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Newsgroups: comp.dcom.fax,alt.fax,news.answers,alt.answers,comp.answers
Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!usc!math.ohio-state.edu!cyber2.cyberstore.ca!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!cs.ubc.ca!merlin!reynard!pajari
From: pajari@Faximum.COM (George Pajari)
Subject: Fax (comp.dcom.fax) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Message-ID: <CFwrwD.36r@Faximum.COM>
Followup-To: comp.dcom.fax
Summary: Frequently asked questions about fax communications, protocols,
standards, modems, products, and publications.
Keywords: fax faq
Reply-To: faxfaq@faximum.com (FAQ Comments)
Organization: Faximum Software, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1993 09:05:01 GMT
Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.Edu
Lines: 1551
Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu comp.dcom.fax:6056 news.answers:14256 alt.answers:1151 comp.answers:2504
Archive-name: fax-faq
comp.dcom.fax FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
----------------------------------------------
3 November 1993
(Apologies for the looooong delay since the last edition.)
This article contains the answers to some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
often seen in the USENET newsgroup comp.dcom.fax relating to facsimile
standards, software, and hardware. It will be posted approximately monthly.
If you would like to make any submissions or corrections to the FAQ, please
contact faxfaq@faximum.com. Your input is greatly appreciated. Suggested
questions need not be accompanied by suggested answers. Areas that are in
particular need of contributions are marked "<Need more information>".
Flames and other comments (constructive or otherwise) are also welcomed.
Note that this FAQ is primarily concerned with fax standards in general
and computer-based fax in particular. It does not contain any information
on commercial fax machines and related paraphenalia. If someone else would
like to start and maintain such a section (or separate FAQ) they are more
than welcome to do so.
regards
g.
pajari@Faximum.COM
George Pajari / Faximum Software / Tel: +1 (604) 925-3600 / Fax: ... 926-8182
1497 Marine Drive, Suite 300 / West Vancouver, BC / Canada V7T 1B8
Std. Disclaimers:
----------------
The content of this article is the sole responsibility of the author(s) and
contributors, and does not necessarily represent the opinions or policies
of their employers or other companies mentioned.
The information provided herein is believed to be correct but the author and
contributors cannot accept any liability for errors and omissions. Readers
are cautioned to verify any information before making decisions or taking
action based upon this information.
While every reasonable effort has been taken to maintain an objective and
unbiased approach in the collection and presentation of this information,
readers are advised that the author and possibly some of the contributors
work for or have an interest in commercial organisations involved in the
fax and/or computer industry.
=================
TABLE OF CONTENTS
=================
G. Glossary
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
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
===============================================================================
Subject: G. GLOSSARY
===============================================================================
ANSI/AIIM MS53-1993
The American National Standard File Format for Storage and Exchange of
Images - Bi-Level Image File Format: Part 1 (ANSI/AIIM MS53-1993) has
recently been approved. The standard defines a format for a file containing
one page with one image. Page sizes and image sizes can be specified.
Both definite length and indefinite length are supported. Clipping of the
image can be specified. Image coding may be according to CCITT Recs. T.4
(one- and two-dimensional) and Rec. T.6. Bitmap may also be specified.
Both facsimile style least significant bit and industry style most
significant bit mapping are supported.
(Definition courtesy of hrs1@cbnewsi.cb.att.com (herman.r.silbiger))
BFT or
Binary File Transfer
A method of transferring files using fax modems (as an extension to the
fax protocol). This standard, which will be approved shortly, will be
referred to as T.434.
Brooktrout Patent (taken from a press release from Brooktrout)
Brooktrout's patent (number 4,918,722), issued by the US patent office
in 1990, covers generally any method for the selection of facsimile messages
and their deliver to a particular telephone number under control of commands
entered through a telephone, for example in the form of signals generated
from the telephone's touch-tone keypad. This method is employed in many
fax-on-demand systems, which provide business users and service providers the
ability to offer automated fax delivery of specified information in response
to requests from customers, subscribers or other callers.
