Re: Getty_sendfax ... Answering Machine

[turnbull@example.com (Stephen J. Turnbull)]

>>>>> "Leo" == Leo Glynn <glynn@example.com> writes:

    Leo> Hi All , I`ve USR Robotics 28.8 Modem .  Basically I want any
    Leo> voice messages past to my answering machine

    Leo> Some one told me that I need some hardware to do this(this
    Leo> was concerning Windows 3.1)

    Leo> So Basically , Do I need hardware to do this ?  If so , What
    Leo> hardware and where Can I get it ?

If you want it done transparently, you need (1) a voice/fax/data modem
(not a voice mail board, this is a different thing) and (2) live in
the US where you can get "differential ring" service.  That is, the
ring from the phone company tells your board whether you are receiving
voice, fax or data.  NTT does not do this as of 1993, the last time I
translated the service offerings.  Even if they do it now, it will be
priced to be attractive to Japanese corporations, I would guess at
about 5000 yen/month/line.  It's cheaper (at least in Tsukuba) to rent 
a separate line at 1600/mo (specialist company) + 2000/mo (NTT's
monthly charge).

So, if your hardware doesn't do it already, you need a new modem.
Gomen, ne.  And if NTT doesn't provide differential ring service, you
can't do it at all.  Then you *must* go the two lines route, or get a
voice mail/fax/data board.

If you don't need transparent service, you can do it with "HylaFAX"
(URL: http://www.vix.com/hylafax/).  However, it works like this:
first call is answered as voice.  I'm not sure how this works, I don't
know if the modem doesn't pick up or what.  I direct voice messages to
my other phone.  Second is answered as fax.  Third is answered as
data.  So the fax machine will get one error answer (no fax tone),
then the second call will succeed.  If your faxes are coming from out
of Japan, that means each fax will cost two first minutes plus extra
transmission time at the lower rates.  Inside Japan of course this is
negligible.  Data fax requires three calls.  Once a call is
successfully answered, go back to voice mode and start the cycle
again.

I don't know how voice works, I use a fax/data/fax/data... cycle under
HylaFAX.

HTH

Regards

-- 
                            Stephen J. Turnbull
Institute of Policy and Planning Sciences                    Yaseppochi-Gumi
University of Tsukuba                      http://turnbull.sk.tsukuba.ac.jp/
Tennodai 1-1-1, Tsukuba, 305 JAPAN                 turnbull@example.com