A Beginner's Guide to the Internet/INTERNET.ISO/text/telediag/tc13-087.txt

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TELECOM Digest     Sat, 13 Feb 93 14:15:15 CST    Volume 13 : Issue 87

Index To This Issue:                     Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    AT&T Sues MCI, Sprint, Wiltel (Paul Robinson)
    Cheap Way to Get Incoming SDMR From DID? (James Deibele)
    Phone Extension Problem (Ossian Smyth)
    RFI: Device to Restrict LD Access on Phone (Gerry George)
    What Could Cause Jitter in a Voice Channel Over Fiber? (Tracy Ching)
    Looking For One-Way A/B Switch For Two-Line Phone System (Joseph Chan)
    Local Cellular Channel Distribution (Eric E. Snyder)
    That's Easy For YOU to Say ... (William Degnan)
    Sharing One FAX Card Among Several Voice Lines (Elizabeth Fong Wah Chan)
    General Magic's Telescript?? (Keith Bechard)
    Ma Bell Calling (Robert L. Stinnett)
    Questions Ahout Uniden CP-1200 Cellular Phone (Joe Smooth)
    1-800-CALL-ATT 'ext. 21' to be Discontinued (Paul Robinson)
    Listing of Telecom Magazines Wanted (Eric Pearce)
    What is 'Los Angeles'? (Paul Robinson)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Reply-To: [e-mail]
From: Paul Robinson <[e-mail]>
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1993  19:55:46 EST
Subject: AT&T Sues MCI, Sprint, Wiltel Over Tariff Schedules


In a report on page B11 in the 2/11 {Washington Post}, AT&T wants a
District Court to award it damages for $1 billion in lost business
since 1991 due to MCI, Sprint, and Wiltel Commnications (Tulsa OK) not
filing tariff schedules of their rates.

AT&T says its competitors have negotiated "secret contracts" with
business customers over the last three years.  Its competitors claim
that because they are not dominant carriers, they do not have to file
tariff schedules.  Wiltel said "This frivolous lawsuit is the latest
example of AT&T's unfortunate practice of using its huge size and
market dominance" to punish competitors.

AT&T had asked the FCC to require all of its competitors to file
tariff schedules of rates, but the FCC said this was not required
because they aren't dominant.  AT&T said the FCC was wrong and filed a
challenge.  On Nov. 13, 1992, a three-judge Federal Appeals court said
AT&T was right and 5,000 telephone companies are supposed to file
tariff schedules.

AT&T also doesn't like the current tariff that MCI has filed, saying
"The writing down of pen on paper does not constitute a tariff."  MCI
says the tariffs are allowed to be in plain language.  The FCC says
only 40 companies have filed tariff schedules since the ruling.  MCI
has gotten very recent large contracts from Citibank and the FAA for
voice and data transmission services and said the legal action was
"camoflage for AT&T's marketplace shortcomings" and its "difficult
time rationalizing why it is losing customers."

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

From: [e-mail] (James Deibele)
Subject: Cheap Way to Get Incoming SDMR From DID?
Organization: TECHbooks --- Public Access UNIX --- [phone]
Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1993 09:09:52 GMT


We need to have direct inward dialing (DID) for phone lines that will
be plugged into modems.  We don't care what number the sender is
calling from (we're not interested in caller ID, which looks like it
will be available in Oregon soon), but we must know what number is
called, the time of the call, the duration of the call, and either the
DID trunk line (first trunk is #1, etc.) or preferably the analog line
selected by the PBX or key switch unit or whatever.  We need this via
a standard RS-232 serial port.

Or we can handle PC cards under several different operating systems
and handle SBUS on SUNs.  We've been told by US West that we need a
"box" (KSU or PBX or something) to convert DID trunk to analog - DID
doesn't do rings in the traditional sense, so there's no way for a
modem to know it's supposed to answer.  We have no need for phones on
this at all.  We haven't actually purchased the modems yet, so we're
willing to consider a combined DID/modem unit -- if there is such a
thing.  We will not be making outgoing calls through this unit, it
just needs to handle inward traffic.  We estimate that we'll need
eight simultaneous lines at most, though it would be nice to be able
to expand beyond that by adding more cards.  For a PC based solution,
we'd want it to be networked via ethernet without causing the modems
any problems.

