Xref: utzoo comp.dcom.modems:2220 comp.sys.ibm.pc:17819
Path: utzoo!lsuc!ncrcan!ontenv!soley
From: soley@ontenv.UUCP (Norman S. Soley)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems,comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Direct modem line from USA to France?
Message-ID: <655@ontenv.UUCP>
Date: 6 Aug 88 13:24:53 GMT
References: <297@amanue.UUCP> <7651@cup.portal.com> <339@ateng.UUCP>
Organization: Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Toronto
Lines: 25

In article <339@ateng.UUCP>, chip@ateng.UUCP (Chip Salzenberg) writes:
> According to fs-info@sbsvax.UUCP (Fachschaft Mathe/Info):
> >In Germany this is illegal. The maximum legal speed is 2,400 bits/sec...
> 
> Oh, that's rich.  There's no speed limit on the Autobahn, where people are
> killed every week; but you can't move your data faster than 2,400 bps.
> 
> Lovely.

There is no "speed limit" as such. It's just illegal to use any modem
not supplied by the Post Office and all they offer is 2400 Baud, hence
a de facto speed limit. I know of one company that gets around this.
Something about how the phone system can only detect a modem
call when it originates, so there computers in Germany all get polled
and don't call out, no way to get around the law between two points
within Germany though.

I'd rather take my chances on the Autobahn than on just about any
North American highway.

-- 
Norman Soley - Data Communications Analyst - Ontario Ministry of the Environment
UUCP:	utgpu!ontmoh!------------\              VOICE:	+1 416 323 2623
	{attcan,utzoo}!lsuc!ncrcan!ontenv!norm	
             "witty saying not available due to writers strike"