HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Date: Sun, 06 Sep 1992 15:53:18 GMT
From: dave@westmark.com (Dave Levenson)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Rolm PBX Question
Organization: Westmark, Inc.
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 687, Message 8 of 9

I need a ROLM PBX expert:

A customer wants to install our interactive voice system behind a ROLM
PBX.  (We normally install on central office lines, and bypass the
customer's switch.)

Our application will terminate and hang up if the caller is
non-responsive to several repetitions of a voice prompt, or if the
caller indicates that the transaction is complete, or if we receive an
open-loop (forward disconnect) signal from the switch.

The ROLM PBX does not provide an open-loop signal.  If the caller
hangs up and we do not, it will transmit dial-tone to us for some
un-specified interval, followed by error-tone.  At that point, it
places our station port in a disabled state, and will refuse to
connect inbound calls until we have re-enabled the port.  We can do
this by going on-hook, then going off-hook and dialing *50, and then
going on-hook again.

This presents us with a serious problem.  If we're playing a lengthy
voice prompt and the caller abandons the call by silently hanging up,
we won't know about it.  Our Dialogic Corp. voice platform can detect
dialtone when it is placing an outbound call, but there appears to be
no way to sense dialtone during an established connection.  We cannot
perform a call-progress analysis while we're playing audio.  When we
stop playing audio, we expect DTMF from the caller, but while we're
expecting DTMF, we're not able to sense dialtone or error-tone (what
is error-tone?).

At the end of any call, we have no reliable way to know whether or not
we're disabled.  If we assume that we are not disabled (the normal
case) we'll just go on-hook and await the next call.  If the switch
has disabled our port, we'll never get another call.

If we assume that we have been disabled, we could, after every call,
go off-hook and dial *50 to re-enable our line.  But if we were
already enabled, this action could result in glare: we could be
answering an inbound call, and sending the *50 toward a calling party.

Does anybody know of a better option?  Can the 'feature' of the switch
that disables our line be disabled, or can the time interval be made
long enough that we'll never see it?  Is there any reliable way to get
forward disconnect information from the PBX?


Thanks!

Dave Levenson		Internet: dave@westmark.com
Westmark, Inc.		UUCP: {uunet | rutgers | att}!westmark!dave
Warren, NJ, USA		Voice: 908 647 0900  Fax: 908 647 6857
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 92 11:19:31 -0700
From: henry@ads.com (Henry Mensch)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Illinois Bell Now Allows Remote Call Forwarding Changes
Reply-To: henry@ads.com
Organization: TELECOM Digest
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 685, Message 9 of 10

TELECOM Moderator <telecom@eecs.nwu.edu> writes:

> There is no additional charge for this service. It is being offered
> to all Call Forwarding subscribers. 

*no additional charge*

Does this happen routinely with your phone company?  No additional
charge for something *useful*?  I'm astounded.


# henry mensch / booz, allen & hamilton, inc.  / <henry@ads.com>


[Moderator's Note: IBT has always been considered a very progressive
and advanced company. After all, ESS started here, in Morris, IL back
in the 1960's ... and we had it routine use in various exchanges as
early as 1974 downtown. We had lots of centrex in use in the 1960's.
The company has always been involved in the community with numerous
charitable donations and services.  PAT]
Date: Tue,  8 Sep 92 15:43:13 CDT
From: varney@ihlpf.att.com (Alan L Varney)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: "911" as an Area Code?
Organization: AT&T Network Systems, Lisle, IL
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 695, Message 2 of 14

In article <telecom12.689.12@eecs.nwu.edu> Will Martin <wmartin@STL-
06SIMA.ARMY.MIL> writes:

> The area-codes lists that have been put out on Telecom always note
> that "911" is not used as an area code, but is reserved. I suppose

   Actually, 911 is assigned a non-NPA function, so it's not
"reserved" any more than any other N11 code.

> that it would be *possible* to use "911" as an area code, since it
> should always be preceeded by a 1 or a 0 in making a call, and thus be
> distinguished from the emergency-call 911 service, but I also suppose
> having it as a regular area code would cause false or misdialed 911
> calls and thus the telcos keep it reserved.