We've been quoted $7000 for a PBX from local companies, with capacity
for four or eight lines.  That's installed, programmed, and tested,
but we think we should be able to do better than that.  We've been
told that most KSUs are cheaper, but not as expandable.  We don't
think that matters a lot at this stage.  We've heard lots of rumors of
future products, but we'd prefer something available now and would
really like something that's been tested extensively in the field.

I've talked to a dozen local telephone equipment companies, including
the local Graybar office.  I've also talked to AT&T, NCR, GTE, "Hello
Direct", and extensively with US West.  I plan to talk to most of the
rest of the local equipment companies and as many PBX and KSU
manufacturers as I can reach next week.

If anybody has any information on a product like this, I'd like to
hear about it.  I've got a list of people who are interested in
something similar, and I'll mail them the info I receive.


Thanks!

[e-mail]
PDaXs gives free access to news & mail. [phone] - 1200/2400, N81
Full internet (ftp, telnet, irc) access available. Voice: [phone]

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

From: [e-mail] (Ossian Smyth)
Subject: Phone Extension Problem
Organization: Trinity College, Dublin
Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1993 12:54:20 GMT


Every time my one of my parents picks up the main phone in our house,
the extension line to my room cuts off.  Does anyone know what this
could be?


Ossian Smyth


[Moderator's Note: It could be one of the contacts in the main phone
is being used like an exclusion key to provide privacy to that phone
when it is in use. Are your parents aware of this and know it is
happening? There is a certain contact (at least in Bell phones in the
USA) which functions the opposite of the other contacts. Most are
open when the phone is on hook and closed when the phone is off hook.
The one in there which is the other way around (closed on hook, open
when off hook) can be used for various special purposes. Using a two
pair modular cord, bring the phone line from outside into your premises
up to that phone *first, before it goes to any other extension* on one
pair. Connect the two pairs together in the phone with one side of
pair two going through the 'open when phone is off hook' contact. Then
use the second pair from that phone to take the phone line back to the
main demarc from whence it is distributed normally to all other phones
on the premises. This phone now serves as a master, or front-end to
all the phones on your premises. When that phone is on hook, the
circuit to all the other phones is completed and they operate. When
the master phone on the front end goes off hook, all other phones go
dead since the circuit to them is now broken.  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Gerry George)
Subject: RFI: Device to Restrict LD Access on Phone
Date: Sat, 13 Feb 93 11:02:59 EST
Reply-To: [e-mail]


I am interested in obtaining one of those devices which restrict or
prevent someone from dialing a 1 + areacode on a phone line without a
proper access code.  Alternatively, are there any options with the
long-distance carriers where this same thing (access code required)
can be achieved?

If such info already exists in the archives, I will be happy to search
for it. Otherwise, feel free to mail replies.


Thanks,

Gerry George    School of Management, Boston Univ.
Internet: [e-mail]   Compu$erve: [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Tracy Ching <[e-mail]>)
Subject: What Could Cause Jitter in a Voice Channel Over Fiber?
Organization: California State University, Sacramento
Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1993 16:45:47 GMT


While sending a 1KHz tone over that voice channel, the other end is
jittering (changing phase constantly) and also slightly changing
amplitude.  The "gurus" who administer the thing say there is nothing
that can be done to fix it.  I just want my clear channel.

    What could cause such a problem?  Be as technical as you want.
Thanks for any info.

I'm quite sure my 1KHz tone is pure, i.e. no jitter from the source.


[e-mail]  OR   [e-mail]


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

From: [e-mail] (Joseph Chan 3-5418)
Subject: Looking For One-Way A/B Switch For Two-Line Phone System
Date: 13 Feb 1993 06:08:10 GMT
Organization: University of Washington, Bioengineering


If I have two phone lines come to my house (our house was wired with
two-pair wire) the simplest way is to use two regular telephones (I
already have) to connect to the two lines. (First phone connect to
green and red pair, and second connnect to black and yellow pair).

Is there a one-way A-B switch so that incoming phone calls, either
line one or line two, would ring can ring both phones, and outgoing
phone calls can switch to either line one or line two?

Since I already have single phone line phone sets, we do not wish to
buy special two-line telephone sets.  I am thinking to buy a simple
and cheap one-way A-B switch instead of two-line telephone sets.

Thank you for any information.


Joseph Chan    INTERNET: [e-mail]
UUCP: uunet!uw-beaver!uw-nsr!joseph


[Moderator's Note: Radio Shack has a device like this. You plug both
incoming lines into it and it feeds out to a single line phone. You
press a key for the desired outgoing line and it automatically will
switch either incoming line into the phone when it senses ringing.
You'd need one of these for each phone. An incoming call would cause
both phones to ring (unless one phone was in use on one of the lines
already) and you could answer from either phone. This device does not
allow calls to be held while you switch lines.

Another solution is to modify the existing phones yourself. Mount a
double-pole toggle switch on the phone (if you take the shell off, you
will see in the plastic mold on the underside a place to punch out for
this purpose). Bring both phone pairs (r/g and y/b) up to the phone
connected through the toggle switch (r/g one side; y/b to the other
side and center out to the phone network). Then, whichever way you
have the switch thrown is the pair which will connect to the phone.
You will only get the bell on that line however. To avoid the
possibility that all phones will have their switch set the same way
thus entirely killing the bell on the other line, what you do is get a
little buzzer of the right voltage (there are lots of them which will
work) and you install it in the phone.  *Important* -- disconnect the
bell from the network in the phone. Send the r/g to it separately as
well as to the switch you mounted. Unscrew one of the bell clappers
and take it off, mounting your buzzer where the clapper had been. Run
the y/b wires to the buzzer as well as to the toggle switch. Now a
call on line one will ring the bell regardless of switch setting, and
a call on line two will make the buzzer sound, regardless of switch
setting.  The difference in sounds identifies the line to be (switched
to) and answered. Even if you are off hook on line two, the bell will
ring if a call comes in on line one. Variations on a Theme: Adding a
mechanical (as opposed to electronic) hold circuit ... just as you ran
parallel to the switch and the bell/buzzer run parallel to another
toggle switch with a center-off position where you cause a dead-short
of red to green or yellow to black (or neither, in the center position).
That's all the old Bell System two-line turn button phones did; when
you pulled up the left plunger, the line not being used was shorted
out to keep it from disconnecting the other party. Of course, it was
idiot-proof; you could not hang up and forget to release the hold. If
you add a hold circuit via a toggle switch, figure out some way to
remind yourself to release it when finished ... maybe a little light
bulb which illuminates as a reminder or something?   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Eric E. Snyder)
Subject: Local Cellular Channel Distribution
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: 13 Feb 93 16:57:52 GMT


Someone mentioned the other day that of the 800 odd cellular channels
available, only one sixth of these would be in use in a given area (at
least, per cell carrier).  Is it then possible to deduce from the
frequency of a single channel verified to be in use exactly which 100
or so channels would be active?  This would be useful since one could
key in these frequencies and 'scan' them instead of frequency
searching.

Ideas?


Eric E. Snyder            Department of MCD Biology
University of Colorado, Boulder   Boulder, Colorado 80309-0347

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

From: [e-mail] (William Degnan)
Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1993 10:41:42 -0500
Subject: That's Easy For YOU to Say ...


According to a story which appeared in {USA Today Decisionline}, NYNEX
Corp has introduced a network-based voice-dialing service that permits
callers to dial by speaking the name of the party they wish to reach.

The story quotes NYNEX Science & Technology president Casimir
Skrzypczak, who I don't expect will get too many calls via this
method.

NYNEX, said they plan to file tariffs for VoiceDialing with the New
York PSC on Feb. 26 and expect a decision by May. They expect to
charge $4 - 6 per month for the feature.

                          -----------

"Well-informed people know it is impossible to transmit the voice over
wires.  Even if it were, it would be of no practical value."
                                    -- Boston Post 1865
                           ----------

William Degnan,  Communications Network Solutions
-Independent Consultants in Telecommunications and Technology-
P.O. Drawer 9530       | [e-mail] | [e-mail]
Austin, TX 78766-9530                |        Voice [phone]


[Moderator's Note: Gee, we had 'voice dialing' for the first half
century of the telephone ... they want to go back to that system?  PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Elizabeth Fong Wah Chan)
Subject: Sharing One FAX Card Among Several Voice Lines
Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1993 22:18:51 GMT


I am absolutely new to the field of telecom. Presently, my company
plans to install a voice processing system to do voice mail, audiotex,
and faxing.

We have purchased a four-line voice processing board and a software
development package.

Since we want to allow callers to be able to send and receive faxes in
addition to voice processing. One known solution is that we can
purchase four Intel SatisFAXtion model, each one connected to one of
the four phone lines to the voice processing board.

