OLE@csli.stanford.edu (Ole J. Jacobsen) (06/12/90)
I have just returned from the UK with a few toys in my bag: You can now buy UK-style modular plugs in electronics shops (including Tandy [Radio Shack]) in the UK. These can be attached quite easily to a US linecord if you follow the instructions below. This will allow you to attach a US phone to the UK network. While this is not legal of course, I have verified that it works. Using a BT extension socket, I have also made a UK test jack with a US "tail" so that UK phones with the modular jacks can be plugged into US systems. This too is probably not legal, but if you own your own PBX. Note that the UK modular plugs cannot be had from British Telecom shops, since this would allow you to plug non-approved apparatus into their system, but run down the road to a Tandy or somesuch, and you're all set. Extension cords and do-it-yourself jacks *are* available from BT. The way you are supposed to install extra jacks is rather amusing. The "master socket" is considered holy, so you plug a converter (splitter) into it (rather than punching down your own cable) and run cable to the extension socket(s), unless you have a "new style linebox" in which case you *can* attach the wires directly. BT sells 9 different "kits" (including one which contains "50 cable cleats," we call those "clamps" over here I think...) To attach a UK modular jack to a US cord: 1. Remove about 1/2 inch of the outer insulation to expose the 4 wires: black, red, green, yellow 2. Cut the black an yellow wires away. 3. Spread the red and green into a V-shape and insert carefully into the UK plug. Note that the wires should go to pins 2 and 5, which, on all the plugs I was able to find, corresponds to the outer-most connectors. This is a bit surprising if you are used to US modular plugs. * 4. Using a vice, good pliers or similar, squeeze the plug together, so that the connectors crimp onto the wires. Some suppliers will include disposable "thingy" to aid you in this process. This "thingy" (die) also drives the strain-relief home. You could also buy an expesive tool for this purpose. 5. Assuming there is a US modular jack (and phone) at the other end of the cable, you are now ready to play. * Note: This means that pins 1 and 6 are missing from the plug, and according to a previous poster 1 and 6 are reserved for ISDN so that makes sense. Also note that these plugs are impossible to find in the US, but I wonder if you could order them through Radio Shack, since the pack I got in Tandy has a proper Archer stock number. ** Note also: The above does not take into account any bell-tap prevention for UK phones connected to US networks. See previous poster on the use of capacitors etc. I have not found bell-tap to be much of a problem since any other phone on the line would typically be touch-tone and thus not generate much "spark". Ole
mb@sparrms.ists.ca (Mike Bell) (06/14/90)
OLE@csli.stanford.edu (Ole J. Jacobsen) writes: >You can now buy UK-style modular plugs in electronics shops (including >Tandy [Radio Shack]) in the UK. These can be attached quite easily to >a US linecord if you follow the instructions below. This will allow >you to attach a US phone to the UK network. While this is not legal of >course, I have verified that it works. Using a BT extension socket, I "It works" is a matter of interpretation. The mark/space ratios for pulse dial phones differ (most of the UK is pulse dial only) and US pulse dial phones will therefore give wrong numbers on some exchanges. ie. this is an "it may work but don't rely on it" method. Mike Bell -- <mb@sparrms.ists.ca>
ashbya@uunet.uu.net (Adam J. Ashby) (06/15/90)
mb@sparrms.ists.ca (Mike Bell) writes: >OLE@csli.stanford.edu (Ole J. Jacobsen) writes: >>course, I have verified that it works. Using a BT extension socket, I >pulse dial phones differ (most of the UK is pulse dial only) and US ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Most of the UK is both tone and pulse dialling (tone dialling is free!) and is increasingly digital due to aggressive System X and System Y replacement. In my opinion, BT offer a far superior telephone service than I experience here in Illinois, even though they don't (yet) offer all those wonderfully use(less)(ful) features that we have here. Adam