Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!rutgers!netsys!vector!telecom-gateway
From: Kenneth_R_Jongsma@cup.portal.com
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Locatable Ringers
Message-ID: 
Date: 27 Sep 89 13:55:23 GMT
Sender: news@vector.Dallas.TX.US
Lines: 32
Approved: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us
X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 414, message 3 of 10

In a recent issue of the digest, someone mentioned that they wanted a
phone that you could locate by the sound of it's ring. If you don't
work in an office where this is a problem, you can't imagine how
annoying it is.

My office is in a large room with about 30 other offices. We all have
Steelcase moveable wall type offices with the fabric finish. We also
all have the traditional AT&T 2500 telephones on our desks.
Unfortunately, they are the new electronic ringer style.

With the traditional bell, it is possible to be in any one else's
office and tell if your phone is ringing based on the volume and
direction of the bell.  With these new ringers, it is impossible to
tell where the "warble" is coming from, even though you are only one
office away. There seems to be no way the ear can attribute direction
to the "warble". Hence, every time a phone rings, everyone runs to
their office to see if it is for them.

Several of us got tired of this and wired up a neon flasher. It's
quite easy to make: You get a standard neon bulb (NE-2?) and a 10K
resistor. Solder the resistor in line (not across) with the neon bulb.
Remove the eraser from a Jet Eraser (or use a pen casing) and mount
the bulb in the casing. Run the wiring to your phone tip and ring
lines. When the phone rings, the neon light flashes. It does not
interfere with the operation of the phone. Note that this only works
with traditional phone systems. It probably will not work with the new
electronic systems.

Now when the phone rings, we look and see who's phone is flashing. Not
a perfect solution, but better than before....

ken@cup.portal.com