However, this solution is too expensive, and besides we don't need
that many fax boards. I wonder if there is some kind of simple
switching equipment that allows sharing of one fax board among all
four phone lines.

What I am thinking of is that when a caller dial up to a particular
line and is greeted by voice prompts and menus, he may choose to do
faxing and our software will send a special DTMF command that is
recognised by the switching equipment. The switching equipment will
then switch the fax board over to that particular line. Then the
caller can start faxing.

Certainly, only one caller can do faxing at a time. Access control can
be done by programming. What we need is the piece of switching
equipment that can accept DTMF as commands and do the switching
automatically.

Could anyone please advise what kinds of equipment we need, preferably
specific product information?


Thanks in advance.

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

From: [e-mail] (Keith Bechard)
Subject: General Magic's Telescript??
Organization: U S WEST/Advanced Technologies
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1993 20:08:58 GMT


Does anyone know where information can be obtained on General Magic's
Telescript language?


Thanks,

Keith Bechard    U S WEST/Advanced Technologies
[e-mail]    [phone]

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


From: [e-mail] (Robert L. Stinnett)
Subject: Ma Bell Calling
Organization: University of Missouri
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 93 19:02:55 CST


GTE is raising rates in this area again as well.  As I think back over
the years, it seems that phone-use and phone charges were more simpler
and less costly in the AT&T (Ma Bell) days.  Everything was right
there, no worrying about all these different companies, one
straight-forward bill.

What has happened to our communication society?  I think the line is
down and the repairman is on vacation.


[Moderator's Note: Don't get me started  :).   PAT]

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

From: Joe Smooth <[e-mail]>
Subject: Questions Ahout Uniden CP-1200 Cellular Phone
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1993 23:02:36 GMT


I have a Uniden CP-1200 mobile phone, and have a few questions about
it.

I noticed that in order to reprogram the NAM, etc., you need a
"diagnostics" handset or a "NAM programming" handset. Does anybody
know if there is a way to convert a normal, standard handset into one
of the above?  The tech I talked to at Uniden said that he couldn't
sell me one, because I am not an authorized service center.

Also, does anybody know where I can pick up an Oki-900 portable phone
CHEAP, or a battery for a Novatel 8320 transportable phone? Please let
me know.


Thanks a lot!

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

Reply-To: [e-mail]
From: Paul Robinson <[e-mail]>
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1993  17:56:29 EST
Subject: 1-800-CALL-ATT 'ext.  21' to be Discontinued


Effective April 1, dialing 1-800-CALL-ATT, then dialing extension 21
will no longer be available for getting direct access to AT&T's
switch.

Oh horrors!  What will we do, what will we do?

Fortunately, AT&T has an answer.  They have a new number which is
*exclusively* for connecting to their switch.  The new number is:

     1-800-321-0-ATT


Paul Robinson -- [e-mail]    This is my opinion only.

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

Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1993 23:24:28 -0800
From: [e-mail] (Eric Pearce)
Subject: List of Telecom Magazines Wanted


I poked around on lcs.mit.edu and didn't see any listing of telecom
magazines ... is there a list somewhere?  I'm interested in
subscription info, content and quality.


Thanks,

 -e

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

Reply-To: [e-mail]
From: Paul Robinson <[e-mail]>
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1993  23:14:41 EST
Subject: What is 'Los Angeles'?


[e-mail] spoke about the fact that the San Fernando Valley,
except for three towns, is all in the "City of Los Angeles" even
though they are identified as other places.

This is because some places get known by alternate names, and these
names become so common that they get used differently even though the
"official" name is something else.

A lot of people who got arrested in Los Angeles used to tell people
that they were staying at the "Graybar Hotel" instead of admitting
they were in the County Jail.  Until it was torn down a few years ago,
the post office would forward mail addressed to the "Graybar Hotel" to
the Los Angeles County Jail.  (This is where life imitates art.)

In case you are unaware, there is no such "city" as Hollywood; it is
also part of the "City of Los Angeles."  (There is, however, an
incorporated city called "West Hollywood.")

Right next to where I used to live in the incorporated city of Long
Beach, is "San Pedro".  The Police Department building says it is in
"San Pedro, CA."  What does it say on the police cars?  "Los Angeles
Police Department."  Not county; City of Los Angeles.

I heard they wanted to put a "Los Angeles City Limits" sign in the
Ukraine but that country is too small ...


[Moderator's Note: Did they tear down the post office, or the County
Jail?   PAT]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V13 #87
*****************************