Return-Path: Received: by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.7.4/NSCS-1.0S) id IAA12449; Tue, 16 Dec 1997 08:51:04 -0500 (EST) Date: Tue, 16 Dec 1997 08:51:04 -0500 (EST) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <199712161351.IAA12449@massis.lcs.mit.edu> To: ptownson Subject: TELECOM Digest V17 #349 TELECOM Digest Tue, 16 Dec 97 08:51:00 EST Volume 17 : Issue 349 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Telecom Update (Canada) #112, December 15, 1997 (Angus TeleManagement) AIN/IN Training Program Short List (Robin E. Haberman) Noisy Analog Lines (Lee Miller) Re: Let Local Competitors Build Their Own Local Loop Plant (Art Kamlet) Re: Are Cookie Files Public Record? (Lisa Hancock) Re: Telemetry and SCADA (Jack Daniel) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and America On Line. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@telecom-digest.org * The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax or phone at: Post Office Box 4621 Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 847-727-5427 Fax: 773-539-4630 ** Article submission address: editor@telecom-digest.org ** Our archives are available for your review/research. 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Please make at least a single donation to cover the cost of processing your name to the mailing list. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 15 Dec 1997 11:56:00 -0500 From: Angus TeleManagement Subject: Telecom Update (Canada) #112, December 15, 1997 ************************************************************ * * * TELECOM UPDATE * * Angus TeleManagement's Weekly Telecom Newsbulletin * * http://www.angustel.ca * * Number 112: December 15, 1997 * * * * Publication of Telecom Update is made possible by * * generous financial support from: * * * * Bell Canada ................. http://www.bell.ca/ * * City Dial Network Services .. http://www.citydial.com/ * * Computer Talk Technology .... http://icescape.com/ * * fONOROLA .................... http://www.fonorola.com/ * * Lucent Technologies ......... http://www.lucent.com/ * * * ************************************************************ IN THIS ISSUE: ** Rogers to Spin Off Network Services ** BCE Mobile Postpones Share Issue ** CRTC Requires Reports on Cable's Digital Progress ** Telecom Act Revisions Passed ** Clearnet Signs U.S. Roaming Deal ** MetroNet Announces Ottawa-Hull Fiber Build ** Ottawa Asked to End SaskTel's CRTC Exemption ** Alberta White Pages Go Online ** Infosat to Sell Iridium Satellite Services ** World Conference Strikes Satellite Deal ** Sheridan College Plans New-Technologies Centre ** Sympatico Reaches 370,000 Households ** Cogeco Converts to Two-Way Cable ** Bell Offers Toll-Free Calls to Santa ** Telecom Competitors Explain Their Strategy ============================================================ ROGERS TO SPIN OFF NETWORK SERVICES: Rogers Communications says it will spin off Rogers Network Services. The new company, to be called Rogers Telecom, will issue debt or equity to finance its entry into the local services market. BCE MOBILE POSTPONES SHARE ISSUE: BCE Mobile Communications, the parent company of Bell Mobility, has deferred an equity issue announced in November that was to have raised $340 Million. (See Telecom Update #109) CRTC REQUIRES REPORTS ON CABLE'S DIGITAL PROGRESS: In Broadcasting Notice 1997-33-2, the CRTC orders cable companies to report by January 31 on their progress in implementing digital distribution capacity and to update these reports every three months until August 1999. http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/bcasting/notice/1997/p9733-2_.txt TELECOM ACT REVISIONS PASSED: On December 9, Bill C-17 passed third reading in the House of Commons. It amends the Telecommunications Act to authorize the CRTC to license international telecom service providers and to administer numbering resources in Canada. It also repeals sections of the Teleglobe Canada Reorganization and Divestiture Act to pave the way for ending Teleglobe's overseas monopoly in 1998. The Bill still requires Senate approval. CLEARNET SIGNS U.S. ROAMING DEAL: Clearnet Communications has signed a reciprocal roaming agreement with PrimeCo Personal Communications, a Dallas-based PCS provider licensed in 19 states. Clearnet has also announced roaming deals with Sprint PCS and WirelessNorth and plans to make U.S. roaming available early in 1998. METRONET ANNOUNCES OTTAWA-HULL FIBER BUILD: MetroNet Communications Group will invest $60 Million in a 120-km fiber optic network in Ottawa-Hull. Installation will start early next year. OTTAWA ASKED TO END SASKTEL'S CRTC EXEMPTION: On December 8, the Coalition for Fair Competition in Saskatchewan, composed of cable, wireless, and alternative phone companies, called on the Federal Government to bring SaskTel under federal CRTC jurisdiction. SaskTel's exemption from federal regulation runs until October 26, 1998, but a cabinet order is required to end it. ALBERTA WHITE PAGES GO ONLINE: Telus Advertising Services has placed