[comp.dcom.telecom] Two Beepers, One Number

Ken Levitt <levitt@zorro9.fidonet.org> (06/01/91)

I own two Motorola digital pagers type BPR2000 Model A03BGB4661C.  One
of them is currently receiving messages from a local beeper provider
and the other one is not.

The units are identical in every way (including frequency) except for
the serial number.  I would like to have both units beep when the
signal comes in so that I could carry one unit and my partner could
carry the other.  Only one of us would be on call at any given time,
but it would be nice to not have to pass the unit back and forth
constantly.

The serial number seems to be contained on a long white plug in chip
that is labeled "Motorola Permacode Code Plug".

Is there any way to reprogram this chip or to purchase a new chip that
matches the number of my other beeper?


Ken Levitt - On FidoNet gateway node 1:16/390
UUCP: zorro9!levitt
INTERNET: levitt%zorro9.uucp@talcott.harvard.edu 

dag@uunet.uu.net> (06/03/91)

In article <telecom11.414.2@eecs.nwu.edu> levitt@zorro9.fidonet.org
(Ken Levitt) writes:

> I own two Motorola digital pagers type BPR2000 Model A03BGB4661C.  One
> of them is currently receiving messages from a local beeper provider
> and the other one is not.

> The serial number seems to be contained on a long white plug in chip
> that is labeled "Motorola Permacode Code Plug".

> Is there any way to reprogram this chip or to purchase a new chip that
> matches the number of my other beeper?

Ick, I'm don't believe that is the most elegant way of solving the
problem.  I've had to deal with similar situations many times and
normally you can call the provider and they will make a small change
to flag both beepers during a call.  The company I use makes this type
of change free of charge and the cost would be the rental of two
beepers plus one phone number.  I suppose it would be even cheaper if
you own the beepers.

I also find it useful to have multiple numbers on one beeper.  For
example, I currently have a voice mail/pager system on one number, I
primarily use this for personal stuff, and two seperate numbers that
I've given to my two biggest clients.  The advantage of this is that
each number also has a different letter illuminated (the A B C D at
the bottom of most Motorola pagers) so I have a pretty good idea who
is paging me.  All of this costs about $22 a month, including pager
rental, which seems cheap to me.

I suppose the next step would to get an alphanumeric pager and have my
computer send the subject line of each mail message I receive to it,
although there is a such a thing as being to available.


Cheers, 

darren alex griffiths		(415) 708-3294			dag@well.sf.ca

john@uunet.uu.net> (06/04/91)

In article <telecom11.414.2@eecs.nwu.edu> levitt@zorro9.fidonet.org
(Ken Levitt) writes:

> The units are identical in every way (including frequency) except for
> the serial number.  I would like to have both units beep when the
> signal comes in so that I could carry one unit and my partner could
> carry the other.  Only one of us would be on call at any given time,
> but it would be nice to not have to pass the unit back and forth
> constantly.

As long as you expect to pay for service for two pagers and not just
one, I am sure that your paging service would be more than happy make
this change for you.

> The serial number seems to be contained on a long white plug in chip
> that is labeled "Motorola Permacode Code Plug".

The permacode sets the code that the page will respond to.  These are
replacable parts, and most pager service centers and many paging
services carry spare code plugs, but few carry duplicate code plugs.
You would end up having to order a new code plug.  Expect to spend
$100 or so for the new code plug.  If your paging service has two
duplicate code plugs of a different code, it might end up cheaper to
change both pagers to a new code.


John A. Weeks III               (612) 942-6969             john@newave.mn.org
NeWave Communications, Ltd.                        ...uunet!tcnet!newave!john