Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request
From: kaplanr@chaos.cs.brandeis.edu (Robert Kaplan)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Exclusion Modules (Reve
Message-ID: <4673@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 1 Mar 90 23:30:54 GMT
Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu
Organization: TELECOM Digest
Lines: 28
Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 139, Message 9 of 10


We got a second line installed here a month ago.  Line 1 now runs to
the answering machine/phone, which also serves as the dedicated ringer
for that line.  Line 2 goes to the modem and to a phone with a
nonworking tone pad, which serves only as a ringer for line 2.  We
also took apart a cheapie Radio Shack phone, ran line 1 on the inside
pair and line 2 on the outside pair to it, and then ran each line
through a DPDT switch to the phone chassis itself.

Results: 1) Distinctive ring for each line.  2) Can answer either line
on the cheapie phone.  3) Cost under $10 [you know, the impoverished
college student bit ... of course we could have bought a real 2 line
phone for $50 ... but this way is more fun].

Disadvantages: You still have to think about which line is ringing and
answer the right one ... it won't do it automatically.  Ditto for
calling out.

[And of course turning both lines on at the cheapie phone yields
pseudo-conference-call ... albeit down 6dB at each end ... but loads
cheaper than paying Brandeis Telecommunications thru the nose ... :-)]

This probably doesn't answer the original question, which seems much
more complex.  I've never heard of a setup like that...


Scott Fybush
Disclaimer: If Brandeis Telecommunications asks...I have no phone.