What They Are

Deaf phones, often called TDD, or TTY (don't ask what it stands for) are so people who can't hear can still call people. How is that possible? Well what happens is that you call the TDD operator with a special TDD fone that has a keyboard and mini-monitor on it, (or you can just use the Hyper Terminal program on your computer) and the operator begins typing stuff to you (you see it on the TDD phone's little monitor). She'll ask you what number you want to call, and she dials it for you. Say you called your good friend Jeremy. The operator will first tell Jeremy about the TDD service. Then she will type exactly what Jeremy says. Then you tell the operator (by typing on the keyboard) what to say to Jeremy. The great thing about this is that the operator HAS to say what you type, no matter how stupid, vulgar, or illegal! One time I called my girlfriend with this service and we had a huge conversation about how we thought the TDD operator relaying our call was gay. She couldn't do anything about it, so she just kept on with our conversation not even laughing about it, becoming extremely pissed and yelling at us, or disconnecting us. I've also called people to ask for things as stupid as the "top-secret detenation code for the peanut" and the operators HAVE to go along! Every now and then we will succeed in making an operator laugh, although I don't think they are suppose to.

How To Call Someone

Well, if you have a TDD phone (which I doubt, because you're not deaf, and if you are, why the hell you reading this file? You already know about this service!), all you have to do is dial the TDD Operator number with the keypad and type on the keyboard. But, if you don't have a TDD fone, you can use a terminal program (like Hyper Terminal in Win95/98) to call them. Assuming you are using Win95/98, Goto your Start Menu, click Programs, then Accesories, then Hyper Terminal. You should get a bunch of different icons for stuff like MCI Mail, AT&T Mail, etc.... Just open the one that says "hypertrm". Set it up so the number to dial is the TDD number that corresponds with your area of residence (see numbers further down in issue). Connect to that number. Once you connect, you should get something similar to:


Dial the number you want them to relay the conversation too. Like your good friend Jeremy. Number was (123)456-7890 then you would type it like


(GA stands for Go Ahead). You will soon be connected to Jeremy and relaying a conversation. Now, if Jeremy is not that good friend of yours, it's just as easy to terrorize him with TDD. And fun too!

Codes That Most TDD Operators Use

Operators use special initials to mean certain things, you are suppose to use these to.

Big List Of Deaf Fone Numbers

Each state in the US has it's own TDD/TTY Deaf Relay phone number. Oh, by the way, this service does not charge money for local calls. Not all these numbers have been checked. The only one I use is California's, because that's where i live. If you are using Hyper Terminal, you can only call the ones marked with ascii. If you are using a TTY fone, you can only call the ones marked with TTY. If you are calling with a normal phone and just want to call a friend who has a TTY fone, call the number marked with voice.

Disclaimer

linear, United Phone Losers and/or it's members WILL NOT be held responsible for what you do with the information within this text document. We cannot take responsibility for your ignorance, besides, we can barely take responsibility for our own.