TELECOM Moderator <telecom@eecs.nwu.edu> (04/08/91)
Over the weekend I bought a CPS-200 Call Forwarding System from Radio Shack. At the local store here, they had one left, marked down to $29.95, and I thought that price alone made it worthwhile. This unit does require two actual phone lines; one to accept calls, and the other to forward the call. Since I have 'genuine' call forwarding from Illinois Bell, I won't need it a lot, but one good use came to mind: I'll use it to remotely turn on call forwarding on my main line! The device takes calls on (relative to it) 'line 1' and forwards the call on (relative to it) 'line 2'. You call on the device's 'line 2' to remotely make changes in the forwarded number and turn the device on or off. Device line 1/2 < = > 2/1 on my phones. So I call on device line 2 (my phone line 1) and it answers after 17 rings. I tell it to 'forward' my calls to 1172-new-number. I hang up and call back on device line 1 (my phone line 2) and my call forces the device to dial out on phone line 1 '1172-new-number'. Presto, forwarding has been established, and subsequent calls to my phone line 1 go to wherever the forwarding (1172) said to go. The only problem is I cannot change that number or cancel forwarding since after forwarding has been established, telco controls my line and I can't get near the device (via phone line 1 / device line 2) until I come home and kill it with 1173. Let me work on this scheme a little longer. PAT
Tim Irvin <irvin@northstar105.dartmouth.edu> (04/09/91)
In TELECOM Digest V11 #277, Moderator writes: > The device takes calls on (relative to it) 'line 1' and forwards the > call on (relative to it) 'line 2'. You call on the device's 'line 2' > to remotely make changes in the forwarded number and turn the device > on or off. Device line 1/2 < = > 2/1 on my phones. So I call on > device line 2 (my phone line 1) and it answers after 17 rings. I tell > it to 'forward' my calls to 1172-new-number. I hang up and call back > on device line 1 (my phone line 2) and my call forces the device to > dial out on phone line 1 '1172-new-number'. Presto, forwarding has > been established, and subsequent calls to my phone line 1 go to > wherever the forwarding (1172) said to go. The only problem is I > cannot change that number or cancel forwarding since after forwarding > has been established, telco controls my line and I can't get near the > device (via phone line 1 / device line 2) until I come home and kill > it with 1173. Let me work on this scheme a little longer. I can see only one way around this, and that requires that IBT and NET have the same features. If you get a distinctive ringing feature on your "phone line 1/device line 2", and have IBT Call Forwarding activated to only work on your Main number (not your distinctive ring number). Then to cancel Call Forwarding, call your distinctive ring number, which will ring through to the Ripoff Shack box and your off and running. And since your distinctive ring number will "ring-ring", you will only have to wait nine rings (actually 8-1/2 :) -- an added bonus. Tim Irvin [Moderator's Note: Bravo! You found the solution, and yes, I do have a distinctive (short double-ring) number attached to my first line and no, it is not set to forward when the main line is forwarded. I have not yet tested to see if your theory of it 'answering in half the time' is valid. PAT]
Michael Coleman <coleman@cs.ucla.edu> (04/10/91)
telecom@eecs.nwu.edu (TELECOM Moderator) writes: > So I call on > device line 2 (my phone line 1) and it answers after 17 rings. I tell > it to 'forward' my calls to 1172-new-number. I hang up and call back So... What's your phone number, Mr. Townson? ;-) [Moderator's Note: Many people know my number -- and some say they've got my number (!) :) ... but the catch is, if anyone answers within 17 rings the deal is off, and when it does answer, you need my password. Then, it would help if you knew the number of the second line so you could dial it and activate the first line. PAT]
rlg@nosc.mil (04/11/91)
In article <telecom11.277.4@eecs.nwu.edu> TELECOM Moderator writes: > Over the weekend I bought a CPS-200 Call Forwarding System from Radio > Shack. At the local store here, they had one left, marked down to > $29.95, and I thought that price alone made it worthwhile. Definitely. (I assume this is really the CFS-200). ^ [Moderator's Note: You are right, it is the CFS-200. PAT] > This unit does require two actual phone lines; one to accept calls, > and the other to forward the call. Since I have 'genuine' call > forwarding from Illinois Bell, I won't need it a lot, but one good use > came to mind: I'll use it to remotely turn on call forwarding on my > main line! > ... [exotic method to remotely set up "1172" telco > call-forwarding has a problem with loss of remote control, followup > suggesting use of distinctive ringing to solve the problem.] I actually prefer the CFS-200's call forwarding to that provided by my telco (GTE). I just use the box as intended, without trying to make it set up telco call forwarding instead. When a call comes in on line 1, the box immediately calls out on line 2. When line 2 is answered, the box waits for someone to speak, then beeps to let the answering party know that this is a forwarded call. Only then is line 1 answered/supervised and bridged to line 2. This is so fast that the caller does not notice anything unusual. When working at a client's site, I can set it up to ring in on one of their unused rotary lines, if available. Otherwise, I just have it call their main number, the receptionist answers "Amalgamated Industries", hears a beep, then answers "Computersmith" because she knows its for me. Other benefits: - You can forward out on the line with all the discount calling programs. - You can have it follow you from place to place (even without distinctive ringing.) - If the forwarded call is not answered, an answering machine on line 1 can still take the call. I am surprised at how well it works, particularly for a Radio Shack product. Randy Gregor | Computersmith rlg@xenon.sr.com or uunet!paralogics!compsm!rlg | POB 25-D +1 213 477 4338 | Los Angeles, CA 90025 [Moderator's Note: The way you describe it is exactly how mine works. The problem I have is, I *forget* to turn on call-forwarding when I leave and I forget to turn it off when I return. If I can't remember to dial it on the phone, I probably would not remember to flip the little switch on the unit to turn it on when I left. That's why I though in my case it would be better as a <controller> to turn the telco version on from a distance. The ideal service for me would be 'transfer on busy/no answer', and it would automatically follow me. On my cell phone I have that feature and can program it on/off/where to forward from the cell phone. On my home line, IBT insists they only offer it programmed from the CO always on, with absolutely no way to change the destination, etc other than a $15 work order. PAT]
