At 21:53 -0800 11/21/11, ah...clem wrote, among other things: >since the DSL modem requires all the phone lines in the house to be >filtered, i'm wondering if that could have something to do with it, >tho i don't see why that would be the cause for the modem to be >invisible to the fax software or the fax/print utility. if it was >related to the filter, i would think the computer would still see the >modem but the modem would not be able to get a dialtone. > >so i'm thinking the 56USBMAC should work, and the problem is something >i'm doing wrong. is there something obvious i'm overlooking? >
FAX uses a carrier frequency that is well down into the audio band of telephony which is 300 to 3000 Hz. It's something like 1440 Hz from memory. Other modems use 2400 Hz with a variety of phasing techniques to get up to some 56 kilobits per second. Your DSL modem uses a carrier of a few megahertz with the same kind of phase modulation to get several megabits per second transmission. The two bands are far enough apart to make filtering easy and effective providing it's installed on the pair going from the computer FAX modem to the street. Dialtone is still a matter of drawing DC current from the telephone pair in off-hook mode. It is immune to DSL considerations but you do have to have a land line account with the telco.. I know folks who use an ordinary FAX machine on lines with DSL in use. Plug an ordinary phone into the wall where your computer modem goes. If DSL is not filtered you will hear noise produced by rectification of the DSL carrier in the telephone. Don't have an ordinary phone around? You have joined the modern crowd. Your cell phone won't help. Personally I like having communication that is independent of power losses and solar magnetic storms. -- --> A fair tax is one that you pay but I don't <-- -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
