========================================================================= (C) 1993 by Atari Corporation, GEnie, and the Atari Roundtables. May be reprinted only with this notice intact. The Atari Roundtables on GEnie are *official* information services of Atari Corporation. To sign up for GEnie service, call (with modem) 800-638-8369. Upon connection type HHH (RETURN after that). Wait for the U#= prompt.Type XTX99437,GENIE and press [RETURN]. The system will prompt you for your information. ========================================================================== ************ Topic 24 Mon Nov 19, 1990 DARLAH [RT~SYSOP] at 21:55 EST Sub: STraight FAX Discussion of Straight FAX! (Send/Receive FAX Software for Class 2 compliant FAX/modems) from NewSTar Technology Management. 206 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 1 Tue Aug 10, 1993 S.BLACKBURN [STEVE] at 10:36 EDT I rarely use a cover page. I've created a letterhead with Calamus and load that. I then either import the message content from an asccii file or type write into Calamus. Other types of pages can be sent the same way so that your vital information is on every page you send. Works great....(and it's less filling) Steve Blackburn ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 2 Tue Aug 10, 1993 S.BLACKBURN [STEVE] at 10:40 EDT I rarely use a cover page. I've created a letterhead with Calamus and load that. I then either import the message content from an asccii file or type write into Calamus. Other types of pages can be sent the same way so that your vital information is on every page you send. Works great....(and it's less filling) Steve Blackburn ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 3 Tue Aug 10, 1993 S.AGARWAL [SANJAY] at 21:14 EDT I have finally had some sucess faxing TW2 files. However, several fonts don't get converted into fax format, including proportional - which I use a lot. Am I doing something wrong or can the TW2 driver only cope with certain fonts? I also lose italics, regardless of font used. Thanks Sanjay. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 4 Tue Aug 10, 1993 O-ZONE [Flakes] at 21:31 EDT The file menu offers a "Print page layout" option but when I select this it brings up a window allowing selection of a printer driver, and when I hit "OK" it goes away and nothing happens. Is there any way of sending a one-time fax without having the number in the directory? ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 5 Tue Aug 10, 1993 C.S.SMETON [STraight FAX] at 22:21 EDT To: ALGORHYTHM [DanielKeller], To print to a standard Epson 24 Pin printer use the LQ570.SYS printer driver that comes with Speedo GDOS or the NB15.SYS printer driver that comes with Font/FSM GDOS. There is a common misconception about GDOS that is perpetuated by the fact that most GDOS applications will only print to GDOS printer device number 21. However, GDOS has always supported up to 10 device numbers for printing (21 through 30). This means that 10 different printer drivers _could_ be installed into a single ASSIGN.SYS. If the application allows choosing which of these drivers to print to, then most of the troubles with the earlier GDOS might have been avoided. It was possible that early on it was decided that printing to device 21 was sufficient, as there was only one printer port. However to make things worse, most early GDOS applications also limited the number of GDOS bitmapped fonts (probably due to memory limitations at the time on 1 meg machines). Because of all of this it was necessary to have various ASSIGN.SYS files with different printer driver or font configurations. This is one of the factors that lead to Codehead's G+Plus GDOS replacement (along with the speed improvement). The original GDOS also required rebooting to change the GDOS setup, while G+Plus and the the newer Font, FSM and Speedo GDOS do not require rebooting. If you use an application such as Atari Works, it will allow you to choose the printer device number (21 - 30). STraight FAX! also allows this in its printing of FAX files. Now the confusing part comes into play when you use STraight FAX! in two different ways with respect to GDOS: a) Printing FAX files in STraight FAX! via GDOS and the proper GDOS driver for your printer. b) Printing FAX files from a GDOS application via GDOS and the STFAX???.SYS STraight FAX! GDOS driver. So if you are using Atari Works (or another application that allows choosing which device to print to), then using the Printer Drivers ACC/PRG from Speedo GDOS or the GDOS Printer Selector ACC/CPX from Font/FSM GDOS setup the ASSIGN.SYS file with your normal printer driver as device 21, STraight FAX!'s STFAX???.SYS (depending on which version of GDOS) as device 22 and install your printer driver again as device 23 (there is still only one copy of the driver .SYS file). Now in STraight FAX!, you will want to set the print preferences to print to device 23, which is your normal printer driver. In Atari Works, you can use the Print Setup to choose between 21 (STraight FAX!) and 23 (Your Printer). Most older GDOS applications will only print to device number 21, with these applications, either install the Speedo GDOS Printer Drivers utility as a desk accessory or use the Font/FSM GDOS Printer Selector ACC/CPX to change the printer driver assigned to device number 21 from within the application. The change to the ASSIGN.SYS will be recognized by most GDOS applications, except those that load the printer driver/fonts once at startup or those that need pre-existing width tables, such as Timeworks DTP 1 & 2. ############################################################################ To: All Registered STraight FAX! Users who wish to beta test version 2.0 NewSTar Technology Management now has a private beta test file library and category here in the ST Roundtable on GEnie. Approved beta testers will be able to download beta test versions from this library and post discussions about the beta release in the private category. We would like to thank Darlah Potechin, the ST Roundtable staff and GEnie for making this possible. Interested beta testers (please read our previous message about the system configurations that we are interested in) should send private E-Mail to C.S.SMETON. Please include your registration number for validation purposes. Beta tester access to the file library is controlled by the GEnie Sysops, so it may take a day or to setup initial access. If you have already been in touch with us recently about becoming a beta tester, you do not need to send us another request by GEMail. ############################################################################ To: G.FUHRMAN, The responses to the AT+Fxxx=? Class 2 FAX commands are defined such that a 0 indicates the off state of the command. Other numbers are the various options or modes available. An ERROR response will be returned if the modem is not a Class 2 FAX Modem. The AT+Fxxx? variant will return the current state of the option or mode. In some cases constant information in the modem is returned (i.e. firmware version, etc.) Example: AT+FCLASS=? What Classes does the FAX Modem support Typical Responses: 0,1 Class 0 (Data) & Class 1 0,2 Class 0 (Data) & Class 2 0,1,2 Class 0 (Data), Class 1 & Class 2 ERROR Not a Class 1 or Class 2 FAX Modem Example: AT+FAA=? What Answer Modes are supported? Typical Responses: 0 0 = Answer as data or FAX as set by Class 0,1 1 = Adaptive Answer 0,1,2 2 = Silent Answer (Supra only) 0-3 3 = Silent Answer (Supra only) Example: AT+FMFR? Who is the FAX Modem chipset manufacturer? Typical Responses: ROCKWELL SIERRA EXAR ZyXEL To: T.HENRY12, Please check your GEMail. To: O-ZONE, We have passed the information along to Codehead Technologies. I will be checking with them again to see if there has been any progress. There is nothing that we can change in the GDOS drivers to affect the way output is generated. The part of the GDOS we developed takes the generated page bitmap and writes it to a FAX file. The part that generates the page bitmap was supplied by Atari. Also, in the case of Calligrapher 3, the majority of the bitmap may be generated Calligrapher 3, as it uses its own scalable font system. We are hoping that Working Title in the UK can tell us (via Codehead) that there is something unique about the GDOS drivers they supply with Calligrapher 3, so we can create a Calligrapher 3 specific driver (if necessary). To: ALGORHYTHM [DanielKeller], If STraight FAX! is in Auto Receive mode, you should not attempt to do anything with the modem. If you need to use Cardfile or STalker 3 while STraight FAX! is running, disable Auto Receive mode, use the other program to communicate with the modem and then re-enable Auto Receive mode. When Auto Receive mode has been activated, STraight FAX! has set the modem into a particular state. That state may prevent other programs from communicating with the FAX Modem. Even if this does not happen, the modem will no longer be in the proper state to receive a FAX. To: K.ESTES, > Will I be able to update my software at The Glendale Show? Yes, Toad Computers will definitely be at the Glendale Show this September. There is a good possibility that I will be there as well. I assume by "software" you are referring to STraight FAX!, as I cant speak for other developers ;-) To: P.NEREO, There are no plans to build a text editor or text editor-like features into STraight FAX! at this time. STraight FAX! 2.0 will allow you to run an external program (Text Editor) while it is running. You could also use a desk accessory text editor, such as STeno 2, EdHak, etc. while STraight FAX! is running. STraight FAX! 1.07 supports copy/paste of the text fields in the Cover Page entry dialog to/from the Atari Clipboard. This can be done with a program such as STeno 2. In addition the Cover Page Parameter files (.COV) are plain ASCII Text that can be edited with a Text Editor, as long as the order/format of the file is not changed this should not be a problem. STraight FAX! 2.0 will allow you to move the text cursor to the start of the previous or next word on a line in a text edit field with special keystrokes. As to expanding the message area, we will consider this in a future release. You might want to try out the #INCLUDE= command in STraight FAX! 1.07 to create pages with text and graphics that could be used instead of a Cover Page. To: S.BLACKBURN, > Message 187 Tue Aug 10, 1993 > Message 188 Tue Aug 10, 1993 Did you know that you sent the same message twice? To: S.AGARWAL, The problem is likely due to missing fonts, i.e. do you have a copy of the bit mapped font in each face, style and point size for the screen, printer and FAX driver? That's Write 3 will use Speedo scalable fonts and this problem will no longer exist. To: O-ZONE, > The file menu offers a "Print page layout" option but when I select this it Are you referring to STraight FAX! 1.07 or another program? > Is there any way of sending a one-time fax without having the number in the > directory? STraight FAX! 2.0 will have a Quick Send dialog that allows FAX numbers to be entered as needed. In version 1.07, select the "To Edit" button in the Phone List when selecting FAX numbers, the phone list will switch to the edit mode, enter the FAX names/numbers as needed, then hit OK to return to the selection mode. The new entries will only be saved if you save the Phone List file. Thank You, Charles @NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 6 Tue Aug 10, 1993 N.HARD [Nick] at 23:56 EDT >NewSTar Technology Management now has a private beta test file library and >category here in the ST Roundtable on GEnie. Approved beta testers will be >able to download beta test versions from this library and post discussions >about the beta release in the private category. Will we get auto access to these areas? I am already beta testing.. I didnt see the new category, and unable to turn on file area 50. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 7 Wed Aug 11, 1993 C.S.SMETON [STraight FAX] at 01:31 EDT To N.HARD, I have to ask Darlah to give a beta tester access to the file library for NewSTar Technology Management. It may take a day or so to become activated once I request it. Please do not send direct requests to Darlah, send them to me (C.S.SMETON). Once approved, I will ask her to setup access. P.S. You are already on the list. Charles ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 8 Wed Aug 11, 1993 ALGORHYTHM [DanielKeller] at 13:00 EDT Charles, Thanks for the printer info, and also the tip on disabling Auto receive. I've not yet run into a problem with receiving faxes after dialing out with Cardfile...I have, however, recently discovered that CF shows the same problem (not dialing after the first attenpt) when Pagestream is running...haven't had time to check it with other programs, but it leads me to assume it's a CF problem. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 9 Wed Aug 11, 1993 O-ZONE [Flakes] at 19:17 EDT Charles, I was indeed referring to STraight FAX 1.07 when I asked the question about the "Print page layout" function in the file menu. Mine doesn't seem to work. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 10 Wed Aug 11, 1993 T.HENRY12 [Tom Jr.] at 20:23 EDT Charles, I haven't gotten anything yet? Have you sent it yet? ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 11 Wed Aug 11, 1993 C.S.SMETON [STraight FAX] at 21:57 EDT To: All Registered STraight FAX! users who are interested in becoming beta testers for version 2.0: Please do not send any GEMail to DARLAH or the ST Sysop staff about access to the the private STraight FAX! message and file library. This area has just been established and when it is ready (i.e. when NewSTar Technology Management has a beta release ready to upload), those users who have been granted beta test status will also be granted access to the message and file areas. Some users must not have read my previous message about bothering Darlah and the ST Roundtable Sysop staff. I will forward the GEnie addresses to Darlah when beta test status has been granted. Please have a bit of patience. Any user who cant follow these simple "rules" will be disqualified from being a beta tester. Thank You, Charles Smeton NewSTar Techology Management ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 12 Thu Aug 12, 1993 ALGORHYTHM [DanielKeller] at 18:26 EDT Charles, Another suggestion for 2.0: Would it be possible to include the option of clearing completed fax transmissions from the scheduler? As it is now, it is quite easy to have the .SCH file grow to a pretty large size with old fax info. Alternately, perhaps completed transmissions could be routed to a 'completed' file, unless they are intended to be =regularly= scheduled events....I find it necessary at present to clear the SCH file before scheduling new ones. Thanks ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 13 Thu Aug 12, 1993 C.S.SMETON [STraight FAX] at 22:02 EDT August 11, 1993 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NewSTar Technology Management announces... STraight FAX! 2.0 ================= STraight FAX! has been a leading Atari FAX software package since its introduction in April of 1992. But since then, we've added a host of features that make it easier to use, more accessible and more compatible. Now, with the release of STraight FAX! 2.0, popular Class 1 and Class 2 FAX Modems are fully supported. This means that STraight FAX! is compatible with a wider range of FAX Modems that ever before, including less expensive Class 1 Only FAX Modems and high end Class 1 and Class 2 FAX Modems. Support for Class 1 also means greater compatibility and reliability with remote FAX devices, so you can FAX around the world without worry. We've also added features to make STraight FAX! 2.0 a joy to use. Like a Quick Dial feature, for sending FAXes to locations that you don't plan on FAXing every day. Or you might like the new STraight FAX! Manager for seamless, system wide FAXing from your favorite applications, including Pagestream, Calligrapher 2/3, That's Write 2, Calamus, and Speedo GDOS based applications such as Atari Works. Just create a document using one of the applications above, select the special STraight FAX! "Print to Disk" driver from the application's printer driver selector, (optionally activate the STraight FAX! Manager CPX to select the path/filename for the generated FAX files), and print the pages of the document from the application's print command. If you are using MultiTOS, you can have STraight FAX! sitting by idle and ready to send the generated FAX without quitting the application. Just tell the STraight FAX! Manager to send the FAX and the STraight FAX! pops up with all the generated FAX files ready to go! Normal TOS users can quit the application, run STraight FAX! and it will automatically find the generated FAX files and be ready to send! Don't wait another day to discover the FAX revolution. It's here and working now on your Atari computer. Get it straight with STraight FAX! STraight FAX! 2.0 Features ========================== Send and Receive FAXes using any Class 1 or Class 2 FAX Modem. Send FAXes using a SendFAX Modem. Print Received FAXes to any GDOS supported printer. Export FAXes to Image, PCX or Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) formats. EPS files can be printed directly from the GEM Desktop to a PostScript printer or printed with a PostScript Interpreter. Send ASCII Text, Mono Image, High Rez Degas/Degas Elite, Mono PCX, GEM Metafiles, First Word, First Word Plus, Word Writer ST and FAX files. Broadcast FAXes to up to 100 Destinations. Schedule FAX transmissions at a later time (up to a year in advance). Quick Dial feature allows entry of a FAX name/number on the fly for infrequent destinations. Manual Send and Receive features allows inititiating a FAX Send or Receive from a voice call. Supra FAX Modem Caller ID support. Caller ID/Remote FAX ID can be used to reject incoming "Junk" FAXes from a user defined list of Bad FAX callers. Direct scanning from within STraight FAX! via the ScanLite Desk Accessory. Automatic merging of left and right scans from a hand scanner when used with The Tray scanning tray. Full Page direct scanning support for the Navarone/Canon IX-12 series scanners with our optional driver ($19.95). View up to 7 Image, Degas, PCX, GEM Metafile or FAX files at a time, each in a GEM window. Enhanced Image editing/processing features such as copy/paste a defined clip area to/from a selected file or the Atari Clipboard, Clear/Invert/Thicken a defined clip area, Reduced (50%) View and Enlarged (FAX page size) view, Clean Up stray pixels, Rotate and Flip Image and Draw/Erase pixels. Supports enhanced user interface features on Falcon TOS 4.02+ and MultiTOS such as 3D buttons and sliders and Hierarchical drop down menus. Supports MultiTOS features such as Drag and Drop and Iconifying windows. Enhanced FAX Send and Receive Logs now contain additional information: - Date and Time of transfer. - Name of destination (send) or Comment (receive) which may be edited by the user to allow annotation of the logs. - Destination FAX Number (send) or Caller ID (receive). - Remote ID string from destination FAX. - Name of first FAX file sent or received. - Transfer attempt number (send only). - Total pages sent or received. - Duration of transfer. - Resolution of transfer (Normal or Fine). - Established baud rate of transfer. - Cover Page sent (send only). - Modem Type (SendFAX, Class 1 or Class 2). - Status of transfer. The detailed FAX Send or Receive Log information for an entry may be printed to a line printer or copied to the Atari Clipboard. FAX Receive Log Management Commands: - View FAX. - Print FAX (via GDOS). - Rename received FAX files. - Delete received FAX files. - Export received FAX files to Image, PCX or EPS files. "Print to Disk" drivers included to print pages of a document from with the following applications: - Pagestream 1.8x - Pagestream 2.x - Calamus 1.09x - Calamus S/SL - That's Write 2.xx - Calligrapher 2/3 - Original Atari GDOS based applications (GEM Output, Migraph Outprint) - Atari FSM/Font GDOS based applications (WordFlair II) - Atari Speedo GDOS based applications (Atari Works) The STraight FAX! Manager (Auto Folder TSR and CPX Module) simplifies the "Print to Disk" of FAX files from an application. The STraight FAX! Manager allows the user to name generated FAX files and it keeps track of them and communicates with STraight FAX! to automatically enter the generated FAX files into the File List in STraight FAX!. Support's Supra's Silent Answer feature to allow single line Voice/FAX sharing. Enhanced Atari Clipboard support: - Paste Image, GEM or ASCII Text from the clipboard into a defined clip area in a window. Pasted Image files may be scaled to fit into the clip area with or without preserving the aspect ratio. - Copy a clip area defined in a window to the clipboard. - Copy/Paste text fields from the Cover Page to/from the clipboard. - Copy detailed FAX Send/Receive Log Information to the clipboard. Context sensitive on-line Help available with the Help Key or "?" button in dialogs. Over 60 user selectable parameters such, including the new: - Quick Dial dialog enable. - Time Format (12 or 24 hour). - Desktop color and fill pattern. - Prompt on File Overwrite. - Default ASCII Text File Extension. - Default File Path for Image, Degas, PCX, GEM, ASCII Text, First Word/Plus and FAX files. - GDOS Print Quality (Final or Draft). - Tab Width in ASCII Text File conversion. - Local Area Code. - Maximum AT command size (for newer FAX Modems that suppport 255 character command buffer). - Auto Baud parameter for FAX Modems that support automatic baud rate detection. - Caller ID parameter for FAX Modems that support Caller ID detection. - Clipboard Image Paste options for scaling, preserving aspect ratio and expanding clip area to fit. Optimized FAX import and export routines to reduce conversion times. Load and Save user preference files to change the entire system configuration on the fly. Run an external text editor from within STraight FAX! Enhanced Dialog User Interface: - Popup Menus and Check boxes to ease setting user selectable parameters. - "Fly Dial" dialogs can be dragged to any position on the screen. - Enhanced text edit field key commands. - Keyboard equivalents for button selection. Compatibility ============= STraight FAX! 2.0 requires an Atari 520 ST, 520STFM, 1040ST, STacy, Mega ST, STe, ST Book, Mega STe, TT030 or Falcon030 computer with a minimum of 1 Megabyte of RAM. 2 or more Megabytes of RAM are recommended for printing and viewing FAXes due to the large size of uncompressed FAX images. STraight FAX! will operate with TOS 1.00, 1.02, 1.04 (Rainbow TOS), 1.06, 1.062, 2.05-2.06, 3.05-3.06, 4.01-4.04 and MultiTOS. TOS 1.04 or higher is recommended due to memory allocation problems on earlier TOS versions. 4 or more Megabytes and a 16 MHz or higher speed CPU is recommended when used with MultiTOS. Due to the size of FAX files, a hard disk is recommended. Printing FAX documents and importing GEM Metafiles requires a version of GDOS and an appropriate GDOS printer driver. The original Atari GDOS (and compatibles), Font GDOS, FSM GDOS, and Speedo GDOS are supported. Font GDOS or Speedo GDOS are recommended. Importing GEM Metafiles requires the MEMORY.SYS GDOS driver to be installed as device number 61. Speedo GDOS is required to render text objects in GEM Metafiles. Ordering and Upgrades ===================== Suggested List Price $109.95 (US) Registered STraight FAX! users can upgrade to version 2.0 by sending in their original master disk and $25.00 (US). Registered users who have purchased STraight FAX! version 1.07 on or after June 1, 1993 can upgrade to version 2.0 by sending in their original master disk and $20.00 (US). Upgrade price includes version 2.0 master disk, version 2.0 manual and shipping within North America. Upgrade orders outside of North America, please add $5.00 (US). US funds only. Major Credit cards accepted. Please allow 3-4 weeks for delivery (after the official release date). Please mail upgrade orders to: Toad Computers STraight FAX! 2.0 Upgrade Offer 570F Ritchie Highway Severna Park, Maryland 21146 USA For more information contact: 410-544-6943 (Voice) 410-544-1329 (FAX) 410-544-6999 (BBS, 300-14400 baud, allow up to 60 seconds to connect) GEnie: C.S.SMETON CompuServe: 73047,2565 Internet: c.s.smeton@genie.geis.com or 73047.2565@compuserve.com STraight FAX! is marketed for NewSTar Technology Management by Toad Computers and is distributed in North America by Eastern Front Distributing Company and Pacific Software Supply. All programs and products mentioned are trademarks or copyrights of their respective companies. