[BC] Phone service, remote controls

[Edwin Bukont]

AT&T has already petitioned the FCC to drop circuit switched services.
 
Verizon has made public their plan to drop CS services within 5-7 years.  Verizon had also appeared to be quite committed to getting rid of copper, both of the twisted and coaxial sort in the same period, yet has also recently halted FiOs plans.  There may be some sort of reality check going on there.
 
But as the cloud has totally obscured, rather then merely blurred, the divisions between legacy products such as AT&T & Verizon (and whatever they brought up this week), old 'new' technology of wireless and newer technologies such as phone service from cable and internet enabled products such as Skype (and lets not forget that Verizon owns UUNet), along with the intent of the Obama admin to reduce funding for rural telephone service, it is hard to see how any local operating company is going to justify keeping copper lines, unless the divestiture pricing restrictions on access to the last mile are lifted.  On the notebook that I just purchased, there is no default modem capability anymore (such as MSNIA) but there is Skype preloaded.  In the classes my wife is taking on IT, they are already teaching about MAN as the replacement to legacy circuits.
 
As for remote controls:
 
I lovethe VRC2500.  I have put in many for clients, I think they are the best bang for the buck when you are looking for something to handle alot of tasks and channels.  However, if price is the big concern, then absolutely I would go with the Sicon.  I think it runs rings around the Sine, which I detest.  I have not put a Sicon in myself because I have not had a recent need to.  Although I have used some of CircuitWerkes other remote control products recently.  I have known Kyle for 20 years and he builds a good box that he stands behind.  He is open to input from the community and does work to improve his products, very forward looking.  You should call him and discuss your projects, let him tell you how he would config. his stuff for your plant and consider his quote.  If you have some special need, you will find him very accomodating.  CW has lots of little problem solvers that can go with the Sicon.
 
Edwin Bukont CSRE, DRB, CBNT 
V- 240.417.2475; F- 240.368.1265