Date   : Fri, 22 Aug 1986 22:55:00 MDT
From   : Keith Petersen <W8SDZ@SIMTEL20.ARPA>
Subject: MEX long distance codes?

The MEX modem program DOES handle alternate long distance codes.  Here
is an excerpt from the manual:

   Appendix 2: Alternate Long Distance Service numbers (ALDS):

This appendix details the use of Alternate Long Distance Service
(ALDS) numbers with MEX.

You may have two ALDS numbers defined; simply enter them as you would
any other number, but give them a name of '>' or '<' (normal delay
characters, passwords, etc may be included).  Then, if you have a
number you'd like to route through your ALDS service, simply prefix it
with the associated '>' or '<'.  An example should clarify this:

You have MCI service, your password is 98765, and it takes 2-4 seconds
to connect after the number is dialed.  You also have Sprint (you
cover all your bases, don't you?), the password is 12345, and it
sometimes takes 6 seconds to reach the number after it is dialed.
Finally, you have a Hayes Smartmodem; a comma in the dialing string is
a 2-second pause (is it really?  I don't have a Hayes, so let's
pretend).

In order to use both services, we'll put one number on the > key:

        [MEX] A0>>PHONE >=555-9122,,98765         <<--- MCI

note the four second delay with the two commas, then the password.

Now Sprint:

        [MEX] A0>>PHONE <=555-8144,,,12345

<longer delay, different password>.

Now RBBS Rockhead is a long, long distance call; it's available only
through Sprint (and, of course, Ma Bell). We decide that if we can't
make it through Sprint, we don't want to call RBBS Rockhead.  Here's
how we enter the number:

        [MEX] A0>>PHONE ROCKHEAD=<202-555-1414

Now RBBS Aristocrat is our favorite BBS; if Sprint is jammed up, we'd
like the option of dialing it over Ma Bell lines.  So we define it
without an ALDS marker, like this:

        [MEX] A0>>PHONE ARISTOCRAT 2-555-2222

Now notice that we can still call Aristocrat through Sprint or MCI
with:

        [MEX] A0>>CALL <ARISTOCRAT              <<--- Sprint
        [MEX] A0>>CALL >ARISTOCRAT              <<--- MCI

But we must explicitly enter the ALDS symbol in the CALL command.

Since Rockhead is defined with a leading '<', it will always go
through MCI; we don't have to supply an ALDS symbol in the CALL
command (we can switch to the other ALDS number, however, by
specifying the other ALDS symbol in the CALL command; eg,"CALL
>ROCKHEAD" will switch to MCI even though we've defined Sprint as
Rockhead's ALDS number).

In short, the left or right arrow specification is treated as if its
ALDS number were part of the number being dialed.