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Thread ID: 56662 2005-04-11 23:50:00 Looking for phone/fax switch Tony (4941) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
343889 2005-04-12 22:37:00 A Smartring or Stealth decoder only allows the Fax or the Phone/Answering machine to ring based on the ringing pattern. If the call is to the fax, the phone doesn't ring. Fax machines with built in decoders can tell what ring to answer but that doesn't stop phones ringing to the fax call. A lot of people would just answer before checking the ring pattern. PaulD (232)
343890 2005-04-12 22:53:00 Thanks for all the great responses.

I think I need to clarify the issue. On the same line (now with ADSL) I have phone, answering machine, PC with fax/modem. I don't have a stand-alone fax.

Depending on how I have the answering machine and fax set to answer, if I am not there, either the fax modem answers potentially a voice call, or the answering machine answers potentially a fax call. And if I am there, potentially I answer a fax call.

I think faxability may be one solution, although I don't like the idea of paying Telecom every month for the privilege. :annoyed:
Tony (4941)
343891 2005-04-12 23:05:00 I think faxability may be one solution, although I don't like the idea of paying Telecom every month for the privilege. :annoyed:

The fee wouldn't even pay for one cup of Theresa's coffee.
PaulD (232)
343892 2005-04-12 23:09:00 The fee wouldn't even pay for one cup of Theresa's coffee.
Agreed.
At $2.50 per month for the separate number, its certainly OK by me.
godfather (25)
343893 2005-04-12 23:18:00 Agreed. At $2.50 per month for the separate number, its certainly OK by me.It is the principle rather than the amount. :yuck:

The more I look the more confused I get :@@:

Even if I get faxability, I still need some sort of decoder to recognise the different rings and either ring the phone or let the fax take it, right? So if a fax comes through, the answering machine will never see it? So how do I set up my fax/modem? Presumably I set it up to answer after the answering machine so that if it is a voice call, the tam will pick it up, but if it is a fax, the tam will never hear it?

Why is nothing ever simple?
Tony (4941)
343894 2005-04-12 23:29:00 I think it is actually $3.95 - but it is the principle rather than the amount. :yuck:

Not on my bill.

$2.50 including GST.

That does depend on the "package" you are subscribed to of course.
godfather (25)
343895 2005-04-12 23:40:00 With the decoder, the answering machine would be on the telephone port. You end up with 2 numbers on same line, 2nd number gets different cadence ringing.
There used to be some all-in-one units that answered all calls - no fax tones - ring local phone then switch to being an answerphone which was fine if you didn't get many voce calls.
PaulD (232)
343896 2005-04-13 05:25:00 Hi how old is your PC.If it has an ISA slot you may be able to fit a REAL modem(as opposed to a winmodem) and use that.I have this set up;ADSL,phone,Telecom callminder,and faxability.The modem recognises the faxability(which a winmodem won't) we answer the phone(different ring) and the callminder answers when we can't(out or engaged).Works perfectly.

Peter
Peter Coleman (597)
343897 2005-04-13 06:40:00 Thanks again everyone for your suggestions.

The more I think about it, the more I am coming to the conclusion that what I will do is handle all faxes manually. We only get a few, and usually we know they are going to be coming, so we ought to be able to intercept them when they arrive. Not very sophisticated, but veeery cheap! :)
Tony (4941)
343898 2005-04-13 10:16:00 Peter Coleman, Winmodems can recognise distinctive ringing but Microsoft OSs ignore the standard reporting of such.
"The LT modem (Agere winmodem) uses the V.253 standard DRON/DROFF method for distinctive ring support; however, Microsoft operating systems do not support this standard, so MS-Windows programs (like MS Fax) may not recognize distincitve ring."

Telecom's ring cadence isn't a US standard pattern so I'm surprised your old ISA modem copes.
PaulD (232)
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