Problems with Fax-Recieiving (Gert, please respond!)
Brax Sisco (xenex@bsd1.se-tel.com)
Fri, 22 Oct 1999 01:44:52 -0400
Hello Gert and all:
This is more of a general question than a specific problem, so I am
including no log files, etc.. even though I can if need be. I have set
up a Linux server at work, and it is successfully doing many things,
including file sharing via Samba, internet access sharing via IP
masquearding, and so on. I also have mgetty set up to allow remote
dial-in, pppd access for "Samba-over-dialup" (just got that working) and
fax receving and printing/saving.
I am trying to "sell" my boss on Linux, and he is pretty impressed so
far. But I have been having MAJOR problems getting fax receiveing to
work reliably. I am using a 3com/U.S. Robotics internal Faxmodem, which
I 'believe' is supposed to be one of the better/best modems for handling
Class 2.0 fax. We are not (and likely will not) be using it for fax
sending, only receiving.
A major part of our business involves doing "service calls" and they
are sent to us by fax. We have one phone line with distintive ring, and
have mgetty to ignore RING A and pick up on RING B for incoming faxes
and dial-up. The problem is, (and I have read the docs, boy have I read
docs...) fax reception is spotty at best. Sometimes we get half the
first page, then it fails. Sometimes it comes in fine. I have NEVER
been able to recieve an incoming fax at 9600 baud, it never works.
I don't know if the problem is the modem, the mgetty software, or
maybe problems with my setup of the config files. Basically, I would
just like it to work with no problems. If there is a better modem for
fax reception than the 3com, we will buy it! Money is no object (sort
of)... It's just that I am really hyping linux to my boss, and this is
making me (and linux) look bad. I have been using linux for a long
time, and I feel that I DO know what I am doing, but I just can't get
this working 100%. I would be happy with it working 85-90%, but I'm not
even getting that. Maybe it is something I'm doing wrong, please note
that I am not intending to bitch or to flame.
If there is a "really super great" modem for receiving faxes, what
should we get? I am in the US, so I don't know if we can get the ELSA's
or Zyxel's here. If we have to order from overseas, that is fine too.
I just want to get this working!
Thanks for any help / pointers / suggestions ....
Brax