Hello everyone!

I recall in a past job, whilst re-punching phone lines on a 66-M block, we would use a particular phone number to test our number to ensure we where connected to the correct service provider. Our facility had its own digital pbx system that connected all the phones in our building. However, our building was one of several business located at a strip mall. The main block that connected the other business was located directly behind our building.

Basically, our company purchased 5 new pbx landlines. The telco we went through had completely bungled our request, and simply informed us that the lines where up and ready to go. They told us they where connected, however the nice HR lady at our org. told us this was clearly not the case. So it was up to us IT guys to save the day.

So in the telco closet, there is the main telco block and blocks beside it that cross connect to the other buildings (ours included). With the aid of a tone-generator (toner), we identified which cross connects to use on our block (these correspond to the different locations of the phone lines in our building). Next, we had to ensure we where cross connecting the correct phone number from the main-telco block to our buildings bloc.

Unfortunately, said telco company is not so spectacular--save 2 phone numbers the entire block was unmarked. Great. However, my coworker--more versed in telecom work than I--knew of a handy number Alltell telco-techs used to test phone numbers. So, after we cross connected from the main-telco block to our buildings block, we would use a handset tester (connected directly to our buildings block), and dial the test number to ensure we had connected the correct number. (Recall we purchased five landlines.)

This was an awesome tool. It informed you the number you where dialing from in addition to the service provider.

Unfortunately, I completely do not remember this phone number! I'm going through some of my notes from that project in hopes that I can recover it. Which brings me to my question: do any of you linuxq goers have any handy telco/pbx numbers you used for testing/setup/infrastracture purposes that you may be willing to share?

I recently found myself in a situation where this would've came in hand. Any info would be great!

Many Thanks --Slug

It would help if you say where you are from. Because I don't think my Dutch numbers would help you very much... if I had them.

But I understand the situation. Telco's are really competing on price and it's showing. We had a brand new building delivered, and IT was the last one in line to hook everything up. Telco technician put the elevator emergency line on the phoneline that was meant for the VPN.

Did you know that when you call an elevator emergency alarm line it sounds exactly like a fax? So my boss told me to just pull out that *stupid* fax and let them deal with it. Not our problem. I'm glad I tested the elevator alarm before leaving.


Everybody always thinks telephony is easy, 'cuz you just plug it in the wall and it goes. But ever since IT took over telephony (infrastructure and all included) at work I've come to see it differently. It's very complex.
You know, sometimes I meet with a technician of the old garde, from the time when telephony was a state monopoly. These guys know what they are doing. But these younger technicians only care about their time table and don't care how they do their job as long as they are gone in time. Grrrrr[/rant]