Fax/modem/voice switch
6 messages in this thread
I came across the ideal way to share one phone line with up to three
devices (phone, fax, modem, etc), and each device can have it's own phone
number. The key to this is the phone companies "distinctive ringing"
service, where you can have up to three numbers associated with one
telephone line. The ringing pattern is different for each number.
Heathkit sells a box called the "SR3 Selective Ring Call Processor" (CW-125
$149.95, page 34 latest catalog). This box listens for the distinctive
ringing, decides which of three patterns it is, then routes it to the
designated device. No extra phone lines and the convenience of seperate
numbers.
Note: I don't have the device, just came across it in their catalog.
73, Kelly
How much does the phone company charge for the distinctive ring service?
I can't remember what Bell Canada wanted for the distinctive ring service.
Been several months since I looked at one of their brochures. Phone your
telephone business office. Rates going to be different where you are.
Pretty sure the price was significantly smaller then a new line.
(Said the guy with three phone lines at home, three at the office, 🙂
I just added a second number/distinctive ring for $4/month in
SW Bell-land. Much cheaper than $13 for second line. If one
number is busy, they all will be, but that's ok for me. Now
if I can get my voicemail card in my IBM-clone to recognize the
different rings and go to a different mailbox for each line…
Supra is adding the abilty to do caller id/ring id to their new modems (or
so it says in their add..)