32 Years of the Digest ... founded August 21, 1981

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The Telecom Digest for January 22, 2014
Volume 33 : Issue 16 : "text" Format
Messages in this Issue:
Wall plug wires? (Bit Twister)
Re: Wall plug wires? (tlvp)
Re: Wall plug wires? (Bit Twister)
Re: Wall plug wires? (Retired)
Re: AT&T's Sponsored Data is bad for the internet, the economy, and you (Barry Margolin)
Deutsche Telekom Says T-Mobile Value Back to AT&T Deal Level (Bill Horne)
Double digits problem with at&t U-verse (Bill Horne)
Ripoff nation: How Verizon and AT&T stacked the deck against cellphone users (Monty Solomon)
Target Hackers Wrote Partly in Russian, Displayed High Skill, Report Finds (Monty Solomon)

====== 32 years of TELECOM Digest -- Founded August 21, 1981 ======

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Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2014 10:51:55 +0000 (UTC) From: Bit Twister <invalid@anonymous-poster.com> To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org. Subject: Wall plug wires? Message-ID: <slrnldskab.fsf.BitTwister@wb.home.test> What I want to do is replace the telco wire with a connection to a Cisco SPA122 connected to a cable modem for VOIP for a friend. That way [my friend] can get a land line phone number from [redacted] for $25 a year, pay .007 cents a minute for in/outbound calls and remove that monthly land line phone bill and [his] alarm company would still be able to get any alarm from the alarm equipment. The problem is, I fear the house alarm controller might be in series between the telco line and the wall sockets. Let's say there are 4 wires on an inside phone wall plug, red, green, black, yellow. What [are] the yellow and black wires for? Assuming red/green are the wires for my phone number, which color would be for tip according to code and which side of the wall plate should it be connected? Same question for the black/yellow wires. If the alarm controller is in parallel with the wall sockets, all I would have to do is remove the telco line from the junction box and plug the SPA telephone socket to the wall plate. If alarm controller is in series, I am hoping to use the yellow/black to get back to the outside wall junction box with a little cross over block between the SPA122 and the wall plug. That way I do not have to string a wire to the junction box from inside the house. Little tab on wall plate socket is pointing down. ***** Moderator's Note ***** 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 / / / / / / / / / ! (S.A.D.I.S.T. reading)(1) I think the yellow and black wires should be connected to 120V and applied to the problem. OK, let's have some fun: the yellow and black wires are used for A. S.A.D.I.S.T. system power B. Power Over Sneakernet C. Doorbell D. Coin-collect Bill (1.) Smurf Advertising Detection, Interdiction, Slowdown, and Termination system Bill Horne Moderator
Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2014 18:09:47 -0500 From: tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org. Subject: Re: Wall plug wires? Message-ID: <257xygyopen1.1wlcokn2mx3iq.dlg@40tude.net> On Tue, 21 Jan 2014 10:51:55 +0000 (UTC), Bit Twister wrote: > ... The problem is, I fear the house alarm controller might be in series > between the telco line and the wall sockets. > > Let's say there are 4 wires on an inside phone wall plug, red, green, > black, yellow. What [are] the yellow and black wires for? On an old Princess phone here, red/green are ring/tip and yellow/black are for 6 VAC (from a Bell Co. wall-wart) for illuminating the phone's lamps. > Assuming red/green are the wires for my phone number, which color > would be for tip according to code and which side of the wall plate > should it be connected? Same question for the black/yellow wires. According to the wikipedia page / anchor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registered_jack#Powered_version_of_RJ11 : : Pins 2 and 5 (black and yellow) may carry low voltage AC or DC power. : While the phone line itself (tip and ring) supplies enough power for most : telephone terminals, old telephone instruments with incandescent dial : lights in them (such as the classic Western Electric Princess and Trimline : telephone models) needed different voltages than the phone line supplies. : Typically, the power on Pins 2 and 5 came from a transformer plugged into : a power outlet near one jack, wired to supply power to just that telephone : (or to all of the jacks in the house, depending on local ... practices). I'd be very shocked to learn the yellow/black were meant for 120 VAC ... very shocked indeed (double entendre intended) :-) . Cheers, -- tlvp -- Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP.
