DP Tool Club 15/CD_ASCQ_15_070894.iso/vrac/tc14_257.zip/TC14-257.TXT

Text File | 1994-06-07 | 27KB | 659 lines

TELECOM Digest     Sat, 28 May 94 00:17:00 CDT    Volume 14 : Issue 257

Inside This Issue:                           Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    Annoying COCOT Problem (Darren Alex Griffiths)
    Performance of L.A. Cellular System (Dan Matte)
    Book Review: "Networks" by Ramteke (Rob Slade)
    Countries Using GSM? (Stephane Bausson)
    DS3 to Fiber Optic Convertor (Multimode) (Chuck Ludinsky)
    Interactive "Voice Mail" System For PC? (Axel Cleeremans)
    Anyone Using SwiftCall in the UK? (Dinesh Rehani)
    Security of a Code? (Andy La Varre)
    Hexadecimal Uuencode??? (Andy La Varre)
    Re: Nice Job, if You Can Get it! (Rich Greenberg)
    Re: Nice Job, if You Can Get it! (Tony Pelliccio)
    Re: SMS Messages on ORANGE (Richard Cox)
    Re: Distinctive Ring Line Effects? (Steven Bradley)
    Re: Need Distinctive Ring Line Splitter (Paul Mokey)
    Telecommunications Management (Jose Luis Sanchez)
    Need Site Name For Bellcore Standards (Kevin Hanson)
    Re: What Did You Have For Dinner Today? (Cole Keirsey)

TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not
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----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Darren Alex Griffiths)
Subject: Annoying COCOT Problem
Date: 27 May 1994 15:49:02 -0700
Organization: Fujitsu Open Systems Solutions, Inc.


The area I live in (the Mission District of San Francisco) has a
number of COCOTs provided by a company called T.D. Rowe. They also
make jukeboxes and various vending machines.  I've had a number of
problems with the phones and would dearly love to stop using them, but
they are so prevalent that I frequently don't have a choice.  Besides
over charging, poor maintenance and seemingly random assignment of
long distance provider there has been one problem that is extremely
annoying.

Basically, if I call my voice mail system to check for messages the
phone frequently cuts out the keypad, disabling DTMF tones, before I'm
finished with the call.  I've given up using my calling card since the
extra digits allow me to only check two or three messages; without the
calling card I can get through a few more messages but using the pause
or rewind functions are not advised. Misdialing of the password essenti-
ally makes the call useless since I have to redial it and by that time
I wasted most of my precious digits.

I believe that the company is only allowing a certain number of digits
be pressed to limit your choices of other long disance companies, I've
never counted the number of digits but it appears to be less than 25.
I have called their service line but they don't seem to want to help.
Does anyone happen to know if the CPUC requires complete operation of
the keypad? If they do then I can start to get a little meaner with
them. If they don't I suppose I'll have to live with the problem.


Thanks,

Alex Griffiths    [e-mail]   Senior Software Engineer
Fujitsu Open Systems Solutions, Inc.   408-456-7815


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Why not consider getting a cellular phone
and putting an end to the hassle once and for all? I think you will find
that on short (one or two minute) calls, the cost on cellular will be
almost equal with what the COCOT is charging, particularly if you are
getting a surcharge for the call due to using your calling card.  PAT]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Dan Matte)
Subject: Performance of L.A. Cellular System
Date: Fri, 27 May 94 16:21:10 PDT
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada


I am working on a proposal for an email system that will operate
exclusively over cellular in case of disaster resulting in land line
failure.  Essentially, remote offices will dial-up over cellular to
the central office and retrieve messages in case of emergency.  The
system will operate independently of land lines.

There is one technical issue for which I need some additional
information.  In British Columbia the cellular provider that we will
be using deploys "Class-A" service only in case of emergency so that
cell phones that have been registered with the Provincial Emergency
Program will still have access to the cellular system while
non-Class-A subscribers will be denied access.  This is accomplished
by front end control access channels that validate the calls and
determine whether or not to allow access to actual communication
channels.  The idea is that there should be enough capacity in the
control access channels that the front end won't be a bottleneck to
Class-A subscribers' ability to access the actual communication
channels.  As there hasn't been an event that triggered Class-A only
service on a wide scale (such as an earthquake), I have no data
showing if or how access for Class-A subscribers would be affected
given that non-Class-A subscribers will make many attempts to access
the system.

