Re: [Harp-L] dial tone pitch

[Slim Heilpern <slim@xxxxxxxxxx>]

It always has sounded to me like there were two tones, roughly an F and an A, so I looked it up on wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dial_tone

The relevant section:

"The modern dial tone varies between countries, being a "buzz" of two interfering tones (350 Hz and 440 Hz, as defined in the Precise Tone Plan) in the North American Numbering Plan (most of North America), and a constant single tone (425 Hz) in most of Europe."

And Winslow is right about the F being a bit flat:

http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-notenames.htm

But you can tune to the A, if it's 440 you're after ;-)

- Slim.

On Mar 2, 2012, at 9:08 AM, Winslow Yerxa wrote:

> Today I had a harmonica with me to check and the dial tone is an F natural, which is consistent with my previous experience with ordinary home phones. (Actually, it's a little off pitch. I wouldn't tune to it, but it's close enough for casual checking.) 
> 
> 
> It's a Siemens phone unit. No idea what sort of system it's connected to.
> 
> Winslow
> 
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> ________________________________
> From: Robert Hale <robert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: harp-L list <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
> Sent: Thursday, March 1, 2012 10:02 PM
> Subject: [Harp-L] dial tone pitch
> 
> Hi Winslow,
> What pitch is the dial tone in your cubicle?
> What brand is the phone system there?
> 
> Robert Hale
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