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 14 Thu Aug 12, 1993 C.S.SMETON [STraight FAX] at 22:25 EDT To: All, STraight FAX! 2.0 is expected to be released on or about September 1, 1993 (depending on logistical problems for manual printing). Orders for STraight FAX! 2.0 upgrades will be taken at this time, but no checks will be cashed or credit cards charged until the order is shipped. Orders will be processed on a first come first serve basis. Registered users can purchase version 2.0 at the Glendale Show on September 11-12, 1993. Please bring your master disk and Registration Number. ------- To: Beta Testers, A beta release of version 2.0 will be uploaded shortly and your access to the beta area will be activated atthat time. Thank You, Charles @ NewSTar Technology Management ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 15 Sat Aug 14, 1993 C.S.SMETON [STraight FAX] at 17:17 EDT To: ALGORYTHM [Daniel Keller], We will look into this in an update after 2.0 is released To: O-ZONE, The Print Setup command in the File menu will run the DRIVERS.PRG (Printer Drivers) utility that comes with Speedo GDOS to allow the GDOS driver setup to be changed. If the Printer Drivers utility is installed as a desk accessory, this command will be disabled. Since STraight FAX! needs to know where the DRIVERS.PRG is located, you should place it in the root directory of the boot disk (C:\) or add the directory where it is located to the PATH= environment variable using an Environment Variable utility such as GEMENV. This is explained in the 1.07 manual, 1.07 manual addendum or 1.07 README.TXT for those users who received updates on-line. Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 17 Mon Aug 16, 1993 N.HARD [Nick] at 02:58 EDT CHARLES- Are you also going to set up a beta conference area? ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 18 Mon Aug 16, 1993 O-ZONE [Flakes] at 18:43 EDT OIC, I thought it meant it would "print" the "setup." ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 19 Thu Aug 19, 1993 L.CHANDLER at 00:10 EDT Can someone suggest a program I can use to clean up an Image or Fax file. Some of the faxs I get are awful and I would like to erase and straithten up linesetc. Nothing big time, just cleanup. Thanks, Linda. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 20 Thu Aug 19, 1993 C.S.SMETON [STraight FAX] at 18:24 EDT To: L.CHANDLER, STraight FAX! has a stray pixel clean up function in it that can remove random pixels from a FAX sent from a FAX Machine (scanner distortion). You can also do some simple editing of a FAX that is viewed in a window by defining a clip area and clearing it. For more detailed changes you will need to export the FAX to an Image file with the "Convert FAX to Image" command. A paint program such as Migraph's Touch Up, WizWorks's MVG or Megapaint will allow you to read the Image file and make any changes. Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 21 Thu Aug 19, 1993 C.S.SMETON [STraight FAX] at 20:07 EDT To: All Registered STraight FAX! users interested in beta testing STraight FAX! 2.0, We still have a few openings left for beta testers for STraight FAX! 2.0. If you are a registered user and are interested, please send me private GEMail, with your registration nummber, name, etc. We now have a private beta test file library and BBS category in the ST Roundtable to make it easier for beta testers to get new releases and post results. We are most interested in users with Class 1 FAX Modems and other non- standard system configurations. Thanks, Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 22 Fri Aug 20, 1993 CBARRON at 00:37 EDT No 'cleanup' per se, but Megapaint -codehead software - Monochrome resolutions only Aerobesque - Gribnif - monochrome resolutions only [I think!!] TouchUp - Migraph - Any ST/TT resolution for sure. There may be others, but all of the above are monochrome IMG paint programs. Save the fax pages as IMG files and import into any of the above. 'Straighening' lines is not an easy to do automatic task ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 23 Fri Aug 20, 1993 R.NELSON48 [Grouch (:{] at 00:42 EDT DR. Bob's Handy Dandy MultiViewer Graphica or MVG for short will do the trick nicely and give you lots of other options besides. Has about the quickest "white-out" function of any program I have ever used. =-= Grouch (:{ =-= ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 24 Fri Aug 27, 1993 J.FISCHER7 at 03:47 EDT Dear C.S.Smeton I'm trying to get my straight fax working and am apparently missing a patch program that the manual refers to on page 41 in the 1.07 manual. The program is called Serial Fix which must be used with all versions of TOS. I'm using 1.02 with a Mega ST. It doesn't need the other two patchs provided on the disk. Question Where can I get Serial Fix? How come it's not on the distribution disk if its freeware? I'm not happy with the technical support i get on the phone with Toad computers. Thanks for your help. Jim Fischer Genie: J.Fischer7 or phone 206-699-5271 ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 25 Fri Aug 27, 1993 J.MEEHAN3 [>> Joe M << ] at 07:45 EDT Message 24, Fri Aug 27, 1993 J.FISCHER7 > Question < > Where can I get Serial Fix? < I think there is a copy in the RoundTable library. Try searching for serial, or try file number 24957. >> Joe M << ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 26 Sun Aug 29, 1993 J.H.ENGLISH at 11:01 EDT Is there a published list of modems that work with STraight FAX. Manufacturor and model number would be appreciated. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 27 Sun Aug 29, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 12:52 EDT To: J.H.ENGLISH, STraight FAX! (1.07, the current shipping version) works with standard Class 2 FAX Modems and SendFAX modems based on the Sierra Semiconductor chipset. STraight FAX! 2.0, which will be released next month, will also support standard Class 1 FAX Modems. Specific FAX Modems that have been tested either by us, users or beta testers (in case of version 2.0 in Class 1 mode) include: Zoom 4800 Baud SendFAX Modem (Sierra Semiconductor based) Zoom 9600 Baud SendFAX Modem (Sierra Semiconductor based) Zoom FX9624 Class 2 S/R FAX Modem (Rockwell based) Supra FAX Modem Plus Class 1 & 2 S/R FAX Modem (Rockwell based) Supra V.32 FAX Modem Class 1 & 2 S/R FAX Modem (Rockwell based) Supra V.32bis FAX Modem Class 1 & 2 S/R FAX Modem (Rockwell based) Best Data Products Smart One Class 2 S/R FAX Modem (Sierra Semi. based) GVC FAX Modem (Exar Based) Zoom V.32bis FAX Modem (Class 1 & 2) S/R FAX Modem (Rockwell based) Zoom VFDX Class 1 & 2 S/R FAX Modem (Rockwell based) TKR FAX Modem (German) Class 2 (Exar based) ZyXEL FAX Modems (Class 2) US Robotics Sportster FAX Modem (Class 1) Intel FAX Modems (Class 1) Note: Class 1 mode operation will require version 2.0 of STraight FAX! when it is released. There are many other small name brand FAX Modems that are very similar or identical to FAX Modems listed above. Many FAX Modems use chipsets and firmware from Rockwell, Sierra or Exar. If you have a terminal program, you can test a FAX Modem to see what Classes it supports (i.e. Class 1, Class 2 or both Class 1 & Class 2) with the command: AT+FCLASS=? The response will be: 0,1 (Data Modem & Class 1) 0,2 (Data Modem & Class 2) 0,1,2 (Data Modem, Class 1 & Class 2) You can determine the manufacturer for a Class 2 FAX Modem with the command: AT+FMFR? You can also get the firmware revision and modem model number with the commands: AT+FREV? AT+FMDL? Thanks Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 28 Sun Aug 29, 1993 O-ZONE [Flakes] at 13:48 EDT Add Practical Peripherals PM2400FX96SA (Class 2) to that list! ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 29 Sun Aug 29, 1993 J.MCCOMB [John M.] at 19:04 EDT To: Newstar Tech I've been using Stfax for some time on an STE 4 meg, V1.07, with a Supra 14400 v.32bis successfully for some time now, and will be upgrading to V2.0. I have since bought a Mega Ste, 4 meg and am having problems with STfax. It refuses to work on modem port 1. All other terminal software works on port 1 except for Stfax. I have tried it with TOS 2.05, and 2.06....... the same thing happens each time. It wont initialize. I've tried all the patch prg's, I've pulled everything out of the auto folder, I have even called Toad for help, They were not able to help after three phone calls. They indicated someone would call me back, nobody ever did. (Nice service huh). This is what happens, after starting STFax, it loads, the lights flicker on the modem, but it will not go all the way through the initialization, and it tells me my modem is not on, or to check the cable. I've replaced the cable, I've configured the system in Xcontrol to the proper port, and matched that config in STFax. After about 50 - 100 tries, still unable to get the thing to work on modem port 1. It will, however, work on the serial port, but this causes me to have to swap the cable from port to port since I use Aladdin and I havent found a way to make Aladdin recognize a different port other than modem port 1. Are there other users having this problem? Is there an easy fix, something I am overlooking? Is it the Modem? I have to say, it works great om my STE, but the Mega STE no go. John McComb, {Sunday} 08/29/93 [ 16:08 p.m.] ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 30 Sun Aug 29, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 22:29 EDT To: J.MCCOMB, We have tested STraight FAX! extensively with a Mega STe with TOS 2.06 on all of its serial ports. If you are using TOS 2.05, then you will need either Atari's SERPTCH2.PRG to correct problems in this version of TOS or the freeware Serial Fix 2.0 program available here on GEnie. I would even suggest using Serial Fix 2.0 with TOS 2.06. Serial Fix 2.0 will only correct problems with Modem 1 on the Mega STe/TT030 (i.e. MFP based serial port). Please try the following: Using a terminal program such as STalker 3, Interlink, Flash 1/2 set the baud rate to 19200 baud and use Modem 1 as the serial port connect the Supra FAX Modem to this port. Type the command AT and hit Return. You should get an OK response. If you do not, then there is a problem with Modem Port 1 operating at 19200 baud. When you use Aladdin, I assume that you are using 2400 baud as the baud rate, so it is possible that Modem 1 will work at 2400 baud, but not at 19200 baud (required for FAX). You may need to take your Mega STe to an Atari Dealer for a check up. From the way that STraight FAX! uses a serial port, there is no difference between Modem 1, Modem 2 or Serial 2 on your Mega STe. Since the program works on Modem 2 (which uses a different hardware chip than Modem 1), the problem is not with STraight FAX!. The problem is either a hardware failure in the MFP based Modem 1 port or an operating system problem (which is correctable in most cases with the proper patch). BTW, when you use Serial Fix 2.0, do not lock the flow control mode to RTS/CTS with the CPX that comes with it. Set the Flow Control in STFAX! to XON/XOFF first and if this does not work try RTS/CTS. Also, If you have STalker 3 installed as a Desk Acc, you must manually disable it or else STalker 3 will "steal" characters away from STFAX! which will prevent it from initializing the modem or sending/receiving FAXes. One other thing... The reason that Aladdin does not work with Modem 2 or Serial 2 is that it was designed to bypass the operating system and talk with the MFP based serial port directly (Modem 1). As such, it will not work with the SCC based ports on the Mega STe, TT030 or Falcon030 or the second MFP based port on the TT030. STraight FAX! was designed to use the operating system and is compatible with all serial ports on all Atari ST/STe/TT/Falcon models, The XControl setting for the Modem Port has no effect on STraight FAX! as it gives the user the ability to set the modem port in the Modem Preferences. What is the size of the I/O buffers in the Modem Preferences? BTW, the support people at Toad Computers routinely call users back. It is possible that some misunderstanding in you case took place, a call back to them to remind them could have rectified the situation there. Occasionally, a support problem is very difficult and I call users directly. Last week I called a user who could not get the program to work because he had set the Modem Type to "SendFAX 9600" and was using a Class 2 FAX Modem. We do make every attempt to call users back, it is possible that you line was busy or they could not reach you to leave a message. Thank You, Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 31 Mon Aug 30, 1993 J.MCCOMB [John M.] at 22:33 EDT To: C.S. SMETON Thank you for the timely response. I took your advice, going up to 19200 baud in a terminal prg, and I found, as you suspected, at the AT command I DO NOT GET an OK on either modem 1 or modem 2 ports, but I do get an OK off the serial port 2 at that speed. Using Flash V1.... I do not have Stalker installed and so there is no problem there. I/O buffers 512 in modem preferences. I have also used 256. So it seems there is a problem with both modem ports at high baud rates, but they operate fine at lower speeds. Is this an easy fix? Thanks again for the very prompt response. The info you passed along was very enlightening. John McComb, {Monday} 08/30/93 [ 19:08 p.m.] ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 32 Mon Aug 30, 1993 J.MORRISON38 [~ Jimmo ~] at 22:41 EDT Charles... I noticed that you have again told a user... >BTW, when you use Serial Fix 2.0, do not lock the flow control mode >to RTS/CTS with the CPX that comes with it. Set the Flow Control in >STFAX! to XON/XOFF first and if this does not work try RTS/CTS. The phrase that caught my eye was 'do NOT lock...'. Does this apply only to STraight FAX operations? I thought we could just lock RTS/CTS, and forget it. This is necessary for other programs, like STALKER, right? (especially for uploading). I guess I don't completely understand SERIALFX2, and its operation. Perhaps if you could elaborate, it might clear things up. I using a MegaST4, with TOS 1.04, using XCONTROL 1.0, and SERIALFX2. Thanx, ~ Jimmo ~ ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 33 Mon Aug 30, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 23:25 EDT To: J.MORRISON 38, The RTS/CTS lock in Serial Fix 2.0 is designed to lock the RTS/CTS flow control mode for use with older programs that do not give the user the option of selecting RTS/CTS mode. If you are using Serial Fix 2.0 and are using STraight FAX! in the XON/XOFF mode, then you must disable the RTS/CTS lock in Serial Fix 2.0's CPX. Some FAX Modems will only support XON/XOFF, some will only support RTS/CTS, others will support both with the AT&Kn command. STraight FAX! will detect this and override the Flow Control setting in the Modem Preferences if necessary. However, if you lock the RTS/CTS mode in the Serial Fix 2.0 CPX, STraight FAX! 1.07 will be unable to properly set the Flow Control since the RTS/CTS lock causes the flow control setting from the XBIOS Rsconf call to be ignored. Serial Fix 2.0 has a "back door" that is used in the upcoming STraight FAX! 2.0 to override the RTS/CTS lock if necessary. With STraight FAX! 2.0, it will detect if Serial Fix 2.0 is installed and has the RTS/CTS mode locked and will unlock it during a FAX send operation. To: J.MCCOMB, Flash (1.x) may not be the best program to test 19200 baud operation on serial ports as I think that it only goes up to 9600 baud. In addition, you will need to use the Modem Setup CPX select the serial port to use. If your Serial ports are "broken", you will have to take your computer to an Atari dealer for testing/repair. I cant help you much beyond this. P.S., I would suggest that you try using I/O buffer sizes of 32767 bytes for the best results. Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 34 Sun Sep 05, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 13:31 EDT To All: NewSTar Technology Management will be at the Glendale Show on September 18- 19, 1993. STraight FAX! 2.0 will be demonstrated and will be for sale and available for upgrade for currently registered users. If you are upgrading, please bring your master disk and 10 digit registration number with you. The upgrade price fro STraight FAX! 1.0x to STraight FAX! 2.0 is $25.00 (US) and includes a new user manual. Users who have purchased STraight FAX! 1.07 after June 1, 1993 can upgrade to version 2.0 for $20.00 (US). Thank You, Charles @ NewSTar P.S. If you have recently purchased STraight FAX! or have never sent in the registration card, please bring you registration card with you at the show. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 35 Sun Sep 05, 1993 GRMEYER [Gordon/Sysop] at 20:26 EDT Charles - I'd like to draw upon your experience with various fax machines... I'm using a Supra Faxmodem v32bis and normally keep STraight Fax configured for 14.4 speed. This works most of the time, but there are a few fax machines that give me headaches. I know, thru experience, that they are 9600 baud fax machines. With all the other machines I've called my modem will step down to match their speed, but these ones just seem to get deadlocked until I 'undo' the call. I've tried setting my STFax default speed to 9600, but then my modem doesn't always step-up to meet the faster speeds of the rest of the machines. So, my question is, does the fax 'standard' include speed adjustments? I'm trying to find a bps rate that will take advantage of 14.4 when it can but still connect to the machines that seem to be brain dead. Thanks for any insight you can provide. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 36 Fri Sep 10, 1993 L.CHANDLER [Linda] at 01:15 EDT Charles' I seem to be having difficulty faxing legal size documents. What I am doing is converting Dynacadd drawings to Image files files and importing them into Calamus, then converting them wiwith the Calamus STFax Driver, and then faxing. They come out the receiving fax at letter size. This happens when I go straight to STFax with the IMG file. I've set all the perameters I can find to "Legal" but to no avail. Any suggestions. Will there be new drivers in the new version? Linda. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 37 Fri Sep 10, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 23:41 EDT To: L.CHANDLER (Linda), What is the size of the Image files that you are creating from Dynacadd? A Letter Sized FAX Page (8.5" x 11") is 1728 x 2156 pixels (the actual height may vary slightly). A Lega Sized FAX Page (8.5" x 14") is 1728 x 2744 pixels. FAX Resolution is 203 x 196 DPI Fine Rez and 203 x 98 DPI Normal Rez. Does Dynacadd allow you to specify the resolution for the Image Files it creates. If you can specify a resolution of approx 200 x 200 DPI, you should be OK for generating FAX files (Fine Rez). There _should_ be no reason to have to import an Image file into another application, prior to importing into STraight FAX!, as it can read Image files directly. BTW, the Page Size parameters in STraight FAX! are for printing FAX files and for importing ASCII Text to FAX. Thes do not affect an Image File import. I tried importing a legal sized Image file (1728 x 2744) and did not have any problems converting it to a FAX. If you view the Image file in STraight FAX!, you can determine the size in pixels from the Edit Clip Settings dialog. Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 38 Sat Sep 11, 1993 S.KIEPE [Steve@CNOTES] at 16:16 EDT Charles, Any ideas on the G+Plus/Touchup/Outprint to STraight FAX problem I mentioned? I've continued to work with it to no avail. The files are created because of the STFAX TSR and CPX, but are garbled to varying degrees. It seems to be ALMOST working but something is just getting in the way there! Now, here's another one along the same lines. Trying to print LDW Power directly to fax (through G+Plus, etc) does not generate any FAX whatever. The device number is correctly chosen but nothing happens. I'm using the exact same assign.sys as for my other GDOS programs and STFAX.SYS is device #22. I'm using LDW v2.0 which allows you to change device numbers. You wanted us to check out everything, well I'm trying! No insult to your program intended! Steve ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 39 Sun Sep 12, 1993 L.CHANDLER [Linda] at 02:08 EDT Charles. Dynacadd has an export driver for 72, 150, and 300 DPI Image files. When I import into STFax and view what I thought was a 14" page, in the view window I only get 11" even if I import into Calamus on a 14" page and use the Cal driver you supplied. When the Cal page is viewed, or sent, it still only comes up 11". Strange. Thanks fot yyour help. BTW, will there be a "Works" driver with the new version I just ordered? Would be nice. Assuming I can get the "Copy as Metefile" thing to work in Works spreadsheet. What line does Meta. Sys. go on in Assign. Sys.? Maybe thats the problem. I've had so many lately, I've hardly gotten any work done. Linda. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 40 Sun Sep 12, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 10:30 EDT To: L.CHANDLER, The Speedo GDOS driver will be included with version 2.0 of STraight FAX! that works with Atari Works. The Speedo GDOS driver is actually available _free_ to current registered users by calling the Toad Computers support BBS at 410-544-6999 (300-14400 baud). Setup an account on the BBS and send private E-Mail to my account (User #6 or Charles). Please include your registration number. When you sign up for an account, please use the same name/info as you are registered, this will speed things up on our end. A day or two later, we will F-Mail the driver to your account on the BBS. The archive includes new versions of all of the drivers, and a driver for Speedo GDOS and drivers for That's Write 2.xx. Also included is the FAX Manager CPX/TSR that allows naming the created FAX files on the fly (prior to printing them from an application). You can also get the new drivers by sending in your master disk and $1 in a self addressed mailer to our mailing address. I will look into what is necessary to build a direct Dynacadd FAX export driver (if this is actually possible). The 72, 150 and 300 DPI resolutions are either to small to too big for FAX purposes. However, in version 2.0, you could use the 300 DPI setting, view the Image file (Legal Size at 300 DPI will be 2559 x 4200) and then use the new 'FAX Size View' command in 2.0 to scale the page to a FAX size. Some detail will be lost and there will be a slight loss of quality going from 300 x 300 DPI to 203 x 196 DPI. It will take over 1.3 megabytes of RAM just to view the 300 x 300 DPI Image at Lega Size. If there is limited RAM, you could have Dynacadd create a 150 Image file (this will only need about 330 kbytes) and again use the 'FAX Size View' to scale the image up from 150 x 150 DPI to 203 x 196 DPI. Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 41 Mon Sep 13, 1993 L.CHANDLER [Linda] at 23:23 EDT Thanks Charles, tha drivers work great. Much appreciated. Now, how about the Calamus driver. I tried again to print a 14" page via Calamus and the Cal/STFax driver and it still comes out 11" although on a 14" sheet. Thanks again, These drivers, the 200 dpi one anyway, are a bit more accurate for scaling off a fax page. I sent in my $25 for the update. When will it be shipping? Soon I hope. STFax is such a marvellous program. And you're such a nice fellow. Linda. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 42 Tue Sep 14, 1993 J.MEEHAN3 [>> Joe M << ] at 05:11 EDT Message 41, Mon Sep 13, 1993 L.CHANDLER [Linda] I know this might be a silly question, but what kind of printer are you using to print out the 14 inch page and how much memory does your printer have? >> Joe M << ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 43 Fri Sep 17, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 00:54 EDT To All: We will be away for the next few days and might not have the opportunity to be on-line to read our mail or messages here. We will be at the Glendale Show on Sept 18-19, 1993 in Glendale, California. Please stop by and say hello if you will be attending the Glendale show. If anyone wishes to bring their own FAX Modem for compatibility testing with STraight FAX! 2.0 in Class 1 or Class 2 modes, please bring the FAX Modem with you to the show. We will have a telephone demonstrator device that acts as a mini 4 line telephone system that will let us send and receive FAXes. See you at the show... Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 44 Wed Sep 22, 1993 K.ESTES [Kenne@SFRT] at 17:40 EDT OOps. I know it's my fault but I overwrote my phone list when I copied the upgrade to my hard disk. A warning to others who I hope aren't as spaced as I was. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 45 Thu Sep 23, 1993 MUSE [Tomas] at 02:53 EDT Kenne, Ooops! I had slightly better luck with the upgrade. I hope that little MaxiFile trick I showed you in Glendale didn't cause you to do that. Charles, I installed v2.00 to a new folder and copied files over from the old one. One interesting side effect is my Send Log information is being displayed incorrectly. It shows the control characters and the information is skewed. Also, I had upgraded from v1.08 and I noticed that the program UPDATINF expects to see files created by v1.07. But the upgrade went well. It's great how it takes you through all the settings. I like the new features. Access to a text editor is nice, but when I exit the editor and quit Straight FAX, STraight FAX runs again. Weird. I wonder if I'll use that feature much because I usually create my FAXs in Calligrapher and Calamus. I tried something new. Having just rediscovered HotWire's global block feature I installed .J0? files as a document for STraight FAX and when I double click on a FAX file now from MaxiFile, STFAX runs and loads the document into the send multiple screen. Way cool. It would be neat to be able to double click and choose between send and view FAX as an option. Straight FAX is really first rate. At work we send FAXs all over the world. I love being able to send font charts and price lists with such high quality. And at home I keep in touch with friends and relatives across the country. One of my best buddies picked up a used FAX machine just two days ago. Boy, is he in for it! (Maybe I'M in for it?) FAX you later, ===Tomas=== ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 46 Thu Sep 23, 1993 S.AGARWAL [SANJAY] at 03:55 EDT Enjoying Straight Fax 2.0 even more than 1.07!! Sanjay. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 47 Thu Sep 23, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 18:42 EDT To: MUSE (Tomas), The format of the LOG files has changed from version 1.07 to 2.00. Please delete the old .LOG files. New ones will be created when you send/receive a FAX. The change in format was necessary to accomodate the changes to the log (i.e. more fields, longer fields). The .LOG files are also no longer ASCII text, they are in a binary format, as such they can not be viewed from the desktop. You can however, copy the contents of a detailed log entry to the clipboard (SCRAP.TXT). The UPDATINF.PRG program will "update" a version 1.07 Preferences (.INF) file to the version 2.00 format. Version 1.07 has been available for over 6 months and most registered users had upgraded to it. The use of this program is optional and really only needs to be used one time on the .INF files that you might have from version 1.07. Again, the new .INF format was necessary due to the additional system preferences (i.e. system paths, etc.). There is some spare area in the Preferences file that should allow future versions with new system preferences to use an existing Preferences file without the need for another update utility. The problem that you experienced with the Text Editor is now fixed in the next release (2.01). We just got back yesterday after a few extra days of vacation after the Glendale show. The problem of the editor running again _should_ onbly occur if you run the program from Hotwire!. A similar problem existed with NeoDesk, but was fixed prior to the 2.0 release once we knew hot to detect if Neodesk was installed. At the show Charles and John were able to show me how to detect if Hotwire is installed. I have made the minor changes necessary to detect Hotwire and the problem is gone in 2.01. The passing of parameters to STraight FAX! has been around for a while and will allow multiple file parameters if the shell (Hotwire, Neodesk, MultiTOS NewDesk, etc.) supports it. To: K.ESTES (Ken), The next release's install program will now allow the user to specify a drive/path where to install the files. It will even copy the Help and Font files to the path and create the path if it does not already exist. BTW, It was really great meeting everyone at the Glendale show!!! P.S. Ken, I bought one of the "3D" posters at Universal Studio's Citywalk on Sunday. Hopefully I will soon be able to "see" the hidden objects in the picture. There were 3 different posters on display there and I was not able to "get the picture" there either ;-) Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 48 Thu Sep 23, 1993 K.ESTES [Kenne@SFRT] at 21:02 EDT LOL! I feel responsible for you buying the poster. I'll delete my log files. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 49 Thu Sep 23, 1993 J.NOLAN5 [John Nolan] at 21:16 EDT Help: when I print to Straight Fax from Atari Works, the resulting file has text which is wildly mis-spaced. The same file prints fine to my deskjet. What gives? Thanks ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 50 Thu Sep 23, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 21:54 EDT To: J.NOLAN5, There is a replacement Speedo GDOS driver for STraight FAX! that is available from the Toad BBS by request (410-544-6999). The new version of this driver is also included with STraight FAX! 2.0 and the upgrade from 1.07. To: K.ESTES (Ken), My curiosity is probably the reason. Of course, I will feel alot better once I can see the hidden objects ;-) Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 51 Thu Sep 23, 1993 R.PERRY4 [Randy] at 22:48 EDT To C.S SMETON RE: 3D Pictures Charles, If the picture isn't framed try putting a piece of glass in front of it and stare at the reflection. Keep staring. Turn off your logical mind (if that's possible for a programmer). A little alchohol (or other relaxing substance) might help. They're great once you get the hang of it. Randy Perry BTW: Is there a deadline for upgrading for $20.00 if you purchased after June 1, 19993? ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 52 Thu Sep 23, 1993 MUSE [Tomas] at 23:04 EDT Charles, Looks like I did a thorough job of breaking everything I could. I'll have a look for the next version. Thanks. ===Tomas=== ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 53 Fri Sep 24, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 02:20 EDT To: R.PERRY4 (Randy), Thanks for the info on the picture. I will _try_ to look beyond the logic of the picture ;-) There is no deadline for upgrades to 2.00. The $20.00 upgrade price is only for users who have purchased version 1.0x after June 1, 1993. Unfortuately the press release in ST Informer (August 1993) was probably edited to fit into the available space and incorrectly indicates that v1.07 users can upgrade for $20. The STraight FAX! 2.0 ad on the back page of this issue has the correct info for upgrade pricing. The ad does indicate that it must be v1.07 that has been purchased after June 1, 1993 to qualify for the discount. Since version 1.07 has been out since March 4th, we would expect that copies of the program that are on store shelves have been v1.07 for a while now. In the unlikely event that someone purchases an earlier version than 1.07 after June 1, 1993, they will still qualify for the $20 upgrade price. Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 54 Sat Sep 25, 1993 M.MARIANI1 at 16:25 EDT I read in a brochure on STraight FAX that you can use a remote FAX machine as a 200 dpi full page scanner. I'm curious on how this would be accomplished. Do you just hook a phone cable between the FAX Modem and FAX machine and tell Straight FAX to receive a FAX? I tried doing this on an IBM, and it seemed that the modem software needed to detect a ring before it would receive the FAX transmission. How would this work on the ST with Straight FAX? ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 55 Sat Sep 25, 1993 K.ESTES [Kenne@SFRT] at 16:58 EDT You go to a fax location and fax yourself the document. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 56 Sat Sep 25, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 23:09 EDT To: M.MARIANI1, If you FAX a document to yourself, the received FAX can be converted to an Image file and used as any other piece of clipart. This will require 2 phone lines, one for the FAX Machine and one for the FAX Modem. There are devices available that can simulate a phone line (i.e. in this case a peer to peer connection of a FAX Machine and a FAX Modem). I have seen these devices advertized in PC magazines, but I am not familiar with their operation. We internally use a device known as a Telephone Demonstrator that is a complete 4 line telephone system. This device comes in very handy for shows, user group demos and our own testing. Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 57 Sun Sep 26, 1993 J.NOLAN5 [John Nolan] at 09:18 EDT Charles: I have signed on to the Straight Fax BBS, but it won't allow me to call back with my user # and password. I re-registered as a new user, and tried again with that # and password, but again, the system tells me my password is invalid. I would really like to get the SpeedoGdos fax driver for Works soon...what am I doing wrong, and what should I do? Thanks, John Nolan ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 58 Sun Sep 26, 1993 GRMEYER [Gordon/Sysop] at 10:16 EDT Charles - We have some of those 3D posters at work. I've tried and tried and still can't convince my brain to let me see the image. There are about four of us that can't see 'em, everyone else finds this situation very amusing. :-/ I think one of the neatest features of STraight Fax 2.0 is the fax manager auto/cpx. I generate 90% of all my faxes using Calligrapher and STFax under MultiTOS. It's great how it'll call up STFax from the background after printing to the fax driver. Nice work! ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 59 Sun Sep 26, 1993 J.NOLAN5 [John Nolan] at 16:04 EDT Charles: just a public note to thank you for your extremely prompt assistance with my problem...great program, great support! ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 60 Sun Sep 26, 1993 K.VANDELLEN [Ken Van] at 19:20 EDT Gordon, I'm not sure what these posters are, but approximately 10% of the population lacks stereoscopic vision. I run into it every semester when I teach about stereoscopic aerial photos in geology lab. You may have a visual disability. Tell your coworkers to be kind to the handicapped. ;^) Ken ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 61 Mon Sep 27, 1993 O-ZONE [Flakes] at 18:58 EDT Ken, 10% of the population has sight in only one eye? Whaaa??? ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 62 Mon Sep 27, 1993 K.VANDELLEN [Ken Van] at 23:44 EDT They see out of both eyes, but lack the 3-D ability, like when you look at a pair of stereo photos (as in ViewMaster), and they merge. Ken Van ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 63 Tue Sep 28, 1993 O-ZONE [Flakes] at 21:09 EDT Ken, I'm curious about this. It would seem to me that having sight in both eyes and being able to focus them, or rather adjust them to view the same object would be the very definition of 3-D sight. What condition or defect would interfere with this process? ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 64 Wed Sep 29, 1993 K.VANDELLEN [Ken Van] at 07:53 EDT Flakes, I don't know how it works, and it's as baffling to me as it is to you, although it may have a simple explanation. I just repeated the statistic I'd heard, and my experience with students seems to bear it out. Maybe my ophthalmologist can explain it, but by the time I talk to him I'll have forgotten who wanted to know. Ken Van ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 65 Thu Sep 30, 1993 S.AGARWAL [SANJAY] at 01:14 EDT Charles, I am having a slight problem with GDOSPAGE.J* files from Atari Works.... When viewing/printing/faxing files created from AW/SpeedoGDOS, I notice that some lines come out longer than others. I use right justified text and to have the occasional line appear a few characters longer than the rest is obviously a problem. Am I doing something wrong? Any ideas? Thanks, Sanjay. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 66 Sun Oct 10, 1993 G.FUHRMAN [gnox] at 06:42 EDT Are the 2.0 upgrades being sent out yet? I seem to recall the end of September as the due date and I'm wondering when to start worrying because it hasn't arrived. gnox ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 67 Sun Oct 10, 1993 D.STMARTIN [Binary Ink] at 10:55 EDT I, too, have not received my STraight FAX 2.0 upgrade despite having dispatched it to the Toads well over three weeks ago. -- Dave @ Binary Ink ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 68 Sun Oct 10, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 11:29 EDT To: G.FUHRMAN & D.STMARTIN, As of Friday, 10/8, all orders that had been reecived for upgrades from STraight FAX! 1.0x to 2.00 had been processed and sent out. Upgrades began shipping about 2 weeks ago when a new batch of manuals arrived. Also, any users who purchased the upgrade at the Glendale show, but did not receive a manual at that time (since we ran out) have also been sent their manuals. If anyone does not receive their order within the next few days, please contact me via GEMail and I will double check the status of your specific order. Thanks Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 69 Sun Oct 10, 1993 J.NOLAN5 [John Nolan] at 19:12 EDT I'm having trouble getting the That's Write fax drivers to work with version 3. Compo says that the drivers should work, but I get 2 bombs and an "output error" dialogue bax put up by TW when I try them. A fax file is produced, but it's blank. I'm using drivers dated 7.8.93. Any ideas? I've remaned the files according to the new TW3 conventions. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 70 Sun Oct 10, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 22:31 EDT To: J.NOLAN5, The That's Write 2 Drivers that are included with STraight FAX! are only for That's Write 2.xx, not That's Write 3. We just received That's Write 3 courtesy of Compo Software and will be working on making the drivers compatible with That's Write 3. Please stay tuned here for availability of these new drivers. Thanks Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 71 Mon Oct 11, 1993 J.NOLAN5 [John Nolan] at 18:32 EDT OK, Charles, thanks for the quick reply. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 72 Tue Oct 12, 1993 T.HENRY12 [Tom Jr.] at 18:03 EDT Charles, I've found a few problems I'm having with v2.0. 1. When in 68030 mode with TT ram mode on, the Default path area and List button is greyed out. Note that in trying to determine the problem, I disabled everything I could beforehand. It appears to work in every setup available until I turn on the TT ram on my Turbo 030. 2. This is cosmetic, but I hadn't noticed this until I actually had to send one fax to multiple locations. When sending, the REMOTE FAX ID field does not clear until the next number is connected. Of course, if the receiving machine does not have an ID, the field is not cleared at all. A minor thing, just thought I'd pass this along. 3. Thirdly, I can't trace the source of this (and am not convinvced STraight FAX is the isssue), but I have noticed garbled fax logs. I first noticed this problem checking out an odd item in the receive list (it had a strange date) When double-clicking on it, STraight Fax would bounce out to the desktop. The strange thing about this is that I deleted the log files from disk and have sent faxes since then. When checking the log, everything was OK. I could not re-create the problem. I apologize for not checking this at beta stage, but there were several functions I don't utilize often. Hope this doesn't cause too many problems for you. Tom ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 73 Tue Oct 12, 1993 B.JENSEN1 [BJ] at 21:13 EDT Does anyone have a good Desktop icon to use for STraight FAX? If so, please upload it to the ST Library 475;3 and leave a message here giving the file name and number. Better yet, upload your whole collection of icons! Thanks, Bryan G. Jensen (BJ) ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 74 Tue Oct 12, 1993 RANA at 22:37 EDT I am using STraight FAX 2.0 on a 1040 ST with 4 Megs. running TOS 1.4 and the TOS14FX2 patch in my AUTO folder. I am driving a U.S. Robotics Sportster 14.4 (Class 1) FAX-modem. My first attempt to send a FAX from home to my office FAX machine worked fine. Then I tried to send the same (ASCII) file to my accountant's FAX machine, and after the status box showed that the destination answered and entered the "training" stage, I saw the baud rate keep going down to 2400, and finally, STraight FAX gave up, saying "Timed out waiting for destination to answer." I got the same results after repeated retries. Then I tried a third FAX machine. This time, after the destination answered, the "Training" message showed briefly, and then "Error, destination FAX hung up unexpectedly". So, out of 3 different FAX destinations, only 1 worked successfully and 2 failed. Could someone from NewSTar or TOAD please help me out? Thanks, Rana ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 75 Wed Oct 13, 1993 T.HENRY12 [Tom Jr.] at 20:11 EDT RANA, Before giving up the ghost, try sending that fax in Class 2 mode. The US Robotics should be compatible. Ultimately, Charles is the expert, but in my testing, I experienced the exact same problem. I soon found there was something about the receiving machine that was giving me the hassle, because I had been able to send a fax to other machines, with no problem. I still couldn't tell you why this is, hopefully Charles can shed some light on it. Tom ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 76 Thu Oct 14, 1993 P.GRIFFITH2 [PGRIF] at 02:27 EDT Tom Jr. I don't think that the USR modem does class 2 FAXes. I would have bought a Sportster instead of a Zyxel, but the Sportsters only do class 1 and older versions of STraight FAX only did class 2, which the Zyxel will do(very well I might add). Paul ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 78 Thu Oct 14, 1993 RANA at 21:14 EDT Tom, Paul is right, the Sportster only does Class 1. Configuring STraight FAX for Class 2 with the Sportster results in a modem init error. Setting it to Class 1, however, works only with 1 out 3 different FAX destinations that I have tried so far. In the two failure cases, something goes wrong in the Training stage, either STraight FAX reports that the far end hung up unexpectedly or that it timed out trying to connect. Yet I know that I can FAX to those two machines from a regular FAX machine reiliably. So I am still awaiting any further suggestions that NewSTar or TOAD can offer me. One interesting point. If I set for FINE mode, then I get a little further with one of the destinations: STraight FAX gets all the way through transmitting Page 1, and then (darn!) it times out waiting for a Page Acknowledgement from the remote. In NORMAL mode, with the same FAX destination, I get the "Disconnected unxpectedly" message while in the Training stage. Sigh! ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 79 Fri Oct 15, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 00:33 EDT To: RANA, > FAX machine worked fine. Then I tried to send the same (ASCII) file to my > accountant's FAX machine, and after the status box showed that the destination > answered and entered the "training" stage, I saw the baud rate keep going > down to 2400, and finally, STraight FAX gave up, saying "Timed out waiting We do not have a USR Sportster 14400 baud FAX Modem, but several of our beta testers do have USR FAX Modems and have not had problems with the Training phase of the FAX connection. Can you determine the firmware revision of your USR Sportster with the ATI7 command? The Training phase occurs at the start of the FAX connection. It is used to have the two FAX devices to establish the highest possible common baud rate between the FAX devices that is free of line noise. What baud rate are you tring to send the FAX at? What is the response to the following AT commands: AT+FCLASS=1 AT+FTM=? AT+FRM=? What is the size of the I/O Buffers in the Modem Preferences? Try using larger buffer sizes, up to 32767 bytes. What Flow Control mode are you using? XON/XOFF or RTS/CTS? Even with the TOS14FX2.PRG installed on TOS 1.04, there are problems with RTS/CTS Flow Control. The Serial Fix 2.0 program available in the ST RT will correct the RTS/CTS mode and it replaces TOS14FX2.PRG. Serial Fix 2.0 is highly recommended as it fixes several serial port related problems in all TOS versions up to 3.06. Can you receive FAXes with the USR Sportster? To: T.HENRY12, Tom, The USR Sportster is a Class 1 only FAX Modem. > 1. When in 68030 mode with TT ram mode on, the Default path area and List > button is greyed out. Note that in trying to determine the problem, I disabled This is very strange. I will try to see if this occurs on a TT030 with TT RAM enabled. > 2. This is cosmetic, but I hadn't noticed this until I actually had to send > one fax to multiple locations. When sending, the REMOTE FAX ID field does not > clear until the next number is connected. Of course, if the receiving machine This problem will be fixed in the next maintenance release. > 3. Thirdly, I can't trace the source of this (and am not convinvced STraight > FAX is the isssue), but I have noticed garbled fax logs. I first noticed this Do not use the FAX log files (STFAX_TX.LOG and STFAX_RX.LOG) from version 1.0x with STraight FAX! 2. The format of these files has changed. The version 1.0x log files were ASCII Text and were readable by double clicking on them from the Desktop. The version 2 log files are binary files and are not viewable from the Desktop. When you deleted the log files, STraight FAX! 2 created new ones after the next send/receive operation. This effectively solved the problem. Charles Smeton, NewSTar Technology Management ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 80 Fri Oct 15, 1993 P.BULLOCK2 [PETER] at 08:46 EDT regarding sending to troublesome fax machines: I have found that if I set the baud rate at 9600, even though it's a 14,400 modem, the faxes work every time. When it's at 14.4, the faxes don't go through correctly, particularly when sending to a sportster modem. hope this helps, Peter ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 81 Fri Oct 15, 1993 GRMEYER [Gordon/Sysop] at 22:50 EDT Peter - Even though I have a 14.4 modem I normally have the baud rate set for 9600. I too have found that to be the most reliable setting. Of the few machines I fax to that I _know_ support 14.4, they will all step up to the higher machine. But if I call a 9600 machine at 14.4 some of them just refuse to handshake with me. Go figure. All in all, 9600 seems like the best solution. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 82 Sun Oct 17, 1993 M.PAULI [Small Mike] at 05:11 EDT Rana, I use a 14.4 k SPORTSTER and do not have the same problems like you. After sending faxes to about 40 different machines my success-rate is almost 100%. Some older PANAFAX-machines give me trouble acknowledging sometimes though. Like Charles said...check ALL settings carefully! US ROBOTICS offers new ROMs now which will allow CLASS 2-operation but I didn't get mine yet to try it out. Mike ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 83 Sun Oct 17, 1993 JRH [Roger] at 08:29 EDT I have a Supra 14.4 FAX modem, and have experienced similar difficulties with connecting with certain FAX machines. In my case I find that I can often get through to a machine using Class 1 when I am not able to using Class 2, and vice versa. Same is true for receiving FAXes. Sometimes only a single page will send to me, then the sending machine fails (although I do get the page successfully, the two machines don't seem to be able to communicate that). If I try the same thing after changing classes, it works fine. Peter and Gordon, the suggestion to set the system up for 9600 baud sounds promising, I will give it a try. Charles, Any possibility of allowing a setting in the Dial Directory that would automatically set the class for different numbers. That would allow us to send FAXes to various machines using the class we have determined by experience works best with that machine. Not sure if a similar thing could be worked for receiving, but it would be nice. Sure would solve a lot of the frustration and missed FAXes that I have experienced. I am finding that one or the other of the 2 classes usually works. It is just that I am often in the wrong one for a given machine. It's worth a try. Regards, Roger ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 84 Tue Oct 19, 1993 J.MORRISON38 [~ Jimmo ~] at 02:28 EDT Charles... I must be (I hope I am) doing things wrong...I received STraight FAX v2.00 from TOAD yesterday, and am trying to install it, still. A few peculiarities were encountered, although nobody else has mentioned these. I even went back and re-read all the messages in this topic for the last 5 weeks. Paragraph 1 of the installation section says you can use the GEM desktop to copy the disk. You cannot. This IS mentioned on the 3rd page of the README.TXT, in "Master Disk". Perhaps paragraph 12 of the installation section should be paragraph 1 (...look for README.TXT...)! Perhaps this should be earlier in the README also. I was unable to install 'from the Hard Disk', as per Paragraphs 1 & 2 of the installation section. It kept telling me I had to install from the Master Disk, which I then did. INSTALL.PRG then told me I had STALKER resident... I must assume that it somehow found this way down in my MultiDesk MDX list! I do NOT have it as a resident ACC. I copied my old STFAX.INF (376 bytes) to the STFAX 2.00 directory, and ran UPDATINF.PRG, with no apparent problems. BUT, my new STFAX.INF file is only 2044 bytes, not the 2048 bytes as mentioned in the README. When attempting to run STFAX 2.00, I then got a "Error, Reading Preferences File. Please Set Preferences" message in v2.00? Has nobody else encountered this problem? Did you know that FAXTRIM.TOS is larger than the combined size of the contained files? Hey, these are all minor problems, easy enough for me to understand, and get around, but they would no doubt be a real pain for new users of your product, or new ST users. Now, to print my old prefs, and set my new ones, and bash away at v2.00!!! Registration card will be in the mail tomorrow/today. TTYL, ~ Jimmo ~ BTW...GREAT PROGRAM!!! I've used it a lot in the past, and expect I'll use it a lot more in the future. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 85 Wed Oct 20, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 18:23 EDT To: J.MORRISON38, A few last minute changes were made to the program after the manual went to press. These changes are reflected in the README.TXT file. Also, the Master Disk has instructions to run the Install.Prg file from the master disk. The next rev of the manual will be updated to reflect the changes. > INSTALL.PRG then told me I had STALKER resident... I must assume that it > somehow found this way down in my MultiDesk MDX list! I do NOT have it as a > resident ACC. The Install program uses the AES call appl_find to see if STalker 3 is resident in memory. Under normal TOS, this would only occur if STalker 3 was installed as a desk accessory. Under MultiTOS/Geneva, this will occur if STalker 3 is installed as a desk accessory or if it is currently running (but idle) as a program. I suspect that the appl_find AES call is modified when MultiDesk Deluxe is installed as a desk accessory and it will report back a match for non-resident accessories. This message is just a warning to be aware of when STalker 3 is running. > UPDATINF.PRG, with no apparent problems. BUT, my new STFAX.INF file is only > 2044 bytes, not the 2048 bytes as mentioned in the README. I will double check this problem. Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 86 Thu Oct 21, 1993 G.FUHRMAN [gnox] at 06:43 EDT Charles, My 2.0 update arrived yesterday and looks fine! Except for one thing: on my TT (3.06), STFAX seems to have a problem communicating with Scanlite. Even with Scanlite (1.10) installed in a regular desk accessory slot, the Scan item in the STFax menu is greyed out. Any idea what could be causing this? I made sure both of them are using TT Ram but don't know what else to try. One other question: my Supra v.32bis is both Class 1 and 2; does it make any difference which choice I make for Fax Modem Type under the Modem Preferences? gnox ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 87 Thu Oct 21, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 07:26 EDT To: G.FUHRMAN, Make sure that the Scan Lite desk accessory is named SCANLITE.ACC, otherwise STraight FAX! can not find it (via the AES appl_find call). Is Scan Lite installed as a normal desk accessory or is it installed via MultiDesk Deluxe or a similar accessory extender? BTW, it is also very important that STraight FAX! be named as STFAX.PRG or STFAX.APP, otherwise the STraight FAX! Manager CPX will not be able to locate its process id (via appl_find). This feature currently requires Geneva or MultiTOS, so that STraight FAX! can be running at the same time as another application (such as Atari Works) while you print to disk from the application. Since you have a Supra that is both Class 1 and Class 2, I would set the program to Class 2, which is what it has been in the past. If there are any FAX Machines that you have trouble connecting with, then you might want to try Class 1 mode. It all depends on the exact firmware that your FAX Modem has (Supra is currently up to v1.80) and the exact type of FAX Machine/Modem that you are connecting to on the remote end. BTW, there is a utility that Dave Troy of Toad Computers has written that is available to everyone in the ST RT File Library called Modem Test (MODEMTST.ZIP), that will test out a FAX Modem for STraight FAX! compatibility. It will determine the exact type and display other info about the FAX Modem. You can manually determine the exact firmware release with the ATI3 command. Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 88 Thu Oct 21, 1993 L.MAZZERI [Cybey] at 23:42 EDT In my long list of fax numbers there's one single number I have trouble with. I use a SupraFaxModem 14.4Kbps. I think I have the first commercial version of STraight Fax. It seems like it spends about a minute or more trying to find the right speed. Then disconnects. I forget the message. As Murphy's Law would have it - it's my most important fax number. What's the most current version of STraight Fax? Is there a way to delete file from the disk drive without having to exit out of the program. I don't always delete the faxes at the prompt because I like to check to see what the fax looked like before or after I send it. There's no second prompt to delete faxes. cyb@y ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 89 Fri Oct 22, 1993 ARCHIVIST [Charlie] at 04:32 EDT Cybey, Straight Fax version 2.0 was just recently released. Charlie/sysop ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 90 Fri Oct 22, 1993 G.FUHRMAN [gnox] at 06:55 EDT Charles, After tinkering for an hour or so, I tracked down my problem with Scanlite. I had SCANLITE.ACC in a normal desk accessory slot, but I left a copy in my MultiDesk MDX directory (I use it from there all the time with Megapaint). Apparently the presence of two Scanlite ACCs on my C: drive confused STFAX, even though one of them was not resident and not in the root directory. As soon as I deleted the copy in my MDX folder and rebooted, scanning was enabled in STFAX. (Apparently Scanlite inside MultiDesk does not work with STFAX, as I'm sure that's the first thing I tried, before I put it in a normal DA slot.) Thanks for the explanation on Class 1 and 2; I'll leave my setting at Class 2. I'm still a bit confused about the Manager TSR and CPX though. Were you saying that these serve no purpose unless one is using MultiTOS or Geneva? (I have neither.) gnox ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 91 Fri Oct 22, 1993 K.HULET [Ken] at 07:10 EDT Charles or anyone, We have version 2.0 and are having problems getting page acknowledgement both in sending or receiving multiple page faxes. I've faxed multiple pages from work to home and there's no indication of problems on the ST but at work I got a "communication error" message at the end of the transmission. We've also had much difficulty sending and receiving with other fax machines. Usually we have to have multiple pages faxed in as separate calls. We see "Waiting Page Acknowlegement" but before anything happens the remote fax hangs up. We're running on a 2.5meg ST with TOS1.04. AUTO PRGS ICDTIME UIS III SERFX20 SPDGDOS STFAXMGR CALL_UIS.ACC & XCONTROL.ACC Our preferences are set as Class 2, Auto Baud, 9600 baud, RTS/CTS, and I/O buffers set at 20480. Anyone have similar problems or better yet any suggestions? Thanks................Ken ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 92 Fri Oct 22, 1993 K.VANDELLEN [Ken Van] at 07:56 EDT Charles, Will we see STFax using the Wand from Migraph sometime soon? Nice Toad modem utility! Is Troy the T in Toad? Ken Van ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 93 Fri Oct 22, 1993 L.MAZZERI [Cybey] at 10:15 EDT >Cybey, Straight Fax version 2.0 was just recently released. > >Charlie/sysop How would I obtain that? ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 94 Fri Oct 22, 1993 S.BLACKBURN [STEVE] at 10:39 EDT I just printed out a fax I received directly from SF. Boy is that nice. It's a lot nicer then having to convert to IMG, then loading and printing from Calamus. Nice Touch... A question though, could someone run through the hows and whys of the STfax manager? I'm not sure exactly how it is to be used. Thanks, Steve ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 95 Fri Oct 22, 1993 K.VANDELLEN [Ken Van] at 20:51 EDT Cybey, There's a news release in the library. Ken Van ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 96 Fri Oct 22, 1993 J.MEEHAN3 [>> Joe M << ] at 21:16 EDT Message 88, Thu Oct 21, 1993 L.MAZZERI [Cybey] > What's the most current version of STraight Fax? < Version 2.0 just released (I'm ordering my upgrade tonight. > Is there a way to delete file from the disk drive without < > having to exit out of the program. < I suggest MaxiFile from Codehead, but there are other accessories that will allow you to delete, move rename etc. files from inside other programs. MaxiFile is probably the best. If you read the last week or two of messages I think you may find some insight on you connection problem. There are not too many messages (starts with message #74). >> Joe M << ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 97 Fri Oct 22, 1993 P.MORALES1 [Pat] at 23:02 EDT Maybe someone in the know can take a few minutes and write a little bit about the differences/advantages/disadvantages/compatibility regarding Fax Class 1&2 modems. Or perhaps one could point me in some direction where I could find the information myself. I would sure appreciate the effort. Also, is anyone familiar enough with the hardware/firmware requirements and Supra's upgrade policies to know if the Supra modems could eventually be upgraded to add voice mail capability? My interest began with Toad's recent upload announcing fax modem/STF bundles. Supra apparently is charging about $50.00 for class 2 compatibility, unless there are other features not listed in the comparison. But it appears that the price of fax modems is beginning to come down and I would certainly be interested if I only knew anything about them. Maybe it's time for a visit to the library or bookstore. Thanks, Pat ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 98 Fri Oct 22, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 23:11 EDT To: L.MAZZERI, STraight FAX! is currently at version 2.00, which was a major upgrade that was released last month. Upgrades from version 1.0x are $25. Please check the press release in the ST RT file library or look back a few dozen messages or so for the press release posted here. The press release is too long to repost here (and force everyone to recapture it). Just search on "FAX" in the ST RT file library. Version 2.00 supports both Class 1 and Class 2, so you would be able to use Class 1 mode with a Supra V.32bis FAX Modem, which supports both. I would also recommend that you obtain the latest firmware from Supra, which is currently at V1.80 (the last I heard). STraight FAX! 2.00 has a built in command to delete received FAXes. The ability to delete FAXes in STraight FAX! 2.00 depends on if the FAX is sent immediately or is scheduled. If its an immediate send, you can setup a preference (Transferred FAX Files) to prompt fto delete. If its a scheduled send, the prompt to delete will occur in the Event Scheduler display. There are a number of third party utilities that will allow you to delete a file while inside an application, such as Maxifile from Codehead and Universal Item Selector III from A&D. There are probably a few public domain and shareware utilities available in the ST RT file library that can do this as well. To: G.FUHRMAN, Try renaming the copy of Scan Lite in the MultiDesk MDX directory with a different name: i.e. change SCANLITE.ACC to SCANLIT.ACC. This will change its AES process name from "SCANLITE" to "SCANLIT ". STraight FAX! will look for the "SCANLITE" process, which will be the one installed normally. Currently there is a communication problem between STraight FAX! and ScanLite when ScanLite is installed in MultiDesk Deluxe. > I'm still a bit confused about the Manager TSR and CPX though. Were you > saying that these serve no purpose unless one is using MultiTOS or Geneva? (I > have neither.) There is a very detailed explaination of the STraight FAX! Manager TSR and CPX a while back in this topic. It is also covered extensively in the 2.00 manual. The TSR is necessary to install a cookie in the Cookie Jar and to reserve a memory buffer that is used as a communication mail box between the CPX, STraight FAX! and the various STraight FAX! print to disk drivers. The CPX has several functions. One is to configure a Default Output Path into any one of the print to disk drivers. The other is to setup a Current Output Path, that will override the Default Output Path. Only one Current Output Path is maintained and it is seen by all of the print to disk drivers. Under Geneva/MultiTOS, an additional feature is available from the CPX, which allows activating the idle STraight FAX! process to send a FAX while inside of the application that performed the print to disk of FAX files. To: K.HULET What type of FAX Modem are you using? Please download the Modem Test utility that Dave Troy uploaded to the ST RT file library and use it to determine the firmware and other info about your FAX modem. You may need an upgraded firmware release for your Class 2 FAX Modem. Have you tried to use the XON/XOFF Flow Control mode? In Class 2 the page acknowledgement is handled in the FAX Modem, it it does not properly sense the page ack, then it does not send a page ack response code to the computer and the STraight FAX! will timeout the call. In Class 1 mode, this is done by the FAX software and our algorithm retries several times if the page ack is not received. Newer Class 2 firmware for Rockwell based FAX Modems correct many of these problems. Supra and Zoom currently are up to version 1.80 of the Rockwell firmware. It will depend on the exact type of FAX Modem that you have as to if a new firmware release is available. BTW, Class 1 is an official EIA standard, while Class 2 is not. The Class 2 FAX Modems in use are based on the initial (non-approved) Class 2 ballot. There are various differences between Class 2 FAX Modems and firmware releases that STraight FAX! compensates for. While Class 1 is an approved spec, there are still slight variations in Class 1 implementations, some of which we have not been able to pin down (until we get one of the FAX Modems in question). Once we have one of the FAX Modems, we can usually pin down the problem in a few hours. For instance, the Zoom AFX Class 1 (9600 Send/4800 Receive) FAX Modem will work with STraight FAX! 2.00, but only if the Auto Baud parameter is enabled in the Modem Preferences. This is due to a quirk in the way one of the modem commands was implemented. No other FAX Modem we have seen or heard about operates in this manner. K.VANDELLEN, We have had preliminary contact with Migraph about this. Most likely we will work with them so that Touch Up can save a FAX file directly. BTW, as of STraight FAX! 1.07 you can run an external text editor from inside of STraight FAX!, you can actually run any program, including Touch Up to do the scanning with the Wand scanner. When you quit Touch Up, you will be back in STraight FAX!. To: S.BLACKBURN, Please check the reply above to G.FUHRMAN. Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 99 Sat Oct 23, 1993 K.VANDELLEN [Ken Van] at 07:48 EDT Pat, I can't answer your questions, but I'm using a Supra FAXmodem Plus V.32bis I got about a year ago for under $150, and like very much. It looks like Toad has some good prices. Charles, Thanks for the information on the Wand. Another forgotten feature. I sent my update order out yesterday. Wrote the check to NewSTar instead of Toad. Hope that was OK. Toad's modem test tells me my chipset is RC9624AC with firmware TR00-J260-021 210-B 019. How does one upgrade firmware, and are changes likely to be minor? (I can't tell what version this is compared to 1.80, anyway.) Ken Van ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 100 Sat Oct 23, 1993 A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt] at 10:54 EDT Cybey, Toad sells it, as do many other places. Toad has an advantage of being the support shop for ST FAX. Al ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 101 Sat Oct 23, 1993 J.MORRISON38 [~ Jimmo ~] at 13:45 EDT Charles... Would it be possible to have the 'Auto Receive' message that appears in the Information Box be different when 'Selectively Enabled' is chosen, and we are not in the desired time period. For example... Auto Receive ENABLED - used if ALWAYS chosen Auto Receive Pending - used if SELECTIVELY chosen, and we are outside the chosen time period Auto Receive currently enabled - used if SELECTIVELY chosen, and we are actually within the chosen time period I know I have left the machine, seeing the Auto Receive message, and gone elsewhere and tried to fax something to myself, to no avail, since I was trying this outside my Selective time period. Yeah, it's my mistake, but... ~ Jimmo ~ ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 102 Sat Oct 23, 1993 J.MEEHAN3 [>> Joe M << ] at 15:16 EDT Message 93, Fri Oct 22, 1993 L.MAZZERI [Cybey] > How would I obtain that? < Registered STraight FAX! users can upgrade to version 2.0 by sending in their original master disk and $25.00 (US). Upgrade price includes version 2.0 master disk, 148 page version 2.0 manual and shipping within North America. Major Credit cards accepted. Please allow 1-2 weeks for delivery. The "upgrade version" also includes a utility that will convert the Preference Files (.INF) from STraight FAX! version 1.07 to the new version 2.00 format. Please mail upgrade orders to: STraight FAX! 2.0 Upgrade Offer 570F Ritchie Highway Severna Park, Maryland 21146 USA For more information contact: 410-544-6943 (Voice) 410-544-1329 (FAX) 410-544-6999 (BBS, 300-14400 baud, allow up to 60 seconds to connect) GEnie: C.S.SMETON >> Joe M << ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 103 Sat Oct 23, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 18:50 EDT To: K.VANDELLEN, > Toad's modem test tells me my chipset is RC9624AC with firmware TR00-J260- 021 > 210-B 019. How does one upgrade firmware, and are changes likely to be minor? The Supra FAX Modem Plus uses a different type of firmware than the V.32/V.32bis and it has a different numbering system. To the best of my knowledge, there have not been any updates to the firmware in the Supra FAX Modem Plus announced. My Supra FAX Modem Plus has version: TR00-J260-001 050-A 017 firmware. I would try calling Supra and see if there is new firmware for the FAX Modem Plus. The changes to the other firmware have been significant, i.e. Caller ID and Silent Answer added. To: P.MORALES1, Pat, I gave a very deatiled explaination of the differences between Class 1 and Class 2 a while back here in this topic. The message may have been archived by now and placed into the ST RT File Library. Basically Class 1 and Class 2 are both extensions to the Hayes AT command set for controlling FAX Modems. Class 1 is an approved EIA standard, Class 2 as in use today is not an approved EIA standard. The Class 2 in use is based on the original EIA Class 2 specification, that was not approved. The final approved Class 2 is now called Class 2.0 and there should be FAX Modems and firmware that use it available some time next year. Class 1 is a low level protocol, where the host computer and FAX software does all the work of handling the FAX protocol. In Class 2, the FAX Modem does most of this work. There are advantages and disadvantages to both methods. This is why some FAX Modem support both. The disadvantage of Class 1 is that the FAX software is more complex and it requires more CPU resources (Class 1 FAX Modems dont work very well on UNIX systems, due to the timing requirements of Class 1 and the fact that UNIX is a multitasking o/s). Class 2 has the advantage of the modem doing alot of the work, but if there is a problem in the implementation of the Class 2 firmware, new firmware will be necessary. Where as in Class 1, the FAX software can be updated to compensate for any Class 1 differences. I would also suggest that you d/l the MODEMTST.ZIP program in the ST File Library, as it has additional info about Class 1 vs. Class 2. > Supra apparently is charging about $50.00 for class 2 compatibility, unless > there are other features not listed in the comparison. But it appears that the The primary difference between the Supra V.32bis FAX Modem and the Supra 144LC FAX Modem is that the 144LC has Class 1 only, while the V.32bis has both Class 1 and Class 2. In addition, the V.32bis has a 2 digit alphanumeric status display plus 4 LED indicators, while the 144LC has only LED indicators. Both support Caller ID and Silent Answer mode. There may be other differences in the exact package in which the modems are sold (i.e. cables, PC software, etc.). > Supra's upgrade policies to know if the Supra modems could eventually be > upgraded to add voice mail capability? Supra has been advertizing Voice Mail upgradability for a while now. As far as which FAX Modems would be upgradable (i.e. the V.32bis or 144LC), I am not sure. Supra also used to sell a V.32 FAX Modem (9600 baud), but this has been discontinued. I would suggest that you call Supra. BTW, Zoom already has a Voice Mail capable FAX Modem (the VFDX). We dont support the Voice features yet, but we are working on this. Zoom also has announced new FAX Modems that support the V.FAST standard that go up to 24000 baud on the data side. Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 104 Sun Oct 24, 1993 K.VANDELLEN [Ken Van] at 00:15 EDT Charles, Thanks. I was mistaken. If it's of interest, mine is a Supra FAX Modem Plus with MNP 5 & V.42bis data compression and error correction, not V.32bis. Ken Van ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 105 Sun Oct 24, 1993 P.GRIFFITH2 [PGRIF] at 02:12 EDT Charles, Did you ever get a Zyxel modem to experiment with? I noticed that you are going to be supporting the Zoom VM feature, is the implementation the same for each modem, or is it different? Is VM on the Zyxel in STraight fax's future? Thanks. Paul ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 106 Sun Oct 24, 1993 JRH [Roger] at 09:49 EDT K.HULET [Ken] > >Charles or anyone, We have version 2.0 and are having problems getting page >acknowledgement both in sending or receiving multiple page faxes. I've faxed >Usually we have to have multiple pages faxed in as separate calls. We see >"Waiting Page Acknowlegement" but before anything happens the remote fax >hangs up. Ken, I have similar problems with STraight FAX! 2.0 running on my TT030 using a Supra 1.44 v.32bis FAX modem with the latest firmware. I have usually found that if I can't get through properly in Class 2 that I can use Class 1 successfully. However, I have found some machines that will not communicate properly under Class 1 that will do so under Class 2. Same thing seems to be true for both sending and receiving FAXes. It is pretty much trial and error at this point to see what setting is required for which machine to get reliable FAX transmission. Charles, This situation is not too big a problem when sending FAXes, since I can switch from Class 1 to Class 2 (or vice versa) if necessary to get a FAX sent. It is a serious problem, though, in terms of reliable receipt of FAXes, which is essential for business use. I guess I need to start keeping better statistics on this, but so far I do not think there is a single machine I can not receive from, it is just that I can not receive reliably because the preferences may or may not be set up properly for a particular machine trying to send me a FAX. One thing that would help a lot is to be able to set preferences "on the fly", so that Class 1 or Class 2 could automatically be selected as necessary for a particular FAX number to get successful transmission. Seems to me that you could allow preferences setting in the dial directory (similar to STalker, for example) so that each number could be customized. I don't know if it would be possible on receipt, but once STFAX had the remote caller number, could it check against the dial directory, and if the number was present adjust the preferences to match the ones needed for that number? Note that this approach may require different settings for send and receive. Just a suggestion for one possible way to handle this difficulty, but I would hope that you give it serious consideration. My problem is that I have to be able to depend on reliable FAX receipt - if I can not then I am going to be forced to buy a FAX machine which will give me the reliability I need. I'd rather not do that if I don't have to. (I guess even in that case, I would send most stuff with STraight FAX because of the high quality of transmitted FAXes.) Please don't get me wrong, I think STraight FAX! is a _great_ piece of software. This particular problem, though, does limit its usefulness in a business setting. I would love to see it sorted out. Regards, Roger ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 107 Sun Oct 24, 1993 B.JENSEN1 [BJ] at 17:31 EDT Modem Test runs for about 15 seconds on my computer then bombs. I even tried booting off a floppy with no autoboot folder and no accessories on my 1040 STE, 4 meg, TOS 2.06. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 108 Mon Oct 25, 1993 J.MEEHAN3 [>> Joe M << ] at 05:19 EDT > if I can not then I am going to be forced to buy a FAX < > machine which will give me the reliability I need. < I wish I could rely on a given fax machine to receive reliability from all other fax machines. They just don't do it. Some do better than others, but none that I know of are 100% >> Joe M << ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 109 Mon Oct 25, 1993 B.JENSEN1 [BJ] at 22:32 EDT I downloaded the latest version of Toad Computer's Modem Tester and it bombed just like the earlier version did. 1040 STE, 4 Meg, ICD AdSpeed STE, TOS 2.06 I tried it with my hard drive turned off from a freshly formatted floppy and it still bombs. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 110 Mon Oct 25, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 23:09 EDT To: B.Jensen1, I reported this to Dave Troy at Toad Computers. What modem were you using with it? Dave should be able to duplicate your system setup at his store. I doubt if the ICD ADSpeed could affect the program... To: All, FYI, STraight FAX! 2 has been tested on a beta version of GEMulator (not the current release) and it appears to work fine. This was done on a 486DX2/66. To: All, To anyone using a MultiTech Systems FAX Modem, such as the MT932BA Class 2 FAX Modem: A special command must be entered once into the modem and saved into its NV RAM in order for STraight FAX! to work properly with these FAX Modems. Without this command, FAX send will work properly, and FAX receive will appear to work properly (in the Receive FAX Status display), however the received FAXes will be all garbage. Multi-Tech FAX Modems by default reverse the order of the data bits coming from the FAX Modem, this can be changed to the standard bit ordering (that all other Class 2 FAX Modems that we have seen use) with the following AT command: AT+FRBOR=1 AT&W0 The first command will reverse the bit order that the FAX Modem uses, this is a non-standard command that Multi-Tech has defined, that is not part of the Class 2 specification. The second command will store this value into the FAX Modem's NV RAM. It might also be a good idea to do an ATZ first to reset the modem to the NV RAM defaults, so that no other changes will be written to the NV RAM. This only needs to be done one time or if for some reason that the FAX Modem is reset to factory defaults with the AT&F command and the factory defaults are re-written to the NV RAM with the AT&W0 command. If the factory defaults are written into the NV RAM, the command: AT+FRBOR? will return a 0. If this is the case, repeat the commands above to change this value to a 1. This is only required for Multi-Tech FAX Modems and should not be tried on other FAX Modems (AT+FRBOR=1 will just return ERROR). Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 111 Mon Oct 25, 1993 RANA at 23:27 EDT Ken, yes I am seeing symptoms similar to yours. I have a US Robotics Sportster 14.4 faxmodem which only supports class 1. With STraight FAX 2.0, I can fax succesfully only to 3 out of 8 destinations that I have tried. In the 5 destinations that fail (and they ALWAYS fail in exactly the same way), the error message is "Timed out waiting for Page Acknowledgement from remote FAX" in 3 cases and "Timed out waiting for remote to establish connection" in 2 cases. I am using a 1040 ST upgraded to 4 Megs and running TOS 1.4 with SERIALFIX 2.0 in the AUTO folder. Using RTS/CTS or XON/XOFF makes no difference. Using Class2 is not an option for me, since the Sportster is Class 1 only. -Rana ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 112 Mon Oct 25, 1993 P.MORALES1 [Pat] at 23:28 EDT Charles, Thank-you, a bunch, for taking the time to answer my questions. Your efforts certainly give me the confidence I need to become a new customer. I did look back for a previous description before I asked my questions. I guess I didn't look back far enough. I guess I'll try again. Now I need to learn a bit more before making an informed purchase. Your Class 1 fax/Unix not very compatible comment kind of hit home. One of my coworkerss has a requirement to add "fax capability" to a Unix based military system. He had trouble finding an existing off-the-shelf solution. Actually, I'm not certain that he ever did find anything, nor any vendors very knowledgable about the subject. It's refreshing getting responses from someone, yourself, who obviously understands their product. Thanks again, Pat ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 113 Tue Oct 26, 1993 J.MEEHAN3 [>> Joe M << ] at 06:11 EDT Based my my personal problem I would like to pass along this tip about auto answer used with an answering machine. Be sure to allow some (3 seconds) of pause before you start you greeting message to allow time for the FAX's to establish their communication and shut down your answering machine. I just put on my Halloween message and I forgot to allow the time so no one could get through. >> Joe M << ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 114 Tue Oct 26, 1993 JRH [Roger] at 07:13 EDT Joe M, > I wish I could rely on a given fax machine to receive > reliability from all other fax machines. They just don't do it. > Some do better than others, but none that I know of are 100% Thanks for the info. I did not realize that there were similar problems with FAX machines connecting with each other. I guess I have just been lucky in not running into that problem. Guess I just need to hang in there while Charles gets closer and closer to perfection with STraight FAX! Roger ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 115 Tue Oct 26, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 18:20 EDT To: P.GRIFFITH2, We are still trying to get a loaner ZyXEL. It is a matter of paperwork at this time and we hope to have one for an evaluation period very soon. We did have the opportunity to try one at the Glendale show and it worked very well. > going to be supporting the Zoom VM feature, is the implementation the same for > each modem, or is it different? Is VM on the Zyxel in STraight fax's future? The Zoom VFDX uses a Rockwell chipset and the Voice features are based on what will probably be the standard. ZyXEL supports different voice compression modes such as CELP, in addition to ADPCM. Rockwell suports only ADPCM at this time. Actually Voice Mail is proposed as a standalone software package, that will tie into a future version of STraight FAX! We will not rule out the ZyXEL or any other Voice Mail product (Supra has been planning Voice Mail support) at this time. To: JRH, > This situation is not too big a problem when sending FAXes, since I can switch > from Class 1 to Class 2 (or vice versa) if necessary to get a FAX sent. It is > a serious problem, though, in terms of reliable receipt of FAXes, which is We are researching a way to have the modem dial specific destinations in either Class 1 or Class 2 as an override of the setting in the Modem Prefs. This would require entering some type of code into an entry in the Phone List. The exact details have not yet been worked out. On receive it is a bit more difficult. The Caller ID could be used to switch between Class 1 and Class 2 prior to answering a call. On the other hand, the Remote FAX ID string is not known until the call is answered, at this point the FAX Modem is already in Class 1 or Class 2 mode. There is also a feature documented in the Class 2 specification that allows switching between Class 1 and Class 2 mode on the fly. However, this feature may not be implemented in FAX Modems that support both Class 1 and Class 2. We will be looking into this also. On the otherhand, our short term goal is to improve both Class 1 and Class 2 operation in the area of robustness with as many different types of FAX Machines and Modems as possible. This usually requires increasing timeout values beyond the CCITT specifications to handle machines that are not with in the standards 100% of the time. There will still be the occasional situation where in Class 2 mode, a connection can not be made properly. Since the Class 2 firmware does most of the low level protocol handling, there is less we can do in this situation. On the otherhand, in Class 1 mode, we can made adjustments to the program to compensate. At the same time new firmware releases from the FAX Modem vendor are always being released, so its important to have the latest firmware as well. > essential for business use. I guess I need to start keeping better statistics In STraight FAX! 2.0: The FAX Send an Receive Logs now indicate the type of FAX Modem that is in use. Double Click on an entry to display the detailed information about an individual log entry. This info can be printed out or copied to the Atari clipboard as SCRAP.TXT. Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 116 Tue Oct 26, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 22:46 EDT To All: The following information is based on messages that Supra has posted on other services in response to specific tech support questions. The information below is not an exact copy of any messages posted elsewhere and is paraphrased so as not to violate any copyrghts. This information, while based on answers from Supra, should be applicable to other vendor's FAX Modems as well, especially other Rockwell based FAX Modems. This information is posted as is. Supra can be reached as follows: Supra BBS: 503-967-2444, FAX 503-967-2401, Faxback System: 503-967-0072, GEnie: SUPRATECH and Internet: supratech@supra.com Supra recommends that any screen saver programs be disabled, as they may slow down the computer and interfere with the FAX software. They also point out that other possible causes of problems are operating system level disk compression utilities. [Note: If a screen saver utility is used, such as the Extend-O-Save modular screen saver in Codehead's Warp 9, then the RS-232 Check Box should be enabled in the EOS parameters screen. This will cause the screen saver to return to normal operation if any RS-232 activity occurs, such as a FAX send or receive operation. Also, to the best of our knowledge, there is no conflict with any disk compression software such as Trace Technologies Data Diet or ORA/HiSoft's Data Lite. We do recommend that users of TOS versions 1.00 and 1.02 either upgrade to a newer TOS release or use the FATSPEED.PRG in the AUTO folder, which is available on-line. Disk Cacheing utilities such as those with the ICD Hard Disk Software and Atari's CACHENNN.PRG should also be used to improve the disk performance. It is also important that FOLDRNNN.PRG be used (or set the Folders in the ICD Hard Disk HDUTILS.PRG) and that POOLFIX3.PRG or POOLFIX4.PRG be used on TOS versions 1.04 to 1.062 as appropriate]. Supra recommends that users upgrade to a minimum of version 1.70 or 1.80 of their firmware ROMS. (As many users here have found) Supra has also found that some users will have more success with Class 1 and others with Class 2. Supra indicates the differences between the Supra V.32bis FAX Modem and the Supra 144LC FAX Modem are: 144LC does not support Class 2, it does not have the green 2 digit alphanumeric display, and it will not be ROM upgradable with the new features that will be available for the V.32bis FAX Modem. The 144LC has a lower price due to the fact that a less expensive chipset is used, since only supports Class 1. Supra recommends that if you are using the Silent Answer mode, that it you also have a cordless telephone located in the same room, move it to another location. -------- The following information is based on messages that US Robotics has posted on other services in response to specific tech support questions. The information below is not an exact copy of any messages posted elsewhere and is paraphrased so as not to violate any copyrghts. This information is posted as is. US Robotics can be reached as follows: Tech Support: 800-982-5151, FAX: 708-982-5235, Sales: 800-DIAL-USR. US Robotics has indicated that there may be a Class 2 Sportster FAX Modem at some time in the future, but there are no upgrade offers available for Sportster owners at this time and it is unlikely that there will be in the future. However, US Robotics HST owners are eligible for upgrades. US Robotics indicates that their new Courier V32terbo is a Class 2 FAX Modem. [Note: US Robotics did not specify if these FAX Modems are Class 2 or the upcoming Class 2.0 compatible]. US Robotics has indicated that there is new firmware available with their FAX Modems. The firmware revision can be checked with the ATI7 command. US Robotics does not recommend upgrading the firmware, unless there is a known problem with the current firmware. US Robotics indicates that the Sportster 14.4 is not able to determine between a FAX or data call and can only be in one mode at a time. [Note: This would imply that the AT+FAE=? command would return a 0. While this is not a limitation with the current version of STraight FAX!, we are working on supporting Adaptive Answer mode (AT+FAE=1) to allow a BBS and the STraight FAX! to share the FAX Modem for incoming data and FAX calls]. Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 117 Tue Oct 26, 1993 TOAD-SERV. at 22:52 EDT This is just to let everybody know that STraight FAX 2.0 has been tested with Gemulator running on a 486DX2 66MHz machine and a Supra 144LC Class one modem. It works great! (The modem is external). I don't know io it would work with an internal modem yet, but I suspect it would. So in case you've been wondering about Gemulator compatibility, it works! Dave @ Toad ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 118 Wed Oct 27, 1993 GRMEYER [Gordon/Sysop] at 00:16 EDT Hey Supra users - I recently called the Supra BBS (the number is in your manual) and found that I was eligible for a free ROM upgrade. Depending on the ROM version you have, you might be too! There is an online ordering system, just enter your serial number... ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 119 Wed Oct 27, 1993 MUSE [Tomas] at 03:57 EDT The FaxBack service is neat too! ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 120 Wed Oct 27, 1993 A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt] at 07:45 EDT Thanks, Gordon. I'm sure I'm eligible for an upgrade - I have one of the early versions of the 1.44 v32 bis/v42 bis /B52 bomber models.... Al ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 121 Wed Oct 27, 1993 JRH [Roger] at 18:48 EDT Charles, Thanks for the detailed reply. I am pleased to hear that you are looking into the possibility of local overrides for the global preference settings. It will certainly be a big help for me when you get to the point of being able to implement something. I will make more use of the "extended info" entries in the Send and Receive logs, and pass on my results to you from time to time, including specifics on the problem FAX machines when I can. Roger ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 122 Thu Oct 28, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 01:50 EDT To All registered STraight FAX! 2.00 owners, If you are interested in becoming a beta tester of STraight FAX! 2.10, please send private GEMail to me at C.S.SMETON. Only a limited number of new beta testers will be accepted, so it will be on a first come first serve basis. Please include a brief description of your system setup (i.e. FAX Modem type, TOS version, memory, printer, etc.). This offer to beta test is open to registered STraight FAX! 2.10 owners only (i.e. we must have your registration card on file). Beta testers will be given access to our private category and private beta test file library here in the ST RT and will be able to download the beta version and also post messages in our private message areas. Thank You, Charles Smeton NewSTar Technology Management P.S. Please include your registration number in your request message to C.S.SMETON ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 123 Fri Oct 29, 1993 B.JENSEN1 [BJ] at 23:51 EDT To: C.S.Smelton I am using a Spartacus modem (I think). I bought the modem through Damark and they advertized it as a Spartacus. It is a 14,400 bps data, 9600 bps FAX send & receive modem. It worked with the older version of STraight FAX so that would make it a class 2, right? There is not much info on it available but it has not given me any trouble. I was hoping that the program could tell me more about it. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 124 Sun Oct 31, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 16:41 EST To B.JENSEN1, I am not familiar with a Spartacus FAX Modem. It is probably a generic FAX Modem based on either a Rockwell, Sierra, AT&T or Exar chipset. If it works with STraight FAX! 1.0x, then it must atleast support Class 2. Please try these commands from a terminal program and send us the capture from it (These are basically what the modem test program does automatically): ATI3 Firmware Rev AT+FCLASS=? If the response is: 0,1 its a Class 1 Only 0,2 its a Class 2 Only 0,1,2 its Class 1 & Class 2 If its a Class 2 FAX Modem, then try AT+FMFR? Manufacturer AT+FREV? Firmware Rev AT+FMDL? Model AT+FDCS=? FAX Parameters AT+FAA=? Answer Mode ------ If its a Class 1 FAX Modem, then try AT+FCLASS=1 Set Class 1 mode AT+FRM=? Receive Speeds AT+FTM=? Transmit Speeds AT+FAE=? Answer Mode ------ AT#CID=? Caller ID If the response is 0,1,2, then Caller ID is supported. Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 125 Sun Oct 31, 1993 K.VANDELLEN [Ken Van] at 17:52 EST I haven't tried the second version, but the original worked fine on my Mega STe w/ 2.06 and a bunch of AUTO and ACCs. Pat, I'll vouch for the product and the GEnie support. Ken Van ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 126 Mon Nov 01, 1993 AEO.5 [Ed Krimen] at 22:57 EST >Hey Supra users - I recently called the Supra BBS (the number is in >your manual) and found that I was eligible for a free ROM upgrade. >Depending on the ROM version you have, you might be too! There is an >online ordering system, just enter your serial number... Where on the BBS did you see this info (about the free upgrade)? I looked and couldn't find it. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 127 Thu Nov 04, 1993 L.CHANDLER [LINDA] at 00:47 EST Charles, I'm having a problem with receiving multiple page faxs. The remote fax delivers the first page and then I get the warning notice "Error. Remote fax disconnected, Timeout..." or some such. This occurs when STFax 2.0 is waiting for page ack. Since the price has dropped in the past year on name brand fax machines, it seems that many people I know, who have bought these machines are having problems with them. Most of the time STFax works flawlessly. I have a TT with the original TOS (3.05, I think) Could you also repeat the suggested size of the input/output buffers? Thanks, Linda. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 128 Thu Nov 04, 1993 B.JENSEN1 [BJ] at 01:22 EST Charles, I tried the commands and here is what I got: Command Result ATI3 E.C. Version 7.1 Date 921118 AT+FCLASS=? 0,2 AT+FMFR? EXAR AT+FREV? FM-144VBIS/R1 V1.2 Rockwell RC144DP AT+FMDL? Rockwell 144DP AT+FDCS=? (0-1),(0-5),(0-3),(0-2),(0-2),(0),(0),(0-7) AT+FAA=? ERROR AT#CID=? ERROR What information besides the obvious can you give me on my modem? What does the FAX parameters tell you? Do you think that an upgrade is available or even necessary? Thanks, Bryan G. Jensen (BJ) ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 129 Thu Nov 04, 1993 WALLY.W [ _Wally_ ] at 03:43 EST Howdy, I've been gone a while, and am seriously out of touch... Does Straight FAX come bundled with any sort of modem deals? I'm on a pretty tight budget, and would like to upgrade my SupraModem 2400 and get Straight FAX in one, fell swoop. I don't need a 14.4, but a 9600 fax/9600 data modem would be very, very adequate for my purposes. What kind of price range would I be looking at, and who should I contact for this? Best regards, Wally ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 130 Thu Nov 04, 1993 ARCHIVIST [Charlie] at 14:31 EST Wally, I'm pretty sure I saw a press release in the library in the last week or two where someone was providing exactly this deal. I'm afraid I can't recall who it was, though. ;-( Have a look through library 14 for the past 3 weeks or so and you should find it. Outside of that, you can order STFax at most any Atari dealer, and buy a new modem too. 9600 data/fax modems have really come down in price this last year. Charlie/sysop PS. Welcome back, once again! ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 131 Fri Nov 05, 1993 WALLY.W [ _Wally_ ] at 02:25 EST Howdy, Charlie, thanks, and THANKS...will do a quick search for file. Sorry for lazy typing/grammar, but right hand is in cast, and typing suddenly sucks. Best regards, Wally ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 132 Fri Nov 05, 1993 K.VANDELLEN [Ken Van] at 07:15 EST Wally, Toad has several STFax/modem packages. Ken Van ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 133 Fri Nov 05, 1993 ARCHIVIST [Charlie] at 14:13 EST Ah, thank you Ken Van for jogging my memory. The press release I was thinking of was from Toad. This one, in fact.... 30435 TOADMODM.TXT X TOAD-SERV. 931019 4608 172 14 Charlie/sysop ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 134 Fri Nov 05, 1993 WALLY.W [ _Wally_ ] at 22:03 EST Howdy, Found the file... File 30435 Good stuff, thanks for the help. Best regards, Wally ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 135 Fri Nov 05, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 22:08 EST To: L.CHANDLER, Linda, What type of FAX Modem are you using? If it supports both Class 1 and Class 2, then please try Class 1 mode with STraight FAX! 2.0. > Could you also repeat the suggested size of the input/output buffers? Thanks, Please try values between 20000 and 32767 bytes for the I/O Buffer sizes. To: B.JENSEN1, The FAX Modem that you have is Class 2 only FAX Modem with a Rockwell FAX Modem Chipset (Data Pump), but with Exar firmware. It is a hybrid FAX Modem that uses both Rockwell and Exar designs. It is obviously a V.32bis 14,400 baud FAX/Data modem. From our past experiences, the Exar based firmware is a bit non-standard in its Class 2 firmware. It does not support the AT+FAA=? command, which is the command that sets/polls for the Answer modes supported. The STraight FAX! will detect FAX Modems that do not support this command, i.e. those such as the one you have that returns ERROR for this command. While the lack of support for the AT+FAA command does not limit the use of STraight FAX! with your FAX Modem, it does not support the Adaptive Answer mode (AT+FAA=1), which would be necessary to support automatic detection of an imcoming call between Voice and FAX. This is something we plan to support in the future with one or more available BBS programs. One other 'feature' (or lack of) that we have seen in Exar based products is that they do not support the AT&K3 or AT&K4 commands to switch between XON/XOFF and RTS/CTS flow control. The Exar based products that we have seen only support RTS/CTS flow control and will require the the Serial Fix 2.0 patch to fix problems in TOS with RTS/CTS flow control. It may also be necessary to set the Auto Baud parameter with Exar based products that support data rates higher than 2400 baud with V.42bis. The Modem Test utility will have to be updated to support this FAX Modem. To: WALLY.W Wally, Most Atari dealers that sell STraight FAX! also sell compatible Class 1/Class 2 FAX Modems. If you have a local dealer you might want to check to see if they have any special bundle offers. If you cant find a local dealer, please try Toad Computers (800-448-TOAD), they have several modem deals that are described in the text file that comes with the MODEMTST.ZIP file in the ST RT file library. Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 136 Fri Nov 05, 1993 GRMEYER [Gordon/Sysop] at 22:15 EST Ed - The Supra ROM chip upgrade is available from Supra's own BBS. You have to go through the update ordering process. At one point you'll be asked to enter your serial number and current ROM version. When I did so the system displayed a message that my upgrade was free. Drop me a note in email if I haven't been clear. Gordon ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 137 Sat Nov 06, 1993 WALLY.W [ _Wally_ ] at 00:53 EST Howdy, Found the file... File 30435 Good stuff, thanks for the help. Best regards, Wally ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 138 Sat Nov 06, 1993 J.SCHRAM at 03:04 EST Gordon A friend just got his new ROMs today and I put them in for him. There was no information included explaining what was new or improved. The only thing I noticed was a S91 register that he didn't have before. It also seems to recognize a busy signal better now. I still have the J ROMs and was thinking about upgrading but they charged him $20 and I would like to know what's new first. We didn't find any information on Supra's BBS about them, but we may not have looked in the right place. Can you tell us what's new or improved? Joe Schram ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 139 Sat Nov 06, 1993 G.FUHRMAN [gnox] at 05:58 EST Joe, from the Supra BBS: ----------------- The following ROM description profiles our most current ROMs for the SupraFAXModem V.32bis, 144LC, and 144PB. The ROM revision numbers and this feature list will change periodically as new ROM revisions become available. *** SupraFAXModem V.32, V.32bis, 144LC *** ROM version 1.80-02 has the following improvements over prior versions: * Enhanced performance over impaired lines -- especially at high speeds * New mode for Silent Answer allowing voice/fax detection with all applications that ship with the bundled packages -- FaxSTF, WinFax, FaxTalk (Class 1), and GPFax (v.32 & v.32bis only) * Improved busy detect capabilities -- eliminating false/no busy detection * Improved data Fallback/Fallforward and negotiation * Improved negotiation at page breaks when faxing * Special S Registers added to allow customization of busy signal timing * Improved fax signal and CNG tone detection in Silent Answer mode * Caller ID ----------------- gnox ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 141 Sat Nov 06, 1993 J.SCHRAM at 19:30 EST Gnox, Thanks for the Supra ROM information. That new S91 register must be for the busy signal timing then. Joe ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 142 Mon Nov 08, 1993 L.CHANDLER [LINDA] at 00:18 EST Charles S. I notice in gnox's post of Supra's v1.80 ROM upgrade enhancements the line "Improved negotiation at page breaks when faxing." Perhaps I didn't get that particular enhancement with my $20 upgrade. I'm having difficulty with fax machines which resend failed pages to my Supra v32bis. After one page has been sent to STFax 2.0, I get an error message something to the effect that the remote fax has timed out and dicconnected while waiting for the page acknowledge. This message comes and goes very fast, so I am not exactly sure what it says. The remote fax then proceeds to send the fax again as a failed page. I often come home and check STFax 2.0 and find many duplicate faxes. I leave STFax in auto receive most of the time. I received STFax 2.0 and the new ROM upgrade at the same time, plugged them in, turned them on, and they worked on my TT. Therefore I do not know which is causing the problem. I am able to send multiple pages just fine. I'm using the default set up with my Supra v32bis. and your default set up with STFax 2.0. Have any suggestions? And thanks for the info on the buffer sizes. Linda. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 143 Mon Nov 08, 1993 P.NEREO [Philip] at 01:17 EST Is there any chance of a STraight fax driver being written for DynaCadd; so a drawing could be output directly into a .J01 file at the correct (~200x200) resolution? ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 144 Mon Nov 08, 1993 AEO.1 [Albert Dayes] at 09:38 EST Linda, I had the same problem with remote FAX timing out. I just changed from CLASS 2 to CLASS 1 and that solved the problem. Using a Supra v.32bis modem with 1.8 roms on a TOS 1.4 machine. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 145 Mon Nov 08, 1993 T.MCCOMB [=Tom=] at 14:28 EST When considering a faxmodem purchase, should one look for a Class 1, Class 2 or Class 1 & 2 modem?? What can one class do that the other can't. Will STraight FAX work with either? -Tom McComb {10:44 am} Monday, November 8, 1993 ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 146 Tue Nov 09, 1993 AEO.1 [Albert Dayes] at 09:27 EST Tom, Straight FAX v2.x will work with any class 1 or class 2 modem. I think its better to get a modem that has both class 1 and class 2. It makes it easier to work with all of the different fax machines out there. A few times I have had a problem with a fax modem or machine. By changing the class I could then successfully send/or receive a fax. I like the Supra v.32bis FAX/Modem myself. Its 14.4K data and 14.4K class 1 and class 2 fax. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 147 Wed Nov 10, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 02:35 EST To All: Dont Forget: -- STraight FAX 2.0 and Toad Computers Holiday Festival RTC -- On November 10 at 10pm EST Join Charles Smeton and Dave Troy to discuss STraight FAX! 2.0 and the upcoming Toad Computers Holiday Festival, to be held on December 4th & 5th at Toad Computers! Don't miss this: a FREE copy of STraight FAX! 2.0 will be given away as a door prize! For more information on STraight FAX! 2.0, go to the Atari bulletin board CATegory 4, TOPic 24. To: T.MCCOMB, > When considering a faxmodem purchase, should one look for a Class 1, Class 2 > or Class 1 & 2 modem?? Many FAX Modems today support Both Class 1 and Class 2. Most Rockwell based FAX Modems such as the Supra FAX Modem Plus, Supra V.32/V.32bis FAX Modems, the Zoom V.32bis FAX Modem and the Zoom VFDX FAX Modem support both Class 1 and Class 2. You will probably pay a bit more for a combination Class 1 and Class 2 FAX Modem than for a Class 1 only FAX Modem. An example of this is the new Supra 144LC FAX Modem which is Class 1 only. It cost alot less than the Supra V.32bis FAX Modem. The reason for the lower cost is that the 144LC does not need as powerful a microcontroller (CPU) in the FAX Modem, since in Class 1 mode the host computer does the majority of the work. The less powerful microcontroller is less expensive than the one in the Supra V.32bis FAX Modem, although the Data Pump chipset is basically the same. The 144LC will not be upgradable to support Voice features, while the V.32bis will be. This is because the less powerful microcontroller is not powerful enough for Voice operation. The choice between a FAX Modem that supports one Class or both will be based on price, future expansion and the current flexability of using either Class with your FAX software. Some other FAX software programs will work with Class 1 or Class 2, but this choice must be made at the time the program is installed. STraight FAX! 2.00 allows the user to switch between Class 1 and Class 2 at any time. The next release of STraight FAX! 2.10 will allow the user to configure the FAX Receive mode in one Class and the FAX Send mode in another, if desired. > What can one class do that the other can't. Ideally both Class 1 and Class 2 will appear transparent to the user. However, the Class 2 in use is not an approved EIA standard, it is based on the initial] Class 2 spec which was not approved. The final approved Class 2 is now known as Class 2.0. Class 2.0 products should start to appear in the near future (US Robotics may have a Class 2.0 product already from rumors we have heard). Once Class 2.0 FAX Modems (or firmware upgrades) are readily available, we will consider support for Class 2.0 in a future version of STraight FAX!. Since Class 2 is not an approved standard, many lesser used capabilities that have been defined in the Group III FAX standard and supported in Class 2 are not implemented in every manufacturer's FAX Modem. At this time, this does not limit the capability of STraight FAX! 2.00 in Class 2 mode vs. Class 1 mode. On the other hand, Class 1 requires more interaction by the host computer and its software as it is a lower level protocol. In Class 2 the microcontroller in the FAX Modem handles all the low level Group 3 protocol and timing. In Class 1, the host computer handles this. As the timing can be very critical and Class 1 FAX Modems may not work as well in multitasking environments as Class 2 FAX Modems. This is especially true in the UNIX environment. > Will STraight FAX work with either? STraight FAX! version 1.0x will work with SendFAX and Class 2 FAX Modems. STraight FAX! version 2.00 will work with SendFAX, Class 1 & Class 2 FAX Modems. To: P.NEREO, > Is there any chance of a STraight fax driver being written for DynaCadd; so a > drawing could be output directly into a .J01 file at the correct (~200x200) > resolution? STraight FAX! 2.00 comes with drivers for DynaCADD 2 that will create Image files in the proper FAX resolutions. DynaCADD 2 does not support drivers that are programs, like applications such as Calamus and Pagestream. Instead the drivers for DynaCADD 2 are just parameter files which are understood by DynaCADD 2. The "drivers" we supply for DynaCADD 2 will simply cause it to create an Image (.IMG) file for a page printed that is in the proper FAX size. This requires a separate "driver" for Normal and Fine Rez FAX. To: L.CHANDLER, > the line "Improved negotiation at page breaks when faxing." Perhaps I didn't > get that particular enhancement with my $20 upgrade. Type the command ATI3 or AT+FREV? or use the Modem Test utility from Dave Troy to determine the exact firmware release you have. Please try Class 1 mode, as it should be less dependent on the firmware revision than Class 1 mode. I also found the feature of the new 1.80 ROMS of improved negotiation at page breaks to be interesting, as it may explain why I cant duplicate the problems of the page ack errors on my end ;-) Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 148 Thu Nov 11, 1993 S.SHIRLEY5 [Sam] at 01:30 EST _Wally_, You can get a Supra 144LC with STraight FAX for $249(I believe) from Toad Computers. It's worth checking out. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 149 Thu Nov 11, 1993 L.CHANDLER [LINDA] at 02:38 EST Charles or anyone, Can one switch between Class1 and Class 2 on the fly or does changing require a reboot. I'm wondering if when I get a time-out from a remote fax between pages,I could quickly switch "class" before the remote fax machine redials. BTW. What does class1 and class 2 have to do with stand alone fax machines. I thought it had to do with a type of modem? Linda ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 150 Fri Nov 12, 1993 E.JOLLEY [Eric] at 03:20 EST One quick question: Does STraight Fax work with the USR Sportster? I've been thinking of picking one up. -Eric ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 151 Fri Nov 12, 1993 AEO.1 [Albert Dayes] at 11:15 EST When will the new version of STriaght FAX! 2.1 be coming out? How much for the upgrade. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 152 Sat Nov 13, 1993 L.DOWDLE1 [Scott Dowdle] at 03:39 EST Hello NewSTar and Toad folks, I'm looking into FAX programs for the Atari and STraight FAX is supposed to be the best... so... I have a Digicom Systems, Inc. - Scout PLUS modem that is labeled as a V.32bis Data/Fax Modem. Trying out some of the modem commands given in this topic I determined that it is a CLASS 1 modem. Trying the chipset manufacturer came up with a 3 which is supposed to indicate Supra... but this definitely isn't of Supra origin. I guess I'll have to dig deep into the modem manual to see what information it contains regarding commands and manufacturer information. I did try Dave Troy's Modem Tester program v1.2 and it worked about 4/5ths of the way... it crashes with 2 bombs when the little filling box looks like it might have two more blocks to draw. I tried it on a complete stripped system (and I made sure to turn the fastload bit off although it extracted/came with it set to on) but I can't get it to work. Using GENEVA I can tell provide the 68000 register status report as well as what address it died at... if that will help any with debugging it. Anyway, do you guys know anything about this modem? I bought it at Software Etc. for $189.95 in August. It seems to be well made, well documented and compatible with all of my software... and I was hoping of adding STraight FAX to my list of utilities _IF_ it is compatible. Thanks in advance for any help you may offer! TYL, Scott ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 153 Sat Nov 13, 1993 L.DOWDLE1 [Scott Dowdle] at 03:52 EST Hello Again, Reading through the DSI Scout PLUS manual... here's what it said for Fax Specifications: CCITT Group 3 send and receive (CCITT V.29, V.27ter) 9600,7200,4800,2400 bps ...so, now... what do you think? TYL, Scott ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 154 Sun Nov 14, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 14:01 EST To: L.CHANDLER, Linda, > Charles or anyone, Can one switch between Class1 and Class 2 on the fly or > does changing require a reboot. I'm wondering if when I get a time-out from a > remote fax between pages,I could quickly switch "class" before the remote fax > machine redials. BTW. What does class1 and class 2 have to do with stand alone > fax machines. I thought it had to do with a type of modem? Linda As of version 2.00, STraight FAX! supports SendFAX, Class 1 & Class 2 FAX Modems. The selection of FAX Modem Type can be changed in the program, from the Modem Preferences. This must be done prior to sending a FAX or prior to enabling the Auto Receive or Manual Receive functions. It can not be done in the middle of a FAX transfer. The Page Acknowledge Errors and Timeout Errors that occur with older versions of the Supra FAX Modems have been corrected in Supra's version 1.80 firmware. This should eliminate the need to switch between Class 1 and Class 2 in those cases. Ideally there should be no difference between Class 1 and Class 2 operation. During a FAX connection, the FAX device on one end does not know if the FAX device on the other end is a FAX Machine or specific type of FAX Modem. Problems can occur if one or more of the following situations exist: 1) The FAX Machine does not follow the CCITT Group 3 standards 100% to the definition of the standard. 2) The FAX Modem does not follow the CCITT Group 3 standards 100% to the definition of the standard. 3) The FAX Software program does not follow the CCITT Group 3 standards 100% to the definition of the standard. 4) The FAX Modem does not follow the FAX Class standard 100% to the definition of the standard. Exactly what the FAX Class standard is can be a bit tricky, as Class 1 is an EIA/TIA approved standard, but the Class 2 that is in use today is based on the initial Class 2 proposal to the EIA/TIA which was not approved until many modifications. Many Class 2 Modems do not even implement all of the defined commands/capabilities in the initial Class 2 proposal. Most of the unimplemented commands are the lesser known FAX capabilities such as FAX Polling, Error Correction mode and Binary File Transfer. Some FAX Modems do not implement the most rudimentary commands, such as setting the Answer Mode. Some FAX Modems add additional capabilities (i.e. Supra's Silent Answer) and other have additional commands that are required to make their Class 2 operate the same as the "accepted" Class 2 in use (i.e. Multi-Tech). While there are more variations between different vendor's Class 2 FAX Modems, there are still differences between different vendor's Class 1 FAX Modems. STraight FAX! tries to compensate for the differences it finds in the FAX Modem by sending it commands prior to dialing to determine the exact capabilities of the FAX Modem. In most cases this is sufficient to make the FAX transfer process occur without any problems, however there are cases where some FAX Machines will refuse to connect with a FAX Modem. Eventually the FAX Modem vendor will release new firmware that will correct these problems. continued below... (To: All US Robotics Sportster FAX Modem owners:) For instance, we have just learned that early models of the US Robotics Sportster FAX Modem have a problem connecting to some FAX Machines, such as the Pitney Bowes FAX Machines. US Robotics has indicated that setting the S36 register value to 0 and saving this into the NV RAM should solve this problem (i.e. ATS36=0 ande AT&W). Newer models of the US Robotics Sportster FAX Modem do not have this problem. This has created a dilema for us. Some users with Sportsters have reported problems, which may be solvable with the above USR suggestion. We have ordered a Sportster FAX Modem, but they were out of stock from our supplier. Now they are back in stock, but the supplier has the newer model Sportster FAX Modem that does not have the problem. Getting the newer model Sportster FAX Modem will not help us to isolate there problems on our own, as it does not have the problems of the models most user probably have. To: E.JOLLEY, Please check the message above. To: AEO.1 (Albert Dayes), Version 2.10 will be released at the Toad Computers Holiday Festival on December 4-5, 1993. It will be a "free" upgrade for registered STraight FAX! 2.00 owners. Owners of STraight FAX! version 1.0x can upgrade to STraight FAX! 2.10 for $25.00, or for $20.00 if the original purchase of STraight FAX! 1.0x was made since June 1, 1993. STraight FAX! 2.10 will be made available to registered STraight FAX! 2.00 owners as follows: 1. Bring your STraight FAX! 2.00 Master Disk along with your 10 Digit Registration Number with you to the Toad Computers Holiday Festival. We will update your Master Disk to version 2.10 for you there for free. 2. When STraight FAX! 2.10 is released, all registered STraight FAX! 2.00 owners that have indicated their GEnie mailing address on their Registration Card will be sent an archive file with the new version 2.10 files as GEnie File Mail. If you have not indicated your GEnie mailing address on your Registration Card, or are a new GEnie subscribe, or have changed your GEnie mail address, please send _private_ GE Mail to C.S.SMETON with your name, address, and Registration Number. 3. When STraight FAX! 2.10 is released, all registered STraight FAX! 2.00 may request the update via the Toad Computers BBS (410-544-6999). Please send _private_ E-Mail on the BBS to Charles or user #6 requesting the upgrade. Please include your name, address, and Registration Number. 4. Registered STraight FAX! 2.00 users may order the STraight FAX! 2.10 update disk for $3.00 (US). The STraight FAX! 2.00 master disk does not need to be returned. Mail your request with $3.00 in US Funds to the address below. Please include your name, address and Registration Number. You may also order this upgrade via the phone, FAX, or E-Mail on the Toad Computers BBS if you include your credit card information. STraight FAX! 2.10 Update 570F Ritchie Highway Severna Park, Maryland 21146 USA 410-544-6943 (Voice) 410-544-1329 (FAX) 410-544-6999 (BBS) Note: Please never post your Registration Number in any public message area! We must have a completed returned Registration Card to be considered as a registered STraight FAX! owner. Please do not send in any version 2.10 upgrade requests until December 1, 1993. Upgrade orders from version 1.xx to version 2.00 will be filled with version 2.00 up until November 25, 1993, unless we are otherwise notified. Upgrade orders from version 1.xx will be sent version 2.10 if received on or after November 25, 1993. To: L.DOWDLE1, > I have a Digicom Systems, Inc. - Scout PLUS modem that is labeled as a > V.32bis Data/Fax Modem. Trying out some of the modem commands given in this > topic I determined that it is a CLASS 1 modem. Trying the chipset manufacturer Please try the commands: AT+FCLASS=? ATI3 ATI4 ATI5 If it supports Class 2, please try: AT+FREV? AT+FMFR? AT+FMDL? AT+FAA=? AT+FDIS=? AT+FDCS=? AT+FBUF? If it supports Class 1, please try: AT+FCLASS=1 (set Class 1 mode first) AT+FAE=? AT+FTM=? AT+FRM=? Also try: AT#CID=? (to see if it supports Caller ID) > came up with a 3 which is supposed to indicate Supra... but this definitely Where did you hear that a response of 3 indicates a Supra FAX Modem. Supra uses Rockwell firmware. ATI5 returns Supra's name on most of their firmware versions for their FAX Modems. > I did try Dave Troy's Modem Tester program v1.2 and it worked about > 4/5ths of the way... it crashes with 2 bombs when the little filling box looks We are looking into this problem now with the Modem Test program crashing on some FAX Modems. > Anyway, do you guys know anything about this modem? I bought it at We are not familiar with this exact FAX Modem, but it is probably a generic FAX Modem that uses a Rockwell chipset and probably has Exar firmware in it. It should be compatible with STraight FAX! 2.0. > CCITT Group 3 send and receive (CCITT V.29, V.27ter) > 9600,7200,4800,2400 bps CCITT Group 3 indicates that it is compatible with the current FAX standard. It does not indicate what Class it supports, which deals with the Computer to FAX Modem communication method. Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 155 Sun Nov 14, 1993 M.BILINSKI at 20:55 EST I'm having some problems using STraight Fax II. I'm using it with a GVC V.42bis FaxModem. When I Receive a Fax, the first few lines come in alright, but the rest is all garbled. This phenomenom is reproduced on every new page. I know it isn't a hardware problem: my modem has already successfully sent to and received from this other fax modem while hooked up to a PC compatible, the problem has to be somewhere in the software settings. When I Send a fax (to the above-mentionned "other fax modem"), they (the modems) refuse to acknowledge each other. Any tips on whaat settings I should set and to what? Marek ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 156 Sun Nov 14, 1993 B.JENSEN1 [BJ] at 21:45 EST Charles, Do you have my GEnie mailing address on the registration card that I gave you? I updated to 2.00 at the Glendale show and don't remember if I gave my GEnie address or not. I want to be sure that I will receive the update here on GEnie when it come out! Bryan G. Jensen (BJ) ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 157 Mon Nov 15, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 21:29 EST To: B.JENSEN1, Your GEnie address is now on file. To: M.BILINSKI, Do you know the type of FAX modem and software on the other end that you are having problems with? Depending on the exact configuration, we might be able to duplicate the situation here. Can you also give me some details on the GVC FAX Modem that you are using? i.e. you can run the Modem Tester (MODEMTST.ZIP) in the ST RT file library. It will poll the modem for the exact capabilities. Is the GVC FAX Modem Class 1 or Class 2 or both. If its both have you tried both Class 1 and Class 2? I would also recommend that you install the Serial Fix 2.0 program that is from Medical Designs Software into the AUTO folder. It is also in the ST RT file library. As to why there is difficulty with the FAX send and FAX receive, there are a few possible situations that could be the problem. However, it would be speculation until we know a bit more about your FAX Modem and the other side. If you know the party on the other FAX machine's end, can you see if their FAX software uses the "1D" FAX compression mode? At the start of the FAX call, the called FAX (receiver) handshakes with the calling FAX (sender) and tells it its capabilities. STraight FAX! configures the FAX Modem to inform the calling FAX to send in the "1D" FAX compression mode. If the sender ignores this and uses the "2D" FAX compression mode, then the received FAX will be scrambled in a way that is similar to what you have described. > V.42bis FaxModem. When I Receive a Fax, the first few lines come in alright, By "lines", do you mean lines of text or a graphic line in the received FAX bitmap? Can you send us a sample of the garbled FAX as a file via GEMail? Thanks, Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 158 Tue Nov 16, 1993 J.KRZYSZTOW [JEFFREY] at 00:07 EST NewSTar Tech I just received That's Write 3. I was wondering if the older drivers for That's Write 2 will work or are there updated drivers for That's Write 3? Jeffrey A. Krzysztow ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 159 Tue Nov 16, 1993 L.DOWDLE1 [Scott Dowdle] at 02:49 EST C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech], >> I have a Digicom Systems, Inc. - Scout PLUS modem > Please try the commands: > AT+FCLASS=? ATI3 ATI4 ATI5 [ modem output follows ] AT+FCLASS=? 0,1 OK ATI3 OK TI4 00= 00 0B 00 03 20 71 31 33 7D 02 00 7D 02 07 00 00 10= 02 0D 41 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 02 00 0D 2B 3C 42 20= 71 78 32 02 00 00 00 00 00 08 08 00 00 04 00 00 30= 7C 1A 65 3B 67 3C D5 4C D5 4D 09 01 34 01 01 00 40= 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 64 50= 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 41 54 00 00 00 00 00 60= 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 70= 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 OK ATI5 ALL PASS > If it supports Class 2, please try: > AT+FREV? AT+FMFR? AT+FMDL? AT+FAA=? AT+FDIS=? AT+FDCS=? AT+FBUF? I gathered that it wasn't Class 2 so I didn't try those. > If it supports Class 1, please try: > AT+FCLASS=1 (set Class 1 mode first) AT+FAE=? AT+FTM=? AT+FRM=? [ modem output follows ] AT+FCLASS=1 OK AT+FAE=? 3 OK AT+FTM=? 3,24,48,72,96 OK AT+FRM=? 3,24,48,72,96 > Also try: > AT#CID=? (to see if it supports Caller ID) I tried that command and most of the illuminated lights on my modem briefly went out and came back on... BUT it didn't report anything so I'm at a loss on what to tell you. So, what's the verdict? TYL, Scott ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 160 Tue Nov 16, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 18:38 EST J.KRZYSZTOW, We have developed drivers for That's Write 3 with support from Compo. The TW3 drivers will be available in the version 2.10 update that will be provided for free (see my previous post on how to get version 2.10) to STraight FAX! 2.00 registered owners. The TW2 drivers are for TW2 only and should not be used with TW3. To: L.DOWDLE1, Most of the responses from your FAX Modem seem normal, with the exception of one, the response to the AT+FAE=? command. This command polls the FAX Modem for the supported answer modes. The possible (valid) responses are: ERROR FAX Modem supports FAX only or Data only answer or 0 OK FAX Modem supports FAX only or Data only answer or 0,1 FAX Modem supports FAX only or Data only answer AND Adaptive Answer or 0,1,2 OK FAX Modem supports FAX only or Data only answer AND Adaptive Answer AND Silent Answer 0-3 OK Same as above Silent Answer is only supported by Supra FAX Modems with the appropriate firmware revision. Adaptive Answer is not used (currently) by STraight FAX! as it is used to determine between FAX and Data calls. This will require cooperation with a BBS or Terminal Program with a BBS or Remote mode. I am not sure what the "3" response that your FAX Modem returned means. Please try the following: AT+FCLASS=1 AT+FAE? (poll for current FAE state) Note the response. AT+FAE=0 Note the response, it should respond with OK. If not this explains the problem (or could explain the problem). Do you have name, address, phone/FAX/BBS numbers for the modem's manufacturer and the exact model number? BTW, the response to the AT+FTM=? and AT+FRM=? indicate that the modem only supports up to 9600 baud in FAX Mode. The baud rate should be set no higher than 9600 baud. Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 161 Wed Nov 17, 1993 L.DOWDLE1 [Scott Dowdle] at 03:13 EST C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech], > Please try the following: > AT+FCLASS=1 > AT+FAE? (poll for current FAE state) > Note the response. > AT+FAE=0 > Note the response, it should respond with OK. If not this explains > the problem (or could explain the problem). AT+FCLASS=1 OK AT+FAE? NO CARRIER That's right, it came back with NO CARRIER. When I repeated the same command, it came back with garbage... baud rate change??? I guess this modem uses the AT+FAE for something other than it is supposed to be used for?! AT+FAE=? 3 AT+FAE=0 [garbage returned --- I think it changed baud rates?] > Do you have name, address, phone/FAX/BBS numbers for the modem's > manufacturer and the exact model number? Sure. The modem model is: ScoutPlus Digicom Systems, Inc. 188 Topaz Street Milpitas, CA 95035 (408)262-1277 Something tells me that STraight FAX would have trouble working with this modem. I hope you are interested and able to contact the manufacturer to see what the specifics are so I can buy and use STaight FAX someday! (grin) Thanks for the support & TYL, Scott ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 162 Wed Nov 17, 1993 J.MEEHAN3 [>> Joe M << ] at 03:52 EST I seem to have discovered an added benefit to SerialFix2.0 I recently used it to replace the serial fix program that came with my STraight FAX and it seems to have fixed a minor annoyance I was having. With TOS 3.05 I often could not initialize my modem with STraight FAX after running term programs with out re-booting the modem. STraight FAX indicated an error when loading. Now I don't have the problem. BTW with the new version page negotiation seems to be faster. When I bought the program I had a minor need for fax from home, but I really did not think I ever could justify the cost as other than a neat toy. Well the unexpected has happened and I have used it a lot lately and it has paid for itself in direct cost saved over the cost of paying for faxes at my local fax service center. The convenience is just an added extra. >> Joe M << ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 163 Fri Nov 19, 1993 J.COOPER21 at 08:31 EST Charles, I remember asking you about this a while ago and you seemed to think that it was a misunderstanding of the way the STraight Fax program works. I took some time to try to track the problem down and found one problem (there may be more). I have lost three different phone lists to this little bug or some related to it. When you load a phone list and then hit cancel, upon exiting the program, the list that was loaded before you loaded a new one gets saved under the name of the one that was loaded last (assuming the 'save on exit' thing is X'ed. Example: 1) Run STFAX 2) Load a phone list other than the default, (ie: FOREIGN.PLT). 3) hit 'cancel' 4) Quit STFAX The next time you run STFAX you'll find that the second phone list (FOREIGN.PLT) contains the same data as the default list. Good luck. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 164 Fri Nov 19, 1993 S.LYSTER [Stu Lyster] at 21:16 EST I have a SupraFAXModem v.32bis - v.42bis - MNP 4,5, and 10, with a 520ST (1 meg & TS 1.4). Would there be any problems running STraight Fax, the first version? I see that ver 2.0 is out, but have been told that STraight Fax might not be able to run the 'class' of faxmodem that the Supra is. Is this true? ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 165 Fri Nov 19, 1993 S.LYSTER [Stu Lyster] at 21:18 EST I have a SupraFAXModem v.32bis - v.42bis - MNP 4,5, and 10, with a 520ST (1 meg & TS 1.4). Would there be any problems running STraight Fax, the first version? I see that ver 2.0 is out, but have been told that STraight Fax might not be able to run the 'class' of faxmodem that the Supra is. Is this true? ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 166 Fri Nov 19, 1993 S.LYSTER [Stu Lyster] at 21:25 EST Please respond to my query in e-mail (to S.LYSTER). I am having trouble configuring the BBS to set the STraight Fax read-number to the last message. Everytime I type 'new' I get ALL the messages in 24!. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 167 Sat Nov 20, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 01:14 EST To: L.DOWDLE1, I called Digicom Systems yesterday. The Scout Plus is a Class 1 only FAX Modem that uses an Analog Devices data pump with firmware written by Digicom Systems. The Scout Plus does not support Adaptive Answer and will return ERROR when the AT+FAE=? command is sent to the modem. This is one of the expected responses that STraight FAX! looks for and should not affect sending or receiving FAXes in Class 1 mode. The firmware revision of the Scout Plus can be checked with the command: ATI1 The latest version of their firmware should return: 3507/3506 Note: on most modems ATI1 reports the checksum computer on the ROM firmware and ATI3 returns the firmware revision level. Since your FAX Modem was purchased in August, it should have the latest firmware, if it does not please contact DSI. As long as DSI follows the EIA-578 Class 1 specification to the letter, STraight FAX! should work with it. We recently purchased an addendum to the Class 1 specification that explained that _some_ Class 1 FAX Modem vendors interpreted parts of the original Class 1 spec incorrectly. The addendum explained how the Host FAX software can compensate for these FAX Modems by looking for additional responses from the FAX Modem. STraight FAX! 2.10 will have these changes in it to allow it to work with FAX Modems that did not follow the Class 1 standard as written. Note: we have never seen any FAX Modem that responed incorrectly in this manner, but version 2.10 will now expect responses that were not defined in the original Class 1 spec. Also, please download v1.05 of Dave Troy's Modem Tester utility. It has a few changes that should prevent the crash problem that had been occurring. To: J.MEEHAN3, Serial Fix 2.0 is highly recommended. It not only replaces the Atari patches for TOS 1.04, 2.05 and 3.05, it also installs better serial port routines and corrects the RTS/CTS flow control problem. To: J.COOPER21, I now understand the exact conditions that created the situation that caused the 'wrong' Phone List File to be over-written. The example in your last message made this clearer than the earlier messages. Basically, as I now understand it, you edit the Phone List, load in a new Phone List File (making this file name the Current Phone List File), then Cancel the Phone List edit mode. This restores the previous Phone List, but but the Current Phone List File is now that of the file that was loaded while in the edit mode. When the program is terminated, with the Save on Exit enabled, the contents of the Phone List are written into the 'wrong' Phone List File. To 'correct' this, in the next beta release (2.10 beta release 4), the Current Phone List File and the Save on Exit Check Box status will also be restored if the Cancel button is used to exit the Phone List edit mode. To: S.LYSTER, > I have a SupraFAXModem v.32bis - v.42bis - MNP 4,5, and 10, with a 520ST (1 > meg & TS 1.4). > Would there be any problems running STraight Fax, the first version? I see > that ver 2.0 is out, but have been told that STraight Fax might not be able to > run the 'class' of faxmodem that the Supra is. Is this true? Some one has give you the wrong information. Please check our press release (STFAX2PR.TXT) in the ST RT File Library for detailed information. STraight FAX! has worked with Supra FAX Modems since version 1.00. The Supra V.32bis FAX Modem supports both Class 1 and Class 2 FAX Modes. STraight FAX! 1.xx supports Class 2 FAX Mode only. STraight FAX! 2.xx supports both Class 1 and Class 2 FAX Modes, so either can be used with the Supra V.32bis FAX Modem. If you buy a new copy of STraight FAX! 1.xx now, it can be upgraded to version 2.xx for $20.00 from us (again check the press release). I would suggest: 1. Getting the latest firmware from Supra, the latest is 1.80. This can be tested with the ATI3 command or Dave Troy's Modem Test program, which is in the ST RT file library. 2. TOS 1.04 requires a patch from Atari (TOS14FX2.PRG) that is supplied on the master disk, however a better patch is available in the ST RT File library called Serial Fix 2.0. A newer TOS 2.06 is available with the TEC board from Codehead. Newer TOS versions are always recommended. 3. With 1 Meg of RAM there will be limits to the capabilities of the program, such as the number of windows open at one time with FAX sized graphics. Charles Smeton, NewSTar Technology Management ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 168 Sat Nov 20, 1993 L.DOWDLE1 [Scott Dowdle] at 02:12 EST C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech], > I called Digicom Systems yesterday. Thank you very much! > The firmware revision of the Scout Plus can be checked with the > command: ATI1 > The latest version of their firmware should return: 3507/3506 I tried the ATI1 command and it returned 3225/2931... so, I guess I should... > Since your FAX Modem was purchased in August, it should have the > latest firmware, if it does not please contact DSI. ...contact. DSI. Thanks for the information! Hmmm, I hope it doesn't cost anything to get the newest firmware?! The soonest I could afford to buy STraight FAX would be after the tax return anyway, so I guess I've got enough time to get everything together. > Also, please download v1.05 of Dave Troy's Modem Tester utility. > It has a few changes that should prevent the crash problem that had > been occurring. I downloaded it, tried it, and got the same results. It still crashes near what one would call... the last two blocks of the testing box. Don't ask me!?! [grin] TYL, Scott ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 169 Sat Nov 20, 1993 A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt] at 06:09 EST Stu, No, you'll have no problems with STraight FAX! version 1.x, but you should update anyway. Nondisclosure keeps me mum on saying more, but you should definitely consider upgrading. Al ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 170 Sat Nov 20, 1993 J.LEMLEY [Jack] at 10:56 EST Hi All! I read a while back in this topic about the Linelink 14.4 fax/modem for sale in MacUser for $99. Well I just got the current issue of MacUser and it's still just $99. Has anyone here bought one of these and if so is it a good deal ie does it work with SF etc.? Thanks Jack ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 171 Sun Nov 21, 1993 S.LYSTER [Stu Lyster] at 16:47 EST Atari-ST RoundTable Category 4, Topic 24 Message 169 Sat Nov 20, 1993 A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt] at 06:09 EST > No, you'll have no problems with STraight FAX! version 1.x, but > you should update anyway. Nondisclosure keeps me mum on saying > more, but you should definitely consider upgrading. "Non-disclosure?!?!? What's that? Anyway, thanks for all the tips on Straight Fax. I will probably be buying a copy tout-suite. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 172 Mon Nov 22, 1993 A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt] at 03:24 EST Toot sweet to you, pal! Non-d means I can't tell you stuff that I learn under legally binding thingies. That's the technical way of explaining it. Al ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 173 Mon Nov 22, 1993 Y.DUFRESNE [Y.Dufresne] at 22:41 EST Stu, That's "tout de suite". Yanick D. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 174 Tue Nov 23, 1993 THOMPSON2 [STYVWERX] at 10:47 EST I've been getting some of the same problems with "single page disconnects", and I think it's often from some of the earlier fax machines in use. It's annoying, but the advantages STFax give me outweigh a host of such annoyances. I've had to re-install my program several times, however, and the only reason I can think of that STFax got trashed was trying to take an incoming while I was faxing out. I use Geneva, on a 20meg TT, and a Supra V.32 14.4. By the way, is there any way to save the configuration of that nifty CPX so that I don't have to reset the driver and paths on those rare occasions when I reboot? Charles, you have an "Aces" program here. Last year at this time, I would never have believed I'd depend on faxing out of the computer so much. Thanx for the DynaCadd drivers, too, I use them weekly, at least. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 175 Tue Nov 23, 1993 K.HULET [Ken] at 18:32 EST Thanks to everyone for the suggestions regarding multiple page fax reception. The problem hasn't been solved yet but I'm finally back from China and can give more details of my system set-up. BTW, my wife did send me a 2 page FAX while in China with no problems. All of my current problems seem to be with FAX reception. I tried to send 2 pages from work today, the first seemed to go OK but "COMMUNICATION ERROR" before the 2nd page was sent. When I got home I found another FAX was received. Both FAXES were of poor quality, looked like every other line was missing, lots of "noise", added dots and lines. They were both unreadable. My data from Toad's Modem PRG.: STraight FAX! (TM) Modem Testing Program --- Written By David C. Troy (C) 1993 Modem Class : 0 (Data), 1 FAX, 2 FAX Caller ID : Present FAX Speed : 14,400 Send & Receive Silent Answer : Present Chipset : ROCKWELL: V.32AC Firmware Info : V1.80-02 TR14- Jxxx-001 207 Buffer Size : 1024 Flow Control : Available Tested On : Tue Nov 23 17:59:28 1993 Modem is STraight FAX! (TM) Compatible! MY Auto folder set-up: ; Desk Manager:FKEY9: ST FAX ; DESKTOP.INF File HIGHDESK.INF ; AUTO Programs ICDTIME.PRG UIS_III.PRG SERFX20.PRX SPDGDOS.PRG STFAXMGR.PRG ; ASSIGN.SYS File ASSIGN.SYS ; Desk Accessories CALL_UIS.ACC XCONTROL.ACC I have a 2.5 MEG ST with TOS 1.04. If people are having success receiving faxes I would like to know what sort of STFAX config. settings are being used. Should I use AUTO BAUD? I plan to be at Toad Fest where I hope to get some solutions. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 176 Tue Nov 23, 1993 J.LEMLEY [Jack] at 23:32 EST Hi All! Has anyone here purchased the $99 14.4 fax/modem from Mac Warehouse:??? Thanks Jack ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 177 Wed Nov 24, 1993 J.MEEHAN3 [>> Joe M << ] at 05:16 EST I just wanted to comment on the quality of the FAXes sent by STraight. I get quite a few FAXes as part of my job; most are readable at best, even when sent at high res many are not all that good and many are just unusable. The FAXes I have sent and had a chance to look at are great. I generally write my FAXes in Calamus and then send them with STraight. The end result looks almost like originals even when I don't use fine resolution. I would like to thank you for a fine product. >> Joe M << ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 178 Wed Nov 24, 1993 G.FUHRMAN [gnox] at 06:00 EST Ken, are you really running with SERFX20 disabled, as your auto folder listing indicates? If so, that might be the problem! Another kind of story: this week a consultant friend of mine faxed me a crudely drawn but complex diagram and asked if I could make it more readable. I ran PageStream and did the layout, printed it to disk with the STFAX driver, and faxed it back (fine rez) the next day for comment, intending to send a laser-printed hard copy when it was perfected. My friend saw no reason for a hard copy, because the fax itself looked professionally printed! I love sending fine-rez faxes, because I know people's jaws will drop when they see what's coming out of their machine ... I too use STraight Fax more than I thought I would when I bought it. gnox ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 179 Wed Nov 24, 1993 M.MURRAY18 [big mike] at 18:10 EST I have big plans to buy STraight FAX this month, but am confused about what FAX modem hardware to buy. Toad Computers offers STraight Fax + a Supra 9600/2400 fax modem for $199. Would this Fax modem probably be better than the $75 (forgot brand) 9600/2400 External Fax modem available at Circuit City? Or the $80 Quicktel one at Office Depot? Or is it pretty much like regular modems where all brands are pretty much the same? Thanks, --Big mike ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 180 Wed Nov 24, 1993 M.TROUPE [Helium] at 20:05 EST Big Mike, Spring for the 14.4 if you can swing it. Regular BBS access is remarkably reduced (if using an offline reader) from 2400 and even a nice improvement from 9600. Of course if the FAX machine supports 14.4 then you are even better off. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 181 Fri Nov 26, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 17:19 EST To: M.MURRAY18, The $199 deal from Toad Computers includes STraight FAX! 2.0 and the Supra FAX Modem Plus. This FAX Modem is a Class 1 and Class 2 9600 baud FAX Modem and a 2400 baud V.42bis data modem. I would suspect that the $75 FAX Modem might be a Zoom AFX or similar type of FAX Modem. The Zoom AFX is a 2400 baud data modem and a Class 1 only FAX that sends at 9600 baud and receives at 4800 baud. Toad also has a bundle deal on the Zoom AFX. I would recommend the AFX as a "starter" FAX Modem or for someone on a budget. There are other FAX Modems available for not a whole lot more that have additional features, such as the Supra FAX Modem Plus and the ZOOM VFDX (Voice Mail, Class 1/2 FAX & Caller ID). Check both the data and FAX features carefully when comparing FAX Modems. Also look for features such as Caller ID and Supra's Silent Answer (which is available on their V.32/V.32bis and 144LC FAX Modems). To: THOMPSON2, Use Dave Troy's Modem Test program (V1.05) or type the commands: ATI3 or AT+FREV? to determine the firmware revision of the Supra V.32bis FAX Modem that you have. Supra is up to V1.80 that corrects some problems in the Page Ack area. Also, install Serial Fix 2.0 in the AUTO folder, it is a freeware patch that is available in the ST RT File Library. You might also want to try Class 1 mode, as the changes in the V1.80 firmware are most likely in the Class 2 mode. > way, is there any way to save the configuration of that nifty CPX so that I > don't have to reset the driver and paths on those rare occasions when I This will be in the version 2.10 release of STraight FAX! that will be available on Dec 4th. All registered STraight FAX! 2.0 users with GEnie accounts that have included their GEnie mailiing address on the Registration Card will be F-Mailed the new files to update the Master Disk to V2.10 when it is released. To: K.HULET, You might have a phone line quality problem. Verify that the phone lines dont run near any AC lines or devices that emit alot of electrical noise (i.e. anything that might cause interference on an AM radio or a TV). > File HIGHDESK.INF ; AUTO Programs ICDTIME.PRG UIS_III.PRG SERFX20.PRX Also, Make sure that Serial Fix 2.0 is installed in the AUTO folder, It appears that you have it installed, but disabled. Increase the size of the I/O Buffers (i.e. 10000 bytes to 32767 bytes on both Input and Output). If you are using STraight FAX! 2, try Class 1 mode as well as Class 2 mode, sometimes one works better than the other. You have the V1.80 firmware, so that should not be the problem. Note: V2.10 will allow sending in one Class and receiving in the other Class for FAX Modems that support both Class 1 and Class 2. > settings are being used. Should I use AUTO BAUD? I plan to be at Toad Fest > where I hope to get some solutions. Yes, the Supra V.32bis FAX Modem does Auto Baud. This will speed up the init process a bit. All FAX Modems that support V.42bis, V.32 or V.32bis support automatic baud rate sensing. Thanks, Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 182 Sat Nov 27, 1993 S.AGARWAL [SANJAY] at 12:48 EST Charles, I have no trouble running STraight Fax 2.0 on my TOS 2.06 MSTE using either my 4800 sendfax modem (as originally supplied with Joppa fax) or my v.32 bis 14400 send/receive fax-modem. However, I have just bought a TOS 2.05 MSTE and keep getting the message that my modem is not responding. This happens with both of my modems. I have SERPTCH2 and STFAXMGR programs in my auto folder. I am able to use the modems to log onto BBs, but the fax problem remains. Any idea as to what I am doing wrong?? Thanks Sanjay. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 183 Sat Nov 27, 1993 J.NOLAN5 [John Nolan] at 15:59 EST Are the That's Write 3 files ready yet? Any chance of getting them before the 2.1 release? thanks, John Nolan ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 184 Sun Nov 28, 1993 THOMPSON2 [STYVWERX] at 00:54 EST Charles, setting the "Class" to 1 seems to have helped a lot, at least insofar as someone in Las Vegas, who was trying to send me multiple pages, and getting "Timed out" got through after I got in and set the config. settings in between their fax attempts. Got all pages, no problem. I did the Modem check, and my firmware was indeed the Rockwell, 1.80. Thanx for the tip. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 185 Sun Nov 28, 1993 J.MEEHAN3 [>> Joe M << ] at 08:59 EST Message 182, Sat Nov 27, 1993 S.AGARWAL [SANJAY] I don't know if it is a problem for STraight but some programs require more from a modem than others. Most term programs do not use all the features of a modem and do not use all the lines in the cable. At one time many modems came with cables that did not have all the lines connected. If you are using one of these lines that could explain your problem. >> Joe M << ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 186 Sun Nov 28, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 19:03 EST To: S.AGARWAL (Sanjay), > However, I have just bought a TOS 2.05 MSTE and keep getting the > message that my modem is not responding. This happens with both of my modems. > I have SERPTCH2 and STFAXMGR programs in my auto folder. I am able to use the > modems to log onto BBs, but the fax problem remains. Any idea as to what I am > doing wrong?? I would replace SERPTCH2.PRG with Serial Fix 2.0 on _both_ the TOS 2.06 and TOS 2.05 Mega STe's. Without either patch, the Mega STe will not be able to even initialize the modem if it has TOS 2.05 installed in it. This is due to a bug in TOS 2.05. Which Serial Port are you using? I assume that you have tried using the same cables on both Mega STe's. The best solution may be to get TOS 2.06 for the second Mega STe. Also, make sure that there are no other programs that interfere with STraight FAX! by using the serial port, such as STalker 3. If this occurs try disabling the program from loading or in the case of STalker 3, use its diable command. To: All, NewSTar Technology Management will be attending the Toad Computer's Holiday Fest on December 4-5, 1993 (this upcoming Saturday and Sunday). STraight FAX! 2.10 will be available at the show. For more information about the Toad Computer's Holiday Fest, call: 410-544- 6943 during normal business hours. Registered STraight FAX! Version 1.0x owners can upgrade to version 2.10 at the show for $25.00 US ($20.00 if version 1.0x was purchased since June 1, 1993). Version 2.10 includes a 148 page manual and a 16 page manual addendum. The latest batch of manuals now have a new multi-color glossy cover. Please bring your STraight FAX! Version 1.0x Master Disk and your 10 digit Registration Number. Registered STraight FAX! Version 2.00 owners can upgrade to version 2.10 at the show for free. Please bring your STraight FAX! Version 2.00 Master Disk and your 10 digit Registration Number. If you have not sent in the Registration Card, pleas bring it with you to the show. We will update your disk at the show for free. The version 2.10 master disk will include a README.TXT file with all of the new features since version 2.00. The 16 page manual addendum for version 2.10 is optionally available for $1.00 (US). STraight FAX! 2.10 will also be available to new users at a special show price of $84.95 from Toad Computers. Note: this is a special show price the normal store/mail order price from Toad Computers is $89.95. Here is a brief list of the new features in STraight FAX! Version 2.10 since Version 2.00: - Now runs as a desk accessory. This allows sending directly while in an application that can generate FAX files (i.e. Calamus, Pagestream, That's Write, Atari Works, etc.). - Improved support for a wider range of Class 1 and Class 2 FAX Modems. Now supports more FAX Modems that do not follow the standards exactly. - New "print to disk" driver for Compo's That's Write 3. - Improved STraight FAX! Manager CPX, now allows clearing and saving of the Current Output Path into the CPX and is now fully compatible with Codehead's MultiDesk and MultiDesk Deluxe. - The Scan Lite (Dr. Bob) can now be used if its loaded with Codehead's MultiDesk or MultiDesk Deluxe. - Ingore Busy Signal parameter allows calling overseas where fast rings may be interpreted as a busy signal by the modem. - Improved FAX Send/Receive Log Entry Information dialog. - New '<<' and '>>' allows scrolling through the log entries. - Receive Log Entry Info now allows displays the filename, page height file size and file timestamp for each received file for an entry. - Init String field allows entering modem initialization commands for specific FAX modems that require special initialization. - Users with FAX Modems that support both Class 1 and Class 2 FAX Mode can now specify one FAX Class for sending and another for receiving. - Help dialog vertical slider now has real time update of the help information as the slider is dragged. - Phone List now displays the name of the Current Phone List File in the title. - Under single-tasking TOS, when the External Editor is invoked, Auto Receive will be diasabled while in the external editor and re-enabled after the editor terminates. - Intelligent detection of FAX Modem Type, Auto Baud, Silent Answer and Caller ID parameters: if the FAX Modem does not support the specified parameter, it will be modified as appropriate when the FAX Modem is initialized. - If the Caller ID information includes the name of the caller, it will be saved into the FAX Receive Log in the Comment field. - Check Boxes now appear in 3D with a Red Check Mark if the newer AES 3.30 or greater is installed (requires 16 or more color mode and high rez or better graphics mode). - Improved compatibility with Gribnif's Geneva AES replacement and Codehead's Hotwire desktop replacement. - Export FAX document now supports exporting to Windows 3.x Bitmap format (.BMP), OS/2 Bitmap format (.BMP), Tag Image File Format (TIFF) files with Uncompressed, CCITT Group 3 or Packbits compression modes and in Motorola or Intel ordering (.TIF). - Supports the Atari Extended Argument Specification (ARGV=) Environment Variable to allow longer (> 125 character) command lines (i.e. Multi-TOS). - Supports PC or TOS style Environment Variables. - Improved Installation Program: - Allows specification of Install Path, which allows installation directly to a folder on a hard drive partition. - Copies all the necessary files to the hard disk, including the STraight FAX! Manager TSR and CPX. - Detects if a patch program is required in the AUTO folder and will copy the required patch to the AUTO folder if desired. - Improved support for _IDT (International Date and Time) Cookie and Window Color CPX. Thank You, Charles Smeton NewSTar Technology Management ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 187 Mon Nov 29, 1993 L.DOWDLE1 [Scott Dowdle] at 00:36 EST C.S.SMETON, I contacted DSI and requested the newest version of the firmware. It arrived today and the ATI1 command returned a different number than what you had told me was the latest release. If they are numbering things in ascending order, then the version I received is a lot earlier than the one you mentioned?!? Weird, eh? Also... the Modem Test program still crashes. Any leads as to why? I really wish I could try STraight FAX before I take the step of buying it. Oh, that might sound real cheap of me, and maybe even typical of some Atari users... but I really don't have the spare cash. I was wondering if you guys had a money back if not satisfied philosophy? If not, maybe you can make a few exceptions for those of us who wouldn't rip you off. Although it is possible to pirate software, I prefer not to... which isn't to say that I'm perfect (who is?) nor that I have a collection of pirated wares. Oh, I WILL not pirate STraight FAX. Luckily no one I know owns it so the temptation is completely avoidable. [grin] I'm _NOT_ trying to make light of a serious problem though... just saying that a fully functioning demo that has something seriously annoying about it to avoid prolonged use would be nice. I know, I know... you put so much work into development as it is... more work isn't what you need. Heck, I wish all of the magazines hadn't reviewed it so I could possibly get a review copy. TYL, Scott ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 188 Tue Nov 30, 1993 M.MURRAY18 [big mike] at 18:45 EST Thanks Charles. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 189 Tue Nov 30, 1993 S.AGARWAL [SANJAY] at 20:54 EST Charles, Still no luck, despite using SERFIX2 and minimal accessories/auto programs. Any other ideas?? Thanks, Sanjay. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 190 Thu Dec 02, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 00:14 EST To: S.AGARWAL (SANJAY), There is a remote possibility that there is a hardware problem with the second Mega STe. Since the only known differences are that one Mega STe has TOS 2.06 and the other has TOS 2.05, try swaping the TOS chips between the to computers. It is relatively simple to do this on a Mega STe, just loosen the screw underneath the hard drive cover, push the base of the hard drive cover (the part that is to the right of the floppy disk slot) in slightly and lift the cover. If you have a hard disk installed, lift out the hard drive carefully (its attached to the cover) and place it to the side. There is no need to disconnect the cables to the hard drive. If you have a Mega STe without a hard drive, the hard drive cover can be removed. The TOS chips are directly under where the hard disk is located. Carefully remove the TOS chips, making sure that you are grounded (i.e. dont do this on a carpeted area), and make a note of the proper orientation and chip numbers for each of the 2 TOS chips. Then swap the TOS chips. If you are not comfortable with removing and installing chips, please do not do this without someone who is experienced to help you (like a dealer, if possible). Once the TOS chips have been swapped, you can verify if the Mega STe that had TOS 2.05 now works with TOS 2.06 and vice versa. If there is a problem that occurs on the same machine, no matter the TOS version, then there is a hardware problem on that machine. If the problem occurs only when TOS 2.05 is installed on both machines (with SERPTCH2 or Serial Fix 2 installed), then you will need to upgrade the other machine to TOS 2.05. If you can borrow a set of TOS 2.05 chips, this might simplify the process a bit. If there is a problem with one of the Mega STe computers, I would assume that an Atari dealer (nearby) has the necessary diagnostics from Atari to diagnose the problem. Also, I assume that you are using the same FAX Modem and same 9 to 25 pin modem cable on both computers, which would eliminate the cable and FAX Modem from being a possible source of the problem. Also, try all 3 serial ports (Modem 1, Modem 2 and Serial 2). If you have a high speed modem or one that has V.42bis, then you might also want to verify that the Mega STe with TOS 2.05 (and the patch) can communicate with the FAX Modem at 19200 baud (which is required for FAX mode operation). Just use a terminal program, set it to 19200 baud and see if the modem will accept AT commands (like ATI3, AT&V, AT+FCLASS=?, etc.) and respond properly. Dave Troy's Modem Tester will also verify the FAX Modem communication. Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 191 Thu Dec 02, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 00:15 EST To: L.DOWDLE1 (Scott), The Modem Tester program was written by Dave Troy of Toad Computers. While it sends the same basic commands to the modem that the STraight FAX! does, it was written using a different C compiler and by a different person. Dave has created a new version that he _hopes_ has solved the crash problem. What Dave and I have discovered is that not all FAX Modems follow the defined standards 100% exactly when it comes to the exact syntax of a command and its responses. What was happening in the Modem Tester was that the response was not as expected and caused the program access memory outside of its defined space, i.e. a pointer was out of bounds. Dave has added additional range checking, such as the range checking done in STraight FAX! to insure that the Modem Tester will not crash. I will ask Dave when the next release of the Modem Tester will be available. What is the version number returned by the ATI1 command with the new firmware? I can understand your desire to see the Modem Tester work properly before you commit to buying STraight FAX!. Unfortunately we have no return policy on software, as it can be copied as soon as its opened and the user could just claim it never worked, when it does. This is the norm within the software industry. What I would suggest is that if there is an Atari Dealer near you, that you take your FAX Modem with you and try to test it in the store. If you tell me (in private GEMail) where you live near, there is a possibility that there is a dealer near you that might carry STraight FAX! where it can be tested. We have a dealer policy where a dealer can qualify for a fully working not for resale copy of STraight FAX!. A demo version of STraight FAX! 2.10 is planned for release at some time in the near future, but it would only show off the features of the program and its user interface. It would not be able to send or receive FAXes. The purpose of the Modem Tester is to excercise the FAX Modem to the point where it can be determined if it is a compatible FAX Modem and the exact features that it supports. It just happens that your FAX Modem is from a small company that no one else has reported to us about. We can not buy one of every FAX Modem, as it is now we have about a dozen FAX modems that we test inhouse between NewSTar and Toad and probably an additional dozen or so that our beta testers use. Normally when we find a problem in a particular FAX Modem, it can easily be corrected once we have a sample inhouse for testing. We have in the past received loner FAX Modems from a few vendors and will continue to use loaner FAX Modems if they are made available. The DSI FAX Modem would not be one that we would purchase, unless a significant number of users of STraight FAX! had these FAX Modems. IF DSI has a loaner policy to developers, this would be the best solution. Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 192 Thu Dec 02, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 00:17 EST To All USR Robotics Sportser FAX Modem owners: We are currently waiting for a US Robotics Sportster FAX Modem from our distributor, which is one of the major distributors in North America. The Sportster FAX Modems have been on back order for some time now. I can only speculate on the exact reason for this backlog. US Robotics has informed us that early Sportster FAX Modems have problems with some FAX Machines, such as the Pitney Bowes FAX Machines. Newer model Sportster FAX Modems have a new (undocumented) S Register that needs to be changed (on demand) prior to sending to or receiving from one of these problem FAX Machines. There is no workaround for the older Sportsters. The older Sporster FAX Modems can be identified as follows: USR Sportster 9600 FAX Modem serial numbers that start with 0265-01 or lower USR Sportster 14400 FAX Modem serial numbers that start with 0268-01 or lower If you have an older model, I would suggest contacting US Robotics. If you have a newer model, you will need to upgrade from STraight FAX! 2.00 to STraight FAX! 2.10 (see below for details). Version 2.10 supports a new field in the Modem Preferences called: Init String. The Init String can be set to a special command for any particluar FAX Modem. The Init String must be a valid AT command that returns an OK response. Invalid AT commands that return ERROR will prevent the program from properly initializing the FAX Modem. Any special AT commands placed into the Init String should first be tested with a terminal program. On the newer model Sportster FAX Modems the S36 Register can be a value from 0 to 20. On older models, the S36 Register value may be displayed with the ATI4/ATI5 commands and set with ATS36=n, but its value will have no effect. The default (factory) value for S36 is 7. It should be set to this value for all other FAX Machines/Modems and when it data mode. Changing this value when it is not required may create problems that were not previously present. For this reason, the S36 value should not be changed and then saved into the NV RAM. For Pitney Bowes FAX Machines, the Init String: S36=0 will change the FAX Modem timing to make connection possible (Note: the 'AT' must not be entered into the Init String text edit field, as it is implicitly sent prior to the Init String itself). The problem changing this register is that it must be done on the fly and for specific FAX Numbers with Pitney Bowes FAX Machines when sending FAXes. To receive a FAX from one of these FAX Machines, you must know in advance that the incoming FAX is going to be from one of these FAX Machines and set the Init String prior to initializing the Auto Receive mode. Please note that the problem and workaround is with the US Robotics Sportster FAX Modems and the Pitney Bowes FAX Machines. All that STraight FAX! is doing is providing a mechanism (via the Init String) to send the necessary command to the FAX Modem. Charles @ NewSTar ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 193 Thu Dec 02, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 00:18 EST To All STraight FAX! 2.00 Owners: STraight FAX! 2.10 will be released on December 4th, 1993 at the Toad Computer's Holiday Fest. The night before fest, all registered STraight FAX! 2.00 owners who have included their GEnie Mailing address on their returned Registration Card will be sent the necessary files to update their Master Disk to Version 2.10. This is a free update. The only cost will be the download time on GEnie. Users may choose to not download the STraight FAX! update via GEnie if they desire and can obtain the update as follows: - At the Toad Computer's Holiday Fest on Dec 4-5, 1993. Please bring your STraight FAX! 2.00 Master Disk and your private 10 digit Registration Number. If you have not sent in your Registration Card, please bring it with you. - Via download from the Toad Computer's BBS at 410-544-6999 (300-14400 baud). Send private E-Mail to User #6 (Charles), requesting the update. Please include your private 10 digit Registration Number and your name/address as on the Registration Card. We must have your Registration Card on file to obtain the update in this manner. Within a day or so, the Version 2.10 update files will be sent to your F-Mail box and can be downloaded with a terminal program. - Via Postal Mail. Send $4.00 (US Funds only) of North America) and your private 10 digit Registration Number to the following address: STraight FAX! 2.10 Upgrade Offer 570F Ritchie Highway Severna Park, Maryland 21146 USA Your update order will be processed in the order it was received. Please allow 1-2 weeks for delivery. Again, we must have your Registration Card on file. It is not necessary to send in your STraight FAX! version 2.00 Master Disk, a disk with the update files will be sent, along with a 16 page addendum to the STraight FAX! manual. In addition, if you have a major credit card, you can send us the request via FAX or call as follows: 410-544-6943 (Voice) 410-544-1329 (FAX) To All (Potential) STraight FAX! 2.00 Owners: Bring your FAX Modem to the Toad Computer's Holiday Fest on Dec 4-5, 1993 and we will test it to make sure that it is fully compatible with STraight FAX! 2.10. Please bring your FAX Modem and its manual with you. -OR- Bring a blank disk and we will copy the latest version of the Modem Tester utility on to it so that you can test your FAX Modem later. Thank You, Charles Smeton NewSTar Technology Management ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 194 Thu Dec 02, 1993 S.BLACKBURN [STEVE] at 01:21 EST Scott, Straignt Fax is a very solid and well supported program. It really works well. If you want to use your computer to fax documents you really have no choice in the matter. Steve ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 195 Thu Dec 02, 1993 A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt] at 07:53 EST Charles, Your support here is outstanding. Thanks a million. Al ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 196 Thu Dec 02, 1993 S.AGARWAL [SANJAY] at 21:44 EST Thanks for the help Charles. I'll explore.... Sanjay. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 197 Fri Dec 03, 1993 R.ANISKO [(((Rob)))] at 00:19 EST I just got a new faxmodem, and I'm wondering if anyone here has tried using it yet with Straight Fax. It's a "LineLink 144e" (actually, a "MAC" modem, but with the typical 25pin RS232 - and has worked fine as a normal modem on my MSTE). Anyways, the info given by Modem Tester program from Toad: Modem Class: 0 (Data), 2 FAX Caller ID: Not Present FAX Speed: 14,400 Send & Receive Silent Answer: Not Present Chipset: SIERRA: SQ322X Firmware Info: Copyright (c) 1993 SSC, V1.0 - 08/27/93 Modem is STraight FAX! Compatible! Just curious if any of these specs are similar to other faxmodems out there. I know it says it's compatible with Straight Fax, but it's always nice to know this by using it :-) Thanks for any info, comments, etc... Rob/Zombie ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 198 Sat Dec 04, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 00:50 EST To All: The STraight FAX! 2.10 Update has been F-Mailed to Registered STraight FAX! owners who have sent in their Registration Card with a valid GEnie mailing address. If there is a problem downloading the file: STFX210U.TOS, please try downloading again using "Receive (Download) Attached Files" command number 12 from the Mail page (M200). The update files are in a self extracting archive file. Extract the archive and read the README.1ST file for instructions on creating a Version 2.10 Master Disk. Please do not call our telephone technical support for problems on creating the Version 2.10 Master Disk. Post any questions here in this topic. If you have not received the update file in the GEnie Mail this could be due to one or more of the following reasons: 1. The STraight FAX! 2.00 Registration Card was never mailed in to us. 2. The STraight FAX! 2.00 Registration Card did not include a GEnie mailing address. If you have a GEnie account and did not include the GEnie mailing address, please send private GEMail to C.S.SMETON with your GEnie mailing address. 3. The STraight FAX! 2.00 Registration Card had an incorrect GEnie mailing address. Again, please send us the correct address. 4. You are not a STraight FAX! 2.00 owner ;-) Please include your 10 digit Registration Number with your GEnie mailing address in private GEMail. If your GEnie name is different from your name as registered, please include the name as registered. GEnie mail files remain available for 5 days, after 5 days the file will no longer be available and we will be unable to forward it to you. Due to the time and costs involved, uploads will not be mailed on an individual basis. If this happens, please call the Toad BBS at 410-544-6999 and send private mail to Charles (user #6) requesting the Version 2.10 update. Please include your name, address and Registration Number. If you intend to get the update at the Toad Computers Holiday Fest on Dec 4-5, then just ignore the file in the GEMail. Aladdin users should be aware of this, so that they can abort the download. In approximately 3 weeks, a second group F-Mailing will take place here on GEnie for registered STraight FAX! 2.00 owners. Updates are also available via postal mail as described in an earlier message. Thank You, Charles Smeton NewSTar Technology Management ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 199 Sat Dec 04, 1993 C.S.SMETON [NewSTar Tech] at 09:34 EST To registered owners who have been sent the STraight FAX! 2.10 Update in GEMail: If you need a disk copier/duplication program, there are many available as public domain or shareware in the ST Roundtable File Libraries. Just search on the keywords of "copy", "copier" or "duplicate". The following are some file copiers that are available here on GEnie, I have not tested these copiers, but the descriptions indicate they should be able to copy a disk. Please review the detailed file descriptions before you download a particular disk copier program. If anyone has any recommmendations of a particular disk copie, please post this here. No. File Name Type Address YYMMDD Bytes Access Lib ----- --------- --------------- - ------------ ------ ------- ------ --- 16768 CHEETAH3.LZH X FTWASHINGTON 901008 35280 742 2 Desc: Ver 3.0 of disk and file copier 14847 CHETAREV.LZH X W.PIKE 900414 25200 49 15 Desc: Review of Multi-File copier CHEETAH2 5190 FASTCOPY.ARC X LSP 871217 18900 839 2 Desc: Awesome copier - fast! 16061 MEGAFORM.LZH X J.CLARKE6 900804 25200 370 2 Desc: Fast German Disk copier. VERY FAST 4367 COPYDISK.ARC X J.OKLAMCAK 871007 2520 145 2 Desc: Mass Floppy Copy Utility 15339 DCOPY36.ARC X L.NOVAK 900530 36540 741 40 Desc: Version 3.6 of Dcopy 15088 FCOPY30.LZH X J.FASS 900505 25200 1096 2 Desc: FANTISTIC GERMAN COPY-PROGRAM!!! 3642 GERCOPY.ARC X WARNERS-F.C. 870731 23940 241 29 Desc: COPY/FORMAT PRG W/MUSIC(GERMAN) 7104 HACKN100.ARC X BOMEYEUBETHI 880601 15120 763 2 Desc: A COPY UTILITY PROGRAM 23859 HCOPY.LZH (LH5)LZH X GRMEYER 920425 39936 242 2 Desc: HCopy - German disk copy utility 30216 HCOPY16S.ZIP X GRMEYER 931001 54144 158 2 Desc: Hypercopy, now in medium resolution 5222 HYPERCPY.ARC X LSP 871221 20160 851 2 Desc: Another flexible copier - wow! 28706 REPLICA.LZH X D.PANKE 930511 14464 70 2 Desc: REPLICA Version 1.40 ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 200 Sun Dec 05, 1993 G.FUHRMAN [gnox] at 06:34 EST Charles, Good idea to compile and post that disk copier list. I used CodeCopy on my TT and everything went fine. 2.10 looks good - thanks! gnox ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 201 Sun Dec 05, 1993 J.MEEHAN3 [>> Joe M << ] at 10:49 EST MaxiFile seemed to work just fine for me. >> Joe M << ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 202 Sun Dec 05, 1993 M.TROUPE [Helium] at 18:21 EST Charles, I just used the copy routine from Neodesk and it duplicated the disk without needing an external program. ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 203 Sun Dec 05, 1993 M.SQUIRE [Mike] at 21:52 EST Charles, I have just purchased a Supra FAXModem V.32bis which supports both FAX Class 1 and 2. Which should I select in configuring STraight FAX or can I indicate to the program to use both, depending on what the other FAX machine can handle? In the README.1ST file enclosed in the v2.1 update archive which you e-mailed me, my archive did not contain an UPDATEINF.PRG as indicated in step 6. Did I need that file - I seem to have updated my program OK without it? Also I have G+PLUS which I am using with the FontGDOS LASERJET.SYS driver and it seems to be working just fine. Would you recommend that I purchase a copy of Speedo GDOS strictly for use with STraight FAX? My other GDOS software (STalker, LDW Power, and Calligrapher) wouldn't benefit from this purchase. Thanks for your help on these questions. ... Mike Squire ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 204 Mon Dec 06, 1993 J.MEEHAN3 [>> Joe M << ] at 05:12 EST Message 203, Sun Dec 05, 1993 M.SQUIRE [Mike] I can't help you on the first question, I am still trying to figure it out myself, I will be interested in the reply. It has seemed to me that I need 1 for some fax machines and 2 for others. 2 seems to be a little faster. You don't need UPDATEINF.PRG since you don't have a *.INF file to update. Gee I knew one answer. I could only guess for the GDOS question, however I don't think you need Speedo for STraight. I have been fighting with GDOS ever since I got a TT. It has only since I got STraight that I have even been able to load it. Now if I could only get STraight to print and then get LDW to print. Back to the books again. I think I need a driver for my Laser driver. >> Joe M << ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 205 Mon Dec 06, 1993 G.FUHRMAN [gnox] at 05:16 EST I didn't get a new UPDATINF either, but it didn't make any difference. I think it's just to update the INF file - I like going through all the preferences with a new version anyway! gnox ------------ Category 4, Topic 24 Message 206 Mon Dec 06, 1993 A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt] at 08:01 EST Mike, STalker can take advantage of Speedo (for monospaced Speedo-format fonts and for monospaced bitmap fonts), as can Edith (one of the best text editors to come out of Europe), 7UP, TeraDesk, and many other apps. Al ------------