If anyone can provide information on the performance of the cellular
system in L.A. after the recent earthquake or direct me to where I can
find information pertinent to my project, I would be greatly
appreciative.


Dan Matte   [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 27 May 1994 09:39:06 MDT
From: Rob Slade <[e-mail]>
Subject: Book Review: "Networks" by Ramteke


BKNTWRKS.RVW  940209

Prentice Hall/Brady/Ellis Horwood/Simon and Schuster/New Riders/Digital Press
113 Sylvan Avenue
Englewood Cliffs, NJ   07632
[phone]    FAX [phone]
[e-mail]  [e-mail] Alan Apt
Beth Mullen-Hespe [e-mail]
"Networks," Ramteke, 1994, 0-13-958059-X
[e-mail]

The task of a reviewer is not necessarily an easy one.  The hours
involved in doing the actual reviews are not overwhelming when set
against the tracking down and requesting of materials.  So, when an
author asks if you want a copy of his book, you generally jump at the
chance.  There is, however, a danger here.  When the book arrives not
from the publisher, but directly from the author, with a covering
letter, personally autographed, you tend to feel a sense of obligation.
One may be dismayed at the possibilities of a book said to cover both
voice and data communications technologies.  To have the book then
arrive with the singular title of "Networks" is bemusing.  What does
it cover?  More on TCP/IP?  LANs?  WANs?  Public switched telephone
networks?

Yes.

And very well, too.

When a book less than 500 pages long attempts to cover concepts of
networks, OSI, fiber optics, telephony, voice processing, SNA, X.25,
SONET, Ethernet, NetWare, ATM and much, much more, something has to be
left out.  Ramteke, though, seems to be able to keep the most practical
aspects of everything he covers.  I have often bemoaned the inability of
NetWare specific books to clarify Novell's security structure.  Here,
it is set out clearly in one page and a single illustration.  Can't
recall the minimum transceiver distance on Ethernet?  It's here.
(Unfortunately the "half wave length"; the reason for the transceiver
distance; isn't.)  Want to know how AT&T differs from MCI and Sprint --
technically?  This is your book.  (And I am not just saying this from any
sense of obligation.)

In the Preface, and more so in the covering letter, Ramteke makes it
clear that he sees this as an introductory networking text.  An outline
is included which sets forth four different course streams for digital
transmission, voice, WANs, and LANs.  Questions are included at the
end of each chapter.  This, however, may sell the book short.  With
the convergence of all forms of communications and networking, the
computer and systems professional may have a need for such a book to
cover gaps in the spectrum of knowledge.  The technical manager, or
even executive, will very likely have a use for the diverse information
contained herein.

Ramteke requests readers to comment on the work to improve it.  I
would heartily recommend that experts in the various fields do so.
This has the potential to become a technical classic.

It isn't perfect.  The chapter questions are very simplistic and
probably only of use as a check to make sure the reader hasn't skipped
anything.  The historical sections, while containing interesting
tidbits, really don't contribute to an analytical understanding of
what is involved.  (Note to authors: when outlining the history of
X.25, don't forget to mention Datapac and the Canadian contribution.
Particularly if you are sending the book to a Canadian reviewer.)  I
can, however, forgive a lot to someone who entitles his glossary of
acronyms, "Last Call for Soup."

copyright Robert M. Slade, 1994   BKNTWRKS.RVW  940209. Publication
permitted in TELECOM Digest and associated newsgroups/mailing lists.


Vancouver      [e-mail]
Institute for  [e-mail]
Research into  [e-mail]
User           [e-mail]
Security       Canada V7K 2G6

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Stephane BAUSSON)
Subject: Countries Using GSM?
Date: 27 May 1994 19:45:48 GMT
Organization: Ensem, Nancy, France


Hello,

Does anyone have the list of countries using GSM?