[Editor's note: this patent is the subject of litigation and the current
status or validity of this patent is not known.]
CAS
An API for fax devices invented by Intel and DCA and tied to the Intel
and MS-DOS architectures. More detailed information is available from the
Intel BBS listed below.
CCITT
Comite Consultatif International Telegraphique et Telephonique (a.k.a. The
International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee) is a body of
the I.T.U. (International Telecommunication Union) which is a body of the
United Nations. The CCITT is responsible for setting the international
standards for telecommunications equipment. Its members are the national
authorities in each country responsible for regulating and providing
telecommunication services. The standards are called Recommendations and
the recommendations of relevance to the fax world are the T series which
govern the fax protocols and the V series which govern modem operation.
(See also ITU, T.*, and V.*, below.)
CED or
Called Station Identifier
The distinctive tone generated by a Group III fax machine when it
answers the phone (2100 Hz).
Class 1
The Class 1 fax modem standard describes an extension to the "Hayes Modem
Command Set" to permit computers to send and receive faxes using fax modems.
The Class 1 standard is a low-level specification in which most of the
protocol work (i.e. T.30) as well as image generation (rasterising and T.4
compression) must be done by the computer (in software) while the modem only
handles the basic modulation as well as converting the asynchronous data
from the computer into the synchronous packets used in fax communications.
The primary advantage of Class 1 modems is that fax protocol is implemented
in software which means that new extensions to the fax protocol standard
(i.e. T.30) can be implemented without requiring a ROM change in the modem
(or without waiting for the modem manufacturer to get around to supporting
the new feature).
The primary disadvantages are (a) the software vendor has to handle the
complexity of the T.30 protocol and (b) Class 1 (almost by definition)
is very sensitive to timing and multi-tasking operating systems (such as
*IX) have great difficulty in reliably meeting the tight timing constraints
and maintaining the fax connection. Lifting this timing limitation is the
primary motivation behind the new proposed Class 4 standard.
The official standard for Class 1 is EIA/TIA-578.
Although the official standard is copyright EIA/TIA/ANSI, a draft version
has been published electronically by Supra and is available from their
BBS (see below for the number) and from Sam Leffler at SGI (retrieve his
FlexFax package, described below).
Class 2
The Class 2 fax modem standard describes an extension to the "Hayes Modem
Command Set" to permit computers to send and receive faxes using fax modems.
The Class 2 standard is a higher-level specification in which most of the
protocol work (i.e. T.30) is done by the modem while the computer is
responsible for managing the session and providing the image data in the
appropriate format (i.e. T.4).
The primary advantage of Class 2 is that the low-level detail work is
handled by the modem. Not only does this mean that software developers
do not have to be burdened with having to support the T.30 protocol, it
also relieves the host computer of all of the time-critical aspects of
fax communications, making support of Class 2 modems under *IX systems
possible.
The biggest headache for software developers is that the Class 2 standard
took a long time to be approved (more for political than technical reasons,
IMHO) and many companies did not wait for the final version to be approved
before shipping modems. As a result we have a situation (as of 93Q1) in
which all shipping Class 2 modems adhere (more or less) to the first draft
of the TR29.2 committee (document SP-2388) and not to the standard as it
was approved. To compensate for this, the "new" Class 2 is referred to as
Class 2.0 and the "old" as plain Class 2.
(Warning - flame from a frustrated fax programmer on...)
Even more disconcerting is the fact that most companies who have implemented
(the old) Class 2 have done one or more things wrong (they must have been
smoking *and* inhaling) so we have a further division of the standard into
"true, old Class 2" (which includes the Everex 24/96D and MultiTech modems)
and everything else (mostly based on the Rockwell chip which differs from
SP-2388 in a number of ways, although some other chip makers, such as EXAR,
have found even more ways than Rockwell to depart from SP-2388). It's so bad
that most modem companies now implement the Rockwell version of Class 2 just
because so many of the *%#& things have been shipped (i.e. Multitech has a
special command which switches their modem from proper Class 2 operation to
Rockwell-like operation just so they can interoperate with DOS software that
expects Rockwell-like operation). And of course no one at Rockwell or EXAR
or the other companies bothered to write down the difference between their
version of Class 2 and the TR29.2 document. (Flame off.)
