Date: Thu, 12 Sep 91 06:15:28 PDT 
From: DORY%ORFE.ESNET@esnmrg.nersc.gov
Subject: Responses: Use of Modems in Europe 

Dear Moderators
I append responses by two colleagues concerning the use of modems in
Europe.  They are longish for a communication, so you may wish to put the
body of text into an archive.  Special thanks to below who responded.
Bob

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Info Request:  How to use Modems on European and UK Telephone Systems?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
September 3, 1991, ca 15:30 EDT.

Could our European correspondents please send a bit of information on the use of
modems in the European telephone systems? Do US-style modems work on continental
and UK systems? Are there special adapter plugs sufficient to make an ordinary
2400 baud modem function for a call to the US? Are there TymNet- like services
that will relay local calls to distant services? Are there ways to do that which
are not prohibitively expensive?

If none of the above, are there distributors who provide equipment that will
work on a widespread basis, or is the telephone system in each country enough
different that universal solutions are impractical? Are the telephone system
tariffs different in each country and the laws regarding 'foreign' attachments?
Which organizations are best able to sell/lease equipment, advice and legal
access at a reasonable cost?

Thank you in advance for your help.  I will summarize and post any information
received.

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From:   C34057%BETA.IST.RCCN.PT%CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU@CCC.NERSC.GOV
Subject:   Response to European Modem Inquiry
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Date:   Wed, 4 Sep 91 07:19:18 GMT

Hi,

You can use almost all U.S. modems in U.S.. Before buying one, make sure it
supports the CCITT norms, these norms specify the transfer speeds they have.
You'll have to buy one compatible with CCITT(European/International norms), in
U.S., they use BELL norms but most of the modem support both.

I know lots of people(including myself) who uses U.S. modems in European
telephone networks. All you have to do is to find the right phone plug(easy)
they use RJ11 plugs and buy a 240 to 110V A.C. Adapter.

I have an ATI2400etc, with V42 and MNP error correction protocols and it works
quite well here, you can buy it in US for $200. U.S. Robotics and Heys Modems
also work fine... and many many of then, you only have to check if they are
CCITT compatible

CCITT V21 norm = 300 baud full duplex
CCITT V22 norm = 1200 baud  '
CCITT V22bis   = 2400 baud  '
CCITT V32      = 9600 baud  '

CCITT V42 and/ V42bis = error correcting (also data compression) protocols.

Regards from Portugal,

Carlos

+----  Message ends,  my signature...  ----------------------------------------+
| Carlos F. H. Neves                                                           |
| Technical University of Lisbon-IST/JUNITEC   Phone: +351.1.8473421,Exts 1204,|
| Avenida Rovisco Pais,1                                  1417, 1574 or 1715   |
| P-1000 LISBOA - PORTUGAL                     Fax:   +351.1.898678 (Univ.)    |
|                                                     +351.63.70286 (Home)     |
| Internet: C34057@BETA.IST.RCCN.PT               CompuServe:    100016,1205   |
|        or L34057@BETA.IST.RCCN.PT               VAX/VMS PSI MAIL:            |
|        or 100016.1205@COMPUSERVE.COM               PSI%268004010328::C34057  |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

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From:   purschke%VSIKP0.UNI-MUENSTER.DE@CCC.NERSC.GOV
.... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... ... .... .... .... .... ....

Subject: Modems in Europe
Date:   Wed, 04 Sep 1991 21:03:41 +0200

Hi Bob,

"Modems in Europe" is too general. You are right, almost each country here has
its own rules and laws concerning modems. For reasons you'll see, I do not use a
modem, but I can give you some information about the situation in Germany.

First of all, we have the Telekom company which controls ALL aspects of
telecommunications here. They have the monopol with lines and connections and,
most important, they control which equipment can be connected to a German
telephone line (everything, modem, answer machine, EVERYTHING must have a "FTZ"
number, the approval to be used.) You break the law if you connect anything
else, which you may own, but not use. This is your US modem, for example. All
equipment with a FTZ is expensive (the tests must be paid, etc).

Only recently the Telekom has begun to allow standard (not US standard...)
sockets in the walls to connect your own devices (with FTZ!), but you're likely
to live in a non-socket house.

Then the legal way is: Buy or lease a modem from telekom, have it installed by a
telekom technician. Very expensive, but the only legal way.

Most services here are connected to DATEX-P, and you'll need a NUI (Network User
Id), again from Telekom. Then you dial into the nearest (might be a
long-distance call though) relay and can access the DATEX-P net.