Fax (comp.dcom.fax) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) [Part 2/2]
George Pajari
comp.dcom.fax FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) -- Part 2 of 2
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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.
How to Get a Current Copy of This FAQ (Especially if you are missing Part 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This FAQ is crossposted to news.answers. As a consequence, this text will also
be automatically archived on many FAQ servers all over the world (e.g.,
anonymous ftp to rtfm.mit.edu in directory /pub/usenet/news.answers). You'll
also find there many other answers to frequently asked questions. This faq is
stored in the directory fax-faq.
Most FAQs (including the posted flat-text version of this FAQ) are available
through Thomas Fine's WWW FAQ archive:
<http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu:80/hypertext/faq/usenet/FAQ-List.html>.
This FAQ is also available on the WWW at <http://www.faximum.com/faqs/fax>. The
WWW version is always the most current version. The text version can lag but up
to a month from the html version.
The current text version is available by FTP:
<ftp://ftp.faximum.com/pub/faqs/fax/fax-faq>. You can also have the current
text version of this FAQ mailed to you. Send any message (content not
important) to sendf...@faximum.com.
=================
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.
Q.10 How can I send a fax over the Internet?
Q.11 What legal restrictions are there on the use of facsimile devices?
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
I.14 Related FAQs
I.15 Fax-Related URLs
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
P.9 List of Libraries and Related Information for Writing Fax Servers
P.10 List of Vendors of Fax Protocol Test Equipment
P.11 List of Vendors of UNIX-Based Fax-On-Demand Software/Systems
P.12 List of Vendors of Fax-On-Demand Software/Systems
P.13 List of Vendors of Products Delivered by Fax
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.10 How can I send a fax over the Internet?
There are several services (commercial as well as free) that offer to accept
e-mail messages and fax them to the specified phone number.
To obtain information on the free service, send email to tpc...@town.hall.org
To obtain information on the commercial services, contact:
InterFax
PO Box 162, Skippack, PA 19474 USA
(610) 584-0300; FAX: (610) 584-1038
FAXiNET
32 Woodland Road, Boston, MA 02130.
(617) 522-8102
E-mail: sa...@awa.com
Information courtesy of sav...@rahul.net (Kevin M. Savetz).
For more information, FTP Kevin's FAQ from:
<ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/internet-services/fax-faq>
<ftp://ftp.eff.org/pub/Net_info/Technical/net-fax.faq>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.11 What legal restrictions are there on the use of facsimile devices?
***** FCC January 11, 1993 Public Notice *****
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
PUBLIC NOTICE (31291 / DA 92-1716) January 11, 1993
INDUSTRY BULLETIN
TELEPHONE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT
TELEPHONE SOLICITATIONS, AUTODIALED AND ARTIFICIAL OR PRERECORDED VOICE MESSAGE
TELEPHONE CALLS, AND THE USE OF FACSIMILE MACHINES
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is a federal statute that was
enacted on December 20, 1991, to address concerns about the growing volume of
unsolicited telephone marketing calls and the increasing use of automated and
prerecorded telephone calls. The TCPA imposes restrictions on the use of
automatic telephone dialing systems ("autodialers"), artificial or prerecorded
voice messages, and telephone facsimile machines to send unsolicited
advertisements. The TCPA also directs the FCC to adopt regulations to protect
residential telephone subscribers' privacy rights to avoid receiving telephone
solicitations to which they object.
The FCC adopted rules and regulations, effective December 20, 1992,
implementing the TCPA. The FCC will be monitoring complaints about automated
calls and unwanted telephone solicitations to determine whether additional
action to limit or to prohibit such calls would be appropriate.
DO FCC RULES BAN UNSOLICITED ADVERTISEMENTS TO TELEPHONE FACSIMILE MACHINES?
Yes. Effective December 20, 1992, FCC rules ban the transmission of unsolicited
advertisements to telephone facsimile machines. An "unsolicited advertisement"
is defined as a transmission advertising the commercial availability or quality
of property, goods or services without the prior express invitation or
permission of the person or entity receiving the transmission.
Unsolicited advertisements may not be transmitted by any device to a telephone
facsimile machine unless the person receiving the facsimile has given prior
express invitation or permission to receive it. If the sender and the recipient
have an established business relationship, an invitation or permission to
receive unsolicited facsimile advertisements is presumed to exist. However, the
recipient may end an established business relationship by requesting that no
further unsolicited advertisements be sent, thus revoking any invitation or
permission to receive further transmissions.
