Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!uunet!ssbell!dsndata!tssi!nolan
From: nolan@tssi.UUCP (Michael Nolan)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: Use a auto-answer modem and answering machine on one line?
Summary: how to know which you want on any call
Message-ID: <1770@tssi.UUCP>
Date: 27 Aug 90 05:51:52 GMT
References: <1990Aug22.164938.5316@sbcs.sunysb.edu>
Organization: Tailored Software Svcs., Lincoln, Neb.
Lines: 31

In article <1990Aug22.164938.5316@sbcs.sunysb.edu>, e556@nysaes.cornell.edu (Ron Pool) writes:
> Does anyone know of a workable method of using an auto-answer modem (for a 
> bulletin board system) and an answering machine on one phone line with one 
> phone number? I want to be able to accept voice calls to the answering 
> machine at any > time; I also want the modem to accept calls at any time.
> A solution where someone has to speak a code phrase or select a port via a 
> touch-tone option are not acceptable here.

Gee, try to make thing tough for us.  The only suggestion I can come up with 
would be a system which required some verbalization within some time frame 
after the answer, in the absence of which the call is routed to the modem.  I
don't know of such a beast.  (It also sounds like you can't use this solution.)

I solved a similar problem with a device called "The Switcher", which answers
the phone and switches to either an answering machine or a modem (and/or a
fax machine).  The default is the answering machine.  To get to the modem,
you have to key a '2' within 4.5 seconds of the answer.  To do this, you
change your dialer string to ATDT555-1212,,,,,2222.  Most Autodialer programs
I have seen have enough capability to allow at least five commas, each of
which will pause the dialing modem for a second or so (depends upon what the
comma pause is programmed to on most modems, default is 1 second.)  In using
this device, I have discovered that it works about 90 percent of the te.
It also works if you wait about 25 seconds after answering before keying
the '222' sequence.  This can also be programmed into the modem, but many
autodialer programs don't have this much flexibility.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Nolan                                 "To err is human, to forgive
Tailored Software Services, Inc.            is divine, to procrastinate is,
Lincoln, Nebraska (402) 423-1490            um, can I get back to you on that?"
UUCP: tssi!nolan   (feed site changing, dsndata!tssi!nolan might be better)
INTERNET:  nolan@pythia.unl.edu (only if the other address doesn't work)