Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request
From: "Christopher J. Pikus" <cjp%megatek.UUCP@ucsd.edu>
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Phone/Fax Switchbox -- Do They Work?
Message-ID: <10225@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 29 Jul 90 09:43:49 GMT
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Organization: Megatek Corporation, San Diego, Ca.
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 528, Message 6 of 8


	I've been considering getting a fax machine for home use but
am hesitant to connect it to my primary residence line. Mainly How do
I prevent the FAX machine from answering calls meant for myself while
receiving data calls.

	Since I am away alot, I would hope my answering machine will
continue to intercept all the calls from humans but that the fax
machine would get its due too.
	
	Now, I have seen these phone/fax switchboxes that allegedly do
this but I'm not sure how it is done. So my question is: how does such
a critter work? My only theory is that the originating fax machine
sends a pilot tone to signal the answering machine (or switchbox) that
a fax transmission is coming in.

	Does anyone know how (or if) these things work? Does anyone
use one? Will it solve my problem? If not what will? (besides getting
another line).


Regards,
Christopher J. Pikus,               Megatek Corp.
INTERNET:     cjp@megatek.uucp      San Diego, CA
UUCP:         ...!uunet!megatek!cjp