Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!think.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!julius.cs.uiuc.edu!apple!bionet!hayes.ims.alaska.edu!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: JMS@mis.Arizona.EDU Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: FAX Machine at Home: Options for Incoming Transmissions Message-ID: <14682@accuvax.nwu.edu> Date: 13 Nov 90 06:29:07 GMT Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu Organization: TELECOM Digest Lines: 59 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 820, Message 4 of 8 Telecom readers: I am facing a problem which I believe that several of you have already faced, and many of you will soon: the proliferation of things-that-use- the-phone. This week I invested in a FAX modem (Dove FAX if any of you care; works incredibly well for $280). But now I need some way to receive FAX transmissions at home. I think that there are four distinct options, which I will rank from most to least expensive. My query to you all is simple: what advice and information do you have to offer? Please send your feedback to me at jms@carat.arizona.edu, and I do promise to organize a summary for distribution through the Digest. Here are the options (are there any more?) 1. Get an extra telephone line. This is clearly the most desirable, but is also the most expensive. A $50 to $100 fee, plus a monthly fixed expense of $10 to $20 per month (note: all rates are given with a midpoint of the cost quoted me by US West or local merchants). 2. Get distinctive ringing. With this option, you have two telephone numbers, but only one line -- calls to number A ring differently from number B. The key here is that you can get a box (any suggestions which one?) for around $100 which will route calls to one jack or another (that is, voice phone or FAX machine) based on the ringing. Downsides: the $100 box; you can't use both devices at once; a monthly fee of $2 to $7 (plus possible installation fees of about $10 to $20, although U S West has a "special" until December 5). 3. No telco change, but get FAX/voice box. It seems that some FAX machines send a tone called CNG when they are calling. Note that this is different from modems, where the originating modem is silent until the answering modem says something. What this FAX feature means is that one could build a box to distinguish between the two. Several people already have (any suggestions as to which one?) for $60 to $100 which picks up the phone and listens for CNG tones, passing the call to the FAX if it detects CNG and to the phone/answering machine if not. Downsides: similar to (2), although there is no recurring charge. My big question on this option is, "how many FAX machines present CNG tones?" Is this something which all FAX machines built in the last two or three years have, or is this a feature which some FAX machines built even today don't have? Anyone know any more about this? 4. Null hypothesis. No changes. Downsides: you have to pre-arrange whenever you expect to receive a FAX. But, it's CHEAP! Again, please don't send replies to the list. Send them to me, and I will collect and summarize! If you just want a copy of the answers, look for it in TELECOM Digest late next week. Thanks in advance for any help and advice! Joel M Snyder, The Mosaic Group, 627 E Speedway, 85705 Phone: 602.626.8680 (University of Arizona, Dep't of MIS, Eller Graduate School of Management) BITNET: jms@arizmis Internet: jms@carat.arizona.edu SPAN: 47541::uamis::jms