Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 20:12:41 GMT
From: mhw@wittsend.atl.ga.usa (Michael H. Warfield)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: The Most Advanced Caller-ID Box I've Seen Yet
Organization: Thaumaturgy & Speculums Ltd.
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 901, Message 2 of 5

In <telecom12.893.11@eecs.nwu.edu> vances@xenitec.on.ca (Vance
Shipley) writes:

> In article <telecom12.892.3@eecs.nwu.edu> jxm@engin.umich.edu (John
> Murray) writes:

>> I need a Caller-ID box that will not just display the incoming call
>> identification, but will also differentiate between calls which have
>> been purposely blocked and those from locations which do not have the
>> facility available. Also, it should automatically dial the code for
>> blocking my number on outgoing calls, everytime I unhook the phone.

	You want to differentiate incoming blocked calls and also want
to block all of yours automatically when you dial out.  What are you
going to do ... reject incoming blocked calls when all of yours are
blocked?  Maybe I'm reading to much into that request but it sounds
pretty lame.  That's one reason why I block ALL blocked calls and
NEVER block my outgoing calls.

> I have a TAI model 450 CLID display.  It is sold exclusively through
> the Canadian telcos.  This unit purports to store up to 99 numbers or
> up to 50 numbers and names (when name service becomes available).  I
> found that it tops out at 64 numbers (names come next spring).

	I've got a "Caller ID * 370" by Colonial Data Technologies.
Sears sells them.  Stores up to 94 numbers and can "block" blocked
numbers.  When a blocked call comes through, it plays back a message
saying this number doesn't accept blocked calls (optional, controlled
from front panel).  Will store/display names and/or numbers.  Has
English and Spanish displays.  Tracks whether the call was answered or
not.  Will dial a displayed number back.  Three line display gives
name (if available) number, date, time, status (new, repeat, answered,
etc...), and sequence number in memory.  Front panel buttons scroll up
and down through memory, switch privacy-block, remove numbers, and
dial numbers.  The dial button supports local vs long distance,
including an added 1 in front of selected calls within your area code.

	Only bitch I've got about it, is when the number doesn't come
in clean.  All it says is "Error".  Most of the time there is enough
information good that you can still tell who it is.  This thing won't
display it though.  Earlier displays and my ClassMate 10's give me
whatever they were able to receive.  Most of the time I can still
figure it out at a glance.  On this box, the "error" display was
STUPID, and was the WORST POSSIBLE MISTAKE they could possibly make.
But I still enjoy playing with it.

	Now what we need is a box that will allow you to program in
numbers to individually block.  Let's see, CLID service then has the
same capacity as "Call Trace", "Return Dial", and "Call Blocking.
Plus you still get to see what's been going on!  Lovely ... in most
places, CLID is the most expensive CLASS feature available.  Till you
look at what it does and what it replaces!

	Disclaimer ... I've no interest in this thing other than
having one and feeling it's a great techie toy!  :-) :-)

> Calls from the SPS switch in town display OUT-OF-AREA.  Calls from the
> US (and others) display L-OUT-OF-AREA (L for Long Distance).  Local
> calls display NXX-XXXX and long distance calls from SS7 connected CO's
> (Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Kitchener, etc.) display L-1-NPA-NXX-XXXX.
> Local calls which blocked CLID with *67 display PRIVATE and long
> distance calls from SS7 connected COs display L-PRIVATE.

	What gets displayed depends on what is sent by the telco.  My
ClassMate 10's are pretty DUMB devices (simple 1200 baud RX only
chips).  I see what the telco sends on the line, and that's generally
what the displays put up.  Blocked calls come in "PRIVATE call" and
calls from switches not supporting CLID come in "OUT OF AREA".


Michael H. Warfield 	| (404) 925-8248	| mhw@WittsEnd.atl.ga.us
(The Mad Wizard)	| NIC whois: MHW9	| wittsend!mhw@emory.edu