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- Subject: Fax (comp.dcom.fax) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) [Part 2/2]
- Newsgroups: comp.dcom.fax,alt.fax,news.answers,alt.answers,comp.answers
- From: pajari@Faximum.COM (George Pajari)
- Date: Sun, 19 Jun 1994 17:22:41 GMT
-
- Archive-name: fax-faq/part2
-
- comp.dcom.fax FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) -- Part 2 of 2
- -------------------------------------------------------------
-
- This part of the FAQ (part 2) contains lists of:
- - questions and answers;
- - sources of information; and
- - information on products.
-
- Part 1 contains the introduction to the FAQ, the disclaimer, and the
- definitions of common terms and various background information on fax.
-
- =================
- TABLE OF CONTENTS
- =================
-
-
- ----- Part 1 of 2 [The other part] -----
-
- G. Glossary and Background Information
-
- ----- Part 2 of 2 [This part] -----
-
- Q. Frequently Asked Questions
- Q.1 Can I use my * data modem to send/receive faxes?
- Q.1A Can my fax modem transmit data?
- Q.2 How can I fax PostScript or PCL documents using computer-based fax?
- Q.3 How can I view incoming faxes on my computer?
- Q.4 How can I print incoming faxes on my computer?
- Q.5 Can fax modems also handle data or voice calls?
- Q.6 What resolution are fax images?
- Q.7 Can I take a fax file and edit it?
- Q.8 Is there a standard program interface (API) for fax communications?
- Q.9 How can I share my single phone line with voice, fax, data, etc.
-
- I. Sources of Information
- I.1 Standards Related to Facsimile Communication
- I.2 Where to Obtain Standards Documents and Related Information
- I.3 Magazine Reviews of UNIX Fax Software
- I.4 Magazine Reviews of DOS/Windows Fax Software
- I.5 Magazine Reviews of Mac Fax Software
- I.6 Magazine Reviews of Fax Modems (see also O/S specific reviews)
- I.7 Magazine Reviews of Fax Machines
- I.8 Publications Devoted to Fax and Telecommunications
- I.9 Books on Fax
- I.10 Other Sources of Information on Fax
- I.11 Conferences on Fax
- I.12 Associations Related to Fax Technology
- I.13 Fax-on-Demand Phone Numbers
-
- P. Product Information
- P.1 List of UNIX Fax Software
- P.2 List of MS-DOS Fax Software
- P.3 List of MacIntosh Fax Software
- P.4 List of Windows Fax Software
- P.5 List of OS/2 Fax Software
- P.6 List of Fax Modem Vendors
- P.7 List of Fax Board Vendors
- P.8 List of Vendors of Secure Fax Equipment
- ===============================================================================
- Q. Frequently Asked Questions
- ===============================================================================
-
- Q.1 Can I use my * data modem to send/receive faxes?
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- In a word, no. Unless your data modem has specific additional support for fax,
- you cannot communicate with fax devices using a data (only) modem.
-
- Simply put, the problem is that the modulation methods (tones) used to
- communicate data are different from those used to communicate faxes.
-
- Typically the modulation schemes used for fax are synchronous half-duplex
- while those used for data (at least by most UNIX and PC people) are
- asynchronous and full-duplex.
-
- Also, data modems, once they have negotiated a modulation scheme, tend to
- continue with the same one through out the session. Fax modems switch
- before and after each page between a high-speed modulation scheme used
- to transmit the image data and a lower (300 or 2400 bps) scheme to exchange
- control information.
-
- The following table outlines this briefly (see also part 1 of this FAQ
- for definitions of V.*).
-
- Data Rate Data Modulation Std. Fax Modulation Std.
- ========================+==========================+========================
- 9,600 bps | V.32 | V.29
- ------------------------+--------------------------+------------------------
- 14,400 bps | V.32bis | V.17
- ========================+==========================+========================
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q.1A Can my fax modem transmit data?
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- In a word, maybe. There is a standard proposed by the EIA/TIA/ANSI called
- Binary File Transfer (BFT) that extends the fax Group III modulation and
- protocols for bulk data transfer.
-
- The problem, of course, is that few fax modems or software packages provide
- support for this mechanism.
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q.2 How can I fax PostScript or PCL documents using computer-based fax?
