🚀 go-pugleaf

Original to: UPS500@rhrz.uni-bonn.de
In a message of <11 Jan 93 18:18:00>, UPS500@rhrz.uni-bonn.de (3:713/602)
writes:

 U>  Hello everyone!
 U> 
 U>  I'd like to do fax-polling with an Atari ST, meaning to say
 U>  that I would like to find a configuration, allowing for a
 U>  data dialin while normally the computer is set to receive faxes.
 U> 
 U>  That way, a kind of remote controlled answering machine (only
 U>  for faxes instead of voice) could be realized.

I'm not entirely sure I comprehend this : Fax-polling is where you call
_out_ for faxes... However, if what you want is a setup where you can wait
for an incoming call, and then discriminate between fax and data calls, that
can be done quite easily.

 U>  Here's what I imagine possible solutions to the problem:
 U> 
 U> 
 U>  Variation 1.:
 U> 
 U>  A BBS-program which could activate a TTP automatically, as
 U>  soon as a fax-call is recognized as incoming.
 U>  My special problem here: The BBS program would HAVE to be able
 U>  to operate an AUTOANSWER modem, meaning to say that it should
 U>  react to a CONNECT 2400 - prompt (or whatever speed) rather
 U>  than a RING detect.

Um, or better still, it should detect the RING message, and issue an ATA
command. That way, if for any reason the system is down, the modem will not
answer, and people will not have to pay for failed calls.

What you need is a Fido-style frontend mailer.  On the ST, your best bet is
the utterly amazing BinkleyTerm.  Whilst this is wasting most of its
functionality, it is capable of doing what you want.  

Don't bother with any version less than 3, and try to get 3.02a or 3.03.

 U>  Variation 2.:
 U> 
 U>  A kind of accessory, allowing to load and interrupt the
 U>  BBS and the fax-programs alternatingly, all according to
 U>  a predifined timer. That would make it much safer to set up
 U>  a faxpolling-facility, since polling would only be possible
 U>  at certain times.

Bleagh. Bad karma - don't do it.

Bink also gives you total control over when it will accept calls and when it
will ignore them. As well, you can exit with any return code at any time.
The schedules are easily set up, and the documentation is excellent.

 U>  Should any of you have a solution to the problem on an ATARI,
 U>  please contact me.
 U>                                        Thanks
 U>  Markus Schlegel

If you're interested, I suggest you try contacting a local atari BBS.  If
you can't find one, let me know and I'll mosey throught the NeSTlist for you
for a Network/ST BBS near you. They'll almost certainly be using it, or
TheBOX, which might also do what you want. (I haven't used TB in years)

\`miff`                                                       /|\

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 * Origin: That Which Is Not, ST in SA. 61-8-276-4415 (3:800/842)