WHAT OTHER REQUIREMENTS APPLY TO THE USE OR MANUFACTURE OF TELEPHONE FACSIMILE
MACHINES?
FCC rules require that each transmission to a telephone facsimile machine must
clearly contain, in a margin at the top or bottom of each transmitted page or
on the first page of the transmission, (1) the date and time the transmission
is sent (2) the identity of the ender and (3) the telephone number of the
sender or of the sending machine. All telephone facsimile machines manufactured
on or after December 20, 1992 must have the capacity to clearly mark such
identifying information on the first page or on each page of the transmission.
[Note, according to the FCC January 13, 1993 Public Notice, the requirement to
mark faxes with the above identifying information on applied to fax machines
and not for fax cards used in computers pending reconsideration proceedings.]
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH FCC RULES ON TELEPHONE FACSIMILE
TRANSMISSIONS?
The person on whose behalf a facsimile transmission is sent will ultimately be
held liable for violations of the TCPA or FCC rules.
DO THE TCPA AND THE FCC'S RULES PREEMPT STATE LAW?
The TCPA specifically preempts state law where it conflicts with the technical
and procedural requirements for identification of senders of telephone
facsimile messages or automated artificial or prerecorded voice messages.
The TCPA and the FCC's rules do not preempt state law which imposes more
restrictive requirements or regulations for (1) the use of facsimile machines
or other electronic devices to send unsolicited advertisements, (2) the use of
autodialers, (3) the use of artificial or prerecorded voice messages, or (4)
the making of telephone solicitations.
Thus, depending on state law, the TCPA, the FCC's rules and/or state laws could
apply to your company's services. You should contact the state public utilities
commission in each state where your company provides the services listed in the
previous paragraph to determine what laws apply in those states.
WHERE CAN I ORDER A COMPLETE COPY OF THE TCPA AND THE FCC'S ORDER EXPLAINING
IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT ACT?
Copies can be ordered from the FCC's contractor for public records duplication:
Downtown Copy Center, 1990 M Street, N.W., Suite 640, Washington, D.C. 20036
(telephone: (202) 452-1422). You should ask for copies of the Telephone
Consumer Protection Act and the Report and Order in CC Docket No. 92-90
released by the Commission on October 16, 1992 (In the Matter of Rules and
Regulations Implementing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
Vendors of Printed Standards
Bellcore (Bell Communications Research)
1 800 521 CORE
Source of telephony standards (i.e. detailed information on how the
telephone system works included DID, Caller ID, etc. Does not provide
information on facsimile equipment and standards.)
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:
itu...@itu.ch. Or telnet to info.itu.ch and type gopher as username (no
password needed). Or connect to their gopher server directly:
<gopher://info.itu.ch/>.
Commonly Referenced Fax Standards
[Image]
[E.451] Recommendation E.451 - Facsimile call cut-off performance
[Image]
[E.450] Recommendation E.450 - Facsimile quality of service on PSTN -
General aspects
[Image]
[E.452] Recommendation E.452 - Facsimile modem speed reductions and
transaction time
[Image]
[F.162] Recommendation F.162 - Service and operational requirements of
store-and-forward facsimile service
[Image]
[F.163] Recommendation F.163 - Operational requirements of the
interconnection of facsimile store-and-forward units
[Image]
[F.190] Recommendation F.190 - Operational provisions for the
international facsimile service between public bureaux and subscriber
stations and vice versa (bureaufax-telefax and vice versa)
[Image]
[F.180] Recommendation F.180 - General operational provisions for the
international public facsimile service between subscriber stations
(telefax)
[Image]
[F.182] Recommendation F.182 - Operational provisions for the
international public facsimile service between subscribers' stations with
Group 3 facsimile machines (Telefax 3)
[Image]
[F.87] Recommendation F.87 - Operational principles for the transfer of
messages from terminals on the telex network to Group 3 facsimile
terminals connected to the public switched telephone network
[Image]
[F.160] Recommendation F.160 - General operational provisions for the
international public facsimile services
[Image]
[T.611] Recommendation T.611 - Programmable communication interface (PCI)
APPLI-COM for facsimile group 3, facsimile group 4, teletex and telex
services
[Image]
[T.4] Recommendation T.4 - Standardization of Group 3 facsimile apparatus
for document transmission
[Image]
[T.30] Recommendation T.30 - Procedures for document facsimile
transmission in the general switched telephone network
[Image]
[T.22] Recommendation T.22 - Standardized test charts for document
facsimile transmissions
[Image]
[U.207] Recommendation U.207 - Technical requirements to be met for the
transfer of messages between terminals of the international telex service
and Group 3 facsimile terminals connected to PSTN
[Image]
[V.17 SUMMARY] Summary of Recommendation V.17 - A 2-wire modem for
facsimile applications with rates up to 14 400 bit-s
[Image]
[V.17] Recommendation V.17 - A 2-wire modem for facsimile applications
with rates up to 14 400 bit-s
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
MacWorld, Feb 1994 v11n2, "Delrina FaxPro for Macintosh 1.0", by Gene Steinberg
MacWorld, Nov 1993 v10n11, "SupraFaxModem 144PB", by Gene Steinberg
Discusses SupraFaxModem for the Powerbook
Information courtesy of wilb...@gold.tc.umn.edu.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I.6 Magazine Reviews of Fax Modems (see also O/S specific reviews)
MacWorld, Oct 1993 v10n10, "High-Speed Fax Modems", by Matthew Clark
Discussion and review of 30 modems that run at 9600 bps or faster
NeXTWorld Magazine, Winter 1992, v2n4, p59-60, "Just the Fax" by Simson L.