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- In addition to the basic software to drive your fax modem/board, you will need
- specific software that can convert PostScript or PCL files into a raster image
- format compatible with your fax software package.
-
- GhostScript, for example, is a publically available software package that
- can convert PostScript into raster image format (although there are varying
- opinions on the quality of the font support).
-
- In the commercial world, most of the vendors of fax software provide software
- that can handle PostScript and/or PCL.
-
- When purchasing such software (a) check how many different fonts are supported
- (it's a pain to be able to use, say, NewCentury on your laser printer only to
- find it is not included in your fax package), and (b) in the case of PCL, check
- which level of the language is supported (PCL-4 does not support scalable
- fonts, PCL-5 does).
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q.3 How can I view incoming faxes on my computer?
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- In the PD world, there are a number of image-viewing packages available for
- X (such as xv).
-
- In the commercial world, most fax vendors provide support for the commonly
- available devices (in the case of UNIX, X; in the case of PC-UNIX, VGA
- and HGA support. Some vendors support other graphics-capable terminals such as
- the Wyse WY-160.)
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q.4 How can I print incoming faxes on my computer?
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Most fax software packages include software to convert fax images into print
- data streams compatible with dot matrix, HP PCL, or PostScript printers.
-
- Also the publically available (where?) pbmplus filter kit will handle most
- image formats.
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q.5 Can fax modems also handle data or voice calls?
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Not all fax boards can handle data (some are fax only). Most (all?)
- external fax modems can handle data as well as fax.
-
- Some (but not all) fax modems and software can automatically distinguish
- between data and fax calls and answer them appropriately
-
- Some DOS/WINDOWS based products can automatically distinguish between voice and
- fax/data calls and operate as a digital answer machine as well as a fax machine.
-
- Also, several companies sell devices which can switch incoming calls between a
- fax machine, a telephone answering machine, and a modem.
-
- [Suggestions anyone?]
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q.6 What resolution are fax images?
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- The standard resolution for faxes is 3.85 scan lines/mm (approx. 98 dpi
- vertically) with 1728 pixels across a standard scan line of 215 mm (approx.
- 204 dpi horizontally).
-
- The optional "fine" resolution is 7.7 scan lines/mm (approx. 196 dpi
- vertically) with the same horizontal resolution.
-
- Many Group III fax machines use non-standard frames to negotiate higher
- resolutions (typically 300x300 dpi and 400x400 dpi) with other fax machines
- by the same manufacturer.
-
- Two fax machines (or modems) must negotiate a common resolution, page width,
- and page length before sending each page. The standard requires that all
- Group III fax machines suppport at least standard resolution and A4 size
- so that common ground can always be found.
-
- Extensions to the Group III standard to support these higher resolutions
- in a standard way have been proposed. Their current status is not known
- <Need more information>.
-
- <Need more information on resolutions supported by Group IV>.
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q.7 Can I take a fax file and edit it?
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- When faxes exchange information, it is done in the form of compressed images
- (with the exception of BFT). If you wish to edit or otherwise manipulate a
- received fax file you have two options:
-
- 1 - edit the file using a "paint" program that will accept the fax file
- (unfortunately there is a wide range of file formats for image files
- and you may have to work to find a format that is common between your
- fax application and your paint program).
-
- 2 - pass the file through an OCR program that will attempt to convert the
- image into ASCII (or word processing file format). The problem here is
- that most OCR programs are tuned to work with 300x300dpi images and faxes
- are either 98x204 or 196x204.
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q.8 Is there a standard program interface (API) for fax communications?
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- There are many API's that are used for fax communications. Words marked by
- -word- are further explained in the glossary in Part 1 of this FAQ.
-
- At the hardware level, the two standards that govern the exchange of commands
- between a host computer and a fax modem are EIA-578 (-Class 1-) and EIA-592
- (-Class 2-).
-
- At the software level there is one "official" standard and a number of
- "industry standards". The one "official" standard is ITU-T T.611
- (<need more information on this standard>).
-
- The most widely known industry standards are -CAS- (Communicating Applications
- Standard (?)) invented by Intel and DCA and tied closely to the Intel
- architecture, and -FaxBios- (developed by an industry consortium) which is less
- machine-dependent (implementations for MS-DOS and WINDOWS have been published
- and sporadic work on UNIX and other bindings is underway).
