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From: ron@brl-sem.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>)
Newsgroups: net.ham-radio
Subject: Re: telephone ringback
Message-ID: <405@brl-sem.ARPA>
Date: Thu, 26-Sep-85 17:45:45 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-sem.405
Posted: Thu Sep 26 17:45:45 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 1-Oct-85 09:17:56 EDT
References: <135@biomed.UUCP>
Organization: Ballistic Research Lab
Lines: 23

>     Since the phone stuff is deregulated, it seems that there must be a
> standardization of several of the telephone functions.  My question
> is,..........is there a common method to have a phone ringback as a ringer
> test.  I have installed several phones for friends lately, and the only way
> to test ringer function is to have them call a friend and explain what is
> going on.  This ringback business used to be a deep dark secret that
> installers would guard with their lives.   Is it still a secret, or is there
> a formula to follow which uses the local phone #? I am in Boston, area code
> 617.  Thanks
> 
In this area there is a set of magic numbers that vary from exchange to
exchange.  The deal is you dial XXX-NNNN where XXX is the magic number
and NNNN is the last four digits of your telephone number.  You then get
a dial tone back.  Flash the switchhook and you get a medium pitched tone,
hang up and the phone will ring.

Interesting side effect.  When I was testing an answering machine, I was
doing the ringback thing alot.  After a whole evening of doing this, my
phone suddenly got flagged "out of order" and I couldn't use it until
the next day when someone at the co reset the line (they still sent someone
out to the house).

-Ron


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