The draft standard for the "old" Class 2 is SP-2388, Document
TR-29/89-21R8, dated March 21, 1990. This is available by contacting the
EIA/TIA directly. This is the standard implemented by all Class 2 modems
currently on the market (true to the best of my (pajari) knowledge as of
26 Apr 93).
The official standard for the "new" Class 2.0 (also referred to as
Class 2.0) is EIA/TIA/ANSI-592. This document ought to be available from
Global Engineering Documents (see below) by May 3rd, 1993. As far as I
(pajari) am aware, there are no true Class 2.0 modems yet shipping (as of
26 Apr 1993).
Note that although many modems that implement Class 2 also support Class 1,
Class 1 is *not* a subset of Class 2. Also, there are some modems that only
support Class 2 and many that only support Class 1.
Although the official standard is copyright EIA/TIA/ANSI, a draft version
has been published electronically by Supra and is available from their
BBS (see below for the number) and from Sam Leffler at SGI (retrieve his
FlexFax package, described below).
Class 3
A class number reserved for a project to define a standard for fax modems
that would, in addition to handling the T.30 protocol (i.e. Class 2), also
handle the conversion of ASCII data streams into images (i.e. T.4). Although
there are a couple of fax modems that handle the ASCII to fax conversion,
no draft document has been circulated and the future of this project is in
doubt.
Class 4
Class 1 with intelligent buffering to reduce the need for the host
computer to respond instantly to the fax modem. This standard is expected
to go out to ballot in 93Q2.
Class 8
Not a fax standard at all but an extension to the Hayes command set to
support voice.
CNG or
Calling Tone
The distinctive tone that a fax machine ought to generate when placing
a fax call (1100 Hz on for 1/2 second, off for 3 seconds). Note that the
Group 3 fax standard only requires fax machines in "automatic operation"
to generate this tone so that machines which require you to dial the
number (either on the keypad of the fax machine or using an attached
phone) need not generate this tone. The lack of CNG can cause some
fax switches (see Q.9 below) problems.
There has ben a proposal to change the Group 3 standard to mandate CNG
on all fax calls.
CSI or
Called Subscriber Information
The "name" of the answering fax machine. An optional frame of information
sent to the calling fax machine during Phase B (see T.30 below). Although
many fax machines permit ASCII information, the T.30 standard states that
this is to contain the international phone number of the fax machine,
including the plus symbol, the country code, the area code, and the
subscriber number using only digits, the plus symbol, and a space.
(i.e. the North American fax number (604) 926-8182 ought to be programmed
into the fax machine as +1 604 926 8182).
ECM or
Error Correcting Mode
An extension to T.30 to permit the receiving fax machine to request that
portions of an image that were received with errors be retransmitted.
Normally the T.4/T.30 protocol is error detecting but not error correcting.
The receiving fax machine can usually tell when an error has impaired the
image but cannot selectively request retransmission of the damaged portions
of the image. The only options are to (a) ignore the errors (if few in
number), (b) request that the page be resent (ignored by most fax machines),
or (c) give up.
EIA/TIA
The Electronics Industry Association and the Telecommunications Industry
Association. The U.S. bodies responsible for the development of standards
related to telecommunications in general and for fax in particular.
EIA/TIA-465
The US version of T.4 (will probably be accepted as T.4 in the near
future).
EIA/TIA-466
The US version of T.30 (will probably be accepted as T.4 in the near
future).
EIA/TIA-530
The US version of something or other related to fax.
<Need more information>.
EIA/TIA-578
See the definition of Class 1 (above).
EIA/TIA-592
See the definition of Class 2 (above).
