[Asterisk-Users] 911 and lawsuits

[Steven Critchfield]

On Tue, 2004-01-06 at 11:46, Jim Flagg wrote:
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Steven Critchfield" <critch at basesys.com>
> To: <asterisk-users at lists.digium.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 12:12 PM
> Subject: Re: [Asterisk-Users] 911 and lawsuits
> 
> 
> > > I realize that any traditional PBX or even a phone line can fail but,
> > > anything running on a computer is probably going to be less reliable
> > > than most PBXs.
> > 
> > What do you think most PBXs are? Maybe not a x86, but it is a computer.
> > 
> 
> Agreed,  Guess I should have said "traditional computer".  Most PBXs would
> only use a hard drive for voice mail.  A hard drive failure would not cause the
> PBX to stop working.
> 
> Also, with something like Asterisk that is changing so often, there is always the
> possibility of a typo that is not discovered until you need to use one of those
> rarely used features like calling 911. 
> 
> Most business would have lots of cell phones around but in many metal building
> they do not work.  They also don't provide the address information that a
> land line phone provides.

In the US they do now. Most Cell phones now either have a GPS unit built
in, or will identify via some form of cell tower information. I think
the requirement right now is to know where the phone is to within 100
feet or so.

As for the metal building, you'd be surprised how well they work. The
only troubles I had seen before where related to wireless devices that
used similar radio space. When I worked for Ingram Book Company, the
warehouse used wireless terminals to deal with inventory tracking and
movements. These terminals used 900-930Mhz spread spectrum. This
trampled all over the beeper frequencies that were available. Where ever
the transmitters where strongest, you absolutely had no chance of being
beeped. Move out farther into the warehouse where fewer transmitters
where and you could get some through. 
-- 
Steven Critchfield  <critch at basesys.com>