[hylafax-devel] Re: config/usr-xon & usr-rts

[Steve Williams <steve@genie96.com>]

Hi,

I object to the ModemSetupAACmd being commented out because....

You have to remember that HylaFAX replaces the normal system getty, and
people should be able to dial in to their system with a data modem and get a 
"login: " prompt WITHOUT having to read manuals and try to understand how to
configure their modem for adaptive answer.

Many installations are not just for fax use, many are used for data as well.

I feel that Adaptive Answer SHOULD be enabled in all config files.

It doesn't break the fax operation at all, so it is just increased 
functionality of the software.

I know for sure the MultiTech ZDX 56K modems with the Rockwell chipset
need to be "idling in class 0" to do adaptive answer.

>From the config file:
ModemSetupAACmd:        AT+FCLASS=0;+FAA=1 # enable in class 0

If I don't have the +FCLASS=0 in there, the modem answers in fax mode
all the time.

As for the USR Sportster modems being crap.... I was a volunteer with 
a Unix Users group here in Calgary.  We purchased 120 Sportsters, and 
regretted it within 1 week when they started to randomly lock up, not
answer... ever tried to find a modem in a rotary dial pool of 50 modems?
it REALLY sucks...

Remember the "USR Sportster death spiral??", where they would retrain 
themselves down and down and down until the modem was unusable??  I DO!!

We ended up replacing them with USR Courier modems and never looked back.

The fact that a modem works does NOT mean that it a good modem...just that
it works...

> But it has nothing to do with the discussed case. After                
>                                                                        
> ModemSetupAACmd:      AT+FCLASS=0     # leave modem idling in class 0  
> ModemAnswerCmd:               AT+FCLASS=1A    # answer in Class 1      

OK, so I didn't read the complete email...sorry about that...

and your are 100 % correct that ModemAnswerCMD being what it is above is
really #$%^&*(!!!!.  

I seem to recall that it was the only way to get the Sportster working in
Adaptive Answer mode.  It works in fax only mode, or data only mode acceptable,
but to try to get adaptive answer working on the Sportster is pure hell!!

( from being on the mailing lists for 6 years or so now )....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Steve Williams <steve@genie96.com> writes:
> 
> > Some modems MUST be in class 0 in order to do adaptave answering.
> 
> Perhaps it is really so (could you name any such modem?), but the standard
> thinks quite different:
> 
> [---cut---]
> 8.5.2.5 	Adaptive Answer, +FAA
> 	Write syntax:	+FAA=<value>
> 	Valid values:	0, 1
> 	Default value:	0
> 	Mandatory value: 	0
>  	+FAA=0	The DCE shall answer only as a Class 2 facsimile device.
> No automatic switching of service class shall occur based on the calling
> device type.
> 	+FAA=1	indicates the DCE can answer and automatically determine
> whether to answer as a facsimile DCE or as a data modem.  If a data modem
> is detected, the DCE shall operate as described in section 8.3.2.4.
> 
> Note: The +FAA parameter controls automatic switching only from Class 2 to
> Class 0, for call answering only.  It does not affect call origination,
> switching to Class 2 from other classes, or switching to classes other than
> Class 0.
> [---cut---]
> 
> But it has nothing to do with the discussed case. After
> 
> ModemSetupAACmd:	AT+FCLASS=0	# leave modem idling in class 0
> ModemAnswerCmd:		AT+FCLASS=1A	# answer in Class 1
> 
> adaptive answer will anyway *not* work!
> 
> Even after 
> 
> ModemSetupAACmd:	AT+FCLASS=0;+FAA=1 (or +FAA=1;AT+FCLASS=0)
> ModemAnswerCmd:		AT+FCLASS=1A       (or ATA)
> 
> it won't work also (the modem *may* switch to Class2, but not to Class1!)
> 
> > If they idle in class 1, then they will ONLY answer as a fax, never do 
> > the adaptive answer to determin if it's a data or a fax connection.
> 
> There is *no* standard way to implement Class0/Class1 answer in the modem
> itself (although there are semi-reliable software-only ways), no matter in
> which class you are waiting for a call.
> 
> > I don't know if that is the case for the USR modems, as they are such
> > crap I have never bought one!
> 
> They *work* *good* in Class1. 
> 
> > > Anyway does anybody understand an idea behind the quoted part?
> 
> I still consider this config (and many others with the same technique) as a
> bug, and nothing else.
> 
> BTW, I believe that adaptive answer should *not* be enabled in the supplied
> configs by default. Currently this is not true for many templates:
> 
> [---cut---]
> bash-2.02$ grep "AT+FAA=1" *
> att-dataport-2:ModemSetupAACmd:	AT+FAA=1	# enable adaptive-answer in Class 2
> att-dataport-2.0:ModemSetupAACmd:	AT+FAA=1	# enable in current class
> exar:ModemSetupAACmd:	AT+FAA=1	# enable in current class
> gvc-288-2:ModemSetupAACmd:	AT+FAA=1	# enable adaptive-answer in Class 2
> moto-288:ModemSetupAACmd:	AT+FAA=1
> mt-1432:ModemSetupAACmd:	AT+FAA=1	# enable adaptive-answer in class 2
> ppi-pm14400fxmt:ModemSetupAACmd:	AT+FAA=1	# enable in current class
> rc144ac:ModemSetupAACmd:	AT+FAA=1+FCLASS=0 # enable in current class
> rc288dpi:ModemSetupAACmd:	AT+FAA=1	# enable adaptive-answer in Class 2
> rockwell:ModemSetupAACmd:	AT+FAA=1+FCLASS=0 # enable in current class
> sierra:ModemSetupAACmd:        AT+FAA=1    	# adaptive answer
> telebit-t3000:ModemSetupAACmd:	AT+FAA=1;+FCLASS=0 # enable in class 2 & reset to data
> telebit-wb:ModemSetupAACmd:	AT+FAA=1;+FCLASS=0 # enable in class 2 & reset to data
> umc92144:ModemSetupAACmd:        AT+FAA=1
> usr-2.0:ModemSetupAACmd:	AT+FAA=1
> zyxel-1496e:ModemSetupAACmd:	AT+FAA=1	# enable in current class
> zyxel-1496e-1:ModemSetupAACmd:	AT+FAA=1	# enable in current class
> zyxel-1496e-2.0:ModemSetupAACmd:	AT+FAA=1	# enable in current class
> zyxel-2864:ModemSetupAACmd:	AT+FAA=1	# enable in current class
> [---cut---]
> 
> A newbie will be confused, while the expert can easily append necessary
> parameter manually.
> 
> I am going to remove (at least comment out) all these ModemSetupAACmd.
> 
> Again, is there any objection?
> 
> Hope to hear from you soon,
> Dmitry
> 
> 
> 
> 
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-- 
	Steve Williams, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
	Genie Computer Systems Inc.
	steve@genie96.com

"A man doesn't begin to attain wisdom until he recognizes that he is 
 no longer indispensable."
- Admiral Richard E. Byrd ( 1888-1957 )


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