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Chapter 9 - Fax Operation
9-1
Chapter 9 - Fax Operation
The Omni 288S can be used as a fax machine, and this chapter explains how. In
the sections below, we will describe how the modem works as a fax machine, the
ITU-T T.30 fax protocol, the Class 1, 2, and 2.0 fax commands and ZyXEL
extended fax AT commands. Also covered are the status report result codes, the
flow control protocol associated with ZyXEL fax AT commands, and some
specific fax applications. The instructions for using the included
modem/fax/voice utility program are included on the software disk. Some
distributors and dealers also include other software with the Omni 288S. For
help with such software, refer to the documentation that came with it.
Fax Basics
Fax is the abbreviation for facsimile. There are four major parts in a facsimile
machine: the scanner, encoding and decoding device, modem, and printer. Before
a page can be sent, it is first scanned. The bit-mapped data is encoded with data
compression and is then transmitted across the phone line by an internal modem
module. The remote facsimile receives the data with its internal modem, decodes
it back to bit-mapped image data, and prints it on paper.
Fax Branding:
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 makes it unlawful for
any person to use a computer or other electronic device to send any message via a
telephone or fax machine unless such message clearly contains in a margin at the top or
bottom of each transmitted page or on the first page of the transmission, the date and time
it is sent and an identification of the business or other entity, or individual sending the
message and the telephone number of the sending machine or such business, or entity, or
individual. In order to program this information into the fax function of your modem,
please refer to the documentation of the fax software you will be using.
Modem as Fax Machine
Modems can also be designed to include a fax transmitting and receiving function
similar to a fax card. Since the modem's interface with the computer is the
standard serial RS-232 interface, this interface is used for both modem and fax
operations. Fax image coding and decoding must be done in the computer.
Modem/Fax, also called fax/modem, can be either an external stand-alone unit or
a plug-in card. External stand-alone units can be connected to any computer with a
standard RS-232 serial port.
The Omni 288S supports Group 3 send and receive facsimile functions. For
normal fax operation, you must connect the modem to a computer, usually a PC.
The computer serves as the input/output device for the fax function. The RS-232
serial connection or the ZyXEL serial port interface connects the Omni 288S to
the computer. The Omni 288S uses the same interface for both data and fax
applications. In fax operations, the modem performs protocol handshaking and