macy@uunet.uucp (Macy Hallock) (10/08/90)
In article <13144@accuvax.nwu.edu> John Higdon (Fellow GTE Victim) writes: >I remember one time, late at night, when my car was acting funny out >in the desert. No cellular service was available (there is now, thank >goodness) but there was a gas station at hand. Unfortunately, it was >closed and the COCOT was apparently powered from the pump circuit, >since it was dead. This was one of the most frightening experiences to >date related to a COCOT. This was always a problem, even before COCOT's came into being. As a 20+ year telephone man, I can tell you that I never, ever travel without a butt-in and a few hand tools in my briefcase. A good butt set is better than a mobile phone. (This also makes for interesting conversations at the security X-ray at the airport.) My car broke down our in the country a few years ago. One house in sight. No one home. Since this was my wife's car, no IMTS mobile phone. So, out comes the butt set, I make a credit card call off the house's protector, and my brother is on his way to get us. Same story for a problem at a construction site a couple of years ago. I also use it to summon telco repair to aid customers, friends and the general public when needed. I have also summoned police and medical aid when the need arose. Sort of a telecom good samaritan gesture... Bear in mind, I use this tool only when necessary and in a responsible manner. I also get asked to fix phones a lot when people see it. (which I often do). I have also found other uses for traveling butt sets ... did I ever tell you about my trip to Cancun? I fixed two phone lines for a condo owner while I was there (who I met by accident) and he paid me back with a very enjoyable two days of personal sightseeing and use of a car. Now, lets ask wb8foz about using a butt-set in Havana... Macy M. Hallock, Jr. macy@NCoast.ORG uunet!aablue!fmsystm!macy
CRW@icf.hrb.com (Craig R. Watkins) (10/11/90)
In article <13163@accuvax.nwu.edu>, Macy Hallock <aablue.aablue.com. uux!macy@uunet.uucp> writes: > This was always a problem, even before COCOT's came into being. As a > 20+ year telephone man, I can tell you that I never, ever travel > without a butt-in and a few hand tools in my briefcase. I travel with a light (somewhat cheap) single piece phone, an RJ11 jack with spade leads and some jumper-clips (in addition to some RJ11 cables for a modem). Although quite possibly less reliable and less sturdy than the butt set, depeding upon type, it can be smaller, lighter, and certainly less expensive if you don't already have a butt set! Quite useful for voicemail, DISA, etc from non-TT hotel rooms. I second the motion on the hand tools (I recently picked up one of the small (small calculator-sized) DVM's for my case -- it was on sale at Radio Shack for around $15). Craig R. Watkins Internet: CRW@ICF.HRB.COM HRB Systems, Inc. Bitnet: CRW%HRB@PSUECL.Bitnet +1 814 238-4311 UUCP: ...!psuvax1!hrbicf!crw