|
Post by efanton on Oct 10, 2019 7:56:23 GMT -5
The forum is getting messy again with comments on the first key getting scattered all over the place. Thought it made sense to open a thread specific to comments and question related to the 1st key (consisting of 10 digits) only
Assuming the 1st key is in a similar format to a USA telephone number, it makes sense to understand the format.
As I understand it,the first 3 digits of a USA telephone number would be the area code. (313 Dearborn for example)
I am lead to believe the next 3 digit would be the local exchange. Now the bit I am totally unsure of is does this exchange cover a small specific geographical area within the area code for EVERY telephone number in that area, or do telecom providers each have their own exchanges within the dial code area?
I believe this could be important. We have a potential area code (313 Dearborn) and a good few potential numbers for the last 4 digits. (4566, 3244, etc). If the middle 3 digits are specific to a local telephone exchange box, or specific to a telecoms provider, then maybe there are additional clues withing the stanza to determine either the exchange or the provider.
It also possible that stanza 4 provides this 3 digit number. If we can narrow down the specific exchanges that can be used within the Dearborn dial code area, then surely this helps us narrow down potential solutions to stanza 4
Can any of our US members expand or clarify the format of telephone numbers in the USA or any of the above?
|
|
|
Post by iggyjeckel on Oct 10, 2019 8:01:19 GMT -5
a phone number consists of the following: Area Code: ie 313 Prefix: ie 206 Line Number: ie 1234 You can find the list of Prefix numbers for Dearborn Michigan here: www.area-codes.com/zip-code/zip-code-48126.aspIt should be mentioned that while 313 is the area code for Dearborn, it is also the Area Code for a lot of other places here in Michigan ( I live in Michigan ) Hope the above helps you out.
|
|
|
Post by efanton on Oct 10, 2019 8:04:29 GMT -5
Thanks for that. Saw something similar already.
What I am trying to tie down if possible is are these prefixes based on specific geographic areas or simply assigned as telecom providers run out of numbers to use.
|
|
|
Post by efanton on Oct 10, 2019 11:12:03 GMT -5
IF the first 3 digits of the keyword are 313 (Dearborn) The next 3 digits are one of the 90 prefixes for this area code And the last 4 digit are 4566 or 3244
Then sorry to say that they do not give the 1st key. Just spent the last hour entering all 180 possibilities.
It actually took less time than I thought. So if you have a potential solve for stanza 5 that is 4 digits long, it's well worth trying those digits with the 313 area code and all 90 prefixes.
|
|
|
Post by captnkush on Oct 10, 2019 11:40:58 GMT -5
IF the first 3 digits of the keyword are 313 (Dearborn) The next 3 digits are one of the 90 prefixes for this area code And the last 4 digit are 4566 or 3244 Then sorry to say that they do not give the 1st key. Just spent the last hour entering all 180 possibilities. It actually took less time than I thought. So if you have a potential solve for stanza 5 that is 4 digits long, it's well worth trying those digits with the 313 area code and all 90 prefixes.
|
|
|
Post by captnkush on Oct 10, 2019 12:07:45 GMT -5
The thing is although there is only about 90 prefixes assigned to Dearborn the area code 313 as someone mentioned covers most the lower half of michagan. So if stanza 3 points to Dearborn (313) that doesn't necessarily mean that stanza 4 will as well. There are about 800 prefixes available for 313 wich ive been working though and yes as you mentioned this actually wont take as long as one might think in about 2hrs ive gone through just under half of 4566. Heres a link that might help. www.allareacodes.com/313 as youll see about 80% of prefixes have been assigned (less actually) when you figure that a prefix will will never start with 1 or 0..ive been working through everything even unassigned # just for the sake of being thorough. So starting at 200 going thru 999(even though i know some will be non working) i should hopefully finish today working both those possibilities (4566 3244) with 313 provided theres no distractions. Probably woulda finished already but had a little meltdown when i realized its 3244 not 3424.
|
|
|
Post by efanton on Oct 10, 2019 12:24:29 GMT -5
is that a complete list of 313 prefix. 100% guaranteed?
I have been following more or less the same strategy as yourself. I have put together one of my spreadsheets. You enter the area code, the prefixes, and your guesses for stanza 5 and it will generate every possible number.
I have a few hunches that might narrow the field down.
|
|
|
Post by captnkush on Oct 10, 2019 13:07:06 GMT -5
It SHOULD be .but as mentioned im gonna run all possibilities after 200 just to be 100% sure . Based on my average time to imput a whole sequence will take about 4 to 5 hrs.(thats including having to back up and do over a few when i get distracted or lose my place or accidentally hit improper keys )
|
|
|
Post by captnkush on Oct 10, 2019 13:10:51 GMT -5
On the other side if we had a good solve for the prefix that would leave considerably less options for associated area code. As area codes cover much larger areas and not every prefix is necessarily used within each one.
|
|
|
Post by captnkush on Oct 10, 2019 13:18:11 GMT -5
Also something ive been trying to figure out is free services like google voice and others are they considered land or cell lines . If you knew the answer i would suggest trying those options first.
|
|
|
Post by captnkush on Oct 10, 2019 13:30:38 GMT -5
Personally i think if a couple of people were to combine efforts say someone takes 200 to 400 and someone takes 400 to 600 ect. We could effectively squash any possible hunch for any area code . The main problem is the solve for stanza 5 really needs to be 100% to avoid having to repeat the process again and again again.
|
|
|
Post by eledecer on Oct 10, 2019 13:33:43 GMT -5
This is going to sound snarky but I truly don’t intend it to be. I’ve been trying to understand how this would work on his end.
If the thought is that the number starts with 313, he probably would’ve had to have reserved that phone number. That means he went to Verizon (for example) and purchased an extra line, paid the 40$/month for this line, then written half the poem around the number he got (as far as I can see, you can’t usually buy specific numbers but I could be wrong.) With all of the options in technology, why would he go through all that effort and money for a few months?
If he didn’t reserve the number, how would he have set up any external feedback to alert the person that their solve to the first key was right?
There are other phone numbers that aren’t geographically linked (800,888,877, etc) but you also have to pay monthly for these, and usually business buy a ton of numbers in bulk. Short code numbers also exist, but again you have to pay. These options, or something similar, could easily trigger an automatic response which could be external feedback of sorts.
Other services like Skype can give you a phone number with a local area code, but you still have to pay 8$/month (not too bad if it’s only for a few months as he intended.) Still, paying monthly for a part of a scavenger hunt wouldn’t be my first choice- what if it goes unsolved for years? It’s also another randomly generated number.
Is there another way to get a phone number or another use for a 10-digit number? I just don’t see how he could set up external feedback without having access to wherever that number goes. I could be missing something too, apologize if I am.
|
|
|
Post by captnkush on Oct 10, 2019 13:51:55 GMT -5
Google voice and other services like it are free. Also they do allow at least to some extent to choose your area code and provide multiple possibilities to choose your number from. Also it would be easy to set up an automated response on these and not inccur any cost or be hassled by random people calling.(you only need to be registered to a google email.i have been involed with local hunts that use this same mechanism. The thing that makes this method so useful is theres no way skip trace it to a connected account or name.
|
|
|
Post by mrpoirot on Oct 10, 2019 15:07:48 GMT -5
I know the common thinking here is that the first three digits are 313 (Dearborn, MI). However, I am still not sure about that. It could well be 231 (Hart, MI). I am keeping both doors open... cityofhart.org/
|
|
|
Post by captnkush on Oct 10, 2019 16:20:03 GMT -5
|
|