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Old 12-19-2007, 12:04 AM   #1
okos
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Is it possible to have sound with eFax?


Hi guys,
I have slackware 12 and alsa.
When I send a fax, I have no sound. In other words, I can't hear the dialtone.
Perhaps, I need to adjust alsa?
Or there are no just settings in eFax for sound.
How can I set up eFax with sound?

A response would be great.
Thanks
okos
 
Old 12-19-2007, 02:32 AM   #2
blackhole54
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Disclaimer: I have not used Slackware but I have used the efax package.

To the best of my knowledge, any sound from the modem is from the modem (card or external modem), not from the OS. As such, worrying about ALSA, etc, is irrelevant. In my case, I have an internal modem which has a small sound transducer on the card. If the modem itself cannot produce the sounds you wish, I don't think you can get sound.

The file /usr/bin/fax is an sh script. It contains the line:

Code:
INIT="-iZ -i&FE&D2S7=120 -i&C0"
which is sent to the modem for initialization. You can (should) modify this line for the appropriate initialization string for your modem, which includes any option(s) for sound. In my case, all I did was change the dialing speed by using:

Code:
INIT="-iZ -i&FE&D2S7=120 -i&C0S11=55"
This was sufficient for sound during dialing and modem negotiation. If you are not getting such sound then either you need to change the INIT string or your modem is not capable of producing such sound.
 
Old 12-20-2007, 10:04 PM   #3
okos
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Thanks for the response blackhole54

I dont have the file in /usr/bin

Is the file fax.sh?

okos
 
Old 12-21-2007, 02:09 AM   #4
blackhole54
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Quote:
Originally Posted by okos View Post
Is the file fax.sh?
On my system it is called fax (no dot sh). I am using the efax package that came with RH 7.0 (don't laugh ) which is a bit old, so it is possible they have changed the name. If it has a line similar to the one I posted, it is probably the same file. (Or maybe the whole package has been changed. Even so, I would expect something to allow you to set a modem initialization string.)

After re-reading your post, I am now not sure I interpreted it correctly. If you meant where do you find the file, you can use the which command to find where it is. If the command you type is fax, then

Code:
which fax
will tell you where that file is located. Its man page may also contain useful info about where files are found.
 
Old 12-22-2007, 01:07 AM   #5
okos
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To run eFax I actually use efax-gtk
/usr/local/bin/efax-gtk

Do I edit this file? I did not find INIT="-iZ -i&FE&D2S7=120 -i&C0" in the file.

sorry but Im a noob

Last edited by okos; 12-22-2007 at 01:12 AM.
 
Old 12-22-2007, 03:45 AM   #6
blackhole54
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Quote:
Originally Posted by okos View Post
To run eFax I actually use efax-gtk
OK. I am not familiar with efax-gtk, so I did a quick search. This page on freshmeat indicates that efax-gtk "replac[es] the scripts supplied with efax," which is presumably why your scripts and my scripts don't match. The README file for efax-gtk contains the following:

Quote:
Settings
--------

The program settings can be changed by manually editing the efax-gtk
configuration file comprising $HOME/.efax-gtkrc,
$sysconfdir/efax-gtkrc or /etc/efax-gtkrc. The file is searched for
in that order, so $HOME/.efax-gtkrc takes precedence over the other
two.

The configuration file can also be set by using the Settings dialog
launched from the `File/Settings' pull down menu item. The settings
entered using this dialog are always stored as $HOME/.efax-gtkrc.
Accordingly, if the Settings dialog has been used, and you want to
revert to the global settings, this can be done either by deleting the
$HOME/.efax-gtkrc file, or by pressing the `Reset' button in the
Settings dialog, which will reload the Settings dialog from the global
configuration file ($sysconfdir/efax-gtkrc or /etc/efax-gtkrc).

Help can be obtained when filling out the Settings dialog by holding
the mouse over the relevant help (?) button, which will bring up a
"Tips" display, or by pressing the button, which will bring up an
information display.
So I am guessing the configuration files mentioned contain the INIT string. In which case, you can probably set it from the GUI, but understand that the changes will only affect that one user.

If you don't see the string in these files, if you post one of them, I will take a look at it. And please also post what modem you are using.
 
Old 12-23-2007, 11:45 AM   #7
archtoad6
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I see 3 possibilities:
  • Your modem has no sound capability. -- I hope this is as unlikely as I think it should be.
  • efax is not (yet) configured correctly. -- Well covered by blackhole54.
  • There needs to be an audio connection from the modem to the mobo, a la CD ROM, in order for ALSA to receive the sound from the modem.

