larry@uunet.uu.net (Larry Lippman) (09/23/89)
In article <telecom-v09i0394m01@vector.dallas.tx.us> the Telecom Moderator writes: > [Moderator's Note: I suppose we > are technically-oriented enough here that 'three-row' and 'four-row' could > have been replaced with other terms. But those were the terms WU used to > explain the machines to their customers. The WU Directory had a detailed > picture of each type keyboard (three or four row) and the subscriber was > supposed to select the one resembling his model, then read the instructions > associated. There was a section which explained how the one type was to > connect with the other type as well. I seem to recall a diagram in earlier WU directories, but we discard the old WU directories, so I have nothing to refer to. According to the WU directory that we do have, WU does not appear to use "three row" or "four row" any more, but refer to the machines as "Model 32" and "Model 33". Of course, WU does not mention Baudot or ASCII, either. There is no illustration of any keyboards, but there is an illustration of how to read 5-level and 8-level paper tape - which is a skill that all state-of-the-art people involved with telecommunications should master, along with being proficient in Morse Code. :-) As an amusing aside to the recent issues about "junk fax", there is a similar problem which exists with telex service - but it is less severe. Most of the solicitations come from the international telex carriers, such as WUI, ITT, RCA, FTCC, etc. However, the WORST part of "junk telex" is not material received on the telex machine, but fraudulent invoices for listings in either non-existent or virtually non-distributed telex directories. This is a somewhat more sophisticated scam similar to that of phony "Yellow Pages" invoices for directory advertising. The largest and most widely used international telex directory is the multi-volume "Jaeger & Waldmann International Telex Directory", more commonly referred to as the "J&W". The J&W lists the subscribers of ALL telex carriers on a WORLDWIDE basis FREE OF CHARGE. The J&W is sold throughout the world, and is not affiliated with any particular telex carrier. The purchase price and legitimate paid advertising in the J&W obviously defrays the cost of listing all telex subscribers. In addition, each telex carrier publishes their own telex directory which is sent free of charge to all of their subscribers, and which obviously does not charge for a subscriber listing. My favorite scam invoice comes from a company located in Hollywood, CA called "The Telex/TWX Directory", and the "invoice" amount is generally for slightly over $ 100.00. "The Telex/TWX Directory" sounds pretty much like the legitimate Western Union directory, right? Wrong - its a scam! Somehow, most of these phony firms manage to stay one step ahead of the law. What is even more interesting is that many of these scams originate in foreign countries and pertain to a listing in some phony "international telex directory". My organization receives phony international telex directory invoices at least ONCE PER MONTH, with most of the letters originating in Germany, France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Hong Kong. The foreign invoices generally have no "fine print" which functions as an attempted legal disclaimer; they are blatantly fraudulent since the perpetrators know that they are essentially immune to any prosecution or civil litigation since the remittance address is outside the U.S. <> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp. - Uniquex Corp. - Viatran Corp. <> UUCP {allegra|boulder|decvax|rutgers|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry <> TEL 716/688-1231 | 716/773-1700 {hplabs|utzoo|uunet}!/ \uniquex!larry <> FAX 716/741-9635 | 716/773-2488 "Have you hugged your cat today?"