Path: utzoo!telecom-request Date: Tue, 9 Apr 91 02:02:13 -0400 From: Leryo Malbito Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Is a Data Conference Using Three-Way Calling Possible? Message-ID: Organization: TELECOM Digest Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 281, Message 3 of 8 Lines: 32 Would anyone know how one could set up a data conference using three-way calling? This seems like an idea that would be not too difficult to implement, although a friend and I have unsuccessfully tried several times. The most logical way is for him and I to be on the phone, then I go off-hook and dial the bbs (or whatever), then once we come back we somehow connect. Since the bbs will always return an Answer tone, the only variables we have control of are my modem and his ... and the possibilities for both are only originate and answer. One of us two MUST do an originate. It's very confusing and we haven't had much success at all ... although it seems we have exhausted all of our options. The best we got was the first line of the intro screen, then six or seven pages of trash. Oh well, if anyone can help please respond. In addition to fun possibilities this would present the option of remote telecommunications tutoring. [Moderator's Note: You cannot do what you want. The modem has only two conditions: originate and answer. It cannot talk to another modem set in the same mode. Any two of the three can communicate if one is set to receive and the other to transmit. The third one will be (possibly) able to talk to one or the other, but not both. What usually happens is the third modem, in generating its own originate or answer carrier makes the connection so cluttered with noise that none of the three can communicate, as you have found out. I said modems have only two modes: this is not entirely true. My US Robotics Courier 2400 has a third mode called 'transmitter off', allowing it to sit there and silently monitor what is happening otherwise. So with such a modem, you could bring a three-way data connection up successfully provided the third party sat there silently and did not throw carrier at the other two. PAT]