Talk Talk

[breff]

Anyone else had any problems with a digi on a Talk Talk line?

We tried prefixing the tel no. with 1280 which usually diverts the call back to BTs lines and works ok, but had no joy it actually said we had dialled an incorrect number.

After many calls to Talk Talk it was discovered that it was a LLU line (local loop unbundled I believe), I think this means that Talk Talk have their own equipment in the exchange and the calls are routed purely over their own digital network.

Is this what the problem is likely to be when BT transfer to 21CN?

[topalarms]

Shouldn't be a problem with a TT line.

21cn will bring problems with a lot of older equipment, any 16 pin chip digi will fail and the jury is out on some others.

Add to that the fact that 0870 numbers (used by many ARCs) will soon add an announcement before dialing (like dialing 0800 on your mobile) and you can see fun times ahead.

[IPAlarms]

Anyone else had any problems with a digi on a Talk Talk line?

My Mum has a Talk Talk line and a couple of times it has just "disappeared" for a few days. It's down at the moment. Of course - they deny everything

[IPAlarms]

Shouldn't be a problem with a TT line.

... you're right - there "shouldn't" be.

21cn will bring problems with a lot of older equipment, any 16 pin chip digi will fail and the jury is out on some others.

Have you been provided with any info on exactly why these will fail? BT don't seem to be giving much away.

Add to that the fact that 0870 numbers (used by many ARCs) will soon add an announcement before dialing (like dialing 0800 on your mobile) and you can see fun times ahead.

Never knew that - Thanks for the info.

[topalarms]

Have you been provided with any info on exactly why these will fail? BT don't seem to be giving much away.

Its all about the time allowed for and nature of the connection to ARC, transfer and kiss-off:-

This means that your normal landline telephone will no longer rely on a fixed line method of connecting one telephone to another. Instead, your connection will occur via an IP network. Therefore, your telephone call will be split up into data packages and then sent to the receiving telephone.

There may be no consequences, but the BSIA is advising its members that if they use digicoms or communication devices, then they need to confirm that they will continue to work once the migration to the new network has taken place.

One of the effects of the migration to the new network will be to turn off the power to each telephone line for up to three minutes when the migration takes place within the local exchange

Apparantly being done in batches of 100,000+ in the middle of the night - should be fun for ARCs keyholders and 'on-calls'!

and from BT

16. Will equipment like my fax machine or alarm system continue to work?

It is expected that most end-user equipment will be unaffected by migration to 21CN. However, a programme to test apparatus is being conducted. BT is working with the telecoms industry and suppliers to identify and plan for any issues that users may encounter. Your BT contact will be able to give you more information as soon as it is available.

Basic answer seems to be 'suck it and see"!

Some digi equipment has already been tested by BT and some have failed the tests - if your customer has one thats failed their alarm will not report after the change.

The testing report is out there somewhere but I can't locate it.

[Joe Harris]

Never knew that - Thanks for the info.

Thankfully we are not one of those unfortunate ARCs

Basic answer seems to be 'suck it and see"!

Some digi equipment has already been tested by BT and some have failed the tests - if your customer has one thats failed their alarm will not report after the change.

The testing report is out there somewhere but I can't locate it.

It used to be directly accessible from a link however, BT now require that you send off to gain access as per this little quote in the mailthey sent me with access details:

3 Database Access

In order to gain access to the database users will need to follow the following process:

1. Appropriate Individuals requests access to the 21CN Testing Database by emailing consult21@bt.com The subject line of the email request must contain only the following to ensure that it is allocated to the correct administration team: C21

[IPAlarms]

Basic answer seems to be 'suck it and see"!

Some digi equipment has already been tested by BT and some have failed the tests - if your customer has one thats failed their alarm will not report after the change.

How are Alarm Companies supposed to convince their customers to upgrade their signalling equipment prior to conversion armed only with the sketchy information provided by BT ?

How many failures will it take and how serious will those failures have to be in order for BT to change their "suck it and see" stance on this ?

How does 21CN affect dodgy telco companies like Talk Talk ? - I'd be surprised if they even know what it is - unless there's a little scam in it for them.

[magpye]

The testing report is out there somewhere but I can't locate it.

This it?

http://www.switchedonuk.org/home/how/compatibility/

[Tel]

any 16 pin chip digi will fail and the jury is out on some others.

thought stocks of chips dried up a long time ago?

[topalarms]

thought stocks of chips dried up a long time ago?

They did but there are still plenty of old 16 pin scantronic digis out there.