atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Other TDM Phone Systems Antique Telephones Trying to fly in a vacuum

Wait, I remember why, as a retire of Ma Bell it's free.

Haha, is it a real copper line, at least?

I use mine all the time, especially when I need to dial into a system's modem for remote maintenance. I also like the fact that I don't have to worry about the crappy cell reception that we get here in my house's lower level.

Sadly, mine are all VoIP, but for the most part they work very well. I too use my house phone every chance I get. I actually forward my cell to my house number when I'm home, the calls are much clearer. The built in rotary to tone converter in the partner makes the system indispensable. It's also nice to be able to delay or shut off ringing to some extensions just by some simple programming. With all the phones I have, it would be unbearable if they all rang. Plus it lets me have the phones ring upstairs on my parent's line and downstairs on my lines. I had the opportunity to work on a Tadiran Emerald Ice system a few weeks ago at the car dealership I was doing some work for. I know any unfamiliar system is a learning curve, but I didn't think it was intuitive at all.

My other gripe about people today is that everyone thinks you know exactly who's calling so they never announce themselves. Remember in days past when someone called, they would say something like "hey Chris, its Steve." Or whatever. Nowadays people expect you to know exactly who's on the other end. I get sick of telling people "I have no idea who you are, I'm on a 60 year old telephone with no caller-id." I do fall into the category, though of not being able to remember numbers well anymore. Cell phones and contact lists have spoiled even me. I feel dopey at times looking up a number in my Iphone just to dial it on an old 302. I still think the 302 sounds better than my cell phone though, in both directions.

Hey Chris,

If they are still available, you could parallel wire some Caller ID boxes. I remember sending some to Sam several years ago to use in conjunction with his 1A2.

Dex, you did. And they're still hooked up and working.

Sam

Yes, that would work, but then I'd still have to remember who's number is who's. Plus for three locations and five lines, that gets to be a lot of CID boxes. The point I was trying to make was that people in this day and age just expect you to know who's calling. I wish they made a multi line CID box. That would be useful. Where I have partner display phones, I'm set, but again, I don't remember everyone's number and cell phones usually show up as "Cell Phone NH" and the number. Some will show up as the town the exchange is in, but that's rare. I just wish people had the telephone etiquette of the time before cell phones. Goes back to my original point that people think I'm weird because I have to ask who's calling, as if I'm supposed to automatically know. Some of my friends I can distinguish their voice, but some are so similar that it throws me for a loop. Sometimes I just go along with the conversation till I figure it out.

It primarily depends on how the information is entered into the LIDB. Cellular numbers rarely have names associated with them, but landlines almost always do.

2-line Caller ID boxes used to exist, but, with all but the most inexpensive telephones now sporting Caller ID displays, stand alone boxes have all but disappeared.

At this point, I'm surprised that the RBOCS still offer dial tone without Caller ID. I suppose alarm systems have no use for Caller ID, but, from a residential perspective, include Caller ID with even the most basic service.

Some pictures of my new backboard. Its not 100% yet, but its close.





And the Partner


The four blocks to the immediate left of the partner are there just to extend the 5 25pr station cables that were too short. I didn't want them there, but I had little choice. Also the white wire coiled on top of the ACS is gone, too. It's supposed to go to the contact closure adjunct, but I haven't reinstalled it yet.