Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!hayes.ims.alaska.edu!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: BRUCE@ccavax.camb.com (Barton F. Bruce) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Interlock For Two Phones Message-ID: <14241@accuvax.nwu.edu> Date: 1 Nov 90 21:46:16 GMT Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu Organization: Cambridge Computer Associates, Inc. Lines: 29 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 782, Message 5 of 10 In article <14183@accuvax.nwu.edu>, tim@ncoast.org (Tim Stradtman) writes: > Recently there was an article referring to a simple gadget that would > interlock two phones so that only one could be in use at a time. I Can't help with the requested article, but that functionality is an old standard 1A2 or even 1A1 key system standby. The key system version needs lots of exclusion cards and a mess of wiring, and is best done for maybe 1 line and 1 phone excluding ALL other phones from getting that line. Any level of sophistication can be installed, but it gets to be a real mess to maintain. The easier way is to use the simple little inline encapsulated solid state thingies that 1) can let which ever phone gets the line automatically exclude ALL others so equipped, or 2) a master phone can even 'steal' the connection from another simply by going off hook. There is provision for allowing another back in so two of you can be on the line at once. These little electronic excluders have been in supply catalogs for years, and I think you should try Proctor Associates (Redmond WA), or maybe even Melco (now Augat Comm Division - there is an 800 # listed under Augat Comm Div). Start with Proctor, and if they no longer make them, ask who does.