[OT] Vonage and VOIP

[Jerry Feldman]

On Monday 31 January 2005 15:29, Jack Coats wrote:
> In the old phone days, the RBOC (before they were RBOCs) would test the
> ringers on every phone line regularly (quarterly or so) to see how many
> extentions you had.  Newer phones had a REN (Ringer Equivalency Number)
> below one (like .2).  I think the maximum allowed on a private line was 5
> REN.  And phones with no ringer, or the ringer turned off was 0.  I think
> you can still find the REN listed on each phone (at least the hardwired
> phones or the bases of remote phones) to figure out how much you need.
>  This really had to do with how much current the phone company had to
> supply to drive the bell type ringers on the old phones.
Back in those days, before you could install a modem you had to get an 
interface from Ma Bell. Also, your phones had to be manufactured by Western 
Electric and rented to you by the phone company.
-- 
Jerry Feldman <gerald.feldman at hp.com>
Partner Technology Access Center (contractor) (PTAC-MA)
Hewlett-Packard Co.
550 King Street LKG2a-X2
Littleton, Ma. 01460
 (978)506-5243