Alberta residential directory listings online at http://www.alberta.com. In a few weeks, Albertans will be able to add online e-mail listings without charge. All listings will be updated quarterly. ** Yellow pages listings for all provinces are online at http://www.canadayellowpages.com INFOSAT TO SELL IRIDIUM SATELLITE SERVICES: Vancouver-based Infosat Telecommunications will be the Canadian distributor for the Iridium Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite system, which is to begin Canadian operations in September 1998. Infosat's deal with Iridium Canada does not cover the Northwest Territories. WORLD CONFERENCE STRIKES SATELLITE DEAL: The World Radiocommunication Conference in Geneva last month reallocated mobile satellite spectrum to accommodate the broadband LEO systems planned by Teledesic, SkyBridge, and Celestri. http://www.itu.ch/PPI/press/releases/1997/itu-20.html SHERIDAN COLLEGE PLANS NEW-TECHNOLOGIES CENTRE: Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario, has published the business plan for its Centre for Animation and Emerging Technologies. The Centre, to be opened in 2000, will encompass the college's telecom management program as well as media arts, graphic design, and animation. http://www.sheridanc.on.ca/news/scaet SYMPATICO REACHES 370,000 HOUSEHOLDS: The Sympatico Internet service, marketed by the Stentor companies, says that it now has 370,000 subscribers across Canada, up from 140,000 one year ago. COGECO CONVERTS TO TWO-WAY CABLE: Cogeco Cable plans to connect 75% of its subscribers to Internet-ready two-way equipment by September 1998. CEO Louis Audet told Cogeco's Annual Meeting December 10 that Cogeco now has 5,000 cable modem subscribers. BELL OFFERS TOLL-FREE CALLS TO SANTA: Bell Canada has opened a toll-free direct line to the North Pole, enabling Ontario children to leave voice mail for Santa. Call 1-888-SANTA-97. TELECOM COMPETITORS EXPLAIN THEIR STRATEGY: Telemanagement is publishing a series of exclusive interviews with leaders of Canadian telecom service providers, outlining their plans to provide new, competitive services. ** The current issue of Telemanagement gives the floor to Bill Catucci, CEO of AT&T Canada Long Distance Services, and Jan Peeters, CEO of Fonorola. ** The January issue will feature leaders of two local- service competitors, MetroNet and Videotron. ** To subscribe to Telemanagement, call 1-800-263-4415 ext 225 or go to http://www.angustel.ca/teleman/tm-sub.html ============================================================ Web links for organizations mentioned in Telecom Update can be found at http://www.angustel.ca/links/links.html HOW TO SUBMIT ITEMS FOR TELECOM UPDATE E-MAIL: editors@angustel.ca FAX: 905-686-2655 MAIL: TELECOM UPDATE Angus TeleManagement Group 8 Old Kingston Road Ajax, Ontario Canada L1T 2Z7 =========================================================== HOW TO SUBSCRIBE (OR UNSUBSCRIBE) TELECOM UPDATE is provided in electronic form only. There are two formats available: 1. The fully-formatted edition is posted on the World Wide Web on the first business day of the week. Point your browser to www.angustel.ca and then select TELECOM UPDATE from the Main Menu. 2. The e-mail edition is distributed free of charge. To subscribe, send an e-mail message to majordomo@angustel.ca. The text of the message should contain only the two words: subscribe update To stop receiving the e-mail edition, send an e-mail message to majordomo@angustel.ca. The text of the message should say only: unsubscribe update [Your e-mail address] =========================================================== COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER: All contents copyright 1997 Angus TeleManagement Group Inc. All rights reserved. For further information, including permission to reprint or reproduce, please e-mail rosita@angustel.ca or phone 905-686-5050 ext 228. The information and data included has been obtained from sources which we believe to be reliable, but Angus TeleManagement makes no warranties or representations whatsoever regarding accuracy, completeness, or adequacy. Opinions expressed are based on interpretation of available information, and are subject to change. If expert advice on the subject matter is required, the services of a competent professional should be obtained. ============================================================ ------------------------------ From: robineh@ibm.net (Robin E. Haberman) Date: Mon, 15 Dec 97 14:55:09 Reply-To: robineh@ibm.net Subject: AIN/IN Training Program Short List As many of you may know, the study of any fast moving field like the Intelligent Network is not easy. If you are like me, and company oral tribal knowledge won't cut it, then good formal training is hard to find. Telecommunications technology information does not come cheap. The following is short list of some formal training programs offered in CCS/SS7-IN/AIN field. A few have listings for ISDN courses which offer some SS7 information. For more information check with the training program for final