, you just cannot get a call through.'' Ring of Telephone in India More Sign of Frustration than Conversation By G.G. LaBELLE NEW DELHI, India (AP) - The ring of a telephone in India is more often a signal for frustration than conversation. Faulty equipment creates a plague of wrong numbers. Frequent cross-connections mean the person answering may find two strangers already talking. Often, too, there is dead silence or a tiny voice straining to be heard. That may be why one leading Indian newspaper offered backhanded sympathy Monday for the gun-toting politician who set off a three-day phone strike in New Delhi by insulting operators at a telephone office. Former Cabinet Minister Prakash Chand Sethi barged into the exchange Thursday when he could not get a long-distance phone call through from home. His actions set off the strike, but at its end, the Hindustan Times wrote: ''Let not in the midst of Sethi's acts of indiscretion a crucial point be missed - the level of inefficiency, callousness and simple insolence in the telephone exchanges in India would drive anyone mad.'' Even the government admitted in a statement last year that India ''perhaps has the lowest level of telephone service in the world.'' To begin with, there are only 3 million phones for the 780 million populace. That's one for every 260 people, compared to one for every two people in England and France and one for every 1.3 people in the United States. As of January, 997,000 Indians were on the waiting list to get a telephone. A study by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry says the country needs 28 million phones to function properly with its present population. Then there is the matter that telephones break down so often that the visit of the repairman is a favorite subject of cartoonists. One cartoon features a frustrated customer saying to the lineman, ''Sorry to bother you perpetually. Why don't you just stay with us?'' During last year's monsoon season, 30,000 phones went out in New Delhi at once when the annual heavy rains hit. The same thing happens regularly in Bombay and Calcutta, much soggier cities. In Calcutta in 1982, one angry citizen put up a tombstone for his dead telephone. It remains today, bearing the poem: ''Oh, child of communication, ''You were born to bridge the gap. ''But corruption has caused a mishap, ''Inefficiency and procrastination ''Caused the telephone lines to go snap.'' Even when India's phones are working, they are not up to those in most places in the world. Sometimes there is a long wait for a dial tone. It often takes several dials to get a call through. There are so many wrong numbers that many people begin conversations by asking if they've reached the number they dialed. For long distance, the few direct-dial facilities are so overloaded that most times it's necessary to book a call through an operator. In recognition that the system is less than perfect, there is one number for bookings and another for complaining that the call did not go through. One woman wrote a newspaper article chronicling how she spent an entire day dialing the two numbers trying to make one call. She finally gave up, but was awakened at 11:55 p.m. when an operator called asking whether she would she like to rebook the call for the next day. Complaints about phones are not only sent to the telephone company but debated in newspaper editorials and on the floor of Parliament. It's not that the government isn't trying. At India's independence in 1947, there were 82,000 phones, about one for every 4,150 Indians. But India's population has more than doubled since then and is expected to pass the 1 billion mark around the year 2000. Indian writer Ranjit Lal theorized in a recent article in the Times of India that the country's phone troubles resulted because telephones, like India's Hindus, believe in reincarnation. ''Most telephones in India suffer from a collective and impelling death wish,'' he concluded. ''This is because they wish to be reincarnated as something better as quickly as possible.'' He added: ''It is also likely that if you have sinned grievously in this life, you may be born an Indian telephone in your next life.'' ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 31-Aug-86 22:23:01-EDT,10185;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Sun 31 Aug 86 22:23:00-EDT Date: 31 Aug 86 21:28-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #141 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Sunday, August 31, 1986 9:28PM Volume 5, Issue 141 Today's Topics: IBM Challenges Pac Bell's Project Victoria Re: Toll Restrictor An Interesting Call (Foo Bar) Digit backspace 10xxx from pay phones Pac-Tel ESS upgrades "We don't really care..." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue 26 Aug 86 03:11:54-CDT From: Werner Uhrig Subject: IBM Challenges Pac Bell's Project Victoria [ see INFOWORLD, 86/8/26, page 3 ] ... experimental system to produce an integrated digital voice and data network [see TELECOM back-issues] for home telephone users, has drawn fire from IBM and severak communications vendors. IBM charged in a complaint with the FCC that it includes Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) which, under fivestiture ruling, baby-Bells are not allowed to do. A Pac-Bell spokesman said that the network does not rely on CPE ... ------------------------------ Date: Thu 28 Aug 86 13:34:21-EDT From: Robert Lenoil Subject: Re: Toll Restrictor Date: 25 Aug 86 11:25 EST From: davidsen%kbsvax.tcpip@ge-crd.arpa Subject: Toll Restrictor I would like to have a device to prevent outgoing long distance calls from my system. This will prevent abuse when rates are high. What I want is a box which will go between the modem and phone line, and monitor the outgoing tones. If the first tone is not a "1", the call is allowed, otherwise the line is disconnected. My fraternity bought just such a device (against my advice) from a electronics surplus place in Peabody, Mass. called BNR (I think). Although the device does prevent people from inadvertantly using your phone, it CANNOT stop someone who is intentionally trying to cheat you. The device we got was an in-line passive black box that disconnected the line if the first digit was one OR zero. It was reset by the presence of a dial tone. By eliminating zero, people couldn't even use the phone to make collect or credit card calls; they needed a Sprint account or something. This was no good, so I had to find a way around that. So...there is now a sign over that phone that reads: "To make a collect call: Depress the switchhook once rapidly, then press # + 02880 + area code + number." Telecom readers should understand what's going on here. Depressing the switchhook once "dials" a one (remember pulse-code dialing?). Pressing the # deactivates the toll restrictor, but is otherwise ignored by the phone company. After dialing the rest of the sequence, you have effectively dialed 10288 + 0 + area code + number, i.e. you have dialed an AT&T operator-assisted call. The above works, but anybody that understands the underlying reason can figure out how to dial a long distance number. Or, they can just ask the operator when she comes on to complete the call for them, because they were having trouble dialing or something. To thwart this, your device would also need to count pulses and disallow one or zero. But a person can usually call 555-1212 and have the information operator connect you to an operator, or... You can't win. The best solution is to keep the phone under lock and key. ------------------------------ Date: 25 Aug 86 15:59:25 EDT From: GERSHO@GREEN.RUTGERS.EDU Subject: An Interesting Call (Foo Bar) AN UNUSUAL TELEPHONE SERVICE CALL This story was related by Pat Routledge of Winnepeg, ONT about an unusual telephone service call he handled while living in England. It is common practice in England to signal a telephone subscriber by signaling with 90 volts across one side of the two wire circuit and ground (earth in England). When the subscriber answers the phone, it switches to the two wire circuit for the conversation. This method allows two parties on the same line to be signalled without disturbing each other. This particular subscriber, an elderly lady with several pets called to say that her telephone failed to ring when her friends called and that on the few occasions when it did manage to ring her dog always barked first. Torn between curiosity to see this psychic dog and a realization that standard service techniques might not suffice in this case, Pat proceeded to the scene. Climbing a nearby telephone pole and hooking in his test set, he dialed the subscriber's house. The phone didn't ring. He tried again. The dog barked loudly, followed by a ringing telephone. Climbing down from the pole, Pat found: a. Dog was tied to the telephone system's ground post via an iron chain and collar b. Dog was receiving 90 volts of signalling current c. After several jolts, the dog was urinating on ground and barking d. Wet ground now conducted and phone rang. Which goes to prove that some grounding problems can be passed on. This annecdote excerpted from Syn-Aud-Con Newsletter, Vol4, No 3, April 1977. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 29 Aug 86 11:53:37 pdt From: Paul Ruel Subject: Digit backspace Is it possible for the newer ESS's to be programmed so that the `*' key on the telephone could be used as a single digit backspace? I think that it's high time the telephone companies provide such a feature given the extended dialing sequences (sometimes) needed nowadays. It's frustrating to have to hang up after dialing "n" digits...I'd much rather... Press: 1-617-555-123 Say: Blast! I meant "1"! Press: *12 ...and complete my call to 1-617-555-1212. Multiple presses of `*' ought to have the expected result, of course. Note: a) I have never subscribed to any of the features offered by the operating companies (call waiting, etc.), so forgive my ignorance if the `*' is already spoken for. b) I imagine that some telephone manufacturers have implemented local backspace, kill and other canonical input processing, but I'm more interested in an operating company solution since I would also like to use this feature at a friend's home. ------------------------------ From: NBaheti.es@Xerox.COM Date: 28 Aug 86 13:15:12 PDT Subject: 10xxx from pay phones I have been getting replies in private mail telling me to use the following method: 10xxx+1+xxx-xxx-xxxx charge code. That would work fine except for the fact that I don't have an account with any of the companies and was hoping to not need one. What I am interested in doing is using 10xxx [Easy Access] from a pay phone by putting in coins to pay for the call at the chosen ALDS's rates. Is this possible? As there are a few more people interested, please 'cc' telecom with your answer(s) to save lazy-me the trouble of forwarding messages all over the place. Thanks for all of your replies to date; now if we could only get the phone company operators to bone up on this stuff... :-) --Arun Baheti arpa: NBaheti.es@Xerox arpa: Baheti%mit-oz@mit-mc uucp: {group3, wright}!anb02!arun ------------------------------ From: NBaheti.es@Xerox.COM Date: 28 Aug 86 13:15:39 PDT Subject: Pac-Tel ESS upgrades I called my Pac-Tel office [again] to ask about when my second phone line [213-325-xxxx] would be upgraded to ESS. Reply: maybe easly next year, maybe and more probably never. Great! I am not in a rural area either and yet I can't use IDDD, Easy Access, or any of the special features getting advertised down here like Call-Waiting, Call-Forwarding, Speed-Calling, Three-Way, et cetera ad naseum in finium. I then thought that I could get my phone number changed (although VERY inconvenient, it may be worth it). I can, she said, if I was willing to PAY something like $20 for it. I asked if I wanted one of those special features how would I get it. Reply: we would change your number to an ESS line for free [give you any ideas, guys?]. Barring Easy Access do any of the ALDS companies offer an alternate way of using their services other than choosing them as your primary LDC? Something like a generic 950-port that lets you dial out and charges the line you are using [or is that too far-fetched?]? --Arun Baheti arpa: NBaheti.es@Xerox arpa: Baheti%mit-oz@mit-mc uucp: {group3, wright}!anb02!arun ------------------------------ Date: Fri 29 Aug 86 14:50:23-PDT From: Ole Jorgen Jacobsen Subject: "We don't really care..." I just got off the phone with a Pacific Bell representative. They have a nice little folder (produced quarterly) called "Easy Access Shoppers Guide", which I wanted another copy of. I also suggested they produce a handy little quick reference card with all the 10XXX codes on it. He responded with "...we don't really care. We're just providing a contact between you and the various long distance carriers." I responded that someone SHOULD care and that one of the main features of easy access is that you can choose your carrier on a per-call basis. His said that most people want just one long distance carrier and don't care about the rest. I couldn't argue with that except to point out that the 10XXX feature has been very carefully kept in the obscure by everyone from the BOCs to the LDDs and the BIG issue in all advertising and such has been the selection of your default carrier. I guess this ploy worked. Foo Ole ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 1-Sep-86 20:35:56-EDT,5623;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Mon 1 Sep 86 20:35:55-EDT Date: 1 Sep 86 19:36-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #142 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Monday, September 1, 1986 7:36PM Volume 5, Issue 142 Today's Topics: Re: Toll Restrictor Re: "...we don't really care" Speech Digitizing / Phone Boards for IBM PC 10xxx Dialing Electronic Communication Privacy Act (S.2575) update ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun 31 Aug 86 23:36:23-EDT From: Philip A. Earnhardt Subject: Re: Toll Restrictor > You can't win. The best solution is to keep the phone under lock and key. True true. Even real phone systems have difficulty with this. Our company uses MCI. We accesses it via the local 7-digit number, even though we've had equal access for over 6 months. Besides the loss in quality and added delay in connecting, the MCI number is often busy during the day (and our phone system is too stupid to detect a busy signal)! A while back, I discovered you could bypass the long-distance programming by dialing 1 then #######. This gave me an outside line and dialed a 1 on it. I then dial the area code and the number normally. ------------------------------ Date: Sun 31 Aug 86 23:54:49-EDT From: Philip A. Earnhardt Subject: Re: "...we don't really care" I was paying a bill in the NET Cambridge, MA office and decided to ask them about the 10xxx codes. The representative knew nothing about them. He said that, if there were codes, the individual LD companies would have to tell me about them, since they didn't know anything about them. I pointed out that THEIR computer that had to know the codes, since it had to route the calls. He didn't understand. >From what I've heard, I almost get the feeling the local operating companies have set a policy of pleading ignorance. It's as if their lawyers have told them exactly what they should say about the whole equal access question, and their response is limited to info about choosing a primary LD carrier. Alternatively, perhaps they simply like to discourage experimentation with other carriers, since there may be problems setting up the company billings. They'd probably be lots happier if they got a "start up" fee for your first use of a LD carrier. (It makes about as much sense as a $42 connection fee for just flipping a switch at the CO). Or perhaps they just really don't care. Has anyone out there gotten useful information (either in a printed form or personally) from a local company about the 10xxx codes? ------------------------------ Date: Mon 1 Sep 86 12:46:15-EDT From: Thomas S. Wanuga Subject: Speech Digitizing / Phone Boards for IBM PC Has anyone out there used one of the speech digitizing boards that plug into the IBM PC and interface to the phone lines? I know of three companies that have such products - VYNET Corporation, Votrax, and Natural Microsystems. I am interested in anyone's experience with these (or any other similar) boards. Thanks. Tom Wanuga wanuga@xx.lcs.mit.edu ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Sep 86 15:23:33 edt From: Marvin Sirbu Subject: 10xxx Dialing Regarding the failure to publicize 10xxx for long distance carrier selection. The last thing the long distance companies -- or the local operating companies for that matter -- want the public to do is start using 10xxx to select the lowest priced caller on a per call basis. This would lead to: 1) higher billing costs since users would now need multiple long distance bills each month rather than one. 2) The possibility of intensive price-based competition, which would lower profitability. 3) If users were really responsive to price changes, minor fluctuations in relative prices could lead to major shifts in carrier usage causing enormous capacity planning problems, both for the inter-exchange carrier and for the local exchange carrier with respect to access lines. In short, there are lots of reasons why no one is talking about 10xxx. Marvin Sirbu CMU ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Sep 1986 16:16 MDT From: Keith Petersen Subject: Electronic Communication Privacy Act (S.2575) update The latest version of the Electronic Communication Privacy Act (S.2575), dated August 12, 1986, is now available from SIMTEL20, thanks to Bill Bogstad , who added them into the posting by Glenn Tenney. Filename Type Bytes CRC Directory PD: PRIVCY2.BILL.1 ASCII 75835 4E46H For those who can handle binary FTP transfers and unsqueeze: Directory PD: PRIVCY2.BQL.1 BINARY 45056 D16DH Reviewing: The Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986, which has passed the House, now is a bill in the Senate (S.2575). This one Act affects every usenet, bitnet, bbs, shortwave listener, TV viewer, etc. --Keith Petersen Arpa: W8SDZ@SIMTEL20.ARPA uucp: {ihnp4,allegra,cmcl2,decvax,mcnc,mcvax,vax135}!seismo!SIMTEL20.ARPA!w8sdz GEnie Mail: W8SDZ RCP/M Royal Oak: 313-759-6569 ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 9-Sep-86 04:07:48-EDT,17034;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Tue 9 Sep 86 04:07:33-EDT Date: 9 Sep 86 02:32-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #143 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Tuesday, September 9, 1986 2:32AM Volume 5, Issue 143 Today's Topics: modem chip sets I wonder if the Congress considered this one Re: Digit backspace Wilderness Phone Re: Speech Digitizing / Phone Boards Call diverters / bell 403 modems / answerers/dialers Worst idea of the week Using US modems in the UK CSCW '86 Program ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue 2 Sep 86 09:38:03-EDT From: Thomas S. Wanuga Subject: modem chip sets I'd like to compile a list of modem chip sets (especially single chip ones). If anyone knows of any, and/or has any experience with them, I'd very much like to hear about it. Thanks so much. Tom Wanuga wanuga@xx.lcs.mit.edu ------------------------------ From: Phil Karn Subject: I wonder if the Congress considered this one I picked up a copy of the magazine "Free Inquiry" at the bookstore today. The cover article was written by James Randi (the magician who debunks lots of ESP frauds). In fact, the magazine seems to be run by the same folks who do the Skeptical Inquirer, but is slanted more towards religious debunking. Randi's article was titled "Peter Popoff Reaches Heaven via 39.17 Megahertz". Popoff is one of the most notorious TV faith healers. Randi's group went to the shows and noticed that Popoff wore a hearing aid. Then they got a scanner and quickly found the frequency his wife was using to tell him the names and ills of people whom she had pumped for information before the show. Now ponder the fact that the proposed Communications Privacy Act now pending in the US Senate would have made this expose illegal. The conversation was meant to be private, and Popoff certainly would have objected to its interception. Could there be a connection here? Hmm...... Phil ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Sep 86 12:20:10 PDT From: ihnp4!chinet!editor@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU Subject: Re: Digit backspace Reply-To: chinet!editor@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (Alex Zell) The * is already spoken for. It is already in use by the telcos as -- believe -- it or not -- #11 equivalent. In those central offices where call waiting has been implemented and where "disable" call waiting has also been implemented, *70 (DTMF) or 1170 (pulse) are used to temporarily disable call waiting. --- Alex Zell ihnp4!chinet!editor I'd rather be on Pictou Island, N.S. ------------------------------ Date: 2 Sep 1986 1616-PDT From: VANBUER@USC-ECL.ARPA Subject: Wilderness Phone Problem: remote cabins miles from last telephone pole so estimated cost to install a conventional local loop is over $20,000. The nearest metropolitan area with "mobile" phones is a mountainous 100 miles away, so that's out. But in these days of (sort of) cheap satellite uplink/downlinks and other repeaters, is seems like there ought to be something cheaper to install (cost per call not too important since only light use expected). What's out there which ties to DDD network, can send and receive calls [and uses under 10 watts standby]? Who and where would I even ask? Darrel J. Van Buer VANBUER@USC-ECL or usenet ...!sdcrdcf!darrelj ------------------------------ Date: 4 Sep 1986 15:10:41 PDT Subject: Re: Speech Digitizing / Phone Boards From: Richard Gillmann I have experience with two speech digitizing cards for the PC, the CompuTalker board and the Dialogic board(s). The CompuTalker board is a fairly old design and I got it some years ago, but it has some nice features. In particular, it has an excellent AGC circuit that deals well with the volume variations in long distance calls vs. local calls. It can playback and record speech at various rates, the lowest being 1200 bytes/second, and 2000 bytes/second for most telephone applications. It can detect and send TouchTones and it has good call progression software. The board works with either the telephone line or a mike/speaker setup. I believe the price is $600. CompuTalker can be reached at 213-828-6546. I have also used the Dialog/40 card from Dialogic. This card can handle up to 4 telephone lines at once, and you can install multiple cards for even more lines. It has a very nice event queueing package that allows you to write software for it in a semi-reasonable way (too bad DOS doesn't do tasking!). It does the usual playback/record and TouchTones, the rate is something like 2500 bytes/second. The PC only gets interrupted once per buffer, rather than once per byte, so it's not overloaded. The board only connects to telephone lines. The Dialog/40 card costs $1000 and their number is 201-334-8450. They also make a single line board. I have also use the Texas Instruments and IBM speech cards. Both of these are more elaborate. They both use the TMS320 chip to do LPC speech and can also do text-to-speech synthesis. Billy has covered them in detail in past digests, so I won't repeat the info here. Dick Gillmann [See Info-IBMPC@B.ISI.EDU for relevant back-issues and such. -Elmo] ------------------------------ From: Michael Grant Date: Thu, 4 Sep 86 18:53:43 EDT Subject: Call diverters / bell 403 modems / answerers/dialers I am trying to construct a call diverter out of my old apple2. I can buy what I want for about $800, but I'm cheap and I'd rather build the thing myself. Anyone know of any cheap call diverters? (a call diverter is a device which you connect 2 telephone lines. When a call comes in on the 1st line, the diverter autodials a number on the 2nd line and connects the call through.) A friend gave me some old bell 403 modems. These beats take votrax in and ascii out. They are supposed to answer the phone and accept touch tones. There is no manufacturer markings on the board; the board fits into a rack which I don't have. Anyone have any experience with these? What I'd like to find is a card that fits into my apple that will pick up a phone line and accept touchtones like the 403 above. Infact, a 403 for my apple would be great. Anyonw know where I find such a card? I hope to use a couple of these and a votrax to make a nifty call diversion toy. I may even couple the thing in with an answering machine. Ideas? suggestions? (I'm not going to sell this, but if anyone is interested in the outcome of my project, send me mail.) -Mike Grant ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 5 Sep 86 18:26:18 EDT From: johnl%ima.UUCP@CCA.CCA.COM Subject: Worst idea of the week Reply-To: johnl@ima.UUCP (John R. Levine) From the September 1 Network World, excerpted without permission: Advertisers may read out and grab callers if startup-up firm has its way ... A start-up company here has filed for a patent on a concept that would enable telephone companies to make money by selling advertisements that callers would hear while waiting for calls to be answered. [They field tested it in Sullivan, MO, last year.] With $oft-Ads, telephone companies could sell roughly four-second spot advertisements that would be injected between the rings callers hear while waiting for the called party to answer the phone. They go on to suggest that monthly connect fees might be waived for people who volunteered to listed to the ads. A lot of the stuff in the patents is involved in injecting the ads at the caller's exchange, even though it'd be a lot easier to inject them where the ring was generated. I can hardly wait: ---RING--- Eat Twinkies! ---RING--- ... -- John R. Levine, Javelin Software Corp., Cambridge MA +1 617 494 1400 { ihnp4 | decvax | cbosgd | harvard | yale }!ima!johnl, Levine@YALE.EDU ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 6 Sep 86 12:10:09 PDT From: ihnp4!mhuxh!rex@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU Subject: Using US modems in the UK Is it physically possible to use a US modem in the UK, given that it is capable of operating the CCITT V22 (1200 baud) standard? Please respond via electronic mail or to netnews. Rex Godby ..ihnp4!mhuxh!rex AT&T Bell Labs, Murray Hill, NJ 07974 Tel. (201) 582-3628 ------------------------------ Date: Tue 2 Sep 86 15:20:55-EDT From: Irene Greif Subject: CSCW '86 Program Following is the program for CSCW '86: the Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work . Registration material can be obtained from Barbara Smith at MCC (basmith@mcc). *** CSCW '86 *** DECEMBER 3 - 5, 1986 AUSTIN, TEXAS Tuesday, December 2, 1986 6:00pm - 10:00pm Registration 6:00pm - 10:00pm Reception/Refreshments Wednesday, December 3, 1986 8:00am - 5:00pm Registration 8:30am - 9:00am Opening Remarks Welcome: Herb Krasner, Conference Chair Conference Themes: Irene Greif, Program Chair 9:00am - 10:30am Supporting Face-to-Face Groups Chair: George Huber University of Texas, Austin - Project NICK: Meetings Augmentation and Analysis Michael Begeman, Peter Cook, Clarence Ellis, Mike Graf, Gail Rein, and Tom Smith MCC - Cognoter, Theory and Practice of a Colab-orative Tool Gregg Foster University of California, Berkeley - A Group Decision Support System for Idea Generation and Issue Analysis in Organizational Planning Lynda M. Applegate, Benn R. Konsynski, J. F. Nunamaker University of Arizona 10:30am - 11:00am Break 11:00am - 12:30am Empirical Studies Chair: Bill Curtis MCC - The Variable Impact of Computer Technologies on the Organization of Work Activities Jeanette Blomberg Xerox - Cognitive Science and Organizational Design: A Case Study of Computer Conferencing Kevin Crowston, Thomas W. Malone, and F. Lin M. I. T. - Narratives at Work, Story Telling as Cooperative Diagnostic Activity Julian Orr Xerox 12:30pm - 2:00pm Lunch 2:00pm - 4:00pm Supporting Distributed Groups Chair: Irene Greif M. I. T. - Constraints on Communication and Electronic Messaging Martha Feldman University of Michigan - Evolving Electronic Communication Networks: An Empirical Assessment J. D. Eveland and Tora Bikson The Rand Corporation - Semi-Structured Messages as a Basis for Computer-Supported Coordination Thomas W. Malone, Kenneth R. Grant, Kum-Yew Lai, Ramana Rao, and David Rosenblitt M. I. T. - The Amigo Project: Advanced Group Communication Model for Computer-Based Communications Environment Thore Danielsen, University of Tromsoe, Norway Uta Pankoke-Babatz and Wolfgang Prinz, Institute for Applied Information Technology, West Germany Ahmed Patel, University College Dublin, Ireland Paul-Andre Pays, Department Informatique Appliquee, France Knut Smalland, University of Oslo, Norway Rolf Speth, Commission of the European Communities, Belgium 4:00pm - 4:30pm Break 4:30pm - 6:00pm Panel Sessions in Parallel Panel I: Cooperative Work in the Office Moderator: Clarence Ellis, MCC Panel II: Collaborative Design: Technology Futures Moderator: Herb Krasner, MCC 8:00pm Special Session with Doug Engelbart: High Performance Teams Thursday, December 4, 1986 9:00am - 10:30am Hypertext Systems Chair: Lucy Suchman Xerox - Contexts -- A Partitioning Concept for Hypertext Norman Delisle and Mayer Schwartz Tektronix Laboratories - Supporting Collaboration in NoteCards Randall Trigg, Lucy Suchman and Frank Halasz Xerox - Intermedia: Issues, Strategies, and Tactics in the Design of a Hypermedia Document System L. Nancy Garrett, Karen Smith and Norman Meyrowitz Brown University 10:30am - 11:00am Break 11:00am - 12:30pm Underlying Technology for Collaborative Systems Chair: Thomas Malone M. I. T. - Data Sharing in Group Work Irene Greif, M. I. T. Sunil Sarin, Computer Corporation of America - Network-based Systems for Asynchronous Group Communication Nancy F. Jarrell and Bill Barrett IBM Cambridge Scientific Center - Tools Help People Co-operate Only To The Extent That They Help Them Share Goals and Terminology Robert Neches USC Information Sciences Institute 12:30pm - 2:00pm Lunch and CSCW '88 Planning Meeting (Open) 2:00pm - 4:00pm Collaboration Research Chair: Margrethe Olson N. Y. U. - A Language Perspective on the Design of Cooperative Work Terry Winograd Stanford University - A Framework for Studying Research Collaboration Lucy Suchman and Randall Trigg Xerox - Relationships and Tasks in Scientific Research Collaborations Robert Kraut, Bell Communications Research, Jolene Galegher, University of Arizona Carmen Egido, Bell Communications Research - Collaboration Research in SCL George Goodman and Mark Abel Xerox Palo Alto Research Center Northwest 4:00pm - 4:30pm Break 4:30pm - 6:00pm Panel Sessions in Parallel Panel I: From Theories to Systems Moderator: Paul Cashman, Digital Equipment Corporation Panel II: Computer-Supported Groups: Trends & Markets Moderator: Robert Johansen, Institute for the Future 7:00pm Banquet Friday, December 5, 1986 9:00am - 10:30am Interfaces: Multi-media and Multi-user Chair: Ben Shneiderman University of Maryland - A Performing Medium for Working Group Graphics Fred Lakin Stanford University - An Experiment in Integrated Multimedia Conferencing Keith Lantz Stanford University - WYSIWIS Reconsidered: Early Experiences with Multi-User Interfaces Mark Stefik, Gregg Foster, Stan Lanning, Deborah Tatar Xerox 10:30am - 11:00am Break 11:00am - 12:30am Industrial Experiences with Computer-Supported Groups Chair: Mark Stefik Xerox - Computer Teleconferencing: Experience at Hewlett Packard Tony Fanning and Bert Raphael Hewlett Packard Company - Achieving Sustainable Complexity Through Information Technology: Theory and Practice Paul Cashman and David Stroll Digital Equipment Corporation - Computer-Supported Cooperative Work: Examples and Issues in One Federal Agency Cathleen Stasz and Tora Bikson The Rand Corporation 12:30pm - 2:00pm Lunch 2:00pm - 4:00pm Coordination and Decision Making Chair: Chris Bullen M. I. T. - CHAOS as a Coordination Technology F. De Cindio, G. De Michelis, C. Simone, R. Vassallo, and A. Zanaboni Universita di Milano - Using a Computer Based Tool to Support Collaboration: A Field Experiment Robert Dunham, Management Effectiveness and Planning Bonnie M. Johnson, Aetna Life and Casualty Grady McGonagill, Merron & McGonagill Associates Margrethe Olson, New York University Gerladine M. Weaver, Aetna Life and Causalty - Computer-Based Systems for Group Decision Support: Status of Use and Problems in Development Kenneth Kraemer and John King University of California, Irvine - SYNVIEW: The Design of a System for Cooperative Structuring of Information David Lowe New York University 4:00pm - 4:30pm Break 4:30pm - 5:30pm Invited Speaker: John Seely Brown Vice President, Advanced Research Xerox Palo Alto Research Center ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 14-Sep-86 03:18:15-EDT,7649;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Sun 14 Sep 86 03:18:08-EDT Date: 14 Sep 86 02:23-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #144 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Sunday, September 14, 1986 2:23AM Volume 5, Issue 144 Today's Topics: Reading Touch Tones on an Apple $299 2400 bps modem Using U.S. Modems in the U.K. Communications Expert System - does anyone know more ? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 9 September 86 10:20-PST From: KJBSF@SLACVM.STANFORD.EDU Subject: Reading Touch Tones on an Apple Date: 9 September 1986, 10:19:35 PST From: Kevin J. Burnett x3330 To: Subject: Reading Touch Tones on an Apple The Apple-Cat modem for the apple can be equipped with an 'option' chip that will let the modem recognize touch-tone signals. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Sep 1986 22:44 MDT From: Keith Petersen Subject: $299 2400 bps modem I just received the following file from Steve Sanders on my RCP/M: --cut here--2400$299.MDM--cut here-- Best Deal Yet for 2400 Baud Basic Time 2400 baud modems ------------>>> $ 2 9 9 . 0 0 Auto-Dial Auto-Answer Either internal (IBM-PC) or external standalone type modems, fully Hayes dial compatible and 2400/1200/600/300/110 bps capable conforming to the CCITT V.22/V.22 bis and Bell 212A standards. Automatic adaptive equal- ization which adjusts to telephone lines and decreases error rate. Internal modem uses only a 1/2 slot on the IBM-PC and gives you an external RS-232C port. Comes with PC-Talk III software on disk. External version has 8 LED indicators and a snap hatch front for easy access to DIP switches. External version is also asynch or synchronous capable. Tough plastic case. Modem cable req'd for external modems. Both modems are supplied with modular phone cords. >>> Full 30-day money-back guarantee if not satisfied <<< QUBIE 570 Calle San Pablo Camarillo, Calif 93010 1-800-821-4479 Visa/ Master Card +++++++++++++++++++ Addt'l comments 08/08/86 I now have one of the Basic Time 2400 modems, I placed an order for it on a Monday and rec'd the modem on Thursday ($5 extra for UPS Blue Label service.) As you know, I already have 2 Courier 2400 modems and have been 100% satisfied with them, but I wanted to try one of the BT modems - the price looked to good to be true. The BT2400E (external RS-232C version) is housed in a slimline plastic enclosure with 8 LEDs on the front and NO hardware DIP switches - all configuration is done via software. I was a little bothered by the lack of the familiar DIP switches until I found out how easy the modem is to software program - now I don't miss the DIP switches at all! The BT2400E modem has more features than the Couriers (did I say that!) and at a savings of around $75 - latest mail order price on Courier is $375.00 I have been giving the BT2400E a real work-out the last 3 or 4 days and am happy to report that it works fine at 1200 or 2400 baud to all the systems I have called. The modem appears to have good filtering as I have not experienced any more line noise than I do with the Couriers. I am using the modem with PibTerm and ProComm modem programs for the IBM-PC and it's a perfect match. The only thing you need do is issue an intialization string when the modem is first brought online. The default settings have the DTR and DCD lines ALWAYS HIGH - so for normal modem mode you need to issue the following string: AT &D2 &S1 &C1 &W This command tells the modem to respond normally to the flow control on the DTR line and DCD line and then stores this data internally in its non-volatile memory. Configuring a modem via software is much simpler than changing DIP switches which usually entails pulling off a faceplate to access the switches. All in all, I give the BT2400E modem 5 stars out of a possible 5 stars. The price is great, the delivery is quick, the modem performs 100% and seems to be very compatible with most other 2400 baud modems, and the supplier (QUBIE) stands behind the product with a 30-day money back guarantee of satisfaction. How could you lose on a deal like this - you have 30 days to try it and see if it meets your needs. Steve Sanders - DataCOM Systems (813) 791-1454 modem 300/1200/2400 {eof} ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 10 Sep 86 09:10:58 pdt From: dual!paul@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (Paul Wilcox-Baker) Subject: Using U.S. Modems in the U.K. Reply-To: dual!paul@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (Paul Wilcox-Baker) > Rex Godby AT&T Bell Labs asks if it is physically possible to use a US > modem in the UK, given that it is capable of operating the CCITT V22 > (1200 baud) standard? The answer is basically yes. Electrically the two systems are similar enough that I would not expect any difficulties, unless you have a Modem that is powered by current from the telephone line. Technically, you will be breaking the law, as you would by connecting a U.K. telephone to the network here. Almost all British telephone exchanges use dial pulse only, so your Modem must be capable of dialling in this fashion. In the unlikely event that tone dialling is available, the U.S. tones are the same as the U.K. tones. If the Modem is the only device attached to the phone line, then you will just require a cable that connnects the U.S. jack to its British equivalent. If you have some British phones connected to the line as well as the Modem, you will get a "ping" from the phone bell for every dial pulse dialled by the Modem. There are two solutions to this, one is to replace your British phone by an American one, the other is to use a more complicated adaptor that shunts the bell during dialling. For the simple connection method, connect the Red & white wires from the British cable to the Red & Green wires from the U.S. jack. As a slightly commercial aside, I can supply you with either a U.K. jack and cable or with an adaptor box that does the correct thing with the bells. I can also send you a schematic by U.S. Mail. Paul Wilcox-Baker Tel [415] 549 3854 Ext 36 Telex ITT 470844 Assuming the British location uses the British equivalent of the modular jack, you will need an adaptor cable. ------------------------------ Date: Wed 10 Sep 86 15:49:36-CDT From: Werner Uhrig Subject: Communications Expert System - does anyone know more ? [ from InfoWorld, Sep 8, page 16 ] COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM TO HELP NOVICES, EXPERTS Smyran, Ga - A communications software pulisher said it wil sell an on-line expert system that helps computer users solve data communications problems and work out idiosyncracies in the interaction of popular communications hardware and software. Line Expert, which will sell for $49.95 when it is released October 1, will ask users questions about their particular configuration and suggest solutions, according to Nat Atwell, director of marketing for publisher Concept Development Systems. .......... ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 16-Sep-86 04:07:01-EDT,7290;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Tue 16 Sep 86 04:06:59-EDT Date: 16 Sep 86 01:34-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #145 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Tuesday, September 16, 1986 1:34AM Volume 5, Issue 145 Today's Topics: CCMI/McGraw-Hill Inter-LATA Programs and Databases Cost of 10xxx to the Locals Cellular phone background ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 15 Sep 1986 00:16 EDT From: "David D. Story" Subject: CCMI/McGraw-Hill Inter-LATA Programs and Databases I am querying in regards to packages sold by the above under the following names and whether persons or companies on this list have used them. These are as follows: Master Planning Series - 3 Volume set with rate and tariff data on Inter-LATA, Intra-ATA and data communications. ONLY $1,795 Cheap - Right ! X-1 Planning Guide - Condensed version of the above covering only V1 - Inter-LATA. ONLY $365 - Cheap - Right ! Q-Tel 9000/5000/1000 - Database information on rates and services - Price on request - Cheap - Right ! CALL-PRICER - Least Cost Service Program from ONLY $295 to $1,295 It would seem that with all the Unix UUCPing around here that someone on the ARPA/DDN/MILNET and UUCP would already have constantly updated databases for FTPing. Thanks for any info that might be handy. ------------------------------ Sender: GZT.TDF%OZ.AI.MIT.EDU@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU From: "David D. Story" To: telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU CC: hewitt@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Subject: We had L; then N; Now T Carrier Equipment... Phase-Of-The-Moon: FQ+4D.3H.30M.24S. S-Carrier equipment has not yet been produced but I understand that ATT and ITT among others (ha ha) are carving specifications and Standards for the S-1 Voice/Data/Video Networks. Are these out yet ? Does anyone have a net copy of these standards or proposed engineering standards ? If I get one before you do I will put it on the list. Thanks, Dave ------------------------------ Date: Mon 15 Sep 86 00:43:19-EDT From: Philip A. Earnhardt Subject: Cost of 10xxx to the Locals From: Marvin Sirbu Subject: 10xxx Dialing 1) higher billing costs since users would now need multiple long distance bills each month rather than one. Does it really cost the Local Operating Companies more to bill? I thought that the local billing service was optionally provided by the Locals and, in fact, would probably be a reasonable source of revenue. 2) The possibility of intensive price-based competition, which would lower profitability. The price of LD service should have little effect on the Locals. They're not in that market. 3) If users were really responsive to price changes, minor fluctuations in relative prices could lead to major shifts in carrier usage causing enormous capacity planning problems, both for the inter-exchange carrier and for the local exchange carrier with respect to access lines. I find it difficult to believe that a significant number of residental users would go to the trouble of looking up individual call rates. On the other hand, if it were worth the trouble to route calls based on their price changes, I'd be large business who would do it. The large volume users would have the knowledge and computrons to make this kind of switching feasable. (Personally, I don't think it would fly. Can you imagine dialing a remote modem and potentially getting a different LD carrier on a daily basis...) In short, the high-volume businesses are the ones who will find the loopholes. Residental users don't have the patience or the resources to do it. Besides, your capacity problems are typically during the business day, when the residental users are the minority. If 10xxx were as widely publicized as the voting process has been, two main patterns would probably emerge. First, users would try a few carriers for a month or two, then select one as their primary carrier. Second, some users would usually use their primary carrier, but would occasionally "fall back" to some secondary carrier. These uses of 10xxx seem to me to be fundamental elements of equal access. It's a shame that no telephone company seems to be talking about them. ------------------------------ From: dyer%spdcc.UUCP@harvard.HARVARD.EDU Subject: Cellular phone background Date: Mon Sep 15 14:55:12 1986 Can anyone point me to references on how cellular phones work, how well they work in practice, etc.? My new GE portable unit has a programming procedure which is filled with references to "Home System Identification", "extended address information", "access overload class", "group id mark", "autonomous registration" and similar jargon. References to earlier TELECOM digests are just fine. For locals in the eastern Mass area, which service (Cellular One or Nynex) do you prefer? Steve Dyer dyer@harvard.HARVARD.EDU {linus,wanginst,bbnccv,harvard,ima,ihnp4}!spdcc!dyer ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Sep 86 14:08:06 CDT From: Will Martin -- AMXAL-RI To: telecom@MIT-XX.ARPA Subject: Prevalence of modular jacks Are there any available statistics showing what percentage of subscriber premises in the US are equipped with modular jacks? Are there breakouts separating them by "residential" and "business" categories? It seems to me that advertising and literature about telephone equipment, and related items like modems, is beginning to assume that "everybody" has modular jacks available. Yet, in my personal experience in homes here in St. Louis, MO, in the city itself (therefor mostly older homes), modular jacks are the rare exception. Four-prong plug-and-jack equipment is even rarer, and ordinary traditional-style screw-and-wire connections are the rule. (And most homes have wiring for one phone, usually in a hallway. Those that have extra wiring added to get to an upstairs bedroom, say, tend to have amazing routings of wire along baseboards, up stairwells, over and around doorframe woodwork, and usually ending in a screwblock situated where you will always have to move the bed to get to it! :-) I've been wondering if this is really the case all over the country, and the ad copywriters have been projecting a higher-tech image than the reality can support? Or is everybody else farther advanced into the quick-plug future than we are? (I know that adapter devices are readily available and anyone who knows which end of a screwdriver does what can easily install their own modular wiring. But I have the feeling that this is going to be necessary well into the 21st century...) Will Martin ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 20-Sep-86 02:31:38-EDT,7843;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Sat 20 Sep 86 02:31:37-EDT Date: 20 Sep 86 01:16-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #146 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Saturday, September 20, 1986 1:16AM Volume 5, Issue 146 Today's Topics: X.25 Board Inquiry Prevalence of Modular Jacks 3b20s and ESS Summary of responses on prevalence of modular jacks ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 16 Sep 86 12:19:06 edt From: alexp@xios.XIOS.CA (Alex Pepple) Subject: X.25 Board Inquiry Reply-To: xios!alexp@seismo.CSS.GOV (Alex Pepple) I'm looking for X.25 boards (Full X.25) for Multibus and VMEbus machines to interface to tcp-ip and other protocols. Would anyone have a list of companies offering QUALITY products of that nature? Please reply directly to me. Sufficient Interest = Net Summary. I'm waiting in anticipation for E-mail bits of your brainwaves! -:) -- Alex ...The bitterness of POOR QUALITY is remembered long after the sweetness of LOW PRICE is forgotten. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Sep 86 23:50:08 EDT From: campbell%maynard.UUCP@harvisr.HARVARD.EDU (Larry Campbell) Subject: Prevalence of Modular Jacks I've had ten or eleven different residences in the past fifteen years, all but one in eastern or central Massachusetts. The only ones I can remember as not having modular jacks were real slum dwellings (would you believe $7.60/week rent?). Oh, and my dorm room at UMass. (Is that a slum?) Since all phones today require modular jacks, it seems to me that any dwelling that gets moved in to is going to have modular hardware installed by the new occupants. At what, three years or something between moves for the average family, it shouldn't take long for all the housing stock to be converted. -- Larry Campbell The Boston Software Works, Inc. ARPA: campbell%maynard.uucp@harvard.ARPA 120 Fulton Street, Boston MA 02109 UUCP: {alliant,wjh12}!maynard!campbell (617) 367-6846 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Sep 86 10:10:29 EDT From: Alexander Dupuy Subject: 3b20s and ESS Reply-To: dupuy%amsterdam@columbia.edu (Alexander Dupuy) I learned some time ago that Western Electrics ESS's are actually just 3b20D (duplex cpu) machines, or vice versa, that 3b20s are just ESS's running Unix. It occurred to me to wonder what OS the ESS run. Surely not System V? Do they even run an OS at all, or are they just running a single application program that does all the switching, call logging, etc.? Perhaps someone out there could enlighten me. @alex ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Sep 86 00:47:49 edt From: decwrl!decvax!LOCAL!utzoo!henry@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU To: telecom@xx.lcs.mit.edu Subject: Re: Wilderness Phone > Problem: remote cabins miles from last telephone pole so estimated > cost to install a conventional local loop is over $20,000... there > ought to be something cheaper to install... I'm not aware of anything operational right now. Canada's M-Sat proposal would provide the equivalent of cellular phone service over the entire continent, but US cooperation on frequency assignment etc. is considered essential to it... and last I heard the project was dying because the FCC wanted to do something different with the frequencies. Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology {allegra,ihnp4,decvax,pyramid}!utzoo!henry ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 19 Sep 86 12:33:09 CDT From: Will Martin -- AMXAL-RI Subject: Summary of responses on prevalence of modular jacks I had a couple requests to post the results, so here is a summary of the responses to my query about the prevalence of modular jacks. Many mentioned that their BOC offered a free conversion to modular at one time; I do not recall this ever happening here (in SW Bell territory). I get the impression that things vary a great deal between BOC areas, in this and in many other phone-related things! Will Martin *** *** *** Date: Tue, 16 Sep 86 11:14:17 EDT From: jsol@bu-cs.bu.edu About 3 years ago I got a note in my phone bill that if my phones weren't modular that the phone company would come out and Modular-Ize for free. Probably this is no longer the case, but I also believe that most places in my region (Eastern Mass) have been modularized. *** *** *** Date: Tue, 16 Sep 86 07:51:53 edt From: Steven Bellovin A few years ago, I read that 80% of homes were equipped with modular jacks. *** *** *** Date: Tue, 16 Sep 86 17:32:35 edt From: Mark Horton Every apartment building I've seen in the last 10 years has modular jacks, and they account for a huge fraction of the turnover that really matters. People with screwblocks are quite common, but they tend to be people who haven't changed their telephone service in at least 10 years, because telco would usually put in a modular jack whenever they came out for any other reason. New construction is, of course, wired for a phone in just about every room, sometimes two. Now what bugs me is hotels. I get a portable PC with a modem, and the modem has a RJ11 jack. The hotel phone has some PBX phone with a hard-screwed phone. I guess they're afraid that someone will steal the phone. I wind up having to open it up and screw into L1 and L2 directly to use the modem. Mark *** *** *** From: xxx!utzoo!dciem!msb@seismo.css.gov Date: Thu, 18 Sep 86 01:46:42 edt I know that in the Toronto area, Bell Canada started a program some years ago to install modular jacks in all existing residences, free. You only got the free jacks in places that were already wired, i.e., they just replaced the screwblock with a jack. This was proceeding on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis. My impression is that it was about 1/4 done when Bell suddenly realized that they were not only making it easier for customers to install and deinstall Bell phones but also making it possible for them to install others' phones, and killed the program. New houses do get modular jacks, of course. I don't have any numbers, but I thought you'd be interested. Mark Brader "'Taxpayer' includes any person whether or not liable utzoo!dciem!msb to pay tax." -- Income Tax Act of Canada, s.248(1) *** *** *** Date: Wed, 17 Sep 86 17:36:01 PDT From: Murray.pa@xerox.com Please summarize if you get any good info. My guess is that any particular house/residence will get updated/converted whenever it becomes interesting. Your comment about the 21st century is probably accurate, but we could discuss how important it will be then. My house (Menlo Park, Ca) has a modular jack. It's been there at least 10 years. When I moved out here, I just called the phone company and asked for a phone. That's what I ended up with. It may have been there already, I didn't watch and/or don't remember. I think it was phone co policy back then to install modular jacks if necessary anytime they installed a phone. I seem to remember a bill-stuffing blurb about modular jacks. Details are fuzzy, but I think they offered to install them for free if you wanted them. It was many years ago, probably just before or during the transition to the new way of life. *** End *** ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 24-Sep-86 03:40:30-EDT,16386;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Wed 24 Sep 86 03:40:27-EDT Date: 24 Sep 86 02:26-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #147 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Wednesday, September 24, 1986 2:26AM Volume 5, Issue 147 Today's Topics: MCI Call Completion How Not to Protect Communications Pacific Bell's Project Victoria Telecom V5 #90: Hackers vs. Conservatism College Courses in Telecommunications ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat 20 Sep 86 04:30:49-EDT From: Doug Reuben Subject: MCI Call Completion In a recent letter to Time magazine, Howard Crane, MCI senior V.P., writes that: "The assertion that MCI has been overcharging customers for uncompleted calls is not simply not true. We do no begin to bill for a call after a certain number of seconds or a certain number of rings. We begin to bill when the call is answered and have very sophisticated means for determining when that occurs" Is this correct? I was under the impression that only AT&T could detect a pick-up in *ALL* exchanges, and that mci (not to mention alternate LD carriers) were not able to. I think mci can detect it in certain exchanges, supposedly where equal access is in place, but never heard that they were able to detect an answer in all areas. If they can, what sort of "very sophisticated equipment" do they use? and why do they do it when most other LD CO'S still can't seem to tell the difference? (i Believe that after a call is answered on AT&T, a signal is sent back to the originating office to indicate that billing should start. could MCI, by some means, use that signal as well? Or is this totally wrong?) Any answers would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, -DOUG S.D-REUBEN%KLA.WESLYN@WESLEYAN.BITNET S.D-REUBEN%KLA.WESLYN%WESLEYAN.BITNET@WISCVM.ARPA ------------------------------ Date: 20 Sep 1986 06:44-PDT Subject: How Not to Protect Communications From: the tty of Geoffrey S. Goodfellow [The New York Times, September 13, 1986] BALTIMORE - The Senate should avoid repeating the mistake made by the House when it unanimously passed the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. Purportedly a benign updating of the 1968 Federal wiretap law designed to guarantee privacy in the electronic age, the bill actually promotes the cellular telephone industry at the expense of the public good. True enough, obsolete language in the existing wiretap law fails to address digital, video, and other new forms of communications. The proposed law would fix that. But it would also declare certain communications legally private regardless of the electronic medium employed to transport them. The mere act of receiving radio signals, except for certain enumerated services like commercial broadcasts, would become a federal crime. To disregard the medium is to ignore the essence of the privacy issue. Some media, such as wire, are inherently private. That is, they are hard to get at except by physical intrusion into a residence or up a telephone pole. Others media, notably radio signals, are inherently accessible to the public. Commercial radio and television broadcasts, cellular car telephone transmissions and other "two-way" radio communications enter our homes and pass through our bodies. Cellular phone calls, in fact, can be received by most TV sets in America on UHF channels 80 through 83. If radio is public by the laws of physics, how can a law of Congress say that cellular communications and other forms of radio are private? The unhappy answer is that the proposed law appears to be a product of technological ignorance or wishful thinking. A similar edict applied to print media would declare newspapers, or portions of them, to be as private as first class mail. The result is plainly absurd and contrary to decades of reasonable legislative and judicial precedent. In contrast, present Federal statute prescribes a sensible policy for oral communications, protecting only those "uttered by a person exhibiting an expectation that such communication is not subject to interception under circumstances justifying such expectation." To illustrate, a quiet chat in one's parlor would likely be protected. Substitute for the parlor a crowded restaurant or the stage of a packed auditorium, the expectation of privacy is no longer justified. The law would not grant it. Congress should apply this same logic to electronic communications. The broadcasting of an unencrypted radio telephone call, or anything else, is an inherently public act, whether so intended or not. Thus it violates the "justifiable expectation" doctrine, and warrants no Federal privacy protection. Protection or no, people will not be stopped from receiving radio signals. Even Representative Robert W. Kastenmeier, Democrat of Wisconsin, who championed the bill in the House, confesses that its radio provisions are essentially unenforceable. They will have no deterrent effect, and they will not increase the privacy of cellular phone calls or other broadcasts. Worse, the act would lull the public into a false presumption of privacy. On further examination, it appears that the legislation is really more a sham than an honest, if puerile, attempt by Congress to deal with new technology. Its sponsors say they aim to protect all electronic communications equally. Yet the bill sets out at least four categories of phone calls, with varying penalties for interception. Cellular radio calls are guarded by threat of prison, but there is no interdiction whatsoever against eavesdropping on "cordless" telephones of the sort carried around the apartment backyard. So Congress is about to give the cellular telephone industry ammunition for advertising and bamboozling, promising privacy that does not actually exist. Cellular service companies thereby hope to avoid losing revenue from customers who might use the service less if they understood its vulnerability. If Congress were serious about privacy in the communications age, it would scrap the Electronic Communications Privacy Act and begin anew. Legislators and the public must first grasp the true properties of new technologies. Are those properties inadequate or unsavory? If so, relief will only come from research and more technology not wishful legislation. ============ Robert Jesse is a technology consultant. [known to us all as rnj@brl] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Sep 1986 21:30 PDT From: "Michael Fleming" Subject: Pacific Bell's Project Victoria InfoWorld Sept 15, 1986 (page 17) has an article about the completion of the test phase of Pac Bell's Project Victoria. The project enables 2 voice channels and 5 data channels (1 at 9600 baud and 4 at 1200 baud) over a special multiplexor on a 2 wire telephone line. According to the article the service may be commercially available by late 1987 depending on whether or not they feel they can make enough money with it. I'm not very familiar with this project and am hoping that there is someone on the list who can answer a few questions I have about it. Can it use existing lines, ESS's, etc? Will third party vendors be able to supply the muxes or will they be the domain of the BOC's only? Will it just be an extra service similar to touch tone, call waiting, call forwarding, etc? Any ideas at all on minimum cost (service, mux, ...)