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q.9 How can I share my single phone line with voice, fax, data, etc.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- There are a number of devices on the market (suggestions from happy campers
- welcome) that will try to distinguish between an incoming voice, fax, or
- data call and route the call appropriately.
-
- These fax switches attach to the phone line and then the other devices (your
- normal voice phone/answering machine, fax machine, data modem, etc.) are
- attached to the fax switch).
-
- All devices work on one of two general principles: listening for CNG or voice,
- or listening for distinctive ring patterns (cadences).
-
- In the first case the device will answer the phone and try to guess what it
- should do based on what it hears. Some machines play back a sound of a
- phone ringing so that humans dialling in think the phone is still ringing
- when in fact the fax switch is listening to see if the call is from a fax
- machine or a human. If the CNG tone (see Part 1 for a definition of CNG)
- from the calling fax machine is heard, then the switch connects the call to
- the fax machine, otherwise the call is deemed to be a voice call and is
- connected to your phone/answering machine.
-
- A slightly more sophisticated approach is for the fax switch to answer the
- phone and play a short recorded announcement. If, during the announcement
- the CNG tone is heard, then the call is switched to the fax machine. If no
- CNG tone is heard but sound is heard after the announcement, then the call
- is assumed to be voice and switched appropriately. If nothing is heard then
- the switch either considers the call a data call and switches it to a modem
- or considers it a fax call from a machine that does not generate a CNG and
- switches it to the fax machine.
-
- The other approach relies upon an optional service available from some telcos
- called "SmartRing", "Distinctive Ring", "RingMaster", "Ident-a-Ring", etc.
- This feature allows one to have more than one phone number associated with
- the same phone line. Incoming calls using the different phone numbers can be
- differentiated by the different ringing patterns (i.e. one long ring, two short
- rings, three short rings, etc.) The fax switch distributes the call based on
- the ring cadence it detects.
-
- The advantage of the first approach is that one does not have to send more
- money to the phone company (or depend upon the availability of the "SmartRing"
- feature being available). The disadvantage is that it is not always reliable
- (especially in the face of fax machines that do not generate CNG tones).
-
- The advantage of the second approach is that it is very very reliable. The
- disadvantage is that it requires the availability of the "SmartRing"
- feature from one's telco as well as sending more money to the telco every
- month.
-
-
- ===============================================================================
- Subject: I. Sources of Information
- ===============================================================================
-
-
- I.1 Standards Related to Facsimile Communication
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- CCITT (now renamed ITU-T)
- The Blue Book, Volume VII - Fascicle VII.3 Recommendation T.0 - T.63
-
- EIA/TIA/ANSI
- EIA/TIA-602 Data Transmission Systems and Equipment-Serial Asynchronous
- Automatic Dialing and Control
- "This is the standard for the basic Hayes command set."
-
- TIA PN-2388 Asynchronous Facsimile DCE Control Standard (DRAFT), Service
- Class 2, (also known as Document TR-29/89-21R8, March 21, 1990)
- "The first draft of the Class 2 standard, voted down, but the basis for
- all current (93Q1) Class 2 modems."
-
- EIA/TIA-578 Asynchronous Facsimile DCE Control Standard, Service Class 1
-
- EIA/TIA-592 Asynchronous Facsimile DCE Control Standard, Service Class 2
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- I.2 Where to Obtain Standards Documents and Related Information
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
- EIA/TIA
- (202) 457-4942 (Yvette Bottoms)
- Source of draft EIA/TIA standards (final stds available from Global)
-
- Global Engineering Documents
- (800) 854-7179 fax: (202) 331-0960
- Distributor for published EIA/TIA standards, as well as ITU-T (CCITT) and
- standards docs from 400 other organisations and institutions.