times, dates, and costs or more course offering. ARG (1-919-461-8600) http://www.arg.com Integrating ISDN, Bellcore (1800-832-2463) http://www.bellcore.com Common Channel Signaling/Signaling System 7; Common Channel Signaling Network Operations & Maintenance; Common Channel Signaling Network Operations Workshop; Common Channel Signaling/Trouble Analysis Procedures; Advanced Intelligent Network - Overview; Advanced Intelligent Network - Operations; Advanced Intelligent Network- Protocols; AIN -Trouble Analysis Procedures; Advanced Intelligent Network - Operations & Maintenance; Numbering Strategies & Beyond 1997; Local Number Portability - A Technical Overview; Local Number Portability Operations & Routing Maintenance; Intelligent Services Peripheral-Operations & Maintenance; GSM: An International Standard for Mobil Communications; Signaling System 7 - Wireless. Ericsson Technical Education Center http://www.ericsson.com/e-tec/index.html Introduction to Intelligent Network; SMAS Operation; SS7 Overview; AIN-VPN Subscription Handling. Learning Tree (1-800-843-8733) http://www.learningtree.com ISDN for Telecommunications; Implementing ISDN Data Networks. Southern Methodist University, http://www.smu.ede Academic Questions Contact: James Dees (214) 768-1456 Advanced Intelligent Network, TM 971-N Southern Methodist University Course N. EE 6390, 30(80 minute) Prerequisites: Intro to Telecommunications (EE5301/TM 503-N) TRA (1-800-872-4736) http://www.tra.com Understanding SS7, AIN and LNP ---------------------------- Robin E. Haberman ------------------------------ From: Lee Miller Subject: Noisy Analog Lines Date: Mon, 15 Dec 1997 23:13:00 -0500 Organization: Erol's Internet Services Reply-To: lwmiller@ricochet.net I saw the following advice on one of the Ascend Web pages and am seeking expertise as to whether their advice regarding noisy analog lines makes any sense and whether it should be modified or supplemented in someway or just dismissed. > If you've got noise and a low line level, you need to contact your Telco > provider. Explain to them that you are using a modem on your line, you > are getting poor cct quality figures from our modem, and that the line > level is low. You are entitled to have this problem corrected. Make > sure that you say there is nothing wrong with your normal voice > communications (if that is the case...) otherwise they will just do a > normal line check. If you are on a digital exchange, ask them if you can > have the AGC (automatic gain control) turned OFF and your line setting at > the exchange, set to position "5". In most cases this should give you a > good cct and level and cure your connect problems at a stroke. For those interested in more background, I'm trying to resolve a telephone line related decrease in modem speed. Specifically, I bought a new 56Flex modem and hooked it up to my pc and pots line. No real trouble with anything. I've never seen 56K, but nearly always see 46K. The best I've seen is 48K a few times. Given what I've seen posted, what I'm getting seems about as good as one can reasonably expect. I'm happy with things, then comes the problem. I move the pc and modem to another house, turn it on and bingo, it's back in business, except now the maximum rate is 28.8. What followed was literally weeks of trying every change and combination of changes imaginable. Till it was all said and done I tried all of the following: * start by trying what seemed to be every conceiveable modem init string, * changed the modem driver software, * changed the modem firmware, * then replaced the modem (tried a total 4 different 56 Flex modems (2 int, 2 ext)) * replaced the wire from the modem to the wall jack, * then replaced that cable with a pre-fabbed cat 5 cable, * then took every device off every other extension leaving only the modem as the sole device, * then eliminated all other obvious RF producers like cordless and cell phones, * then replaced the cable from the wall jack to the network interface point on the side of the house with category 5 cable * Naturally, I've tried the phone company and they've tested the line for noise and say it is "normal for a voice grade analog line". I've asked if I could get an upgrade to a modem line or whatever they call their "data grade analog line" and politely told that the choices are a pots line or an ISDN line. However the new 56 flex modems don't work with ISDN, so it seems the only choice is pots, and the telco considers its noise level "normal". * I then procurred and tried a tele line filter (ATT model Z100B1) which did nothing. * Along the way I've tried 3 different ISPs and every reasonable dialin number they have. * I also tried the USR line test which said both lines were X2 capable, * and I tried the Ascend line test which showed one line downloads much slower than the original (big suprise) * The last thing I investigated was the subscriber line concentrator issue since it seems to have the potential for reducing modem speed. The new line is a straight run, whereas the original line (the fast one) is