HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Date: Wed, 03 Sep 1992 03:25:29 GMT
From: cgordon@vpnet.chi.il.us (gordon hlavenka)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Cell Phones in the Air
Organization: Vpnet Public Access
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 681, Message 7 of 14

> ... This led me to think about the movie Die Hard II where air
> phones figure prominently in the plot. In some sequence, our hero gets
> paged by his wife from a plane, he checks the pager and calls her back
> on the plane.  Is this possible or some Hollywood license?

Exactly.  No uplink calling on Airfone.  Never had it.  Possibly never
will, for political rather than technical reasons.  Imagine an
insurance salesman or 12-year-old prankster (or terrorist!) calling up
to random airplanes. Now try and find a _cost-effective_ way to
prevent these calls.

Incidentally, a comment WRT the base post here: The main reason that
you aren't supposed to use your cellphone in flight is that it will
clobber _every cell_ in the ground network. (Line-of-sight from 30,000
feet ...)  Kinda screws up the frequency reuse scheme.


Gordon S. Hlavenka   cgordon@vpnet.chi.il.us
Date: Tue, 01 Sep 1992 12:01:13 GMT
From: saitowit@underdog.ee.wits.ac.za (SAITOWITZ L S)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Telecom Using Power Lines
Organization: Wits Electrical Engineering (Undergrads).
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 678, Message 6 of 11

Hi, just a quick question, has anyone ever heard of sending telephony
down the power lines?

{How's that for quick!!?}


Thanks,

Lesley :)    saitowit@underdog.ee.wits.ac.za


[Moderator's Note: The Chicago Transit Authority used to use the
electrified 'third rail' for telephone service between subway/elevated
trains and the rail dispatchers along the routes. Each car is equipped
with a telephone for the conductor and motorman; they talk on those
phones to the supervisors. For a few years now they have used UHF
radio instead (I listen on the scanner at 470 megs).  PAT]
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 92 08:50:21 PDT
From: booloo@framsparc.ocf.llnl.gov (Mark Boolootian)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: AT&T and Sandia
Organization: TELECOM Digest
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 668, Message 11 of 12

oakes@maize.rtsg.mot.com (Ronald Oakes) writes:

> I have to say that I hope that Sandia does not close.  My father has
> worked there for 30+ years as an engineer. Additionally, directly and
> indirectly most of the population of Albuquerque, NM -- my home town --
> would be effected by its closing.

It should be noted that there is more than one Sandia lab: Sandia,
Livermore is right across the street from LLNL.  I have not heard
rumours of a shutdown (and I'd be very surprised if it actually came
to that).

LLNL is in the process of renegotiating its contract with the
University of California.  This occurs every five years (at least for
LLNL).  If the UC were to opt to no longer manage LLNL (which was a
real possibility for awhile), we would begin the search for another
organization to manage us.  I seriously doubt we would shut down.


Mark Boolootian	  booloo@llnl.gov  +1 510 423 1948
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 92 2:06:20 EDT
From: Nigel.Allen@lambada.oit.unc.edu
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Baby Bells and States
Organization: TELECOM Digest
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 665, Message 2 of 15

dwn@dwn.ccd.bnl.gov (Dave Niebuhr) writes in Volume 12, Issue 659:

> I'm curious about who made the decision as to which Baby-Bell would be
> assigned to serve what states (excluding the non-RBOCs of course).  It
> seems that some cover only a few states while others like USWest cover
> many.  Would this be based on the population at the time?
 
I think the intention was to create seven regional companies of
roughly the same size. I don't have any numbers handy, but I think all
the RBOCs have a similar number of access lines.

My guess is that the decision to have seven (rather than three or 22)
regional companies was made by AT&T to maximize shareholder benefit.
If AT&T had chosen to split its local operations into fewer than seven
companies, they might have been harder to manage.
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 92 17:30:12 GMT
From: mperlman@nyx.cs.du.edu (Marshal "Airborne" Perlman)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: 911 on Jerry Springer Show
Organization: University of Denver, Dept. of Math & Comp. Sci.
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 665, Message 12 of 15

I don't know where you are, but in California the 911 people LOVE
cellular phones.

