An apology, and a question (about uucp in Germany)

[Martin Emmerich]

In article <6622 at dayton.UUCP>, joe at dayton.UUCP (Joseph P. Larson) writes:
> In article <987 at hawkmoon.MN.ORG> det at hawkmoon.MN.ORG (Derek E. Terveer) writes:
> >I have also heard that it is relatively difficult to get 2400 baud modems in
> >germany, and quite difficult to get >2400 baud modems.
It is NOT difficult, but it is not allowed by the Deutsche Bundespost. In 
earlier times, they destroyed the "illegal" modems. But now they even discover 
Trailblazers.

> 
> I did some other math.  Our full news feed is about 5 Meg a day.  I think
> this is expanded.  Assuming 50% less phone traffic (compressed, not quite a
> full feed, or what-not), here's what I get:
For a connection from Germany to USA we pay about 3.67 DM / min. Even if I use
a trailblazer I get only 1800 bytes / sec. 
	( 2.5MB / 1800 B/sec ) / 60 sec/min * 3.67 DM/min =~ 89 DM
		1 $ =~ 2 DM
And this you pay EVERY day ( 89 DM/day * 30 days/month = 2670 DM/month ) !!!

> Do they charge for local calls in Germany?
Of course they do. 
At mo-fr 8-18h we have higher prices ( i.e. shorter intervals ).
In the Nahbereich ( short distance area, about 20 km radius ) we have intervals 
of 8 or 12 min. From 20-50 km is 45/67.5 sec, from 50-100 km 20/38.6 and above 
100 km 12/38.6sec. But the first interval may be shortend by "technical reasons"
down to one 16th. For each interval we pay 0.23 DM.
So we pay about 0.029/0.019, 0.31/0.20, 0.69/0.36 and 1.15/0.36 DM/min for
national calls. To our neighbours, UK, Greece, Portugal, Spain and Italy we pay
1.15/0.8625 DM/min. For the rest of Europe and mediterranean Africa we pay 1.30
DM/min. The rest of the world we get for only 3.67 DM/min. 
In the near future, the intervals for short distance will be shortend an the
long distance call intervals will be extended.

> 
> I guess I understand where the $200 goes.  
No. The $200 are only for the subscription, you still have to pay the phone
bill !

Perhaps you now understand why we love the Deutsche Bundespost that much.

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