AFX-200 (430-1243) Operation Faxback Doc. # 15463 As it seems there is some confusion as to the proper operation of this fax switch, here is what is hoped will serve as clarification as to it's proper use and setup. CONNECTIONS The AFX-200 has four connectors, labeled 'Incoming Line', 'Fax', 'Phone', and 'Modem/Ans. Machine'. 'Incoming Line' is the connection where the phone line from the wall is connected. 'Fax' is the connection where the fax device is connected. Whatever in the system is serving the purpose of a fax machine, whether an actual fax machine, or a fax card in a computer, or some other device, as yet unforeseen, which acts as a fax machine, it plugs in here. 'Phone' is where an actual telephone is connected. 'Modem/Ans. Machine' is where an answering machine or a modem is to be connected. The combination of devices plugged in here will determine how the switch of the AFX-200 are to be set. SWITCH SETTINGS There are six dip switches on the AFX-200. Their functions and settings are as follows. The switches are numbered from left to right. Switch #1 - MANUAL SWITCHING CODE. When this switch is down, it indicates manual touch tone code of '*0'. When it is up, the code is '10'. The importance of this will be made clear in the examples, later in this document. Switch #2 - MODEM SWITCHING. When down, it indicates that an answering machine, or such phone device, is connected to the 'Modem/Ans. Machine' port on the AFX-200. When up, it indicates that a modem is connected to this port. Switch #3 - These two switches act in concert to determine the number of rings. Switch #4 - that the AFX-200 will answer in. If both switches are down, then the AFX-200 will NEVER answer the call. This condition is known as 'infinite ring'. If #3 is up and #4 is down, the switch will answer after two rings. If #3 is down and #4 is up, the switch will answer after four rings. If both switches are up, the switch will answer after six rings. IF NOTHING ELSE ANSWERS the AFX-200 will automatically switch the call to the 'FAX' port. Switch #5 - DISTINCTIVE RING. If this switch is down, then it indicates a normal mode of selection when the line rings. If it is up, it indicates that there is a service known as distinctive ring that will be used to distinguish between fax and regular phone calls by the ringing pattern provided by the phone company. The distinctive ring service must be purchased through the local phone company. Switch #6 - NO FUNCTION. EXAMPLES For all the following examples: 1. Refer to the CONNECTIONS section of this document for proper connection of devices. 2. If you have 'distinctive ringing' service from your local phone company, set switch #5 up if you plan to use this service to distinguish between voice and fax calls. 3. Refer to the SWITCHES section of this document for proper settings of dip switches. 4. The fax device thinks that the line is 'on hook' until the AFX-200 switches to the fax port. It is not aware of any ringing or other activity until the fax port is activated. For this reason, it does not ring until the fax port is activated, and should be set to answer in as few rings as possible, to avoid possible time-out problems. This goes for all the examples to follow. That is, the fax device should be set for as few rings as possible, no matter what. #1 PHONE AND FAX This is the simplest of uses of the AFX-200. Here, the user must decide whether it is desirable to have the switch automatically change to the fax machine or not, and what manual code they will use if they should pick up the phone on a fax call. The process goes as follows. The line begins to ring. If the customer picks up the phone and it is a fax call, they enter the manual code to force the AFX-200 to switch the call to the "FAX" port. If it is voice call, they take it as they normally would. If the customer does not pick up the line, what happens next is determined by switches 3 and 4. If they are set to 'infinite ring', the line simply rings until whoever is on the other end hangs up. If switches 3 and 4 are set to switch to the fax port after a number of rings, the line will ring until that number of rings has been reached, and then the AFX-200 will switch the call to the fax port. If the calling party hangs up before the specified number of rings, the line is disconnected, the ring counter is reset and no action is taken. Set switch #1 to the choice of manual code desired. Set switches #3 and #4 to the desired number of rings, as described under switches. Set all other switches down. #2 ANSWERING MACHINE AND FAX In this example, it is necessary to decide how many rings are allowed before automatically changing to the fax port, and what manual code will be used should someone on an extension pick up the line on a fax call. The number of rings before changing to the fax port should be at least two more than the answering machine will pick up on. If this is not possible, then use the infinite ring setting on switches #3 and #4. (If TAD ring = 4, set AFX-200 = 6) Set switch #1 for the choice of manual code. The process goes this way. The line begins to ring. The AFX-200 will start to count the number of rings. The TAD (Answering Machine) will answer the call first. The switch will then monitor the line for the transfer code (*0 / 10) or a CNG tone. If none of the above are detected the TAD is allowed to continue the call and record a message. If a CNG tone is detected the AFX-200 will switch the call to the fax port. The switch will then generate ring signals to the Fax machine so it can answer the call and receive the fax. If a transfer code is detected on the phone line from either the caller or an extension phone the AFX-200 will switch the call to the fax port. The switch will then generate ring signals to the Fax machine so it can answer the call and receive the fax. If the TAD is turned off or setup to not answer the call, then all calls are routed to the "FAX" port. It has been found that the operation goes through smoother and more consistently if the OGM (Out Going Message) of the TAD is amended as follows: 1. Allow @ 2-3 seconds of silence at the beginning of the OGM for better tone detection. The CNG cycles every 2 seconds. 