sundance-communications.com/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information Elevator phone question

What's an "AUL"? I have never heard of that before. Just curious since I need to find some good, definitive answers to this question.

I'm not really sure what the letters stand for, but it's nothing more then a ring down circuit....automaticly dials a specified number. All of our dial tone, features and everything is handled by "Bell". Everything is Plexar/Centrex....well actually, there are a few exceptions in the outlying areas. In Broken Arrow (a suburb of Tulsa), DT is handled by Valor Telecom, so on those lines we don't have the Plexar features.

Anyways, back on subject.....AUL is just a POTS line that's programmed to ring a specific number....like the 911 center.

Each one of our fire stations also has a AUL line installed that rings the "fire dispatch area" of the 911 center. Also all of our City/County libraries has a AUL "Ask Us Hot Line" that rings the Central Library downtown. They ring to an ACD number that up to 5 people take calls and answer questions for their customers. I'm starting to get off subject again, but you get the picture.

AU= Automatic (as in automatic ringdown)
L= Loop start.
This actually comes from how an electromechanical test access point would have to be configured in order for “bat phone” operation.

I couldn't agree with this more. This is the only way to go!

I agree, plus I am going to stick with the dedicated line approach. It seems like the safest thing to do. I haven't ever encountered any resistance from customers not wanting to pay for a line anyway.

Ehhh, not really. I just called my brother, Terry, who has worked for Otis in Dallas, for 25 yrs. Otis has been in business since 1857, still alive and kickin’.
He said they don't concern themselves with what kind of line it is. BUT, he was adamant that the best way to do it was a dedicated ring down circuit to the elevator manufacturers office. This way a tech can be dispatched right away. The elevator co then calls the building management. Obviously, this would require a maintenance agreement, which many companies forgo to save money.

Richard

Whew! Why not provide a cable from the vendor RJ21X to the designated spot the elevator company specifies and stop? Place all the legal stuff on facilities and the elevator company

Because local government always changes the rules.
We have one site that went from PBX extention to dedicated line, to PBX extention again in two years. I was ready to put a TK-09 switch on the darn thing.

If it was that simple, I wouldn't have even asked the question. We have lots of high-rises, some older from the 60's and 70's that didn't have an elevator phone requirement when they were built. It has taken this long for inspectors to get around to enforcing the current local codes, which vary greatly.

We don't have the luxury of handing a line over to the elevator people. We have to furnish and install the ADA-compliant phone with existing elevator installations. True, most new elevator installations include built-in phones where all that is needed is a line. I guess my question was directed more toward existing elevators that never had a phone installed.

All I know is if I ever get caught in an elevator I'm callin' my momma! 'Cause it sure looks like I'd never get anybody else if you guys keep arguing.
Edit: forgot the smiley face or ya'll might think I was serious, well, I am serious about calling Mom.