Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!mcvax!ukc!warwick!dalm
From: dalm@warwick.UUCP (D A L Michael)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: US modem in UK
Keywords: US UK modem
Message-ID: <1801@ubu.warwick.UUCP>
Date: 1 May 89 23:24:59 GMT
References: <1319@sagepub.UUCP>
Sender: news@warwick.UUCP
Reply-To: dalm@emerald.UUCP (David Michael)
Organization: Computer Science, Warwick University, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
Lines: 27

In article <1319@sagepub.UUCP> dfm@sagepub.UUCP (David F. McCune) writes:
>Is there some trick to all this that makes UK -> US connections
>easier?  Can one by a BT431a <-> RJ11 adapter?  (I tried in London,
>to no avail.)  Is there some way to make a US modem recognize
>UK dialtones and touchtones?
>
Well, if you did plug a US modem into a British Telecom line then you are
breaking the law and can face a fine of upto 5000 pounds (though in
practice no one could care less). The reason for this is that BT like to check
out all modems that can be used here, so that your modem does not send 2000
volts down the wire and eletricutes a poor telephone repair man.

So this is why you were unable to by a convert plug and socket, they are
illegal. But if you try hard enough, you can get hold of them. I bought one
from Totenham Court Road in London from a small shop there.

Also most BT exchanges only work with pulse dialling, though this is changeing
very quickly. BT are changing most exchanges over to system-X which will also
accept tones as well as pulses.

David
--------------------------[ dalm@uk.ac.warwick ]-----------------------------
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----------------------------[ David Michael ]--------------------------------