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Thread ID: 84096 2007-10-24 06:45:00 What is a telephone exchange? Ninjabear (2948) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
604827 2007-10-24 11:40:00 I do have a question

The exchange needs to switch for you to connect to exchanges from exchanges

Why cant there be a simpler method so that there's no need to switch

A direct connect method perhaps?
Ninjabear (2948)
604828 2007-10-24 16:44:00 Ask an engineer. winmacguy (3367)
604829 2007-10-24 18:17:00 Why cant there be a simpler method so that there's no need to switch

This would be the same as networking two computers together with a cable. The only computers you would be able to access would be those two - and no others.

Switches allow your computer, and telephone, to talk to millions of computers rather than just one.

If you request a web page from an international site - say one in the UK - you can use the "tracert" command to see which computers the request goes through. Several computers will show in the trace.

Doing the same tracert at different times of the day may show a different route.

The actual telephone lines it goes through will be a mixture of copper wires, fibre optic, satellite etc.

Leaving NZ it will either go through a submarine cable to Australia or via satellite at somewhere like the Warkworth site depending on conjestion on the network. From there it will bounce along using a mix of cables and satellites.

If you ever go through Warkworth take the turnoff to the satellite site. They have an interactive info room with demos.
Mercury (1316)
604830 2007-10-24 18:59:00 For a history of telephones try here (www.wordworx.co.nz)

A few years ago at tech we were given a map of worldwide fibre optic cables and routes taken. Its out there somewhere but I can't find it.
Mercury (1316)
604831 2007-10-24 19:06:00 A few years ago at tech we were given a map of worldwide fibre optic cables and routes taken. Its out there somewhere but I can't find it.

If you did happen to stumble across it, it would be great if you could post a link!! :thumbs:
wratterus (105)
604832 2007-10-24 19:50:00 A Telephone Exchange is a Central Office . They usually have one for each town/area.
If you use dial up, you connect thru your telephone line (land line) to YOUR ISP. (Internet service provider’s modem)
If You use broadband this is taken from your house via copper or fiber. This goes to the central office and is hard wired to your ISP’s port. The speed is govern red by your ISP and not the Telco or central office.
darroll
darroll (12090)
604833 2007-10-24 20:12:00 The speed is govern red by your ISP and not the Telco or central office

Not quite. The ISP will set the maximum speed you can download at - all things being equal.

The available maximum speed is set by the telecommunications hardware - cables, switches etc

The physical telephone system creates the inequality. eg me being rural and 5km from the exchange means I can never get the maximum speed that is available elsewhere.
Mercury (1316)
604834 2007-10-24 20:49:00 If you did happen to stumble across it, it would be great if you could post a link!! :thumbs:

Have had a hunt through boxes of notes but can't find it.

HOWEVER I thought of some new search terms for google and came up with this (www.tnzi.com)

The links on top right lead to maps
Mercury (1316)
604835 2007-10-24 21:34:00 And Telecom does not want to spend that money.....

Because Telecom prefers to spend those money on their CEO and those few top management staff
bk T (215)
604836 2007-10-24 21:47:00 A Telephone Exchange is a Central Office .

The exchange, apart from acting as a central point, also does other things, like caller ID, voice mail and so on . The equipment in it is not just a big patch panel .

Thats why we have exchanges .
pctek (84)
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