location the controller 20 also controls the automatic telephone dialing device 24 to allow the apparatus to automatically output its own information in accordance with a predetermined sequence and to change telephone numbers dialed as required to facilitate the operation of the device the controller 20 can receive information from all operating elements of the apparatus control signals can be passed to the apparatus by means of the programing transmissions input at switch 1 and mixer 2 an example of such a control signal is an instruction for the apparatus to contact a remote telephone unit the processor unit 12 has the capacity to identify instruction signals for controller 20 and pass them to controller 20 over control information lines buffer comparator 14 has the capacity to pass received time signals to the controller 20 in a predetermined fashion set by and changeable by controller 20 buffer comparator 8 and monitor or processor 12 each have the capacity to inform controller 20 when signals that they are instructed to look for in predetermined fashions set by and changeable by controller 20 fail to appear oscillator 6 the controller 20 and buffer comparator 8 can interact in such a fashion that buffer 8 can identify the channel that any given signal is received on and mark the signal for subsequent identification of the channel digital recorder 16 can tell the controller 20 when it reaches predetermined levels of fullness to permit the controller 20 to instruct auto dialer 24 to contact an appropriate remote site allowing the recorder 16 to output its.