I was just refilling a prescription on the automated line and the thought just dawned on me. How do they know what buttons I’m pressing? Sorry if this is really dumb. I understand next to nothing about technology. Thanks
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Dual Tone Multi Frequency Signaling: DTMF. The different tones each number creates are interpreted and converted to numbers. This is also how you tell the phone carrier which phone number you want to connect to.
They are sent over the voice part of the line contrary to pulse dialing that was used in the days of old.
Pulse dialing was used mainly on rotary phones. It uses a sequence: one click for 1, two clicks for 2 etc. and disconnects and connects the phone line in quick succession for each digit. A lengthy process compared to DTMF. Pulse dialing also only worked for local calls. Not long distance. For long distance you neede and operator to dispatch your call to the destination.
Using pulse dialing for your automated line wouldn’t work particularly well.
Another fact and life hack.
If it’s the same sequence of numbers you need each time you refill you can automatically do the menu selection.
Say you call 84777491, you need menu item 3, then you need menu item 6, then 4, then 1.
If you save the number like this: 84777491,3,6,4,1
The commas means it pauses for two seconds before inputting the number for the menu item.
Pressing down +*# in your phone book when entering a number for a contact you’ll get the options “wait” and “pause” in a menu and those will enter the , or ; for you.
If it forces you to listen to the entire message before menu selection you insert a wait by using ; instead. The phone will create a pop-up and you press “ok” when the message has finished. iPhone it will be in the lower left corner.
Don’t know if this extra info is allowed.
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