brian@ucsd.edu (Brian Kantor) (12/24/90)
In the large hunt group on our campus Ericsson switch, I have had the lines set up with 'uniform call distribution' so that the least recently used line is selected first when a new call comes in. This is a real boon for modem banks like this, since it means that one failed modem won't inconvenience everybody - someone connects to it, disconnects when it provides unsatisfactory service, and on their call back, they'll get a different modem. That way people can still get some service until I get a chance to fix the bad one. I also have about a hundred PacBell single measured business lines in modem hunt groups. I'd like to get uniform call distribution on them as well, but the campus telecom people tell me they couldn't get an answer out of PacBell as to whether it's available or not, how to order it if it is, nor how much it might cost. We're served by a 5-ESS and a DMS-100, so I don't believe switch capability is the problem. Anyone know what PacBell might call this (yeah, Higdon, I know, "unavailable") so I can get a price and/or order it? Brian
RAF@cu.nih.gov (Roger Fajman) (12/25/90)
In order to get uniform call distribution (aka circular hunt) for a 10-line BBS I run, I had to get Centrex service. It did not make a huge difference in the monthly rate, so it wasn't a big deal. I did have a lot of trouble getting people in the telco business office to understand what it was that I wanted. I also got a separate number for each of the ten lines on the rotary, with an eleventh number for the rotary itself. This lets each line be individually dialed for problem determination. This may or may not be of help to you, as I am not in PacBell land. My BBS is in Rockville, Maryland, which is Bell Atlantic (Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone) territory.