16 Aug
1999
16 Aug
'99
2:16 p.m.
This SHOULD be on-topic, it DOES have a computer in it...
Remember that Bell box I mentioned awhile ago? It turns out it's a Bell
Dimension 400 PBX, and it's now mine. I got the console and boot tapes,
and a mess of documentation. Some of it was inside the box, which wasn't
too heavy (I was able to move it around (Up 5 floors! Cargo elevators are
a good thing!) by myself, it's on casters.) The only bad things so far is
the general state of disrepair of the unit - Some of the cards inside
were dismounted, the modem inside had broken free and was boucing around,
Also, the ceiling above it was crumbling, and so there's a bunch of white
powder all over the top. From looking inside the front door though, it doesn't
appear to have gotten inside. Oh, and the power plug is that odd round
thing on PDP-11 power supplies, so I'll have to open it up and replace that.
That shouldn't be TOO hard, unless I do something silly again, I really don't
like playing around where line current is involved...
So anyway, the usual 30 questions bit:
1. So, what can I do with this besides take up space?
Can I plug this into the phone network? I plan on toting it to work
and putting it to use there, where a PBX is desperately needed...
Otherwise, I guess I could run it non-connected, but it'd be a waste.
2. Is this hard to program? I haven't had time to read thru all the
manuals yet. I got 7 different manuals:
A. Dimension 400 PBX task lists and index
B. How to operate the Dimension attendant console (etc.)
C. A small flip-type card listing all the feature codes...
D. Dimension 400 PBX detailed level procedures. (500-659)
E. Dimension 400 PBX detailed level procedures. (660-793)
F. Customer order document. (I dunno what this is...)
G. Schematic Drawings. (Don't worry, it's only block diagrams
and general stuff, nothing really specific that I can see.)
3. Can I plug normal phones into this, or does it need special phones?
I guess that's it. I'll learn a little more about it tomorrow when I fire
it up...
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