BoD, HH, ipcop and call bumping
Matthew Haigh
in our village, and got the nice man from BT [1] around to install Home
Highway.
It was a good, smooth install, and there were no problems getting my
ipcop (http://www.ipcop.org) based firewall/router connecting using an
Eicon Diva 2.02 PCI card. BoD is running fine, with ibod bringing the
second channel up and down nicely.
Life is good, except that to get permission from my better half for the
installation, I pointed out that it would give us an extra line so when
the mother-in-law calls she won't get an almost constant engaged tone.
AIUI it is possible to set things up to get call bumping, where an
incoming call triggers the second channel to drop. This isn't working at
the moment.
The paperwork from BT, and the HH website, only mention this in passing,
saying that it won't work with the built-in USB adapter - which I'm not
using.
Part of the problem would seem to be that I don't have call waiting
enabled. From what I can find googling around, the call waiting
indication comes down the D channel, which is then used by either the
ISDN card or the controlling software (ibod in this case) to drop the
second channel, thus allowing the waiting call to come in. At least,
this is how it works on a normal ISDN line.
So, my question is, if I get call waiting, will call bumping work on a
HH installation?
Will it work with ipcop/isdn4linux/ibod and my Diva card?
Have I misunderstood how this works?
Obviously the simple solution is to get rid of the missus and forget
incoming calls as no-one rings me anyway, but as she's threatened to
leave the kids with me if she goes that's a bit of a non-starter :-(
Matt
[1] Whatever you think of BT, this _was_ a nice, competent man.
--
Matthew Haigh --$matthaigh{News02}$@haigh.org--
Brian {Hamilton Kelly}
$matthaigh{News02}$@haigh.org "Matthew Haigh" writes:
> AIUI it is possible to set things up to get call bumping, where an
> incoming call triggers the second channel to drop. This isn't working at
> the moment.
>
> The paperwork from BT, and the HH website, only mention this in passing,
> saying that it won't work with the built-in USB adapter - which I'm not
> using.
It won't work with Highway at all: to get call bumping requires ISDN call
waiting, and that in turn precludes the Highway system where calls to the
"analogue" numbers are never indicated on the ISDN D-channel.
> Part of the problem would seem to be that I don't have call waiting
> enabled. From what I can find googling around, the call waiting
> indication comes down the D channel, which is then used by either the
> ISDN card or the controlling software (ibod in this case) to drop the
> second channel, thus allowing the waiting call to come in. At least,
> this is how it works on a normal ISDN line.
Precisely: but it cannot work with Highway (not even Business Highway).
You've been sold a pup: did you say in your initial order that you were
wanting to do this, and was the information available on Highway as
misleading as you appear to report? Because ISTM that BT are applying an
illegal trades description if they make any suggestion that call bumping
is feasible with Highway.
[Cross-posted into uk.telecom to widen the audience for further comment
on this matter]
> So, my question is, if I get call waiting, will call bumping work on a
> HH installation?
No; but it would work with ISDN2e.
> Will it work with ipcop/isdn4linux/ibod and my Diva card?
It ought to, yes.
> Have I misunderstood how this works?
I think you seem to have a fairly accurate grasp of what is involved.
> Obviously the simple solution is to get rid of the missus and forget
> incoming calls as no-one rings me anyway, but as she's threatened to
> leave the kids with me if she goes that's a bit of a non-starter :-(
Why not restrict your connectivity to only a single channel? Then you
would also be able to benefit from "unmetered" calls[1] via Demon's g5-
rate number, instead of paying for TWO calls to the 0845 number to get
128kb/s[2], so even though things would take twice as long, they'd not
"cost anything".
[1] In reality, calls to g5-rate numbers are not unmetered: however, by
paying the appropriate fee to BT, the latter will discount them by 100%
[2] Unless, of course, you have paid for Demon's Super Showroom service,
which DOES permit 128kb/s connections via a g5 number.
--
Brian {Hamilton Kelly} b...@dsl.co.uk
"We have gone from a world of concentrated knowledge and wisdom to one of
distributed ignorance. And we know and understand less while being incr-
easingly capable." Prof. Peter Cochrane, formerly of BT Labs
Phil McKerracher
> AIUI it is possible to set things up to get call bumping, where an
> incoming call triggers the second channel to drop. This isn't working at
> the moment.
