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From: p40001@mcomp.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: Using US modems in the UK
Message-ID: <9700004@mcomp>
Date: Mon, 8-Sep-86 10:31:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: mcomp.9700004
Posted: Mon Sep  8 10:31:00 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 9-Sep-86 21:53:51 EDT
References: <820@mhuxh.UUCP>
Lines: 51
Nf-ID: #R:mhuxh.UUCP:820:mcomp:9700004:000:2838
Nf-From: mcomp.UUCP!p40001    Sep  8 09:31:00 1986


> Is it physically possible to use a US modem in the UK, given that
> it is capable of operating the CCITT V22 (1200 baud) standard?
> Please respond via electronic mail or to netnews.
> 
> Rex Godby                                       ..ihnp4!mhuxh!rex       

The Bell 212 standard is compatible with CCITT V22, therefore US modems
will work in the UK and the European continent. There are two problems
to consider:

1. Phone companies in Europe do not use the modular connectors which
   are standard in the US, and you will therefore need an adapter cable
   with a US modular plug on the modem end and whichever connector is
   appropriate for the other country on the wall plug end. Britain now
   uses a modular connector slightly different from the one used in the US,
   other European countries use a variety of other connectors. In Britain,
   the best source for such adapters would be Radio Shack stores, known
   as Tandy stores over there.

2. Legal considerations: In almost all European countries, any equipment
   to be connected to the phone line has to be approved by the respective
   telecommunications authority. In Britain, this is British Telecom. The 
   problem with that is as follows:

   a. It is a very complex and expensive process to get a modem approved,
      therefore it is unfeasible for a private individual to have his one
      personal modem processed in this way.

   b. Even if a US manufacturer goes to the effort to have his modem approved,
      that approval will extend only to those modems actually imported by
      this manufacturer. It does not extend to the manufacturer's modems
      sold in the US and imported to the UK by an enduser. Besides, Britain
      does not approve modems capable of operating in non-CCITT modes, and
      since all 1200 baud modems sold in the US are capable of operating 
      at 300 baud Bell standard, they do not qualify for approval in any
      European country. (As an example: the British "Miracle Technologies"
      WS2000 modem can be switched to BELL standards by means of a rotary
      switch; however, on those WS2000 modems which are sold in Britain,
      the BELL positions of the rotary switch are disabled by a pin inserted
      in the switch's rotor, and a British Telecom sticker threatens legal
      action against those who would open the case and remove the pin.)

   Of course, you may not be very concerned with the legal considerations,
   not too many people are, and there are no doubt hundreds of US modems,
   of more specifically, Far-Eastern Bell standard modems, in use in Britain
   and other European countries.
-----------------------------------------------------
Wolf N. Paul, 290 Dogwood, Plano, Tx. 75075
UUCP:   convex!mcomp!p40001  or  convex!p40001!doulos!wnp
Phone: (214) 578-8023  W.U.ESL: 6283-2882