Garfinkel
Reviews Dove, HSD, and ZyXEL.
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: 7254...@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)
"C Programmer's Guide to Serial Communications.", 2nd Ed.
by Joe Campbell; SAMS Publishing; 1994; ISBN: 0-672-30286-1
(The main addition of the second edition was a monster chapter on
facsimile including redrawn T.30 flow charts and narratives to walk the
reader through various scenarios (e.g., EOP, EOM, MPS). It's got good
source code for T.4 encoding and decoding. In general, I believe it's the
only intelligible discussion of the subject available to programmers.)
Information supplied by the author, Joe Campbell (jo...@calon.com).
"C++ Communications Utilities"
by Michael Holmes and Bob Flanders; Ziff-Davis
(Contains a good description of fax software and includes C++ source and
exe code for Class 1 fax sending and receiving. Courtesy Bruce Seiler,
Bruce.Seiler%po...@cjbbs.com)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 as
<ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/graphics/faq> .
Information on the Microsoft Windows Telephony API spec is kept in the
following FTP directory: <ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/developr/TAPI>
Information on the Internet/fax gateway project may be obtained by sending
e-mail to: tpc...@town.hall.org
A mailing list related to the Internet/fax gateway project may be reached
through: tpc-rp-...@aarnet.edu.au
The full text of the DCA/Intel Communicating Applications Specification (CAS)
may be obtained from <ftp://ftp.faximum.com/pub/documents/cas.txt>.
If you want comprehensive information on fax-on-demand and/or broadcast fax
suppliers, contact Sarah Stambler at Techprose, 370 Central Park West, #210,
New York, NY, 10025, (212) 222 1765, Fax: (212) 678-6357. She sells a number of
reports on FoD and fax broadcast technology.
See also the section on related FAQs and URLs (below).
Vendors BBSs
ZyXEL BBS: (714) 693-0762
Supra BBS: (503) 967-2444
Intel BBS: (503) 645-6275
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I.11 Conferences on Fax
BIS Strategic Decisions
BIS Strategic Decisions runs several conferences on fax and related
technologies. Historically they ran the "Facsimile and Image Communications
Conference" every spring and every fall they held the "Annual Computer Fax
Conference). In 1995, however, BIS is planning to merge these two conferences
into a single "FAXWORLD'95" conference. Current plans are to hold this in San
Francisco from June 5-7th, 1995 but rumours abound that it will be pushed back
to the first week in December, 1995.
EUROFAX'95 is planned for Amsterdam in October'95.
For more information on BIS conferences, call: (800) 874-9980 ext 178 or (617)
982-9500 ext 178, (Fax: 617 982-1724)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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:
fax...@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
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I.14 Related FAQs
FAQs Related to FAX
FAQ: How can I send a fax from the Internet?
<ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/internet-services/fax-faq>
FlexFax Frequently Asked Questions
<http://www.vix.com/flexfax/FAQ>
GammaLink intelligent fax boards, Frequently Asked Questions.
<ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/fax-faq/GammaLink>
Mgetty+Sendfax with Vgetty Extensions (FAQ)
<ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/fax-faq/mgetty+sendfax+vgetty>
Object-Fax Frequently Asked Questions
<ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/fax-faq/Object-Fax>
FAQs Related to Modems
Digicom Frequently Asked Questions
<ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/modems/Digicom-faq>
NetComm Frequently Asked Questions List
<ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/modems/NetComm-faq>
Practical Peripherals Frequently Asked Questions
<ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/modems/practical-peripherals-FAQ>
Configuring the Telebit Trailblazer for Use with UNIX
<ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/modems/trailblazer-faq>
ZyXEL Modems Frequently Asked Questions List
<ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/modems/ZyXEL/FAQ/part1>
<ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/modems/ZyXEL/FAQ/part2>
<ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/modems/ZyXEL/FAQ/part3>
<ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/modems/ZyXEL/FAQ/part4>
<ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/modems/ZyXEL/FAQ/part5>
ZyXEL U1496 series modems resellers FAQ
<ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/modems/ZyXEL/resalers-FAQ>
Other FAQs of Related Interest
comp.graphics Frequently Asked Questions (Information on compression
algorithms)
<ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/graphics/faq>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I.15 Fax-Related URLs
For the URLs of vendors, please see the Product Information section of this
FAQ.
Standards and Related Information
ITU (The standards setting body for fax, modems, and telephony.)
Coies of many ITU (formerly CCITT) standards can be obtained through their
gopher server
<gopher://info.itu.ch/>.
Standards are in the ITU section. Those related to fax are in the T
Series, modem standards are in the V Series.
Gray Associates (manufacturers of fax protocol testing equipment) also have an
in-depth discussion of fax protocols at <http://www.grayfax.com/FAXSMNAR.html>.
Supra Corporation has put draft versions of the Class 1 and Class 2 specs up on
FTP (the final, official versions are copyright and cannot legally be made
available over the net). Download <ftp://ftp.supra.com/gen_info/class_1.txt>
and <ftp://ftp.supra.com/gen_info/class_2.txt>.
WWW Virtual Library
Communications Section
<http://www.analysys.co.uk/commslib.htm>
Facsimile Communications Sub-Section
<http://www.faximum.com/w3vlib/fax>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.1 List of UNIX Fax Software
COMMERCIAL
Format of listing:
< product >
< company >
< URL (if available) >
< address >
< phone > < fax >
< email >
Faximum
Faximum Software Inc.
<http://www.faximum.com/>
1497 Marine Drive, Suite 300, West Vancouver, BC, Canada, V7T 1B8
+1 604 925 3600
+1 604 926-8182 (fax)
in...@faximum.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
North America
DFax
Alembic Systems International
(800) 452-7608
in...@alembic.com
ArnetFAX Arnet
(615) 834-8000
clar...@arnet.com
NXFax
Black and White Software
(802) 496-8500
(802) 496-5112 (fax)
nx...@bandw.com
ISOfax
Bristol
TruFax
COS Inc.
(609) 771-6705
(609) 530-0898 (fax)
tru...@cosi.com
DigiFAX
DigiBoard
<http://www.digibd.com/>
(612) 943-9020
sup...@dbsales.digibd.com
Faximum ELS, Faximum PLUS
Faximum Software Inc. (604) 925-3600
(604) 926-8182 (fax> in...@Faximum.com
ICSW
800.486.7274 or 602.998.8623
FaxLink
Intuitive Technology
(409) 762-8456
PerfectFAX
Perfect Byte
(402) 398-938
(402) 384-1122 (fax)
in...@pbi.com
Siren Fax
Siren Software
1 800 45-SIREN
Replix
SoftLinx, Inc. (508) 392-0001
(508)392-9009 (fax) rep...@softlinx.com
FaxTrax
UniSal System
(201) 729-9221
VSI-Fax
V Systems
(714) 545-6442
Br...@VSI.com
FaxFX
Company Unknown
(708) 574-3600
FAXSMART
Company Unknown
Phone Unknown
Fax*Starx
Company Unknown (800) 327 9859
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Europe
Com-M-Tex
comFax
+49 89 546130-0
mix fax
i link GmbH
+49 30 216 20 48
netFAX
netCS GmbH
+49 30 787999-0
FaxX
QUEST systems GmbH
+49 231 914028-0
+49 231 914028-40
fa...@quest.sub.org
i(F)x Faxsoftware for UNIX
Signify Software Products
+31-(0)3480-30131
+31-(0)3480-30182
ger...@integrity.nl
smoFax
SMO GmbH
+49 721 551971
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PUBLICALLY AVAILABLE
FlexFAX
For current information on FlexFAX, please see
<http://www.vix.com/flexfax/> or <ftp://sgi.com/sgi/fax/>.