on an SLC. Just the opposite of what I was expecting. * During my SLC investigation I found that the new line is approx 8,000 feet whereas the original is approximately 17,000 feet (per the telco), but again the opposite of what I was expecting. At this point, I've tried everything I could think of or heard of. Nothing changed the situation. The maximum rate at the new site and line is 28.8 and the original line remains 46-48Kbps. The only other thing I've seen is the above advice posted by Ascend on their web site. It does seem to focus on line noise for an analog line with a 56 Flex modem. However, I need some expert advice as to whether it might provide some real benefit of whether it would just provide another long series of calls to the telco that result in no real difference. Also, if you know of something else to try that I missed, feel free to tell me or point me at other options for getting a pc with 56 Flex modem known to work at 48K on one line to work at something better than 28.8 on a new line at a different house. Thanks in advance for any insights you might have, -Lee lwmiller@ricochet.net ------------------------------ From: kamlet@infinet.com (Art Kamlet) Subject: Re: Let Local Competitors Build Their Own Local Loop Plant Date: 16 Dec 1997 00:20:43 -0500 Organization: InfiNet Reply-To: kamlet@infinet.com In article , Lee Winson wrote: > After reading the MCI sleaze post I had a thought: To be truly fair in > local telephone competition, let's make it TRUE competition. Let each > player build their own local loop plant and central office facilities. > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: But I was saying this same thing > back in 1983 and Lord knows how many times since in this Digest. > Remember of course that Judge Harold Greene had his noise out of > joint to start with where AT&T was concerned. He made no pretense > of having a fair 'trial' or proceedings and early on before the > divestiture case even came to court he let it be known among his .... But ... The Justice Department didn't ask for the local phone companies to be divested from the long distance business. The Justice Department asked that Western Electric be spun off and the local and long distance services carried by the Bell System could continue on as is. In 1982 Charlie Brown changed the proposal to letting the manufacturing and R&D stay with long distance, and spinning off seven RBOCs. The gov't agreed, and the judge agreed provided everything went through him. It wasn't until 1995 that Bob Allen, for all the criticism people have heaped on him, came to the same conclusion the Justice Department came to almost 15 years earlier -- but by then the RBOCs had been spun off from long distance. Allen spun off the old Western Electric (by 1995 the Western name had virtually disappeared, but the organizations still remained) into what is now Lucent Technologies. He also undid the NCR merger, admitting it was a flop. Just think what would have happened if Charlie Brown agreed in the 80s to the Justice Department's original demand. Lucent would have been formed years earlier, and the Bell System might still be around. Art Kamlet Columbus, Ohio kamlet@infinet.com ------------------------------ From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Lisa Hancock) Subject: Re: Are Cookie Files Public Record? Date: 15 Dec 1997 22:15:47 GMT Organization: Net Access BBS > As reported previously, a weekly newspaper in Tennessee is suing a > local municipality in an attempt to obtain files that are > automatically stored on employees' computers when they surf the > Internet. .... > Specifically, O'Mara points to provisions in the law that make > exceptions for temporary records and working papers. As a government employee, I have some very definite opinions on this: 1) Without question, those "cookie" files are temporary working papers not "official public records". My definition of a public document, based on my years of government service, is a _completed_ document of official standing. If I were to write someone a formal letter, and compose it in my computer, that letter does not become a "public document" until I sign and mail it. At that point the letter will be stored in our official files, available for public inspection per state law. 2) A second issue is privacy concerns. Not all government records are open to the public, there are a number of situations where a private citizen's privacy must be recognized (tax filings and medical records for example.) A newspaper reporter has no right to browse through such files regardless of the medium they're stored on. Should a newspaper be allowed to listen in on employee telephone calls to see if they're making personal calls on the job? I can't help but wonder if this newspaper is more interested in creating a scandal to sell papers rather than true good government. ------------------------------ From: Jack Daniel Subject: Re: Telemetry and SCADA Date: Mon, 15 Dec 1997 10:16:53 -0800 Organization: EarthLink Network, Inc. Reply-To: jdaniel@earthlink.net