cdaf@IUVAX.CS.INDIANA.EDU (Charles Daffinger) (04/03/88)
Here are the replies I received to my recent query about the compatibility of US telephone equipment (eg, answering machines) with the West German telephone system. As some people have requested to remain anonymous, I've simply removed the headers and signatures of all articles... Thanks to all who responded. -charles -----1----- Subject: Re: European vs. US telephone systems query It is illegal to hook your own equipment to the phone-system and the BP (BundesPost), the government postal authorities, who also governs the phone-system, is very severe with anyone they catch meddling with their prime profit-center. BTW, there are no modular plugs, so if your friend decides to go ahead anyway, he better take along some parts ... yes, it would work. -----2----- Subject: Re: Answering machine query Charles, I live in Germany, so probably can best answer your question. No compatibility problem, BUT there are big time legal problems. See, the Deutsch Bundespost (that's Germany's Ma Bell) will only allow "approved" answering machines to be hooked up. The ones that are approved are pretty outrageously expensive (all over $200-$300). Also, you must pay the Bundespost to hook up your machine. Then you have to pay a monthly fee to have the priviledge to have the manchine in the first place. After being used to the US system, it's pretty ridiculous. Now, I know several people here who have just hooked their American machines up and away you go....but you run the risk of fines and loss of service if they catch you. -----3----- Subject: Re: European vs. US telephone systems query In article <7029@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu> you write: >A friend of mine would like to purchase an answering machine in the >united states, to be used on the telephone system in West Germany. The German post office, which runs the phone system there, has traditionally been extremely paranoid about attaching anything not provided by them to the phone system. (It used to be illegal to use an acoustic coupler, even though there was no electrical connection at all.) Also, unlike most other telephone authorities, they actually prosecute people who make illegal attachments. I'd be extremely wary about attaching some U.S. answering machine to a German phone line -- he could end up in court. If he insists, you can tell him that technically most phone systems in the world use the same electrical interface to the phone (largely the same as that used by Bell in the late 1800's) and assuming he can deal with 110 vs. 220 volts, 50 vs. 60 HZ, and the different shaped power and phone plugs, any U.S. answering machine should work. Perhaps he should move to France where they sell phones and answering machines in discount stores, just like here. -----4----- Subject: Re: European vs. US telephone systems query I am not sure about West Germany but I have successfully used US equipment in all the Scandinavian countries and to the best of my knowledge telephony is about the best standardized area of telecommunications (thanks to CCITT, which really was the first serious standardization organisation in the world). It is possible that US equipment is not type approved in Germany and should not be connected to the network (that is you are operating at your own risk) but who cares :-) Nevertheless, I am >90% sure it works without problems (save the different voltage, of course). So, go for it! --------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Charles Daffinger >Take me to the river, Drop me in the water< (812) 339-7354 cdaf@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu {pur-ee,rutgers,pyramid,ihnp4}!iuvax!cdaf Home of the Whitewater mailing list: whitewater-request@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu