[Info-vax] VMS faxing

[VAXman- at SendSpamHere.ORG]

In article <b4d59675-9351-4998-befa-a7c4654657a0n at googlegroups.com>, Rich Jordan <jordan at ccs4vms.com> writes:
>Looking back into the dark past of facsmile transmission.  Hoping someone h=
>ere remembers some details.
>
>OpenVMS IA64 HPE V8.4 running NDC Compufax.  We have been working with NDC.=
>  The site has four faxmodems (Multitech ZDX series) that were running off =
>of a DECserver 200 (now deceased).  We dropped in a DECserver 700-08 runnin=
>g the pre-DNAS V1.5 firmware using identical port settings, and while it wo=
>rks we're getting complaints about quality issues on the receiving end; we'=
>ve confirmed this is a send-side issue, not line or recipient.  Currently t=
>esting to a real fax machine at the site but the hashing and lines we get t=
>here perfectly match what some customers scanned and emailed back to us.
>
>If so this is the first time we've had a situation where a DS700-08 brought=
> in problems when replacing a DS200-MC
>
>NDC had us try a delay logical that introduces a small delay between sendin=
>g lines (value between 1 and 'unknown' but we tested a range between 1 and =
>200).  We see minor changes in the output but quality issues remain the sam=
>e.  If you send the same textfile several times with the same delay factor =
>(or none) the output is identical; same hashing and streaking on the page e=
>xcept for one (so far) delay value that was cleaner but dropped entire scan=
>lines.  NDC has notes that this delay option was put in for DECserver 700s.
>
>We can put DNAS on this DECserver instead of the older firmware; it is a no=
>n flash model but with 4MB RAM.  We may be able to sub a DS90M also but wou=
>ld have to fabricate cables.
>
>Anyone recall if there's tweaks we could make on the DECserver itself, old =
>or DNAS firmware, to change its flow control response speed (sort of like D=
>ELAY_ACK on the TCPIP front)?  Or perhaps recall having issues like this be=
>fore?  I really don't want to try to find a working DS200 MC. =20
>
>Thanks.
>
>Yes, alternatives like using a mail-out fax service may be considered but f=
>or now we need this working properly again.

Rich, what is the port configuration for these modems?

This is what I have configured for a FAXmodem on a DS90M.

Port  1:                               Server: DS90M1

Character Size:            8           Input Speed:               2400
Flow Control:            XON           Output Speed:              2400
Parity:                 None           Signal Control:        Disabled
Stop Bits:           Dynamic

Access:               Remote           Local Switch:              None
Backwards Switch:       None           Name:                    PORT_1
Break:              Disabled           Session Limit:                4
Forwards Switch:        None           Type:                      Ansi
Default Protocol:        LAT           Default Menu:              None
Autolink Timer One:10 Two:10           Dialer Script:             None

Preferred Service: None
Authorized Groups:   0
(Current)  Groups:   0

Enabled Characteristics:
Input Flow Control,  Output Flow Control

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