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From: motcid!king@uunet.uu.net (Steven King)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: For Telecom-ers Who Live up North
Message-ID: <15382@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 11 Dec 90 20:02:13 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 879, Message 2 of 12


>[Moderator's Note: Even if for some reason the device was not able to
>turn the heater on, if it can go off hook it could surely dial your
>number and recite some sort of pre-recorded spiel. At least you would
>think so. What does merely going off-hook solve? What if you forget to
>call it for a couple days? And why should you waste several calls on
>it for nothing when it (or a similar device) should be able to make
>ONE important call to you?  You are correct; this device sounds like a
>total piece of junk.   PAT]

I think I understand the rationale behind the Telefreeze device and
why *IT* doesn't call *YOU* if something's wrong.  Say you lived in
the Northlands, anyplace where it regularly gets cold enough for your
pipes to freeze if your heater craps out.  And say you travel a lot in
the winter.  If you move around (not at any one location very long,
you're a travelling salesman maybe) you can't really give it a number
to call you at.  And it can't just turn on the furnace either; the
only reason for the ambient temperature to drop below the preset level
is because the furnace is broken!

I don't know if I'd spend my money on one of these devices, but I can
see where it could be useful.  (No, I don't have anything to do with
this company, disclaim disclaim.)


Steven King, Motorola Cellular  (...uunet!motcid!king)