wohler@sapwdf.UUCP (Bill Wohler) (04/04/91)
jlhg0793@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Joseph Herl) writes: > I understand that modems must have an FTZ number. What is it, and >how can I find a modem that has one? joseph, the modems you buy in the states will work in germany (modulo voltage and telephone cable conversions). it's the legal stuff you have to worry about. the FTZ number is the Bundespost equivalent of the FCC number in the states. legally, you can't use any device that doesn't carry the FTZ number which is added to devices sold in germany that meet bundespost specifications. > I read some time ago that users of foreign modems should be careful >that the modem does not release any current into the telephone line, but I >can't remember why. Can anyone explain this? it could be the other way around. if the bundespost knows that you have one phone, they may be able to detect the presence of the modem if it is also connected to the line. this is the "Ringer Equivalence" and usually each phone or device has a RE of 1. > One person has told me that the Bundespost's restrictions on foreign >modems will no longer exist after 1991. Is this true? if anyone else knows about this, i would like to hear it. i've got lots of US devices that are just waiting... --bw ----- Bill Wohler <wohler@sap-ag.de> <sapwdf!wohler> Heidelberg Red Barons Ultimate Frisbee Team
bressler@lwtua6.sdi.sub.org (Stefan Bressler) (04/08/91)
In article <2723@sapwdf.UUCP> Bill Wohler <wohler@sap-ag.de> writes: >jlhg0793@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Joseph Herl) writes: >> I read some time ago that users of foreign modems should be careful >>that the modem does not release any current into the telephone line, but I >>can't remember why. Can anyone explain this? > > it could be the other way around. if the bundespost knows that you > have one phone, they may be able to detect the presence of the modem > if it is also connected to the line. this is the "Ringer > Equivalence" and usually each phone or device has a RE of 1. > >> One person has told me that the Bundespost's restrictions on foreign >>modems will no longer exist after 1991. Is this true? > > if anyone else knows about this, i would like to hear it. i've got > lots of US devices that are just waiting... No. In 1991 there has only been one change: Nowadays we are able to buy our telephone equipment ourselves in a shop rather than renting it from German Bundespost. In order to use it legally, all equipment must be Bundespost approved. (By the way, this approvement is called ZZF). But I suggest you, to ignore this approvement. I know of many cases, where non-approved equipment is being used and of no case where this is a problem. The US devices work perfectly in Germany and have a much better price/performance ratio than ZZF-approved devices. If you don't bother German Bundespost and if you pay your phone bill they will not bother you. mit freundlichen Gruessen Stefan Bressler -- ------------------------------------------------------------- Bussardstrasse 42 bressler@sdi.sub.org D-8025 Unterhaching bressler@lan.informatik.tu-muenchen.de