Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: newton@gumby.cs.caltech.edu (Mike Newton) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Large Local Calling Area (Horizontal and Vertical) Message-ID: Date: 3 Mar 91 04:57:33 GMT Sender: news@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Mr. News) Organization: TELECOM Digest Lines: 28 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 173, Message 1 of 9 Originator: telecom@delta.eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Nntp-Posting-Host: hub.eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu This seems to come up every few years... As of when I was last living there (1.5 years ago -- and Hawaiian Tel doesnt move too fast ..) all of the Big Island (4000+ sq. mi.) is one calling area. It also has one of the greatest vertical calls. The observatories on top (14 k feet) have Hilo prefixes (sea level and 15 miles away). Also, Hilo is the wettest US city (average of 160 in/yr rain in Hilo). Long distance was amusing. I could call Mass. (at night, possibly during the day too, but I've forgotten for sure) far cheaper than I could call Oahu (Honolulu). (With _Long_ Reach out America). But, all calls to the mainland did something like: me --> local-switch --> u-wave station --> u-wave xcvr (oahu) --> oahu CO --> '2 block long' cable to ATT --> [usually:] satallite xmtr --> satallite xcvr (near San Fran.) [the last few could be replaced with cable to mainland ... making cnversations _much_ easier due to the lack of delay]. It gave even newer meaning to the phrase `phase shift' ... We never did get our PEP telebit modems going above 600 cps ... mike (newton@gumby.cs.caltech.edu) Beach Bums Anonymous, Pasadena President