GNU NetFax (a.k.a. fax-3.2.1)
This software may be obtained from
<ftp://ftp.uu.net/systems/gnu/fax-3.2.1.tar.z> .
------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.2 List of MS-DOS Fax Software
Object-Fax
Traffic Software
(212) 714-1584
(212) 714-1691 (fax)
Outside of USA
+354-1-687 150
+354-1-687-239 (fax)
<Need more information>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.3 List of MacIntosh Fax Software
Global Village Communication, Inc.
<http://www.globalcenter.net/>
<Need more information>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.4 List of Windows Fax Software
<Need more information>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.5 List of OS/2 Fax Software
<\a> <Need more information>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.6 List of Fax Modem Vendors
North America
AT&T Paradyne
Class: 1
(813) 530-2090
(813) 530-2103 (fax)
Computer Peripherals
Class: 2
(805) 499-5751
(805) 498-8306
Hayes
Class: 1
(404) 441-1617
(404) 441-1213 (fax)
Intel
Class: 1
(503) 629-7354
(503) 629-7580 (fax)
MICC
Class: 2
(408) 980-9565
(408) 980-9568
Macronix
Class: 2
(408) 453-8088
MultiTech Systems
Class: 2
(612) 785-3500
(612) 785-9874 (fax)
Practical Peripherals
Class: 1,2
Supra Corporation
Class: 1,2
<http://www.supra.com/>
<ftp://ftp.supra.com/>
(503) 967-2400
(503) 967-2401 (fax)
Telebit
Class: 2
<http://www.telebit.com/>
(408) 734-4333
(408) 734-3333 (fax)
The Complete PC
Class: 1,2
(408) 434-0145
(408) 434-1048 (fax)
U.S. Robotics
Class: 1,2.0
<http://www.primenet.com/usr/>
(800) DIAL-USR
(708) 982-5253 (fax)
Zoom
Class: 2
(617) 423-1072
(617) 423-9231 (fax)
ZyXEL USA
Class: 2,2.0
<http://www.zyxel.com/>
(714) 693-0808
(714) 693-8811 (fax)
Australia (courtesy of ad...@saki.com.au )
NetComm M4F, M7F
Class: 2,2.0
+61 2 888 5533
Dataplex DPX-223 DPX-225
Class: 2
+61 3 210 3333
Interlink Fax Modem 3
Class: 2
+61 3 525 3388
Maestro 9600XR
Class: 2
+61 6 239 2369
Banksia BitBlitzer
Class: 2
+61 2 418 6033
Europe
Dr. Neuhaus ?
Class: ?
+49 40 55304290
+49 40 55304180 (fax)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
Brooktrout Technology
Operating System: dos,unix,OS/2,others
Needham, MA
617-449-4100
Dialogic
Operating System: dos,unix
201-334-8450
Gammalink
Operating System: dos,OS/2
408-744-1400
<Need more information>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.8 List of Vendors of Secure Fax Equipment
Mr David COHEN
SKTT Henry Kam Technologies & Telecommunations
2d rue de l'Epine Prolongee
93541 Bagnolet Cedex
+33 1 42 87 54 00
+33 1 42 87 23 91 (fax)
(courtesy of Jean-Bernard Condat)
Ken Stokes,
CES Ltd
146 Papanui Rd.
Christchurch, NZ
+64-3-355-5631
+64-3-355-3730 (fax)
(courtesy of Arnim Littek, arnim2digitech.co.nz)
<Need more information>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.9 List of Libraries and Related Information
for Writing Fax Servers
Black Ice Software
113 Route 122, Amherst, NH 03031
1 603 673 1019
603 672 4112 (fax)
blac...@mv.mv.com
Products:
TIFF SDK for Windows/DOS; IMAGE SDK for Windows, VB, and NT; Fax C++
SDK for Class 1, 2, and 2.0; and other related libraries (Demos are
available on Compuserve under "Go Blackice").
See also Joe Campbell's book in section I.9 above for sample fax code.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.10 List of Vendors of Fax Protocol Test Equipment
Genoa Technology, Inc.
5401 Tech Circle
Moorpark, CA 93021
(805) 531-9030
(805) 531-9045 (fax)
email: gaj...@gentech.com
Products:
Group 3 Basic Test Suite; FaxProbe (Fax Protocol Analyser); FaxLab
(Fax device emulator with 60 device emulations); PostScript Fax
functional test suite; also many other testing products for printers,
IEEE 1284 Interfaces, IrDA, etc. and etc.
