[comp.dcom.telecom] Residential Centrex

judice@kyoa.enet.dec.com (Louis J. Judice 12-Nov-1989 1126) (11/13/89)

Can someone explain how residential Centrex (which I believe is offered
by Illinois Bell) works (ie. connections to the CO, what premises equipment
is required, etc).

Thanks,
Lou Judice
Digital Equipment Corp.
Piscataway, NJ 08855
201-562-4103

[Moderator's Note: Nothing is required except the requisite number of
pairs from the CO and the single line instruments. Everything else is
in the software at the CO.   PT]

tad@ssc.UUCP (Tad Cook) (11/14/89)

Lou asked how residential Centrex works.  Here is how mine is set up.

We are served by a 5ESS CO, and US West calls the service
"CentraFlex".  When someone calls out number and it is busy, the call
rotates over to our second line.  When that number is busy, a third
incoming call will give a call waiting tone on the second line.  The
call on the second line is put on hold (flash *9) and the second call
is answered.  Then that call can be transferred with another hookflash
and any other number can be dialed.

We also have call transfer...nice if I am in the basement and want to
transfer the call back to the other line so someone on the 2nd floor
can get it.  We also have intercom from either line by dialing #2.
Actually #2 is just the intercom code for the first line, but it works
both ways since the first line dialing itself will roll to the 2nd
line.

Right now I am on the modem on the first line, wired thru a Proctor
group exclusion module so no one can interrupt.  Any incoming calls
roll to the 2nd line.

One thing the call transfer is fun for...saving my friends toll
charges.  Here in Seattle we have WIDE extended area service to the
suburbs, but most of the burbs cannot call each other without paying
toll.  So my friends call me, tell me the number, I hookflash and dial
it, then hang up....it ties up a trunk or two in my CO, but does not
tie up my line.

Tad Cook
tad@ssc.UUCP