Telephone Dialer?

[MS]

Using Windows XP Professional, SP1, all the latest updates on Windows
Update.

What is the Telephone Dialer app used for?

I thought it could come in handy for something, but couldn't get it to work
right for that purpose. That is, when one tries to dial a number on the
telephone, and it is constantly busy. If one keeps trying to get through
with a telephone, one gets the busy signal, press the "off" button (on a
cordless phone) to hang up the line, wait a few seconds, press the "on"
button again, press "redial". If it's still busy, one has to go through that
process again. If it's busy for a long time, that could be a tedious
process.

I thought that perhaps with the telephone dialer, the computer could keep
dialing the number over and over (redialing when it gets a busy signal).
When it finally connects, I would hear the other party's voice on the
computer speaker, perhaps some kind of connect tone from the app, then I
could pick up my telephone to speak.

But I couldn't get it to work that way. When the other line is busy, I would
get an error message (I don't even think an indication that the line is
busy, perhaps just "no answer".) Just like with the phone, I would have to
manually click "Redial" to try again. Isn't there a way to set it to redial
automatically, until it connects?

Is there a way to fix this in the settings?

I tried the "Terminal" app for this purpose as well. It does have a setting
for "automatic redial", but I couldn't get it to work for my purpose either.

Is it possible to get any Windows app to work for the purpose I specified?
If not, how about a third party app one can download? Anyone know of a
dialer app that will do this?

 

[David Candy]

It is actually illegal (for the modem not people) to repeatedly dial a number. (telephone companies network won't survive millions of modems doing it). The modem must have approval to connect to a phone line (mainly to stop someone electrocuting their neighbours and workers at the exchange, and destroying the exchange). Whoever (FTC or AusTel) will refuse approval. Windows enforces it, the modem also will enforce it. The actual rules depends on what country you live in (or more accurately what country windows/modem think you're in).

If you try it you may find your modem will refuse to dial at all for a period of time.

This may work, depending on your modem


Most people call a some numbers quite frequently. These are usually quite few, a best friend from home or a partner from work. A Windows shortcut can dial a phone. This tip lists two ways of easily dialing frequent numbers.

Windows includes a phone dialer but it's a few mouse clicks to use (6 to start and click the number, 1 to talk, 1 to exit). This allows two mouse clicks if it's on the desktop, three if on the Start Menu.

Before going on you'll need to know what com port your modem is connected to. Open Control Panel and choose Modems. Select your modem and click Properties. Your Comm Port is listed under Port.


Method 1- Using Shortcuts
a.. Right click the desktop and choose New then Shortcut.
b.. Rename (F2 renames a selected item) the Shortcut Dial Mum (or whoever it is)
c.. Right click the shortcut and choose Properties
d.. On the Program tab enter Dialing Mum in the top textbox and C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM /c echo ATDT 99999999 > com2 into the Cmd Line textbox, replacing 99999999 with the phone number you're dialing and com2 with the com port you're modem is conected to. Make sure the Close on Exit checkbox is checked.
e.. On the Screen tab make sure that Window is selected.
f.. Repeat the above steps and call the second shortcut Answer and use this Cmd Line - D:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM /c echo ATH > com2.
g.. Either leave the two shortcuts where they are, or Shift + Drag onto the Start Menu.
h.. To ring, Double Click the Dial Mum shortcut (or select it on the Start Menu) and when the other party answers pick up the phone and Double Click the Answer shortcut.
Method 2 - Using a Batch File
a.. Right click the desktop and choose New then Text Document.
b.. Rename (F2 renames a selected item) the Text Document Dial Mum.bat (or whoever it is)
c.. Right click the MS-Dos Batch File and choose Edit
d.. Add the following lines changing the phone number, name and comm port to suit.
@echo off
echo Dialing Mum
echo ATDT 99999999 >com2
Echo.
Echo Press any key when Mum answers or you want to hang up.
pause
echo ATH >com2
a.. Save the file and exit Notepad. Move the file into C:\windows\command folder. Right click the file and choose Properties. Make sure Close on Exit and Window is checked (see Method 1). A new shortcut file will have been created with the same name. Move this file onto the Desktop or Start Menu.
Click the batch file to dial and press any key when it answers.
Notes on Phone Numbers
a.. The modem command string listed above ATDT means dial using tone dialing. Use ATDP if you have a pulse phone.
b.. If you need a pause while dialing use a comma. E.g, 9,99999999.

 

[MS]

It is actually illegal (for the modem not people) to repeatedly dial a
number. (telephone companies network won't survive millions of modems doing
it). The modem must have approval to connect to a phone line (mainly to stop
someone electrocuting their neighbours and workers at the exchange, and
destroying the exchange). Whoever (FTC or AusTel) will refuse approval.
Windows enforces it, the modem also will enforce it. The actual rules
depends on what country you live in (or more accurately what country
windows/modem think you're in).

MS Replied:

Is there a jail for errant modems??? ;-)

I don't see how that could be true? If I dial-up to my ISP (yes, I have an
ancient dial-up connection) and the line is busy, the modem will "repeatedly
dial a number" (the ISP access number) until it connects. You can set how
many seconds between retries, etc.

Why couldn't the same be done for a voice call?

"Electrocuting their neighbors and workers at the exchange"? How? (I guess
those killer modems again.) (New science fiction flick--"the revenge of the
killer modems".)

 

[dev]

/David Candy/ said:

It is actually illegal (for the modem not people) to repeatedly dial a number. (telephone companies network won't survive millions of modems doing it). The modem must have approval to connect to a phone line (mainly to stop someone electrocuting their neighbours and workers at the exchange, and destroying the exchange). Whoever (FTC or AusTel) will refuse approval. Windows enforces it, the modem also will enforce it. The actual rules depends on what country you live in (or more accurately what country windows/modem think you're in).

If you try it you may find your modem will refuse to dial at all for a period of time.

This may work, depending on your modem

Most people call a some numbers quite frequently. These are usually quite few, a best friend from home or a partner from work. A Windows shortcut can dial a phone. This tip lists two ways of easily dialing frequent numbers.

Windows includes a phone dialer but it's a few mouse clicks to use (6 to start and click the number, 1 to talk, 1 to exit). This allows two mouse clicks if it's on the desktop, three if on the Start Menu.

Before going on you'll need to know what com port your modem is connected to. Open Control Panel and choose Modems. Select your modem and click Properties. Your Comm Port is listed under Port.

Method 1- Using Shortcuts
a.. Right click the desktop and choose New then Shortcut.
b.. Rename (F2 renames a selected item) the Shortcut Dial Mum (or whoever it is)
c.. Right click the shortcut and choose Properties
d.. On the Program tab enter Dialing Mum in the top textbox and C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM /c echo ATDT 99999999 > com2 into the Cmd Line textbox, replacing 99999999 with the phone number you're dialing and com2 with the com port you're modem is conected to. Make sure the Close on Exit checkbox is checked.
e.. On the Screen tab make sure that Window is selected.
f.. Repeat the above steps and call the second shortcut Answer and use this Cmd Line - D:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM /c echo ATH > com2.
g.. Either leave the two shortcuts where they are, or Shift + Drag onto the Start Menu.
h.. To ring, Double Click the Dial Mum shortcut (or select it on the Start Menu) and when the other party answers pick up the phone and Double Click the Answer shortcut.
Method 2 - Using a Batch File
a.. Right click the desktop and choose New then Text Document.
b.. Rename (F2 renames a selected item) the Text Document Dial Mum.bat (or whoever it is)
c.. Right click the MS-Dos Batch File and choose Edit
d.. Add the following lines changing the phone number, name and comm port to suit.
@echo off
echo Dialing Mum
echo ATDT 99999999 >com2
Echo.
Echo Press any key when Mum answers or you want to hang up.
pause
echo ATH >com2
a.. Save the file and exit Notepad. Move the file into C:\windows\command folder. Right click the file and choose Properties. Make sure Close on Exit and Window is checked (see Method 1). A new shortcut file will have been created with the same name. Move this file onto the Desktop or Start Menu.
Click the batch file to dial and press any key when it answers.
Notes on Phone Numbers
a.. The modem command string listed above ATDT means dial using tone dialing. Use ATDP if you have a pulse phone.
b.. If you need a pause while dialing use a comma. E.g, 9,99999999.

Interestingly, when method 1 is attempted here, the response is "...in use
by another process." What process? The modem (and com3) are not in use.

 

[David Candy]

If one connects 240V to the phone line other's (esp the coroner) get upset. But look at the default timing on the redial. Mine is 60 secs. I have a very expensive modem, if somewhat old (I ain't using a faster $30 modem to replace my $400 modem). It will refuse to dial after x number of attemps in x amount of time (been 5 years since I've dialed that many times)

 

[David Candy]

I only know of this working on external modems. Com1 or 2.

 

[MS]

Are you using Windows XP? I just looked in Network Connections at the
dialing properties for dial-up to my ISP. I have the time between redial
attempts set to 1 second. (It hasn't landed either my modem or myself in
jail yet, perhaps we'll get caught soon. ;-) ) Number of redial attempts is
set to 300, and I think it can go higher. I don't think I've ever had to
redial my ISP 300 times to connect, but I don't think my modem will "refuse
to dial" after a certain number of attempts. So, I think you are speaking
of a limitation of your modem, not a government "law" concerning redials.

No, David, automatic redialing is not "against the law", it does not kill
anyone ;-), and is not a problem with most modems.

Back to my original question--is there no way to do an automatic redial for
a voice call--so that if one is trying to dial a customer service line, for
example, that is usually busy, so that it will keep dialing automatically
until it connects, to save the person a lot of time and trouble of doing it
over and over manually with a telephone?

If none of the XP telephony apps will do that (I'm surprised that "telephone
dialer" won't) (or I didn't figure out how to do it), are there third party
apps that will do that?

If one connects 240V to the phone line other's (esp the coroner) get upset.
But look at the default timing on the redial. Mine is 60 secs. I have a very
expensive modem, if somewhat old (I ain't using a faster $30 modem to
replace my $400 modem). It will refuse to dial after x number of attemps in
x amount of time (been 5 years since I've dialed that many times)

 

[MS]

David, which version of Windows are you using?

Are you aware that all three newsgroups that this thread is in are Windows
XP newsgroups? Your shortcuts do not work in Windows XP.

First of all, there is no file anywhere in Windows XP called command.com. I
did a search for it, it exists nowhere on the drive. The command for getting
the command prompt in Windows XP is \Windows\system32\cmd.exe. This is a DOS
emulator, as Windows XP, like NT, is not based on DOS any more, unlike Win
3.1, 95, 98, and ME.

So, I tried your shortcut with the substitution above, instead of your
\Windows\command.com. Still didn't work. I then opened a command prompt,
typed in ATDT, pressed Enter, and got the error message "no such command".
Modem strings are obviously not recognized as commands at the Windows XP
command prompt.


Most people call a some numbers quite frequently. These are usually quite
few, a best friend from home or a partner from work. A Windows shortcut can
dial a phone. This tip lists two ways of easily dialing frequent numbers.

Windows includes a phone dialer but it's a few mouse clicks to use (6 to
start and click the number, 1 to talk, 1 to exit). This allows two mouse
clicks if it's on the desktop, three if on the Start Menu.

Before going on you'll need to know what com port your modem is connected
to. Open Control Panel and choose Modems. Select your modem and click
Properties. Your Comm Port is listed under Port.