   Bellcore's LSSGR (and common sense) says that 1 + 911, 0 + 911 and
911 preceded by 10XXX should ALL route as if only "911" was dialed.

> So what I'm wondering about -- our toll-call list that is generated by
> our NEC NEAX 2400 phone system came out with an entry for a call from
> one of our office phones to "911-572-4000", a one-minute call on May
> 7th at 10:30 AM.

   I can't (or won't) comment on NEC products.  What did your REAL
telephone bill say for that call?


Al Varney -- just MY opinion.
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1992 13:06:21 GMT
From: deej@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (david.g.lewis)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Vermont Payphones
Organization: AT&T
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 707, Message 7 of 7

In article <telecom12.699.3@eecs.nwu.edu> Tony Harminc <TONY@VM1.
MCGILL.CA> writes:

> 3) The NETel payphones seem to have several different default LD
> carriers.  I would have thought the LEC would sign up with a single
> carrier for all its phones. 

LECs were obligated (by, I believe, the FCC) to presubscribe 0+ long
distance from payphones to IXCs in a ratio that was comparable to the
presubscription ratios for their (residential or residential+business)
customers.  Since only AT&T has the capability to handle
coin-sent-paid traffic, AT&T is the presubscribed IXC for 1+ traffic.

[Long story about difficulty using calling card from a phone PIC'd to Sprint
deleted.]
 
> I dialed 10288, told AT&T all about it, and was connected in a few
> seconds.

If I were a marketing type, I'd say something clever like "it's just
not worth it ...", but I'm just a techie, so I'll leave well enough
alone ;-)


David G Lewis    AT&T Bell Laboratories
david.g.lewis@att.com or !att!houxa!deej     Switching & ISDN Implementation
Date: 7 Sep 92 17:39:19 EDT
From: johnl@iecc.cambridge.ma.us (John R. Levine)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: GTE Cordless/Cellular Service in Tampa FL
Organization: I.E.C.C.
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 691, Message 4 of 13

In article <telecom12.677.3@eecs.nwu.edu> is written:

> I heard a report on the radio (WMAL in Washington DC) that GTE is
> testing a new service in Tampa FL area.  This unnamed service would
> permit you to use a cordless phone like a cellular phone. ...

This sounds a lot like the British Telepoint system, with small cheap
cordless phones that could be used to make outgoing calls when within
a small radius of a base station, uses digital coding so the
connection is quieter than cellular, and which have been a complete
flop.  {The Economist} had an analysis of them a few weeks ago.  They
point out that if they're outgoing only, their main competition is
with pay phones, not cellular phones.  The Telepoint carriers priced
the phones around $300, as much as a cheap cellular phone, and the
airtime was also about the same as cellular.  Not surprisingly,
customers stayed away in droves.

More recently the Telepoint carriers dropped the prices of the phones
and the air time substantially and got permission to sell combined
pagers and Telepoint phones so you can tell when someone wants to talk
to you, but it's too late.  Something called PCN (which may be digital
cellular but the article wasn't detailed enough to be sure) is on its
way which will be technically as good as cellular and cheaper.


Regards,

John Levine, johnl@iecc.cambridge.ma.us, {spdcc|ima|world}!iecc!johnl
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 15:02:29 GMT
From: shaffer@chopin.udel.edu (Bob Shaffer)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Request For "Phonejak" Information
Organization: University of Delaware
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 713, Message 8 of 16

I have just been given an advertisement showing a "Phonejak" which
"turns an outlet into a phone jack!" being manufactured by Phonex.
Does anyone have any knowledge or experience with this device, its
reliability, safety, accordance with FCC rules, etc.?  Any information
will be appreciated.


Robert K. Shaffer  -  CNS User Services
                      University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716
                      Phone: (302) 831-1987  -  Fax:  (302) 831-4205
                      internet: shaffer@udel.edu
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 04:22:44 GMT
From: richg@hatch.socal.com (Rich Greenberg)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Baudot Codes
Organization: Hatch Usenet and E-mail.  Playa del Rey, CA
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 691, Message 13 of 13

In article <telecom12.679.8@eecs.nwu.edu> telb@cbnewsb.cb.att.com
(thomas.e.lowe) writes:

> I need the five bit codes (mark/space) for the baudot protocol.  If
> anyone has them, I would appreciate a copy.

