Hi, Brett,
No, I never got to TSPS--I left the phone company before that.
I worked the Dimension board at Sears. I sure enjoyed the different sounds
created by the little box connected to the switchboard. They reminded me of
CW, (grin).
I never liked that probe which came with the system--too heavy! So I used
the lightweight probes I mentioned. In fact, the only time I had to scan
anything was when someone was on hold. I also liked the multiple answer
key, that was neat! I discovered I never had to use the probe to tell if a
line was busy because I could just listen before I pressed the release
button.
The last console I used was an Oki and it was inferior to the Dimension, but
my employer, Exchange Bank, was willing to modify it so I could work it.
They had to change the lights from green to red or white and they drilled
holes into the console so I could stick the probe into a hole and detect the
light. I worked the switchboard at Exchange Bank for 10 and a half years
until they went to a Centrex system.
So my telephone carreer started with the CAMA board at Pacific Telephone and
their cord board PBX there to the cord board at Sears then the Dimension and
lastly the OKI at Exchange Bank I worked from 1974 to 1991.
Is it true switchboards aren't accessible today?
Terri, Amateur Radio call sign KF6CA. Army MARS call sign AAT9PX,
California
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brett Winches" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2007 10:42 AM
Subject: Re: off topic telephone systems
: Terry,
:
: Many of the newer telephone systems are pc based and even if you have a
: UPS for backup, this does not necessarily mean that the phone system
: will work. Perhaps your complex should invest in a good old dc based
: line in the manager's office. =20
:
: I had a probe from the Pioneers which plugged directly into the
: Dimension console but was on a cord. This did work well as I could
: simply clip it into an adhesive cable clamp designed for cable about
: the size of RG58 OR 59 ON THE SIDE OF THE CONSOLE. =20
:
: I ULTIMATELY AND MORE PERMANTLY USED EITHER A WRIST WORN PROBE WITH THE
: FIBEROPTIC WITHER A LEAD THREADED BETWEEN MY MIDDLE FINGER AND RING
: FINGER WITH A SIMPLE EARPHONE THREADED UP MY SHIRT TO MY OTHER EAR,
: (THE ONE NOT WEARING THE Starset. =20
:
: The advantage of the unit that plugged into the Dimension was that the
: audio was fed directly into the Starset but the hands free nature of the
: other probe made for easer multitasking between phone typewriter
: calculator clock 4 spare phones and the Dimension. =20
:
: Ah yes the old cord system, Did you work MECOBS or eventually did you
: move over to tsps? SLEVE=20
:
: =20
:
: ###
:
: BRETT WINCHESTER
:
: [log in to unmask]
:
: 208-693-8386
:
: ###
:
: =20
:
: =20
:
:
: -----Original Message-----
: From: For blind ham radio operators
: [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Terri Pannett
: Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2007 10:54 AM
: To: [log in to unmask]
: Subject: off topic telephone systems
:
: Dear List,
:
: The discussion of light probes brought back memories of when I used to
: work=20
: as a switchboard operator for several companies. The light probes I
: used=20
: came from the Telephone Pioneers in Oregon and it consisted of a light=20
: sensor connected to a speaker which looked like a small transistor
: radio.=20
: These probes worked well on the old cord boards and they also worked on
: the=20
: Dimension console and a console from Japan called the Oki. In the case
: of=20
: the Oki, the green lights had to be replaced with red or white lights.
: The=20
: probes cost about $20 but they were designed to work with switchboards
: with=20
: very dull lights. I'm sure they must not be made anymore, since the
: demise=20
: of the good old switchboards. I still have one fo the light sensors but
: I=20
: stupidly threw away the speaker that went with it.
:
: Last week, there was a power outage at my apartment complex which lasted
:
: several hours. My phone still worked because I have a corded
: speakerphone=20
: but the phone system in the managers' office was dependent on
: electricity so=20
: they couldn't receive any calls from us. I can't understand why, in
: this=20
: day of technology, a telephone system would be dependent on PG&E. Even
: in=20
: the days of the cord boards there were battery-operated systems!
: Perhaps=20
: someone could explain this phenomenon to me. I don't know what kind of=20
: system is in the managers' office, but I can find out. This place is
: full=20
: of seniors who may need emergency assistance that's the reason for
: on-site=20
: managers, and it seems dumb to me communications should be so poor.
:
: Terri, Amateur Radio call sign KF6CA. Army MARS call sign AAT9PX,=20
: California
:
:
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