I've never called 911 from a regular phone but I understand you get
right in touch with a police or fire person.

When you call 911 from a cellular you get a 911 operator and you tell
them who you want to talk to, I.E. "Please get me the Huntington Beach
PD", then you tell the PD what is wrong. I use it all the time to
report accidents, and they are glad to hear from me. I'll also call in
when I see broken down [like with smoke comin' out of the hood or a
broken axel] car with people near it, or even little things like
traffic lights being out or large chunks of metal in the road <saw a
anvil on the 405 once> it is a free call and they are always glad to
hear from me.


Marshal Perlman - Huntington Beach - California - USA - Earth - Milky Way


[Moderator's Note: We don't have cellular 911, but we can call
787-0000 or the operator and get connected to Chicago Emergency. I
only use that for *emergencies*, but I call the city all the time for
things like stop-and-go lights out of order, open hydrants, dead
animals on the street or parkway, street/sewer cave-ins, etc. I do not
call through the main City Hall centrex number; I call direct to the
appropriate dispatcher and am always thanked for my report.  PAT]
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 92 11:56:34 PDT
From: andrew@frip.wv.tek.com (Andrew Klossner)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Automated Hate Calls in Minnesota
Reply-To: andrew@frip.wv.tek.com
Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville, Oregon
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 681, Message 13 of 14

TELECOM Moderator notes:

> What would you rather have, a phone call like that or the Jehovah
> Witnesses coming to your door at 9 AM on Saturday morning like they do
> mine?

I'll take the visit.  Then I know who it is, and they react so nicely
if I open the door unclothed.  :-)

JWs are supposed to keep files on area households.  Tell them firmly
that you have your own faith, are definitely not interested in theirs,
and ask that they please never visit you again, and (if the system
works) they'll leave you alone.  (However, they'll deny that any such
file exists.)


Andrew Klossner  (andrew@frip.wv.tek.com) (uunet!tektronix!frip.WV.TEK!andrew)


[Moderator's Note: An aquaintance of mine has tried that technique on
them a couple times -- opening the door in various stages of undress;
but I think that is a little rude, and apparently it is a common
response to the Saturday morning visitors; the Jehovah people have
seen it many times and no longer pay attention. In other words, the
joke has worn thin. A precious little black girl about ten years old
stands outside the subway station once or twice a week where I get on
the train offering copies of {Watchtower Magazine}. I always buy a few
copies from her and leave them in the subway for whoever wants them.
The couple dollars means little to me and so much to her.   PAT]
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 92 07:35 CDT
From: mcb@ihlpf.att.com
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Weird Intercept
Organization: TELECOM Digest
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 681, Message 3 of 14

> I'm trying to reach someone in the 213-663 exchange (I've reached
> this number before).  When I dial it I get an intercept that says
> "We're sorry; your call cannot be completed as dialed from the phone
> you are using.  Please read the instruction card and dial again."

> The problem only occurs if I try and dial it as a normal PacBell call,
> that is, by dialing 9 for an outside line, then 1-213-663-xxxx.  If I
> dial it via our long-distance network, or via MCI or Sprint, it works
> fine.

It it possible that your employer (the owner of the PBX) has asked
Pacific Bell to block all long distance calls from your PBX.  This
would force you to dial such calls via your long-distance network at
presumably a cheaper rate.  The other possibility is that the lines
associated with your PBX have no default PIC, forcing either 10XXX
dialing or private network access for inter-LATA calls.

Just a thought.


