[WXC/VFX] computer modems with VFX

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SteveR

15 posts

Geek

#10741 8-Dec-2006 13:40

Has anyone else tried a computer modem with the VFX service? i thought i'd give it a go on the off chance - seeing as faxing is working perfectly .. but alas it never completes the handshake for standard computer modems (only tested with software modems so far ). anyone else with more modem experiences and VFX?

i know its pointless for most because if you've got a vfx connection it inherently means you've already got broadband connection.... purely testing purposes

Griven

174 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#54993 8-Dec-2006 14:04

I havent tried this myself at home and seeing as upon getting dsl i promptly pulled out the modem and beat it to death with a hammer i cant actually test it. In theory it should work my only concern is that the free calling number "0867XXXX" might not work on the vfx system. I would suggest dialing the number and seeing if you get the handshake response back via the VOIP line. Also if you can send faxes a dialup connection should behave the same way.

Nicholas Cuc

Network Support
WorldxChange Communications
www.xnet.co.nz

grant_k

3539 posts

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#55000 8-Dec-2006 15:01

SteveR: Has anyone else tried a computer modem with the VFX service?

I can confirm that the Analog Modem in MySky works thru VFX but I'm not sure what V standard it is.

My PAP2 thinks it's sending a fax (via G711u protocol) when MySky connects to its 0800 "Phone Home" number.

I also tried using the V90 56k modem in my laptop thru VFX but that didn't work even though I tried slowing down the connect rate to 28k8, 14k4 and 9600. I suspect that the V90 protocol is just pushing things a little too far for VFX's servers to keep up with.

SteveR

15 posts

Geek

#55002 8-Dec-2006 15:09

ahh good to know, i managed to try it with our local RAS server & some 0867 xxx's but couldn't get anything to go through ( computer modem would dial, connect .. attempt handshake but never complete a handshake) i'll try and hunt out a good old external USRobotics modem to test some more with.

riahon

946 posts

Ultimate Geek

#55012 8-Dec-2006 15:43

Curiosity got the better of me and so I unpugged cordless phone connected to PAP2T and connected that straight to my computer 56K modem. Opened up winfax pro and fired off a test fax to my home faxability number. I got excited when it connected straight away but would not successfully send fax. It complained of prob negotiating and training.

sbiddle

30853 posts

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Retired Mod

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Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#55015 8-Dec-2006 15:50

If you do a quick Google search you'll realise that trying to use a regular modem over any VoIP connection opens an entire can of worms. Under ideal circumstances it can work at low speeds but I wouldn't want to be relying on it. It'a a similair issue with alarms - some are just data modems that fall into the same cetegory and some are simply just dialling a phone number and sending DTMF tones which will work.

You need to be using a.law or u.law as your voice codec (since anything else will compress the data) and you need a perfect connection.

grant_k

3539 posts

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#55076 9-Dec-2006 01:29

riahon: Opened up winfax pro and fired off a test fax to my home faxability number.

I find that faxes sent via VFX usually work OK, but it depends very much on the fax machine at the other end, as well as the PSTN line quality. Phil Moore from WxC said that he finds faxes sent via National Toll Calls usually work, but that faxes sent via International Toll Calls usually don't.

To be honest I haven't tried any international faxes, but national faxes have usually worked OK in my experience with the odd "Comms Error". If I try again, it usually works.

riahon

946 posts

Ultimate Geek

#55082 9-Dec-2006 08:28

I remember reading somewhere that the PAP2T is not ideal for faxing, although I have also been told that it is possible. Knowing this is the case it was only a cursory attempt to send a fax so no dramas that it wont work for me.