EIA/TIA-602
The ANSI/EIA/TIA standard for the "Hayes Command Set" for modems.
FaxBios
An industry consortium (including companies such as HP, WordPerfect, etc.)
that has published a specification for a FAX API. Versions for
DOS and WINDOWS have been developed and discussions continue on adapting
this API to other operating systems.
FaxBios Association, 2625 Alcatraz Avenue, Suite 275, Berkeley, CA, 94705
Fax: 510 540 5835. See also the Compuserve forum GO FAXBIOS.
Group I Fax
An old (now obsolete) standard for fax machines in which a page was
transmitted in about six minutes at a resolution of 98 scan lines/inch.
Group I devices frequently worked by attaching the page to be transmitted
to a rotating drum (at 180 rpm) along which a photocell moves. Either
amplitude modulation (the blacker the pixel the louder the tone) or
frequency modulation (the blacker the pixel the higher the tone) can be used.
The gory details may be found in CCITT Recommendation T.2.
Group II Fax
An old (now almost obsolete) standard for fax machines in which a page was
transmitted in about three minutes at a resolution of 100 scan lines/inch.
Group II uses vestigial sideband amplitude modulation with phase shifts.
A white pixel is represented by a louder tone.
Group III
One of the current standards for fax machines in which a page is transmitted
in about one minute. See the definition of T.30 (below) for more details.
Group IV
A standard for fax transmission using ISDN at 64kbps.
ITU
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations
specialized agency dealing with telecommunications.
The purposes of the ITU as defined in the Convention are:
- to maintain and extend international cooperation for the improvement
and rational use of telecommunication of all kinds;
- to promote the development of technical facilities and their most
efficient operation with a view to improving the efficiency of
telecommunication services, increasing their usefulness and making
them, so far as possible, generally available to the public;
- to harmonize the actions of nations in the attainment of those
common ends.
The ITU works to fulfil these basic purposes in three main ways:
1. international conferences and meetings;
2. technical cooperation;
3. publication of information, world exhibitions.
The ITU is an organization, a union, of Member countries. At present there
are 166 Members.
The Union's headquarters are in Geneva, in the Place des Nations. In this
building are to be found the five permanent organs:
General Secretariat
1. Co-ordination and publication of telecommunication service data
needed for operation of services.
2. External and legal representation of the Union.
3. Planning and management of technical cooperation and related
development programmes for developing countries.
4. Provision of secretariat of conferences.
5. Administration, finance, computer, conference and public
information services.
6. Membership protocol.
International Frequency Registration Board (IFRB)
The IFRB consists of five independent radio experts, all from different
regions of the world, elected by Plenipotentiary Conferences and
working full-time at the Union's headquarters in Geneva. They elect a
Chairman and a Vice-Chairman for each year from among their own number.
The Board's main task is to decide whether radio frequencies which
countries assign to their radio stations (and which they have notified
to the Board) are in accordance with the Convention and the Radio
Regulations and will not cause harmful interference to other stations.
If the Board's finding in a particular case is favourable, the
frequency is recorded in the huge Master International Frequency
Register kept by the IFRB and thus obtains formal international
recognition and protection. An average of more than 1200 frequency
assignment notices, covering new assignments or changes to existing
assignments, arrives at the IFRB each week.
International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR) and
International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee (CCITT)
The two CCIs are separate bodies dealing respectively with technical
radio problems and technical telegraph and telephone problems. All
Member countries of the Union can participate in their work, and also
certain private companies operating telecommunication services.
Each CCI holds a Plenary Assembly every few years. The Plenary Assembly
draws up a list of technical telecommunication subjects or "Questions",
the study of which would lead to improvements in international
radiocommunication or international telegraphy and telephony. These
Questions are then entrusted to a number of Study Groups, composed of
experts from different countries. The Study Groups draw up
Recommendations which are submitted to the next Plenary Assembly. If
the Assembly adopts the Recommendations, they are published. CCIR and
CCITT Recommendations have an important influence with
telecommunication scientists and technicians, operating Administrations
and companies, manufacturers and designers of equipment throughout the
world.
