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Fax page counter

basilbs2basilbs2 Posts: 9
edited 2006-04-23 10:42 in General Discussion
Hi, looking for someone who has worked with fax machine phone signals.

I need to develop an interface that signals each time a fax is sent.

If interested or need more info, do let me know. Thanks

basil

Comments

  • Robert KubichekRobert Kubichek Posts: 343
    edited 2006-04-19 22:02
    basilbs2 said...
    Hi, looking for someone who has worked with fax machine phone signals.


    I need to develop an interface that signals each time a fax is sent.



    If interested or need more info, do let me know. Thanks



    basil

    All you need to do is add a phone line interface, and either sense the tone used when a fax is sent, or when the fax machine picks up the line to dial out.
    Then isolate through an opto-isolater for safety the signal sent to the stamp....
    There are also boxes that indicate when the phone line is in use by lighting a led, you can tap into the led to get an in-use signal... smilewinkgrin.gif

    Bob N9LVU scool.gif
  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2006-04-20 05:07
    This thread is being moved from the Projects Forum to the Sandbox Forum.

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    Chris Savage
    Parallax Tech Support
    csavage@parallax.com
  • basilbs2basilbs2 Posts: 9
    edited 2006-04-20 20:20
    Bob thanks, I have done that. I was able to isolate the signal and let the stamp identify the busy signal, no answer signal, then the duration the fax page is audio tone is on. I need a way to read the signal in order to tell when easch fax page is sent correctly.

    Thanks

    basil
  • Robert KubichekRobert Kubichek Posts: 343
    edited 2006-04-20 20:43
    Didn't Parallax sell the Cermetec modem chip??? And is/was it fax capable???? Ifso you could use it to read the signal, and output control signals???
    Just a thought, are any other modem chips capable, and easily interfaced to a stamp???

    Bob N9LVU scool.gif
  • steve_bsteve_b Posts: 1,563
    edited 2006-04-21 00:36
    what do you want in regards to "telling when each fax page is sent correctly."??
    Do you want something that will decode and do a CRC check? Or a way to just know that the FAX has "connected" to another FAX on the other end?

    You could simply monitor the hook and time how long its on/off when a call is initiated. If the FAX doesn't get another FAX within 15seconds, it'll hangup and try again (for 3times maybe)... You could watch for this and determine if its having trouble connecting.
    A FAX will stay onhook (or is it offhook?) for a good amount of time, even for one page. This could be an easy identifier for being connected!
    Put in a Watchdog for times when the FAX doesn't let the line go.

    Is this a dedicated line for the FAX or are you sharing it with voice?

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    ·

    Steve

    "Inside each and every one of us is our one, true authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that's ours and ours alone. Something that can't be learned... something that's got to be remembered."
  • basilbs2basilbs2 Posts: 9
    edited 2006-04-22 19:30
    Bob: I have not used the "Cermetec modem chip". Know anyone who has? Were do I start looking ?

    Steve: Yes I need to know each time a fax page is sent correctly, like sending out a signal or beep when each page is sent. You might have 4 pages sent at once, hence 4 signals or beeps. I have used a part from RadioShack to get the audio signal and another part to amplify it so to activate a relay to sound a buzzer. The stamp will count the time the fax is on, it can also tell when each fax is sent by monitoring the audio , the fax sends beeps and audio is dropped before the next page is sent. The problem I am having is when faxes communicate or resend the same page, my stamp detector identifies that as a new page. So if you sent 4 pages, it might show 6 or 8 signals or beeps.

    The way this works is anything longer than 7 seconds is a page. But if the page is a·2 line page, it will take 4 or 5 seconds to transmit. The stamp will not detect it as a page but a comunication signal.

    I need some how to read the data passing through the phone line, when ever the end page signal is read, a beep will sound. Is that called CRC check?

    I will gladly pay for your time on this project. Please help

    thanks all

    basil
    ·
  • Robert KubichekRobert Kubichek Posts: 343
    edited 2006-04-22 20:02
    basilbs2 said...
    Bob: I have not used the "Cermetec modem chip". Know anyone who has? Were do I start looking ?


    I need some how to read the data passing through the phone line, when ever the end page signal is read, a beep will sound. Is that called CRC check?


    basil

    Parallax used to sell the chip, and might have data/examples of code/circuit yet...
    This link is the latest that Cermetek has in single chip modems, some have fax capabilities

    www.cermetek.com/05/607-0020.pdf

    Couldn't you put one in line/parallel to capture fax page complete signal???

    There are others out there too I'm sure... Do a Google for " modem chip "...smilewinkgrin.gif

    Bob N9LVU scool.gif
  • steve_bsteve_b Posts: 1,563
    edited 2006-04-23 01:46
    Are you interested in knowing the fax is working properly?
    A lot of time and effort can be put in to decoding it's data stream on the phone end, where you could probably do what you're already doing and then add a little sensor to count pages as they go through the fax machine. All you'd need is an LED and a photodetector....as the paper passes through it blocks out light (or could move and let light in)....you could then 'count' this as a page.

    Have you looked for a break down of FAX codes? I know the stamp can generate DTMF codes (those beeps you hear from a push button phone), but it can't decode them on its own.

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    ·

    Steve

    "Inside each and every one of us is our one, true authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that's ours and ours alone. Something that can't be learned... something that's got to be remembered."
  • basilbs2basilbs2 Posts: 9
    edited 2006-04-23 10:42
    I do need to decode the data stream on the phone end to detect the number of faxes transmitted that day. Perhaps adding a decoder/ detector circuit in parallel with the phone line. I know the task is lengthy, will pay well for the job if someone has the time.

    thanks
    basil
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