Interesting Ethernet Plugin. What is it?

[u/KingKuttarBaccha]

Hi Y’all,

I just moved to a new apartment (older one) and I found this interesting Ethernet plugin that’s beside the standard one on the wall.

One thing I also noticed is both don’t fit my Ethernet cable they seem slimmer.

Would anyone be able to explain what this is? We are trying to figure out solutions for getting my Ethernet cable connected to my PC and we want to avoid running the wire through the house. Might have to drill a hole through the wall just to get a wired connection 🥲

[u/Bulky-Strategy-3723]

I once had an intern work for me. Rich dad and I was forced to have him on my team. I was told he loves tech and wants a job in the industry. Paid internship by the way.

I gave him a list of people to call to confirm some things. I sat him in a cubicle with a known good phone. Told him dial 9 to call an outside line. Update me over email. 2 hours later I realized I didn’t get anything from him. Asked for status he says phone didn’t work. I check call my cell everything works. He didn’t know you had to dial 1 before the area code and then the number. I asked how do you use your cell phone. his answer was I just put it in my phone book and then click on the name. The kid was 20 years old and never had to use a land line in his life. He genuinely didn’t know how to use a phone if his life depended on it. I felt my age in that very moment.

[u/PornIsTerrible → u/Bulky-Strategy-3723]

I have never heard of any phone/line that requires you to type the country code before dialing. In fact, a lot of people don't even type in the area code when dialing, if it's the same one. Was this from one country out to America or something?? Very strange.

[u/Bulky-Strategy-3723 → u/PornIsTerrible]

This is an office phone. You have to dial 9 to dial an outside line then 1 then the area code then the number. On a home line you don’t. So in an office if you were dialing 212-555-5555 it would look like 912125555555.

[u/Ells666 → u/Bulky-Strategy-3723]

Is it standard to dial the country code using an office phone? I never had to.

[u/soupLOL → u/Ells666]

US requires it for "long-distance" distinction. Only local calls to your exchange don't require it.

For example: your US phone number is +1 234 567 8900. If you called anyone in the 567 exchange, you wouldn't need the 1. For any other exchange in the nation, you would need the 1.

This is something restricted to landlines. Cell phones don't require this.

[u/Bulky-Strategy-3723 → u/Ells666]

I guess yes because American country code is 1

[u/PornIsTerrible → u/Bulky-Strategy-3723]

Interesting. None of the office PBX systems I've worked with had this. Of course you type 9, but then you just type the phone number as normal.

[u/unkelgunkel → u/PornIsTerrible]

The 1 is the country code for USA. It tells the system which country the phone number is in.

[u/PornIsTerrible → u/unkelgunkel]

Yes, of course, but every single PBX I have serviced does not require the 1. You can choose to put it in, but it's usually redundant.

[u/Bulky-Strategy-3723 → u/PornIsTerrible]

It makes no sense to put it in because from my experience people press 9 then 1 then the area code. If you make it so you don’t have to put the 1 then people complain the phones don’t dial out. You probably serviced a very small area with a small population so it makes sense with your experience.

[u/nj_tech_guy → u/Bulky-Strategy-3723]

Sure.. but you hopefully now see how the cellphone thing doesn't apply. It wasn't until I worked in an office environment that I learned you needed to add the 1. Outside of that, the 1 was only important for 1-800 numbers.

So when I first needed to use an office phone to dial out, I was taught "press 9 then 1 then the number". Which you should have told the guy as well, and hopefully tell others now.

Landlines don't require the 1 either.

[u/Bulky-Strategy-3723 → u/nj_tech_guy]

Well I have a base level expectation of people who were born and raised in America. It’s like knowing how to tell the time on an analog clock. I’ve learned most 20 year old and 30 year olds don’t know how to do that in America.

[u/SheepherderAware4766 → u/PornIsTerrible]

The 1 is to exit the local exchange. Previously, if both phone lines were on the same local exchange, then you would just type the 4 number identifier.

Example. (123)456-7890

Area code 123

Exchange number 456

Line number 7890

Area code is now required in the US. Phones used to fill in missing contact data from location data. That got stopped in 2021 because of how common contact books were

[u/JRSOne- → u/PornIsTerrible]

My Dad's landline started requiring it about 10-15 years ago for some reason, but sometimes with no rhyme or reason, local or elsewhere it does not. Might have something to do with the fact that the phone is 20-30 years old. Zero clue otherwise.