From editor@telecom-digest.org Tue Aug 31 19:22:19 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.6) id i7VNMIV00638; Tue, 31 Aug 2004 19:22:19 -0400 (EDT) Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 19:22:19 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200408312322.i7VNMIV00638@massis.lcs.mit.edu> X-Authentication-Warning: massis.lcs.mit.edu: ptownson set sender to editor@telecom-digest.org using -f To: ptownson Approved: patsnewlist Subject: TELECOM Digest V23 #406 TELECOM Digest Tue, 31 Aug 2004 19:17:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 406 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson PBX, NBX? (Calvin) Spoofing Caller-ID (Jack Adams) Re: Handset Tester (Justin Time) Re: Specific Telephone Numbers (Nathan Strom) Verizon "Fios" FTTH network (was Verizon Cable TV?) (Neal McLain) Latest NorVergence Bankruptcy Hearing News (8/26/04)? (Satchel Paige) Re: VOIP Connects Workers as They Flee Convention Site (Isaiah Beard) Re: Phone Card Inquiry (Isaiah Beard) Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 (Sam Etler) Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 (Jack Adams) Re: Caller ID Falsification Service (Sent by a Gnu) (T. Sean Weintz) Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service (Thomas A. Horsley) Re: Last Laugh! A Visit to Doctor's Office (DevilsPGD) All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other journals or newsgroups, provided the writer's name and the Digest are included in the fair use quote. By using -any name or email address- included herein for -any- reason other than responding to an article herein, you agree to pay a hundred dollars to the recipients of the email. =========================== Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters, viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome. We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: paxsonc001@hawaii.rr.com (Calvin) Subject: PBX, NBX? Date: 31 Aug 2004 00:29:48 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com Hi all, I work for a small school and we are getting ready to upgrade our very old Meridian phone system to something a bit newer ... however we are having a tough time deciding what to use. Are there any good websites out their that we can use as a resource to figure out some of the differences? For instance, what is the difference between an Avaya Diffinity and a Partner? What systems do viop? How does a Cisco system compare to a 3com nbx? Any guidance would be appreciated. A little about us: We are located on a 3 acre campus. We have a network running between about 12 small buildings. We want to install about 20 extensions, as well as a couple of analog cordless phones. We want to be able to use our existing network to minimize wiring costs/ maximize flexability. What else would you like to /need to know? Ask me anything and i will tell you what I can. Thanks in advance, Cal ------------------------------ From: adamsjac@telcordia.com (Jack Adams) Subject: Spoofing Caller-ID Date: 31 Aug 2004 06:22:46 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com I'm guessing that this firm uses in-band 202 signalling to "overwrite" any normal CLID message that's been launched from ISUP. Technically, it isn't a big deal. It's been a while since I knew what was required but if memory serves this is prohibited under some sort of law? I recall that this was not permitted but I don't know for sure if it was for legal or regulatory reasons. Then again, all of this seems to be fair game these days. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/30/caller_id_falsify/ ------------------------------ From: a_user2000@yahoo.com (Justin Time) Subject: Re: Handset Tester Date: 31 Aug 2004 06:49:00 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com google@bathfordhill.co.uk (Ian) wrote in message news:: > Joe Elichaa wrote in message > news:: >> I am looking for a real good handset tester that will measure values >> and be able to compare these values to other handsets. Does anybody >> know of such device? Thank you, Joe > Ok; what values? > Do you mean sound ? > If so are you looking at bandwidth or quality? > Basically though a signal generator, speaker, Mic and Scope will do > the job. > Ian I have a dog that can give your handsets a good reliability test. He loves to chew things. Rodgers Platt ------------------------------ From: nstrom@ananzi.co.za (Nathan Strom) Subject: Re: Specific Telephone Numbers Date: 31 Aug 2004 07:28:40 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com curious11112001@yahoo.com (Curious) wrote in message news:: > I'm looking for TDD [not TTY] numbers, fax numbers, and dial-up modem > numbers in: > 1. Stamford, Connecticut I'm not sure why you want them, but there are tons of fax numbers in Stamford (area code 203), as it's a very business-oriented city. Try: http://www.google.com/search?q=stamford+203+fax and double check with http://www.fonefinder.net to make sure that it's actually a Stamford exchange. The incumbent carrier is SBC, formerly SNET. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 16:06:26 -0500 From: Neal McLain Subject: Verizon "Fios" FTTH network (was Verizon Cable TV?) Lisa Hancock (hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com) in TD V23#404 wrote: > The Phila Inqr (www.philly.com) had an article on this in > general. I assume the article you're referring to is "Cable's new rival: Phone lines" by Wendy Tanaka . > It stated that one change is that the new cabling will run > fibre right to the house, cable uses fibre to the neighborhood > only, then coax to the house (which is how cable serves my > area). That's why it's called FTTP (fiber to the premises) or FTTH (fiber to the home). Monte Solomon posted an article about this network in TD V23#340 ("Verizon Fios - Fiber-to-the-Premises Network") . > Given the price gouging, poor reliability, and community > disrespect by the cable company, I am looking forward to > Verizon's service offering. > How this will work out for the consumer in terms of quality and > price remains to be seen. It's very possible that competition > will lower cable's price, but only slightly since Verizon will > want to make big profits too and not go too far down in a price > war. Or that Verizon's video service will incur many of the same costs that cable companies face: - Copyright royalty fees: 1% to 2% of basic-tier revenue. - Programming license fees: 25% to 35% of upper-tier revenue. - Franchise fees: 6% to 7% of total revenue. - Free channel capacity for public-, educational-, and government-access facilities. - Support for whatever other fancy goodies (color studios, I-net, free basic service for schools and municipal buildings) that the LFA originally extracted from the incumbent cable company. Barring changes in federal law, these costs will apply even if Verizon uses the IPTV technology that Danny Burstein described in footnote [a] of his post in TD V23#394 . Which is, of course, precisely why Verizon is trying to get federal law changed. Verizon Vice Chairman and President Lawrence Babbio advocates the following: "... Wireline telephone companies that offer video as part of broadband services should not have to obtain cable franchises in every local jurisdiction, since they already have the right of way to deploy networks. Revenue needs of local governments can be met without the delay and red tape inherent in the franchising process. "Adopt a national policy that pre-empts other levels of government. Local jurisdictional borders do not apply to the realm of the Internet. Current policy subjects investments to the conflicting agendas and interpretations of regulatory agencies at every level of government." Source: Verizon News Release "Verizon Taking Lead to Transform Telecommunications Industry, Bring Technology Benefits to Consumers." Aug. 24, 2004. . Eliminating local-franchise requirements would definitely lower Verizon's costs. But you can rest assured that the cable industry will oppose any regulatory relief for telcos unless they get the same relief. Verizon's FIOS system in Keller, Texas is now up and running. One of its first subscribers has posted some pictures of the install at . Neal McLain nmclain@annsgarden.com ------------------------------ From: dor@writeme.com (Satchel Paige) Subject: Latest NorVergence Bankruptcy Hearing News (8/26/04)? Date: 31 Aug 2004 12:01:34 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com Does anyone have information or links to what latest actions were taken at NorVergence's most recent U.S. Bankruptcy hearing in Newark, New Jersey? I believe the date of the most recent hearing was on August 26, 2004. ------------------------------ From: Isaiah Beard Subject: Re: VOIP Connects Workers as They Flee Convention Site Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 11:13:56 -0400 Lisa Hancock wrote in message news:telecom23.404.9@telecom-digest.org: > Jack Decker wrote: >> And why is this a good thing? Because you can take your IP phone or >> the soft phone running on your laptop, plug it in to any broadband >> tap .... > _Any_ broadband tap? Wouldn't it have to have sufficient capacity and > reliability to transmit voice in an acceptable manner and reliability? I agree with Pat. If the connection is not reliable enough or fails to supply sufficient bandwidth, then by definition it is not broadband. > When you're not at home, who pays for public broadband taps? That's up to you and the person or entity supplying the connection. I know quite a few hotels that offer in-room broadband connections as a courtesy (others charge an additional fee on top of the room rental, but if you carefully plan your travel you'll realize they're ripping you off). There are also wireless connections that are public; some are free, some charge a fee. Regardless, if I'm going to be using such a connection, then I'll take my VoIP phone with me and have it available for my use, just as if I was at home. ------------------------------ From: Isaiah Beard Subject: Re: Phone Card Inquiry Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 11:15:53 -0400 I think this is part of why payphones are slowly becoming extinct. The telephone industry as a whole seems to think that when competition threteans it, it can demand more fees and higher prices. Not so. Tom Smith wrote in message news:telecom23.404.11@telecom-digest.org: > John R. Levine wrote: >>> I'm looking for a prepaid phone card to call from the US to Europe. >>> Without any payphone surcharges. What would you recommend? > Breaking news. The pay phone owners are going to get their money for > use of their phones. If some one else does not collect on their > behalf, you will pay them directly. > So you should be interested in asking for comparisons on cost > differences for payphone usage. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 13:32:42 -0500 (CDT) From: Sam Etler Subject: Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Wasn't an electronic item common in > radios and television sets specifically named after him which was > called the 'Zenner Diode'? In a brief summary, will someone tell us > what was the purpose of the 'Zenner Diode'? PAT] It's actually a Zener Diode (one 'n') and is named after Clarence Melvin Zener. Bell Labs named the diode after him since he discovered the electrical properties associated with them. A good description of Zener Diodes is located here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zener_diode sam ------------------------------ From: adamsjac@telcordia.com (Jack Adams) Subject: Re: Obituary: Walter J. Zenner, 1904-2004 Date: 31 Aug 2004 12:57:03 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com While sorry to hear of Walter Zenner's passing, I can pretty much assure Pat and others that the "Zener" diode was not named after him. Noted for it's "avalanche" effect, the diode provides a reference voltage pretty much independant of the current through the device. haynes@alumni.uark.edu (Jim Haynes) wrote in message news:: > See Who's Who in Engineering for 1940s-1950s > Chicago native Walt Zenner was a graduate of Armour Institute, now > Illinois Institute of Technology. He worked for Teletype Corp. from > 1925 until he retired in 1965, when he was V.P. of R&D. Then he > co-founded Extel. > This is an obituary from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for Walt > Zenner who passed away on August 27 at the age of 100. > Zenner, Walter J. > Publication Date: August 29, 2004 > Born in Chicago February 21, 1904, passed away august 27, 2004. > Survived by his wife, Lois A. (nee Martin) Zenner; sons, John "Jack" > (Diana) Zenner and Tom Zenner; daughters, Mary (Harold) Webster and > Chris (Larry) Litwin; 11 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. He > was preceded in death by his first wife, Mildred in 1975. Mr. Zenner > was an inventor of communication products covered by 115 US patents > and was vice president of research and development of Teletype Corp. > from 1928 to 1964. He was also co-founder and chairman of Extel Corp. > an early manufacturer of both dot matrix and ink jet printers of his > design. Friends may visit on Monday from 4 to 8PM at the Funeral Home > and on Tuesday from 1PM until time Funeral Servcie 2PM at First > Congregational Church in Mukwonago (231 Roberts Dr., Mukwonago). > Burial Wednesday 1PM at Mt. Emblem Cemetery, Elmhurst, IL. Memorials > to First Congregational Church of Mukwonago or Kiwanis Manor in East > Troy. > SCHMIDT & BARTELT > VAN VALIN > Funeral and Cremation Service > 315 Main St. (Hwy ES) Mukwonago > jhhaynes at earthlink dot net > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Wasn't an electronic item common in > radios and television sets specifically named after him which was > called the 'Zenner Diode'? In a brief summary, will someone tell us > what was the purpose of the 'Zenner Diode'? PAT] ------------------------------ From: T. Sean Weintz Subject: Re: Caller ID Falsification Service (Sent by a Gnu) Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 15:48:43 -0400 Organization: Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com PAT wrote: > Now imagine for a minute if you *did* return those absolutely wicked, > nosy, spying phone calls to (a) claim your 'prize' or (b) meet the > person who had been 'flirting' with you but you returned the call via > this new web site phalsification service and gave your caller ID > blast as 202-456-1414 or whatever. But this new web site costs money > for your phalse ID calls; why should you have to pay for the service > when you could use your FWD/Pulver phone (which can call USA toll > frees and gives an NYC 212 number for the caller-ID blast.) Wheeee! > And a good time was had by all. PAT Most of these numbers are 800 (or 877, etc.) numbers that have ANI for number identification. The new service will spoof caller ID, but will NOT spoof ANI. What they will see on the ANI info will be the billing number of the spoofing service, not the number you gave the spoofing service to use for spoofing. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: In any event it won't give my actual ANI or caller ID, which is what I would be concerned about. PAT] ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Website Offers Caller I.D. Falsification Service From: tom.horsley@att.net (Thomas A. Horsley) Organization: AT&T Worldnet Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 21:47:55 GMT > Slated for launch next week, Star38.com would offer subscribers a > simple Web interface to a Caller I.D. spoofing system that lets them > appear to be calling from any number they choose. "It creates an extra > avenue for them to have someone pick up the phone," says founder Jason > Jepson. Excellent! In no time at all, Caller ID will be absolutely useless, then the phone companies will start giving away the service instead of charging extra for it so the folks who make caller ID boxes and phones can unload all their hardware just before they stop supporting caller ID completely :-). (And I'll have lived through the whole era without ever having caller ID :-). >>==>> The *Best* political site >>==+ email: Tom.Horsley@worldnet.att.net icbm: Delray Beach, FL | Free Software and Politics <<==+ ------------------------------ From: DevilsPGD Subject: Re: Last Laugh! A Visit to Doctor's Office Reply-To: bond-jamesbond@crazyhat.net Organization: EasyNews, UseNet made Easy! Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 06:59:50 GMT In message Lisa Minter wrote: > "And what is wrong with your ear, sir?" > "I can't piss out of it," the man replied. > The doctor's office erupted in laughter. ROFL. Off topic, but cute. Thanks! 'Tis far better to have snipped too much than to never have snipped at all. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I thought it was cute also, and although Lisa Minter did not make a good editor for this Digest, she has had a few excellent stories for Last Laugh! items now and then. PAT] ------------------------------ TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of networks such as Compuserve and America On Line, Yahoo Groups, and other forums. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents of the Digest are compilation-copyrighted. You may reprint articles in some other media on an occasional basis, but please attribute my work and that of the original author. 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