Thanks,

Stephane BAUSSON
Engineering student at ENSEM (Nancy - France)
Smail: 4, Rue de Grand, F-88630 CHERMISEY, France
Email: [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: DS3 to Fiber Optic Convertor (Multimode)
Date: 27 May 1994 20:03:40 GMT
Organization: The MITRE Corporation
Reply-To: [e-mail]


Does anyone know of a DS3 to fiber optic (multimode) converter?  That
is a device that extends a T3 line over multimode optical fiber>


Chuck Ludinsky

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Axel Cleeremans)
Subject: Interactive "Voice Mail" System For PC?
Date: 27 May 1994 08:10:19 GMT
Organization: ULB - Laboratoire de Psychologie Industrielle


Hello,

A friend of mine would like to set up an interactive voice-mail system
based on a PC for a small business, and was wondering about what kind
of solutions are available. The basic requirement is that callers, who
would interact with the remote PC through a touch-tone phone, should
be able to receive different kinds of information by working their way
through a hierarchy of "menu" selections. The system should also allow
users to input strings of digits, for instance to order an item or to
request that specific information be mailed to them.

I am not sure how such a system is called but we have all interacted
with something like that while communicating with banks or mail-order
businesses.

The specific question I have to this group is whether there exists a
hardware device that will perform these functions, or a subset of
them, when hooked up to or put inside a PC. If so, I would greatly
appreciate receiving pointers to who would be selling such devices,
and some indication of their cost.


Thanks,

Axel Cleeremans - NFSR Research Associate - Psychology
Internet: [e-mail] - Voice: [phone]
ULB CP122 - Ave FD Roosevelt 50 - 1050 Brussels Belgium

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 27 May 94 12:31:18 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Dinesh Rehani [phone])
Subject: Anyone Using SwiftCall in the UK?


I am looking for comments from TELECOM Digest readers who might be
subscribers to the SwiftCall service, especially in the UK. How good
is their service? Are the advertised savings for real or are there
hidden charges? How does Swift compare to TP and other callback
services available?


dinesh   [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Security of a Code?
Date: Fri, 27 May 94 15:59:46 EST
Organization: IDS World Network Internet Access Service, [phone] GUEST


Any cryptology/code gurus out there that could help?

What is the basic measure of the security of a code?  What is the
"bible" on the topic?

The problem at hand is to assess the "security" of some encoding/encryption
techniques.  Where does one go to get smart about the basic measure of
security in this context -- presumably the probability of cracking the
code within X hours given a PRN sequence of length Y, etc. etc.

Just a quick and dirty table of relative securities of different types
of codes and ciphers would help me get started in the right direction.

Email if you prefer, and


Thanks in advance

Andy La Varre   [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Hexadecimal Uuencode?
Date: Fri, 27 May 94 16:04:35 EST
Organization: IDS World Network Internet Access Service, [phone] GUEST


We're having a problem properly recieving attachments from a remote
site.  The administrator claims the remote site has a "binary to
hexadecimal" encoder, implying that hex is being transmitted.  The
remote site is using CC:Mail.  The users we're working with haven't
got a clue ...

Sounds like hogwash to me, I've never heard of such, and all my docs
on three different sets of uuxxcode only talk about binary to ASCII
and back.

But before I jump down their throat I thought I'd ask somebody that
*really* knows what's happening ...


TIA,

Andy La Varre   [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Rich Greenberg)
Subject: Re: Nice Job, if You Can Get it!
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login:
guest)
Date: Fri, 27 May 1994 18:12:10 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail].
COM (Gerry Brown Assoc, Gerry Brown,PAS) writes:

> While reporting the problem, the service tech told me that effective
> June 1, 1994, PacBell will be charging for a service call WHETHER THE
> PROBLEM IS INSIDE OR OUTSIDE.  The only way around the charge is to
> subscribe to their Wire Service Plan.

> Not a bad scam, heh!  I pay for service no matter who is at fault.
> The PacBell repair service claimed that the California PUC forced them
> to implement this plan.  Boy am I glad that the telephone industry has
> been deregulated.  Imagine what we would have to pay if that hadn't
> happened.

Pat, I had a problem believing this so I called the CPUC to try and
get the answer from "the Horses Mouth" so to speak.

Its not correct.  If the problem is outside the NIJ, its still no cost
to the user.  What has changed is that previously, some PaBell techs
were coming out, finding the problem was inside, and just telling the
customer they had an inside problem and leaving without charging them
if the customer assumed responsibility for the repair.  They would
only charge if they actually did the inside repair (assuming the
customer didn't have the inside wire repair ripoff).

