Fax detection

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countrydave

I have searched everywhere I know to search but I still can't find the
answer.

Is there away to get Win XP to detect the fax preamble and answer faxes but
not answer voice? I only have 1 phone line & I want to use it for both fax
and voice but when unattended the fax machine answers telephone calls.

Is there is a software solution or hardware solution?

TYA
 
countrydave said:
I have searched everywhere I know to search but I still can't find the
answer.

Is there away to get Win XP to detect the fax preamble and answer faxes but
not answer voice? I only have 1 phone line & I want to use it for both fax
and voice but when unattended the fax machine answers telephone calls.

Is there is a software solution or hardware solution?

TYA
Click to expand...
3rd party hardware solutions only. XP Fax Services will answer all calls.

http://www.command-comm.com/fax_switch/fax_switch.html
http://faxswitch.com/
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=fax+switch
 
Thanks. That was my fear. So much for "replace your fax machine with Win
XP" Those switches cost more than a fax machine.

Thanks

David
 
countrydave said:
Thanks. That was my fear. So much for "replace your fax machine with Win
XP" Those switches cost more than a fax machine.

Thanks

David
Click to expand...
IMO, a separate fax machine is a more robust and reliable solution. A
LOT of people post here complaining of problems getting WinXP fax
services to reliably send or receive faxes. Personally, I've been able
to send OK, but I do get some failed incoming faxes (which I think are
just telemarketing phone calls to my fax number).

A separate fax machine also allows you to send outgoing faxes of
pre-printed and handwritten material without having to figure out how to
use a scanner to create a "printable" image that can then be sent via
Windows fax. The downside is it takes up more space (but you could
locate a fax machine next to any available phone jack, not necessarily
near your computer).
 
--
I think I must have been lucky. I seldom have to fax anything I don't have
in electronic media so I haven't had the scanning issue. I had a dedicated
fax line and the Win XP fax always worked well but after down sizing fax
line was the first thing to go.

I would think that if a fax switch can decide if something is or isn't a fax
and the old communication software can decide if something is fax or voice
it should be easier make the Win XP fax decide to answer or not but I guess
it isn't cost effective.


Thanks again.
 
countrydave said:
--
I think I must have been lucky. I seldom have to fax anything I don't have
in electronic media so I haven't had the scanning issue. I had a dedicated
fax line and the Win XP fax always worked well but after down sizing fax
line was the first thing to go.

I would think that if a fax switch can decide if something is or isn't a
fax and the old communication software can decide if something is fax or
voice it should be easier make the Win XP fax decide to answer or not but
I guess it isn't cost effective.


Thanks again.
Click to expand...

No software or hardware solution can determine the type of call until the
call is answered. The fax switch answers every call just as Windows XP Fax
does. The fax switch internally routes the call to the correct port after
listening for the fax CNG tones. The switch might also continue the ringing
tone so that the caller or machine does not detect that the call is answered
until it is routed to the correct device. Even fax machines cannot tell in
advance whether a call is a fax call or a voice call. The fax machine might
eavesdrop on calls answered manually or by an answering machine. If the fax
machine detects the CNG tones in the answered call, it intercepts the call
and takes over. Even distinctive rings depend upon the incoming caller
using that particular line exclusively for faxes. If someone calls that
line with a voice call, the fax machine will answer just as it would for a
fax call.
 
Thanks for the explanation. I thought the detection tone preceded the ring
tone but that makes sense.

So for me, ideally there would be an internal modem that answers and that
decides to send the transmission to a telephone or fax (even internal fax).

I know there used to be a bunch of software including MS Phone ( I think )
that would answer and voice record or accept a fax or just let you answer
like a phone.

Again Thanks
 
countrydave said:
Thanks for the explanation. I thought the detection tone preceded the ring
tone but that makes sense.

So for me, ideally there would be an internal modem that answers and that
decides to send the transmission to a telephone or fax (even internal
fax).

I know there used to be a bunch of software including MS Phone ( I think )
that would answer and voice record or accept a fax or just let you answer
like a phone.

Again Thanks
Click to expand...

Some fax machines eavesdrop too well. If you have a fax a machine and a
fax/modem on the same telephone line, the fax machine will intercept
outgoing faxes sent from the computer. The outgoing fax will be received on
the fax machine. One has to change the fax machine's answer setting to
manual to avoid it answering outgoing faxes sent from the computer over the
same phone line. The good fax machines will only answer if there is an
incoming ring.

To have the Windows Fax coexist on a voice line, set the answer mode to
manual. You would have to pre-arrange incoming fax calls. When the balloon
pops up on the PC screen, click on answer as a fax call. Otherwise answer
the phone as a voice call. If the fax/modem goes offhook, the attached
telephone line coming out of the modem is disabled. Remember that the fax
software does not answer the call. The software sends a command to the
modem to go offhook when it detects a ringing signal. This command remains
in effect even if you shutdown the fax program. A command has to be sent to
the modem by some program to turn off the auto-answer. The auto-answer can
be on even if the computer is not running. That is how Wake on Ring (WOR)
works. You can have the computer start when the phone rings with the proper
setting in the BIOS. Of course, you could not have a manual logon work.
Since the Fax is a Service, it can run when no one is logged on.
 
For whatever its worth--
Windows included fax capability started going downhill several windows
revisions ago. With Win XP, many users with fax modems have had/ are having
serious problems with windows Fax. These problems usually involve modems
that worked properly under earlier windows versions, or inexpensive internal
modems.
I know of two of the problems that existed, although I do not know if they
have been addressed in any fashon since I stopped tracking the issues.
1. There was some sort of communication problem with some modems. This
involved the windows modem command/reply module. Modem replies were returned
to the module with "garbage" characters in front of the reply string. This
confused the reply parser, which then used a "bailout" feature. This
resulted in incorrect connection info being returned to the calling program,
and, if it was a data connection, incorrect info displayed in the windows
modem taskbar icon (when clicked)
The second problem seemed to be a timing issue between windows and some
modems. This was believed to becaused by either poor modem hardware
interface design (That was tolerated, and not exposed in the older versions
of windows) or a change in the windows driver level module that actually
"talked" to the modem. At one time, unpublished registry patches were used
on some machines to help. I assume they were not very effective, since the
patches were never published in Tech Net or MSDN (to my knowledge.). Modem
mfrs were not interested in developing/providing a modem specific driver,
and the market was flooded with cheap internal "noname" modems. At that
point, support for existing modem models on newer versions of windows went
into the pits. Those that I have (and that work) can be installed as a
"standard" fax/data modem.

I have one fairly new low cost V92 USR software internal that I haven't even
bothered to take out of the box, since at home fax send and receive are
handled by a Brother networked all in one.
(And, my internet connection is a broadband connection) To make matters even
worse, one of my routers can be setup to used dialup as a fallback if a
serial interface external modem is connected directly to it. My cell phones
have builtin modems, and can be connected and used as data modems if
absolutely necessary. (9600 is slow, but can be used for such things as
email and stock market related activities)

Watch out for the phone service currently sold by many of the broadband
providers. For whatever reasons, many discourage or prevent fax use.

Fax machines have dropped in price to the point that some are less expensive
than a first class external modem.
 
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