? Any feedback from anybody knowledgable about the project would be appreciated. Thanks. Michael W. Fleming Instructional Computing Consultant Computer Services California State College 9001 Stockdale Highway Bakersfield, Ca. 93311-1099 Telephone: (805) 833-2309 -or- (805) 833-2115 {message} BITNET: HMICHEL@CALSTATE ARPANET: HMICHEL%CALSTATE.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU COMPUSERVE: 72437,2270 {Seldom used, too expensive} ------------------------------ Date: Mon 22 Sep 86 00:56:24-EDT From: Philip A. Earnhardt Subject: Telecom V5 #90: Hackers vs. Conservatism > ANGRY CALLER TITHES UP FALWELL'S LINE > > A self-employed computer whiz in Atlanta is under orders from a > telephone company to stop making harassing computerized calls to the > Rev. Jerry Falwell's toll-free tithing line. > .... (12/31/86) This may have had some effect. Falwell's television program now lists a non-800 number and AT&T WATS information has no listing for an 800 number. Alternatively, Jerry may have gotten the word from On High to drop WATS. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Sep 86 7:56:34 EDT From: "Cpt. Jerome A. DiGennaro AV 298-2703" Subject: College Courses in Telecommunications A while back I asked this group for information concerning telecommunications courses. Herewith are the replies I received. My thanks to all who helped. I will keep the net posted with happenings at this end as they occur. Jerry DiGennaro ARPA/BITNET: jerryd@brl.arpa AT&T: (301) 278-2703/5759 UUCP: ...{seismo,unc,decvax,cbosgd}!brl-smoke!jerryd Date: Wed, 13 Aug 86 05:52:32 edt From: Charles Hedrick As far as I know, telecomm courses are still rare, much less degrees in the subject. There are several good texts. MacNamara is the classic, but I have seen a more recent one on the shelf in our telecomm guy's office. You might ask rcrispin@red.rutgers.edu for the name. The texts typically deal with what I would call "classical telecommunications", namely modems, rs232, bisync, and various other synchronous protocols, and all that. Our staff are more heavily involved with Ethernet and networking of that kind. I haven't seen any good texts on that subject, though DEC has an intro to networking put out by their marketing people that might be interesting to look at. I'd be inclined to require the Ethernet Blue Book as a text in any course I taught. Ethernet is the prototypical local area net, and the Blue Book discusses all kinds of issues about configuration rules, etc. I think it's better to go into one network in detail than to just teach them buzzwords applying to a variety of them. Similarly, I'd pick one protocol family and describe it in detail. Pick one you can talk about. TCP/IP, DECnet, XNS, or even PUP, would all be perfectly reasonable. If I were doing TCP/IP, I'd make sure they understand ARP, IP, TCP, and one or two applications, probably telnet and SMTP. If I had just one semester, I think what I would do is spend half of it on old-style telecommunications, and the other half on Ethernet and TCP/IP. Whether you could make this fly in a community college depends upon how good your students are. ===== From: Robert Lenoil Stephen Burns teaches a telecommunications seminar every other year here at MIT. It's not a full-scale course, but perhaps he can give you some pointers. Tell him a satisfied student sent you. Robert Lenoil ===== Date: Wed, 13 Aug 86 11:12:04 EDT From: Robert Willis Telecommunications is a large subject area. You did not give any indication of particular subareas. You also didn't mention the background level of the students. Since you said that the course is for a local community college (2 year?), I assume that you are looking for an introductory survey course for people interested in computers (e.g., potential C.S/E.E. or management majors). Andrew Tanenbaum's "Computer Networks" [Prentice-Hall, 1981] covers the ISO OSI model at a level that can be appreciated by people whose backgrounds differ widely. It is also humorous at times. By his own words: "The book is intended as a text for juniors, seniors, and graduate students in computer science, electrical engineering, and related disciplines. The only prerequisites are a general familiarity with computer systems and programming, although a little knowledge of elementary calculus and elementary probability theory is useful, but not essential." This book explains *what* a network is, and *how* it logically operates. Topics include topology design, routing issues, delay and throughput analysis, layer protocols, packet-switching vs. virtual-circuit tradeoffs, and network security, to mention just a few. This could be sufficient for an introductory course. Other things that might be included in an advanced telecommunications course are *how* a network physically works (e.g., principles of transmission, AM/FM theory, modulation, fiber optics), elementary coding and information theory, and the history, economics and politics of communications (e.g., phone company monopoly, deregulation, F.C.C.). Many of these topics were taught in several graudate telecommunications courses given at M.I.T. [Hi Marvin!] Good luck with the course. Bob ===== Date: Tue, 19 Aug 86 17:20:23 edt From: Marvin Sirbu Subject: Course Material I have been searching for some time for a good text on telecommunications for IS managers: no such text exists. Among those *acceptable* if not *good* texts, you should examine: Telecommunications for Management, Meadow and TEdesco (McGraw Hill, 1985) Telecommunications Primer, Langley, (Pitman 1983) Understanding Modern Communications, Dordick (McGraw Hill 1986) Data Communications, Techo (Plenum 1980) Understanding Communications Systems, Cannon and Luecke (Texas Instruments, 1984) Good luck! Marvin Sirbu Carnegie Mellon University ===== Date: Fri, 22 Aug 86 12:49:40 CDT From: wucec2!rfh0023@seismo.CSS.GOV (Ramon Fernando Herrera) Subject: Telecom Colleges The September 1, 1985 issue of Datamation has an article: "Who's Teaching Telecom" by David Stamps. ===== Date: Thu 14 Aug 86 08:06:07-PDT From: HECTOR MYERSTON Subject: Telecom Colleges To: Jerry@BRL.ARPA cc: telecom@mit-xx.ARPA, myerston@SRI-KL.ARPA The number of colleges offering some sort of Telecom degree is growing. Univ of Colorado at Boulder has had a program for quite a while as does Golden Gate University in SF where I teach. A search of the recent trades will reveal at least half a dozen more. Golden Gate offers both an Undergraduate and a Graduate program. Decision #1. What type of program? There are basically three approaches: (1) EE level Telecom Engineering (2) Hands-on Telecom Technology (3) Telecom Management Nr (1) produces Engineers who go into research and development and are seldom heards from again (in the Telecom World). Nr (2) produces Technicians who are now being called Service Engrs or Service Managers. No glamor but they make around $40K in this area almost right off the bat. Nr (3) produces folks who (should) know how to manage systems with out being tied by the minutae of cabling, levels etc Golden Gate is Nr (3) Question #2. There ARE quite a few good texts as well as some real clinkers. James Martin has about a dozen on the market which seems to be a ramdon scramble of the same paragraphs in each. Lee's ABC's of Tel- communications is nice for anthropologist studying Stroeger Step-by-Step switching and barbed wire ground-return loops. They were was last updated after the big war, If a (management) book was written prior to 1985 it is probably useless +HECTOR+ ===== End of forwarded messages ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 8-Oct-86 00:16:48-EDT,9629;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Wed 8 Oct 86 00:16:46-EDT Date: 5 Oct 86 03:14-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #148 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Sunday, October 5, 1986 3:14AM Volume 5, Issue 148 Today's Topics: CCMI/McGraw-Hill Inter-LATA Programs and Databases Re: Pacific Bell's Project Victoria Non-ATT carriers detecting call answering { line noise Re: 3b20s and ESS What's special about AT&T phones in 2 line house? RE: MCI call completion Hum Suppression Wanted ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 24 Sep 86 12:59:44 edt From: moscom!de@rochester.arpa Subject: CCMI/McGraw-Hill Inter-LATA Programs and Databases >I am querying in regards to packages sold by the above >under the following names and whether persons or companies >on this list have used them. These are as follows: >Master Planning Series - 3 Volume set with rate and tariff > data on Inter-LATA, Intra-ATA and > data communications. ONLY $1,795 > Cheap - Right ! Right, and worthless too. We took a look at it for a while. It included information on the New Jersey corridor, which according to my best information was thought of but never implemented. It further contained information, for example, on NY intrastate-intralata rates for both ATT and NYNEX. Again according to our best information, only the local operating company is allowed to carry intrastate-intralata calls. Contained no information on LATAs that crossed state lines, etc etc etc. For 1800 dollars they could have done better. >It would seem that with all the Unix UUCPing around here >that someone on the ARPA/DDN/MILNET and UUCP would already >have constantly updated databases for FTPing. We have lots of databases, and information on 30+ carriers. But what is FTPing? rochester \ David Esan | moscom ! de ritcv/ =============================================================================== ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 24 Sep 86 19:21:29 PDT From: ihnp4!utzoo!henry@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU Subject: Re: Pacific Bell's Project Victoria > Any ideas at all on minimum cost (service, mux, ...)? High. Most people will not need/want it, therefore there will be little pressure to hold rates down. On the contrary, there will be plenty of internal pressure to milk it for all it's worth, to compensate for the inability to do likewise with basic voice service. Expect it to be priced well beyond what you'd want to pay yourself. Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology {allegra,ihnp4,decvax,pyramid}!utzoo!henry ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 24-Sep-86 11:50:43 PDT From: vortex!lauren@rand-unix.ARPA (Lauren Weinstein) Subject: Non-ATT carriers detecting call answering As I understand the current situation, unless a non-ATT carrier has equal access (or a special "answering supervision" feature package, the details of which I won't go into here) in the TERMINATING central office for a call, they are unable to positively identify supervision status. The letter from MCI says they don't start timing after a certain number of rings or interval of time. But they didn't mention the OTHER technique some non-ATT carriers use--trying to watch the path to detect when non-recurring audio (e.g. speech) begins. As anyone who has tried to do this will tell you, it is tricky at best. And of course you'll be fooled by intercept operators and recordings. I'm not saying that this is what MCI is using--but given their statement about a "highly sophisticated" means of detecting when a call is answered, it sounds like they might be using this for termination in non-supervision central offices. After all, true answering supervision status, when properly handled, isn't "highly sophisticated" at all--but it works. --Lauren-- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 25 Sep 86 11:17:42 EDT From: Michael Grant Subject: { line noise I remember that several months ago we were discussing some line noise that came in the form of '{' characters on a periodic basis. Can anyone out there tell me what they found, and if the problem was ever corrected? We just recently went to a new all digital 5-ESS; that's when the noise started. I have also noticed that we only get it using Bell 212 protocol. The Vadic 3400 protocol seems to be immune to it. -Mike Grant ------------------------------ From: heiby@cuae2.att.com (Ron Heiby) Date: 26 Sep 86 15:12:28 GMT Subject: Re: 3b20s and ESS The AT&T 3B20D computer is at the heart of some ESS made by AT&T. There is a lot more hardware to an ESS than just the computer, though. The 3B20D does run a release of the UNIX system, called UNIX/RTR (for Real-Time Reliable) which is planned (I think) to be upgraded to SVID compatability some time. The 3B20D and UNIX/RTR are not generally available except to RBOCs (Regional Bell Operating Companies, the "baby bells"). That's about all I know, as I'm not in the switching area. -- Ron Heiby heiby@cuae2.ATT.COM Moderator: mod.newprod & mod.os.unix AT&T-IS, /app/eng, Lisle, IL (312) 810-6109 "Hay una mujer desaparecida...." ------------------------------ Date: Sun 28 Sep 86 13:00:32-CDT From: Werner Uhrig Subject: What's special about AT&T phones in 2 line house? [ I forward this message from USENET as I am interested myself in the answer. I'm also interested in knowing if reporting to the phone company that I have N devices (phones, answering machines, etc) connected to a line should result in any raised signal-levels which I could test for having been done or not; yep, sometimes only some phones ring ... ---Werner BTW: you can respond to the author of the message below directly from ARPA by mailing to: jljl%sphinx.uucp@seismo.css.gov ] Subject: What's special about AT&T phones in 2 line house? From: jljl@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP (james e levin @ Univ. of Chicago Computation Ce nter) What is it about AT&T phones? My sister has two telephone lines into her home, and 8 or 9 two line phones. Recently, she tried "upgrading" with two new telephones. They were made by different reputable manufacturers (i.e., Panasonic), but neither would work with her second line. Both companies suggested that she had too many phones for theirs to work properly. She even tried unplugging all of her existing phones, but the new ones still didn't work. Other than buying AT&T, can anyone suggest a way to pick telephone sets that will work for her? Illinois Bell told her that there was nothing that they could do. Is there something she could do to boost the power of her system? Why does the first line work but not the second? How many phones, answering machines, and modems can you resonably expect to put on one residential line? Even AT&T phones. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 Sep 86 10:18:41 cdt From: Subject: RE: MCI call completion This is not my area of expertise, but I think this is the way it works. When the called party answers, a tip and ring reversal is sent back to the calling end to indicate the party has answered. In the beginning of alternate carrier usage, the customer got dial tone out of his central office, and dialed a number to reach the LD carriers circuits. Then he was given a 2nd dial tone from the LD company. At this point in time, it appeared to the calling equipment to be an answer. With the addition of "equal access" features to the calling end, the 2nd dial tone isn't used. The calling end pulses the numbers into the LD equipment, and when the called party answers, the reversal is sent back to allow correct billing. The equal access feature is not available in most electromechanical offices, and I think that nation wide about 80 some odd percent of the offices are supposed to be equal access in 1986. I cannot say how the LD carrier's equipment works or what "sophisticated equipment" they have. By the way, in offices with equal access, billing records are recorded at the calling end regardless of whether or not the LD carrier records it. Then for a fee, the local operating company can handle the billing. Greg Hackney Southwestern Bell Texas Network Engineering Support Systems Houston, Texas ---- The preceeding was my own opinion and not those of A.G. Bell, S.W. Bell, Judge Green, my mother, or my wife ---- ------------------------------ From: kyle.wbst@Xerox.COM Date: 1 Oct 86 22:56:40 EDT Subject: Hum Suppression Wanted A friend has a new gift of a "Ring-On" Model TL-6630 AM/FM Clock Radio/Telephone with built-in speaker phone feature that has a fairly loud humming noise when using it as an ordinary phone. The sound is similar to the noise I often hear in jumbo jets when listening to music on the headphones (that's a 400 Hz tone, I think). Any suggestions to solving this problem? Thanks, Earle. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* ------- 12-Oct-86 22:16:26-EDT,8015;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Sun 12 Oct 86 22:16:25-EDT Date: 12 Oct 86 21:28-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #149 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Sunday, October 12, 1986 9:28PM Volume 5, Issue 149 Today's Topics: Radio Shack Cellular Phone Review (long) Re: What's special about AT&T phones in 2 line house? Microcom modem pc-based RS232 monitors Clock/Radio ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 5 Oct 86 16:39:20 EDT From: Michael Grant Subject: Radio Shack Cellular Phone Review (long) I recently had the chance to use a Radio Shack cellular phone for a few weeks. This is the transportable, (read: luggable), phone which, with the proper mounting hardware, (included), can be installed in your car. It looks like a lunch pail, (filled with bricks), with a rubber antenna on top and a handset on the side. There is a coil cord going from the handset to the unit which is a detachable DB-25. The original manufacturer is Mobira. (Nokia-Kinex; Mobira division, 2300 Tall Pines Dr., suite 100, Largo, FL 33540, (813)-536-5553) The phone has very clear voice quality, but if you put the handset volume up to high clipping occurs. I liked the squishy rubber buttons, it's too bad they weren't a bit more recessed. This fact, and because they were on the back of the handset made it impossible to rest the phone on your shoulder. I did like the fact that it had a delete key so that you could somewhat edit your phone number before sending it. The unit has a 4 digit factory settable lock code, a call timer, recall last number, and a 16 character LCD display. On the display the * and # keys displayed as A and P. You can enter up to a 32 digit phone number, the display rolls. The unit can be switched to either carrier. (In each area there are up to 2 carriers, a wire-line carrier, and a non-wire-line carrier. The wire-line carrier is usually run by the local telco, or subsidiary there of, and the non-wire-line carrier is run by some other company. System A is the non-wire-line carrier, and system B is the wire-line carrier. This function is known as an A/B switch.) I also liked that it was a full 3 watts, I was hardly ever without service. On the handset, the ear piece wasn't cupped as much as a real Western Electric telephone making it a bit uncomfortable for long conversations. The microphone was placed in such a way that I almost always covered it with my hand. I found the 4 hour standby time / 10 minute talk time on one battery to be completely unacceptable. Also, one cannot use the phone when the battery is being charged. I'm told that the battery life can be extended by getting more expensive batteries. When the battery life gets too low, the phone beeps about every 10 seconds. There is apparently no way to stop these beeps. If one wants to drain the battery, one must put up with about an hour of incessant beeping, (for certain types of batteries, draining the battery before you recharge it is supposed to extend the life of your battery). The phone was constructed primarily of plastic, which in this phone creeked when it was carried. (It made me wonder if it was about to fall apart). When buttons were pressed, the phone produces an annoying beep. This can be turned off from the keyboard, but comes back on again when the phone is next powered up. I also experienced the antenna base becoming loose which I had to tighten with an alan wrench. It isn't by any means the best phone I've ever seen or played with. I would suggest that one look around before purchasing this thing, there are several other transportables out there. There are even some real portables around like the Motorola 8000, the Walker, and the GE Mini which are slightly larger than your average trim-line telephone handset. Let me tell you, after lugging this thing around in a back pack for a day, I really wish this thing was all in the handset! Other transportable manufacturers that deserve looking into are NEC, DiamondTel by Mitsubishi, and Panasonic. The price of the Radio Shack phone is $1199.00, and the battery back runs 119.95, but you need to purchase 2 batteries at $9.95 each. The battery pack comes with the rubber antenna, a wall charger, and a car adapter for a cigarette lighter. -Mike Grant ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 5 Oct 86 18:46 EDT From: Frankston@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: Re: What's special about AT&T phones in 2 line house? This sounds like a problem I had. As I noted in my previous letter to this list, the problem with a 2-line Panasonic phone in which one line works and the other doesn't is likely to be that the line is being split with a mux that seems to also split the voltage such that the second line as about 16 volts. The Panasonic interprets this as indicating that another phone on the line is offhook. ------------------------------ Date: Tuesday, 7 October 1986 12:47-MDT From: Sergiu Hart Subject: Microcom modem I am looking for information on the following 2400 modem: Microcom AX/2400. If anyone has any experience with these (or similar Microcom products) - we will be glad to hear about it. Thanks, Sergiu Hart ===================================================================== MAIL: School of Mathematical Sciences Tel-Aviv University 69978 Tel-Aviv, Israel BITNET: hart@taurus.bitnet ARPA: hart%taurus.bitnet@wiscvm.wisc.edu ===================================================================== ------------------------------ Date: Wed 8 Oct 86 12:57:36-EDT From: Philip A. Earnhardt Subject: pc-based RS232 monitors My company is interested in getting an RS-232 monitor box. I remember seeing some software packages available that do this through a PC. Are these "toy" programs or will they on the level of the Spectron D-584 scope: o Monitoring of both sides of a full-duplex connection at selectable speeds. Must handle at least 9600 baud. o Some sort of intelligent way of seeing the timing interaction between the two ends (the 584 uses alternating lines of the display). o The ability to capture data based on various signatures -- certain data strings, parity errors, etc. o An interface that causes minimal signal loss. Finally, the program should have the ability to record the data on disk. Any leads? Alternatively, are there custom boxes that do this in the 3-5K range? Thanks. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 8 Oct 86 09:06:52 PDT From: Steve_Pershing%UBC.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: Clock/Radio Following is a reply to Message-ID: (8610050731.AA01362@ucbvax) Dated: 2 Oct 86 02:56:40 GMT From: kyle.wbst@xerox.com Your clock-radio/telephone probably has a fluorescent or LED clock display... These displays scan across each digit in a sequential fashion, and the scanning is probably what you are hearing on the phone receiver. It is just due to cheap design. The easiest thing to do is disable the scanning when you pick up the handset to dial...have you tried to unplug the radio from the AC line? If that works, you might be able to disable only the line powering the display, and then rig an internal switch connected physically to the telephone's switch-hook, which could cut off the power to the display whenever you wanted to callout or answer the line. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 19-Oct-86 17:36:46-EDT,8798;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Sun 19 Oct 86 17:36:45-EDT Date: 19 Oct 86 16:32-EDT From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #150 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Sunday, October 19, 1986 4:32PM Volume 5, Issue 150 Today's Topics: N0X/N1X impact on dialing Re: "...we don't really care" 10xxx dialing and billing Cost of 10xxx to the Locals Re: pc-based RS232 monitors range of car alarms pc-based rs232 monitors ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 3 Oct 86 14:40:41 EDT From: Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) Subject: N0X/N1X impact on dialing I have just seen N0X/N1X in use in 214 area (includes Dallas, TX, in the same state where 713 split without going to N0X/N1X?). The phone book says to use areacode 214 for direct-dial long-distance calls within that area. Since the Dallas & suburban N0X/N1X points I saw are not far from the 817 areacode boundary, it's necessary to check for their being local to points in 817 area! (It turns out that 2 of those N0X/N1X prefixes do have local service into 817 area, which, like 214, requires area code for direct-dial long distance calls within itself.) New Jersey 201 area also has N0X/N1X, and it and 609 both now require 1+ on direct-dial out-of-area calls (but what about those out-of-area calls which were local earlier--i.e., you could dial them AND all points in your N.J. area code with just the 7-digit local number). ------------------------------ From: ihnp4!tropix!ritcv!moscom!de@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU Date: Tue, 23 Sep 86 02:34:20 EDT Subject: Re: "...we don't really care" In article <8609012345.AA19872@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> S.PAE@DEEP-THOUGHT.MIT.EDU (Philip A. Earnhardt) writes: >Has anyone out there gotten useful information (either in a printed form or >personally) from a local company about the 10xxx codes? The Rochester Telephone telephone book, not only includes about a dozen 10XXX codes, but describes how to use them. It also includes two pages on the difference between Inter and Intra LATA calls. My exchange has not yet gone Equal Access, but I understand that the information included in the kits gives a fairly good explanation of how to use 10XXX dialling, and how Equal Access works. Of course, Rochester Telephone is an independant phone company, and not part of the ex-Bell System. rochester \ David Esan | moscom ! de ritcv/ ------------------------------ Date: 16 September 86 10:04-PST From: KJBSF@SLACVM Subject: 10xxx dialing and billing When I have used an ALDS service through 10xxx dialing, the charges for the call have always come on my Pacific Bell bill, right along with the AT&T bill. I don't understand how this could cost all that much.. Maybe other regional companies don't bill the same way.. ------------------------------ Date: Mon 15 Sep 86 00:43:19-EDT From: Philip A. Earnhardt Subject: Cost of 10xxx to the Locals From: Marvin Sirbu Subject: 10xxx Dialing 1) higher billing costs since users would now need multiple long distance bills each month rather than one. Does it really cost the Local Operating Companies more to bill? I thought that the local billing service was optionally provided by the Locals and, in fact, would probably be a reasonable source of revenue. 2) The possibility of intensive price-based competition, which would lower profitability. The price of LD service should have little effect on the Locals. They're not in that market. 3) If users were really responsive to price changes, minor fluctuations in relative prices could lead to major shifts in carrier usage causing enormous capacity planning problems, both for the inter-exchange carrier and for the local exchange carrier with respect to access lines. I find it difficult to believe that a significant number of residental users would go to the trouble of looking up individual call rates. On the other hand, if it were worth the trouble to route calls based on their price changes, I'd be large business who would do it. The large volume users would have the knowledge and computrons to make this kind of switching feasable. (Personally, I don't think it would fly. Can you imagine dialing a remote modem and potentially getting a different LD carrier on a daily basis...) In short, the high-volume businesses are the ones who will find the loopholes. Residental users don't have the patience or the resources to do it. Besides, your capacity problems are typically during the business day, when the residental users are the minority. If 10xxx were as widely publicized as the voting process has been, two main patterns would probably emerge. First, users would try a few carriers for a month or two, then select one as their primary carrier. Second, some users would usually use their primary carrier, but would occasionally "fall back" to some secondary carrier. These uses of 10xxx seem to me to be fundamental elements of equal access. It's a shame that no telephone company seems to be talking about them. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Oct 86 12:15:14 PDT From: ihnp4!mtune!jhc@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU Subject: Re: pc-based RS232 monitors Reply-To: mtune!jhc@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (Jonathan Clark) In article <8610130141.AA12497@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> S.PAE@DEEP-THOUGHT.MIT.EDU (Philip A. Earnhardt) writes: >My company is interested in getting an RS-232 monitor box. >Alternatively, are there custom boxes that do this in the 3-5K range? Check out the Hewlett-Packard 4951B protocol analyzer. About $5K, does everything you mentioned plus X.25, SDLC and bisync, 19200 baud, except that it records on tape cartridges not on disk. -- Jonathan Clark [NAC,attmail]!mtune!jhc My walk has become rather more silly lately. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Oct 86 12:46:51 EDT From: CHRISTOPHER CHUNG Reply-To: ST802414%BROWNVM.BITNET@WISCVM.ARPA Subject: range of car alarms I have a car alarm that pages you when the alarm goes off. It is supposed to be a 4 watt system that can transmit for 8 miles. I recently tested it in a very large shopping mall parking lot. I parked the car about 200-300 feet from the front entrance and stood outside and had someone set it off. It worked fine. Then I moved a few feet just inside the glass doors of the mall and it didn't beep me when the alarm went off. I called the company and they said that the range could be reduced to be that little. Does this happen to all the makes of beeper car alarms or is this a cheaply made alarm system? Is there a way to boost the range with some kind of booster or an addition antenna (I am using my car radio antenna)? Does this also happen to CB's and cellular phones or do they have much higher power transmitters? Thanks, Chris ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Oct 86 18:29:28 edt Subject: pc-based rs232 monitors From: Telecom@XX In article <8610130141.AA12497@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> S.PAE@DEEP-THOUGHT.MIT.EDU (Philip A. Earnhardt) writes: > My company is interested in getting an RS-232 monitor box. I remember seeing > some software packages available that do this through a PC.... Any leads? BLACK BOX sells a software package that might do what you want. Their catalog (p.62) says IBM PC, XT, or At computers can monitor RS-232 data interfaces with BreakOut.... BreakOut enables you to monitor, raise or lower interface leads; send messages to the interface; and capture and save monitored data to disk. Use Breakout on either COM1 or COM2 under PC-DOS 2.00 or higher, or MS-DOS 2.11 or higher. Requires 360K drive, 128k RAM. Order# GC-TD002 $125.00 I have never used this program, so I can't tell you anything about how well it works. Their customer support/information number is (412) 746-5565. Andy Behrens {astrovax,ihnp4,linus,harvard,decvax}!dartvax!burlcoat!andyb andyb%burlcoat@dartmouth.CSNET andyb%burlcoat@dartmouth.EDU andyb%burlcoat%dartmouth@csnet-relay.ARPA RFD 1 Box 116, Union Village, Vt. 05043 ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 30-Oct-86 23:43:55-EST,20488;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Thu 30 Oct 86 23:43:53-EST Date: 30 Oct 86 21:26-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #151 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Thursday, October 30, 1986 9:26PM Volume 5, Issue 151 Today's Topics: Computerized Sales Call Gets Stuck, Ties Up Phone for Three Days A Calling Card Feature/Bug Re: range of car alarms Re: range of car alarms PC-Pursuit now available in 400 cities and 18,000 exchanges Various Submissions from National Public Radio in Washington, D.C. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 24 Oct 86 14:02:58 cdt From: werner@ngp.UTEXAS.EDU (Werner Uhrig) Subject: Computerized Sales Call Gets Stuck, Ties Up Phone for Three Days [ this is a pointer to an interesting article in RISKS alias mod.risks. please check this group for details. If this article reaches you somehow where RISKS/mod.risks is not available, please advise me. ---WRU] RISKS-LIST: RISKS-FORUM Digest, Tuesday, 22 October 1986 Volume 3 : Issue 84 Contents: Risks of using an automatic dialer (Bill Keefe) .... Computerized Sales Call Gets Stuck, Ties Up Phone for Three Days GREENWICH, Conn. (AP) - A shipping broker who does all his work on the phone says he lost at least one deal because a computerized sales pitch called him nearly every two minutes for 72 hours, tying up his lines. ...... ------------------------------ Subject: A Calling Card Feature/Bug Date: Sat, 25 Oct 86 14:53:20 -0500 From: Henry Mensch I've just received my NET Calling Card; there are spaces on the front for a "Calling Card Number" and a "International Number" but only the Calling Card Number is filled in. Are International Numbers used anymore? -- Henry Mensch / ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Oct 86 02:03:39 PDT From: ihnp4!chinet!cabbie@ucbvax Subject: Re: range of car alarms Reply-To: chinet!cabbie@ucbvax (Richard Andrews) >I have a car alarm that pages you when the alarm goes off. It is >supposed to be a 4 watt system that can transmit for 8 miles. >I recently tested it in a very large shopping mall parking lot. >I parked the car about 200-300 feet from the front entrance and >stood outside and had someone set it off. It worked fine. Then I >moved a few feet just inside the glass doors of the mall and it didn't >beep me when the alarm went off. I called the company and they said >that the range could be reduced to be that little. > Does this happen to all the makes of beeper car alarms or is this >a cheaply made alarm system? Is there a way to boost the range with >some kind of booster or an addition antenna (I am using my car radio >antenna)? Does this also happen to CB's and cellular phones or do >they have much higher power transmitters? > >Thanks, >Chris If that is a true 4 watt rf output system then it should transmit much farther than what you are receiving now. In any transmitter system, the single most significant improvement anyone can make to their transmitting range is through antennas. Remember the CB boom? There were literally dozens of antennas to pick from, each one having its virtues and failings. The absolute worst antenna was the one that converted your regular AM FM broadcast radio antenna into a CB antenna. In answer to your question, and solution to your problem, FCC rules notwithstanding, is to replace the antenna. CB radios have a 4 watt output and cell phones have a 25 watt output (if I remember correctly). Rich Andrews ...ihnp4!chinet!cabbie ------------------------------ From: mcvax!axis!philip@seismo.CSS.GOV Date: Thu, 30 Oct 86 11:05:08 -0100 Subject: Re: range of car alarms Reply-To: mcvax!axis!philip@seismo.CSS.GOV (Philip Peake) Your problem is a very common one with radio communications. Most large buildings (shopping centers being generaly the worst) just seem to stop dead almost all radio communications. I have had similar experiences with ham radio equipment, in one case a local repeater (less than a mile away, running 25 watts) just vanished upon entering a department store. I really don't see much hope for your system working in such circumstances. You can probably console yourself with the fact that even if you get your warning while more than a few hundred feet away from the car, by the time you get there either the car or its contents will be long gone. Philip ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Oct 86 14:35:03 cdt From: werner@ngp.UTEXAS.EDU (Werner Uhrig) Subject: PC-Pursuit now available in 400 cities and 18,000 exchanges [Readers are encouraged to submit on their experience with Telenet PC Pursuit. Mine has been very discouraging, typical of GTE. -elmo] Luck has it, that in "cleaning house", I found the letter I had received from the PC PURSUIT MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE of TELENET COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION, Steve Del Rocco, who offered more info to be obtained by calling him at 1-800-368-4215, M-F 8am-5pm EDT. Calling him provided me with an 800-number of a FidoNet-BBS to call to download several files with more info about the current status of PC-Pursuit: 1-800-835-3001. (300/1200baud, no parity, 8 data & 1 stop bits). it instructs you to login with a generic login-name "PC PURSUIT", pwd=PC. There is a 15 minute limit and you may have to dial in twice to get all info. It seems that there is a daily limit of 30 minutes usage for each account, so you may find the system refusing to log you in with a message to that effect - I just asked, and they do reset that periodically (I assume after minutes, but don't really know how long it takes). Very nice and convenient set-up. Everything has a very good "feel" to it. At this point I am torn between uploading some of those files and writing a quick summary; I guess, I'll do both. To the best of my knowledge .....: GTE has a X.25 packet switching network in place between major business centers in the US, and in August '85, they introduced PC-Pursuit, a new type of service between some (12) areas; i.e. unlimited data-calls at 300/1200baud during non-business hours at a fixed rate. I assume this looked very promising, but did not fill the capacity, possibly because at these hubs many people already have such a variety of BBSes available locally - but out in the boonies, you could hear the "masses" salivating .... (-:. Around June '86 they must have finalized a deal with TeleNet to offer access to PC-Pursuit via their network and when I heard about that I contacted them. The service was "not yet" offered in Austin, Texas then, but in mid September: "TELENET WAS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT PC-PURSUIT IS NOW ACCESSIBLE FROM EVERY LOCAL ACCESS NUMBER ON ITS PUBLIC DATA NETWORK. PC-USERS FROM HUNDREDS OF CITIES ACROSS THE US CAN NOW MAKE LONG-DISTANCE DATA CONNECTIONS THAT ARE ONLY A LOCAL PHONE-CALL AWAY. PC PURSUIT ALLOWS USERS TO REACH OTHER PERSONAL COMPUTER USERS IN 14 MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS, 24 HOURS A DAY, VIA THE TELENET NETWORK. SUBSCRIBERS ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO DIAL THOUSANDS OF FREE PUBLIC DATABASES AT 300 OR 1200 BPX [sic] AND DOWNLOAD AND UPLOAD PUBLIC DOMAIN SOFTWARE, RESEARCH PROFESSIONAL PROJECTS THROUGH FREE DATA-BASES, SHOP AND ADVERTISE IN ELECTRONIC CATALOGS, AND SEND/RECEIVE MESSAGES. ALL AT ONE LOW FLAT MONTHLY RATE! ...UNLIMITED CALLS DURING THE EVENING AND WEEKEND FOR A FLAT RATE OF $25/MONTH. DAYTIME USAGE IS EITHER $10.50/HOUR OR $14/HOUR, DEPENDING ON ACCESS LOCATION. THERE IS ALSO A ONE-TIME REGISTRATION FEE OF $25 PER USER." My investigation today presents me with the following picture: Currently, there are 14 population centers accessable by dialing into the system via Telenet. By the end of the year it is planned to expand to 25. [FAT chance. Telenet said they'd have 2400bps service in October '85... -elmo] The 14 current areas are: (drum roll...) Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, L.A., N.Y., Philladelphia, San Francisco, Wash DC, Seattle, Newark. (there is a file listing all exchanges on the BBS) Very shortly, 3 new areas will be added, which I believe to be in the sub-tropical south-east, somewhere near Dallas, and close to L.A. (well, I was asked not to spell them out). You need a Visa or M/C-card, with American Express and CheckFree E-transfers available shortly. Did I ask about bottlenecks and service level? you bet!!! Chicago and San Francisco are currently the busiest ones (anyone care to guess why?) New capacity is added in such cases within 3 weeks (no idea why that magic number). at 1200 baud, XMODEM transfers are effectively giving you a rate of ~800baud (unless you use the SuperCharged one without error-detection, of course), and YMODEM using 1K blocks, achieves over 1000baud. 2400baud connections are "not yet" available, but expect them shortly (by January?). Questions I still have open and will try to get answered tomorrow: 1) is there an additional cost for dialing into TELENET? probably not. ANSWER: NO 2) can I access from more than one location? i.e. while traveling? I hope so, but anticipate a 'no'. ANSWER: YES. TELENET is available in 400 cities and 18,000 exchanges unfortunately, you have to carry a "booklet" listing the access numbers. no such thing as a standard number, 800, 950, or otherwise. 3) WHAT are the "evening hours"? 5pm to 8am, local time, I'd expect. ANSWER: 6pm to 7am local time (strikes me as reasonable) 4) WHEN will 2400 baud be available? give me a definite data (yep, I'm already spoiled) ANSWER: starting January (probably not everywhere at the same time?) 5) Is there a guaranteed quality of service? Hah, that should be a hard one. ANSWER: UH, hmmm, well, .... NO. 6) How do bottlenecks manifest themselves? slow response? can't get in? ANSWER: you get a busy signal and get in or through. 7) Is there any concern about how much you are online? ANSWER: NO. but if the system detects you being idle, you get logged off after 25 minutes. ...I have this image of a scene like in that pizza commercial where a guy made an announcement to the press that you could get this special-good deal just for the asking, and nobody waits around until he finishes but all run off to get there first .... Hey, tell them Werner from Austin brought this to your attention. Maybe they'll thank me for it. <-- blatant, self-promoting ad (-: PS: I'll post the online newsletter of August 86 shortly, which explains things in their words. It wasn't copyrighted but I asked their permission anyway. Flame me if you think I'm doing a commercial enterprise "too much" a favor; I'll, probably, cringe and get on with my life anyway .... PS: their August news-letter is available from the FTP-directory on NGP in file public/pc-pursuit.news-8608. I may upload some other files I grabbed from the BBS. Check if a directory "~ftp/public/pc-pursuit" exists and if there is anything in it. This may give World-Net an incredible boost. I suspect many Fidonet and Usenet sites are already taking advantage of this. ------------------------------ Date: 24-Oct-1986 1627 From: covert%covert.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (John R. Covert) Subject: Various Submissions from National Public Radio in Washington, D.C. From: "John Keator - National Public Radio" 23-OCT-1986 19:52 To: COVERT Subj: NPR Staff comments re: Telecom Digest From:VAX1::MONTI National Public Radio 20-OCT-1986 11:21 To:KEATOR Subj:NUMBER OF PHONES ALLOWED ON A LINE >how many phones can be hooked up to a 1-pair loop from the central office? according to a recent issue of "consumer reports" magazine, you can figure this out yourself easily if you know this: the sum of the "ringer equivalence numbers" of all phones, modems, answering machines, etc. is not to exceed 5. most phones have ringer equivalence numbers of 0.8 or 0.9, some cheap ones are over 1.0. so having 8 or 9 phones is a bit much. probably it depends on how far one is from the c.o. likely the limit of 5 is based on being the furthest party from the c.o., so a larger number of phones will ring properly closer in. presumably, the house where all these phones are isn't so huge that you can hear some of the phones ring from other rooms. disconnecting the ringer (inside the phone) should make the r.e.n for that phone go to something near zero. once the ringers in half the phones are disconnected, things oughta be copascetic. um, right? From:VAX1::MONTI National Public Radio 22-OCT-1986 17:51 To:KEATOR Subj:N0X/N1X IN 214 AND 201 (FOR CARL MOORE) (1) N0X/N1X prefixes in areacode 214 are not that new. When there in April 1986, the beat-up directory in the hotel room already listed many of them. (2) No, the Dallas phone directory does not require you to dial 214 + a 7-digit number for long distance calls within 214, it requires you to dial 1 + 214 + 7-digit number. This is logical. Before N0X/N1X prefixes, the "1" was used to distinguish long distance from local calls. With the advent of N0X/N1X prefixes, the "1" can no longer do this job since there'd be ambiguous cases where an N0X/N1X prefix would follow a "1" and the switch would have no way of knowing if it was long distance (and to wait for 7 more digits) or local (and to wait for 4 more digits). Now, it's the "214" that distinguishes between local and long distance within 214. Got that? It's a bass-ackwards way of doing things, but this results from having 1 + dialing before the existence of N0X/N1X prefixes. Think about it: 1 + is never REALLY required in ANY area code until N0X/N1X prefixes begin to exist. This is the way it was in New York City and probably other places before N0X/N1X. (3) Ideally, if you were calling a local 214 number from within 817, the equipment would "know" how to route the call no matter if you dialed 7 digits or 1 + 214 + 7 digits. Both would be billed as local calls. The user shouldn't need to know whether a call is long distance, just one positive rule as to how to dial it. Sadly, many local comapnies haven't figured this out yet. Some other places (like New York City) either allow or REQUIRE (from some pay phones) you to dial 1 + area code + 7 digits for LOCAL calls withing your area code! The coin phones at Kennedy Airport require 1 + 718 + 7 digits for local calls. From there, ALL calls to 212 and 718 are local (plus a goodly number of those to 914 and 516). (4) Use care in Dallas-Fort Worth. They have a twist! There are certain prefixes which have "metrowide" or "areawide" service (or some similar name) which exist as local prefixes in BOTH the Dallas metro and Fort Worth metro areas. In other words, these prefixes have TWO area codes as seen by the outside world. Probably, they can be reached by dialing either 817 or 214 from elsewhere. The service costs a pretty penny (over $25 a month, I think) for unlimited local calling to both the Dallas and Fort Worth metros. Presumably, you have to dial 1 + an area code + 7 digits for some of these local calls since not all the prefixes in the Fort Worth metro portion of 817 and the Dallas metro portion of 214 are mutually exclusive. Am I off the mark on this? They don't have such "double metro" service in Washington and Baltimore, where I live. We do have our quirks here on what needs an area code in front of it and what doesn't however. (5) 201 is a likely candidate for an area code split in a couple years, they'll probably divide it east and west, with all the population in the east. I suspect what happened in 201 when N0X/N1X was introduced is that any- thing that was a local call before remained one. The current situation is probably as follows: - Local calls within 201, dial 7 digits - Long distance within 201, dial 7 digits - Local calls into 609, dial 1 + 609 + 7 digits. - Long distance calls into 609 or anywhere else, 1 + area + 7 digits. Aren't things nice and logical when you didn't have 1 + dialing prior to N0X/N1X? The "1" distinguishes area codes from prefixes. Period. The switches know what's LD and what ain't (and what's intraLATA and what ain't). (6) Dialing instructions in the fronts of Bell Atlantic directories aren't always reliable. The front on my Norther Virginia directory gives the following instructions for long distance calls within the LATA: - Within 703, dial 1 + 7 digits - Outside 703, dial 1 + area code + 7 digits These are both wrong. The actual rule is: - Within 703, dial 703 + 7 digits - Outside 703, dial area code + 7 digits Dial-1 is neither used inside the Washington metro area nor within areas which are outside the metro but inside the local calling area to 202. Of course, the directory doesn't explain how to dial LD calls outside the LATA, telling you to check with your long distance carrier. The actual rule is, dial (optionally 10XXX) + area code + 7 digits. From:VAX1::MONTI National Public Radio 22-OCT-1986 18:00 Subj:976 FROM VIRGINIA New subject: how come Northern Virginians can't dial (202) 976-XXXX calls AT ALL? Since these are local calls, 7 digit dialing is called for. 976 numbers are trapped to the general "cannot be completedmas dialed" recording. If you dial 202 first, you get the same thing. If the 976 service provider has also signed up for the 976 exchange in Baltimore, you can reach it by dialing 301 + 976-XXXX, but you'll be charged for an interLATA LD call on the carrier of your choice, assuming that carrier accepts 976 calls (Sprint and MCI do not). Actually, there is a way to reach 202-976 numbers from Northern Virginia: use a ALDS which accepts calls via you dialing a 7-digit local access number which their switch answers. Do your security code, then 202-976-XXXX and the call will go through. The only ALDS which accepts 976 calls to my knowledge is Allnet (formerly Max), and they charge $2.00 plus tax for each call regardless of length of time or distance. AT&T accepts 976 calls, but only to other LATAs. AT&T also charges only the cost of the long distance call itself to 976 numbers; they dpn't carry back the 976 provider's premium charge to the caller. Presumably, this is the reason most ALDS's either don't allow 976 or charge through the nose for it. Neither of these reasons appear to bother AT&T. [The Virginia PUC does not allow the "dial it calls" as they believe they cost too much and are of dubious value, {ie. dial-porn}jk] -------------- From: John Keator, National Public Radio Subj: 811-xxxx for PacBell Business offices From a Pacific Bell bill insert: A new prefix - 811- will soon be available for you to call your Pacific Bell Business office toll-free from any area served by us. All our business office numbers will be replaced by toll-free numbers with an 811 prefix. If your PaCBell BO numbers changed to an 811 prefix, the new prefix and number will appear on your telephone bill... After this change, you only dial 811-XXXX from any PacBell area in the state to reach your local office toll-free. However, if you are calling from an area where 1+ dialing is required, you must continue to dial the 1 before dialing the seven digit 811 number. Some of you who have specialized equipment could have a problem in dialing the 811 prefix. You may need contact your vendor. Until equipment modification is made, you may continue dialing the old business office numbers available from 411. This change will save you thecost of a toll call to PacBell when a calls is made to all non-local offices. (Today, calls to our BO's are normally toll free from a customers home or business area.) /jk ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 2-Nov-86 21:44:11-EST,4439;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Sun 2 Nov 86 21:44:09-EST Date: 2 Nov 86 20:23-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #152 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Sunday, November 2, 1986 8:23PM Volume 5, Issue 152 Today's Topics: PC-Pursuit strange failure mode on home telephone Re: A Calling Card Feature/Bug ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: rick@seismo.CSS.GOV (Rick Adams) Date: 31 Oct 86 18:46:39 GMT Subject: PC-Pursuit Date: 31 Oct 86 18:46:39 GMT We use PC Pursuit at seismo. It works. It saves us OVER $1500 per month in long distance charges. We have used it since October, 1985 with no real problems. There are three drawbacks. 1) The throughput with "normal" unix uucp 'g' protocol is bad. You get about 600 bps on a 1200 baud connection. However, the cost is not dependant on time, so it is reasonable to use. They are supposedly installing 2400 baud modems. This will help. 2) Some cities are hard to get to. Because they have been agressiveley pushing this service, the demand has far outstripped the capacity of the service in some cities (Especially San Francsico and Chicago. Boston isn't great either). They claim to be monitoring traffic and adding capacity. I haven't noticed any improvement. (Then again, demand may be increasing as fast as they add service so it may just not be getting worse). 3) For interactive (i.e. human) use its not too great. The character delay inherent with telenet/tymnet/etc is quite apparent and annoying if you are a decent typist. For browsing a b-board its probably ok. For using a screen editor is sucks. However, for data transmission I think it is a big win and people should look into it. We send over 170 megabytes of electronic mail per month through PC Pusuit and will keep doing it. ---rick ------------------------------ Date: Fri 31 Oct 86 16:29:57-EST From: Robert W. Baldwin Subject: strange failure mode on home telephone Over the past month I've encountered a strange failure mode on my home telephone (617-492 in Cambridge MA). Often I can't break dial tone with my touch tone phone (its a GTE phone from before the breakup). Flashing the switch hook does break dial tone. The problem is solved by hanging up and trying again one or more times. An added twist that appeared this week is that calls don't complete after I've dialed them. I just hear click, click, silence. Pressing extra digits does not solve the problem. It seems like a large fraction of the tone decoders serving my line are broken or dying. Has anyone else in 617-492 had this problem (replys to me, not the list)? Does anyone have ideas on what could be wrong (I wonder whether an auto dialing modem could cope with this)? Finally, any advice on getting the phone company to fix this? I've reported the problem twice in the past month. --Bob ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Nov 86 13:40:52 pst From: Michael C. Berch Subject: Re: A Calling Card Feature/Bug Reply-To: styx!mcb (Michael C. Berch) henry@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Henry Mensch) writes: > I've just received my NET Calling Card; there are spaces on the front > for a "Calling Card Number" and a "International Number" but only the > Calling Card Number is filled in. Are International Numbers used > anymore? I don't know what the official situation is, but I was in Japan about a year ago and tried to call the US on my PacBell Calling Card, but KDD (the primary Japanese international carrier) declined to accept the "International Number" but was willing to accept the (normal) calling card number. I ended up not using it anyway since the hotel operator warned me that for some reason that particular hotel charged a service fee for credit card calls (including foreign cards) but not for collect calls, so I called collect. Michael C. Berch ARPA: (for now) mcb@lll-crg.arpa UUCP: ...!lll-lcc!styx!mcb ...!lll-crg!styx!mcb ...!ihnp4!styx!mcb ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 12-Nov-86 00:36:23-EST,12347;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Wed 12 Nov 86 00:36:18-EST Date: 8 Nov 86 20:33-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #153 (2nd Sending) To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Saturday, November 8, 1986 8:33PM Volume 5, Issue 153 Today's Topics: A Calling Card Feature/Bug strange failure mode on home telephone A Calling Card Feature/Bug PC-Pursuit Gee--The Bells Aren't Ringing on His GTE Phone Line. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 2 Nov 1986 23:00 EST From: Jon Solomon Subject: A Calling Card Feature/Bug You need to get an AT&T or SPRINT credit card to make international calls from outside your home. International service is considered competitive, like intra-US, inter LATA long distance is. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Nov 86 22:57 EST From: Jeffrey Del Papa Subject: strange failure mode on home telephone Reply-To: Jeffrey Del Papa Date: Fri 31 Oct 86 16:29:57-EST From: Robert W. Baldwin Over the past month I've encountered a strange failure mode on my home telephone (617-492 in Cambridge MA). Often I can't break dial tone with my touch tone phone (its a GTE phone from before the breakup). Flashing the switch hook does break dial tone. The problem is solved by hanging up and trying again one or more times. An added twist that appeared this week is that calls don't complete after I've dialed them. I just hear click, click, silence. Pressing extra digits does not solve the problem. It seems like a large fraction of the tone decoders serving my line are broken or dying. Has anyone else in 617-492 had this problem (replys to me, not the list)? Does anyone have ideas on what could be wrong (I wonder whether an auto dialing modem could cope with this)? Finally, any advice on getting the phone company to fix this? I've reported the problem twice in the past month. --Bob ------- it is far more likely that the tone generators in your telephone have drifted off spec. Try a different phone. (I have had it happen to several phones, including WE co. phones.) It may be possible (but given that it is a gte phone, not likely) to adjust the tone generators, and cause the phone to start working again. (GTE tends to over cost-reduce their phones, I remember a desk phone that had a large capicitor held only by the leads, which were push on connectored, not soldered. The third time the phone fell off my desk, one of the leads popped out, and the phone lost the ability to ring. (I suppose if they had soldered it, the lead would have broken, making it harder to fix... all to save a $.002 blob of adhesive)) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Nov 86 23:40:53 EST From: johnl%ima.UUCP@harvard.harvard.edu Subject: A Calling Card Feature/Bug In response to the person who wondered why his New England Tel calling card had a space for the international number, but no number there -- it turns out that calling card numbers are assigned by the local operating companies, and then given to AT&T. You actually have two calling cards. Your local telco calling card is used for intra-lata calls, even outside your local company's territory, and your AT&T card is used for inter-lata and international calls. Since the two cards have the same number, this distinction makes little difference except for which page of the phone bill the calls show up on. The international number is slightly different from the domestic number, presumably because it has to adhere to some CCITT standard. Since the local telco's card isn't useful for international calls and AT&T's is, the international number now appears only on the AT&T card. Something I do not understand at all is MCI's calling card scheme. It appears that they are making up their own calling card numbers which are in the same format as telco numbers (generally your 10-digit phone number followed by a four-digit PIN) but the number is different. This is a huge pain. It seems to me that if the local telcos can supply calling card numbers to AT&T, they should equally well be able to provide them to MCI and other carriers. If MCI used the regular numbers, then anybody who had a calling card could use MCI pay phones in airports without having to slide through a Visa card, which would be a big marketing advantage over the current scheme. I also note that MCI almost has 0+number working -- if I dial 0+number from my MCI subscribed line it sometimes gives me a recording encouraging me to dial my MCI card number, although dialing the card number doesn't work. John Levine, ima!johnl or Levine@YALE.somethingorother ------------------------------ Date: Mon 3 Nov 86 08:28:36-EST From: "Hank R. "Jim" Dixon" Subject: PC-Pursuit [Readers please feel free to submit your comments re: PC-Pursuit. -Elmo] I am presently working as a consultant for US Sprint/Telenet. I am quite familiar with the Pc Pursuit network and how it runs. First of all there are several items in your message that I wanted to clarify. First, PC Pursuit is operated by Telenet themselves. It is not by any means an outside entity. Second, YES, they REALLY are adding the 11 cities within the next 3 weeks, and are doubling (and in some cases more then doubling) the capacity in most of the exsisting cities. The 2400 baud didnt happen bacuase they are still having technical problems. If you are a Pursuit customer and want to help them with the 2400 bps, connect to DIAL909/24 which is a test 2400bps site at the Telenet HQ in Reston VA, and use it (or at least try) to call 2400bps systems in the Washington Metro area. At this time, the system expansion is taking presedence over the 2400bps. It WILL be dealt with shortly. Also I am directly involved with the implementation of what is most likely going to be the "Next step" in Pursuit expansion. Presently anybody in one of the 400 or so cities can call any system local to the 15 outdial cities. What I am working on would allow A Host (bbs or other type system) to dial in to his local access port, and have his system available for anyone in any one of the 400 cities to connect to him. This would allow access to or from any city to any city. IF you are interested in this, please call RBBSPC-LAMBDA (which is the new system test BBS) at (617) 742-2229 between 7am and 6pm M-F, or if you are on PCP, connect to it at the address 617312.80 (NO, Not a DIALFOO/BAR port..). (In other words instead of DIALFOO/BAR, use 617312.80). The first time you connect the echo and stuff will be screwed up, but there is an online document telling how to fix this. Anyway, if you cant do either of the above, then at least leave me mail, and ill try to return it when I can (which at times is impossible). ------------------------------ Date: 4 Nov 1986 20:34-PST Subject: Gee--The Bells Aren't Ringing on His GTE Phone Line. From: the tty of Geoffrey S. Goodfellow LOS ANGELES TIMES, Sunday, Oct 19th 1986, Op-Ed Section: By Doug Gamble When I told friends a couple of months ago that I'd be moving from the San Fernando Valley to Manhattan Beach they reacted in different ways. One winced, one gasped, one turned pale and another cringed. "I sure hope you know what you're letting yourself in for," one of them warned. "What are you talking about?" I asked. "Manhattan Beach is a terrific community." "I'm not referring to the community," he said. "I'm referring to the phone company that serves that whole South Bay area." He then spoke three letters that made my knees go weak. Letters that rank in infamy with KGB, DDT and IRS: "GTE." That's right, GTE. The company reputed to have done for phone service what the Hindenburg did for dirigible travel. Oh sure, I'd heard horror stories about the GTE phone system for years, but I'd always assumed they were exaggerated. No American telephone service could be that bad. In Egypt or India maybe, but not here. But I should have suspected something when the phone company I was leaving behind in the Valley, Pacific Bell, sent me a sympathy card. My GTE phone was installed in my new Manhattan Beach house on July 11. It broke down seven minutes later. I walked to a pay phone to report the problem to the service department, and the typical and inevitable phone company conversation ensued: "What's the trouble?" "There's no dial tone, nothing." "Are you calling from that number now?" "If I were calling from that number now, I wouldn't be reporting the phone broken." "Is there a number where we can reach you?" "There *will* be a number where you can reach me as soon as you come and fix my phone." Etc, etc. I've lost track of the number of times my phone line has broken down since then but I'm developing a close friendship with the repairman. We'll probably exchange cards at Christmas. The only good thing I can say about the service so far is that my phones haven't attacked me in my sleep yet. Recently I discovered that one of my phones would not make outgoing calls and the other would not receive incoming calls. And one phone would keep ringing after the receiver had been lifted. I'm so tired of hearing that recording saying, "We're sorry, your call cannot be completed as dialed," when I know I've dialed correctly, I'm considering writing, "Sorry, your bill cannot be paid as submitted," on the phone company's next invoice. What I want to know is, how did the Soviets, the Sandinistas or Col. Moammar Kadafi's operatives manage to infiltrate GTE this way? One of our enemies must have, because surely no company on *our* side would inflict such service on an innocent population. One night recently, when my line had broken down yet again, I found myself feeling strangely nostalgic for the bygone days of phone service. So I drove to a friend's house in Studio City, back in Pac-Bell territory, and headed straight for the phone. Cradling the receiver in my arm, I listened in rapture to the sweet purr of the once familiar dial tone. Wonderful memories of uninterrupted phone service came flooding back. Then I dialed up another friend and asked him to call me right back so I would refresh my memory about what the ringing of a phone sounded like. It sounded good. It sounded real good. I called my friend back and pleaded, "Ring it again, Sam. You rang it for her, you can ring it for me." The GTE repairman was at my house again yesterday. I've seen those TV commercials that say you can establish close relationships over the telephone, but I never dreamed mine would be a close relationship with 611. Anyway, as he left he had good news and bad news. The good news was that equipment modifications are being made in my neighborhood and my phone service should improve. The bad news was that some people in my prefix area would be assigned a brand new phone number. Including me. GTE somehow sound out that I've just spent over $400 having my number printed on new stationery, and that the number has been sent out to clients and potential clients all over the country. You know what would be perfect? If GTE came out with a phone book that had a picture of The Three Stooges on the cover. But then, maybe that suggestion is a little insulting. To Curly, Larry and Moe. As I write this my line has gone dead again, but I understand there's a possibility of service being restored in time for me to phone my relatives at Thanksgiving. Gee. No, GTE. -- [Doug Gamble is a comedy writer.] ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 17-Nov-86 03:40:35-EST,11733;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Mon 17 Nov 86 03:40:28-EST Date: 17 Nov 86 02:41-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #154 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Monday, November 17, 1986 2:41AM Volume 5, Issue 154 Today's Topics: Re: PC-Pursuit suggestions save PC-Pursuit $25 sign-up fee ... PC Pursuit PC Pursuit RE: home phone failure mode ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 14 Nov 86 05:36:27 PST From: hoptoad!gnu@lll-crg.ARPA (John Gilmore) Subject: Re: PC-Pursuit suggestions I have a few :-) suggestions for PC Pursuit: (1) I don't understand why there are separate contention groups for 300 and 1200 baud dialers. E.g. often I can connect to DIAL415/3 when all the DIAL415/12 dialers are busy. The modems can certainly handle both. It seems like they could reduce the contention problems by fixing their software to just switch to the desired baud rate on ANY free dialer. (2) There are people now using PC Pursuit to call in to systems which are already on Telenet. This is because PC Pursuit is flat rate, while Telenet collect calls are billed to the receiving computer, which then bills the customer for them. For example, people will tie up a dialer calling the Well in Sausalito, CA, when they could just type "c well" to get to it. Surely it costs Telenet more for these people to connect via a dialer than it costs to connect them directly, so why is Telenet burning its resources, particularly dialers, and thereby denying them to other PC Pursuit users? It should be easy to allow prepaid PC Pursuit calls to existing Telenet hosts. This shouldn't eat into existing revenue much, since if the users have any sense they are calling out on the dialers now anyway. (3) If Telenet was to register as an alternative long distance service, then people could reach modem locations long-distance using the Telenet data network by just dialing 01yyy and the area code and phone number. In other words, it would be almost as easy to call via Telenet as it would be to call via AT&T. Sounds like a win, no? I realize that getting an ALDS hookup to the local telcos is an arduous process, but they'd be the first long distance data service reachable by mortals from the regular phone network. You'd have to autobaud the connection, but when the remote modem answered, they'd have a good idea of its baud rate. (4) It would be easier on people if they would make the "id" command work with PC Pursuit accounts, so we didn't have to keep typing our account name and password info on each "connect" command. (5) I am glad to see that Telenet has put in SOME kind of host name service (e.g. "c well" instead of "c 415 123456"). I think this should be integrated into the "reverse PC Pursuit" stuff early, so that people can connect to "RBBSPC-LAMBDA" rather than a bunch of gobbledygook numbers. What are computers for, anyway? (I just uploaded the initial protocol specs and, like in the Arpanet, this is a separate service that you have to connect to and ask the address of the name, then get out and issue a connect command to the address. In 8 years they haven't learned. I didn't expect BBN to learn, but Telenet is selling to people other than the government...) Surely if they can check your PC Pursuit account name/password as they make a connection, they can also look up the name=>address of the host you are connecting to! (6) It would be nice to know what the "technical problems" are with the 2400 baud modems -- we might have already run into them ourselves and be able to offer solutions. (E.g. not all 2400's talk to each other; extended status codes break existing software.) (7) It would seem like a better solution than making poor BBS users call in to Telenet nodes, to put modern modems on all the Telenet nodes, and support dialin and dialout on the same telephone lines. Why can't the Telenet node in Podunk dial out on the modems it gets incoming calls on? (Yes, there is a problem with funding the upgrade to modern modems, but only one or two will be needed in each Telenet office, until traffic warrants more. Presumably when traffic warrants more, it will be because the service is making money and can afford more modems.) (8) The worst aspect of the proposed "dial in and provide a host on Telenet" service is that the typical micro BBS system would then ONLY be accessible via PC Pursuit, since its phone line is now tied up to call into the local Telenet node. (9) Ever play "PC Pursuit Roulette"? That's where you connect to a dialer somewhere (anywhere) and then type "A/". With luck, you will connect to some random bulletin board system somewhere in the country. An interesting way to broaden your horizons, e.g. I got a Christian BBS. (10) What I'd really like is "dial in to Telenet and then start passing X.25 data at the packet level" service. In other words, give me a way to cut out the PAD after calling in. This would let me do some serious long-haul networking without getting a leased line to a Telenet Central Orfice. After trying that for a while, the next step is to allow such a caller to dial using a remote dialer, and then pull the remote PAD out of the line, so that neither party needs a leased line to the TCO. Fun fun fun... PS: I wonder what $25/mo times thousands of people comes to? Anybody know if PC Pursuit has repaid its development and operating costs yet and what the margin on the service is? Anything in their Annual Report about it? ------------------------------ Date: Sat 15 Nov 86 11:35:03-CST From: Werner Uhrig Subject: save PC-Pursuit $25 sign-up fee ... I read in some Macintosh publication (I forgot which - Macazine, maybe?) that Computer Clubs can sign up their members for free. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 Nov 86 02:29:53 EST From: "Keith F. Lynch" Subject: PC Pursuit [Readers are encouraged to submit on their experience with Telenet PC Pursuit. Mine has been very discouraging, typical of GTE. -elmo] There are several things I don't like about PC Pursuit: o Lines from here (DC area) to Boston are frequently busy (I seldom connect to other cities). o The modems (or perhaps the phone lines) in Boston are often very susceptable to noise. o You have to include the baud rate in your connect command, which is silly because the system must already know what baud rate you are at. o When a city is busy, you have to reenter the city command, baud rate, your username, and your password. There is no queueing for a busy city, you have to keep re-entering all these things over and over again. o If you mistype the city, baud rate, username, or password, you can't correct it with or . You have to retype the whole thing. o They claim they hang up on you if you are idle for 25 minutes - actually it is more like ten minutes. This is too short. o Sometimes I get connected to a modem someone is trying to call in on. I see "RING" every few seconds and can enter no modem commands. If I disconnect and reconnect, I get the same modem. I can do nothing until the caller gives up. o There is no way to let the user specify a given modem in a city. One might want to do this if one modem seemed to be unusually susceptible to line noise, or if someone was trying to call in on one modem. o There is no way to disconnect and specify that the modem should wait a minute before disconnecting. One might want to do this if one telephone trunk was unusually noisy and one wants a chance to get another. o They only accept payment by credit card, not by check or cash, even if you offer to pay in advance. This is a considerable incovenience for those of us who have chosen not to have credit cards. o If you neglect to reset or hangup the distant modem when you are done, or if PC Pursuit hangs up on you, the next caller can have the distant modem redial the number you dialed, which is a security misfeature. However, for all its faults, it is the best thing in its class, otherwise I wouldn't use it. I look forward to improvements and competitors. Does anyone know what the "terminal" prompt is for? If I say anything but "D1" it seems to work almost as well, but pauses briefly after each line of text from the far host. ...Keith [The terminal prompt is similar to the old TIP command @D C which sets the number of padding characters sent after a carriage return. Telenet's is a bit more sophisticated, allowing some variation as to WHERE the padding is placed. What I found discouraging is that the Telenet technicians don't know anything beyond how to cross-reference your given terminal in their chart. Not very useful when I said "Ann Arbor Ambassador"... As I recall D1 specifies NO padding. -Elmo] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 Nov 86 18:36:29 EST From: "Keith F. Lynch" Subject: PC Pursuit From: rick@seismo.CSS.GOV (Rick Adams) 3) For interactive (i.e. human) use its not too great. The character delay inherent with telenet/tymnet/etc is quite apparent and annoying if you are a decent typist. For browsing a b-board its probably ok. For using a screen editor is sucks. This is ironic. I consider its short interactive delay a major point in its favor, especially while using a screen editor. Before using it I went over MILnet/ARPAnet from here (DC area) to Boston, and the improvement since those bad old days is phenomenal. I guess it's all what you are used to. ...Keith [Ditto. -Elmo] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 86 10:05:50 pst From: ssc-vax!clark@beaver.cs.washington.edu (Roger Clark Swann) Subject: RE: home phone failure mode ** line eater food ** Bob recently posted a note here about a strange failure on a home phone: > ... Often I can't break dial tone with my touchtone phone ( its a > GTE phone from before the breakup). Flashing the switch hook does > break dial tone. .. There are two basic reason that would cause this sort of thing: 1) The tone generator is off frequency far enough that the tone receiver does not recognize the tones. I have seen this mostly on the older phones using the LC type oscillator ( two big fat coils on the under side). 2) The audio output level of the tone generator is too low for the receiver unit to hear. I have encountered this mostly on the newer phones using a tone generator chip ( ususally the real cheap ones). Bob didn't say anything about trying another known good phone on the line in question, but that would be a good test to isolate whether the phone or the line/switch is the problem. My experience with this type of thing has been that the phone company reponds very poorly by saying "It must be your phone and therefore is not our problem." This is before they have done any checking what so ever.... Roger uw-beaver!ssc-vax!clark ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 25-Nov-86 03:27:30-EST,16065;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Tue 25 Nov 86 03:27:28-EST Date: 25 Nov 86 02:01-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #155 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Tuesday, November 25, 1986 2:01AM Volume 5, Issue 155 Today's Topics: Smaller portable cellular phone Aftermarket pay phones California TDD Relay service Cellular Modems Novation Professional 2400 Modem USRobotics Courier 2400 modem problem 800-number queries Telephones Connecting a phone line to a stereo PC Pursuit Transend 1200 Alternate Long Distance Carriers ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 19-Nov-1986 1814 From: covert%covert.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (John R. Covert) Subject: Smaller portable cellular phone Walker Telecommunications Corp. has introduced the first cellular phone small enough to fit into a pocket or purse. the "Pocketphone" made for Walker by Britain's Technophone Ltd., weighs 15 oz. and is nearly half the size of competing models from Motorola and Mitsubishi. Walker says that physicians and lawyers have been the first to pocket the $3,295 Pocketphone. Don't expect cellular phones to get much smaller, however. Scientists still have not found a way to shrink the nickel-cadmium batteries that power the phones. The battery, which allows about 30 minutes of talk between recharges, accounts for most its weight and 1/3 of its bulk. Another limitation is physiological: a phone must reach between the human ear and mouth. {Business Week Nov 17, 1986} ------------------------------ Date: 24 Nov 86 17:51:10 EST From: *Hobbit* Subject: Aftermarket pay phones I forget exactly who makes them, but a local diner has implemented these non- AT&T pay phones. They look similar except that the insert cards are done in brown, the handset is black and extremely *heavy*, and the locks on the cash box are the "TuBar" type. I believe the manufacturer is Continental Comm or some such; probably something related to Northern Telecom. Anyway, you pick up the hanset and get a dialtone generated by the phone itself, and as you punch buttons a voice synth says "Two, Six, Seven, Four, ..." which takes an annoyingly long time over a sequence of many digits, but at least you *can* type ahead of the voice and let it buffer out. It then asks, with the same voice synth, for money. *No* ACTS hookup. Once money is inserted, or when completing a free call, a dialer unit inside picks up the real line, dials the sequence, and completes. It is possible to hear the dialing softly in the background; it is not doing anything funny like dialing an alternate carrier's switch and then a code and your number. It dials directly so this indicates that the line behind it is normal. It senses line voltage and resets when the line voltage drops to return dialtone, so simply waiting for it to time out won't bypass its internal billing mechanism. The most hilarious part is the ordinary modular jack located under the shelf it's mounted on. Obviously these things would never survive outside... Anyway, when you do the usual hack of dialing Directory or something and then yanking the plug underneath to return outside dial tone, it voices "Error 4" or some such at you. I'm willing to bet it has all kinds of nifty diagnostic modes you could put it into using the dial. _H* ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Nov 86 13:22:52 PST From: Murray.pa@Xerox.COM Subject: California TDD Relay service From a blurb in my PacTel bill: "California telephone companies will implement a new "Relay" service for all California customers on Janurary 1, 1987. This Relay service connects hearing or speech impaired persons with all other telephone users within the State." The rest of the blurb describes how it works. You call an 800 number on your TTD and type in the phone number of the person you want to "talk" to. (TTD is Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, aka pseudo TTY.) The person who answers also has a normal phone, dials the call, and then relays pieces of the converstation back and forth. It also works in the reverse direction (different 800 number). No charge except for long distance or non-local calls. This could raise interesting privacy issues. ------------------------------ From: jrodrig@EDN-VAX.ARPA (Jose Rodriguez) Date: 18 Nov 1986 1102-EST (Tuesday) Subject: Cellular Modems Hi, I got two questions about cellular telephones and particularly connecting modems to a cellular radio telephone. 1) Is there any good reference(s) on cellular radio telephones out there? 2) If we are dealing with a stationary cellular radio (it only operates when it is stationary) and say a land line, is it possible to use with the phone a phone line modem? My understanding of the problem of modems and cellular radio is that when such radios switch from cell to cell, there is a small break that causes Carrier Detect on the modems to go down and break the connection. Is this correct? Is this the only problem in this scheme? thanks for your help, Jose arpa: jrodrig@edn-vax ------------------------------ Date: Mon 17 Nov 86 05:31:48-CST From: Werner Uhrig Subject: Novation Professional 2400 Modem I'm currently evaluating one - and it has some interesting features. I'm about to send back the Revision 005 plug-in module in exchange for a Revision 010 (which does not have dip-switches but is software-driven *AND* supposed to be *FULLY* Hayes compatible) The modem came with Mite-3.0 communication software for the PC - is it worth the trouble to trade that in for the Macintosh version? (a friend spoke in expletives about this software) I can get optional modules for additional capabilities (not that I need them) and am curious if anyone has experience with these: MultiDial, multiple password, callback. We received 3 of the modems, all with the (older?) 005 module. One had a bad power-supply/transformer, one seems to be a bit sensitive to noise, the third one I don't know about. In one of the trade rags this week, appeared an article that discussed the TI 2400 baud modem on a chip which should cost $25 and bring quantity prices of 2400baud modems down to $50 within a year (the article said). interesting ... ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Nov 1986 21:35 MST From: Keith Petersen Subject: USRobotics Courier 2400 modem problem The following message is relayed from my Remote CP/M system. --Keith Date: November 23, 1986 To: ALL US Robotics Courier Users From: Bob Clyne Subject: Courier drop back to 1200 bps when calling 2400 bps. There appears to be a problem with some Couriers which causes them to drop back to 1200 bps even though the answering end is at 2400 bps. I recently purchased a BYTCOM modem and in testing it I discovered that when I tried to call it at 2400 bps with a Courier modem that the Courier would usually drop back to 1200 bps even though the BYTCOM stayed at 2400 bps. After several telephone calls to both BYTCOM and US Robotics technical support I was finally informed by a US Robotics technician that the Courier sometimes mistakes the 2400 bps answer tones for 1200 bps answer tones. He would not say how widespread the problem might be but did give me a RMA number to send the Courier in and said they would check it and correct any problems. Let me re-emphasize that this problem only occured when the Courier was the "originate" modem, it worked correctly when it was the "answer" modem. It appears the problem only occurs with some other modems but occured with two different Couriers when calling the BYTCOM modem so it is apparently not an isolated case. The BYTCOM technician indicated he thought the problem occured with some but not all other makes of modems using the Rockwell chip set. For the record: there were no problems when using the BYTCOM modem with another brand of modem or with another BYTCOM modem. If you have experienced any similar problems, it might be adviseable to contact US Robotics and I (and probably others) would be interested in hearing about it. Perhaps we can determine how common or rare the problem is. Please send information to me at Royal Oak RCP/M (313-759-6569). ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Nov 86 10:34:00 CST From: Will Martin -- AMXAL-RI Subject: 800-number queries I know we've discussed the significance of the 3rd digit in 800 numbers ("N" in 800-xxN-xxxx) before (I think the consensus was that "2" there means "intrastate 800 number", right?); I was wondering if there is any particular geographical distribution on the prefixes themselves ("NNN" in 800-NNN-xxxx)? This was inspired by hearing an IBM commercial that told listeners to call "1-800-IBM-nnnn" (I forget the last 4 digits). There are other special word-code 800 numbers like 1-800-USA-RAIL for AMTRAK, of course. Do firms that get these numbers have to set up answering or call-forwarding services in any specific geographic areas to get the letter-coded numbers they want? Or is the 800 service completely divorced from any geographic constraints as far as number assignments go? Other 800-related questions: If you have an Alternate Long-Distance Service as your default outgoing LD service and you call an 800 number by dialing 1-800-xxx-xxxx, what happens to that call? Does the ALDS actually use its own facilities to route and transmit that call over to AT&T, doing work for which they never will get any pay (or do they charge the caller something even for an 800 call, or would AT&T pay them something?), or does the local Central Office facility automatically route all 800 calls to AT&T so that they never touch the ALDS carrier's lines, or what? (I've never had any service other than AT&T, so I never tried this back before Equal Access when you called a local number to get to a LD service like MCI -- when you did that and then called an 800 number instead of a regular long distance number, would the call go through? Would you be charged for the time for that 800 call? [Yes, I know it would be a silly thing to do -- I just thought somebody might have tried it as an experiment.]) Regards, Will Martin wmartin@ALMSA-1.ARPA (on USENET try ...!seismo!wmartin@ALMSA-1.ARPA ) ------------------------------ Subject: Telephones Date: Wed, 19 Nov 86 10:21:50 PST From: nomdenet@venera.isi.edu In mid May I bought a Princess phone from AT&T to replace a rented one. The new one was substantially lighter than AT&T phones I bought three & four years ago -- a good, stiff breeze could blow it off the table -- and the key pad is far less robust. So much for the benefits of the break up. Now the phone is beginning to fail, and the 90-day warranty period is long gone. Probably I can fix it, but I'm spooked and wondering what will fail next. Does anyone know of a source for working, built-to-last-20-years Princess phones, of any color? I would hope for an outlet in the Southern-California area, but would still be overjoyed to find any source in the United States -- or Canada. Please send mail (please!) to me directly. A. R. White USC/Information Sciences Institute 4676 Admiralty Way Marina Del Rey, California 90292-6695 (213) 822-1511, x162 ARPA: nomdenet @ Venera.ISI.EDU ------------------------------ Date: 18 Nov 86 11:27:40 EST (Tuesday) Subject: Connecting a phone line to a stereo From: Gary Can anyone give me a circuit for connecting a phone line to broadcast over a stereo system? I only want to use the stereo to amplify and play over the stereo in a "one way" mode. I know radio shack has a device for recording into a tape player (costing over $20, which probably consists of a 50 cent isolation transformer), but I would like to build one cheaper. I think that simply an isolation transformer would work, but I don't know the ratio (or input impedance). Any of you telephone jocks out there that could give me a suggestion? - Gary ------------------------------ Date: 17 November 86 22:46-PST From: KJBSF%SLACVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU Subject: PC Pursuit I would like to sign up for PC Pursuit, but of course, I don't have a credit card, and thus have no way of paying for it. I heard some rumour somewhere that they were going to be implementing the "Checkfree" thing (like Compuserve uses), which would be nice. Why can't they accept a check on a flat fee, anyway? [They want to avoid the costs of sending you a bill, late payment reminders, etc. Of course, this doesn't explain why they won't do "Checkfree" yet. Presumably cash-flow is better with Visa/MC vs. ACH Debiting of your checking account. -Elmo] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Nov 86 21:57:03 CST From: lehner@puff.wisc.edu (Peter Lehner) Subject: Transend 1200 Hello world, I have just bought a used transend 1200 modem. The problem is that it came with no manuals whatsoever -- for $25, its worth it. If anyone out there has some docs for this ... Please let me know, I've been going crazy from trying to get this thing to work. my address? umm .... oh yeah, lehner@puff.wisc.edu thanx much ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Nov 86 14:34:10 pst From: ssc-vax!clark@beaver.cs.washington.edu (Roger Clark Swann) Subject: Alternate Long Distance Carriers This is a quick report on how the 10xxx (Alt LD access) service is working here in the PNW. About a month ago I placed some long distance calls, experimenting with the 10xxx access codes that were discussed here. This past weekend, I received my regular bill from Pacific Northwest Bell and sure enough there were additional sheets from each LD carrier that I had used, (i.e. one for ATT, one for MCI, etc.). In previous discussions here, it was unclear how users would be billed. In the case of PNB customers, the billing is done through the local tel-co with no apparent problems. NOTE: I did not have accounts established with any of the LD carriers that I tried, ( where ATT is my primary LD carrier ). I have been getting many calls and junk mail from the various LD carriers over the last 6 months. Each time I looked for or asked about being able to use the carrier's service WITHOUT having to make them my primary LD carrier. The answer has been almost a unanimous NO WAY! The remaining answers went something like - I don't think so..... The other thing that I try to ask - Will my local teleco charge me for changing my primary LD carrier ? Several times the answer was Oh no, there is no charge! However, at one time PNB was charging $25 to change the primary LD carrier, (I don't know what they charge now.) I will be doing more comparisons between the LD carriers in the future, looking for the best quality/price ..... If anyone has an updated access code list for the LD carriers, it would be good of you to post it, since there have been some changes recently. (i.e GTE Sprint and US telecom (I think) combined to form US Sprint ) roger uw-beaver!ssc-vax!clark [New lists are posted to Telecom from time to time. -Elmo] ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 27-Nov-86 18:56:12-EST,8925;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Thu 27 Nov 86 18:56:06-EST Date: 27 Nov 86 01:30-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #156 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Thursday, November 27, 1986 1:30AM Volume 5, Issue 156 Today's Topics: 800 numbers 800-number queries Re: PC Pursuit Non-Bell Pay Phones Question about Ameritech Product Offering Re: Connecting a phone line to a stereo Novation Professional 2400 Modem ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 25-Nov-1986 0804 From: covert%covert.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (John R. Covert) Subject: 800 numbers There have been big changes in 800 service over the past few years. It has been more than five years since you've been able to tell anything about the location from the 800 NXX. Prior to then, XX2s were intrastate, XX7s were within Canada, and every prefix represented a particular area code (of course some area codes had more than one prefix). Now that assignment algorithm has gone by the wayside. About five years ago, AT&T introduced "Advanced 800 Service" which permitted any number to be routed to different destinations depending on both the caller's location and the time of day. Thus 800-EASTERN would reach the nearest EAL reservations center during the daytime, cutting back to those which were left open at night. You had to pay for normal 800 lines (which may or may not have also had known numbers) and then a few hundred a month extra for the "special" number and a nickel here and there for each optional translation by time or location. Then, about a year ago, AT&T started offering international 800 service for customers in the UK, France, Italy, and a bunch of other countries (as well as for U.S. customers who want to receive incoming calls from those locations -- in the U.K. 800 numbers are 0800 xx-xx-xx). Up until a month ago, all equal access C.O.s sent all 800 calls to AT&T regardless of your default carrier choice. But just this month, the situation got more complex. Local equal access C.O.s must six-digit translate all 800 calls, sending the following 23 prefixes to MCI: 234, 283, 284, 288, 289, 274, 333, 365, 444, 456, 627, 666, 678, 727, 759, 777, 825, 876, 888, 937, 950, 955, and 999, and the following to WUD Metrophone: 988. Rumor has it that US Sprint will get 728. AT&T currently has all xx2 and all other prefixes they were currently using. If a C.O. can't six-digit translate (which also means it isn't an equal access C.O.), it must send the calls to the local intra-LATA tandem for translation. Also, AT&T is supposed to send any of the NXXs it doesn't handle back to the local telco. (And since there's no revenue *and* AT&T must pay for the use of the local access lines, you can bet they'll scream to the local telcos to fix errors.) But not for long. The next step comes when Bellcore finishes the next big project. This will be sort of like the Advanced 800 service AT&T introduced years ago, but will allow the 800 customer to select not only destination based on time-of-day and originating location, but to also select a different carrier based on these and other algorithms. At that point *all* 800 numbers will have to take a stop through the local telco tandem for routing based on the algorithm. It will be the local telco who will get the money for providing the routing service. 800 service is getting very complex! /john ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Nov 86 11:59:59 EST From: jsol%buita.bu.edu@RELAY.CS.NET Subject: 800-number queries 800 service is no longer connected to geographical area. The 800-XX2-XXXX is still "reserved" for local operating companies, but if someone wants a number like that ATT can call the LOC and ask for authorization to use the line. The reverse is also true. Currently, if you have equal access on your line, 800 (toll free) and 900 (special charge) calls always route through ATT. The other carriers are also looking into offering 800 service (some already do in some sense of the word), but that won't be for a while. --jsol ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Nov 86 13:00:32 EST From: jbs@EDDIE.MIT.EDU (Jeff Siegal) Subject: Re: PC Pursuit In article <8611250935.AA27211@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> you write: >I would like to sign up for PC Pursuit, but of course, I don't have a >credit card, and thus have no way of paying for it. Many banks will issue credit cards to just about anyone if you are willing to keep the full amount of your credit limit on deposit. >Why can't they accept a check on a flat fee, anyway? Because PC Persuit isn't a flat fee service. The $35/month is for unlimited off peak time. You always have the option of using it during peak hours, in which case you will be billed (approx) $10/hour. Jeff Siegal ------------------------------ Date: 25 Nov 86 18:35:00 EDT From: "SCOTT GREEN" Subject: Non-Bell Pay Phones Reply-To: "SCOTT GREEN" A problem that I have run into a number of times is a 3rd-party pay phone that will not accept toll-free access to ALDS. When trying to access 10xxx#, the # key ends up not generating any tone at all. Dialing 950-10xx returns a message requesting a coin deposit before completing the call. Bell phones, of course, allow access through either method. Any suggestions to avoid feeding quarters and paying local call overtime, in addition to long-distance charges? Scott Green green@wharton-10.arpa [Private Pay Telephones are a ripoff. You might bother to check what your state regulations are re 950 access from PPT's, but I suggest it would be a futile effort. Boycott PPT's! -Elmo] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Nov 86 16:34:29 est From: sullivan@EDN-VAX.ARPA (Pat Sullivan) Subject: Question about Ameritech Product Offering I got some promotional mail from Ameritech (a Western Union priority letter, which somehow struck me as ironic) concerning a product called Information Manager (TM). Claimed features: "LATEST TECHNOLOGY, one system provides simultaneous voice communications, high speed data communications and Ethernet LAN. INCREDIBLE ECONOMY, delivers 2 Mbps digital power to the desktop. Uses your existing twisted-pair wiring..." They go on to claim that IM can be overlayed on one's present Centrex, Dimension, or PBX. Can someone help me out with what this is? Is it based on the Project Victoria multiplexer? Thanks, Pat Sullivan Defense Communications Engineering Center Reston, VA. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Nov 86 17:50:56 pst From: well!pozar@lll-lcc.ARPA (Tim Pozar) Subject: Re: Connecting a phone line to a stereo >Can anyone give me a circuit for connecting a phone line to broadcast >over a stereo system? The circiut can be made very easliy out of two .1uf disk caps, and a 10k to 600 ohm tranformer. WARNING! This circuit is not FCC accepted. Ahem, now that I said that... Just hook it up to the red and green wires on the block. The caps are to block DC to the transformer and prevent the Telco equipment from seeing a "off-hook" status. In order to keep the line up, you should put a 1k resistor across the red and green wires. You could even put a switch in series to act like a switch hook. .1uf Green __| |____ _________\ To consumer level/impeadence | | )||( / audio source Telco 600 )||( 10K .1uf )||( Red __| |____)||(_________\ | | | / ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Nov 86 11:58 EST From: "BRIAN T.N. STOKES -- SRC" Subject: Novation Professional 2400 Modem We had a total of 10 of the units, and sent them back to Novation for a refund after about 3 months. The modems have several things going for them that other manufacturer's could well benefit by copying, among them power on diagnostics, and that nifty LCD display. Support from the company, however, was atrocious. We have switched to the Microcom AX2400c's, and have been very impressed with the product and the company that stands behind it. Rock solid, flexible, no noise, and F-A-S-T! We are getting about 4800 bps on a 2400 baud connection using the switch-to-sync and data compression of MNP Class 5. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 11-Dec-86 04:18:50-EST,18979;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Thu 11 Dec 86 04:18:48-EST Date: 11 Dec 86 01:26-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #157 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Thursday, December 11, 1986 1:26AM Volume 5, Issue 157 Today's Topics: Residential Service + BBS Contrary to Tariffs in MA Re: PC Pursuit Re: Non-Bell Pay Phones Equal Access, 700 & 800 Service Re: Question about Ameritech Product Offering Re: 800-number queries Re: Connecting a phone line to a stereo Hands Free duplexing circuit. Hold Circuit WSJ Article on Nynex billing plan Texas Intrastate Long Distance Service Offerings BIDIRECTIONAL UUCP (we don't have HDB) part of 403 is "temp."? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 4 Dec 86 18:26:26 EST From: Jon Solomon Subject: Residential Service + BBS Contrary to Tariffs in MA Date: Thu 4 Dec 86 17:47:22-EST From: "Hank R. "Jim" Dixon" ** Important Announcement ** The use of a Residence telephone line in the State of Massachusetts for a Computer BBS is illegal. I have been recently made aware of this by New England Telephone. Because of this, my BBS is now Business service. If you run a BBS or other computer system from your home, YOU may be next. The following is an exerpt from the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities tariffs, relating to New England Telephone: Exerpt from DPU/NET Tariffs volume A, Section 5.1, subsection D: "The use of measured or unlimited residence exchange service is restricted to the customer, members of the household, and persons temporarily leasing a customer's residental premesis. The above provisions shall not be construed or applied to bar a customer from allowing a social guest or business visitor the incidental or occasional use of his service." Unfortunately, "use" of the telephone service is not restrcted to placing outgoing calls from it. The leaving of messages, uploading and downloading of files, and other things encountered in BBS usage is considered to be "use" of the telephone line. Fortunately, if you just use one of these systems and dont run one, you dont have much to worry about. Apparently, they dont have much to say about using data (outgoing wise) from a Residence line. These restrictions are not just limited to BBS's. It applies to all types of telephone entertainment, including information recordings, joke lines, comment lines, and conference lines. This means pretty clearly that if you are going to run a system in Mass., you are going to have to pay for it dearly. This may have a tendency to eliminate most non-subscription / free systems that presently exist. If you have any questions that I may be able to answer, please call my system at (617)623-6969 and leave me (LAMBDA-BOY) mail. -- JIM (LAMBDA-BOY) -- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 29 Nov 86 01:01:43 EST From: "Keith F. Lynch" Subject: Re: PC Pursuit From: jbs@EDDIE.MIT.EDU (Jeff Siegal) Because PC Persuit isn't a flat fee service. The $35/month is for unlimited off peak time. Is this a misprint, or has it gone up? It ought to go down, since service is getting worse. From DC to Boston is now almost always busy, and I had to write a program to keep trying once every two seconds and beep me when it gets through, which often takes a half hour or more. ...Keith [Have you noticed that after waiting 1/2 hour for a line you get a noisy outdial modem? 3 nights out of 5 I spend another half hour reporting the condition, only to resume waiting through the "busy" cycle again! I have serious doubts that Telenet's repair technicians do an adequate job testing their equipment. -Elmo] ------------------------------ Subject: New services Date: Sat, 29 Nov 86 21:12:19 -0500 From: James Cayz All, Seen in today's newpaper (Wilmington News Journal, pg B6): "Prankster, we have your number"..... A very interesting article which explains some new services that New Jersey Bell will offer to customers, starting as soon as "early next year, and statewide beginning in 1988".. The services are distinct ring for incoming calls from selected phone numbers, incoming call blocking from a specific number, customer-initiated trace and block, and digital display of incoming call's' number. Also mentioned are dial-back of last number that called you, and redial-until-not-busy (outgoing). No, this is not a Centrex (sp?), but it sure sounds like a humungous version of one! From the looks of it, sounds like the residents of NJ will be able to say "hey, who's this xxx-xxx-xxxx calling me.. Hmm, I won't bother answering". What about businesses and telephone solictors? I'm sure that soon there will be notes on bboards all over saying "this number is an insurance agent, don't answer when he calls", etc, etc... Anyone got any other info on these services and/or comments on this (if this article is relating TRUE facts)? I personally would like to have all the services, except trace, which, if someone was annoying me, I would use the "block" function on them.... Any clues when us less fortunate (?) :-) to live outside NJ will get these services? James +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | E-MAIL: cayz@louie.udel.edu PHONE: +1 302 451-6718 | | USPS: James Cayz, Educational Technology Laboratory, | | 125 Evans Hall, University of Delaware, Newark DE 19716 | +---------------------------------------------------------------+ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Dec 86 07:20:16 pst From: well!pozar@lll-lcc.ARPA (Tim Pozar) Subject: Re: Non-Bell Pay Phones Reply-To: well!pozar@lll-lcc.ARPA (Tim Pozar) Ya, and you ever try to call the operator to retrive a quarter that was lost? Forget it buddy! I agree, Boycot the suckers! Tim Pozar UUCP pozar@well.UUCP FIDO Sysop 125/406 USM KLOK-FM 77 Maiden Lane San Francisco CA 94108 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Dec 86 10:56:27 PST From: samho@larry.cs.washington.edu (Sam Ho) Subject: Equal Access, 700 & 800 Service Along a related line, are the 700 numbers actually used for anything? Back when we first got equal access, Skyline (then our primary carrier) sent us a flyer saying to dial 1-700-555-4141 to verify we were correctly connected. (We got AT&T by mistake, but that's another story.) They also said to use 1-700-555-1000 for customer service. 555-4141 apparently works with all the carriers, since I could get recordings from all the companies with 10xxx, but I haven't seen anybody mention 700 dialing since MCI bought out SBS. MCI uses an 800 number for customer service. Are the numbers obsolete already? Sam Ho samho@june.cs.washington.edu ------------------------------ From: USENET Administration Date: 2 Dec 86 19:42:16 GMT From: gp@lll-lcc.aRpA (George Pavel) Subject: Re: Question about Ameritech Product Offering > > I got some promotional mail from Ameritech ... concerning a product called > Information Manager (TM)... > can be overlayed on one's present Centrex, Dimension, or PBX. > ... > Is it based on the Project Victoria multiplexer? > > Pat Sullivan > Defense Communications Engineering Center > Reston, VA. Ameritech has entered into an agreement with David Systems, Sunnyvale,CA to market the David Information Manager which does all that they claim for it. It uses David's proprietary encoding scheme and is not based on Project Victoria as far as I know. George Pavel ARPANET/MILNET: gp@lll-lcc.arpa Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory UUCP: {ihnp4,seismo}!lll-crg!lll-lcc!gp P.O. Box 808 L-68 Livermore, CA 94550 (415)422-4262 ------------------------------ Date: 1 Dec 86 08:30:55 PDT From: Ian Merritt Subject: Re: 800-number queries in <8611250934.AA27171@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>, will martin writes: >I know we've discussed the significance of the 3rd digit in 800 numbers >("N" in 800-xxN-xxxx) before (I think the consensus was that "2" there >means "intrastate 800 number", right?); I was wondering if there is any >particular geographical distribution on the prefixes themselves ("NNN" >in 800-NNN-xxxx)? This was inspired by hearing an IBM commercial that >told listeners to call "1-800-IBM-nnnn" (I forget the last 4 digits). >There are other special word-code 800 numbers like 1-800-USA-RAIL for >AMTRAK, of course. > >Do firms that get these numbers have to set up answering or call-forwarding >services in any specific geographic areas to get the letter-coded numbers >they want? Or is the 800 service completely divorced from any geographic >constraints as far as number assignments go? > >Other 800-related questions: If you have an Alternate Long-Distance >Service as your default outgoing LD service and you call an 800 number >by dialing 1-800-xxx-xxxx, what happens to that call? Does the ALDS >actually use its own facilities to route and transmit that call over to >AT&T, doing work for which they never will get any pay (or do they >charge the caller something even for an 800 call, or would AT&T pay them >something?), or does the local Central Office facility automatically >route all 800 calls to AT&T so that they never touch the ALDS carrier's >lines, or what? > >(I've never had any service other than AT&T, so I never tried this back >before Equal Access when you called a local number to get to a LD >service like MCI -- when you did that and then called an 800 number >instead of a regular long distance number, would the call go through? >Would you be charged for the time for that 800 call? [Yes, I know it >would be a silly thing to do -- I just thought somebody might have tried >it as an experiment.]) > >Regards, >Will Martin >wmartin@ALMSA-1.ARPA (on USENET try ...!seismo!wmartin@ALMSA-1.ARPA ) Since the advent of the CCIS 800 service, the assignment of 800 numbers has changed to free-format. Some vestigial remnants of the old system survive today simply because it was neither practical nor necessary to just change every 800 number simply because they could. For a good explanation of the old INWATS and the current SPC 800 service, I suggest a special issue of the BSTJ (the date escapes me but it was within the last few years), called "The SPC Network", all about the implementation of Common Channel Interoffice Signalling (CCIS) and what it replaces. If you want me to check the issue number, please send me mail. Cheerz-- <>IHM<> -- uucp: ihnp4!nrcvax!ihm ------------------------------ Date: 1 Dec 86 08:32:03 PDT From: Ian Merritt Subject: Re: Connecting a phone line to a stereo I believe you can bridge a telephone line into the aux input with reasonable results by connecting T & R to the two leads of the aux input each through a 10 mf capacitor. Beware though of the sharp surges in the input from such things as dial pulses or line hangup/pickup. Cheerz-- <>IHM<> ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 5 Dec 86 00:13:26 EST From: ihnp4!ihlpl!marcus@EDDIE.MIT.EDU Subject: Hands Free duplexing circuit. I am interested in building a better home intercom system, or at least planning it. With the fairly great number of phones out in the world with "hands free" features, it seems that a similar circuit could be made for intercom use. Many of the phones use a VOX circuit to switch between half-duplex modes of operation. I really don't care for that if it could possibly be avoided. What possibility is there for subtracting the speaker's output from the microphone's input or something similar to operate in a FDX mode? Are there any ICs made for phones that would be of much use here? Any suggested circuits or sources? Marcus Hall ..!ihnp4!ihlpl!marcus ------------------------------ From: SPGDCM%cmsa.Berkeley.EDU@berkeley.edu Date: Thu, 04 Dec 86 22:45:44 PST Subject: Hold Circuit Years ago I saw (I think in an electronics hobbyist magazine) a very simple circuit which one could add to any phone to gain an illuminated "hold" function. It worked on regular twisted-pair phones; it worked only on the phone you wired this way. As best I remember it, it was something like a zener diode, a resistor, a temporary-connect push-button, and an led; maybe a neon light instead but I think not. The concept was that once your button made the connection, the zener diode effectively shorted the line enough to hold onto the circuit (one would need to draw the voltage down to say 10v). Then if any other extension went off-hook, it would draw the line down to 5v. which somehow dropped the zener out and it let go, as a good hold should. The LED got activated properly somehow so that it glowed on the held instrument until an intercept or that instrument went off-hook and dropped hold. Now I am really sad I lost the diagram, because I want to add hold to all my phones. Costs too much to upgrade them all when I could add this instead for say $2-4 each. Anybody know the circuit? Especially useful would be the exact component values, preferably within the set widely available such as Radio Shack, or if necessary with a source of supply if the values are rare. P.S.: unfortunately many commonly-sold phones still don't offer hold, but even worse, many offer what I would like to see called "false-hold": you can flip a dumb toggle or slide switch on the phone to "hold" the line, but must shut that particular switch off to unhold; really a mute toggle, not a hold. Some store's ads (such as San Francisco Macy's) call this hold, and you waste a visit to the store. Some mail-order houses have had to resort to calling the correct feature "true-hold". Hmmm... as if you had to see words like "real food" or "true-movies" in ads or else get cheated... Thanks, Doug ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Dec 86 13:20:49 CST From: Will Martin -- AMXAL-RI Subject: WSJ Article on Nynex billing plan Telecom readers may be interested in an article that appeared on page 4 of the Tuesday, 25 Nov. '86, issue of the Wall Street Journal on a plan by Nynex to change the method of billing for long-distance service by separating the BOC and LD-carrier charges for each call, and providing volume discounts for heavy users. It's too long to type in, but the WSJ is so widely available that anyone should be able to find it. The proposed change was due to be approved or rejected by the FCC that day, so perhaps someone can post a comment on what the end result of this was. The article mentions that there was quite a bit of opposition to the proposal, both from the consumer side and from the LD carriers. (It takes something pretty unusual to make both those groups allies!) Will Martin ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Dec 86 21:24:51 CST From: David Chase Subject: Texas Intrastate Long Distance Service Offerings Does anyone know of a long distance service from Austin to Houston that charges less than .21 per minute at cheapest (late night and weekend) rates? Sprint with 12% volume discount is about .21/minute, and LDS (Metromedia) quotes me .21 per minute at night rates. I saw some advertisements from ATT for (in volume, which is no problem) I think $10 per hour (.16/min), but Austin and Houston are in the same state. Are their other alternatives? (For instance, how much is in-state outgoing WATS per month?) As is, I intend to drop Sprint like a rock as soon as I don't need them, with a nasty letter explaining my feelings about subsidizing interstate callers. David [Your WATS service question is best directed to your local business business office. Withholding comment on Sprint, your intrastate rates are set by a state regulatory commission and may be higher than equivalent interstate service. -Elmo] ------------------------------ Date: 5 Dec 86 23:40:20 GMT From: mark@cogent.UUCP (Mark Steven Jeghers) Subject: BIDIRECTIONAL UUCP (we don't have HDB) We are going to be setting up numerous modems on HP 840s for extensive UUCP communications (probably 2400 baud or higher). Since HP does not yet have HDB UUCP and we never had much luck with Hayes on machines that *did* have HDB UUCP, we are up in the air about what modems to use. Does anyone know about how non-HDB UUCP can be set up to operate with a bidirectional device (i.e. one modem can either call out or recieve an incoming call without user intervention), and, if so, what modem is well suited for this? How about you HP people? What have you been doing with your modems? Have you gotten bidirectional operation? Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated. Please email. Thanks in advance. -- +----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Mark Steven Jeghers ECHOMPGULP - process has eaten it | | cryptography, terrorist, DES, drugs, cipher, secret, decode, NSA, CIA, NRO | | | | {ihnp4,cbosgd,lll-lcc,lll-crg}|{dual,ptsfa}!cogent!mark | | | | Cogent Software Solutions can not be held responsible for anything said | | by the above person since they have no control over him in the first place | +----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 5 Dec 86 11:47:42 EST From: Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) Subject: part of 403 is "temp."? Yesterday, I looked at list of area codes in the Orange County (California) directory, and noticed that 403 was listed as the area code for Alberta, Yukon Territory and Northwest Territories with the latter 2 noted as "TEMP."! Why TEMP? ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 18-Dec-86 17:45:29-EST,24934;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Thu 18 Dec 86 17:45:25-EST Date: 17 Dec 86 21:58-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #158 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Wednesday, December 17, 1986 9:58PM Volume 5, Issue 158 Today's Topics: Re: Residential Service + BBS Contrary to Tariffs in MA Re: Residential Service + BBS Contrary to Tariffs in MA Ring-Back Re: Residential Service + BBS Contrary to Tariffs in MA Re: Equal Access, 700 & 800 Service Pending FCC ruling threat to modem users Re: new services NYNEX billing plan rejected Hold Feature Non-standard pay phones Billing Lag ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 11 Dec 1986 06:13:59-EST From: rdsnyder@MIT-CCC Subject: Re: Residential Service + BBS Contrary to Tariffs in MA It is clear from the context of the quoted section of the tariff that one "uses" a telephone line only when making an outgoing call. Otherwise, all calls would violate the tariff, except for someone "calling home," since the callers would not be a member of the called party's household or a person renting the called party's premises. The tariffs should have certainly defined the meaning of "using" a telephone line, but I disagree with New England Tel's interpretation. I'd take up the matter with the DPU before allowing NET to charge business rates for a bbs. While I believe that the use of a BBS on a residential line agrees with the quoted portion of the tariffs, there may be other parts of the tariffs that would prohibit the use of a BBS on a residential line, particularly if the BBS operator is receiving payment for the use of the BBS. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Dec 86 12:17:34 EST From: johnl%ima.UUCP@CCA.CCA.COM Subject: Re: Residential Service + BBS Contrary to Tariffs in MA About requiring business service for a BBS in Massachusetts: So it says that the phone can only be used by the subscriber and immediate family? If I had a BBS, I'd certainly claim that everybody calling the BBS was calling me. Who else would they be calling? It would be different if I had an employee answering the phone, but a computer is hardly an employee. About 700 numbers: All of the ALDS services use 700 numbers a little bit. When I need to call the MCI business office, I call 1-700-624-5555. I suspect that they will all end up putting their service calls on 700 numbers so they don't have to pay for so many 800 numbers. John Levine, ima!johnl or Levine@YALE.whatever ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1986 10:58 est From: ejs%acorn@live-oak.lcs.mit.edu Subject: Ring-Back Is there a number (or a per-exchange number) in the Boston area for making your phone ring-back when you hang up? Every other city I've lived in has had this service. ------------------------------ Date: 11-Dec-1986 1042 From: goldstein%debet.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (Fred R. Goldstein dtn226-7388) Subject: Re: Residential Service + BBS Contrary to Tariffs in MA Once again, the sky is falling. Somehow, somebody got the notion that someone who is calling _in_ to a BBS is "using" the phone line, and therefore it isn't "residential". Tell me, (no that's rhetorical only) is your line no longer residential when you get solicited by insurance agents, newspapers, and other businesses? They're "using" your line! The mere fact that there's a BBS on it doesn't prove diddly. If the BBS is in fact a business (you get money for it) or is used in the regular transaction of business, then of course it's a business line. But if it's a hacker BBS used for personal messages, freeware and other stuff, then it can be viewed as incidental to your residence. ALL phone calls are bidirectional -- I hear you talk, you hear me, right? The fact that the "resident" is a computer doesn't mean that the call is suddenly different. (Unless the computer is business.) Likewise, calling work from home is a Residence usage. Even if I call up my office computer to do "work at home", it's still Residential. I've been on the front lines of that one, too. If, however, you call up the low-level clerk who answers the phone at the Telco business office and say, "isn't my computer bulletin board at home a business service?" or some other dorky thing like that, they'll be sure to agree! They usually don't want trouble. If you give them a hard time, though, they'll give you one right back! My advice: Don't stir up sh*t. Order a plain old residence line and don't say "BBS". If you're not running a business, you're okay. People are just calling you up and talking to your electronic answering machine. The tariffs are ancient, and you don't want to reopen the political wars that surround the residential discounts and business overcharges. fred ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Dec 86 12:38:33 PST From: lll-crg!csustan!elric@seismo.CSS.GOV (Elric of Imrryr) Subject: Re: Equal Access, 700 & 800 Service 700 numbers are also used by AT&T for their confrencing service. Example 0-700-456-1000/2/3/4. As this is a VERY expansive service, I've not had any personal experience with it. 3-way calling is cheaper. Brad {lll-crg,lll-lcc}!csustan!elric ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1986 06:28 MST From: Keith Petersen Subject: Pending FCC ruling threat to modem users The FCC is considering a ruling which may threaten low-cost modem access to many on-line services, perhaps including Arpa/Milnet TACs and Usenet Unix systems. Here are the details from a copy of a file just uploaded to my Remote CP/M system. --Keith Petersen Arpa: W8SDZ@SIMTEL20.ARPA Uucp: {bellcore,decwrl,harvard,lll-crg,ucbvax,uw-beaver}!simtel20.arpa!w8sdz GEnie Mail: W8SDZ RCP/M Royal Oak: 313-759-6569 (300, 1200, 2400 bps) --cut here--BADNEWS.PCP--cut here-- The FCC is considering reregulating the packet-switching networks like Telenet, Tymnet, Compuserve, The Source and PC Pursuit. This could result in additional costs to the user. This is excerpted from Infomat magazine which is available for downloading. ==================================== COMPUTER AND SOFTWARE NEWS -- PART 1 ==================================== by Tim Elmer ------------------------------------ FREE LOCAL ACCESS TO PACKET SWITCHING NETWORKS MAY BE ELIMINATED ------------------------------------ (BPS) -- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will vote on a proposal to reregulate packet switching networks that, if approved, would eliminate free local telephone access to those networks. "If this occurs, it might eventually double or triple the costs to those using packet switching networks to access commercial on-line databases and information services and triple or quadruple the costs to those using Telenet's PC Pursuit," said Philip M. Walker, vice president and regulatory counsel for Telenet Communications Corp. Predictably, the initiative to reregulate packet switching networks comes primarily from the Bell Operating Companies (BOCs) and secondarily from AT&T. These companies provide local telephone service to vast majority of telephone customers throughout the U.S. and will benefit the most from FCC reregulation of the packet switching networks. Under current FCC rules formulated in 1980 in the FCC's Second Computer Inquiry, called Computer II, a distinction is made between "basic services" and "enhanced services." "Basic services" are those that don't offer protocol conversion such as local and long-distance voice telephone services. "Enhanced services" are defined in an open-ended fashion as computer-based services that are more than a "basic service," in other words, services such as packet switching networks, database and on-line type services, and remote computing services that offer protocol conversion, according to Walker. Under the 1980 Computer II Inquiry, the FCC ruled that "basic services" would continue to be regulated as they had always been. However, the FCC also ruled that "enhanced services" would be deregulated, which opened up the industry to competition. This resulted in numerous companies entering the packet switching business, including BOCs, AT&T and at least a dozen others. The competition resulted in significant price reductions for packet switching services. To prevent monopolization of the packet switching industry by the Big Boys (the BOCs and AT&T), the FCC ruled that they had to keep separate accounting figures for their "basic services" and for their "enhanced services," and that they could not use revenues from their lucrative "basic services" to cross- subsidize their "enhanced service" packet switching networks. The FCC also ruled that if the BOCs and AT&T used their "basic service" telephone lines for packet switching services, then they must let their competitors have access to those lines on the same basis, which would preserve true competition in the industry. "Now, under the FCC's Computer Inquiry III, the FCC is asking, should we redefine protocol conversion services as 'basic services' rather than enhanced services? Should we redefine all those companies as common carriers? This would, in effect, subject them not only to federal regulations but, even worse, to state regulations," Walker said. The result would eliminate comparable interconnection requirements currently imposed on BOCs and AT&T, allowing them to charge their packet switching competitors local dial-in fees to access packet switching long-distance line networks. It would also allow BOCs and AT&T to offer their own packet switching services on a non-compensatory basis and, finally, allow them to cross- subsidize those services with revenues from their much more lucrative voice telephone service revenues. In short, it would allow BOCs and AT&T to monopolize the packet switching industry and probably drive out most competitors. "In terms of cost impact," Walker said, "if we had to pay local access charges, it would cost us about $3.60 an hour at the originating end, for calls made by users to on-line databases and information services like CompuServe and The Source. "And with PC Pursuit, for which we have out-dial modems, we would have to pay not only 3.60 per hour access fees at the originating end but also $4.80 at the terminating end, a total of about $8 or $9. Obviously, to survive, we would have to add those additional charges to our current fees and pass them on to our consumers," Walker said. That would almost certainly spell the end of PC Pursuit, and it would likely put out of business not only many independent packet switching networks but also many on-line databases and information services. FCC approval of changes being considered in Computer III, Walker said, "would really have a major impact on anyone using a packet switching service to access online bulletin boards, databases, or information services aimed at the residential user. They are just going to get creamed if this happens." Walker said that is was not clear exactly when the FCC would vote on the proposal, but that it would probably be the latter part of January or early part of February, 1987. "They are moving very fast on this," he said. For additional information, be sure to read Alan Bechtold's editorial in this issue. ==========END>>> Copyright (C) 1986, by BBS PRESS SERVICE, INC. ================= THE EDITOR SPEAKS ================= "Low-Cost packet switching Service Threatened" by Alan R. Bechtold As described in our lead news story this issue, the FCC is now considering a major change in the way packet switched phone services are defined. This change is likely to lead to the demise of many of these services, and to much higher prices for the use of the few that will eventually remain in business. At the risk of over-simplification, I think I should first describe just what a packet switched networking service is. These are the services you use to access online databases and commercial online services, such as CompuServe and The Source, with just a local telephone call. Once you call the local Telenet or Tymnet number, for example, and a connection is made, you are then connected with a computer that puts you in communication with the online services with which you wish to communicate. This computer is handling a number of calls into the main system computer at the same time. It takes information you send and delivers it in "packets" to the proper destination, picks up information from the online service computer you called, and sends it, also in "packets," back to you. All of this communicating is done in these so-called "packets" because this allows the network's computers to offer protocol conversion and handle several ongoing communications sessions at the same time. FCC regulations allow AT&T and Bell Operating Companies (BOCs) to engage in packet switching network operations, but they must also maintain completely separate accounting of their voice and packet switching operations. They must also offer free local-calling access to their lines to any competitors engaged in the packet switching service industry. The above regulations have allowed Telenet and Tymnet, among others, to operate at a reasonable cost in a competitive atmosphere. This is a case of regulation of a business actually RESULTING in increased competition and lower prices to consumers. As things stand now, you can call any local Telenet or Tymnet access number and use these services to inexpensively access such online services as CompuServe, The Source, Delphi, and countless others. In addition, GTE's new PC PURSUIT service now offers you access, through their Telenet packet switching service, to literally hundreds of local bulletin boards in cities all across the country--for a flat charge of $25 per month. But, the FCC is now being asked to REREGULATE this segment of the communications industry, eliminating the FCC requirements that AT&T and BOCs keep separate accounting records of their voice and packet switching services, and eliminating the stipulation that the BOCs and AT&T must offer their competitors in the packet switching business free access to their local telephone connection lines. The idea is patently ridiculous. Mark Fowler, Chairman of the FCC, has been hailed by the press as a "fair- market zealot." The chances are very good that he views this proposed reregulation as the magic road to increased competition and fairer pricing for consumers. Unofficially, the word is out that the FCC advisory committee now considering this matter is indeed leaning in favor of the proposed reregulation of the packet switching industry. If the committee recommends these changes, it's likely that a majority of the five voting members on the Federal Communications Commission will vote in favor of the changes. I have talked to sources within the industry who say it is the BOCs who are pushing VERY HARD for this reregulation, because they want to get into the packet switching service business in a big way, and they would like to rid themselves of needless competition on their way to success. What's that? RID themselves of competition? But--the proposed reregulation is supposed to FOSTER competition! Why would a group of companies (BOCs) hoping to eliminate their competition PUSH for this reregulation? I hope the answer to THAT question is entirely clear. Here we have an industry that is currently populated with plenty of competition. Prices are already reasonable. Reregulation of the packet switching service industry will IMMEDIATELY give giant corporations the upper hand, and will allow them to cut off free access to their local access phone lines to their competitors, namely Telenet and Tymnet and other similar services that now offer you high-quality service, in a competitive marketplace, at reasonable prices. The proposed reregulation, however, would force all packet switching services to compete with the BOCs and AT&T, companies that would be able to use the enormous profits they earn with their voice telephone services to cross- subsidize their packet switching services and offer them on a non-compensatory basis, at least until their competitors are eliminated. When that happens, they are then sure to jack up their fees to any level they want. It would also force their packet switching competitors to pay access fees for connection to local phone lines. The access fees alone could add as much as $4.00 per hour to the fees packet switching companies would be forced to pass on to their customers. This will be added to your hourly connect-time charges for accessing ALL online databases through these services. The proposed reregulation could very well spell the death of PC PURSUIT. Because GTE also uses dial-out modems at the other end of their Telenet connections for PC PURSUIT service, the company would be forced to pay an hourly charge at BOTH ends of the phone line--totaling up to $8 or $9 per hour. These fees would have to be added to the flat $25 per month that GTE now charges for access to PC-PURSUIT. It would simply make the final cost to PC-PURSUIT customers too high for the service to remain practical and affordable. So--this is ONE TIME you MUST use your word processor to produce some letters opposing this proposed reregulation! Write to: Honorable Mark Fowler Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Washington D.C. 20554 Refer to Computer Inquiry III in your letters. State clearly, in your own words, that competitive packet switching services should not be reregulated or subjected to carrier access charges, and then explain why not. Tell Mr. Fowler that reregulation of packet switching services will completely destroy the existing fair market for these services, and eventually increase costs, not DECREASE them. And hurry! I have heard this matter will be going before the FCC for a vote in the latter part of January or early part of February. Time is running out. ==========END>>> ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1986 20:17-EST From: deej@ius2.cs.cmu.edu Subject: Re: new services > The services are distinct ring for incoming > calls from selected phone numbers, incoming call blocking from a specific > number, customer-initiated trace and block, and digital display of incoming > call's' number. Also mentioned are dial-back of last number that called you, > and redial-until-not-busy (outgoing). No, this is not a Centrex (sp?), but > it sure sounds like a humungous version of one! Something like that. It's actually digital telephony, and it's possible today (in fact, being done with most digital Private Branch Exchanges), but it takes the Bells longer to get these things operational because everything has to conform to international standards. The applicable standard here is called ISDN, for Integrated Service Digital Network. The basic concept is that it transmits voice digitally and, instead of transmitting signalling information over the voice channel (like tones, pulses, switchook flashes, and so on) transmits it in a standard format on a packet channel running over the same wires. Once the equipment which conforms to ISDN standards is available -- both the Central Office switches and the handsets -- all that stuff above is a piece of pie. Er, cake. And it should be taking place everywhere "real soon now". Presently, in fact, Bell of PA is running a pilot ISDN project in Harrisburg, PA. Should CMU decide to not purchase a PBX, we're going to try to encourage Bell to make all that stuff available to us in an Enhanced Centrex service; it'd then also be available to anyone in this immediate area who is willing to buy the handset. this is probably going to end up with two signatures; sorry, I'm new here. <=>=<=>=<=>=<=>=<=>=<=>=<=>=<=>=<=>=<=>=<=>=<=>=<=>=<=>=<=>=<=>=<=>=<=>=<=> Arpa: deej@ius2.cs.cmu.edu Usenet: {ihnp4|ucbvax|cmucspt}!cmu-cs-ius2!deej Bell System: (412) 681-6380 USMail: 5170 Beeler St., #1 Pittsburgh, PA 15217-1002 Carrier Pigeon: The big red brick house with the plate-glass windows out front. The opinions contained herein must be mine. No one else will claim them. "If you're not part of the solution, you must be part of the problem." ------------------------------ Date: 11-Dec-1986 1052 From: goldstein%derep.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (Fred R. Goldstein dtn226-7388) Subject: NYNEX billing plan rejected The FCC ignominiously rejected the NYNEX proposed access charge billing plan. The plan would have moved the originating-side interstate access allocation from the long distance carrier (it's about 4c/minute of all calls) to the end user. There would have been a sliding scale discount, so big users would pay less. Billing would have been a nightmare. Stay tuned for more weird billing schemes. ------------------------------ Date: Sat 13 Dec 86 01:32:51-EST From: Doug Reuben Subject: Hold Feature In response to a question about building a $2-$4 Hold circuit to be placed on each extension, I would suggest that if you have many extensions, you may be interested in a "Tone-Hold" device. This is a small, cubelike box that you connect anywhere in the house, and responds to the * or # sign. If you want to place a call on hold, all you need to do is press the * or # key (depending on the brand) , and hang up. The Tone Hold holds the line until you pick up an extension. I've recently seen these available for around $49 dollars in many electronics stores and mail order catalogs. If anyone is interested in specifics, let me know and I'll see if I can dig up a few catalogs. Alternately, certain BOCs offer a hold service, which is similar to three-way calling. When you want to put a call on hold, you click the hookswitch, and hang up. You can then go to any extension and continue you call. This is done at the central office (I think), since no installation of any device is required in your home. Pac*Bell offers this service in most of their Northern California ESSs, and I would think that other BOCs either have or soon will have similar features. Also, add my vote to the "Boycott non-Bell Payphones" list -I've seen a few at a Sears on Long Island that actually charge $.45 for a local directory assistance call which is FREE at NY Tel payphones! -Doug Reuben@WESLYN.BITNET S.D-REUBEN%KLA.WESLYN@WESLEYAN.BITNET S.D-REUBEN%KLA.WESLYN%WESLEYAN.BITNET@WISCVM.ARPA ------------------------------ Date: 12 Dec 86 05:54:18 GMT From: gt5909b@gtfelix.gatech.EDU (DERVAN) Subject: Non-standard pay phones Reply-To: gt5909b@gtfelix.UUCP (Richard B Dervan @ Georgia Tech) Has anyone ever seen the types of phones that require you to put money in before even calling the operator? I was faced with one of these last week. Even though I had the money, I was wondering....couldn't you get the operator by flicking the switch hook 10 times? Sure enough, it worked. Is this normal or was it just the phone I was on? I know it works from home phones but am not sure about a pay phone that won't even dial the operator w/o money. -Richard gt5909b@gtfelix ------------------------------ Subject: Billing Lag Date: 13-Dec-86 18:42:37 From: Paul Fuqua Yesterday (Dec 12), I picked up my latest phone bill (dated Nov 25). Included therein were the usual November charges and my Sprint bill for calls made in the first half of September. Is this sort of time lag typical? My default long-distance carrier is ATT, but I almost always use 10xxx. Any insight into the mysteries of the billing process would be appreciated. pf (The address in the header is probably overly conservative; you can drop the "tilde" and the "islington-terrace", if present, and just use pf@ti-csl.) ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 22-Dec-86 00:46:39-EST,15563;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Mon 22 Dec 86 00:46:37-EST Date: 21 Dec 86 22:58-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #159 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Sunday, December 21, 1986 10:58PM Volume 5, Issue 159 Today's Topics: Re: Non Standard pay phones regulation of the packet switched networks Re: Billing Lag Intrastate calls New Services Looking for a line in use circuit Re: Pending FCC ruling threat to modem users ARPANET Routing Non-Redundant Re: Hold Circuit Re: ring-back ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 18 Dec 86 16:54:51 pst From: micropro!edg@lll-crg.ARPA Subject: Re: Non Standard pay phones I remember in my errant youth that pay phones have mercury switches in them to make them harder to hookswitch. Still possible, though. In most states, Dial Tone First phones, that can reach 911 and the local 0perator without a deposit are the rule. It may be that the individual set in question was broken. If it was a private pay phone, I say torch the damned thing! Here in Califoo, we have a $.20 local rate. The private pay phones are $.25. Some of them let one reach 950-xxxx without a deposit. Those I use for long distance (via my ALDS.) Others do not. Those I restrain myself from vandalizing. People should know what they're buying, and who they're paying. If a restaurant has private pay phones, they're profiteering on their customers. Same for the corner store or gasoline station. Let the businessman know that you find his store less hospitable than the competition. One last thing I recently saw: A sticker on a restaurant menu that said "Cordless Public Phone available at your table. Charges added to your check. Ask your waitress." Am I impressed? Or disgusted. -edg Ed Greenberg | {hplabs,glacier}!well!micropro!edg MicroPro International Corp. | {ucbvax,decwrl}!dual!micropro!edg San Rafael, California | {lll-crg,ptsfa}!micropro!edg (415)499-1200 x4096 | micropro!edg@lll-crg.arpa ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 20 Dec 86 01:04:17 EST From: jsol@buita.bu.edu Subject: regulation of the packet switched networks This regulation was aimed directly at the commercial networks. I don't think the research networks (or DEC which supplies its own packet switched network for internal use), will suffer. At the very least the costs will be absorbed in grants and other expenses. The MILNET may go into per packet charging but that's all funny money anyway. I don't think ARPANET will go into charging but if they do it will be absorbed in grant proposals and other sources of income. Individual users won't have to bear the costs. --jsol ------------------------------ From: cbmvax!devon!paul@seismo.CSS.GOV From: paul@devon.UUCP (Paul Sutcliffe Jr.) Subject: Re: Billing Lag > Yesterday (Dec 12), I picked up my latest phone bill (dated Nov 25). > Included therein were the usual November charges and my Sprint bill for calls > made in the first half of September. Is this sort of time lag typical? My My most recent phone bill is dated Nov 16th. It includes BOC charges (my BOC is Bell of Pennsylvania) from Oct 24th thru Nov 17th, and LD charges (MCI) from Sep 19th thru Nov 4th. The lag time is not as great as Paul Fuqua's, but MCI is my default LD carrier (I seldom, if ever, use anyone else). I'd be curious if this would explain the difference. An interesting side light to this delay (at least for me!) is that during this billing period, I had made a change as to where I received netnews from. I had been receiving news from a site in the 609 (nj) areacode (I'm in 215), and calls to there are through MCI. I switched to a site in my own 215 areacode, and those calls stay with Bell of Pa. So this bill contained charges for calls to get net news spanning the period Sep 19 to Nov 17 (whew!!). Anybody wanna trade phone bills? The reason I bring this up is to ask the question: Will keeping the bulk of long distance calls within my own areacode reduce my phone bill as compared to having them go primarily to another areacode (and, in this case, another state)? This question assumes a comparable amount of usage as well as comparable billing times (95% are Night/Weekend). Obviously, I wish the answer to be Yes! -paul Paul Sutcliffe, Jr. UUCP: {seismo,ihnp4,allegra,rutgers}!cbmvax!devon!paul Devon Computer Services COMPUSERVE: 76176,502 ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 14 Dec 86 14:42:59 EST From: "Keith F. Lynch" Subject: Intrastate calls ... your intrastate rates are set by a state regulatory commission and may be higher than equivalent interstate service. -Elmo] If they are ever at least twice as high, would it be legal to have a redial service just across the state line, so that instead of calling your party directly you dial the service and tell it to dial your number, turning one intrastate call into two interstate calls? If not, why not? ...Keith ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Dec 86 01:36:25 CST From: wucs1!cec2!jjd2775@seismo.CSS.GOV (Jay Jeffrey D'Lugin) Subject: New Services Austin, TX has had these services for at least the past year. The best feature is callback. If you pick up the phone and dial *66, it rings the phone that called you last (only if the call was made within Austin). This is very handy when you come home, the phone's ringing, and you pick it up just in time to hear the other party hang up! Jay D'Lugin (Images-R-Us) ihnp4!{wucs!wucec2!jjd2775 | wucs!lucy!jay | comus!dlugin} ------------------------------ Date: Mon 15 Dec 86 16:00:16-PST From: Ted Shapin Subject: Looking for a line in use circuit I would like to build a LED driver that will light when a line is in use. I guess I could use a CMOS inverter and drive it from the line. Does anyone have a circuit? Ted. [DAK sells this circuit as "Drew's Brainstorm" for ~$10. A 9-volt battery eliminator is recommended by yours truly. -Elmo] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Dec 86 22:53:25 EST From: "Keith F. Lynch" Subject: Re: Pending FCC ruling threat to modem users From: Keith Petersen ... Mark Fowler, Chairman of the FCC, has been hailed by the press as a "fair market zealot." The chances are very good that he views this proposed reregulation as the magic road to increased competition and fairer pricing for consumers. In a free market, it would not matter to users whether this legislation was passed or not. The legislation does not COMPELL local phone companies to charge four dollars or more per hour for a local phone call to a long distance data service (e.g. PC PURSUIT) it merely ALLOWS them to do so. Since it doesn't cost local phone companies any more to complete a local call to such a service than it costs them to complete any other local call, phone companies would not lose money by not adding this charge. And since any local phone company which chose NOT to charge extra for such calls would get plenty of business from users who formerly used any local phone company which DID decide to add the extra charge, there would certainly be local phone companies which choose not to add this charge. This is how the free market works. HOWEVER, we unfortunately do NOT have a free market in local telephone service. Since each user has no choice which local phone company to use, thanks to a pernicious government-mandated monopoly, most local phone companies probably WILL add this charge if they are allowed to. They know they won't lose any customers to competing firms, since there are no competing firms allowed. In an ideal world, this legislation would be a good thing. Phone companies like any other company should be allowed to charge whatever they wish for their services, subject only to the constraints of the marketplace. But in the context of the captive marketplace, this legislation would be a very bad thing. If phone companies are given a monopoly, their prices have to be regulated by the government, since they are not regulated by the free market. Without regulation, they would be able to charge as much as they could without people abandoning phone service for bicycle messengers or carrier pigeons. Phone service ought to cost the user just a few percent more than the cost to the phone company of providing the service. In a free market, it would. In a regulated mandated monopoly, it might (how could anyone ever tell?). But given an unregulated mandated monopoly, i.e. the worst of both worlds, the local phone companies will sell their services for slightly less than the cost to the user of doing completely without phone service. If Mark Fowler is indeed an advocate of the free market system, this is how it should be explained to him. Write to: Honorable Mark Fowler Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Washington D.C. 20554 Refer to Computer Inquiry III in your letters. ... And hurry! I have heard this matter will be going before the FCC for a vote in the latter part of January or early part of February. Time is running out. I completely agree. Write today! Please reply to me, I am not on most of these lists. ...Keith ------------------------------ SOME MATERIAL LOST HERE.... ISSUE 160 STARTS NOW. 23-Dec-86 23:53:01-EST,16080;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Tue 23 Dec 86 23:52:59-EST Date: 23 Dec 86 15:45-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #160 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Tuesday, December 23, 1986 3:45PM Volume 5, Issue 160 Today's Topics: 403 areacode ringbacks in Boston; access charge Re: Hold Circuit Re: ARPANET Routing Non-Redundant Residential Service + BBS Contrary to Tariffs in MA Cheaper within an areacode? Directory assistance & long-distance routing British Telephone Theft-of-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 22 Dec 86 00:34:10 mst From: seismo!ihnp4!alberta!idacom!danny@EDDIE.MIT.EDU (Danny Wilson) Subject: 403 areacode From: cmoore@BRL.ARPA (Carl Moore, VLD/VMB) >Yesterday, I looked at list of area codes in the Orange County (California) >directory, and noticed that 403 was listed as the area code for Alberta, >Yukon Territory and Northwest Territories with the latter 2 noted as "TEMP."