Path: utzoo!telecom-request Date: Sun, 9 Jun 91 00:52:31 GMT From: Francesco Caserta Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Fax/Phone Switch Information Wanted Message-ID: Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 437, Message 1 of 8 Lines: 60 In article , hv@uwasa.fi (Harri Valkama) writes: > Who can recommend for me an automatic fax/phone switch that has a > reasonable price. Let's say under $100. It should sniff the incoming > call and whether it is a phone call or a fax call direct it to my > telephone or fax modem. Here in Finland they are overlypriced; the > local telephone company tried to sell me one that cost 1500FIM (about > $350) !!! > Also a fax number for the company that sells these is very welcome. I > guess this device should work the same whether it is used in US or > Europe or what. Power supply is perhaps different but not a real > problem. I mean that it should work with phone and fax signals or are > there any differences concerning this kind of scheme. I'm also in the market for one of these devices, although, more specifically, for a fax/modem/a.m./phone switch. Lately I've done some `homework' and come up with the following products. Before I start the list, I should premise a few considerations. I've been told that even among G3 fax machines there is no guaranty that they will issue a CNG tone when calling. I've heard that it's mandatory in Europe, but not in North America. I don't know if this is true and if, anyway, the exceptions are actually very few. The behaviuor of modems seems even more unpredictable regarding the issueing of a distintive tone. I hope that someone more knowledgeable will clarify this for us on this matter, because otherwise it's better to forget that these boxes do any good. 1) Hello-Direct sells two of these devices: the Crosspoint Autoswitcher I and the Crosspoint Autoswitcher II. The former is a fax/modem/a.m./phone switch, the latter is a fax/a.m./phone switch. Some of the options include: customized access codes, ring delay, phone and auxiliary ring count, ring deduction, open line notification, automatic fax detection. Crosspoint Autoswitcher I $229 Crosspoint Autoswitcher II $129 Hello-Direct, 140 Great Oaks Blvd., San Jose, CA 95119-1347 1-800-444-3556, 1-408-972-1990, (fax) 1-408-972-8155 2) VSI sells SmartMaxII. Model 6000 is a fax/phone switching, while model 6500 adds an auxiliary port for a computer modem or another accessory. VSI sells also many other of these switches. You may want to contact them at 1-800-999-8232, 1-714-687-2492, (fax) 1-714-687-2513. 3) FAX MANIA is another source. They can be contacted at 1-800-33-FAX-55, (fax) 1-804-498-3263. COMMENTS: I have the impression that Hello-Direct's C.A._I is actually the same as the ASAP TF 555 made by Command Communications and sold for much less (~$170) by Lechmere. Francesco Caserta