Now, they have been instructed to enter a charge in any case if the
problem is inside from the NIJ.


Rich Greenberg            Work: ETi Solutions, Oceanside & L.A. CA
310-348-7677
N6LRT   TinselTown, USA   Play: [e-mail]
310-649-0238
Pacific time.  I speak for myself and my dogs only.  Canines: Chinook & Husky

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Tony Pelliccio)
Subject: Re: Nice Job, if You Can Get it!
Date: 27 May 1994 19:14:25 GMT
Organization: Brown University ADIR


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail].
COM (Gerry Brown Assoc, Gerry Brown,PAS) wrote:

> While reporting the problem, the service tech told me that effective
> June 1, 1994, PacBell will be charging for a service call WHETHER THE
> PROBLEM IS INSIDE OR OUTSIDE.  The only way around the charge is to
> subscribe to their Wire Service Plan.

> Not a bad scam, heh!  I pay for service no matter who is at fault.
> The PacBell repair service claimed that the California PUC forced them
> to implement this plan.  Boy am I glad that the telephone industry has
> been deregulated.  Imagine what we would have to pay if that hadn't
> happened.

> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I would double check the source on
> this. Do you mean to tell me that if there is a problem in the CO
> that *you* are going to have to pay for the repair?  If the problem
> is on the pole in the alley behind your house *you* will have to pay?
> Gimme a break.  PAT]

Hey, I kind of like that. By their logic it means you now have
free-run of the cable right through to the CO, and then on the switch
itself. So next time a pair goes south on you, just go on up and swap
it yourself. Let the phone company figure out the rest. Then again,
it's not like telcos records of cable pair are all that accurate
anyhow.

I agree with Pat though, if they're going to charge for service wether
or not it's your fault then rates should go down.


Tony Pelliccio, KD1NR
[e-mail], Tel. [phone] Fax. [phone]


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: But see Rich Greenberg's response earlier
in this issue. Apparently all that is changing is they are cracking down
on charging for visits made by technicians; if a technician is dispatched
to your premises you will pay for it whether the tech does the work or
you do the work.    PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 27 May 1994 15:48:14 -0700
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: SMS Messages on ORANGE


[e-mail] (Sam Spens Clason) wrote:

>>  Yes, but wouldn't [e-mail] be nicer?!

No ... my ORANGE number (when I publish it) will be a lot nicer than
that !

>>  Is there any such service out there?

It will be coming soon.  However there are some VERY long mail
messages on the 'net ... you wouldn't even get the header of some in
160 characters!

>>> It will become possible to send text messages from the handset (or
>>> computer) to any other GSM/PCN system, to any of the old analogue
>>> paging networks, or as an X400 message or a facsimile document.

>>  I am pretty sure that what you are talkin about is ordinary datatransfer
>>  that occupies a 9600 bit voice channel.  Actually the rate of transfer is
>>  sligtly higher but I've never heard of a 11.4kbit modem :-)

Data transfer will indeed be available, but SMS 160-character messages
can be converted into fax format, and then sent as such *directly* from SMS.

>>  Like if your voice-mailbox or fax-mailbox sent you an SMS every time
>>  it receives a message.

Yes, all ORANGE phones have voicemailboxes.  They are *free* ... calls
diverting to them are *free* (for anyone outside the UK, can I add
that free access to voicemail is for from being the norm here.  In
some cases on cellular the calls are surcharged (33p/min for calls
that were diverted to voicemail as opposed to 25p/min for ordinary
calls).  On ORANGE you only pay for retrieving messages from voicemail
(and then it's only 7.5p/minute)

The voicemailbox does indeed use SMS notification, as you suggest.
However there are even quicker ways to respond to a voicemail
notification.  Clever people, these Finns !!!


Richard D G Cox

Mandarin Technology, P.O. Box 111, Penarth, South Glamorgan, Wales:  CF64 3YG
Voice: 0956 700111 Fax: [phone]  VoiceMail: 0941 151515 Pager 0941 115555
E-mail address: [e-mail] - PGP2.3 public key available on request

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Steven Bradley)
Subject: Re: Distinctive Ring Line Effects?
Organization: The Forest City Exchange, Forest City, Florida
Date: Fri, 27 May 1994 01:30:01 GMT


Rattlesnake Stu ([e-mail]) wrote:

> 1.  I recently had distinctive ringing enabled on a phone line that
> leads to my BBS.  Since then, I've had a significant increase in
> handshake problems when receiving BBS calls.  (The modem itself
> determines the ring, and seems to be 100% accurate in doing so.  I use

I have a four line multi-user Unix system.  Three lines on an inward
rotary and a fourth line outward only.  There are five phone numbers
total.  Two numbers go to the third line in the rotary.  I use a Ring
Decipher made by Command Communications ($70) box which decodes the
ring pattern and sends to correct line. Such a box may help you if you
feel the modem is having problems doing both tasks.  The main number
is for voice, the special ring number is for data, and it's accessed
with fwd on busy from preceding line.  Works well everytime.  It does
need two rings before it will answer though.

> 2.  Is there a way to boost a signal between the wall and the modem,
> or would I even want to?  I'm running an extension cord about 200'
> that distance -- should I even worry about it?

Should not be a problem normally, line voltage should be between 48
and 52v DC.  If its less, you have a problem, if its a little more, do
not worry about it.  Ringing voltage is around 90v AC as I recall.
Normally, the larger problem is the number of phones on a single line
making a load, this measurement is listed with the FCC ID data.  Your
modem should have come with instructions that explained what the load
number means and how many devices you can have (based on these values)
on one line.

I doubt you need to boost the signal.  You may need a 16550 UART
though to handle the throughput.  You also may have handshake problems
by not having configured it correctly.  Normally you use RTS/CTS flow
control, through hardware, but this requires the modem to be set up
properly.  Try looking in comp.dcom.modems.


Internet:        [e-mail]         Steven G. Bradley
                 [e-mail]
GEnie:           [e-mail]
CompuServe:      [e-mail]
America Online:  [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Paul Mokey)
Subject: Re: Need Distinctive Ring Line Splitter
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest)
Date: Fri, 27 May 1994 05:49:44 GMT


Al Cohan <[e-mail]> writes:

> Does anyone on the net know of another company or companies that
> manufacture a ring decoder that actually *works*?

I've been using a Multi-Link SR3 for just such a purpose for years
without a single problem.  They're located in Lexington, KY; but their
products are sold in telephone specialty shops everywhere. Call 'em
for a dealer near you or look in the Yellow Pages under Telephone
Equipment & Systems.  I bought mine retail for under $100.

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Telecommunications Management
Organization: Oklahoma State University Computer Center
Date: Fri, 27 May 1994 15:29:19 GMT


Hello,

I am looking for special events or seminars (one or two weeks) related
to Management, Marketing, Strategic Planning, and Privatization in
Telecommunications. People selected for these events are managers of
several telecommunications areas with no technical background.

Would you please let me know if you have some information about that.

I want to thank you kindly, before hand, for your prompt response.


Jose Luis Sanchez   [e-mail]
Electrical and Computer Eng.  Oklahoma State University


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I suggest you simply keep on reading here.
This Digest publishes a large number of seminar announcements, training
class notices and related matter on the subjects you mention.   PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 27 May 1994 12:37:31 -0500
From: Kevin Hanson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Need Site Name for Bellcore Standards
Organization: Texas Metronet, Internet for the Individual  214-705-2917 (info)


Does anyone know if there is an ftp site where I can find Bellcore
documents?  Specifically I am looking for the Common Language Code set
(CLLI, CLFI, etc) plus any TL-1 documentation that may be available.


Kevin Hanson    [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Cole Keirsey)
Subject: Re: What Did You Have For Dinner Today? (was Re: Solomon Islands)
Date: 27 May 1994 17:29:39 GMT
Organization: U S WEST Advanced Technologies


Yes, the cafeteria in the student center at the University of
Colorado, Boulder, is still called the Packer Grill.  If memory
serves, the folks Packer ate, and the judge who sentenced him, were
Democrats (not Republicans as the previous article said).  Honestly,
now, who do you think would make a better meal -- Senator Dole or
President Clinton?  Packer did not serve out his life sentence, but
was released after a few years.  I believe that he became a personal
body guard for the editor of a Denver newspaper, who had lobbied for
Packer's release.  Bon apetite.


C. C. Keirsey    [e-mail]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V14 #257
******************************