edlee@chinet.chi.il.us (Edward Lee) (11/23/89)
Do you hate encountering wall-mounted telephones which you cannot use
with your laptop computer to make outgoing modem calls? Well, here is
an inexpensive ($3.00) alternative to buying the BLACKJACK(tm) ($30.00)
modular connecting device:
1. Go to a local supermarket (e.g. Dominick's, Jewel), and go to the
area where light bulbs are sold.
2. Buy a General Electric "modular 2-for-1 adapter" (GE2906-4D) that
looks like this:
(top view)
_
| | <-- 1 MALE connector
_|_|_
/ \
| |
|_______| <-- 2 FEMALE connectors
3. Plug the MALE connector of the General Electric adapter into your
LAPTOP MODEM's telephone jack (a female connector).
4. Lift up the TELEPHONE HANDSET and unplug the SPIRAL CORD with
its MODULAR CONNECTOR from the handset:
TELEPHONE __ #
HANDSET---> / | __ #
lifted | _| | |#
off hook | | _| |#
| | | |#
| |_ | |#
| | | |# WALL
\__| | |#
|__|#
Unplugged---> . o #
MODULAR o o #
CONNECTOR o o #
oo #
5. Plug the modular connector of the SPIRAL CORD into one of the
General Electric "modular 2-for-1 adapter" female connectors that has
four visible copper wires.
6. Power up your modem, start your telecommunications software,
and dial out to a computer system.
ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES:
The advantages the General Electric adapter has over the BLACKJACK is
that the General Electric adapter is INEXPENSIVE, EASY TO GET, and
EASY TO USE.
A disadvantage the General Electric adapter has is that any AUTOMATIC
REDIALING feature of your telecommunications software CANNOT be used
with the adapter. Another disadvantage is that LONG DISTANCE CALLS
may not work with the General Electric adapter (unconfirmed), but
perhaps long distance calls will work better with the BLACKJACK.
DISCLAIMERS:
You use the General Electric adapter at your own risk. It was not
designed to be used as it is described in this article. I assume NO
responsibility for any damage which might occur to your equipment.
I am not in any way affiliated with General Electric.
SCHEMATIC:
phone --> spiral cord --> GE MODULAR ADAPTER --> modem --> computer
Let me know how the adapter works for you.
-Ed L
edlee@chinet.chi.il.us