Find an electronics store with a good selection of amateur radio
books.  Look for one on amateur RTTY.  Most amateurs use (used to
use?) Baudot.  (Some (many?) now use ASCII.)

                
Rich Greenberg - N6LRT - 310-649-0238 - richg@hatch.socal.com
Date: 13 Sep 92 14:41:52 GMT
From: julian%bongo.UUCP@nosc.mil (Julian Macassey)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Modem Noise on Line
Reply-To: julian@bongo.info.com (Julian Macassey)
Organization: The Hole in the Wall  Hollywood California U.S.A.
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 706, Message 5 of 13

In article <telecom12.697.12@eecs.nwu.edu> 0005075968@mcimail.com
(Jeff Garber) writes:

> julian%bongo.UUCP@nosc.mil (Julian Macassey) writes:

>> The big question is "Why are people still doing installations
>> with quad wire?"

> Among other reasons previously cited, quad usually can be easily
> obtained in a beige jacket. 

	Quad is usually supplied in cream (white), I have seen dark
brown/purple jacketed quad, but cream is the usual colour.

	Twisted pair is commonly supplied in beige This is actually
"artificial limb pink", but the telco calls it beige. The telco calls
beige almond. The rarer colour -- usually only obtainable from AT&T --
is grey. I prefer grey cable, it is often hard to find at distributors.
Graybar usually has it.

	So yes, I will concede, to match the light decor of many
residences, quad does the job. Yet another case of fashion holding
back technology. Maybe some enlightened cable manufacturer will start
supplying twisted pair in almond.


Julian Macassey, julian@bongo.info.com  N6ARE@WA6FWI.#SOCAL.CA.USA.NA
742 1/2 North Hayworth Avenue Hollywood CA 90046-7142 voice (213) 653-4495
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 92 20:12 EDT
From: turner@Dixie.COM
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Leased Line from Hell
Reply-To: turner@Dixie.COM
Organization: TELECOM Digest
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 700, Message 7 of 11

The following are notes concerning the local exchange carrier's
portion of several leased lines in TN. Three of the lines were AT&T's
and four MCI's.  AT&T tended to pressure SCB to fix the problem; MCI
wasn't quite as aqgressive.  AT&T notified the customer about the
problem, who then alerted MCI.  Anyway, the names of the customer and
of the contractors have been deleted.

Day 1: at 3:44 PM SCB contractor X was digging a trench to lay new
fiber when the ground gave way under the backhoe.  The backhoe sank 5'
into the sinkhole? and crushed the cable.  Cable was back in service
at 6:35 PM.

Day 2: at 8:20 AM contractor X was digging a trench aproximately one
mile farther down the cable route when the backhoe cut the cable.  SCB
said the the cable was improperly marked (probably a loop of excess
cable) at this spot.  Cable was back in service at 12:00 noon.  25 of
27 miles of the fiber had been trenched.  All work was stopped to
allow SCB to remark cable over weekend.

Day 6: Contractor X cuts newly marked cable at 2 PM.  Line was out for
at least 3:55 hours.  AT&T and MCI pitch fit.  AT&T says hand dig
remaining mile.  MCI says have SCB personnel on site during any
construction.

Day 15:  Contractor Y cuts same cable in different location at 9:45 AM.
Cable was back in service at 2:15 PM.

Wonder how much work the first contractor gets these days.


Pat Turner KB4GRZ   turner@dixie.com
Date: 8 Sep 92 17:19:02 GMT
From: dwford@uswnvg.com (Don Ford)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Information Wanted About Clearing Houses
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 697, Message 5 of 13

Sharon Kroo (sharonk%pelham.UUCP%bnrmtl.UUCP@Larry.McRCIM.McGill.EDU) wrote:

> Would anyone have some info on clearing houses?

> They are used in order to simplify the billing and administration
> between various telecommunications service providers.  I know of some
> clearing houses in Europe but none in North America.

