Subject: From: Date:

RE: [ECS] Local Phone Sessions Martin Terry Fri, 28 Jan 2000 23:24:11 -0800

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Mark, this thread has made me think of something - would it be possible to
somehow exclude certain groups from the phone sessions? For example group
names that begin with an asterick could be skipped when using phone
sessions?

I've always wanted the ability to have groups just for phone sessions, and
groups that I really didn't want included.

What do you think?


-----Original Message-----
From: joerut@epix.net [mailto:joerut@epix.net]
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2000 4:52 PM
To: ecs-list@netbloc.com
Subject: Re: [ECS] Local Phone Sessions


LEC1964@aol.com wrote:
> 
> 
Thanks Larry that seems to be exactly what I need with the added bonus
of leaving messages VIA the local phone. I actually was thinking of
something similar but it was a bit more HARDWARE complicated. 

One last question. Did you build or purchase your touch tone decoder?

Thanks Again
Joe Rut



Joe,
>      This might be of some help after upgrading to Windows and the
inherent
> loss of the Bigmouth phone interface. The Bigmouth card along with a
number
> of other devices that use in-house phones all have one thing in common.
They
> replace the phone companys "talk power" with one that they provide. Talk
> power is the DC component of the phone companys service. Without going
into
> more detail, phones actually only have 7.5-8.5 volts DC when they are "off
> hook". This voltage creates about 30 to 40 milliamps of current. By
replacing
> the phone companys pair with a pair from an equivalent local
voltage/current
> source a phone will become fully functional for both voice and DTMF tone
> (Touchtone) transmission/reception.
>      This is can be done with a relay. Using a DPDT relay the center or
> movable contacts should be wired to the phones to be used for the local
> sessions which also includes the modem. The normally closed when
> de-energized, non-movable, contacts  should be wired to the phone company.
> The non-movable contacts that "make" on energization of the relay coil
should
> be wired to a local power source. This local power source could be as
simple
> as a plug-in 12 volt DC  transformer using appropriate current limiting
> resistors. Polarity must be observed. Normally the color code used for the
> phone wiring for line 1 is red and green. Red is negative. Green is
positive.
>      When a local power source, at least one phone, and a modem are all
> connected a local/remote phone session is possible. If Phone-Interface-C
is
> set to "answer" ECS thinks it's answering a remote phone call but of
course
> it's not. In fact, you will first have the opportunity to even leave a
> message. Some ECS users have indicated that they leave phone messages for
> other household members and this is an extra benefit that is available
with a
> remote phone session. A touchtone entry # will start the interactive
session.
>      There are several methods that can used to energize the phone
transfer
> relay and to notify ECS that a phone session should commence. A PLC (X-10)
> pushbutton command could be used to notify ECS. A touchtone decoder could
> also be used.
>      I have to admit that I don't use local phone sessions but I was
curious
> to see if it was possible and how efficient this method of interactive
> control really is. Since there is a "home run" of my phone service to my
> security panel and also 12 volts DC available at that location (security
> backup battery) I placed the transfer relay there. It took less than an
hour
> to do the wiring and since I had a relay there was no cost. Two 68 ohm
> resistors (one in each conductor) limit the current to about 35 milliamps.
I
> use a programmable four output touchtone decoder to notify ECS. The
decoder
> uses a standard modular telephone connector and has screw connectors for
its
> four relay outputs.
>       Picking up any phone in the house will initially provide standard
phone
> service and access to the phone companys "switched network". However, if
any
> one of the four unique two button touchtone codes are entered, a relay
> contact on the decoder will close and ECS is notified via a Micro Redac
> digital input. ECS will then respond by using a Micro Redac relay output
to
> control and energize the phone transfer relay. A programmed delay is used
to
> provide adequate time for "line settling" prior to Phone-Interface-C going
to
> "answer".
>      In summary I would have to say that this does work reasonably well.
> However  these would be my recommendations. (1) Use a single cordless
phone
> and one or two standard phones to minimize the wiring. (2) Wall
transformers
> tend to be poorly filtered with no regulation and will produce audible
> background hum. Use a better quality DC power supply. I purchased a
quality
> supply for about $25 for use with local SR phone sessions which by the way
> requires the same transfer scheme. (3) I would use phone session macros.
> Since I use abbreviations in Group, Event, and Item descriptions it was
hard
> to understand the TTS audio.
>      I hope this will help and I apologize for my rambling text.
> 
> Larry C.

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