ix742%sdcc6@SDCSVAX.UCSD.EDU (Jim Hayes) (01/17/86)
I've been off the net for a while, so here's my chance to catch up:
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Touchtone (TM) charges on residential lines by Pac Bell in San Diego:
I was not asked whether I wanted it or not. But sure enough, the
second I started using it, BINGO $1.50 per month. I make a lot of
calls, and am impatient with:
click-click-pause-click-click-click-pause.
And by not using pulse-dialing, I'm saving the life of some $10
relay on a circuit card someplace and thereby avoiding interuption
of my service.
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GTE Sprint Echo:
AT&T uses land lines first, then combinations of satelite and microwave.
GTE Sprint is the other way around. Satelites first, then down the line.
In most areas, GTE has updated the equipment and software to
digitally extract that echo. But it's not perfect. If the callers
speak simultaneously, the echoes will bleed throught, but it really
isn't that bad.
The main complaints I have about GTE Sprint are their error
recordings. They are distributed to all local sites, and it's up to
each site to get the recording on the system. Most of the time, it
sounds like someone held a cassette player next to a microphone.
Most of the time, you can hear the PLAY button being pressed. This
results in REALLY LOUSY recordings. The recordings are usually very
loud and distorted, as well as the first few seconds fade in an out.
The female recordings are very pleasant and polite when recorded
correctly. Much better than AT&T or MCI.
This is not just a local problem. Where ever I travel and mis-punch
my secret code, I get something like this:
29 (BEEP) Your access code is incorrect, please verify it and try-again.
(LOUD) (muffled) (LOUD and DISTORTED) (Jittery) (Flutter)
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Contel: (Continental Telephone of California and Nevada)
Recently (while skiing) in Mammoth Lakes California, I wanted to use
GTE Sprint from a payphone. No local access, no 10777 or 950
service. So I called the operator:
Me: "Yes, I'd like to use GTE sprint for a long distance call. How do I
do so?"
Op: "GTF Sprint?" (She did indeed say the 'F'.) "What's that?"
Me: "An alternate long distance carrier."
Op: "Oh no sir. (Giggle) We only support AT&T."
So I used my calling card:
Op: "What is your calling card number?"
Me: "6xx4509x16xxxx" (The PIN has been removed to protect the stupid.)
Op: "One moment while I verify it."
(AT&T TONE: and tones as operator punches the number in: BEEP BEEP
BEEP BLIP BLIP BEEP.)
AT&T: "Card number is valid. Unlimited PIN"
Op: "Go ahead sir, it's ringing."
IS IT JUST ME OR ARE THEY IN THE DARK AGES?
What was worse, I was dialing a local number and heard the equpment
translating the tones to pulses for the step by step. REALLY SAD.
Half the time, the thing wouldn't translate correctly.
Well, that's all for now. I'm caught up. Thanks for listening!
--
- Jim Hayes
UC San Diego
ARPA: ix742%sdcc6@sdcsvax.ARPA
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