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From: barefoot@hobbes.ncsu.edu (Heath Roberts)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: Why do they insist on power cubes???
Message-ID: <1991Jan8.073137.11222@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu>
Date: 8 Jan 91 07:31:37 GMT
References: <191@raysnec.UUCP> <1991Jan4.180135.122@intek01.uucp>
Reply-To: barefoot@hobbes.ncsu.edu (Heath Roberts)
Distribution: usa
Organization: NCSU Computing Center
Lines: 19

Most devices that connect to the public telephone network and are
powered use this arrangement. The idea is that you don't want 120V AC in
the same box with the telephone line, so you have a much less likely
chance of frying a friendly telco employee, which they get very upset
about.

I doubt the FCC would approve any device using direct AC to connect to
the PSTN unless it were very well built. Even most key telephone systems
have separate power supplies (they may be in the same enclosure, but
they are surrounded by metal).

So the issue is basically one of safety to the telephone network and its
minions...

--

Heath Roberts
NCSU Computer and Technologies Theme Program
barefoot@catt.ncsu.edu