TIA's Glossary of Telecommunication Terms

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dual-tone multifrequency (DTMF) signaling

In telephone systems, multifrequency signaling in which standard set combinations of two specific voice band frequencies, one from a group of four low frequencies and the other from a group of four higher frequencies, are used. (188) Synonyms multifrequency pulsing, multifrequency signaling. Note 1: DTMF signals, unlike dial pulses, can pass through the entire connection to the destination user, and therefore lend themselves to various schemes for remote control after access, i.e. , after the connection is established. Note 2: Telephones using DTMF usually have 12 keys. Each key corresponds to a different pair of frequencies. Each pair of frequencies corresponds to one of the ten decimal digits, or to the symbol "#" or "*", the "*" being reserved for special purposes. Note 3: The standard signal frequency pairs transmitted by DTMF equipment used by the public exchange carriers are as follows:


Button or Digit Frequencies (Hz)
1 697/1209
2 697/1336
3 697/1477
4 770/1209
5 770/1336
6 770/1477
7 852/1209
8 852/1336
9 852/1477
0 941/1336
* 941/1209
# 941/1477

Note 4: Tactical telephones have 16 keys, the extra 4 being used for precedence. For DSN (Defense Switched Network) the signal frequency pairs transmitted for the ten decimal digits and the * and # are the same as those used by the public exchange carriers. The additional four keys, corresponding to four different frequency pairs and the precedence, are as follows:
Button or Key Frequencies (Hz)
FO (Flash Override) 697/1633
F (Flash) 770/1633
I (Immediate) 852/1633
P (Priority) 941/1633

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