>At 07:15 PM 2/21/1998 Joe Searfoss Jr. wrote: >>I am looking for a modem switch that will allow my modem to be shared >>with my telephone. I need one that is automatic. If a call comes in the >>switch would answer the line and if a modem is detected it will send the >>call to the modem otherwise it would send the call to the phone. I have >>found a few but they all required someone to answer the phone before any >>detection takes place. Does anyone have any suggestions? > >Joe: > >I use a ringmaster telephone switch box. It listens for distinctive >ringing patterns and diverts the call where you want it. It will also >disables any extension telephone downline so it will not disturb >your call. > >Get a NON-powered model. You can put it anywhere -- say by your >telephone interface box outside the house, upline from all telephones -- >and you do not get any hum/noise added by A/C power. > >Downside is that you are paying your telco $3-6 per month for the >distinctive ringing service. > >I've tried all sorts of other boxes for fax, modem, telephone and >this is the best solution (apart from having a dedicated telephone >line). > >Cordially, > >John Chin Joe, I use a "Comshare 450 Telephone Line Sharing Device" by "Command Communications". I installed it several years ago and can't locate the documentation. I did find a site at http://www.netway.net/telecomm/. The device has a line in/phone/modem&fax/tad(tel.answer dev.). If you don't answer your phone it will route the call to your answering machine or to the modem depending on the ring. I use it primarily to receive fax at home with my desktop computer which must be on when the call comes in. I have not tried it with my laptop which has a suspend/sleep mode but assume most fax calls would time out before the laptop could respond. Regards, Joe Trimarchi