TELECOM@Usc-Eclb (07/16/82)
TELECOM AM Digest Friday, 16 July 1982 Volume 2 : Issue 88
Today's Topics: Last Panel In The World
VOX Rate Machines
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Date: 13 Jul 1982 1122-EDT
From: John R. Covert <RSX-DEV at DEC-MARLBORO>
Subject: Last Panel in the world
201 243 in Newark, NJ is the one and only remaining Panel office in
the world. There were some terminating-only mass calling panels in
SFO and OAK, but they are gone.
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Date: 16 Jul 1982 0323-EDT
From: Hobbit <AWalker at RUTGERS>
Subject: VOX rate machines
Barefoot: Yes
Back when I was hacking the TSPS game, we had a similar thing to tell
us rate steps. It was accessed from the TSPS position by dialing an
*overseas* sequence, and then some meld of the called NPA NXX and
calling NXX. It would then come back with the rate step. Apparently
this was hung off the overseas equipment, because that part of the
software could handle the long number sequences better than the local
switching stuff. A special overseas prefix was used, which would pass
the rest of the packet on to the machine. Also, there was software at
the TSPS office that *would* *not* allow the operator to dial this
thing on a customer's forward circuit! This was a real lose, cause
you'd have to tell the guy to hold on and then go get a new outgoing
trunk to do it.
Therefore the system described by pur-ee!davy sounds like something
new, implemented after I left the busy buttons of Mother's bosom. It
apparently gives the *cost* of the call, and can be accessed on a
customer's forward trunk. Anyone have any more detailed info about
it?
Just before I left the company, they *de*implemented the RQS [the
machine described above], leaving us with only rate&route operators
and the little leaflet pack to get rates for customers. Perhaps they
were making way for a new system [but of course they didn't *tell* us
that!!]
_H*
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End of TELECOM Digest
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