Method 1- Using Shortcuts
a.. Right click the desktop and choose New then Shortcut.
b.. Rename (F2 renames a selected item) the Shortcut Dial Mum (or whoever
it is)
c.. Right click the shortcut and choose Properties
d.. On the Program tab enter Dialing Mum in the top textbox and
C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM /c echo ATDT 99999999 > com2 into the Cmd Line
textbox, replacing 99999999 with the phone number you're dialing and com2
with the com port you're modem is conected to. Make sure the Close on Exit
checkbox is checked.
e.. On the Screen tab make sure that Window is selected.
f.. Repeat the above steps and call the second shortcut Answer and use
this Cmd Line - D:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM /c echo ATH > com2.
g.. Either leave the two shortcuts where they are, or Shift + Drag onto
the Start Menu.
h.. To ring, Double Click the Dial Mum shortcut (or select it on the Start
Menu) and when the other party answers pick up the phone and Double Click
the Answer shortcut.
Method 2 - Using a Batch File
a.. Right click the desktop and choose New then Text Document.
b.. Rename (F2 renames a selected item) the Text Document Dial Mum.bat (or
whoever it is)
c.. Right click the MS-Dos Batch File and choose Edit
d.. Add the following lines changing the phone number, name and comm port
to suit.
@echo off
echo Dialing Mum
echo ATDT 99999999 >com2
Echo.
Echo Press any key when Mum answers or you want to hang up.
pause
echo ATH >com2
a.. Save the file and exit Notepad. Move the file into C:\windows\command
folder. Right click the file and choose Properties. Make sure Close on Exit
and Window is checked (see Method 1). A new shortcut file will have been
created with the same name. Move this file onto the Desktop or Start Menu.
Click the batch file to dial and press any key when it answers.
Notes on Phone Numbers
a.. The modem command string listed above ATDT means dial using tone
dialing. Use ATDP if you have a pulse phone.
b.. If you need a pause while dialing use a comma. E.g, 9,99999999.

 

[Sharon F]

First of all, there is no file anywhere in Windows XP called command.com.

Search again. You should have cmd.exe AND command.com

 

[Mark Dormer]

It is definitely there.
I think you have hide systems files turned on.

Regards
Mark Dormer

 

[David Candy]

1. In both Austria and Germany a modem will block after 12 attempts. It IS illegal to connect a non approved modem to the phone network. Modems are different in each country sold. EG. Polish modems require extra electronics to work on their sub standard phone lines.

[Minimum time between 1st and 2nd try: 5secs;
" " " 2nd " 3rd try: 60secs;
No more than 12 tries to the same number if no answering tone is
received;
After 12 failed tries, a minimum waiting time of 1 hour before attempting
the same number.]

(I can't access my own countries web site - bloody DNS)

 

[David Candy]

As I said it works on EXTERNAL modems only. It also seems to need the modem to be free (eg not in use or recently in use by windows). It HAS been tested on XP.

 

[David Candy]

Here's some Australian infomation (Note Austrians get upset when you confuse them with Australians - Australians are used to it. Austrians wear T-shirts saying they're not Australians - Australians don't think about Austrians. Previous post was about AUSTRIA - this one is about AUSTRALIA)

a.. The modem must not answer an incoming call less than two seconds after the first ring signal. As a Òrule-of-thumbÓ your modem should be set so it answers incoming calls after the second ring (ATS0=2).
b.. If Busy signal detection is switched off, the modem must not attempt more than two automatic redials and must wait at least two seconds before redialling.
c.. If Busy signal detection is switched on, the modem must not attempt more than nine automatic redials and must wait at least two seconds before redialling.
d.. If, after redialling the maximum number of times, the modem is still unable to establish a connection you must wait 30 minutes before attempting to redial.
e.. The use of Bell standard 103 and 212A is not permitted in Australia. Use of these modes will cause your modem to lose its permit status.
Changing the default values of the modem, in such a way as to cause your modem to operate in a non-compliant manner when connected to a telecommunications network operated by a carrier, is contrary to the Telecommunications Act 1991 and may result in penalties of $12,000.

--
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.g2mil.com/Dec2003.htm
1. In both Austria and Germany a modem will block after 12 attempts. It IS illegal to connect a non approved modem to the phone network. Modems are different in each country sold. EG. Polish modems require extra electronics to work on their sub standard phone lines.

[Minimum time between 1st and 2nd try: 5secs;
" " " 2nd " 3rd try: 60secs;
No more than 12 tries to the same number if no answering tone is
received;
After 12 failed tries, a minimum waiting time of 1 hour before attempting
the same number.]

(I can't access my own countries web site - bloody DNS)

 

[David Candy]

And in New Zealand

a.. Equipment connected to the RS 232 port shall be certified to meet the requirements of Reg. 18 of the New Zealand Wiring Regulations 1976.
b.. When the user manually initiates a call, via equipment connected to the RS232 port, the equipment shall operate within the following restrictions:
c.. Not more than 5 call attempts shall be made to the same number within a one hour period.
d.. There shall be at least 60 seconds between call attempts.
e.. Not more than a total of 10 call attempts shall be made to the same number for any single manual call initiation.
f.. Automatic calls to different numbers shall be not less than 5 seconds apart.
FAILURE TO MEET THE ABOVE REQUIREMENTS MAY NEGATE THE USER RIGHTS UNDER THE TELECOM TERMS OF SERVICE.