> [Moderator's Note: This was previously handled in the USA by a
> department within AT&T called 'Separations and Settlements'. Who is
> doing it within this country now?   PAT]

The North American Exchange Carrier Association, NECA, handles this on
the wireline side.  NECA is closely tied to BELLCORE, but not a part
of BELLCORE.  On the cellular side similar functions are provided by
several "clearing houses" such as GTE Telecomm Services and EDS.


Don Ford     U S WEST NewVector Group, Inc.    (206) 450-8585
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 92 12:02 PDT
From: lauren@cv.vortex.com (Lauren Weinstein)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: USA to Ten Digits
Organization: TELECOM Digest
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 709, Message 5 of 12

Greetings.  I for one would welcome the ability to dial all ten digits
on local calls.  Where I sit here in the L.A. area, where the actual
city of L.A. has three different area codes, I can dial *local* calls
in all three codes.  It is becoming an ever increasing mess when
people assume you're in the same code they are (because, after all,
you're local) and don't bother giving you the area code.

If everyone dialed ten digits routinely, and gave out all ten digits
to everyone when giving out a number (I certainly do the latter,
regardless of where they are) it would be much more consistent.  What
irks me is that even if I *want* to dial all ten for local calls I'm
not permitted to, forcing once again the silly situation of dialing
seven digits for some local calls and 11 (1 + ten) for others.

Another advantage of a move to ten digit universal dialing would be
the ability to help avoid area code splits and the disruptions those
splits cause (especially to businesses).  For example, as population
density increased in an area, a new area code could be assigned that
would exist right alongside the old one in that same area.  Of course
this would require dialing all ten digits even for local calls.  But
the technique of just adding a mass of new numbers to an area, rather
than disrupting all the current numbers by area code splits, makes a
great deal of sense.

The way to accomplish this all is pretty clear.  Step one, allow
people to optionally dial their own area code on calls within their
code.  Encourage people to use all ten digits, always.  After a
suitable span of time and appropriate publicity, start adding new
codes and requiring ten digit dialing.

I think that most people wouldn't object to this in the long run if it
were explained to them that this could avoid the hassles of having to
change their area code whenever they're "split out" of an existing
code.  With so many metro areas undergoing *multiple* splits, this
would make a good deal of sense.

Hey Bellcore -- you can count on my public support if you want to give
this plan a try!


 --Lauren--
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 17:21:55 -0400
From: Monty Solomon <monty@proponent.com>
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Caller-ID Support in SupraFaxModem
Organization: TELECOM Digest
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 712, Message 11 of 14

Here is an excerpt from the Supra Technical Support Bulletin which
discusses the upgraded v.32/v.32bis ROM (1.2G).

The complete text can be found in INFO-MODEMS Digest, comp.dcom.modems,
or on the Supra BBS at +1 503 967 2444.

Implements Silent Answer (allows voice/fax determination):

  When the phone rings, the modem will start monitoring the telephone
  line after the 2nd ring.  If it detects a fax tone, it will do one
  of two things:

  1.      If S-Register S0 - 0, the modem will immediately answer the
          phone and attempt a fax connection.

  2.      If S-Register S0 = 0, the modem will quickly issue up to 9
          RINGS messages, expecting the fax software to issue an ATA.

  This eliminates the need for a $150 voice/fax black box.

NOTE:   DO NOT plug the answering machine into the telephone jack on the back
  of the modem.  The modem should be plugged into the answering machine.

  This also also works if a telephone is in the circuit before the
  faxmodem.

NOTE:   This mode must be supported by the fax software.

Implements Caller ID

This is a feature is only available in some areas of the country.  In
between the 1st and the 2nd ring, the phone company will send
information on who is calling you.  If you ere in terminal mode and
had told the modem to answer on the third ring, you would see:

                RING

                DATE = 0321
                TIME = 1405
                NMBR = 5039672400
                NAME = SUPRA CORPORATION

                RING

                CONNECT 19200

        To enable CALLER ID:

                AT#CID=1        Enables Caller ID in formatted format
                AT#CID=2        Enables Caller ID in unformatted format
                                (ASCII printable hex numbers)
                AT#CID=0        Disables Caller ID