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2014 04:08:40 +0000 (UTC) From: Bit Twister <invalid@anonymous-poster.com> To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org. Subject: Re: Wall plug wires? Message-ID: <slrnlduh28.9lb.BitTwister@wb.home.test> ******************************************************************* * Moderator Request * * * * If you want your post published anonymously, please put the * * "[anonymous]" tag in your subject line, and send your post * * from a valid email address! If I can't confirm that * * you're a real person, I won't take your post seriously! * * * * Please read the F.A.Q. for more info on this! * ******************************************************************* On Tue, 21 Jan 2014 18:09:47 -0500, tlvp wrote: > > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registered_jack#Powered_version_of_RJ11 > : Outstanding link. Thank you. Other research has indicated the black/yellow from the telephone pole is for a second circuit. I assume all current wall socket pins are all connected in parallel and to use the second circuit at a particular phone I would have to move/jumper the black/yellow wires to the Tip/Ring (red/green) pins on that particular socket. If that assumption is correct I will not have to snake any wire back to the outside junction box. :) This research is for the possibility that a friend's house alarm is wired in series between telco and house wiring. If alarm is in parallel, nothing has to be done except remove telco drop, plug Cisco SPA122 into wall socket and alarm and other phones would be running through the SPA122. If alarm is in series I have to get SPA122 tip/ring back to junction box. In that case I think I can get away by using black/yellow pair. :) In either case he will be able to drop that monthly phone bill to around $30 a year.
Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2014 22:15:40 -0500 From: Retired <Retired@home.com> To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org. Subject: Re: Wall plug wires? Message-ID: <prKdnYkb_rhAqkLPnZ2dnUVZ_oOdnZ2d@giganews.com> On 1/21/14, 6:09 PM, tlvp wrote: > On Tue, 21 Jan 2014 10:51:55 +0000 (UTC), Bit Twister wrote: > >> ... The problem is, I fear the house alarm controller might be in series >> between the telco line and the wall sockets. >> >> Let's say there are 4 wires on an inside phone wall plug, red, green, >> black, yellow. What [are] the yellow and black wires for? > > On an old Princess phone here, red/green are ring/tip and yellow/black are > for 6 VAC (from a Bell Co. wall-wart) for illuminating the phone's lamps. > >> Assuming red/green are the wires for my phone number, which color >> would be for tip according to code and which side of the wall plate >> should it be connected? Same question for the black/yellow wires. > > According to the wikipedia page / anchor > > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registered_jack#Powered_version_of_RJ11 > : > > : Pins 2 and 5 (black and yellow) may carry low voltage AC or DC power. > : While the phone line itself (tip and ring) supplies enough power for most > : telephone terminals, old telephone instruments with incandescent dial > : lights in them (such as the classic Western Electric Princess and Trimline > : telephone models) needed different voltages than the phone line supplies. > : Typically, the power on Pins 2 and 5 came from a transformer plugged into > : a power outlet near one jack, wired to supply power to just that telephone > : (or to all of the jacks in the house, depending on local ... practices). > > I'd be very shocked to learn the yellow/black were meant for 120 VAC ... > very shocked indeed (double entendre intended) :-) . Cheers, -- tlvp > The Y/B pair could also be used for: RJ-14 = 2 pots lines in one jack RJ-48 = Receive pair of a 4 wire T-1/DS-1 circuit or subrate DDS Receive pair of a 4 wire analog modem circuit (Type 3002)
Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2014 11:00:07 -0500 From: Barry Margolin <barmar@alum.mit.edu> To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org. Subject: Re: AT&T's Sponsored Data is bad for the internet, the economy, and you Message-ID: <barmar-1A7CEC.11000721012014@news.eternal-september.org> In article <lbkgil$v76$1@dont-email.me>, Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net> wrote: > Here's just a simple example: right now you can rent Elysium from both > Apple and Google for $4.99. In addition to the amount you'll pay to rent > the movie, streaming that movie over mobile broadband will also > obviously count against your data plan, an additional cost that you pay > monthly to carriers like AT&T. Sponsored Data allows companies to > eliminate that extra charge by paying AT&T directly, so if Apple wanted > to stick it to Google, it could subsidize Elysium rentals and advertise > that renting the movie from iTunes won't hit your data cap. If Apple wants to "stick it" to Google, couldn't they just lower the price of the movie? It's just a different pool of money, but it nets out the same. In practice, I expect there will be more of a tradeoff. When you get "sponsored" data, you'll have to sit through commercials instead of paying data rates. -- Barry Margolin, barmar@alum.mit.edu Arlington, MA *** PLEASE post questions in newsgroups, not directly to me ***
Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2014 20:44:02 -0500 From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net> To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org. Subject: Deutsche Telekom Says T-Mobile Value Back to AT&T Deal Level Message-ID: <lbkjd3$d46$1@dont-email.me> Deutsche Telekom Says T-Mobile Value Back to AT&T Deal Level By Cornelius Rahn Jan 20, 2014 Deutsche Telekom AG has recouped its investment in T-Mobile US Inc., with an increase of the unit's value compensating for a 7.4 billion-euro ($10 billion) writedown on the asset in 2012, according to the German company's chief executive officer. Rest at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-19/deutsche-telekom-says-t-mobile-value-returns-to-at-t-deal-levels.html -or- http://goo.gl/B5i5uM -- Bill Horne (Remove QRM from my address to write to me directly) Scarecrows dressed in the latest styles With frozen smiles to chase love away Human kindness is overflowing And I think it's going to rain today - Randy Newman
Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2014 20:24:29 -0500 From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net> To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org. Subject: Double digits problem with at&t U-verse Message-ID: <lbki8e$7u6$1@dont-email.me> Double digits With AT&T U-verse voice, I'm experiencing what I call a "double digits" problem. When I dial an 800 number automated service, such as my bank or conference call bridge, and enter my PIN digits, the host is recognizing duplicate digits. Example: if my PIN is 123, the host recognizes "112233". This has been an intermittent problem over the past several weeks. I've rebooted my gateway, used different handsets, and connected the handset directly to the gateway (eliminating the house wiring). I've contacted U-verse support, but they have been unable to diagnose the problem. Does anyone have any suggestions? Internet service is operating normally. I do not have U-verse TV service. Rest at: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r28965123-Double-digits (I suggest any replies be copied to the DSLREPORTS forum) -- Bill Horne (Remove QRM from my address to write to me directly) If it isn't a war, it's some gruesome disease. If it isn't disease, then it's war. But there's worse still to come, and I'm asking you, please, How the world's gonna take any more. - Tom Paxton
Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2014 20:49:00 -0500 From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com> To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org. Subject: Ripoff nation: How Verizon and AT&T stacked the deck against cellphone users Message-ID: <p06240812cf04d3d01ab8@[172.16.42.4]> Ripoff nation: How Verizon and AT&T stacked the deck against cellphone users Heads they win. Tails you lose LYNN STUART PARRAMORE, ALTERNET JAN 10, 2014 If you live in America, there's a good chance you've not been overjoyed by your wireless plan. Simply by using a device essential to your daily life, you have been screwed. Let us count the ways. If you overestimate how many voice minutes, text messages and data usage you need, you get screwed. If you underestimate, you also get screwed. If you have a contract, you get screwed if the service ends up being bad. If you don't have a contract, you may find that a company can suddenly raise prices, and so you may get screwed there, too. Studying your bill often reveals still more ways you have been screwed. Did someone with a foreign number text you? Unlucky you! Did you download a ringtone thinking it was free? Oops! You're screwed. Your bill is a maze of fees: activation fees, upgrade fees, early-termination fees, 411 fees, mysterious third-party fees, fees no one can understand. Customer service is mostly a joke. Why is this happening to you? Because of a game called Oligopoly. ... http://www.salon.com/2014/01/10/ripoff_nation_how_verizon_and_att_stacked_the_deck_against_cell_phone_users_partner/ ***** Moderator's Note ***** After all these years of preaching in the wilderness, It seems I have a disciple ... Bill Horne Moderator
Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2014 20:56:36 -0500 From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com> To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org. Subject: Target Hackers Wrote Partly in Russian, Displayed High Skill, Report Finds Message-ID: <p06240815cf04d5777dc4@[172.16.42.4]> Target Hackers Wrote Partly in Russian, Displayed High Skill, Report Finds Hacking Campaign Appears Broad, Sophisticated and Against Many Retailers By DANNY YADRON CONNECT Jan. 16, 2014 The holiday data breach at Target Corp. TGT -1.73% appeared to be part of a broad and highly sophisticated international hacking campaign against multiple retailers, according to a report prepared by federal and private investigators that was sent to financial-services companies and retailers. The report offers some of the first details to emerge about the source of the attack that compromised 40 million credit- and debit-card accounts and personal data for 70 million people. It also provided further evidence the attack on Target during peak holiday shopping was part of a concerted effort by skilled hackers. Parts of the malicious computer code used against Target's credit-card readers had been on the Internet's black market since last spring and were partly written in Russian, people familiar with the report said. Both details suggest the attack may have ties to organized crime in the former Soviet Union, former U.S. officials said. ... http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304419104579324902602426862 ***** Moderator's Note ***** I think the Russian mafia wanted to mix the numbers in with valid transactions from the olympic games. It's a perfect opportunity to create high-value transacations and disappear. Bill Horne Moderator
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