Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!rutgers!ames!sdcsvax!ucbvax!SEI.CMU.EDU!pdb
From: pdb@SEI.CMU.EDU (Pat Barron)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Ringback codes
Message-ID: <8705171242.AA10372@ci.sei.cmu.edu>
Date: Sun, 17-May-87 08:42:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: ci.8705171242.AA10372
Posted: Sun May 17 08:42:25 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 17-May-87 22:43:30 EDT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Distribution: world
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 18
Approved: telecom@xx.lcs.mit.edu

Every once in a while, someone posts a note asking about ringback codes
(numbers to dial to make your own telephone ring).  Unfortunately, these
codes aren't the same everywhere, and are mostly undocumented.

I've discovered the following method of making my own phone ring, and
it should work everywhere.  It only rings the phone once, but if all
you're interested in is verifying that you can recieve calls, that's
all you need.  It requires that you have Call Waiting on your line,
and you also need an AT&T phone credit card.

Pick up your phone and call your own number using the credit card.  You
should hear the Call Waiting tone immediately, followed by the ring
tone.  Hang up; your phone will ring once.  This doesn't work if you
just try to direct-dial your own number, even if you have Call Waiting.
Your CO is smart enough to know that it makes no sense to allow you to
call yourself.  Using the credit card (apparently) bypasses your CO.

--Pat.