Ferdie Lochner wrote: > 1. What is the relation between telemetry, SCADA (supervisory control > and data acquisition) and radio frequencies? Telemetry, in its purest definition, is the constant monitoring of a varying measurement from some distance. i.e. reading a meter a mile away from your present location. In practice, "telemetry" can also define remote reading of many different measurements at predefined intervals. The term is sometimes used to cover similar applications not within the previous definations too. A SCADA sytem may include telemetry functions SCADA is an acronym for Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition. This defines a system of providing both remote control and measurement. Unlike telemetry, you can monitor remote contact closures and SEND 'commands' to cause contacts to close at the distant end and, in some cases, send new variable values to the distant end. Radio frequencies are a common communications medium used in telemetry and SCADA systems, but not a manditory part of either type system. Telephone lines, coaxial cables, laser links and other means can also provide the communications medium between the ends of these systems. In many cases, the communications distance is far or the installation of wires is impractical financially or physically, so radio frequency use is preferred. The federal government (FCC) regulates the use of radio frequencies in the US and the limits placed on the technical characteristics of each individual radio channel varies greatly. This gives rise to having radio frequencies thar are technically compatibale with the communications protocol of the telemetry or SCADA devices you plan on using. For example, a FCC approved use in the 173 MHz band may limit your radio frequency 'modulation' bandwidth so much that you can only operate at 1200 BPS practically. This may increase or decrease according to which radio frequency channel the FCC authorizes you to use. The better channels are those which have few interfering users on the same radio channels. These types of channels are "licensed" radio frequencies which require special applications and fees to be paid periodically for their legal use. Due to the demand for these types of channels and a very limited quantity, there are few still available in or near any city. The FCC has responded to this radio frequency shortage by approving "spread spectrum" type radios which have the advantage of allowing many more users to share the same radio frequencies with minimal interferenece to each other. This does require the use of an FCC approved "spread spectrum" radio but does NOT require the user to obtain a license as in the non-spread spectrum type radios mentioned previously. Spead spectrum radios came in many versions and quality, and as you would expect, the cheaper models generally have poorer reliability, range and immunity to interference. Fortunately, many moderately priced designs are excellent in SCADA and telemetry applications. The major difference between moderate and high priced models are mostly operational and feature differences, not reliability as a radio device. Note that some popular SCADA data formats (i.e Modbus RTU protocol)require special handling within the radios so you should always demand the radio manufacturer guarantee data format compatibility or provide an alternative soultion. > 2. Would Win NT be a better operating system than Win 95 for telemetry > (and SCADA?) and if so, why? There has been considerable debate within the industry as to what operating system is "best" for SCADA or telemetry. So far I have seen no clear, outstanding winner of that debate because each of these operating system has advantages and disadvantages when used with a particular type of operation and supporting software. Your specific application may favor one over the other. It is perplexing that most experienced users find WIN 95 and Win NT to be less reliable than older DOS based systems. It is VERY VERY important in SCADA systems to have a ultra reliable unattended operation and a software platform that is too complex to eliminate random 'crashes' is an undesirable condition. The frequent crashes a Windows users has in a word processing program is only an annoyance while a crash in a SCADA program could waste thousands of dollars in materials and time or even kill someone. Unfortunately, you no longer have much choice when selecting a operating platform and you have to accept whatever defects and unrelaibility is inherent in these platforms. IMHO, the Win NT has some integration advantages over Win 95 but others will disagree for various reasons. Remember, you will also be using some application software to do the actual SCADA or telemetry operation, so the important thing is that the program and the platform be compatible and reliable as possible. Be sure this software has 'crash' recovery and auto-boot capabilities. Get the 'mean time between crashes' guarantee in writing. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V17 #349 ******************************