Some general troubleshooting Q's:
  1. What is your modem hardware? -- a card or an on-board chip?
  2. Have you ever heard a dial tone from it?
  3. How long has it been paired w/ this software & distro?
  4. Particularly is it new or has it worked in some other situation?
(I have numbered the Q's for your convenience in answering -- no need to quote the Q, just reference the #.)

Last edited by archtoad6; 01-05-2008 at 05:33 AM. Reason: typo
 
Old 01-04-2008, 12:15 AM   #8
okos
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Thanks rick
Sorry for the slow reply. I was gone over the holidays.

I have conextant modem on a dell inspiron 5100
I did test and hear a dial tone a while back when trying hylafax on slackware 12 some months ago.

I did open the .efax-gtkrc
I have the following
INIT: Z &FE&D2S7=120 &C0 M1L0
Should I change it to INIT="-iZ -i&FE&D2S7=120 -i&C0S11=55" or INIT: Z -i&FE&D2S7=120 -i&C0S11=55"

What does it all mean?
 
Old 01-04-2008, 01:41 AM   #9
blackhole54
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Quote:
Originally Posted by okos View Post
What does it all mean?
I would have to dig through documentation to tell you what it all means. At the very least through a modem manual, and possibly through efax documentation. But I think I can identify some bits for you. If the string you have is essentially working, I would basically stay with it, just doing selected modifications and additions. (And of course, keep a record of the original string. But you've already done that by posting it here! )

I think your sound is being controlled with "M1 L0" at the end of the string. The M1 means "speaker is on during call establishment, but off when receiving carrier, " which I think is what you want. The L parameter controls speaker volume. In your case, I think the zero is effectively turning the sound off. Try L1, L2, or L3 for increasing speaker volume. I hope that gets the sound you want. If you decide it is dialing a bit slower than you like, you might try adding S11=55 at the end of the string. I suggest doing this in steps, so if something breaks, you know where it went wrong.

If you want to understand the whole string, the best thing would be to try to get the manual for the modem you have. A lot of commands are standard, but modems frequently have some commands that pertain just to them or they do something non-standard. In lieu of your modem's manual, I found a document describing the Hayes Modem Command Set at docs.kde.org a few years ago. I don't know if it is still there. You might also need to check the efax and efax-gtk documentation, as I suspect the -i parameters appearing in the string have meaning to efax rather than to the modem.

Last edited by blackhole54; 01-04-2008 at 01:48 AM.
 
Old 01-05-2008, 05:50 AM   #10
archtoad6
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I started messing w/ modems in 1984, but I quit 3 or 4 years ago. I 2nd everything blackhole54 just said, although I doubt I would have remembered it all on my own.

The 1st & most important change is L0 to L2 -- that will probably fix the sound Level. Then if you want to do further tweaking from there, have at it.

I found the Hayes Modem Command Set, it was the 1st result in:
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Ha...Command+Set%22

Last edited by archtoad6; 01-22-2008 at 09:27 AM. Reason: clarify
 
Old 01-06-2008, 12:21 AM   #11
blackhole54
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Quote:
Originally Posted by archtoad6 View Post
Hey, as a responder, I have a right to be lazy! I do enough searching trying to help people with their problems.

Oh, and please don't think I "just remembered" the stuff I posted. I was looking at my own documentation!
 
Old 01-07-2008, 10:49 PM   #12
okos
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Thanks guys

I will make the change and see what happens. L0 to L2.
Quote:
Originally Posted by blackhole54
If you decide it is dialing a bit slower than you like, you might try adding S11=55 at the end of the string.
Would I do it as so with a space prior to s11 or does it not matter? INIT: Z &FE&D2S7=120 &C0 M1L2 S11=55
I have a few faxes to send. I will let you know what happens.
I have a conexant modem, I don't have any literature on it.
I will have to look online

Thanks
okos

Last edited by okos; 01-07-2008 at 11:00 PM.
 
Old 01-08-2008, 01:39 AM   #13
blackhole54
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Quote:
Originally Posted by okos View Post
Would I do it as so with a space prior to s11 or does it not matter? INIT: Z &FE&D2S7=120 &C0 M1L2 S11=55
I think it doesn't matter. On mine, I did not use a space. If one way doesn't work, try the other.
 
Old 01-15-2008, 01:10 PM   #14
archtoad6
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What did you do?
What worked?
-- help us improve our advice.
 
Old 01-15-2008, 11:16 PM   #15
okos
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I edited /home/~/.efax-gtkrc as follows:

Code:
#INIT: Z &FE&D2S7=120 &C0 M1L0
INIT: Z &FE&D2S7=120 &C0 M1L2 S11
I changed L0 to L2
and added S11

I have not sent a fax yet.
I have a small business and I have been emailing pdf files instead of faxing. Next time I send a fax, ill let you know if you get sound or not.

Last edited by okos; 01-15-2008 at 11:17 PM.
 
  


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