Telecommunications Development Bureau (BDT)
The BDT was set up by the Nice Plenipotentiary Conference (1989) with
the aim of strengthening technical assistance and cooperation
activities with the developing countries. It is part of the federal
structure of the Union and has the same status as the other organs
which deal with regulations, standardization and coordination. The
duties of the Bureau are in principe to fulfil, in the field of
technical assistance to the developing countries. It is also
responsible for making other funding arrangements so as to facilitate
and enhance telecommunications development by offering, organizing and
coordinating technical cooperation and assistance activities. Within
the framework of these projects, hundreds of experts share both their
skills and their long-standing experience with the local counterparts
they are training.
MH or Modified Huffman compression
Also known as Group III one-dimensional compression. See T.4.
MR or Modified READ compression
Also known as Group III two-dimensional compression. See T.4.
One-Dimensional Compression
See T.4
SP-2388
The first draft standard for Class 2 that was implemented by many
companies while waiting for the final standard to be approved
(see also the definition for Class 2 above).
T.1
See Group I Fax.
T.4
One of the <CCITT> recommendations (i.e. standard) for Group III fax.
In particular, this recommendation covers the page size, resolution,
transmission time, and coding schemes supported for Group III fax.
(See also the definition of T.30 below.)
The basic coding scheme (called in the recommendation "One-dimensional coding
scheme" but also known in the industry as MH or Modified Huffman) takes each
scan line of pixels and compresses it by (a) converting the raster in a
sequence of run lengths (the number of white pixels followed by the number
of black pixels followed by the number of white pixels etc. and etc. until
the entire raster has been converted into runlengths) and (b) encoding each
run length into a unique variable-length bit string. The code words used
for white and black runlengths are different and have been chosen in order
to do a reasonable job of compressing a "typical" fax page.
For example, in one dimensional encoding the following raster:
OOOOOOOOOO****OOOOOO**OOOOOOO*OOOOOOOOO***...
converted into run lengths:
10 4 6 2 7 1 9 3 ...
encoded into MH bit strings:
00111 011 1110 11 1111 010 10100 10
(spaces have been added for readability and are not part of the
MH bit string)
Since our example has unusually short white run-length it does
not accurately illustrate the degree of compression which can
be achieved. For example, a normal fine resolution fax image
contains about 3,800,000 pixels (464K). Using one-dimensional
encoding this can be reduced to between 20K - 50K.
In two-dimensional encoding, the first line of a group of lines is compressed
using one-dimensional coding (see above) and subsequent lines are compressed
using an algorithm that describes line n in terms of line n-1. Since there
is usually a high-degree of correlation between the pixels of adjacent scan
lines, this usually results in significant compression.
Since the basic fax protocol (T.30) is error detecting (but not error
correcting), there is a limit on the number of two-dimensionally compressed
scan lines that can follow a 1-D line. This is to limit the propagation
of errors through an image. This limit is referred to as 'k' in the
standard and is 2 for standard-resolution faxes and 4 for high-resolution
faxes.
Unfortunately, this method of compression is computationally intensive and
most (inexpensive) fax machines do not support it.
T.6
The recommendation that covers the image compression algorithm used for
Group IV fax machines.
T.6 is essentially the two-dimensional compression algorithm from T.4 (see
above) except that 'k' is infinite (i.e. all lines are two dimensionally
compressed). This can be done because Group IV fax machines operate over
an error-free communications channel.
T.30
One of the <CCITT> recommendations (i.e. standard) for Group III fax.
In particular, this recommendation covers the protocol used to manage
the session and negotiate the capabilities supported by each fax machine.
The details of the image format are covered by the T.4 recommendation
(see above).
The protocol describes each fax call as proceeding through five phases:
A: Call Set-Up
This phase covers the placing of the call on the PSTN and the
distinctive tones the calling and called stations are to emit.
