[Info-vax] US Broadband

[Bill Gunshannon]

In article <md7uve$9u4$1 at panix2.panix.com>,
	kludge at panix.com (Scott Dorsey) writes:
> Bill Gunshannon <billg999 at cs.uofs.edu> wrote:
>>In article <md7cqe$ugs$1 at speranza.aioe.org>,
>>	glen herrmannsfeldt <gah at ugcs.caltech.edu> writes:
>>> Scott Dorsey <kludge at panix.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> It used to be that they were commonly used for burglar alarms (maybe
>>> still) and that you could ask for one of those. 
>>
>>I never heard of any residence having a leased line for their burglar
>>alarm.  They work on your regular phone line (and that is yet another
>>story!!!)  I used a number of leased lines at the University when I
>>first came in to do the campus network to connect buildings that we
>>could not run our own cabling to because of obstructions like state
>>highways.  :-)  I really doubt anyone could afford that, or justify
>>the cost, for a residential connection.
> 
> The problem with using a regular phone line is that burglars cut them.

I have been telling people that for years.  But, the last time I looked,
(about a month ago) that is exactly what ADT uses.  Stated in their
web page because reliance on this system has problems when you are
using anything other than a copper pair, like phone over your cable
or Vonage, etc.  Oh, and by the way, if the burglars can cut the phone
line to stop your alarm, why could they not also just cut the leased
line?  how would they tell the difference from the outside of your house?

> 
> The leased line has a contact closure... the alarm system signals the
> central server at 5 baud or so... when the alarm company goes for a 
> minute or so without getting a signal, it sends the police.  The idea
> here is that if the line is cut, the police arrive.

Another dreamer.  Where did you egt the idea that the local police are
your private security force?  I have posted here in the past my experience
with a police response to an alarm.  It did not involve ever going near
the building with the alarm going off.  And then you have places like
where I now live.  Coverage provided by the State Police.  4 cars on
duty covering the entire county.  751 sq miles.  

> 
> These days, these systems have pretty much disappeared and today we have
> alarm systems with cellphones built into them, to call the police even
> when the phone line has been cut.  But the circuits are still in the tariff.

ADT is still recognized as one of the biggest companies providing this
service.  Go read their info.  It ain't cellphone technology.

Oh, and by the way, that is another service I can't have because there
are no cable pairs left.  Period.  And there are not going to be.

bill

-- 
Bill Gunshannon          |  de-moc-ra-cy (di mok' ra see) n.  Three wolves
billg999 at cs.scranton.edu |  and a sheep voting on what's for dinner.
University of Scranton   |
Scranton, Pennsylvania   |         #include <std.disclaimer.h>