JOHN WINSLADE <winslade@zeus.unomaha.edu> (04/12/91)
In a recent article, Patrick writes: > Over the weekend I bought a CPS-200 Call Forwarding System from Radio > Shack. At the local store here, they had one left, marked down to > $29.95, and I thought that price alone made it worthwhile. > This unit does require two actual phone lines; one to accept calls, > and the other to forward the call. Since I have 'genuine' call > forwarding from Illinois Bell, I won't need it a lot, but one good use > came to mind: I'll use it to remotely turn on call forwarding on my > main line! That's a very interesting use for the unit. Am I correct to assume that the reason it is being closed out is that it is almost useless as a 'real' call diverter because (among other things) it simply bridges the two lines which results in the acoustic efficiency close to that of tin cans and string? I have yet to see, but would like to find a call diverter and a 'conference' phone that makes some kind of attempt to equalize and amplify the link between the end connections so that the parties involved do not have to shout. The so-called conference phones usually bridge the lines and are about as useful as the proverbial screen door on the submarine. I realize that balancing the line from the subscriber end is very messy, but I would have thought by now that someone would have figured out a way to do it. Good day! JSW [Moderator's Note: I think the reason they are being closed out is because most people would not buy it when they realized that unlike the telco version, it requires two actual phone lines. In fact, the manager of the Radio Shack promptly mentioned that to me when I expressed interest in this unit. I only used it a couple times as it was intended, and I did not notice any audio degredation. This version came out a few years ago when telco custom calling was less common in many areas of the country. I think most people now prefer to use the telco version when possible. PAT]
Stephen Tell <tell@cs.unc.edu> (04/15/91)
In article <telecom11.287.4@eecs.nwu.edu> winslade@zeus.unomaha.edu (JOHN WINSLADE) writes: > In a recent article, Patrick writes: >> Over the weekend I bought a CPS-200 Call Forwarding System from Radio >> Shack. At the local store here, they had one left, marked down to >> $29.95, and I thought that price alone made it worthwhile. Based on discussion here I went and looked at one, and then bought the last one they had here in Chapel Hill. > That's a very interesting use for the unit. Am I correct to assume > that the reason it is being closed out is that it is almost useless as > a 'real' call diverter because (among other things) it simply bridges > the two lines which results in the acoustic efficiency close to that > of tin cans and string? The last page of the instruction booklet contains a schematic for the unit. This is really why I bought it. Its tiny; use a magnifying glass or enlarging xerox machine. There do appear to be some opamps and stuff between the isolation transformers (one per line). I haven't analyzed the circuit yet. The heart of the thing is a 40-pin DIP with smaller-than-usual pin spacing. Its obviously one of those single-chip computers, although I don't recognize it: The schematic calls it a TMS7DC42. The chip itself is labeled: TCT1061 MAS (delta) 727 02 Where (delta) indicates a symbol that looks a lot like the greek letter of that name. Most of the pins on the chip are clearly I/O lines; the pins are labeled on the schematic: A0-7, B0-7, C0-7, D0-7, INT1*, INT3*, VSS, VDD, MC, RESET*, XTAL1, and XTAL2. Anyone recognize this beastie? I haven't done much investigating yet. If I can't find out what chip this is, I may just desolder it and wire the I/O pins up to an 8052 based board or somthing. Of course I'll get to do software from scratch that way, but I probably couldn't read the code out of the chip that's in there. Its probably a mask-programmed thingy. It looks like a good toy for someone who's comfortable with a soldering iron and EPROM programmer. If I find out anything more I will follow up if there's interest in projects based around this thing. Steve Tell tell@cs.unc.edu H: +1 919 968 1792 #5L Estes Park apts CS Grad Student, UNC Chapel Hill. W: +1 919 962 1845 Carrboro NC 27510
leroy Casterline <casterli@lamar.colostate.edu> (04/16/91)
> The device takes calls on (relative to it) 'line 1' and forwards the > call on (relative to it) 'line 2'. You call on the device's 'line 2' My company just finished developing a call forwarding device for a client. This device will forward calls using three-way calling and a single phone line. It will forward calls to just about anything, including cellular phones, pagers, SMR's and international numbers. Re-programming is accomplished by calling it and overdialing a code when it speaks the "Please wait, this call is being transferred" message. This brings up a voice menu which allows you to change forward-to numbers, change it's mode, etc. It can also be used in a mode where it allows the answering machine to answer the call, then monitors for 'screening' DTMF tones, which will transfer the call to one of the forward-to numbers on the spot. Allows you to give the codes to 'important' clients, family members, etc who can then reach you wherever you are, while other callers (who don't know the codes) are handled by the answering machine. One nice feature of this device is that it allows you to receive calls on your cellular phone (even while roaming) without you having to give your cellular number to anyone. Leroy Casterline
Chip Rosenthal <chip@chinacat.unicom.com> (04/18/91)
In article <telecom11.293.5@eecs.nwu.edu> tell@cs.unc.edu (Stephen Tell) writes: > The schematic calls it a TMS7DC42. TMS70C42??? That's a T.I. 8-bit micro. > Where (delta) indicates a symbol that looks a lot like the greek > letter of that name. That delta is probably the `ESD sensitive device' marking. Chip Rosenthal 512-482-8260 Unicom Systems Development <chip@chinacat.Unicom.COM>