2. Vocalize the selection of your manual transfer code for those persons using a manual FAX transmission. (ie. If you wish to send a fax press *0 now, on your touchtone phone. If you wish leave a message wait for the beep.) #3 MODEM AND FAX In this example it is important to understand that a separate fax machine is to be used with a computer modem. Equally important is the switch settings for this type of operation. Set switch #1 for the choice of manual code. Set switch #2 to up. Set switches 3 and 4 to 2 more rings than the modem is set to answer in. In this setup the switch performs similar to the TAD setup. That is the modem answers the call first. The switch will monitor the line as before and listen for the CNG or manual transfer (*0/10) tone(s) from the calling party. If none of the above is detected the modem is allowed to continue the call and receive. If a CNG tone is detected the AFX-200 will switch the call to the fax port. The switch will then generate ring signals to the Fax machine so it can answer the call and receive the fax. If a transfer code is detected on the phone line from either the caller or an extension phone the AFX-200 will switch the call to the fax port. The switch will then generate ring signals to the Fax machine so it can answer the call and receive the fax. If the TAD is turned off or setup to not answer the call, then all calls are routed to the "FAX" port. #4 ANSWERING MACHINE AND FAX WITH DISTINCTIVE RING The operation is the same as example #2 with the following exceptions. 1. Switch 5 is set to up. 2. When your phone line receives a DISTINCTIVE ring pattern (short/short, short/long/short, etc) the call is switched to the 'FAX' port. NOTE: This does not mean that the regular ring count is disabled. If the switch is set to 6 rings and a normal ring signal is received, WITHOUT any other device answering first, the switch will still switch the call to the 'FAX' port after the 6th ring. It is therefore necessary to set switches 3 and 4 to both down for infinite ring when DISTINCTIVE ring is being used. #5 MODEM AND FAX WITH DISTINCTIVE RING The operation is the same as example #3 with the following exceptions. 1. Switch 5 is set to up. 2. When your phone line receives a DISTINCTIVE ring pattern (short/short, short/long/short, etc) the call is switched to the 'FAX' port. NOTE: This does not mean that the regular ring count is disabled. If the switch is set to 6 rings and a normal ring signal is received, WITHOUT any other device answering first, the switch will still switch the call to the 'FAX' port after the 6th ring. It is therefore necessary to set switches 3 and 4 to both down for infinite ring when DISTINCTIVE ring is being used. NOTES: AUTOMATIC versus MANUAL SENDING - fax machines Put simply, an Automatic Fax machine is one that sends a CNG tone prior to establishing a connection. If your fax machine is one that allows you to load a document, dial a number and walk away without any further button pressing, you have an automatic sending FAX machine. If your machine requires you to press a start/copy or send button then you most likely have a manual sending FAX machine. As things stand currently approximately 60 % of new fax machines and approximately 85% of new FAX/modem cards are automatic. However most of the older (G-2 and early G-3 types) FAX machines were manual sending units. To be sure of your type consult the FAX machine's owners manual or simply listen to the sound over the phone line for the following sounds. CNG tone - This is a single tone that keeps cycling. The cycle is an 1100 Hz tone (CalliNG) that sounds for 1/2 second then is off for 2 seconds. FAX tones - This is a multifrequency sound that sends information as to the type of (Carrier/communication and other parameters between the 2 fax machines. This Manual tone) also sounds similar to the tones generated by modems. In all situations above set the FAX machine to auto-answer or answer in as few rings as possible. The AFX-200 will generate a ring signal that will support a REN (Ringer Equivalency Number) of 2.00 or less. The port marked 'PHONE' can be used for any telephone device, including TDD units, which will work on normal phone lines. This port allows the ring signal to pass through the same as the "MODEM/ANSWERING MACHINE" port. The AFX-200 will NOT work with call features such as Message Waiting, Call Forwarding, or some other types of phone company services. The reason for this is that once the phone company answers the call the line no longer ring at the location of the switch. Therefore, when the phone company answers the call, the service takes over the call and will not route it back to the home / office until the service is turned off. Using the Fax Switch with a Key System Unit (KSU) Telephone: 1. Special service called Distinctive Ringing must be obtained from the telephone company. 2. Wire the unit ahead of the Key System Unit. 3. Set the switches as-- SW#1 = preference SW#2, 3, 4 = down SW#5 = up (/all-07/27/95)