- EIA catalog of standard available at no charge
-
- National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
- (703) 487-4650
-
- Philips Business Information Inc. (has acquired assets of OMNICOM)
- (301) 424-3338 or 1 (800) 777-5006, FAX: (301) 309-3847
- Source of ITU-T (CCITT) and ISO publications
-
- UN Bookstore
- ITU-T (CCITT) Publications
- +1 (212) 963-7680 or +1 (800) 553-3210
-
- Action Consulting
- Source of draft communications standards
-
- Human Communications
- (203) 746-4367 FAX: (203) 746-4367
- Source of draft communications standards
-
- International Telecommunications Union electronic document distribution
- service (ITUDOC)
- For more information, send a message with the line HELP in the body to:
- itudoc@itu.ch
-
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- I.3 Magazine Reviews of UNIX Fax Software
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- UNIX WORLD, August 1991, pp. 52-60, "Four Fitting Fax Packages", Rick Farris
- Reviews DigiFax, Faximum, TruFax, and VSI-Fax
-
- UNIX REVIEW, V10n11, Nov 1992, pp. 63-76, "Just the Fax, Ma'am", Tim Parker
- Reviews ArnetFAX, DigiFax, Faximum, FaxLink, FaxTrax, VSI-Fax
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- I.4 Magazine Reviews of DOS/Windows Fax Software
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- PC Magazine, 8 Dec 1992, v11n21, p275-342, "The Fax Solution", by Joel Dreyfus
- Reviews BitFax, DosFax Pro, Eclipse FAX, FAXability Plus, Faxit for DOS
- Faxit for Windows, FaxMaster, Fax Talk Plus, The Fax Window,
- Mirror III Fax, MTEZ Standard with ExpressFax, PaperWorks, and SuperFax
- for Windows.
-
- PC World, Feb 1993 v11n2, "Windows Fax Software", by Bryan Hastings
- The article discusses: Bit Software Bit Fax/OCR for windows v2.05;
- Caere Fax Master 1.01; Delrina WinFax Pro 3.0; Ellipse Fax 1.2;
- Intel Faxability plus/OCR 1.0; Softnet Faxit 2,.15e; and
- Zsoft Ultrafax for Windows 1.0.
-
- BYTE, Jan 1993, v18n1, p62-64, "First Impressions", by David Andres
- Discusses Delrina's WinFax Pro 3.0
-
- BYTE, Jan 1993, v18n1, p68, "First Impressions", by Dick Pountain
- Discusses Trio's Datafax
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- I.5 Magazine Reviews of Mac Fax Software
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- <Need information>
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- I.6 Magazine Reviews of Fax Modems (see also O/S specific reviews)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- PC Magazine, 8 Dec 1992, v11n21, p343-361, "Negotiating the Fax Modem Jungle"
- by Rick Ayre
- Reviews Computer Peripherals, Hayes, Intel, Practical Modem, Supra,
- U.S. Robotics, and Zoom.
-
- NeXTWorld Magazine, Winter 1992, v2n4, p59-60, "Just the Fax"
- by Simson L. Garfinkel
- Reviews Dove, HSD, and ZyXEL.
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- I.7 Magazine Reviews of Fax Machines
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Consumer Reports, Nov. 1993, v58n11, p722-728, "Fax machines"
- A general consumer product review of various fax machines. The article
- reviews in detail 13 lower-end (i.e thermal paper) fax machines and comments
- on a couple of higher-end (i.e. plain paper) machines. The Panasonic KX-F230
- and the Brother 600 were rated "Best Buys". Get the article to see where the
- rest ended up and why (reprinting the entire list of ratings would exceed my
- interpretation of "fair use" w.r.t. copyright).
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- I.8 Publications Devoted to Fax and Telecommunications
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Communications Standards Review [10-12/year, $695/year in N.A.; partial or
- shorter subs avail., contact publisher]
- 757 Greer Road,
- Palo Alto,
- CA 94303-3024 USA
- Phone: +1-415-856-9018 Fax: +1-415-856-6591 e-mail: 72540.113@Compuserve.Com
- Communications Standards Review is a journal providing current technical
- information on work in progress on communications standards (including
- fax) in US and international standards forums.
-
-
- EMMS [Bi-weekly, $595 per year]
- published by Telecommunications Reports
- 1333 H Street, 11th Floor
- Washington DC 20005
- Phone: (202) 842-0520 Fax: (202) 842-3047
-
-
- Human Communications Digest, [Quarterly, $195 per year within US,
- contact publisher for outside US]
- published by Human Communications
- 12 Kevin Drive, Danbury CT, 06811-2901
- Phone: (203) 746-4367 FAX: (203) 746-4367
- A digest of recent developments with fax and related standards.
