==Phrack Inc.== Issue XIV, File 4 of 9 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The Reality of the Myth REMOBS by Taran King =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= In the past, many misconceptions have been made of the legendary REMOBS system. The term has been used and abused. It used to be known as REMOB, rather than the proper REMOBS, which stood for Remote Observation. The REMOBS is a REMote service OBservation System manufactured by Teltone, a company which makes various telephone equipment peripherals. REMOBS has a number of features. The REMOBS permits evaluation of equipment or employee performance. It allows observation of subscriber lines, CO, toll, and E&M trunks, repair bureaus, and operator positions. It can be portable or set up as dedicated remote terminals. The observer console can sample entire networks. REMOBS is compatible with all types of switching and transmission media. The purpose of the REMOBS system is to measure performance and service provided to customers in an impartial and unbiased manner. By monitoring the subscriber connections throughout the network switch, this can be achieved. The customer experiences are recorded and statistics are derived to provide service level indices. REMOBS is compatible with all switching systems including Step by Step, Crossbar, and electronic equipment. In each situation, it can observe almost any transmission point such as subscriber lines, inter- and intra-office trunks, toll trunks, E&M trunks, repair bureaus, commercial offices, and operator positions. The console operators can observe by phone line, from one location, any switch location/CO with the remote unit installed. The M-241 system (which includes the console and remote terminal) observes up to 40 circuits, but can scan up to 100 lines with a remote terminal. The terminal may observe up to 5 locations simultaneously, with a capacity to observe 500 circuits at any one time. The REMOBS system can observe all remote terminals at any switching system location through the console controls, making it feasible to observe an entire network. Remote terminals are equipped with plug-in connectors so they can be moved routinely to observe desired locations. The M-241 Remote Terminal: The remote terminal is located at the point of ========================== observation. It may be ordered in portable or dedicated configuration. The remote terminal remains inactive until accessed by the controlling console. The remote unit is 6.5" high, 22.88" wide, and 11.7" deep, arranged for relay rack mounting. The M-242 Observer's Console: Console operators access the remote terminals ============================= through telephone lines. Access to the remotes is limited to console operators who know the access number, timing, and four digit security code. Additional security is available with the optional security dialback feature. The System automatically scans observed circuits. The first circuit to become busy is selected and held by the system until the necessary information is secured, the operator presses the reset button, or the calling party goes on-hook. Timing circuits automatically drop the call 100 seconds after the calling party goes off-hook or, if answer supervision is present, 15 seconds after the called party answers. The console itself looks very much like a cash register. Where the digits are normally, there are places for the trunk identity, called number, stop clock, and memory. The pushbutton controls consist of the following: power (key switch), hold buttons, select buttons, calling party, called party, display hold, clear, O.G. line, auto reset, reset (manual), read (stop clock operate), talk, voice exclusion, memory, plus a standard touch-tone keypad with the A, B, C, and D keys. There are 2 monitor jacks, a volume control and, for the primitive lines and switches, a rotary dial next to the touch-tone keypad. The operator's console stands 2.25" in the front and 8.25" in the back; it's 17,25" wide and 16.5" deep. The observation system network is set up in the following manner. The operator observer is in an observing center at the local Central Office with the M-242 REMOBS Central Console (which looks like a telephone to the Central Office). Through the standard telephone network, communications occurs between the console and the remote. From the CO, through the incoming circuitry, it goes through the connector to the M-241 REMOBS Remote Terminal (which looks like a telephone to the access line). From there the connection is made to the circuits to be observed including the subscribers lines, line-finders, toll trunks, repair lines, etc. The information provided is both visual and audible. The visual display, showed on the panel, includes the identity of the remote terminal, the identity of the observed circuit, the signalled digits (up to 52), the status of the calling and called parties (on/off-hook), and the timing of the call. The audible information (which is provided through headset or handest) includes the call progress tones for disposition (dial tone, type of signalling, 60 IPM, 120 IPM, ringing, answer, etc.) and voice transmission (calling and called parties). The REMOBS system is very much different from often-misconceived system known as 4Tel made by Teredyne. REMOBS is very much different from the dial-up - enter 1 code - be given instructions simplicity of the 4Tel but it still has the legendary capabilities of listening in remotely. If you wish to gain more information about the REMOBS system, Teltone Corporation can be written to at 10801 - 120th Avenue N.E., Kirkland, WA 98033 or phoned at (206) 827-9626. 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