[comp.dcom.telecom] AUTOVON precedence dialling

brent@uunet.uu.net (Brent Capps) (09/29/90)

In article <12710@accuvax.nwu.edu>, bill@toto.info.com (Bill Cerny)
writes:

> If you tire of reaching reorder when dialing
> '8' for routine AUTOVON, you call the operator and provide the
> authorization code for the precedence (P, I, F) and destination
> (CONUS, Overseas), to which she usually replies, "I'm sorry sir, there
> are no circuits available at this time."  :-(

I would be a little suspicious that I was being fed a line if an
operator at a batphone (a.k.a. attendent console) told me all circuits
were busy when I placed a call at flash precedence.  That's a pretty
high precedence level, and should preempt anything and everything that
gets in its way -- trunks, 2W or 4W sets, 3- or 6-port conference
bridges, you name it.  The only thing it won't preempt is another call
at flash or flash override precedence.

> Apparently, the 4-wire desk sets have been
> replaced by regular 2500 (or 74xx, or STU III) sets.  You select
> AUTOVON precedence with the trunk code (80 for routine, 81 for
> priority); provided your station has the class of service mark to
> access that precedence (otherwise it's back to authorization codes and
> the operator).

The availability of the precedence code 80, 81, etc, on 2W sets is why
the 4W sets aren't needed anymore.  Remember, 4W sets are trunks --
therefore, they have to be able to directly generate the extra DTMF
tones associated with the precedence level.  This is why they have to
have 16 keys, whereas a 2W set doesn't; the CO intercepts the
precedence code and inserts the precedence digit when dialling on a
trunk.  The only remaining advantage to a 4W set is the comparitively
long distance that the set can be located from the CO.  I don't know
about AT&T, but the NT SL-100s at Vandeland and Wright Pitiful AFB
still have a few 4W sets, or did as of 1988.


Brent Capps               "insert standard disclaimer here"
Kentrox Ind., Inc.         uunet: ...!kentrox!brent
Portland, OR               (503) 643-1681 x325