-
-
- NetFax News, published by Davidson Consulting [Monthly, $contact publisher]
- 530 N. Lamer Street, Burbank, CA, 91506
- Phone: (818) 842-5117 FAX: (818) 842-5488
- Also publishes Scouting Reports and Buyers' Guides
-
- Fax Focus [weekly, $250, free with membership in the AFA)
- published by the American Facsimile Association
- Phone: (215) 963-9110 Fax: (215) 451-1156
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- I.9 Books on Fax
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- "FAX: Digital Facsimile Technology & Applications", 2nd Ed. 338pp.
- by Kenneth R. McConnell, Dennis Bodson, Richard Schaphorst
- 1992, Artech House, Norwood, MA. ISBN: 0-89006-495-5
- (Order Book No. H04495, $78, Phone: 1 800 225 9977 or 1 617 769-9750)
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- I.10 Other Sources of Information on Fax
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
- More detailed information on image file formats and compression may be
- obtained from the comp.graphics FAQ. The latest version of this FAQ is
- available on the archive site pit-manager.mit.edu (alias rtfm.mit.edu) as
- pub/usenet/news.answers/graphics/faq.
-
-
- Information on the Microsoft Windows Telephony API spec may be obtained by
- ftp ftp.uu.net /vendors/microsoft/tapi-spec
- or
- ftp ftp.uu.net /vendors/microsoft/telephony
-
-
- Information on the Internet/fax gateway project may be obtained by sending
- e-mail to tpc-faq@town.hall.org
- A mailing list related to the Internet/fax gateway project may be reached
- through: tpc-rp-request@aarnet.edu.au
-
-
- ZyXEL Modem FAQ Archived at: ftp.cs.psu.edu in /pub/fenner/ZyXEL
-
-
- Digicom FAQ Archived at ftp.rahul.net /pub/wolfgang
-
-
- ZyXEL BBS: (714) 693-0762
-
-
- Supra BBS: (503) 967-2444
-
-
- Intel BBS: (503) 645-6275
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- I.11 Conferences on Fax
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- BIS Strategic Decisions runs several conferences on fax and related
- technologies. Every spring (May 12-14, 1993) they hold the
- "Facsimile and Image Communications Conference" and every fall
- (Nov. 30 - Dec. 1, 1993) they hold the "Annual Computer Fax Conference).
-
- For more information call (617) 982-9500 (Fax: 878-6650).
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- I.12 Associations Related to Fax Technology
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- American Facsimile Association
- Phone: (215) 963-9110 Fax: (215) 451-1156
-
- International Computer Fax Association
- Phone (617) 982-9500
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- I.13 Fax-on-Demand Phone Numbers
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- This is a list of collected fax-on-demand numbers for various major computer
- companies. Please email any additions or corrections to faxfaq@faximum.com
-
- Hewlett-Packard 1 800 333 1917 All Products (?)
- Intel 1 800 525 3019 All Products (?)
