Possible for separate FAX machine & pc dial-up modem to share 1 line via switch?

[Dan]

I first faced this scenario 7 years ago and wasn't successful. Back then a customer wanted to use one telephone line to receive incoming FAX'es and go online via an dial-up pc modem. I set things up with a splitter but never got it to work. The OS was Win98.

Now I've been called in to look at something that's eeriely similar. There are two differences. First, the FAX device is now part of an HP multi-function printer/scanner/copier/FAX. Second, the customer has some sort of switching device that phone, dial-up modem, FAX, etc are running through. (The OS: Win98SE.)

The HP's other features (print, scan, copy) work fine. Only the incoming FAX part is a problem.

I understand that three other guys, including an SBC tech, have already tried -- and failed -- to get things set up properly.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[eklass]

wait... so you want to share a phone line... uh.. just use a splitter. what's the problem?

obviously if the line is in use by one device, the other cannot use it. that's the copper line limitation

 

[Dan]

I'm guessing the problem is either with the comswitch or Win98. Either the former can't tell which fax machine (the HP's or the modem's) to send an incoming fax to or the latter can't tell which to send it to.

At any rate, I suggested she get broadband as an alternate. She could actually come out a few buck ahead at the end of each month if she and her roommate cancelled their seperate dial-up AOL accounts. 😉

 

[Doh!]

Originally posted by: eklass
wait... so you want to share a phone line... uh.. just use a splitter. what's the problem?

obviously if the line is in use by one device, the other cannot use it. that's the copper line limitation

Not true. Dan was asking about the configuration of a ComSwitch which allows you to share one phone line with multiple devices such as fax, phone, dial-up.

 

[eklass]

Originally posted by: Doh!

Originally posted by: eklass wait... so you want to share a phone line... uh.. just use a splitter. what's the problem? obviously if the line is in use by one device, the other cannot use it. that's the copper line limitation

Not true. Dan was asking about the configuration of a ComSwitch which allows you to share one phone line with multiple devices such as fax, phone, dial-up.

and thus my question. so what he wants to do is utilize 1 phone line for simultaneous multiple device access?