>
> The paperwork from BT, and the HH website, only mention this in passing,
> saying that it won't work with the built-in USB adapter - which I'm not
> using...
As others have pointed out, it won't work with HH. This is an FAQ - you
might want to search through newsgroup archives.
The solution I used when I had HH was to use Call Minder, with my mobile
number in the outgoing message.
Another possibility is to get "call forwarding on busy" on your POTS number
to do this automatically (needs a subscription and you pay for the forwarded
part of the call).
I guess you could even call forward your POTS calls to your digital number
on busy, get BH instead of HH and subscribe to call waiting and achieve what
you want. You get some select services free with BH "working together", so
provided you make £70 worth of outgoing calls a quarter it wouldn't actually
be much more expensive.
--
Phil McKerracher
www.mckerracher.org
Matthew Haigh
<b...@dsl.co.uk> writes
>In article <ZF1xt7Ji...@gcrsoft.com>
> $matthaigh{News02}$@haigh.org "Matthew Haigh" writes:
>
>> AIUI it is possible to set things up to get call bumping, where an
>> incoming call triggers the second channel to drop. This isn't working at
>> the moment.
>>
>> The paperwork from BT, and the HH website, only mention this in passing,
>> saying that it won't work with the built-in USB adapter - which I'm not
>> using.
>
>It won't work with Highway at all: to get call bumping requires ISDN call
>waiting, and that in turn precludes the Highway system where calls to the
>"analogue" numbers are never indicated on the ISDN D-channel.
Fair enough.
>
>> Part of the problem would seem to be that I don't have call waiting
>> enabled. From what I can find googling around, the call waiting
>> indication comes down the D channel, which is then used by either the
>> ISDN card or the controlling software (ibod in this case) to drop the
>> second channel, thus allowing the waiting call to come in. At least,
>> this is how it works on a normal ISDN line.
>
>Precisely: but it cannot work with Highway (not even Business Highway).
>
>You've been sold a pup: did you say in your initial order that you were
>wanting to do this, and was the information available on Highway as
>misleading as you appear to report? Because ISTM that BT are applying an
>illegal trades description if they make any suggestion that call bumping
>is feasible with Highway.
It wasn't really a consideration when I got the conversion - it
certainly was never mentioned. I only started to think about it when it
came up in some searches whilst I was trying to get some background on
BoD and how to tweak it for optimal use.
The only mention I (or rather google) could find on the BT Highway site
was in a .pdf of the welcome booklet - which says on page 4 in the "bear
in mind" box
<quote>
The USB port does not support call bumping. This is where Home Highway
automatically drops back to 64k from 128k when an incoming call is
detected
</quote>
That doesn't say you _can_ do it with any other card/TA, but it doesn't
say you can't. I'd probably have expected something more along the lines
of "Home Highway does not support call bumping". I wonder if things have
changed since they started installing the new boxes with USB?
>Why not restrict your connectivity to only a single channel? Then you
>would also be able to benefit from "unmetered" calls[1] via Demon's g5-
>rate number, instead of paying for TWO calls to the 0845 number to get
>128kb/s[2], so even though things would take twice as long, they'd not
>"cost anything".
>
>[1] In reality, calls to g5-rate numbers are not unmetered: however, by
>paying the appropriate fee to BT, the latter will discount them by 100%
>[2] Unless, of course, you have paid for Demon's Super Showroom service,
>which DOES permit 128kb/s connections via a g5 number.
>
I do have 128k g5 access.
This isn't a major issue, I rarely _need_ fast connections. I've just
got a new toy, and want to play with it. I've always found that's the
best way to learn about anything :-)
I really wanted to make sure that it wasn't something stupid at my end
(not setting something in the ibod.cf file, needing something else
running, etc.), or just a case of getting call waiting enabled.
Matt
Matthew Haigh
McKerracher <phil.mck...@dataflex.com> writes
>In article <ZF1xt7Ji...@gcrsoft.com>
> $matthaigh{News02}$@haigh.org "Matthew Haigh" writes:
>
>> AIUI it is possible to set things up to get call bumping, where an
>> incoming call triggers the second channel to drop. This isn't working at
>> the moment.
>>
>> The paperwork from BT, and the HH website, only mention this in passing,
>> saying that it won't work with the built-in USB adapter - which I'm not
>> using...
