sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Member Forums Buy/Sell - List your inventory and sell it or buy Looking for loop current indicator

On rereading I realize now that you are more concerned that the line is able to be used rather than actually in use. Short of usuing an autodialer to call another of your CO's that can log the calls each day there is probably no reliable way to do this that wouldn't violate a TOS agreement or FCC regs.

how would making a weekly or daily test call "violate
TOS agreement or FCC Regs" ? :shrug:

how would making a weekly or daily test call "violate
TOS agreement or FCC Regs" ?

It wouldn't. But without using an autodialer to do so the verification system is being left to the human element to be performed, thus adding the element of unreliability.

The device wanebo is talking about is a ITW Linx LXSCP-1 with a loop current indicator. It will also indicate if the phone is off-hook or if there is a short on the line. Being that on-hook voltage is 48vdc any lamp installed in a phone will work. The only problem is that if a phone receives calls the 90 volts will blow the lamp. I also have 40 available for sale.

but that wont verify that dialtone is present or that the line is able to used it will only verify voltage is present

That's true. I don't know of any way to indicate the presence of dialtone without actually going off-hook. Of course there is no guarantee the dial tone won't be lost, especially during a storm or any other cause to cut, knock down phone lines, equip. failure, etc. I did an experiment using an SCP-1 and it does not lite while on-hook or flash on ringing. I did use a standard red LED with a 10K 1/2 watt resister paralleled across t/r and it works fine. This may not be the answer, but at least it will indicate if it is live. So, during their inspection if they see a phone with a dead lite they can go off-hook to check. And of course, safety inspectors seldom leave anything in doubt.

We used to replace the bridging clips on a 66 block demarc with tricolor LEDs. If the line was polarized correctly (very important with ground start trunks!) it glowed green. If telco flipped polarity it would glow red and it would flash yellow on incoming ring.

I haven't thought about that much since we've moved away from analog ckts but it might help. Of course as Skip said, it would only verify current not DT on the line.

I still say the best way to test it is to use it regularly. That'll also test the dials and ringers too.

Sam

There may be a problem with testing if the lines are true power failure(live when system is powered down). You would have to manually power down and that would be a SLIGHT inconvenience to say the least. If not, then that would be the most efficient verification process.

PI