In my network of win98 machines, there is one win2000
machine that uses the Internet Router and stares a modem
line.
The problem is that the win2000 machine's modem wants to
answer all inbound calls/faxes even when no programs is
running to pick up the call/fax which disrupts the
call/fax going to the win98 machine that was waiting for
the call/fax.
Is it win2000 or the modem?
Our solution has been to discondect the modum on the
win2000 machine.
Thanks for any help.
You have just discovered one (of several) reasons why a PC as a fax machine
is one of those ideas that seem to be much better than it really is. You've
also discovered why it's a bad idea to have more than one modem on a single
phone line. I can think of a several possible solutions to your problem, but
only you can tell which is best for you. There are certainly others - I'm
just an Average User.
a) Set the modem in the W2K machine not to answer any incoming calls. Of
course, if this machine is supposed to answer some calls, this won't work.
b) Buy a real fax machine, and get a separate phone line for it. That way you
don't have to worry about any PC answering the calls, and you can still send
faxes out over their phone line. You can also send faxes without having to
use a PC, which is usually faster when it's just a quick note.
c) Get a separate line for the fax, and connect the Win98 machine to it via
an external fax-modem. But make sure the 'net connection software is set
_not_ to start a connection to the internet via this modem, but only via the
W2K machine.
c) There are, I believe, solutions involving fax answering software on the
W2K which can route the fax to whatever machine is supposed to receive it,
but I know nothing about that.
d) Phone companies offer distinct-ring service so that the fax won't pick up
on a voice call and vice versa. AFAIK, the phone-answering software in the
W2K machine can be set to recognise the ring and ignore it. Or else you can
buy such software.
That's all I can think of. Hope it gets you started on a useful path.