- WordPerfect 1 801 228-9923 WordPerfect Solutions Guide
- Frame Technology 1 408-428-6153 FrameFacts
-
- ===============================================================================
- Subject: P. Product Information
- ===============================================================================
-
- P.1 List of UNIX Fax Software
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- COMMERCIAL
- ==========
-
- <company> <product>
- <voice #> <fax #> <e-mail>
- --------------------------------------------------
- - North America -
-
- Alembic Systems International Dfax
- (800) 452-7608 info@alembic.com
-
- Arnet ArnetFAX
- (615) 834-8000 clarence@arnet.com
-
- Black and White Software NXFax
- (802) 496-8500 (802) 496-5112 nxfax@bandw.com
-
-
- COS Inc. TruFax
- (609) 771-6705 (609) 530-0898 trufax@cosi.com
-
- DigiBoard DigiFAX
- (612) 943-9020 support@dbsales.digibd.com
-
- Faximum Software Faximum ELS, Faximum PLUS
- (604) 925-3600 (604) 926-8182 info@Faximum.com
-
- ICSW
- 800.486.7274 or 602.998.8623
-
- Intuitive Technology FaxLink
- (409) 762-8456
-
- Siren Software Siren Fax
- 1 800 45-SIREN
-
- UniSal System FaxTrax
- (201) 729-9221
-
- V Systems VSI-Fax
- (714) 545-6442 Brad@VSI.com
-
- Company Unknown FaxFX
- (708) 574-3600
-
- Company Unknown FAXSMART
- Phone Unknown
-
- Company Unknown Fax*Starx
- (800) 327 9859
-
-
-
- - Europe -
-
- comFax Com-M-Tex
- +49 89 546130-0
-
- i link GmbH mix fax
- +49 30 216 20 48
-
- netCS GmbH netFAX
- +49 30 787999-0
-
- QUEST systems GmbH FaxX
- +49 231 914028-0 +49 231 914028-40 faxx@quest.sub.org
-
- Signify Software Products i(F)x Faxsoftware for UNIX
- +31-(0)3480-30131 +31-(0)3480-30182 gerard@integrity.nl
-
- smoFax SMO GmbH
- +49 721 551971
-
-
-
- PUBLICALLY AVAILABLE
- ====================
-
- FlexFAX
- =======
-
- Overview
- --------
- FlexFAX is a facsimile system for UNIX systems. It supports:
-
- o sending facsimile
- o receiving facsimile
- o polled retrieval of facsimile
-
- Facsimile can be any size (e.g. A4, B4), either 98 or 196 lpi, and
- transmitted/received as either 1D-encoded or 2D-encoded facsimile data
- (2D-encoded data is frequently more compact and hence takes a shorter
- time to communicate).
-
- Outgoing documents can be any format; the sendfax program uses a
- rule-based definition file similar to the System V /etc/magic file
- to deduce document types and to decide how to convert each document
- to a form suitable for transmission (either PostScript or TIFF/F).
- Automatic cover page generation is supported and users can easily
- tailor cover pages to their environment. A simple text-based
- phonebook database is supported by sendfax. Information is also
- provided on how to trivially setup an email to fax gateway service.
-
- Incoming facsimile are stored in a receiving area as TIFF/F files and
- may be automatically delivered by mail and/or printed. A fax server
- status program, faxstat, can be used to monitor the send and receive
- queues, as well as the state of facsimile servers.
-
- The system supports a wide variety of fax modems. Any Class 1 or
- Class 2 modem should work with the system. The following modems have
- been used successfully with the software:
-
- Class 1 modems:
- Digicom Scout+ (firmware revision 2A19/2931 or newer)
- Nuvo Voyager 96424PFX (firmware revision AF-C2500-E0)
- SupraFAX v.32bis (firmware revision V1.200-H or newer)
-
- NOTE: SEE THE SECTION "Class 1 Modem Support" FOR IMPORTANT INFO ON THE
- CLASS 1 MODEM SUPPORT
-
- Class 2 modems:
- Boca M1440E (firmware revision V1.270 or newer)
- Dallas Fax <something> (no longer sold, not recommended)
- Everex 24/96D (no longer sold)
- Hayes Optima 24+Fax96 (firmware revision TR00-J260-001 XXX or newer)
- Multi-Tech 1432BAI (firmware revision 0307 I or newer)
- SupraFAX v.32bis (firmware revision V1.200-C or newer)
- Telebit WorldBlazer (firmware revision LA7.01)
- Twincom 144/DF (firmware revision V1.200 or newer)
- ZyXel U1496E (firmware revision 5.01 or newer)
-
- Other modems:
- Abaton InterFax 24/96 (no longer sold)
-
- Note however that some modems perform better than others. The file
- MODEMS included in the distribution provides information about each
- modem that has been tried.
-
-
- Supported Systems
- -----------------
- The software has been ported to the following systems:
-
- sgi Silicon Graphics 4D machines w/ AT&T C++ compiler or gcc 2.3.3
- sun Sun3/Sun4 w/ SunOS 4.1.X and GNU gcc 2.3.3
- bsdi BSD/386 1.0 w/ GNU gcc 2.3.3
- 386bsd 386bsd 0.1 on an Intel 486 w/ GNU gcc 2.3.3+patches
- svr4 System V Release 4 on an Intel x86 w/ GNU gcc 2.3.3 (incomplete)
- solaris2 Solaris 2.x on a Sun4 with GNU gcc 2.3.3 (incomplete)
- sco SCO ODT 2.0 (incomplete)
-
- Systems that are marked (incomplete) compile properly and can be used
- to send and receive facsimile, but may have known problems or may be
- lacking some utilities such as the faxaddmodem installation script.
