Abstract: An apparatus for supporting and maintaining slack of fiber optic cable or the like in an aerial installation comprises an elongate channel member having an arcuate section and a plurality of linear sections for receiving the slack and means for securing the apparatus to a messenger cable support structure. Methods for supporting and maintaining the slack in two preferred embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system transmits information over telephone lines using ring signals. The ring signals have bursts of selectable duration separated by selectable time intervals between bursts. A ring signal translator receives the ring signals from telephone lines whereupon a computer activates selected indicators in response to the particular ring signal.

Abstract: A computer system is provided for timing contestants on a water race course. A computer interfaces through a card to four switches. A manual and an automatic switch are activated upon the contestant starting the race. Other manual and automatic switches are activated upon the contestant finishing the race. The computer has software which allows the time at which each switch is activated to be recorded and associated with the contestant. The start and finish times are determined by the respective automatic switches unless an automatic switch misfunctions, and doesn't provide a time. In that case, the start or finish time is determined from the affiliated manual switch. The software subtracts start time from finish time to yield elapse time.

Abstract: A computer operated telephone dialing system has a program that selects a telephone number from a directory of names and corresponding telephone numbers. The program sends an off-hook instruction and a select flag to the computer's printer port, followed by a hexidecimal code sequence representing digits of the telephone number. A dialing circuit coupled to said printer port is activated by the select flag and, in response to the hexidecimal code sequence, provides DTMF dialing signals to telephone lines. The program then sends an on-hook signal, allowing a telephone handset to be used.