Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!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: design considerations, and human considerations
Message-ID: <1821@tssi.UUCP>
Date: 3 Sep 90 07:39:30 GMT
References: <1990Aug31.034046.5793@xavax.com>
Organization: Tailored Software Svcs., Lincoln, Neb.
Lines: 36

In article <1990Aug31.034046.5793@xavax.com>, alvitar@xavax.com (Phillip Harbison) writes:
>                                         My conclusion is that what is
> needed is a box that automatically answers the phone, then gives a dial
> tone.  The calling party must then dial the number of the extension they
> wish connected.  If no number is dialed, the box would time out and connect
> to the default port.  The major advantage of this is that it is not neces-
> sary to detect when the called party has answered.  Most modems can wait
> for multiple dial tones.  I don't know about fax machines, but I assume
> they have similar features to modem autodialers.  In my situation, I'd
> probably specify voice to be the default.  A ring sound could be sent back
> to the caller to keep them amused until I pick up the phone.
> 
I suspect that giving a dial tone would likely confuse any human caller,
especialy on long distance calls.  I wonder if it would confuse phone dialing
systems as well.  Perhaps if a synthesized voice answered, spoke briefly,
THEN the dial tone showed up, but perhaps this would confuse modems....


My experiences with "The Switcher" show that it helps to give the signal to
switch to the modem (in my case, 2222), several times, producing the
following:

ATDT555-1212,,,,222,,,,222,,,,222

Or alternatively:  ATDT555-1212,,,2,,2,,2,,2,,2,,2   (each ',' is a 1 sec delay)


Maybe we can merge this thread with the "Caller ID" threads running in
several newsgroups, and have the answering system know based on the
incoming phone number whether to answer with voice or modem or fax.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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)