allen@ethz.UUCP (Mike Allen) (10/06/89)
We are interested in the possibilities of having a fax machine directly accessible from our network of Unix machines. In particular, we are looking for a hardware independent solution (ie no AT cards, no binary only programs!). I envisage a solution with a fax modem connected to either a Vax or a Sun with a serial line. With the machine running some simple server program (and/or integrating the service in with existing ones - eg mail, lpd, etc), to allow faxes to be sent from anywhere on the net. We can probably develop any software we need to connect from remote machines to the 'fax server'. The only fax modem that I have found so far that is independent of a PC-AT bus is the Worldport 2496 Fax Modem. However I do not have enough information about it. For example, what format is used to send & receive faxes? Could I use this device ? Are there any other devices which fit this bill ? Having looked at the standard for Group III fax encoding, it doesn't seem that converting this to/from a standard bitmap would be particularly hard to do. Is there any good public domain software to do this ? I have seen that the latest version of pbm has a g3topbm program which claims in the manual page that "Doesn't work yet" is a bug ... Has anyone already done what I want to ? Thanks for any hints, Mike. ------------------------------------------------ Mike Allen, ETH Zuerich. Tel +41 1 256 3542 ..!mcvax!cernvax!ethz!allen allen@ethz.ch -- ------------------------------------------------ Mike Allen, ETH Zuerich. Tel +41 1 256 4163 ..!mcvax!cernvax!ethz!allen allen@ethz.ch
davidsen@crdos1.crd.ge.COM (Wm E Davidsen Jr) (10/10/89)
In article <2186@ethz.UUCP>, allen@ethz.UUCP (Mike Allen) writes: | The only fax modem that I have found so far that is independent of | a PC-AT bus is the Worldport 2496 Fax Modem. However I do not have enough | information about it. For example, what format is used to send & receive faxes? | Could I use this device ? Are there any other devices which fit this bill ? Hate to say it, but is there some reason why you want to be independent of the AT bus? If I was looking for a FAX network solution I would buy the cheapest 386 clone I could find, UNIX (and NFS if needed) and call the 386 a "FAX controller." For outgoing I would far prefer to setup a queue based on the SysV lp queue stuff. Of course if you're going to do lots of image processing with software only available for Sun I could see it, but you don't mention that. Even at educational discounts a Sun probably will cost a good bit more than a 386 clone. -- bill davidsen (davidsen@crdos1.crd.GE.COM -or- uunet!crdgw1!crdos1!davidsen) "The world is filled with fools. They blindly follow their so-called 'reason' in the face of the church and common sense. Any fool can see that the world is flat!" - anon
pokey@well.UUCP (Jef Poskanzer) (10/12/89)
In the referenced message, allen@ethz.UUCP (Mike Allen) wrote: } I have seen }that the latest version of pbm has a g3topbm program which claims in the }manual page that "Doesn't work yet" is a bug ... Thanks to Paul Haeberli, I now have a g3topbm that works, plus a pbmtog3. They'll show up in your favorite sources newsgroup fairly soon. --- Jef Jef Poskanzer pokey@well.sf.ca.us {ucbvax, apple, hplabs}!well!pokey "What we've got here is a failure to communicate."
rich@cfi.COM (rich) (10/18/89)
allen@ethz.UUCP (Mike Allen) writes: >We are interested in the possibilities of having a fax machine directly >accessible from our network of Unix machines. In particular, we are >looking for a hardware independent solution (ie no AT cards, no binary >only programs!). >... We are currently waiting for delivery of a serial-port Fax modem for our Suns from Perfect Byte, Inc. (Omaha, Nebraska; 402-554-1122). This is (supposedly) a just-released product. (I say supposedly because we've been strung along with promises of delivery since July 1.) The only hardware details I have are from their marketing blurbs; here's an excerpt: The FAXmodem 9600... performs conversion of text and raster files for direct fax transmission. Files produced by computer aided publishing systems can be incorporated directly into facsimiles... Incoming faxes can be viewed and annotated, and saved in various popular file formats. Graphics software and scanners can be used to incorporate images from existing hardcopy to create facsimiles... The FAXmodem control software supports delayed transmissions, automatic dialing, online phone directory, message forwarding, e-mail notification of FAX activity and printing options. A variety of image file-save options are available, including FAX format, Sun raster, PostScript and TIFF. Quantity 1 pricing is $1,295, plus shipping. This price includes the FAXmodem, Sun driver/application software on quarter-inch tar tape cartridge for use on up to 2 workstations, serial interface cable, and user documentation. I suggest you call Michael Couch (VP) or Keith Wagner (Pres.) at Perfect Byte for more info. If there is sufficient interest, I will provide a review of the product once we get it running. -- Rich Baughman rich@cfi.com OR ima!cfisun!rich Price Waterhouse Waltham, MA 617-899-6500
root@infoac.rmi.de (Operator) (10/25/89)
rich@cfi.COM (rich) writes: >We are currently waiting for delivery of a serial-port Fax modem for our Suns >from Perfect Byte, Inc. (Omaha, Nebraska; 402-554-1122). This is (supposedly) >a just-released product. > Quantity 1 pricing is $1,295, plus shipping. This price includes the > FAXmodem, Sun driver/application software on quarter-inch tar tape > cartridge for use on up to 2 workstations, serial interface cable, and user > documentation. Thanks for the price information. I wrote several times to them, but always got the same paper without prices. because all serial lines of our SUN are in use it would be interesting to learn abt the possibility to run it via a terminal server (micom...). Because of the slow reactions of Perfect Byte we just started to use a 'DATAFAX' Box from a German manufacturer. It by now just sends ASCII texts an I made a driver for the MICOM. They are upgrading to graphics soon (?). >If there is sufficient interest, I will provide a review of >the product once we get it running. I am interested... ***************************************************************** ___ ____ ___ _ _ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ _ _ /__/ / / / / /\ / /__ / /__//__// /__//__ /\ / / \ / / __/_ / / /__ / / // //__ / //__ / / ***************************************************************** * addresses: uucp rmohr@infoac.rmi.de rmohr@unido.bitnet * * cis 72446,415 Fax 49 241 32822 * *****************************************************************
satow@infohh.rmi.de (Stephan Satow) (11/10/89)
Ich suche Software, um aus PCX oder TIFF Dateien F Dateien zu generieren. Wer kann hierzu Software empfehlen? Bitte direkt an meine EMAIL Adresse schicken, da ich nicht regelmaessig hier hinerinschaue.