[comp.dcom.telecom] Daemon Dialer

GREEN@wharton.upenn.edu (Scott D. Green) (04/07/89)

I've been using the Daemon in my office for many years now.  I think I picked
it up at Radio Schlock.  I dedicated it to one the lines on my old ATT leased
key system.  We had to play with the jumpers a little bit, but it has been
working faithfully ever since - even with my replacement key system, an Eagle.
(I feared that the all-electronic Eagle would be too "smart" for the Daemon.)

The auto-redial feature is truly the best, but you can't really appreciate it
unless you've got a speakerphone or a headset.  After reaching a busy, hangup
and dial *3.  It will keep trying, for the first minute or so constantly, then
every 30 seconds for ever :).  Once it detects ringing, it kicks in the
"normal" volume.  It sometimes gets confused if it takes a l-o-n-n-n-g time to
hit the ring, since that's what it's trying to find.  It will also auto-redial
for no answers as well as busys.  BTW, if you don't have speaker or headset,
dial *2 and once it decides that the call has connected the handset will emit
a fairly loud BEEP BEEP BEEP to alert you.  Flash the switchhook to complete
the connection.  (Note:  it would be fairly uncomfortable to have the alert
go off in your ear - this should only be used if you're going to lay the
handset down.)

As was mentioned earlier, you install the Daemon on your line, and, assuming
you're wired in series, it will be available on all extensions of that number.

Programming is easy:  # S (for Store) # (2-7 character code) # AC+number #.
If you try to use an existing code, it beeps and kicks you off.  To delete:
# D (for Delete) #.  A confirmation tone lets you know if you're successful.
And to dial, # (code) #.

A big drawback:  YOU must keep track of all your codes and associated numbers.

Sort of like BOC's speedcalling.  On the other hand, if you get totally
snafu-ed, there is a Clear All command so you can start over.

If the phone goes off-hook for more than 3-4 seconds without a #, the Daemon
disengages, allowing other use of the # (octothorpe?).

Anyway, without dragging on much longer, I am very pleased that Zoom is still
in business and that the Daemon is still available.  Radio Schlock dropped, and
I didn't see it advertised for a long time.  Not even in DAK.  Or JS&A.

Scott Green
U. of PA

(no, of course I'm not connected with Zoom.)