Path: utzoo!telecom-request Date: Sat, 13 Apr 91 17:31:43 GMT From: locke@tree.uucp (Alan R. Gross) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Billed Busy Signals Reply-To: locke@.PacBell.COM (Alan R. Gross) Message-ID: Organization: TREE BBS (916)332-4930 Sacramento, CA 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 292, Message 2 of 10 Lines: 82 Jack.Rickard@f555.n104.z1.fidonet.org (Jack Rickard) writes: > I've had continuing problems with both Sprint and Telecom*USA over > the past year regarding multiple billing entries for busy signals. I > use a modem and automated mailing software to contact other systems > through Fidonet. > I recently spoke with a gentleman from Telephone Express. He avows > that this is a by-product of software switching and that their use of > DMS-250 switches would eliminate these billing entries. Anyone know > the straight scoop on this little problem and how I can eliminate it? While it is possible, this diagnosis is very unlikely. You provide a clue as to what might be happening in your message: > If the modem receives a busy signal, it makes another attempt a > minute or so later. Hayes and Hayes compatible modems recognize busy signals and terminate the call instantly. If your modem is taking a minute, then it is not a busy signal it is getting. It is most likely getting another modem. A way to test this would be to make sure your modem's speaker is on -- you can park this in front of your dial string to make the modem stay on quietly until a true CONNECT is sent by the answering modem: ATL0 ~~ Your software might use something besides the two tildes for a pause, if so, replace them with whatever is necessary for a pause. > On the bill, I routinely find a series of calls to the same number, > spaced two minutes apart, each billed for a minute. The final call of > the series of course, is several minutes in duration indicating I did > finally connect. The most likely scenario is that you are reaching the modem at the other end, and failing to achieve speed recognition or parity (IE: a 1200 baud caller just got off line with the place you are calling to -- you call once at 9600, and the answering modem steps up to 2400 baud after failing to connect at 1200. By this time, your modem has timed out, and hung up. Your modem calls again, the answering modem tries to achieve recognition at 2400, fails, steps to another speed, your modem times out, etc.) The fault is probably not with your modem, but instead with the setup at the other end. I call several boards, and mail services -- some are flakier than others. Several take multiple attempts to get a true CONNECT, even though their modem is answering, and both modems are attempting to talk. > I've monitored the system and it is working perfectly. Monitor it with modem speaker on, give us some more details of the system you are using -- modem, software, etc., as well as the systems you are calling. > [Moderator's Note: You can't eliminate it by yourself. Only your long > distance carrier can do so. The problem you describe is common with > any telecom organization unable/unwilling to obtain 'answer > supervision' from the serving local telco. The 'supervision' > detirmines when a call has been answered, or if it was answered. AT&T > and the Bells have it, most of the others do not. PAT] Sprint does use telco answer supervision. It also uses software answer supervision -- so the call must pass two tests - the LEC has to pass the answer to Sprint, and Sprint's software must detect voice or carrier for the call to be billed. In some areas the answer supervision provided by some independents (FGB areas), is quite impossible. In these areas, just software answer supervision is used. It is unlikely, though possible, that Jack's calls are terminating in one of the few remaining FGB areas. The best way for Jack to test to see if it's carrier related is to put ATT's carrier code, 10288 in his dial string -- I would wager that the one minute calls don't go away if he does this over a month. Of course, the rates will be higher, but I have found that Sprint will usually credit the difference in rates, if you let them work on the problem with you. Randall A. Gross | csusac.ecs.csus.edu!tree!locke @ the UNIX Tree BBS, Sacramento, CA | ucbvax!ucdavis!csusac!tree!locke Sprintmail: A.R.Gross | DISCLAIMER: Ego loquito