THE "CUT-OVER"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 5, 1 October 1919, Page 5

THE "CUT-OVER"

FROM MANUAL TO AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SYSTEM

ADVICE TO SUBSCRIBERS

Final tests are jioiv being conducted in connection with the now installation of Western ■■ Electric automatic telephones in the Wellington East and Wellington South districts. In theso districts some, 2200 subscribers will bo "cut-over" to the now. system at the one time, but that number ■ will bo increased to 2000 in tho .course of a few weeks. The telephone authorities lioo to, amake the 'big "cutover" at 11 p.m. on Saturday, October 18, and aro working now with that end in view. From a Departmental point of view tho "cut-over" is considered a difficult one, owing to thero being two systems (the manual and the Sttowger automatic) in operation in Wellington. If there were only one the task, as as the public is concerned, would be simplified, for experience has taught tho toleplione experts that most people, particularly'telephone suscribers, are creatures or ingrained liabit, and trouble results from applying old methods to a new system. There will be troublous times for the first day or two, but tho endeavour of the Department now is to minimise that trouble as much as possible. The invariable experience when 1 a "cut-over" is made to a new system is for subscribers 1 to' make an abnormal use of, tho telephone; to indulge often in frivolous and meaningless conversations merely to use tse new telephone. That must not, be the case in Wellington when the "cut-over" takes place. Subscribers aro urged to use the telephone only when a call is absolutely necessary, so {is not to overload the machinery. After all, an automatic exchange 'is'nothing but an elaborate and highly complex machine, and it can do no more work than it is designed to do. Another vital point—and this is very important to subscribers who have the Strowger telephones—is that with the Western Electric system a number must not bo dialled" until the dialling tone is heard. That is to say, as coon as tho receiver is taken oil' the hook, in the case of 1 the Strowger system the subscribers commences to dial the number required, but with the new system the tono has to come_before. any number is dialled. As a matter of fact, the system is so good that generally the tone is heard at once,'but there , may he occasions when thero is an exceptional rush on the exchange, when the tone is not heard for a few seconds. The reason for it being necessary to wait for the tone is to ensure that there is the mechanism available for the work entailed 'by the call. The tone tells that there is. ' Tlie penalty of dialling a number before getting- the tone is tho change of getting a wrong number, and having to commence all over again. So important is it that subscribers should know exactly what to do to get a number under tho new automatic system that the Department is having closeup. kinematograph-. pictures taken of a subscriber operating .correctly, and it is intended that this picture shall be shown for a week before .th'o "cut-over" in tho local theatres,,,in order to familiarise the public with its use. . 1 ■ A new,telephone directory will be issued in connection .with'the'no wsystem, and subscribers-who study the coloured pages (it the 'beginning.; of the diroctory will save themselves a good.deal of .time and worry later. For example, the telephone pubtic are 'used to dialling "0" when ,lhey need a manual'number. Under tho new system they will have, to dial "100" to get connection with a manual 'number. Again, for a toll or bureau number the present system is to dial "0," and get the exchange, and voice one's requirements. On tho new system, subscribers nroV asked to dial 21—099} and tho instruction is that, when the operator answers give your name and number, also the 'name. and number of tho party you want, oil tho toll line, A bright innovation' is tho time num-. ber. If" .a subscriber wishes to know the correct .time,'dial 21—077, and the answer wiil"be given .without ' tlie -subscriber speaking a word. "Giro me "Information" is an everyhout request received by the manualoperators, who have to switch the in.(iuirer on to the official asked for. Under the Western Electric system one simply has to dial 21—088 to got "Information" direct.. Complaints may be made direct by dialling 21—000. The "cautions" in the-new-_ directory include an easy means of testing one's own telephone. It says:' "A 6ii'bscriber can test his own instrument and lino with reasonable certainty by calling his • own number and listening for the engaged 'buzz.' If. heard,, it; indicates that ■the call has gone through proper.y, and his line is in order." Another direction is to always hang: the receiver with the large end down. .. . .The next- automatic sub-excliange ,to be', connected with the ,mailt, system will be fne Khandallah station, which is, now almost ready for the installation. The plans for the Kelburn sub-exchange aro ready, and tenders for its erection are to be called at an early date. The big central!. exchange, which .will-be erected in the vicinity of the manual exchange in Fenthersto'n Street, is not expected 'to bo ready for a couple of 1 years, and until that is built and fitted the two systems, must obtain in AVellington.