--
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.g2mil.com/Dec2003.htm
1. In both Austria and Germany a modem will block after 12 attempts. It IS illegal to connect a non approved modem to the phone network. Modems are different in each country sold. EG. Polish modems require extra electronics to work on their sub standard phone lines.

[Minimum time between 1st and 2nd try: 5secs;
" " " 2nd " 3rd try: 60secs;
No more than 12 tries to the same number if no answering tone is
received;
After 12 failed tries, a minimum waiting time of 1 hour before attempting
the same number.]

(I can't access my own countries web site - bloody DNS)

 

[David Candy]

28 years ago, when I used to connect lines at the exchange, I used to get electricaly shocked frequently. Telephones operate at 50v dc with the ring about 110v ac. I used to climb a big ladder at the MDF, lean over and put (or remove) clips on the line. I used to lean over and hold on to other connections for balance (easier than moving the ladder). If somone rang the number while I was holding it I used to jerk from shock about screaming "answer your bloody phone" as I had to hold on or fall 15 foot.

--
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.g2mil.com/Dec2003.htm
And in New Zealand

a.. Equipment connected to the RS 232 port shall be certified to meet the requirements of Reg. 18 of the New Zealand Wiring Regulations 1976.
b.. When the user manually initiates a call, via equipment connected to the RS232 port, the equipment shall operate within the following restrictions:
c.. Not more than 5 call attempts shall be made to the same number within a one hour period.
d.. There shall be at least 60 seconds between call attempts.
e.. Not more than a total of 10 call attempts shall be made to the same number for any single manual call initiation.
f.. Automatic calls to different numbers shall be not less than 5 seconds apart.
FAILURE TO MEET THE ABOVE REQUIREMENTS MAY NEGATE THE USER RIGHTS UNDER THE TELECOM TERMS OF SERVICE.


--
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.g2mil.com/Dec2003.htm
1. In both Austria and Germany a modem will block after 12 attempts. It IS illegal to connect a non approved modem to the phone network. Modems are different in each country sold. EG. Polish modems require extra electronics to work on their sub standard phone lines.

[Minimum time between 1st and 2nd try: 5secs;
" " " 2nd " 3rd try: 60secs;
No more than 12 tries to the same number if no answering tone is
received;
After 12 failed tries, a minimum waiting time of 1 hour before attempting
the same number.]

(I can't access my own countries web site - bloody DNS)

 

[MS]

I did a complete search of my hard drive, including all hidden files and
folders, etc. No command.com.

Now, if you installed Windows XP on a computer that previously had an older
OS, and didn't format the hard drive first, it's possible that it still had
command.com on the hard drive, and it wasn't deleted.

The computer I'm using came with XP installed. That may be the difference.

 

[MS]

No, I do not have hide system files turn one.

I would suspect that as with Sharon, you are probably using a computer that
had an earlier OS on it, that you later upgraded to XP, and command.com was
still there.

 

[Lance Joiner]

My computer came with XP preinstalled and I have command.com on it.

I did a complete search of my hard drive, including all hidden files and
folders, etc. No command.com.

Now, if you installed Windows XP on a computer that previously had an
older
OS, and didn't format the hard drive first, it's possible that it still
had
command.com on the hard drive, and it wasn't deleted.

The computer I'm using came with XP installed. That may be the difference.

 

[Lance Joiner]

And cmd.exe

My computer came with XP preinstalled and I have command.com on it.

 

[David Candy]

command.com is part of XP. It's a special modified version of Dos 5 command.com. It's main feature is that it passes anything typed to cmd.exe for execution except if it's given as a command line parameter in which case it runs a dos 5 command.

It seems that DUN in XP doesn't hang up the modem correctly.

You know if the command processor is working as the command runs with no errors or messages (regardless if the modem does anything). If there is a message then you typed it wrong or you can't access the hardware.

Try sending the hangup command
echo ATH
before
ATDT 97467777