! >Why TEMP? First of all, although the Yukon Territories and Northwest Territories are very large geographically, there really aren't a lot of people there. Also, the Inuit don't have a lot of telephones. I'm sure that as the area becomes more populated (maybe a long time from now), they will get their own areacode. In reality, Only Yukon T, and the District of McKenzie in the NWT share an areacode with Alberta (403). The District of Kewatin and Resolute Bay in the NWT share an areacode with the Sherbrooke, Quebec region (819) I would imagine that Northwestern Canada receives its services from Alberta, while Northeaster Canada receives its services from Eastern Canada. Danny Wilson danny@idacom.uucp IDACOM Electronics Ltd {ihnp4|ubc-vision}!alberta!ncc!idacom!danny Edmonton, Alberta (403)450-2468 CANADA ------------------------------ Date: 22-Dec-1986 0948 From: goldstein%debet.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (Fred R. Goldstein dtn226-7388) Subject: ringbacks in Boston; access charge re: Can you make your phone ring back? In Boston, the standard u-dial-it ringback is reached by dialing 98x-abcd where abcd is the last four digits of your telephone number and x is 0, 1, 2 or 3, depending upon which prefix in your CO you're on. You should try them out to see which works; if you succeed, you'll get the single tone which leads to ringback. In some places, you dial your own number. In NJ, you dial 550 (dial tone, rotary only:6, unless it's changed). But let's not get another of those "763 used to stand for SMegma-3" discussions, okay? re: are access charges optional Keith seems to think that the FCC wouldn't compel telcos to charge them if they reclassify packet access. Clearly he doesn't know the first thing about the regulatory process. The access charges are mandatory, and aren't kept by the local telco anyway. They're pooled such that high-cost telcos (Wyoming) are subsidized by low-cost telcos (New England, NJ, etc.). And this only affects packet nets which have public dial-in ports (i.e., Telenet, Tymnet), not private lines, which pay a different subsidy if they're "contaminated" by access to the voice network (data lines aren't). Still, the proposal is a bloody crock. fred ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Dec 86 09:21:31 pst From: king@kestrel.ARPA (Dick King) Subject: Re: Hold Circuit From: tj put a resistor, and LED, a Zener, and an SCR in series. The Gate of the scr goes through a resistor and a pushbutton to + phone line. Lets draw a schematic online... (Hope this works) -----------phone line + -------+-------------+ | | R | | | \___PB_______SCR | \_|_ Z \ +------| \_|_ R Z \ | | LED | | --------------- phone line - ---------+------+ The SCR is off until pushbutton PB is pressed making contact thus turning it on. Upper Zener is some voltage higher than the off hook voltage of the line. (say 10 volts) Until the line goes higher than 10 volts it is off, even though the SCR is on. Hold the push button as you hang up. This turns on the SCR and as the line voltage rises the zener conducts and the current through the SCR will hold it on (get a low hold current scr, say 3 ma) The resistor in series with the push button supplies the small turn on current. 5 k should do. The lower zener limits the voltage across the LED. Make say 5 volts. This would put the r in series with the LEd at about 150 ohms. Like no guarantees... I doubt this circuit would work, and it could be dangerous. There is no impedience between a 28 volt source and ground; that voltage will be pulled down to 15 volts. What would limit the current through the SCR and two zener diodes? -dick ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Dec 86 09:10:00 pst From: well!pozar@lll-lcc.ARPA (Tim Pozar) Subject: Re: ARPANET Routing Non-Redundant This brings up a problem that I had with pa bell (Pacific) at the station that I work with. I had ordered a main and a back-up data (2003) line between our studios and our transmitter site. I installed a automatic switch that would flip between the lines in case of failure. Little did I know that for the most part of those lines they were routed through different C.O.s but for a kilometer section by Golden Gate Park. Amazing what a back hoe can do... I had pa bell reroute one of the lines, and installed a remote control that I can bring up through a dial-up circut. Tim Pozar UUCP pozar@well.UUCP FIDO 125/406 USNail KLOK-FM 77 Maiden Lane San Francisco CA 94108 ------------------------------ Date: 22 Dec 1986 1834-PST From: STERNLIGHT@USC-ECL.ARPA Subject: Residential Service + BBS Contrary to Tariffs in MA I think most of you are missing the point. I guess the phone company is arguing that since non-family members leave files or messages on the BBS for others to receive, the effect is as if the message leaver (non-family member) made an outgoing call from your phone to the subsequent message receiver. Although I think it's pretty shoddy of the BOC to act this way, I can see their logic. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Dec 86 21:58:35 est From: Mark D. Freeman Subject: Cheaper within an areacode? paul@seismo.CSS.GOV@devon.UUCP writes: >Will keeping bulk of long distance calls within my own areacode reduce >my phone bill as compared to having them go primarily to another >areacode (and, in this case, another state)? It is almost never true that it is cheaper to call within the same state as it is to call across state lines. It is counter-intuitive, but the feds are much stricter about granting rate increases than the states are. I can call from Ohio to New Jersey cheaper than I can call from Columbus, OH to Newark, OH. (40 miles) The local Bell gets the call, even though my primary long-distance carrier is US Sprint. What a racket... ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Dec 86 11:07:25 est From: allegra!phri!roy@seismo.CSS.GOV (Roy Smith) Subject: Directory assistance & long-distance routing Here's something I've often wondered about. When you call long distance directory assistance, after you get the number you want (either from a human operator or a digi-cording, the connection is broken and you have to dial the number yourself. Wouldn't it make more sense to just connect you with the number? They've already figured out a long distance routing for your call, all they have to do now is locally patch the call through to the right exchange and emit some tones telling the billing systems "OK, no more free message units; start billing this call the next time you see the line go off hook." If you hang up and dial again, you get to tie up all that switching equipment all over again while they figure out how to route your call from here to there once more. Granted, you don't *always* want to call a number as soon as directory assistance gives it to you, but the overwhelming majority of the time you do. Maybe you could have the recording say "The number is ...; If you need further assistance, stay on the line; If you want me to patch you through, touch "#" (or flash the switch-hook)". Here's an interesting one. I called directory assistance for (609) the other day and got a number. Usually the recording tell me "The number is ... X.X.X ... X.X..X.X (the dots and spaces indicate approximate length of pauses). This time, however, it was "X.X ... X.X ... X .. X .. X". It's amazing how deep rooted the 3-3-4 pattern of phone numbers is (well, in North America, anyway). With the different cadence, I could barely write down the digits! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Dec 86 17:08:46 PST From: Rich Wales I have some observations and questions regarding the "bar codes" which the U.S. Postal Service has been using for a while on mail. These codes are most often seen on preprinted reply envelopes and postcards (e.g., for paying bills, subscribing to magazines, etc.). Every so often, they get printed on private mail as well. First of all, for anyone who may be interested, here's a description of the code. (I figured it out in my spare time last Saturday, by looking carefully at several preprinted reply envelopes.) (1) The code consists of a succession of long and short bars (about 3mm and 1mm high, respectively), spaced about 1.2mm apart. The bottoms of the bars are lined up, which means that the long bars "stick up". (2) The first and last bars are always "long" (presumably for alignment of the reading equipment). The remaining bars are a representation of the ZIP code (either 5- or 9-digit version), plus a check digit. This means that the codes are either 32 bars long (for a 5-digit ZIP code) or 52 bars long (for a 9-digit ZIP+4 code). (3) The digits are read from left to right. Each digit is represented by five bars, using the following "two-out-of-five" code: 1 ...|| 2 ..|.| 3 ..||. 4 .|..| 5 .|.|. 6 .||.. 7 |...| 8 |..|. 9 |.|.. 0 ||... (4) A check digit is added after the ZIP code itself. Its value is cho- sen such that the sum of all the digits in the code (including the check digit) will be a multiple of 10. Note that the digits in the code are *not* weighted in any way when determining the check digit value -- it's just a straight addition. (5) It appears that the bar code is supposed to be parallel to, and the tops of the "long" bars are supposed to be within about half an inch of, the bottom edge of the envelope or postcard. I was unable to draw any more specific conclusions based on my observations. Here's an example. The ZIP+4 code on a reply postcard in one of my mag- azines was 60604-9973. Since these digits add up to 44, the check digit is a 6. |.||..||....||..||....|..||.|..|.|..|...|..||..||..| 6 0 6 0 4 9 9 7 3 6 Now, my questions. (1) Where do I find the document (for I'm sure there is one!) describing the exact specifications of this code? In particular, something that indicates the tolerances for the various measurements, how far from the bottom edge the code can be, etc.? (2) What are the regulations outlining the circumstances under which the bar codes will be, can be, or must be put on mail? (a) I'm sure all those businesses haven't put those codes on their reply envelopes out of the goodness of their hearts. And, in the case of bill envelopes, I can't even see how the companies might be benefitting from a reduction in postage -- since the bill-paying consumer still has to put a stamp on the envelope! (b) Reasonably often (but not always), I see a bar code on a private letter -- apparently put there by a dot-matrix printer. I would assume the Postal Service did this -- but why do they do it only on some envelopes and not on others? (c) With the increasing use of personal computers, it would seem to be an easy matter to write a program so that individuals could print these bar codes on their own outgoing mail. Even if this didn't earn one a reduction in postage :-}, still it might help speed up mail delivery. Has the Postal Service thought of this? -- Rich Wales // UCLA Computer Science Department // +1 213-825-5683 3531 Boelter Hall // Los Angeles, California 90024 // USA wales@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU ...!(ucbvax,sdcrdcf,ihnp4)!ucla-cs!wales "Sir, there is a multilegged creature crawling on your shoulder." ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 19 Dec 86 9:30:17 CST From: Will Martin -- AMXAL-RI Subject: British Telephone Theft-of-Service Here's a segment of a posting that just appeared in the RISKS Digest that should be of interest to the Telecom readership: Date: Thu 18 Dec 86 11:25:17-PST From: Peter G. Neumann Subject: EXTRA! British Telecom pay phone Phonecard broken? To: RISKS@CSL.SRI.COM Britain is currently just at the tip of an iceberg regarding an apparent vulnerability in its debit cards for British Telecom pay phones. The debit cards can be purchased from all sorts of shops, and come in a range of denominations such as 5, 10, 40, or 100 calling units. The system has been in use for a year or two, and card pay phones are both widely accessible and very popular. (If you've ever tried to use coins in a London call box, you know that it is quite an experience.) My best guess is that it has a holographic stripe, and that a destructive write is used effectively to burn out a part of the hologram corresponding to each message unit -- making it difficult to ADD units to the card. Unfortunately, a relatively simple doctoring of the card has been discovered that threatens the whole scheme, and makes a card indefinitely reusable [at least until the system is either modified or withdrawn]. An article appeared as the front-page lead story in The Sunday Post (West Scotland?), 14 December 1986, with the banner headline "DIAL WORLD WIDE FOR NOTHING -- TELECOM HIT BY 'PHONE FRAUD'". The article notes that the trick was discovered by a British soldier "fed up with paying a fortune to call his Scottish girlfriend". The word is now spreading around British troops, and can be expected to be widely known in a very short time. (The newspaper states that they know how it is done, and have proved that it works. It cites a variety of calls that they were able to make without any debit to their card.) The consequences of the propagation of this trick are awesome to contemplate. The system was presumably billed as "foolproof". But "foolproof" is not good enough against intelligence -- although it should be pointed out that the card is not a smart-card in the usual sense. There is no user identification number required, and no use of encryption. The AT&T credit card number seems somewhat safer, as it is quickly revocable on an individual basis. On the other hand, the convenience of the BT phone card is certainly appealing. [Following portion was "RISKS"-specific, so has been deleted - WM] ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ********************* 29-Dec-86 22:32:34-EST,15506;000000000000 Return-Path: Received: from XX.LCS.MIT.EDU by XX.LCS.MIT.EDU with TCP; Mon 29 Dec 86 22:32:32-EST Date: 29 Dec 86 21:25-EST From: Moderator Subject: TELECOM Digest V5 #161 To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Reply-To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU TELECOM Digest Monday, December 29, 1986 9:25PM Volume 5, Issue 161 Today's Topics: Directory assistance & long-distance routing ISDN Re: British Phone Phraud Assuring redundancy Railphone / Airphone More Hold Circuit ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 24 Dec 86 00:15:06 EST From: jsol@buit1.bu.edu Subject: Directory assistance & long-distance routing I believe that Directory Assistance uses special trunks to complete and there are only a fixed number of those trunks. Getting you to hang up and dial the number yourself causes you to use one of their normal trunks which they have far more of ... --jsol ------------------------------ Subject: ISDN Date: Wed, 24 Dec 86 08:09:48 PST From: David G. Cantor The articles about ISDN (Integrated Service Data Network) are appearing fast and furious. Yet I have seen little discussion of its potential impact. It appears that the service will appear, to the small user, as two 64 kilobit-per-second (kbps) full-duplex channels and one 16 kbps full-duplex channel on each ordinary telephone line. One of the 64 kbps channels would normally be used for voice, although it could be used for data. The 16 kbps channel would be used for both signaling (presumably replacing touch tone, etc.) and data while the other 64 kbps channel would be entirely for data. For large users, many more channels would be provided on one pair, but these would be compatible with the above. Though the exact configuration has yet to be determined (part of the standards-setting still taking place -- the delay is apparently due to the differences between the North American and European networks). The telephone companies (BOC's and long distance services in the USA, PTT's in Europe, etc.) would provide the switching for these services. It seems that if this service were provided at a reasonable price and if some reasonable sort of device that would permit RS232 to connect to these channels were provided, then the current "audio-frequency" modems would soon be obsolete. More than that, if the interface chips were widely available and reasonably priced, the standard ISDN interface could easily come to replace RS232 as the standard terminal interface. Advantages would be the higher speed that could be used and a more modern protocol (though I have yet to see the detailed specs). However, judging by past experience, one might expect the telephone companies to "kill the golden goose", most likely by so overpricing the service that modem users won't want to switch. For example, one might expect that there would not be a flat-rate service (given the opposition to such services by BOC's), such as that which is currently provided to many modem users. Even a "small" charge (5 cents/minutes) could mount up quite rapidly. There are many other potential pitfalls. With any of them, the service could die and we could be stuck with the present system for another 25 years. How should such a service be priced? What kind of performance guarantees can we expect in terms of error rate, reliability, and delays? What kind of protocols will it use? Will control be as easy as the present system, which can be handled by simple intelligent modems (Hayes compatible, etc.)? Will there be a wide availability of the interface chips and will these be useful for direct terminal to computer connection (without going through the telephone system)? Will services such as TRW credit (which use automatic dialers and modems to validate credit cards) quickly switch to the new service? Will it replace slow-speed networks such as arpanet (why share the 64kbps arpanet when you can have your own direct line just as fast)? Wil there be "airline" style pricing where, highly-competitive, heavily travelled routes, e.g., Los Angeles-New York have much lower prices than much shorter, lightly travelled routes? (This hasn't happened yet on long-distance services, though I don't know why.) dgc David G. Cantor Internet: dgc@cs.ucla.edu UUCP: ...!{ihnp4, randvax, sdcrdcf, ucbvax}!ucla-cs!dgc ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 24 Dec 86 09:20:36 pst To: Telecom@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU Subject: Bar Codes on U.S. Mail Date: Tue, 16 Dec 86 17:08:46 PST From: Rich Wales I have some observations and questions regarding the "bar codes" which the U.S. Postal Service has been using for a while on mail. These codes are most often seen on preprinted reply envelopes and postcards (e.g., for paying bills, subscribing to magazines, etc.). Every so often, they get printed on private mail as well. First of all, for anyone who may be interested, here's a description of the code. (I figured it out in my spare time last Saturday, by looking carefully at several preprinted reply envelopes.) . . . [description omitted] (2) What are the regulations outlining the circumstances under which the bar codes will be, can be, or must be put on mail? (a) I'm sure all those businesses haven't put those codes on their reply envelopes out of the goodness of their hearts. And, in the case of bill envelopes, I can't even see how the companies might be benefitting from a reduction in postage -- since the bill-paying consumer still has to put a stamp on the envelope! Doesn't seem unreasonable that a special rate exist for bill mailings where the reply envelope has barcodes. It would be more expensive than junk mail, but cheaper than ordinary presorted first class. (b) Reasonably often (but not always), I see a bar code on a private letter -- apparently put there by a dot-matrix printer. I would assume the Postal Service did this -- but why do they do it only on some envelopes and not on others? Are the zip codes particularly legible or illegible on the envelopes that have the codes? See my thoughts on (c) (c) With the increasing use of personal computers, it would seem to be an easy matter to write a program so that individuals could print these bar codes on their own outgoing mail. Even if this didn't earn one a reduction in postage :-}, still it might help speed up mail delivery. Has the Postal Service thought of this? I suspect that there would be far more payoff in OCR of typewritten zip codes. I understand this is already done to a limited extent. -dick ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 24 Dec 86 13:07:24 EST From: Michael Grant Subject: Re: British Phone Phraud I have seen one of these cards. The card is the size of a credit card, made of thin metal. A number like 5, 10, 20 units is printed on the front. Also, on the front in a band that is placed about where the magnetic strip on a credit card is, if you look closly, you can see tiny squares protruding from the surface, one square for each unit that the card is worth. The hack is probebly something like scratching one of these squares. They do not appear to be holograms. They remind me of the same sort of material that is used in book stores to stop book theft. -Mike ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 25 Dec 86 20:38:33 pst From: Michael C. Berch Subject: Assuring redundancy Will Martin writes: > [. . .] However, as I > understand the tarriffs and how the long-line vendors sell their > circuits to users, there is little, if anything, that a buyer could do > to prevent the vendor from changing the physical circuits "behind" the > logical or virtual circuit you are buying and eliminating physical > redundancy that the customer thought he had. That is, you could design a > network, and buy circuits, with actual physical redundancy for your own > protection, but the telco could at some future date "streamline" its > facilities and put your two originally-separate circuits on the same new > physical link, without your ever even knowing about it or having any > recourse or means to protest this action. Tariffs notwithstanding, I think organizations requiring physical redundancy should state the requirement in Requests for Proposal and Requests for Quotations (RFPs, RFQs). A short sentence could require that the circuits ordered be "at all times" maintained in separate conduits, routed through separate trunks, routed through different switches, carried by different transport technologies (e.g., copper, fiber, satcom), or whatever the desired stringency of the physical redundancy may be, and with whatever exceptions (e.g., circuits permitted to be co-routed within customer's premises, or between premises and CO) you can live with. Obviously, this will be expensive. Michael C. Berch ARPA: mcb@lll-tis-b.arpa UUCP: ...!lll-lcc!styx!mcb ...!lll-crg!styx!mcb ...!ihnp4!styx!mcb ------------------------------ Date: Fri 26 Dec 86 01:36:00-EST From: Doug Reuben Subject: Railphone / Airphone Hello everyone, and Happy Holidays! I posted this on the railroad board about a recent trip on the Metroliner between Washington, D.C. and New York. I think it may be of some interest to Telecom readerd as well, so here goes: Railphone is a telephone service presently available on Amtrak Metroliners, in the New York to Washington D.C. corridor. They look like Bell System Charge-a-Calls (the blue phones you can't put coins in), and are located in the Amcafe and in the Coach sections of Metroliner trains. (In the coach cars, they took out one of the lounges with the 2 seats that are near the bathrooms and made it into a phone booth.) To use them, you insert a credit card, and dial your call just like any regular call. The rates are $5 for the first minute, and $1 for each additional. (Which is less than the ship-to-shore rates that are normally charged for services like Airphone, which cost $7.50 for the first 3 minutes, but where each additional minute is $1.50 . Thus, any Railphone call is cheaper than an Airphone call.) The connections are excellent!! Just like cellular is supposed to be. I heard the people on the other end just like it was a regular call, and the only problem was the noise from the train (the Metroliners go pretty fast) which created a background noise, but that really wasn't a major problem. Since the phones are only available on Metroliners, I guess that you can only use them between New Haven and Washington. When I first saw the Railphone map in September, the only areas that were serviced were from New York to Washington. Last week, they had added Stamford, and the map seems to indicate that it goes to New Haven, although New Haven isn't specifically drawn on the map. However, since most Metroliners don't go to New Haven (I think one each way during weekdays and maybe two on Sundays , or something like that...), further extension North of New York doesn't seem to be very necessary, unless, of course, they are planning to install Railphone on commuter lines and/or regular Amtrak Service. I believe the same company that operates Airphone also operates Railphone, since the logos are the same. Railphone does have periods where it is "blacked-out" (i.e., in tunnels), although I have managed to talk even while in a tunnel outside of Baltimore. In the event that you do get disconnected, they will re-connect you for no additional charge. Overall, Railphone is an effective and worthwhile service that I wish would be placed on other trains as well. Now if only Airphone could be as good....! Does anyone know how Railphone works? Is it a cellular system? If not, what accounts for its remarkable clarity? Also, how do they check to see if your credit card is good? (You slide a credit card through the phone to start calling, like on Airphone) After I slid my card through, I received a Dial Tone almost immediately, which seems too soon to check to see if the card is valid or if I have sufficient funds to cover the cost of my calls. Also, what sort of system is Airphone? And how does it compare with Railphone? (ie, means of transmission, billing, available channels, etc). Well, any comments and/or answers would be helpful. Thanks! -Doug REUBEN@WESLYN.BITNET S.D-REUBEN%KLA.WESLYN@WESLEYAN.BITNET S.D-REUBEN%KLA.WESLYN%WESLEYAN.BITNET@WISCVM.ARPA ------------------------------ Date: Sun 28 Dec 86 17:22:12-EST From: Doug Reuben Subject: More Hold Circuit Recently there have been a few posts about how to build an inexpensive "hold" circuit for home extensions so that you can place one extension on hold, hang up, and then pick up some other extension phone and continue the conversation. However, it occurred to me, rather than get a whole lot of devices to do this, why not get just one, and use the extra wiring in the phone lines to "connect" the device to all the phones. Lets say you have 4 extensions. If you were to get a hold circuit for each one of them it would get pretty expensive. However, if have the 3 or 4 wire phone lines in your house, you could install just ONE hold circuit. The red and green wires (on 4 wire systems) are the only ones that are usually used. (The black and yellow might be used to light up the dials of phones like Trimlines and Princesses so if you want the keep the light this wont work well). This leaves the black and yellow wires completely free, and these are the wires to use. On three wire systems, there is only one free wire, and the other two are used for the phone circuit. Therefore, one of the active phone circuit wires would have to be used, but this shouldn't create much of a problem. Install the hold circuit anywhere along the phone line to the red and green wires. Then, instead of connecting a toggle switch to the hold unit itself, connect the two wires for the toggle switch to the black and yellow wires. Now, at every location that you want a hold feature, connect a toggle switch between the black and yellow wires. This should be a lot cheaper than purchasing individual units for each phone, and is probably more convenient to install as well. Personally, if you have Touch Tone phones, I strongly favor the Tone Hold device, but this is a good alternative if you have rotary or mixed Tone/rotary service. -Doug REUBEN@WESLYN.BITNET S.D-REUBEN%KLA.WESLYN@WESLEYAN.BITNET S.D-REUBEN%KLA.WESLYN%WESLEYAN.BITNET@WISCVM.ARPA (and probably a lot of other ways too...!!) ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest *********************