-
- Porting the software is usually straightforward provided there is a
- working C++ compiler (e.g. gcc), PostScript imaging facility (e.g.
- ghostscript), and support for a limited subset of the POSIX system call
- interface. System requirements are described more fully in the source
- code distribution.
-
-
- How to Obtain the Distribution by FTP
- -------------------------------------
- The source code is available for public ftp on
- sgi.com sgi/fax/v2.1.src.tar.Z
- (192.48.153.1)
-
- You can also obtain inst'able images for Silicon Graphics machines from
- sgi.com sgi/fax/v2.1.inst.tar
- (192.48.153.1)
-
- For example,
- % ftp -n sgi.com
- ....
- ftp> user anonymous
- Password: <use mail address as password>
- ftp> cd sgi/fax
- ftp> binary
- ftp> get v2.1.src.tar.Z
- ....
- ftp> quit
-
- In general, the latest version of the 2.1 release of the software is
- always available as "v2.1.src.tar.Z" or "v2.1.inst.tar" in the ftp
- directory. This file is a link to the appropriate released version (so
- don't waste your time retrieving the linked file as well!) Any files of
- the form v2.1.*.patch are shell scripts that can be used to patch older
- versions of the source code. For example, the file v2.1.0.patch would
- contain patches to update v2.1.0.tar.Z. Patch files only work to go
- between consecutive versions, so if you are multiple versions behind
- the latest release, you will need to apply each patch file between your
- current version and the latest.
-
-
- GNU NetFax (a.k.a. fax-3.2.1)
- =============================
-
- on uunet.uu.net as systems/gnu/fax-3.2.1.tar.z (gzip format)
- To answer all the queries on NetFax:
-
- - I have taken over maintenance of NetFax.
- - I am currently integrating numerous fixes provided by various
- people which include:
- - support for Zykel Modems
- - Use more standard Class 2 commands
- - Setup configuration files for modems
- - support for Xenix
- (This isn't a priority, except that I'm already doing it
- for a client)
- - Better compilation and installation
- - There are a lot of problems with the current release, I don't
- expect that it will work on the majority of modem/system combinations
- without work.
- - If you have any fixes, or improvements please send them to
- me mintha@geog.ubc.ca or bug-fax@ai.mit.edu
- - I hope to have a new release out in a few weeks.
-
- Following are some hints on getting the current version of
- NetFax working (for the impatient :) I haven't tried all of these
- but they may help.
-
- - Use GNU make
- - It won't work on Xenix
- - If when you send a fax, it gets received twice as long as it
- should (22 inches instead of 11) try:
- - Use dfaxlow driver with Ghostscript (easiest) or
- - Change the source to use the +FDCC=xxxx/+FDCS=xxxx instead of
- +FDT=xxx
-
- The following modems are reported to work with NetFax 3.2.1
-
- Supra FaxModem 14.4 (v. 1.20C or later)
- Vivi 2496ef FaxModem (Has the resolution problem described above)
- Everex 24/96 D
-
- If you'd like to help me testing the new version, especially if you
- have something other than Supra Faxmodems, drop me a line.