Mark Baker   AT&T Network Systems
Date: 3 Sep 1992 10:19:29 -0500
From: quinn@ender.tamu.edu (Dave Quinn)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Hohocon '93 Pre-Announcement: Conference on Hold!
Organization: Texas A&M University
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 681, Message 1 of 14

The information posted about Hohocon is no longer valid. It seems that
some pre-conference hotel trouble occurred. So, for now, disregard
that posting about the Hobby Airport Howard Johnson's. HoJo didn't
want hoho ... so ... please stay tuned for more up-to-date info.


dave
Date: 01 Sep 92 19:09:57 GMT
From: cjackso@uswnvg.com (Clay Jackson)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Wierd Ring(s)
Organization: U S WEST NewVector Group, Inc.
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 678, Message 11 of 11

I live right on a boundary between GTE and US WEST (PNB). So, we have
two phone lines, one US WEST and one GTE.  The US WEST line is two
"pieces", a GTE "Foreign Exchange" down the hill to a box, and then
the US WEST line.

A while back, we experienced a continuous ringing on that line, that
would typically start around midnight and, in one case, continued
until sometime after 8:00 AM next morning (the phone spent the entire
time off-hook).  When I take the phone off-hook, there's no apparent
signal there.  This went on for several nites until I finally got
someone high enough up in GTE to get it fixed.

Last nite it started happening again.  Does anyone know what might be
causing this?

Thanks!


Clay Jackson - N7QNM
US WEST NewVector Group Inc
Bellevue, WA    uunet!uswnvg!cjackso
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1992 17:46:49 GMT
From: roy@alanine.phri.nyu.edu (Roy Smith)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Interesting Stuff in a Box
Organization: Public Health Research Institute, New York
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 658, Message 3 of 6

I was just walking down the street in midtown Manhattan and came to a
Con Ed (New York's gas and electric utility) truck parked by an open
equipment box.  It was obviously some sort of gas pipeline monitoring
station.  In one side of the box was what looked like a large gas
pressure regulator and random sorts of valves and sensors.  Underneath
was a large circular chart recorder.  Another part had a digital
thermometer for outside air temperature, etc.  The interesting part
was the section which contained some neat looking telecom gear.

        There was a Radio Shack alarm dialer, a plain-jane wall-mount
telephone (presumably for the convenience of service people installing
or testing the equipment), what I could swear was a Telebit
Trailblazer modem (couldn't see the front panel but the box and rear
panel look exactly like a Trailblazer), and a neat pair of boxes which
I assume were the guts of a cellular phone.  One box was a slim metal
case with a piece of fat (RG-8?)  coax coming out one end, the other
was a fatter box connected to it with a nameplate that said "CelJack",
and had an RJ-11 jack on it, into which were plugged the Telebit,
alarm dialer, and telephone via a random assortment of T-connectors).

        One piece of gear I couldn't identify was a slim, approximately 
10 x 16 inch box which was a Hewlett/Packard model 48060 (anybody know
what a HP-48060 is?)  It had two sets of barrier-strip type terminals,
one on each end.  I'm assuming it was some sort of industrial process
control computer.

        OK, my question is, why the cellular phone?  Obviously, this
is some sort of setup where they monitor gas pressure/whatnot and
download data periodically to some central point.  The alarm dialer
presumably can send in some sort of emergency message.  But why the
cellular phone?  Why not just run a regular copper phone line into the
box?  It's not like it's out in the boonies or someplace.

        I can think of only two reasons for the Telebit.  One is that
there is so much data to be sent that hey really want the speed you
get from those to cut down on cell air time.  But, if that's the case,
wouldn't a land line be cheaper?  The other possibility i that this is
such a critical station that they need the reliability you get from a
Telebit.  But if that's the case, why go with an alarm dialer from
Radio Shack?


roy@wombat.phri.nyu.edu (Roy Smith)   Public Health Research Institute
455 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
Date: Tue, 01 Sep 92 14:42:23 CDT
From: cybrspc!roy@cs.umn.edu (Roy M. Silvernail)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Powering Accessories From the Line
Organization: Villa CyberSpace, Minneapolis, MN
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 678, Message 5 of 11

I'm getting my winter projects lined up, having just moved into a new
apartment.  One of the things I'm considering is an electronic line
switch for my modem.  I'd like to power it from the line.

What are the limits for drawing power from the loop?  A 386
motherboard is probably out of the question, isn't it? :-> How about
an LED or two, and maybe a small relay?  How about blocking ring
voltage?