Monty Solomon / PO Box 2486 / Framingham, MA  01701-0405  
monty%roscom@think.com
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 92 01:43 PDT
From: john@zygot.ati.com (John Higdon)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Kauai Communications Out
Reply-To: John Higdon <john@zygot.ati.com>
Organization: Green Hills and Cows
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 709, Message 8 of 12

On Sep 12 at 17:59, TELECOM Moderator notes:

> [Moderator's Note: John, I *really* don't think GTE is quite as bad as
> you make them out to be; and certainly the events in Hawaii during the
> past day would be a severe challenge for any telco

Well, I will grant you that a hurricane may be special circumstances,
but GTE is as bad as all of that. Notice that all telephone
communications with the island have been cut. One would assume that a
link as important as that would be backed up just a little bit. For
instance, an undersea fiber cable to Oahu would not be out of line.
And it would be immune to storm damage. But that would have required
planning and intelligence, something in very short supply in the GTE
family of telcos.

I really do hope that considering the anguish of relatives and the
actual suffering of island residents that GTE manages to rise to the
occasion and restore telephone service in a timely manner. And then
maybe someone can look into why all communications to and from the
island were able to be knocked out in the first place.


        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   +1 408 264 4115
    john@zygot.ati.com      | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1992 08:00:05 GMT
From: tls@panix.com (Thor Lancelot Simon)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Disaster Reporting On Usenet
Organization: PANIX Public Access Unix & Internet, NYC
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 690, Message 4 of 10

In article <telecom12.675.4@eecs.nwu.edu> YSAR1111@YORKVM1.BITNET writes:

> I am surprised that Usenet, as powerful a medium as it is, has not
> been more widely used to coordinate disaster relief activities.  For
> example, I am sure there would be great support for a group such as
> misc.disaster.coordination and/or misc.disaster.reports, which could

In this vein, has anyone got a copy of Brian Reid's article from
waybackwhen which argues the case that the Usenet would withstand, in
working order, any concievable disaster up to and including a nuclear
war?

I think using the net to coordinate disaster relief efforts is a fine
idea; especially because large computer installations often have
backup power.  And better still, I believe the contracts with the
telcos for much of the NSFnet backbone specify multiple geographically
diverse wires, don't they?

Perhaps it's worth bringing this up somehow with an appropriate
organization such as the Red Cross?  What'd it take, a 386 box in
their national headquarters to run things from?  Probably worth the
money!


Thor Lancelot Simon	 tls@panix.COM


[Moderator's Note: Actually, it would be quite easy. If someone wants
to donate the 386 and the required UUCP software, I'd set it up in the
Chicago Red Cross or else my own office.  PAT]
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 92 11:05 PDT
From: john@zygot.ati.com (John Higdon)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Kauai Communications Out
Reply-To: John Higdon <john@zygot.ati.com>
Organization: Green Hills and Cows
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 702, Message 1 of 9

After being hit by hurricane Iniki (admittedly comparable to Andrew),
the Hawaiian island of Kauai has been cut off from the outside world
because of damage to a GTE microwave tower. Redundancy? Hah!

So I wonder how the residents of Kauai will be able to contact
Thousand Oaks to get repair service :-) And I wonder how many tickets
will be "cleared" before someone checks it out :-) :-)

Seriously, we may find that the devastation on the Garden Island will,
ounce for ounce, exceed that in Florida or Louisiana for several
reasons. First, there is little else there other than "beachfront"
property. That is the nature of a small island. Second, key components
of Hawaii's hurricane tracking system were never repaired or replaced
after failing some time ago. In other words, the storm was somewhat of
a surprise. And third, hurricanes generally go to the south of the
islands, so the people do not prepare for them in any way. The last
one was ten years ago and was classified "category 1". It did major
damage. This one was a category 4 (same as Andrew).

When we finally get reports out of the area (probably no thanks to
GTE), we will undoubtedly find that things are not well.


        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   +1 408 264 4115
    john@zygot.ati.com      | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !


[Moderator's Note: John, I *really* don't think GTE is quite as bad as
you make them out to be; and certainly the events in Hawaii during the
past day would be a severe challenge for any telco -- Bell, GTE or any
others.  Here's hoping we get some accurate information from readers
in Hawaii who are close enough to get first hand accounts.   PAT]