bote@uunet.uu.net (John Boteler) (08/16/89)
I go one further to suggest that anyone seriously interested in
the telecommunications systems of this nation should make every
effort to attend a 'cutover party'.
I was fortunate enough to watch one of the last #5 crossbar offices
in the Washington D.C. area cutover to #5 ESS last year.
It really is difficult to imagine just how this process operates
without witnessing it: the evening of the cutover, arrangements
are made to minimize loss of service to emergency and priority
subscribers, while phone phreaks gather around the telephone chair
to record the event for posterity.
As the critical moment approaches, the mucky-mucks (local politicians,
telephone company big-wigs, etc.) hunch around the console of the
new switch watching the operator sit back and view the high-tech
computerized graphic display...and wait.
Meanwhile, your tail is over on the business end of the cutover
where the cutover crew prepares for its work, which means literally cutting
the wires connecting the subscriber loops to the old switching
machine. (Probably why it's called a 'cutover':) When the foreman
has verified that everyone is ready, the signal is given and
the cutover crewmembers start up their equipment--hand-held
power drills with huge duckbill cutter attachments in place of
drill bit chucks; the mucky-mucks watch the console...and wait.
Each member of the cutover crew races down a particular row and
severs the wires at lightning speed! The crew I witnessed was
so rehearsed after umpteen-dozen cutovers around here that
the cutover schedule was actually moved earlier! These guys
and gals really flew!!
After a few minutes of frenzy, wire segments flying everywhere,
the cutters turned off, the only sound remaining in the huge
equipment room was the lonely gong of the old XBAR5 trouble alarm,
calling out for some craftsperson to please, please say it isn't so.
Bote
Old & Improved path!: uunet!comsea!csense!bote
New & Improved path!: {zardoz|uunet!tgate|cos!}ka3ovk!media!cyclops!csense!bote