Any other homebrewer's hints appreciated.  E-mail preferred, and if
there's any interest, I'll summarize to the Digest.


Roy M. Silvernail |+|  roy%cybrspc@cs.umn.edu
From: leonard@qiclab.scn.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up!
Date: 23 Aug 92 14:19:08 GMT
Reply-To: 70465.203@compuserve.com
Organization: SCN Research/Qic Laboratories of Tigard, Oregon.
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 657, Message 4 of 10

toddi@mav.com (Todd Inch) writes:

> In article <telecom12.620.9@eecs.nwu.edu> msb@pegasus.att.com (Michael
> Scott Baldwin) writes:

>> My grandmother is in need of one of these infamous devices. 

> I would think the best solution is to have the autodialer go into
> speakerphone mode after making the connection so the callee can try to
> listen and/or talk to the caller.  Also I would want an alarm so your
> grandmother knows when it's dialing, rather than silent operation, so
> she can abort any false alarms.  You probably DO NOT want to directly
> call the emergency services due to the "boy who cried 'wolf'"
> syndrome.  It wouldn't surprise me if they start totally ignoring
> automated calls and/or charging big bucks for false alarms.

In many jurisdictions, it is flat out *illegal* to have an automated
system directly dial the police or fire department. These laws came
about for exactly the reasons you cite above.

(It's amazing what you pick up by reading the stuff enclosed with
things like alarm systems.)


Leonard Erickson		      leonard@qiclab.scn.rain.com
CIS: [70465,203]			 70465.203@compuserve.com
FIDO:   1:105/51	 Leonard.Erickson@f51.n105.z1.fidonet.org
(The CIS & Fido addresses are preferred)



[Moderator's Note: I got a system like that for my mother. It goes
through an answering service which is trained to handle those calls;
they in turn call her neighbors, the doctor, the police, etc.  I pay
$30 per month for it to some company in Colorado.   PAT]
From: dmr@rugrat.Corp.Sun.COM (Daniel M. Rosenberg)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: San Francisco Area Exchange Names
Date: 25 Aug 92 18:42:22 GMT
Reply-To: dmr@rugrat.Corp.Sun.COM
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 661, Message 8 of 19

Does anyone happen to have a phone book sufficiently old enough to
list the old-style exchange names in the South Bay?

The one I know in Palo Alto was for the main 32x exchange, known as
"DAvenport," from an old sign. Davenport? What's that have to do with
Palo Alto? Did the phone company just make that up?

And did the 424's, 85x's, 497's and so forth come from anywhere?
Where could I find out?

Any hints appreciated.


Daniel M. Rosenberg        Dan.Rosenberg@Corp.Sun.COM   +1 415 688 9580
Opinions expressed above aren't Sun's.
From: jgm+@cmu.edu (John Gardiner Myers)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: How Are Intercept Codes Interpreted?
Date: 25 Aug 92 17:52:03 GMT
Organization: TELECOM Digest
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 662, Message 6 of 14

How does one interpret the codes a the end of an intercept.  For
example, I get something like "[SIT] We're sorry, your call cannot be
completed as dialed.  Please check your number and try again.  412
1T."  I assume "412" is the area code generating the intercept.  What
is the interpretation of the "1T"?


[Moderator's Note: The letter and number following the area code
identify the switch within the area code.   PAT]
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 23:46:13 -0500
From: TELECOM Moderator <telecom@eecs.nwu.edu>
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Illinois Bell Now Allows Remote Call Forwarding Changes
Organization: TELECOM Digest
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 678, Message 2 of 11

IBT has started a new feature for subscribers to Call Forwarding which
allows users of the service to turn on or off the service, or change
the number to which calls are forwarded from a remote location.

In the past, forwarding had to be done only from your own phone. As of
the past month, IBT has been phasing in remote access throughout the
312/708 areas. The way it works is you dial the number assigned to your
CO (one example is xxx-9923); insert your phone number on request and
then the PIN you were given.  The change is effected immediatly.

