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Thread ID: 56662 2005-04-11 23:50:00 Looking for phone/fax switch Tony (4941) Press F1
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343879 2005-04-11 23:50:00 In the ongoing saga of our switch to ADSL we dropped one of our phone lines. As a result I now have a problem when someone sends a fax, as either a human or an answering m/c or the PC fax modem may pick up the call, with good or bad results depending on which it is!

I think I need either a hardware or software switch that can distinguish between phone and fax and take appropriate action. The only mentions I have seen on Google are incorporated in stand alone fax machines.

Has anyone any suggestions?

Apart from the above, the ADSL is great - a huge improvement over Ihug Ultra.
Tony (4941)
343880 2005-04-12 00:17:00 The device you seek were known as "faxcatcher" or "fax boss", I used one for a few years here. They detect the CCITT fax tones and rout the call to the fax.

The downside is that they must answer every call, so voice callers experience a "pause" in the ringing tone while it listenes, then a different ringing tone as it sends the voice call to the phones.

Operated OK, but lost a few calls due to them assuming I had my calls diverted and was not actually in the office, the Fax Catcher transfer sounds just like a diversion.

I went to FaxAbility, with a different number (on the same line) for the fax, the fax machine can discriminate the different ring cadence and answers immediately.

The Fax Catcher device does not seem to be around these days (probably because FaxAbility is cheap and better)
godfather (25)
343881 2005-04-12 00:22:00 Or you could upgrade to jetstream. pctek (84)
343882 2005-04-12 00:24:00 Look for "Teltest Smartring Decoder". New around $100 but can be found secondhand.

pctek - did you read the original post?
PaulD (232)
343883 2005-04-12 00:35:00 I ask this without checking, something in the back of my mind says faxability is incompatible with ADSL.

True/false?
Tony (4941)
343884 2005-04-12 00:49:00 I ask this without checking, something in the back of my mind says faxability is incompatible with ADSL.

True/false?

It is not True. I know of a friend who has both Faxability and Jetstream ADSL and they are working fine.
bk T (215)
343885 2005-04-12 04:11:00 ADSL has no impact on FaxAbility. I use it here. godfather (25)
343886 2005-04-12 04:43:00 Tony, I have a Data Stealth ring decoder (fax/data catcher) that I used when I had one dialup line. It has Beta Test Unit on a sticker with the words "Although compliant this unit is not yet Telepermitted and is released for trial to verify performance" It has a CH CH number to report any problems to ETS, so it could be perhaps be verified by the manufacturer/importer if the unit did achieve Telepermit status. I did not experience any problems with it.

After a quick rummage. It has a phone jack and a "FaxAbility" jack. I'm pretty sure (80%) I used it with faxability and there was little delay that I recall with switching to the correct device. I used MS Fax on the computer not a dedicated fax machine so that may be the diff.

PM me if you wish.
Murray P (44)
343887 2005-04-12 08:53:00 I have a Cannon Easyfax in original carton with manual and all cables etc. It is Telepermitted and was ultra reliable when I was using it before I got two lines and Jetstream.

PM if interested and we can negotiate value, and possibly delivery depending on where you are located, as I will be driving West sometime later this week.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)
Billy T (70)
343888 2005-04-12 21:50:00 We have jetstream at home plus phone, voicemail machine, and multifunction printer/fax/copier all plugged into the same phone socket and all work fine together - voicemail answers after 3 rings, fax after 5 rings.
How old is the fax machine? Maybe you need to get the correct ring sequence in place? I would check your manuals.
Mary (6534)
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