Conference 7.286::digital

    No need to make work for yourself -- just dial directly into TSN
    (Telecommunication Systems Network, or something like that).  TSN
    provides local numbers that put you directly on the net -- right
    now, I'm sitting in Nashua, logged in to Maynard, and it is a local
    call.  You will need some local info to get access to TSN -- I had
    a little trouble tracking in down.  Send me mail if you need a copy
    of the TSN users manual, including telephone numbers.
    
    Regards,
    Russ

	Must be rough: "extra phone line reimbursed from petty cash";
    I have a dedicated "extra phone line" which I only use for calling
    into the computer too, but I've never charged DEC for anything other
    than direct calls into Stow from Northboro.  Since I've been using
    TSN (Terminal Switching Network), my long-distance bills have been
    reduced to almost nil, leaving only the mothly charge of $ 12.15.

	I don't mind paying the monthly charge (I even paid for the $ 60.00
    installation fee) as long as there aren't other people getting it for
    free - then I want money too (terrible how that works isn't it?).

	I can get onto a TSN line around 90% of the time, and when I can't,
    I go through TYMNET to get to TSN, then get in from there the usual
    way.  The only time I need to dial direct, is to send a file across
    the network from my Pro-350 to a VAX (I've had alot of problems in the
    past using TSN for file transfers), or when absolutely nothing else
    works.  TYMNET is really sloooooooow, but it's better than nothing.

						-DAV0

    Don't forget the DTN numbers mentioned in another nearby note here
    which allows you to call into a local DEC facility and get a DTN
    dialtone from which you can dial any DTN number.  This is another
    way to avoid the "host account" hassle.
    
    Burns

    Your site telecom staff should have a good idea of what you can
    do, from your home, to your site.
    
    TSN (Terminal Switching Network) covers most of Greater Maynard.
    It's a buyout from Tymnet, and interconnects with their network.
    It's MUCH cheaper than long distance telephone, though we do pay
    an hourly charge to Tymnet when dialing in via their numbers.  However
    TSN runs at 1200 baud now (2400 is beginning to appear), with some
    echoplex delay, though not bad for a packet network and much better
    than SET HOST  if you have to edit.
    
    See JETSAM::TSN if you want to read up on it.

    Long distance telephone is just incredibly expensive.  Off-hours
    use of DTN for incoming calls is permitted, as per the aforementioned
    note in this conference.  If you just have to have another line
    (i.e., you're not alone in the house), it's still best to order
    it YOURSELF as a "residential" line, and ask for reimbursement,
    rather than letting some clone at the phone company charge the ripoff
    "business" rate.
          fred (formerly in Corp. Telecom)

    re .1
    I know of two problems with what you describe. The free local lines
    are only available outside of normal working hours. If you happen
    to be working at home during the day you have to use the toll line
    and get your cost center to reimburse you. Are there other means
    of access from 8 - 5?  Also if you don't have a push button phone
    you have to wait for someone to pick up the phone and give you the
    number. If no one answers, as is often the case at night, you have
    to use the toll line anyway. 

    re:.5
    TSN isn't waht you seem to think.  You DON'T go through the
    daytime-only lines to get there.  TSN has FULL TIME numbers in MANY
    locations, with public Tymnet in HUNDREDS of cities, worldwide!
    TSN is a packet-switched data network, not part of DTN at all.
    
    Just call site telecom and ask for the TSN number local to you.
    TSN also publishes a little book of Tymnet and TSN numbers.  And
    if you can get into TSN from your site, use its HELP function to
    find out numbers (I think they're in there, somewhere.)

                For those of you using the FX (local to you, but 
        connected to a plant such as the Mill) numbers, there is a way 
        to get around the "I don't have Touch Tone service" problem. 
                
                Either buy one of the newer phones that offer a 
        convienent switch to switch from pulse to tone (you dial the 
        call with pulse, then switch to tone for the plant dial tone), 
        or buy one of those portable touch tone generators that places 
        like Radio Shack carry (same trick as above except sub the tone 
        generator for the switch).
                
                BTW - There are other uses for the tone generator (which 
        ever method you decide on) such as accessing the DCU Easy-Touch 
        system (when it's up that is).
                
                /s/     Bob

    Does anyone have an FX number for Boston?
    The one in Quincy is outside my local calling area.
    
    Thanks.
    The Mad Chinaman
    

                The one listed for Arlington should be callable by 
        anyone in the Boston area.
                
                        /s/     Bob

    Isn't Arlington further than Quincy? (from Boston, that is...)
    
    Quincy is outsidemy local unlimited calling area; I need Metropolitan
    unlimited calling for Quincy.
    
    I'll check with the phone company before I try this stunt again.
    Finding out you've used 1500 message units is not a pleasant surprise.
    
    Thanks.
    
    
    The Stupid chinaman
    

Unless you live in Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Lexington, Medford,
Somerville, or Winchester, you'll need more than local unlimited to
call the Arlington numbers for free.

