Receiving fax ringtone yeilds "busy" error message

[D Vantreese]

I am attempting to send a fax to a particular number that
has a higher-pitched staccato ring-tone. Micosoft Fax
improperly interprets this ring tone, responds
that "there is no answer", and promptly hangs up only to
try again in a few minutes to repeat the process. I am
able to fax to other phone numbers and connect to other
modems flawlessly.

1. Is this a known issue?
2. Are there workarounds in XP?
3. Do I resort to buying a new modem?
4. Is the phone service to blame for the unique ring
characteristic (I am dialing within my own US area code)?

Hardware is vintage 1999:
Compaq Presario 5735
P3 550 384 RAM
HCM 56K V.90 Modem

Dual Boot OS = WXP Home SP1/W98SE

PS: I haven't tried to send in W98. That could be an
alternate solution...

THX

Post reply or email to vantreese at usa dot com

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Unfortunately, Windows XP Fax has proven to be incompatible with many common
modems and drivers, particularly older ones, even if the manufacturers claim
they are "compatible" with Windows XP. Modem incompatibility is not apparent
during installation or the initial setup. It only becomes apparent when you
first try to send or receive a fax. The Fax Service will dial or will answer
an incoming fax but then fail with any of a number of unhelpful error
messages such as "Line is busy," "There is no answer," or "Reception error."
There will be nothing in Event Viewer to give a clue as to where the problem
might lie.

These errors have been nearly impossible to track down. To do so requires
enabling both PSS and debug logging of fax transmissions, both of which
require fairly extensive registry changes. For the time being, the best
advice is to attempt to use XP Fax only if you have a modem that is listed
on the Windows XP Hardware Compatibility List and using the latest drivers.

 

[Peter Woo]

Hi, I guess I am pretty close to solving the problem. In my case, my
old USR Sportster 56K identifies wrongly a wait tone as busy tone from
time to time, and for some particular numbers (perhaps the recipients
are using some old fax machines also), the failure is 100%.

I guess there is no way that MS Fax can work around this as this is the
modem's fault. However, it will be ok if MS FAX allows me to change the
setup string to include an 'ATX2' so that busy tone can be ignored by
the modem all together. This may not be perfect but sufficient for
infrequent fax users like me.

Have located in the registry on ResetCommand and SetupCommand but no
matter how I try to include a 'X2' into the string, the modem always
ends up with X4 after MS FAX have touched it.

Are there other places that I can look into?

Many thanks,
Peter.