[Nfbc-info] A question about calling companies that use a dialin system

Tue Aug 2 00:20:13 UTC 2016

	hello.  I hate to be a party pooper on this technique, but times have
changed.  That is to say, the keys on your telephone keypad are no longer
just tone generators.  With the advent of digital voice transmission came
something called data compression.  Without getting into the very complex
details of how data compression works, suffice it to say, when you talk
into the phone, your voice is broken up into tiny data chunks, compressed
into something even tinier, sent over the line, and reassembled into
something that's supposed to sound like your voice at the far end.  In
order to make all this work, your keypad, rather than sending tones, sends
messages like: #3 is being pressed, #3 is being released, with time stamps
attached to each event so the system knows how long you held down the key.
The fact that you hear a tone when you press the key is merely a nod to the
fact that users expect to hear tones when they press keys, so the phone
plays them for you.  You might ask, if my phone isn't sending tones, what
do the folks at the other end of the line hear?  They hear tones.  That's
because the equipment that reassembles your voice at the far end of the
line, recognizes the messages your phone sent when you pressed the keys and
generates tones for the other end of the line.
	The tone generator David is talking about works fine on analog phones,
but won't work with cell phones.  If it does work, it's a happy accident
and I wouldn't count on it working.

-Brian

On Aug 1,  4:04pm, David via NFBC-Info wrote:
} Subject: Re: [Nfbc-info] A question about calling companies that use a dia
} 
} the keypad on your cell phone, or any phone for that matter, is just 
} a tone generator, so you are just using a different tone generator 
} instead of the one built-in to your phone - put the dialer right next 
} to where you talk into your phone [so your dialer is talking on the 
} phone instead of you]
} 
} the difference is your cell phone, unless you have one of those 
} ancient dumb phone with a real physical keypad, is just a flat 
} screen, and there is nothing you can do about it [well I guess you 
} can put a overlay on top of it] to make it easier to find the keys 
} quickly, versus the dialer has real keys [and you won't be asking the 
} question if your phone has keys]
} 
} --David
} 
} 
} At 03:45 PM 8/1/2016, Portia Mason wrote:
} >Hi there! Since I use a cell phone device how would that separate 
} >dialer work for my cellular phone?
} >
} >
} >
} >
} >
} >Portia MasonSent from my iPad
} >
} > > On Aug 1, 2016, at 3:13 PM, David via NFBC-Info 
} > <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org> wrote:
} > >
} > >
} > > not sure if they still have these for sale, but I had a separate 
} > dialer that you put next to the mouthpiece and then punch in the 
} > number on the keypad and it creates the tone - works for most applications...
} > >
} > > as far as pre-paid phone cards go, it'as good as what you'd pay 
} > for, the better quality ones just cost more...
} > >
} > > --David
} > >
} > >
} > > At 11:55 AM 8/1/2016, you wrote:
} > >> Hi,
} > >> Using my iPhone, sometimes I have trouble getting a phone number or other
} > >> long number typed in before the voice prompt speaks again and it is too
} > >> late.  After a couple attempts, the automated voice hangs up. 
} > What I usually
} > >> do is that I have two phones. I have my iPhone and a flip phone. I use the
} > >> flip phone when I know I am going to have to type in numbers quickly. That
} > >> phone has buttons so it is easier for me. I wonder if that would work for
} > >> you.
} > >> Thanks,
} > >> Lauren
} > >>
} > >> Blessings in Jesus' name:
} > >> But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy,
} > >> peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and
} > >> self-control. There is no law against these things!
} > >>   --Galatians 5:22-23, NLT
} > >> My digital evangelism blog is at:
} > >> w w w . ask in jesus name . org (remove the spaces).
} > >> Advice from my cats:"meow when you feel like it."
} > >>
} > >>
} > >>
} > >> -----Original Message-----
} > >> From: NFBC-Info [mailto:nfbc-info-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Portia
} > >> Mason via NFBC-Info
} > >> Sent: Monday, August 1, 2016 9:51 AM
} > >> To: 'NFB of California List' <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org>
} > >> Cc: Portia Mason <knitangelpm at yahoo.com>
} > >> Subject: [Nfbc-info] A question about calling companies that use a dialin
} > >> system
} > >>
} > >> Today for example I had to call my prepaid card for some information.
} > >>
} > >> I needed to put in my card number but it would not allow me enough time to
} > >> finish inputting my information.
} > >>
} > >> Is there a way to bring this to a Legislator to fix the problem?
} > >>
} > >> I figure I would ask this as there are several of these companies and not
} > >> only credit card companies but even my company I have my cellular service
} > >> with. You have to do things by voice which irritates me.
} > >>
} > >> I am raising this as I know many of you probably deal with this as well.
} > >>
} > >> Plus, when you call sometimes the voice quality of talking to a rep is not
} > >> good.
} > >>
} > >> I am deaf blind and no matter how loud I put my phone, I still sometimes
} > >> can't hear.
} > >>
} > >> So, both of these should be addressed.
} > >>
} > >> If I am in the wrong, plese let me know.
} > >>
} > >> Thank you!
} > >>
} > >>
} > >>
} > >> Portia
} > >>
} > >> Pico Rivera, CA
} > >>
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} > >>
} > >>
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>-- End of excerpt from David via NFBC-Info