DENNETT@SRI-NIC.arpa (Steve Dennett) (06/26/86)
A year or so ago I saw a handy gadget called "Black Bart (Jack?)". It was a rubber cup with a modular jack and a short cable that allowed connection of a direct-connect modem to a telephone that lacked modular plugs (as many hotel room phones do). Unfortunately, I can't locate any more information on this product. If anyone out there knows who makes it (if they still do) and/or where I might get one, I'd really appreciate the information. Thanks! Steve dennett@sri-nic.arpa -------
GFoster@USC-ISI.arpa (Glen Foster) (06/26/86)
Re: Black Jack We made the mistake of buying a black jack. If you can manage to get it to function, it works well. The trick is to establish the initial connection, there have been times when I've tried for over 1/2 an hour without success. I am slightly amazed that I didn't chuck it out the window! I am the only one in our organization or DARPA (we're a contractor) who has ever made it work. The thing contains no electronics, just connections between the "red" and "green" phone wires and the two leaf contacts inside the phone's mouthpiece. A phone cord with an RJ-11 plug on one end and alligator clips on the other would work much better and be a heck of a lot cheaper to boot (the thing runs about $50 retail.) We have tried to improve the electrical connectivity of the beast by soldering etc. but the main problem seems to be that they used steel for the contacts and the resistance (impedance?) is too high for reliable usage. Another possible problem is that many hotel phones have fixed mouthpieces. The phone mouthpiece must have the cover removed and the carbon mike removed to allow the Black Jack to be used. While the Black Jack looks like a good idea, it fails in execution. If you have any questions (or want to buy a slightly used BJ!), give me a shout. Glen -------