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- Path: polarnet.com!floyd
- From: floyd@polarnet.com (Floyd Davidson)
- Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems,comp.dcom.telecom.tech
- Subject: Re: Making a RJ11 "busy" plug
- Date: 20 Mar 1996 15:30:32 GMT
- Organization: __________
- Message-ID: <4ip8ao$evr@news2.cais.com>
- References: <4i4n3j$dgr@baloo.pipex-sa.net> <4iabts$nn9@raffles.technet.sg> <4iag3c$qam@icefog.polarnet.com> <314C26AB.3E3B@accutek.com>
- Reply-To: floyd@tanana.polarnet.com
- NNTP-Posting-Host: tanana.polarnet.com
-
-
- This deserves cross posting to a telecom group for critical
- analysis! :-)
-
- satchell@accutek.com wrote:
- >DON'T DO IT!
- >
- >Zero-ohm plugs make the telephone company very angry. Very angry indeed.
- >Angry enough to disconnect your line as a "network hazard."
- >
- >The reason this is true has to do with the mechanics of a telephone
- >switch and how telcos deal with faults detection. It also has to
- >do with 47 CFR 68, better known as Part 68 of the FCC Rules and
- >Regulations, the stuff that regulates what can and cannot be
- >connected to telephone lines of various sorts.
- >
- >When a telephone goes off-hook, it exhibits an AC impedance
- >of 600 ohms and some DC resistance. The DC resistance should be
- >selected to draw no less than 20 ma of current in the off-hook state
- >and no more than 60 ma, but shall not exhibit an impedance of more
- >than 1000 ohms at ringing frequencies.
-
- There is no requirement that it not draw more than 60ma. The
- telco line card limits the current (commonly to 60ma).
-
- >The line cards in many switches now incorporate current limiters
- >which will limit the "loop current" to some value, such
- >as 35 ma. That's not universally true, so the short-circuit
- >current (if you short tip and ring) may be as high as 500 ma.
-
- Excuse me if I question that, but please name one switch
- from a major manufacturer that allows even half that for
- loop current.
-
- >47 CFR 68.312(k) is specific, though, that tying together tip
- >and ring, even with a resistor, is a no-no: "Register terminal
- >equipment and registered protective circuitry shall not by
- >design leave the on-hook state by operations performed on
- >tip and ring leads for any purpose than to request service
- >or answer an incoming call, except that terminal equipment
- >which the user places on the off-hook state for the purpose
- >of manually placing telephone numbers in internal memory for
- >subsequenct automatic or repertory dialling shall be
- >registrable. Make-busy indications shall be transmitted by
- >the use of make-busy leads [MB and MB1] only as defined in
- >68.3 and 68.200(j)."
-
- That applies, obviously, to a key system, where there are
- make-busy leads. One would have to ask just what the make-busy
- leads do to lines toward the CO switch???? Short them...
-
- >47 CFR 68.502 further defines that the following jacks have
- >make-busy capabilities: RJ18 (6-position plug), RJ2MB (50-
- >pin connector with up to 12 lines appearing).
- >
- >*
- >
- >Now that I've said all of that, use the 600 ohm 1/2 watt
- >resister instead of a shorting plug. Either that, or call
- >your telephone company and ask them what they prefer to see
- >for make-busy. Some might want a shorting plug, some might
- >want 600 ohms, some might 1000 ohms. It varies with the
- >operating company.
- >---
- >Stephen Satchell
- >
-
-
- Nothing greater than 240 ohms is guaranteed to cause an off hook
- condition. Recommending a larger resistance is exceedingly poor
- advice.
-
- If you choose to use a resistor, keep in mind the power that will
- be dissipated. For example, a 600 ohm resistor used on a a short
- loop that is current limited at 60ma, will be dissipating a little
- more than 2 watts of power. A 600 ohm 1/2 watt resistor is going
- to burn to a crisp in seconds. On a average line, with less
- current, it will take longer, but the 1/2 watt resistor is going
- to fry!
-
- The way telco techs, universally, cause an off hook condition,
- whether for short term testing or for longer term removal of a
- line from service without doing a disconnect, is with a zero ohm
- resistor (a shorting plug).
-
- Floyd
- AT&T Alascom
- Fairbanks Toll Center
- --
- Floyd L. Davidson Salcha, Alaska floyd@tanana.polarnet.com
-