At 11:30 AM 05/18/10, you wrote:
Some people have successfully fought their local phone company,
using the argument that amateur radio is specifically NOT a business
(citing Part 97), and gotten residential or other cheaper rates than
the business line rate. OTOH, some phone companies have refused to
accomodate hams, stating that the tower location is obviously not a residence.
This mighthelp:
http://www.repeater-builder.com/pix/Pacific-Bell-autopatch-press-release.JPG
but it's about 20 years old.
If you have internet at the site, I'd use a Grandsteream
Handytone 286 VOIP adapter and a BYO hardware VOIP
vendor.
The Grandstream is a black box with three connections
on it - power in, ethernet and RJ11 and is 4x2.5x1.5 inches.
It sells for about $30-35.
It uses a +5vDC wall wart for power, has a built in web
server for configuration, and gives you an RJ11 to connect
to your autopatch.
I got mine from http://www.voipsupply.com/grandstream-gs-286
Disclaimer - not connected to them, just a satisfied customer.
Depending on your network environment you might want to use
the http://www.voipsupply.com/grandstream-gs-486 as it
can prioritize the traffic...
Or bring the phone in via a duplex link channel. See this:
http://www.repeater-builder.com/tech-info/remotepatch.html
If you are line of site from the repeater to a residence, just put the
patch (a Heathkit HD15 is cheap) on a couple of Hamtronics boards
on 420 and 439 MHz at your house, and a matching set at the site.
Use a PL tone on the uplink to indicate ring signal, and a PL on the
downlnk to control off-hook.
Been there, done that, have the Pacific Bell logo baseball cap.
Try contacting your nearest ARRL volunteer counsel... he might try
writing a carefully drafted letter on your behalf. Letters from
lawyers often get better results than letters from Joe Ham...
So true.
An acquaintance years ago had a travel trailer behind the office
building of his dad's company parking lot. The only reason he was
able to get a residential line was that he had a bed, stove and TV
in the trailer despite that he used the toilet and shower in the office
building (those three items were what Pac Bell used as a go / no
go test). Ma Bell actually sent out a person to inspect the trailer.
George, KA3HSW / WQGJ413
Mike WA6ILQ
