Xref: utzoo soc.culture.german:3606 comp.dcom.modems:9089 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!math.fu-berlin.de!fauern!unido!sapwdf!wohler From: wohler@sapwdf.UUCP (Bill Wohler) Newsgroups: soc.culture.german,comp.dcom.modems Subject: Re: Modems for use in Germany? Message-ID: <2723@sapwdf.UUCP> Date: 4 Apr 91 14:25:53 GMT References: <1991Apr3.221343.4573@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> Reply-To: Bill Wohler Organization: SAP AG, Walldorf, Germany Lines: 35 jlhg0793@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Joseph Herl) writes: > I understand that modems must have an FTZ number. What is it, and >how can I find a modem that has one? joseph, the modems you buy in the states will work in germany (modulo voltage and telephone cable conversions). it's the legal stuff you have to worry about. the FTZ number is the Bundespost equivalent of the FCC number in the states. legally, you can't use any device that doesn't carry the FTZ number which is added to devices sold in germany that meet bundespost specifications. > I read some time ago that users of foreign modems should be careful >that the modem does not release any current into the telephone line, but I >can't remember why. Can anyone explain this? it could be the other way around. if the bundespost knows that you have one phone, they may be able to detect the presence of the modem if it is also connected to the line. this is the "Ringer Equivalence" and usually each phone or device has a RE of 1. > One person has told me that the Bundespost's restrictions on foreign >modems will no longer exist after 1991. Is this true? if anyone else knows about this, i would like to hear it. i've got lots of US devices that are just waiting... --bw ----- Bill Wohler Heidelberg Red Barons Ultimate Frisbee Team