May 11, 2009
SMAS
The trouble report was "long-hot levels" in both directions.
It is old gear, a SMAS. As far as I know this is used by testboards to access special circuits. The circuits are wired through the crossbar switches on the right, the switches are controlled by the equipment on the left. Not that I care. The equipment is maintained by the switchroom people, all I take care of are the modems. Antique 1200 baud modems. A 212 on the left and a 202T on the right. The 202 is the modem to be tested, using the 829 interface which takes 1/4" phone plugs to connect to the transmit and receive. Dug the antique HP Transmission Measuring Set out of the van, powered it up (Wow! It still works!) looped transmit to receive and worked the plugs and switches to clear off enough corrosion to get good readings.
Called the testboard since I was now set up to assist in the testing. Patched into the 829. Didn't notice Jack sneaking up to take the picture. Phone didn't quite reach which is why it is not in the left hand picture.
Well.... The "Problem" being long (meaning too low) and hot (meaning too high) levels, at the same time, in both directions, I had a strong inkling that it was not a problem with the modem or transmission levels.
Time to assume the working position. I am going to be waiting on the phone for quite a while as the testboardman calls hither and yon and does whatever testboardmen do when they are testing circuits.
Eventually he comes to the conclusion I had before I even left the shop: not an OCS problem. DUH!!! While that 829/202 may be an antique it was built by Western Electric back when they made things to be pretty near bullet proof. Old Technology. Built to last indefinitely. Which is a good thing as they are pretty near all gone. Not to be found anywhere at any price.
You know.... one of these days one of the many 202Ts we have in service will eventually fail. Will be interesting what will happen then. But odds are that I will have been retired for years so I will not have to worry.
Posted by Paladin at May 11, 2009 09:14 PM