The Victorian Internet cannot be recommended enough. It truly puts into context just how much a simple binary communication network affected the entire world. Everything digital since has just been building on that effort. He also touches on the pneumatic tube systems, which if it had thrived, would have led us to the steampunk universe next door.
I remember fondly being called out to remote customers to diagnose why a working 4-wire data circuit had suddenly stopped working.
After many tests it was usually discovered that the problem was in the local exchange. Calling on one of the transmission techs led typically to this conversation:
Me: Can you check circuit xyz, please?
Trans Tech: OK, please wait.
(waiting)
Trans Tech: Are you there? It should work now.
Me (after a quick test): Yes, that's working fine. Thanks. Can you tell me what the fault resolution was, for our records, please?
Trans Tech: The pad was in upside-down.
Me: (!!!)
So, on a working circuit that's been in continuous operation for 27 months, the impedance-matching pad mysteriously turns itself upside-down at quarter past five the previous afternoon.
The Victorian Internet cannot be recommended enough. It truly puts into context just how much a simple binary communication network affected the entire world. Everything digital since has just been building on that effort. He also touches on the pneumatic tube systems, which if it had thrived, would have led us to the steampunk universe next door.
I remember fondly being called out to remote customers to diagnose why a working 4-wire data circuit had suddenly stopped working.
After many tests it was usually discovered that the problem was in the local exchange. Calling on one of the transmission techs led typically to this conversation:
Me: Can you check circuit xyz, please?
Trans Tech: OK, please wait.
(waiting)
Trans Tech: Are you there? It should work now.
Me (after a quick test): Yes, that's working fine. Thanks. Can you tell me what the fault resolution was, for our records, please?
Trans Tech: The pad was in upside-down.
Me: (!!!)
So, on a working circuit that's been in continuous operation for 27 months, the impedance-matching pad mysteriously turns itself upside-down at quarter past five the previous afternoon.
The joys of working with shirkers and liars.
Ah, yes. The Post Office, of course. Not the old GPO of Britain but the NZPO of the colony. A monopoly, too. Ergo... shirkers and liars.