Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!lll-winken!uunet!steinmetz!davidsen
From: davidsen@steinmetz.ge.com (Wm. E. Davidsen Jr)
Newsgroups: comp.mail.uucp
Subject: Re: Saving Some Bucks - How?
Keywords: uucp HDB telephone
Message-ID: <13520@steinmetz.ge.com>
Date: 4 Apr 89 13:40:07 GMT
References: <1270@dybbuk.UUCP> <289@ubbs-nh.MV.COM>
Reply-To: davidsen@crdos1.UUCP (bill davidsen)
Distribution: usa
Organization: General Electric CRD, Schenectady, NY
Lines: 37

Why not have them poll? I have a number of sites which poll sixhub, and
they don't complain. Just set time to call as Never. You can also
replace the "Any" keyword in Systems with a time range, such as
0300-0500 to keep calls to a cheaper time, although there may be
multiple calls in that timeframe. You can add day of week qualifiers,
too.

Another way is to specify Never as the time to call, then run a script
which checks for work, and if work is present starts uucico with the -S
(as opposed to -s) option, forcing a call.

Finally you can probably get "untimed message service" in which you pay
by the call, regardless of length of call. Anyone renting a room at your
place is entitled to a phone in their name with whatever class of
service they want. You do have a boarder, don't you? Well, get one.

I found that untimed message service kept my bills down to what I
consider acceptable. By owning all of the wiring, etc, I paid a hefty
installation charge, but only once. My monthly bill runs about $12/line.
NYNEX gives a "hunt group" for no charge on multiple lines, and there is
a "secondary line" designation which is only $7/mo *per line* after the
first. Makes extra lines pretty cheap.

I just converted to Micom 2400 baud MNP4 modems, and some of the people
who were having real noise problems are a lot happier. I picked them up
for $125, and they're on sale for $150 to the public. I assume you can
get the same prices locally if you ever want to, and uucp throughput on
the noisy lines went from ~140cps to ~210. That helps message units,
too.

I see no reason why you should pay the phone bill when you're giving
people a service.

-- 
	bill davidsen		(wedu@crd.GE.COM)
  {uunet | philabs}!steinmetz!crdos1!davidsen
"Stupidity, like virtue, is its own reward" -me