B: Pre-Message Procedure for Identifying and Selecting Facilities
During this phase the two fax machines:
- agree on whether to use tones or binary codes to exchange
information on capabilities (most current fax machines use
binary codes)
- (optionally) the called machine sends a CSI frame identifying
it to the calling machine.
- the called machine sends a DIS frame telling the calling
machine what capabilities it has (i.e. resolution, page
size, receiving speed, etc.)
- (optionally) the calling machine sends a TSI frame identifying
it to the called machine.
- the calling machine sends a DCS frame telling the called
machine what capabilities are in effect for this document
(based on the calling machine's capabilities and the information
received in the DIS frame).
- the two machines determine the maximum baud rate that the
communications link will reliable sustain (training & phasing)
C: Message Transmission
The fax is sent. The end of the last scan line is marked by a
RTC code (return to control).
D: Post-Message Procedure including End-of-message, Confirmation,
and Multi-Page Procedures
- the calling machine indicates what it wants to do next
(send another page, terminate the call, request operator
intervention, etc.).
- the called machine indicates its response to the page and command
just received (o.k., o.k. but retrain, not o.k., give up, etc.)
At this point the machines go to one of phase B, C, or E depending
on the exchange of commands and responses during phase D.
E: Call Release
Hang up the phone.
T.434
The standard for Binary File Transfer Format (a method of encoding documents
and sending them by fax without converting them to image format first.
T.611
A standard for high-level fax API.
<More information needed>
TSI or
Transmitting Subscriber Information
The "name" of the calling fax machine. An optional frame of information
sent by the calling fax machine during Phase B (see T.30 above). See
CSI (above) for details on the recommended format.
Two-Dimensional Compression
See T.4.
V.17
The CCITT recommendation for 14,400 bps *synchronous* half-duplex
modems. Used during the image transmission phase of fax
communications. Optional (most fax machines do not support V.17).
V.22bis
The CCITT recommendation for 2400 bps asynchronous full-duplex modems.
(Not used in fax but frequently supported by modems that handle fax.)
V.27ter
The CCITT recommendation for 2400 and 4800 bps *synchronous*
half-duplex modems. Used during the image transmission phase of fax
communications.
V.29
The CCITT recommendation for 7200 and 9600 bps *synchronous*
half-duplex modems. Used during the image transmission phase of fax
communications.
V.32
The CCITT recommendation for 9600 bps asynchronous full-duplex modems.
(Not used in fax but sometimes supported by modems that also handle fax.)
V.32bis
The CCITT recommendation for 14,400 bps asynchronous full-duplex
modems. (Not used in fax but sometimes supported by modems that
also handle fax.)
V.42
The CCITT recommendation for error-checking and correction.
(Not used in fax but sometimes supported by modems that also handle fax.)
V.42bis
The CCITT recommendation for data compression.
(Not used in fax but sometimes supported by modems that also handle fax.)
These are part of a suite of three Recommendations approved in February
1992 on facsimile on packet networks.
They are also known as the FaxPAD Rec.s.:
X.5
The ITU recommentation for a Fax PAD facility in a public data network.
X.38
The ITU recommentation for a Group 3 fax equipment/DCE interface for
equipment accessing the fax PAD facility in a public data network.
X.39
The ITU recommentation for procedures for the exchange of control information
and user data between a fax PAD facility and a packet mode DTE.
===============================================================================
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 above 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 above.
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 CCITT 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 above 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
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
(Expected to be available from Global Engineering Documents by
June 3rd, 1993).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 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 CCITT and ISO publications
UN Bookstore
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 (TELEDOC)
For more information, send a message with the line HELP in the body to:
itudoc@itu.arcom.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 this year) 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
===============================================================================
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
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)
-------------------------------------------------------------
Posters of New Questions Appearing in This Edition of the FAQ
-------------------------------------------------------------
Arthur Barnett libalb@gsusgi2.gsu.edu
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 1993 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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------