>
>As others have pointed out, it won't work with HH. This is an FAQ - you
>might want to search through newsgroup archives.
I did try some fairly extensive searches on google and google groups and
came up blank. Maybe I just didn't hit the right combination of words.
Bearing in mind I knew almost next to nothing about ISDN a week ago, I
think the details in my post showed I'd tried to do some research :-)
>
>The solution I used when I had HH was to use Call Minder, with my mobile
>number in the outgoing message.
People who call know our mobile numbers anyway - they've been trained to
call them when our POTS was busy :-)
It isn't a major issue, I just saw it in passing and wondered if I could
do it.
Matt
Phil McKerracher
"Matthew Haigh" <$matthaigh{News02}$@haigh.org> wrote in message
news:Qlsz1lEb...@gcrsoft.com...
>
> ...Bearing in mind I knew almost next to nothing about ISDN a week ago, I
> think the details in my post showed I'd tried to do some research :-)
Sure. You might find my tutorial at www.mckerracher.org/highway/ helpful if
you're new to it (and haven't already found it).
--
Phil McKerracher
www.mckerracher.org
Matthew Haigh
McKerracher <ph...@mckerracher.org> writes
I did find it a few days ago. It is a very interesting read (always nice
to get things from the horses mouth, so to speak) - but no mention of
call waiting :-)
Graham Murray
> The solution I used when I had HH was to use Call Minder, with my mobile
> number in the outgoing message.
Or you can get Call Minder to send an SMS to your mobile when someone
leaves a message.
Barry Schofield
Your problem is you mistook Highway for ISDN. Highway is most definitely
not ISDN.
The service are available to you with your card and to get your
supplementary services that work you will need an ISDN line, and to change
the call forwarding services you will need an ISDN phone.
Another tip is that when ordering ISDN call forwarding that you insist -and
I do mean insist- to put the call forwarding on all your numbers and not
just the first one, another of the ineptitude you will now find from BT.
A further tip is the call forwarding service is £5 on the service and not
on the number of user numbers you have, when the idiots get going they
certainly do with BT. I have had arguments for weeks on this matter, on
each ISDN installation, because they do not know what they are doing and
have obviously downsized on their technical support.
You can check out the differences on www.lioncom.net, they tell you the
differences especially since most people now believe they are the same
thing. I have even had a BT man on the help desk actually say it is ISDN
then again the same people told me to use *41 services to use call
forwarding on an ISDN phone.
--
My tip of the day:
Use an ADSL router if you can. This allows you to switch
machines, operating systems and keep your internet connection.
Denis Mcmahon
>I've finally given up on waiting for cable or ADSL to become available
>in our village, and got the nice man from BT [1] around to install Home
>Highway.
snip
>AIUI it is possible to set things up to get call bumping, where an
>incoming call triggers the second channel to drop. This isn't working at
>the moment.
Call Bumping does not work on highway lines, as the d channel message
for the incoming analogue call is addressed to the relevant analogue
line tei in the highway unit and is not passed on the s bus to any
connected ISDN equipment.
Rgds
Denis
--
Denis McMahon / +44 7802 468949 / de...@pickaxe.demon.co.uk
sulfnbk is not a virus, see the symantec virus encyclopaedia!
Now restocking killfile, new entrants welcome: trolls, spam,
xpost cascades, OT ads, top posters & terminally clueless!
Bill Hay
>Call Bumping does not work on highway lines, as the d channel message
>for the incoming analogue call is addressed to the relevant analogue
>line tei in the highway unit and is not passed on the s bus to any
>connected ISDN equipment.
get the incoming call then.
--
TANSTAAFM
Denis Mcmahon
Yes, provided you had something connected to the ISDN socket that was
configured to accept voice calls[1].
And the call would then present on that equipment and not the analogue
1 / analogue 2 ports.
Rgds
Denis
[1] And maybe 3.1 K audio as well.
Barry Schofield
> wi...@dumain.demon.co.uk (Bill Hay) wrote:
>
>>begin quoting Denis Mcmahon <Fri, 03 May 2002 23:15:57 +0100>
>>>Call Bumping does not work on highway lines, as the d channel message
>>>for the incoming analogue call is addressed to the relevant analogue
>>>line tei in the highway unit and is not passed on the s bus to any
>>>connected ISDN equipment.
