Telephone exchange tour?

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PaulZA

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#139349 5-Feb-2014 19:14

Hi there

I'm just wondering, how does one go around organising a walk through a telephone exchange?

Friend of mine has Aspergers syndrome, and he's literally obsessed with telephone exchanges (in a good way) He knows so much about the various equipment inside, and he's always talking about them, and roadside cabinets around the clock, so I thought about asking somebody here, if they know if such a thing is possible, or even legal, and how to go around organising it.

Apart from him wanting to see, I also have quite a strong intrest in telecommuncations myself, and I also wouldn't mine seeing how the equipment works in there.

Thanks

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11 posts

Geek

#980946 5-Feb-2014 19:36

I have done the tour at telecom nz, and in other countries,
I think someone from Chorus needs to organize it...not in touch nowadays

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nathan

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#981008 5-Feb-2014 20:52

Telecom have done this in the past

http://www.adslgeek.com/dslforum/index.php?topic=207.0

Technofreak

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#981018 5-Feb-2014 21:54

PaulZA: I also wouldn't mine seeing how the equipment works in there. Thanks

There's not much to see these days. Cabinets full of shelves with PCB cards plugged into them, bit of noise from cooling fans and a few blinking LEDs.

No where near as interesting as the old Step by Step or Crossbar electromechanical exchanges.

Probably the most interesting things would be the MDF (Main Distribution Frame - where the outside cables are jumpered to the exchange ports) and the standby generator.

While the exchanges belong to Telecom, Chorus is probably the best place to go to seek access for a look around. In the bigger centres someone from Alcatel Lucent might be able to help. I suspect very few Telecom employees would even know what the inside of an exchange looks like these days.

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naggyman

697 posts

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#981022 5-Feb-2014 22:00

Technofreak:
While the exchanges belong to Telecom, Chorus is probably the best place to go to seek access for a look around.

The exchanges are completely owned by chorus, since the demerger of telecom and chorus.

Morgan French-Stagg

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#981033 5-Feb-2014 22:25

naggyman:
Technofreak:
While the exchanges belong to Telecom, Chorus is probably the best place to go to seek access for a look around.

The exchanges are completely owned by chorus, since the demerger of telecom and chorus.

Are you sure. The info I have says Telecom owns the following items

Submarine cables other
Network firewalls
Satellite earth station
Mobile radio towers, antennas and feeders
CDMA base stations
CDMA switches hardware
CDMA switches software
WCDMA core hardware
WCDMA core software
WCDMA base stations
Other mobile
VoIP hardware
VoIP software
PSTN/ISDN/IN
PSTN/ISDN hardware
PSTN/ISDN software
IN, VSP, VCC hardware
IN, VSP, VCC software
ATM
Legacy data networks
IPNet
Broadcast transport
Access broadcast
CBR data access
CPE voice equipment
CPE managed networks
CPE data equipment
ISDN NTUs
Payphones
Submarine cable IRUs
Goodwill

In that list you will see PSTN/ISDN hardware and PSTN/ISDN software which is basically the telephone exchange equipment.

Buildings are have been allocated between both Telecom and Chorus, the allocation probably decided by which one uses the most floor space.

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freitasm

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#981034 5-Feb-2014 22:28

I had a chance to go in a couple of those, including Sbiddle, who posted here (with photos): Telecom Exchange Tour.

Where are you located? Might find something for your friend.

My technology disclosure

naggyman

697 posts

Ultimate Geek

#981035 5-Feb-2014 22:29

I stand corrected, from the Telecom site;

Telecom's Assets

PSTN network equipment for fixed line calling
XT 3G mobile network
National and international backhaul networks
50% ownership of the Southern Cross international cable
One of Australia's most extensive fixed IP networks
30 exchange buildings

Nevertheless all exchanges are run and managed by chorus, and any tour would have to be arranged via them. Although telecom wholesale people probably have passes for entrance.

Morgan French-Stagg

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LennonNZ

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#981036 5-Feb-2014 22:30

naggyman:
Technofreak:
While the exchanges belong to Telecom, Chorus is probably the best place to go to seek access for a look around.

The exchanges are completely owned by chorus, since the demerger of telecom and chorus.

Most of the exchanges are owned by Chorus except the much larger ones such as Mayoral Drive and other larger ones around the country (as far as I understand)

insane

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#981038 5-Feb-2014 22:32

I went on the tour in Mt Albert a few years back, I clearly remember because Nate picked up my beer and drank it!

some pics from the day:
http://chillingsilence.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/telecom-geek-exchange-tour-2009/

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#981040 5-Feb-2014 22:33

freitasm: I had a chance to go in a couple of those, including Sbiddle, who posted here (with photos): Telecom Exchange Tour.

Where are you located? Might find something for your friend.

No pics of the main NEAX? switch.

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PaulZA

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#981042 5-Feb-2014 22:34

freitasm: I had a chance to go in a couple of those, including Sbiddle, who posted here (with photos): Telecom Exchange Tour.

Where are you located? Might find something for your friend.

Thanks Maurico, that would be great.

If possible if you do find something, I would also like to go with if possible.

We are located in Auckland. Henderson, Waitakere to be precise.

Technofreak

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#981043 5-Feb-2014 22:34

LennonNZ:
naggyman:
Technofreak:
While the exchanges belong to Telecom, Chorus is probably the best place to go to seek access for a look around.

The exchanges are completely owned by chorus, since the demerger of telecom and chorus.

Most of the exchanges are owned by Chorus except the much larger ones such as Mayoral Drive and other larger ones around the country (as far as I understand)

Not so, see above.

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Technofreak

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#981045 5-Feb-2014 22:36

naggyman: I stand corrected, from the Telecom site;

Telecom's Assets

PSTN network equipment for fixed line calling
XT 3G mobile network
National and international backhaul networks
50% ownership of the Southern Cross international cable
One of Australia's most extensive fixed IP networks
30 exchange buildings

Nevertheless all exchanges are run and managed by chorus, and any tour would have to be arranged via them. Although telecom wholesale people probably have passes for entrance.

The exchanges used to be run by Alcatel Lucent staff or a similar company, do they all now work for Chorus?

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naggyman

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#981046 5-Feb-2014 22:36

Technofreak: Not so, see above.

As I say in my post above, I am stood corrected. Man the internet is a nice place!

Morgan French-Stagg

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#981053 5-Feb-2014 22:56

naggyman:
Technofreak: Not so, see above.

As I say in my post above, I am stood corrected. Man the internet is a nice place!

You've quoted me out of context by editing that quote.

Sorry if you thought is was for you, but if you read that post again, hopefully you'll see my post was for LennonNZ who happened to quote both of us together.

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