Also offers courses in Facsimile Technology and Protocols
Gray Associates
10760 Hubbard Way
San Jose, CA 95127
(408) 251-0263
(408) 251-0264
<http://www.grayfax.com/>
email: mre...@ix.netcom.com
Products:
GD-Fax Protocol Analyser(TM)- T.30, T.4 & T.6 measurements; GD-SYM Fax
Emulator(TM) with editable Simulation Library, also converts real world
calls into simulations. Multiple units can operate in one computer; FAX
COLLECTOR(TM) archiving system for fax. Training & consulting services.
All products include one year's consulting, warranty & updates.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.11 List of Vendors of UNIX-Based Fax-On-Demand
Software/Systems
FAXSTREAM
CALLSTREAM Communications Inc.
871-9 Equestrian Court
Oakville, ON
Canada L6L 6L7
(905) 847-5362
(905) 847-3421 (fax)
in...@callstream.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.12 List of Vendors of Fax-On-Demand Software/Systems
DOS/Windows-Based Products
FaxBack, Inc.
1100 NW Compton Drive
Beaverton, OR 97006
690-6353
1-800-873-8753
(503) 690-6390 (demo line)
1-800-FaxBack (demo line)
sa...@faxback.com
Ibex Technologies
550 Main Street, Suite G
Placerville, CA, 95667
916 621 4342
1 800 289 9998
UNIX-Based Products
FaxStream
CallStream Communications Inc.
871-9 Equestrian Court
Oakville, ON
Canada L6L 6L7
(905) 847-5362
(905) 847-3421 (fax)
Research Reports Etc.
If you want comprehensive information on fax-on-demand suppliers, contact Sarah
Stambler at:
Techprose
370 Central Park West, #210
New York, NY
10025
(212) 222 1765
(212) 678-6357 (fax)
She sells a number of reports on FoD technology.
P.13 List of Vendors of Products Delivered by Fax
New York Times Newspaper (Fax Edition)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
COPYRIGHT 1994 George Pajari ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The FAQ has been written in part, and compiled by, George Pajari. While
reasonable efforts have been made to verify the information in this document,
no liability can be accepted by George Pajari, Faximum Software, or the many
contributors for the correctness of the information herein. Readers are
cautioned to take such measures as they deem necessary to verify the
information herein before taking any action based on this information.
Limited permission is granted to copy or distribute this faq for non-commercial
purposes as long as: (a) the FAQ is reproduced in its entirety (including this
NOTICE) without any changes, and (b) the distribution is done for
non-commercial purposes.
Electronic distribution of this FAQ (in its entirely) as part of electronic
mail and the Usenet Netnews system is specifically permitted.
Including this FAQ in a printed book or CD-ROM is specifically not permitted
without prior permission from the author and copyright holder. Permission is
almost always granted. It is just considered polite to ask.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fax FAQ Contributors
Contributors to and/or Sources of Information Used in this FAQ
ad...@shinto.saki.com.au (Adam Donnison)
d...@teal.csn.org (Daniel I. Rosenblatt)
ger...@integrity.nl (Gerard Huysmans)
glen.g...@nb.rockwell.com (Glen Griffith)
hr...@cbnewsi.cb.att.com (herman.r.silbiger)
jbco...@attmail.com (Jean-Bernard Condat)
jfre...@frontporch.win.net (Jeff Freeman)
jmcco...@wrglex.uucp (Jim McCormack)
jo...@cs.arizona.edu (John M Hughes)
jr9...@rapa1.sbc.com (Joe Richmeyer)
mcke...@monashee.sfu.ca (Rob McKeever)
min...@geog.ubc.ca (Jim Mintha)
mpa...@mv.us.adobe.com (Mike Parker).
na...@mips.ruessel.sub.org (Christian Weisgerber)
p...@ibid.gatech.edu (Paul O'Fallon)
reg...@stacken.kth.se (Lennart Regebro)
ro...@gandalf.greenie.gold.sub.org (KlausRosenauer)
s...@sgi.com (Sam Leffler)
sav...@rahul.net (Kevin M. Savetz)
tni...@microsoft.com (Toby Nixon)
u...@sensai.quest.sub.org (Udo Klimaschewski)
u...@sensai.quest.sub.org (Uli Zug)
w...@kofax.com (Wes Chalfant)
wilb...@gold.tc.umn.edu
wr...@unixg.ubc.ca (Robert Wong)
and of course, the author/editor of this FAQ:
paj...@Faximum.com (George Pajari)