[comp.dcom.modems] Guard Tone Selection

maxim@subch.UUCP (Maxim Samo) (01/15/89)

Most  Hayes compatible modems got an option to set a guard tone (none, 550  Hz
or  1800  Hz).  This mode is only used in CCITT mode (that's what  the  manual
says).   I  don't  have any Idea what a guard tone is and I havn't  found  any
documentation of this feature.  Anybody knows what it is?

Maxim
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Kenneth_R_Jongsma@cup.portal.com (01/21/89)

Guard Tone disables the echo cancellers on some networks. It's supposed
to improve the data rate of the circuit....

ch@maths.tcd.ie (Charles Bryant) (01/23/89)

In article <26@subch.UUCP> maxim@subch.UUCP (Maxim Samo) writes:
>Most  Hayes compatible modems got an option to set a guard tone (none, 550  Hz
>or  1800  Hz).  This mode is only used in CCITT mode (that's what  the  manual
>says).   I  don't  have any Idea what a guard tone is and I havn't  found  any
>documentation of this feature.  Anybody knows what it is?

This option put out the tone constantly (along with the normal modem carrier).
It prevents problems with in-band signalling. For example, in Great Britain a
pure tone of 2280 Hz will clear a call, since the Bell 103 and 212 modems
emit 2225 Hz when answering, this would clear a call in Britain (hence a BBS
using Bell standards would never let anyone log on!). This can be a problem
with answering machines also. If you change the message by dialling up the
machine, when you hang up some of this tone gets recorded at the end of your
message so every time someone calls you, the machine plays your message, and 
immediately cuts them off!

As the exchanges only respond to pure tones, an extra tone will stop them
recognising modem carriers as commands hence the guard tones. The 550 Hz is
used in Scandinavian countries, and 1800 Hz elsewhere (though I don't know
why there is a difference).

	Charles Bryant (ch@dce.ie)
I work for Datacode Electronics, modem manufacturers
and read news on maths.tcd.ie
-- 

		Charles Bryant.
Working at Datacode Electronics Ltd.