-
- Jim
- --
- Jim Mintha Home: (604) 731-7240 or 737-6094
- mintha@geog.ubc.ca Work: (604) 822-2269 or 465-5074
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- P.2 List of MS-DOS Fax Software
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- <Need more information>
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- P.3 List of MacIntosh Fax Software
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- <Need more information>
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- P.4 List of Windows Fax Software
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- <Need more information>
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- P.5 List of OS/2 Fax Software
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- <Need more information>
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- P.6 List of Fax Modem Vendors
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Company Classes Phone Fax
- ===================== ======= ============== ==============
-
- -- North America --
-
- AT&T Paradyne 1 (813) 530-2090 (813) 530-2103
- Computer Peripherals 2 (805) 499-5751 (805) 498-8306
- Hayes 1 (404) 441-1617 (404) 441-1213
- Intel 1 (503) 629-7354 (503) 629-7580
- MICC 2 (408) 980-9565 (408) 980-9568
- Macronix 2 (408) 453-8088
- MultiTech Systems 2 (612) 785-3500 (612) 785-9874
- Practical Peripherals 1,2
- Supra Corporation 1,2 (503) 967-2400 (503) 967-2401
- Telebit 2 (408) 734-4333 (408) 734-3333
- The Complete PC 1,2 (408) 434-0145 (408) 434-1048
- U.S. Robotics 1 (800) DIAL-USR (708) 982-5253
- Zoom 2 (617) 423-1072 (617) 423-9231
- ZyXEL USA 2 (714) 693-0808 (714) 693-8811
-
- -- Australia (courtesy of adam@saki.com.au )--
-
- Supplier Model Class Phone/Fax
- ================== ============= ======== ==================
-
- NetComm M4F, M7F 2,2.0 +61 2 888 5533
- Dataplex DPX-223 2 +61 3 210 3333
- DPX-225 2
- Interlink Fax Modem 3 2 +61 3 525 3388
- Maestro 9600XR 2 +61 6 239 2369
- Banksia BitBlitzer 2 +61 2 418 6033
-
- -- Europe --
-
- Dr. Neuhaus ? ? +49 40 55304290/+49 40 55304180
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- P.7 List of Fax Board Vendors
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- This lists companies that produce intelligent fax boards typically intended
- for high-volume and multi-line operation. Reliability and functionality
- rather than price are the consideration here.
-
-
- Company Operating System
- ====================== =====================
- Brooktrout Technology dos,unix,OS/2,others
- Needham, MA
- 617-449-4100
-
- Dialogic dos,unix
- 201-334-8450
-
- Gammalink dos,OS/2
- 408-744-1400
-
-
- <Need more information>
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- P.8 List of Vendors of Secure Fax Equipment
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- The only reference so far (courtesy of Jean-Bernard Condat) is to:
- Mr David COHEN
- SKTT Henry Kam Technologies & Telecommunations
- 2d rue de l'Epine Prolongee
- 93541 Bagnolet Cedex
- Phone: +33 1 42 87 54 00
- Fax: +33 1 42 87 23 91
-
- <Need more information>
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------
- Contributors to and/or Sources of Information Used in this FAQ
- --------------------------------------------------------------
- adam@shinto.saki.com.au (Adam Donnison)
- dir@teal.csn.org (Daniel I. Rosenblatt)
- gerard@integrity.nl (Gerard Huysmans)
- hrs1@cbnewsi.cb.att.com (herman.r.silbiger)
- jbcondat@attmail.com (Jean-Bernard Condat)
- jfreeman@frontporch.win.net (Jeff Freeman)
- jmccormack@wrglex.uucp (Jim McCormack)
- johnh@cs.arizona.edu (John M Hughes)
- jr9283@rapa1.sbc.com (Joe Richmeyer)
- mckeeveb@monashee.sfu.ca (Rob McKeever)
- mintha@geog.ubc.ca (Jim Mintha)
- naddy@mips.ruessel.sub.org (Christian Weisgerber)
- pso@ibid.gatech.edu (Paul O'Fallon)
- regebro@stacken.kth.se (Lennart Regebro)
- root@gandalf.greenie.gold.sub.org (KlausRosenauer)
- sam@sgi.com (Sam Leffler)
- tnixon@microsoft.com (Toby Nixon)
- udo@sensai.quest.sub.org (Udo Klimaschewski)
- uli@sensai.quest.sub.org (Uli Zug)
- wes@kofax.com (Wes Chalfant)
- wrob@unixg.ubc.ca (Robert Wong)
-
- and of course, the author/editor of this FAQ:
- pajari@Faximum.com (George Pajari)
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Copyright 1994 Faximum Software Inc. All Rights Reserved.
- Permission is granted to copy or distribute this faq (in whole or part)
- for non-commercial purposes as long as the copyright notice is reproduced
- and acknowledgement given. Requests for permission for commercial
- reproduction or distribution (if you are uncertain if it is commercial, ask)
- should be mailed to the author: pajari@Faximum.com
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-