chip@vector.UUCP (Chip Rosenthal) (10/27/88)
Does anyone know if a device like this is commercially available? Here's the
situation:
I live in calling area A. My folks live in area B, which is a local call from
A. Area C is also a local call from B, but not from A. I'd like to call C
from A, going through B; the call volume will be high enough that the cost
of one or two phone lines and an inexpensive bridge device will be less than
the cost of getting "Extended Community" service (or whatever it's called) to C
from A through the phone company.
I know the solution if all I want to do is to call one fixed number in area C
from my home in A: I need only buy one line at my parents' in area B, plug in
a phone long enough to set up call forwarding to the number in area C, and be
done with it: cost is one phone line with call forwarding. This use of the
line would be for dialing in to a computer only. On very rare occasions, I
might trouble my parents to reset the forwarding to somewhere else, but I don't
want to rely on their presence or patience otherwise.
The expansions on this are what I'm asking about:
(1) I'd like to be able to call anywhere in area C, for data or voice. The
Radio Shack Duofone CFS-200 call forwarding machine solves this problem
for voice (although the 3-digit security code wouldn't stop a dedicated
phone phreak); unfortunately, every three or ten minutes, it generates a
beep on the line, which requires a "#" tone in response to prevent the
machine from hanging up -- this isn't so good for a data connection.
(2) In addition to (1), it would be nice for people in area C to be able to
reach me in area A by calling the number in area B. That is, the default
setting would be to forward calls to my home.
If an existing device does the trick, I'd bet it requires two phone lines. Is
there such a device? Is there a device that requires only one line with call
forwarding? [The one-line device would work roughly like this: My friends in
area C would have to know how to call me: call the area B number, wait a bit
(or press "#"), hang up, wait a bit, and call again. The device would answer
the first call, detect the "#" or timeout, hang up, set call forwarding to my
home phone, and then, after a little bit (probably while the forwarded call is
in progress), it would turn off call forwarding. I would make my calls the
same way, except that on the first call, I would enter a password and the
number I want my second call to be forwarded to.]
Now, in addition to asking whether such a device exists, I want to know about
its legality. Assuming it met the appropriate electrical requirements, would I
be considered to be illegally avoiding paying telephone tolls by using it?
Final question for Pacific Bell area folks: I've heard that there is a new
phone service, called something like Remote Call Forwarding, that Pacific
Bell wants to offer -- it comes up for rate review in January. Apparently,
you can remotely change the call forwarding setting by calling a phone company
number and keying in the appropriate codes. This would be just what I want.
Any corrections or news on this?
[I'm not on the telecom mailing list, but I'll be looking at comp.dcom.telecom]
-- David Smallberg, das@cs.ucla.edu, {sdcrdcf,ucbvax}!ucla-cs!dasberger@clio.las.uiuc.edu (11/02/88)
I have a box that does straight call forwarding and doesn't generate special
tones or require a tone every so often to keep it on-line. I got it surplus
from a phone company. The drawback is that it pulse dials, and takes
20-30 seconds to forward the call, so the caller doesn't know what's
going on during that time. There's no "security" - it always forwards
the call. Of course, it requires two lines.
Mike Berger
Department of Statistics
University of Illinois
berger@clio.las.uiuc.edu
{convex | pur-ee}!uiucuxc!clio!berger