Inbound Fax Question

[m4ilm4n]

Is there any way to determine if an inbound call is fax-originated prior to lifting the handset? TIA.....

 

[dufus2506]

When you send out a fax, the fax machine starts to send a 'beep' tone right away while it's waiting for the distant fax machine to answer. The 'beep' you hear is called CNG tones and it tells a fax machine that it should switch to fax receive mode, and accept the incoming fax.

Unless you can somehow detect the CNG tones without first answering the call (which is mostly impossible) I don't see how you can tell if it's a fax machine that's calling you.

I've seen systems that will 'answer' a call, listen for CNG tones and switch to fax receive mode, OR if they don't hear anything, they route a call to a station (or cell phone or something) but those are usually VERY expensive to implement and maintain.

If you are being plagued by a fax machine calling a wrong number (like many of us have been) and just want it to stop, the best thing is to transfer the call to another fax machine. The incoming fax will be delivered (though to a wrong destination) and the machine will quit calling you.

Carpe dialem! (Seize the line!)

 

[m4ilm4n]

Thanks for the info - the problem is it's our main DID. I've set up an Audix mailbox for it, and installed Message Manager on the console PC, but the receptionist gets their ear blown out by the carrier tone once they pick up the line.

 

[NX01]

I had the same problem. I advise my attendants to transfer the call to a fax. Then I personally call the faxee and let him/her know the real fax number. It is a constant battle

In the future everything will work...

 

[SF0751]

If you follow the above suggestions, and find out that you have repeat offenders who consistently send faxes to the incorrect DID, you can write a vector to route those calls to your fax machine or to dial-a-prayer (your choice) based upon the inbound ANI.

Susan
"Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example." - Mark Twain, Pudd'nhead Wilson (1894)

 

[m4ilm4n]

Thanks to all. I think I've discovered the source of the problem, which is that another company (who shall remain nameless) seems to be giving out contact and fax numbers that are actually in our DID block. Grrr....