>
>>What if the call were directed to the digital number? Surely you would
>>get the incoming call then.
>
> Yes, provided you had something connected to the ISDN socket that was
> configured to accept voice calls[1].
>
It is not an ISDN socket. It is a digital socket. Highway is not ISDN.
You may use ISDN equipment designed for an ISDN service on the digital
socket, but you do not have all the functionality of ISDN.
You may connect an ISDN phone to the socket -providing you have suitable
powering, as the digital socket does not have the normal ISDN powering-
this will then be able to take and receive calls. You may also be able to
use your phone for network user call forwarding, provided you get BT to
assign the service to your Highway.
> And the call would then present on that equipment and not the analogue
> 1 / analogue 2 ports.
>
> Rgds
> Denis
>
> [1] And maybe 3.1 K audio as well.
--
Mike Pellatt
<bs...@lioncom.net> wrote:
> Denis Mcmahon wrote:
>
>> wi...@dumain.demon.co.uk (Bill Hay) wrote:
>>
>>>begin quoting Denis Mcmahon <Fri, 03 May 2002 23:15:57 +0100>
>>>>Call Bumping does not work on highway lines, as the d channel message
>>>>for the incoming analogue call is addressed to the relevant analogue
>>>>line tei in the highway unit and is not passed on the s bus to any
>>>>connected ISDN equipment.
>>
>>>What if the call were directed to the digital number? Surely you would
>>>get the incoming call then.
>>
>> Yes, provided you had something connected to the ISDN socket that was
>> configured to accept voice calls[1].
>>
> It is not an ISDN socket. It is a digital socket. Highway is not ISDN.
Gosh, Barry correcting a minor error in terminology. When he used to
consistently defend his major, repeated, error in terminology :-)
> You may connect an ISDN phone to the socket -providing you have suitable
> powering, as the digital socket does not have the normal ISDN powering-
> this will then be able to take and receive calls. You may also be able to
> use your phone for network user call forwarding, provided you get BT to
> assign the service to your Highway.
BT will not. If you look at the header, it's clearly HH - Home Highway.
No Digital Select Services (or whatever the marketroids have decided
to call them this week) are available on Home Highway. It's all in the
BT Price List.
When correcting others' errors, it is advisable to ensure that
one is 100% correct....
BTW, I see you still haven't sold that house,
http://www.lioncom.net/house/hse1.htm
Surely it's worth a bit more than that by now ??
--
Mike Pellatt
Duncan
>>What if the call were directed to the digital number? Surely you would
>>get the incoming call then.
>
>Yes, provided you had something connected to the ISDN socket that was
>configured to accept voice calls[1].
Even if both channels were currently in use for an outgoing 128k bonded
data call?
>
>And the call would then present on that equipment and not the analogue
>1 / analogue 2 ports.
So, would some suitably configured router be able to then ring an
analogue phone connected to one of its POTS ports, and bump one of the
digital channels for the duration of the incoming voice call on the
digital number?
Would it also work for outgoing calls from the same analogue phone, such
that the analogue phone user always "has a line"?
If so, does this work on res HH or only the biz variant?
Finally, will BT renumber the lines such that the existing number of HH
analogue port 1 becomes the digital number?
If anyone know if this is possible and a what cost I would be interested
--
Duncan
Ian Stirling
>
> Denis Mcmahon <den...@pickaxe.demon.co.uk> wrote
>>>What if the call were directed to the digital number? Surely you would
>>>get the incoming call then.
>>
>>Yes, provided you had something connected to the ISDN socket that was
>>configured to accept voice calls[1].
>
> Even if both channels were currently in use for an outgoing 128k bonded
> data call?
From my (limted) tests, using my HH line no.
These consist of dialling my ISDN number with a mobile phone.
With one data call being made, I get a syslog that a call has been
recieved, and has been ignored.
With two, I get a 'busy', and no syslog.
I'd love to be wrong on this.
I don't use bonded ISDN, but different channels to different ISPs, but
I don't think this is the case.
--
http://inquisitor.i.am/ | mailto:inqui...@i.am | Ian Stirling.
---------------------------+-------------------------+--------------------------
Lord, grant me the serenity to accept that I cannot change, the
courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to hide the bodies
of those I had to kill because they pissed me off. - Random