Both Arlington and Quincy are one message unit from the Central Exchange,
but neither are local unlimited.  Outgoing calls from Maynard are routed
to Arlington for Boston since Arlington is closer to Maynard and we have
more lines.  Arlington is also a lower number of message units to more
places on the north side of Boston, where most of DEC's business calling
goes to.  There's no such thing as unlimited service for businesses in
Massachusetts.

You might check to see if you're local to the Cambridge number (look in
the front of the Boston phone book).  But the Cambridge number costs DEC
money for you to call, since it crosses a LATA boundary.  Yes, there's
no such thing as a flat rate foreign exchange line across LATA boundaries
any more.

/john

>< Note 154.11 by COVERT::COVERT "John Covert" >
> 
>But the Cambridge number costs DEC money for you to call, since it crosses a 
>LATA boundary.  Yes, there's no such thing as a flat rate foreign exchange 
>line across LATA boundaries any more.
>
>/john

        When did Cambridge move from Eastern Mass????? Even when the new area 
code is created in a couple of years, the area currently defined by 617 will 
still be only one LATA even though it will then be made up of 2 area codes.

        /s/     Bob

    re.6
    It turns out that we live so far out in the boonies that there isn't
    a TSN line local to use. Until we get put on the map I guess we'll
    have to stick with what we have. 
    Thankyou anyway.

re .12

The Cambridge number terminates in Merrimack (it's the AT&T line used by
the MK and Nashua facilities for Boston area calling).  Under the current
tariff structure, it is an "access line" just like any common carrier would
buy from New England Telephone.  The bill consists of two parts, the flat
rate bill for the circuit paid to AT&T and the usage sensitive (on both
incoming and outgoing) access charge paid to N.E.T.  (It may be even more
complex than this in detail.)

/john

     TSN is  the  pits,  but  there is an 800 # which makes it accessible
     (thru Tymnet) from  anywhere  in  the  US.    Last  Fall,  while  on
     vacation, I used it  from  Hawaii  to  get to MILRAT so I could send
     some MAIL.  [I was in our Honolulu office, but did not want to abuse
     the  generosity    of   our  very  hospitable  Sales  Manager.]  The
     account_name;password        approach      seems        to        be
     "Pyour_regular_account_name;DEC" for using Tymnet  (800  #  or other
     local numbers).
     
     The FX #'s cover a very large  %-age  of  Mass/Southern NH for after
     hours  usage.   I always use them when  available  and  only  suffer
     through  TSN/Tymnet when absolutely necessary (case of last resort).
     I do believe that the FX #'s probably are incrementally  cheaper for
     DEC, than our using TSN/Tymnet.  
     
     I have had a DEC-paid second phone line in my house for 3+ years, it
     is up to your CC Mgr.   In  my case, as a WC4 my Mgr felt that if an
     Employee was willing to put in 1-2 hours a month on his own time, it
     more than paid for DEC to install and pay  for  the  dedicated line.
     Another factor was that I was using my single line  in the house and
     getting    considerable  heat  from  my  Family,  my  Wife,  and  my
     Mother-in-Law (in Florida) at not being able to reach us.  The final
     straw was on New Year's Day, when my Wife was rear-ended on Rte 9 in
     Natick and had to  send  the  Police  to my house to reach me (I had
     told her that I would  be  dialed-up  all day and to have the Police
     get me if she needed me).    The next day I gave in and talked to my
     Mgr.  DEC IS a people-company!!   [Of  course, if your justification
     is to read Notes and play games, forget it!!]
       
     I chose to  install  it  as  a standard "household" line (before the
     recent edict) rather than  a "business" line.  The cost differential
     was  something  like  $20./month  vs    $100.+/month  (when  it  was
     installed, today it is probably greater differential)!

     My bill is presented to Petty Cash each month to reimburse me, and I
     am responsible to  pay  the  Tel  Co.    
     
     BTW:   DEC will NOT pay for Message Units to  call  DEC  facilities,
     since  there  is  no  proof (required for Accounting and Tax Audits)
     that DEC is actually paying for a business-related expense (a former
     Employee of  mine  tried  this).    They  will also NOT pay for your
     primary household line,  NOR  to  add  additional  service to it for
     DEC-related purposes.  It  MUST be a separate line, so DEC can prove
     that it is specifically for work-related purposes.

>     BTW:   DEC will NOT pay for Message Units to  call  DEC  facilities,
>     since  there  is  no  proof (required for Accounting and Tax Audits)
>     that DEC is actually paying for a business-related expense (a former
>     Employee of  mine  tried  this).    They  will also NOT pay for your
>     primary household line,  NOR  to  add  additional  service to it for
>     DEC-related purposes.  It  MUST be a separate line, so DEC can prove
>     that it is specifically for work-related purposes.
                                      

    This is not true at all facilities.  When this was passed down to
    us at Hudson Ma, a seperate memo from our management (SEG) told
    us to ignore the directive and do whatever was necessary to save
    the company the most money.  Isn't is nice to know that some places
    are still run with common sense.  Hence, I ( as well as many others
    I know) have measured circle service and DEC pays the tab for all
    additional message units.
    
    Sometimes you just have to do the right thing.
    
    Jim Pappas