34
C
HAPTER
6: U
SING
THE
M
ODEM
Fax Support
To send or receive faxes using the modem, you must have a facsimile software
package, such as Microsoft Fax, provided with your notebook computer. In your
fax software, select error-correcting mode (ECM) to provide more reliable fax
connectivity. Your modem supports Class 1 and Class 2.0 faxing; for best results
and compatibility, we recommend using Class 1 as your fax class.
Attaching this information to faxes is known as
fax branding
. Refer to your fax
communications software documentation for details on how to comply with the
fax-branding requirement.
Faxing with
Microsoft Fax
Microsoft Fax is the resident fax application supplied with Windows ME, Windows
2000, Windows 98, and Windows 95. Before you can use Microsoft Fax, you may
have to install it from your operating system CD or folder using the Add/Remove
Programs utility in the Control Panel. It is available for Windows NT, but you will
have to download it from the Microsoft Web site.
Microsoft Fax is configured to use an installed modem and set up as a printer-like
device. Once installed, all you need to do to send a fax is select Microsoft Fax from
the Printer Setup menu of your text-processing application, then print the file.
Microsoft Fax will prompt for the Fax number to dial.
AT Commands
AT commands are set at the factory (factory settings are called
defaults
) to
perform specific modem functions in preselected ways. They can be used to
display call status or send and receive data with communications software such
as HyperTerminal.
AT commands are instructions typed at the command line of any communications
application. A communications application is in command mode when the
application is started but the modem has not yet dialed. When your application is
in command mode, the AT commands you type are sent directly to the modem.
The most common way to enter AT commands is from terminal mode in your
communications software. The basic rules for entering AT commands are:
■
All AT command lines must begin with the prefix
AT
.
■
Spaces between command characters (and option characters) are ignored.
■
Command line parameters cannot exceed 255 characters.
■
Press Enter to enter a command line. Commands take effect as soon as they
are received.
■
Type commands in either upper or lower case, not a combination.
■
If you leave the number off a command, zero is assumed. For example, if you
type
ATE
,
ATE0
is assumed.
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 makes it unlawful for any
person to use a computer or other electronic device to send any message via a
telephone fax machine unless such message clearly contains in a margin at the
top or bottom of each transmitted page or on the first page of the transmission,
the date and time it is sent and an identification of the business or other entity,
or other individual sending the message and the telephone number of the
sending machine or such business, other entity, or individual.
