Re "phoney phoneline" -

I wonder why the following does *not* work:

I have two 'puters here, each with an (external) modem, both sitting
parallel on the same outside phone line.

When I take the phone off-hook a wait a while - first there's the dial
tone, then a busy sequence, then the relay at the "central" switches to
some state of "off" I get indeed kind of a "phony" line state. The
"line" is there (I can even talk with another, parallel plugged-in
phone on it somwhere else in the house, after those dial-tone noises
have gone).

Using BGFAX, and setting the first 'puter to "dial blind" (X1 in the
Hayes AT-commands), and the second to "receive fax" mode:

I make the first 'puter to "send fax" (it dials blind, and the modem
duely sends out the fax-beeps);
I "force Answer" with the second (and its modem duely sends out its
usual answer beeps).

There *is* some modem-to-modem negotiation going on, both the modems'
signals audibly go onto and over the line.

Only they don't come to terms. Though both modems work perfectly when
sending/receiving over the outside line; and in receiving state,
both work well in "normal" use (waiting for the rings, then going off-
hook) and in "forced answer" (when this command is given on the first
sign of an incoming call).

Years ago I tried to use this "phone line" state with the first 'puter
and its first (Efax) fax card and a still older Group-I "drum" fax
(that 12-Kg monster is still here, theoretically still able to
function), the idea was precisely to use it as a "scanner".

Sending from the "drum" to the 'puter/faxcard didn't succeed with
anything; sending from the 'puter/faxcard did at least start the
electromechanical monster to "receive" (drum rolling, slide starting
to move) but to abort after about 10 sec. The faxcard though had some
difficulties with faxes over the line anyway (would not connect to
some fax machines). Thus I thought that was that (though the dang
faxcard was nearly as expensive as a real faxmachine at that time but I
had to have it because the hilariously expensive "Group I" drum fax
- that thing had a list price of an excellent used Mercedes [belonged
to a paper that went broke soon after] - couldn't connect any more to
the slowly dominating "group-III" faxes either).

But I still think it "should" work - this thread made me try again
(though I wouldn't need the fax for input any more, the $50 b/w flatbed
scanner gives perfect results without tearing the book apart); but it
doesn't.  Why ?!

// Heimo Claasen   //   <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>   //   Brussels 1999-10-01
HomePage of ReRead - and much to read ==> http://www.inti.be/hammer

To unsubscribe from SURVPC send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with 
unsubscribe SURVPC in the body of the message.
Also, trim this footer from any quoted replies.

Reply via email to