Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: Tad Cook Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Phone/Fax Switchbox -- Do They Work? Message-ID: <10497@accuvax.nwu.edu> Date: 6 Aug 90 18:04:47 GMT Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu Organization: TELECOM Digest Lines: 33 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 545, Message 2 of 15 In article <10235@accuvax.nwu.edu>, gammafax!mikes@uunet.uu.net (mike spann) writes: > One uses a voice prompt and requires the caller to enter a touch tone > digit to get the answer machine/fax and will get the fax/answering > machine otherwise. This works ok if all your friends have touch tone > The other box (and the one I would select) uses the little known fact > that audio energy is carried down the phone line when the phone is > ringing. (This is commonly known to thiefs who sometimes talk to each > other without answering the phone). I don't think so! This used to be the case with SxS and maybe XBar switches, but I don't think modern ESS type switches do this. > An automatic fax machine sends a > calling tone every three seconds while waiting for the phone to be > answered. The phone/fax switch box listens on the line for this > 'calling tone' and routes the call to the fax machine if one is heard. Unless I am mistaken, the box answers the phone, listening for a tone. This sounds clumsy to the calling party. The best solution is to use one of the boxes that switch based on ringing cadence. This works with telco provided distinctive ringing, where a second phone number is assigned to one line. Tad Cook Seattle, WA Packet: KT7H @ N7HFZ.WA.USA.NA Phone: 206/527-4089 MCI Mail: 3288544 Telex: 6503288544 MCI UW USENET:...uw-beaver!sumax!amc-gw!ssc!tad or, tad@ssc.UUCP