Hello,
CLIFPA:
I think the Command Com unit would be great if it picks up in 2 rings and then I set my phone/answering to 2 also? Your help.
It's all a matter of how you wire it. I usually put them in the phone room, where the lines come in. This is good as long as the jack for the fax comes back to this location, so it can be split off to go directly into the device.
It has a few main modes of operation, and it depends on how you wire it. I have installed more than a half dozen of these for clients and friends, and for each of them I used option B(below)
Option A: Plugged in between your fax machine and the wall. With this option, it will secretly listen for beeps when another extension picks up the line (a person, an answer machine, etc). If it hears a beep it will then xfer to the fax machine. It also picks up after 6 rings if nothing else does. (this is what you read about)
PHONE LINE
| |
PHONES SWITCHBOX (everything rings)
|
FAX
Better diagram:
http://www.commandcommunications.net/semiautomaticmode.html
Option B: Plugged in between the phone company and everything in your building. This is the best way to wire it. It picks up on ring 1, listens for a CNG(fax) beep and sends the call in one of two directions. beep=fax machine, silence=your phones.
PHONE LINE
|
[SWITCHBOX] (makes the decision)
| |
PHONES FAX
Better picture:
http://www.commandcommunications.net/automaticmode.html
Option C: Same as A but uses distinctive ringing service from phone company. same physical line has two numbers pointing to it for a few dollars per month and it will ring with a different pattern, which this little box detects. It will send to the fax automatically based on the ring pattern. Click here for a great diagram:
http://www.commandcommunications.net/application.html
The devices can also route incoming MODEM calls, pass caller-id through, call a pager if you get a message on your machine, and the 7500 model can do all this for TWO lines. I doubt anyone would use all those features, but they can do it.
In its most basic function (option B), it lets you take an existing dedicated phone line and use it for multi purposes. For a small shop with one voice line, you can get the free "call hunting" service from the phone company so they will route calls to line 2 when line 1 is in use. (people still call your main number - it works similar to call waiting but rings the other line) The advantage is that a customer will get through on your advertised number even if its in use, because it'll jump to the other line.
I apologize for the length of this message, which probably makes it sound more confusing than it is. The above links to their web page go into better details with animated diagrams.
If you decide to try this, will be glad to help by phone if you get stuck in any way.