There is no additional charge for this service. It is being offered
to all Call Forwarding subscribers. Some COs already have it and others 
are being converted this month. My own office, Chicago-Rogers Park will
be equipped as of September 22. Passwords are being distributed with
an introductory letter going out this month.

Any other of the Sister Bells adding this inovation?


Patrick Townson
From: brent@greatcircle.com (Brent Chapman)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Who Offers National Alphanumeric Paging Service?
Date: 26 Aug 92 01:47:52 GMT
Organization: Great Circle Associates; Mountain View, CA
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 661, Message 10 of 19

What companies offer national alphanumeric paging service?  I'm aware
of MobileComm, but I don't know how to contact them for more info.  I
know SkyPage offers national numeric service, but what about
alphanumeric service?

Can anybody provide me with contact info for MobileComm or SkyPage, or
other companies that offer national alphanumeric paging?


Thanks!

Brent Chapman           Great Circle Associates
Brent@GreatCircle.COM   1057 West Dana Street
+1 415 962 0841         Mountain View, CA  94041
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 19:57:07 GMT
From: gmw1@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Gabe M Wiener)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Merlin+ Station Wires
Organization: Columbia University
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 675, Message 11 of 12

Merlin Plus stations take four pairs.  Does anyone know what the
breakout on these pairs is?  Someone told me that it goes:

blue/white = voice
orange/white = line data
green/white = control leads
brown/white = thru-phone page

Any accuracy to this?  He didn't seem positive.


Gabe Wiener - Columbia Univ.  gmw1@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu 
N2GPZ in ham radio circles    72355,1226 on CI$
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1992 14:08:30 GMT
From: roberts@frais.enet.dec.com (Nigel Roberts)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Gating the Pound (was Pounding on an Octothorp)
Organization: IC Software AG (on contract at DEC)
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 662, Message 11 of 14

In article <telecom12.645.7@eecs.nwu.edu>, Richard Cox <mandarin@
cix.clink.co.uk> writes ...

> The common name for it here, is "hash": but BT, when they introduced
> facility codes for PABXs and Network Services, decided they would give
> it their own name.  They sold phones with the "thorps" missing from
> the octothorp symbol: and then told us all to call that key the
> "square".

> Even today, when you set up any diversion or call barring, an
> automated voice tells you what the network is about to do, adding "If
> incorrect, dial square."

I recently had occasion to order Call Waiting (it's on free trial at
the moment) and Call Barring for my parents house in Liverpool.

I wanted to know what the commands were, so I phoned 150 (local BT
Business Office) to ask.

In referring to the # key, the sales rep. called it the "gate key".
Because it looks like one, I suppose. (Sort of a Five-Barred Gate,
huh?)


Nigel Roberts	   | roberts@frais.enet.dec.com      | Tel. +44 206 396610 
European Engineer  | P O Box 49,Manningtree,CO11 2SZ |  &   +49 6103 383 489 
G4IJF		   | "Life is but a tale . . . "     | FAX  +44 206 393148
Date: 26 AUG 92 09:30:37 EST
From: shapiro@trade.enet.dec.com (Steve Shapiro)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Modem Noise on Line
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation - Marlboro, MA
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 664, Message 9 of 12

Howdy All!

I have a problem that I hope one of you wizards can help me with.

I have a residence in which I have two phone lines. The wire coming to
the house is a 'standard' four wire line (red, black, yellow, green).
For one line I use red/green and for the other I use black/yellow. On
one line I have my BBS attached and so the modem attached to that line
is quite busy. The other line is for voice.

The problem is that whenever the modem is active, there is a lot of
hissing and noise heard on the voice line.

What can I do to eliminate this? Is there a special kind of wire I can
use inside the house?

Is there something I can do on my end or do I have to have the phone
company come out and string a second physical wire in support of the
second line?

Please advise. 


Regards,

Steve.Shapiro@f440.n101.z1.fidonet.org
FidoNet 1:101/440 (508) 664-6354      
The Contract Professional BBS, North Reading, MA