5.1.16 ELSA voice/fax modems

ELSA makes a nice series of Data/Fax/Voice products, both for POTS lines and for ISDN. In general, all of them are supported fairly well by mgetty+sendfax (fax works, fax polling works(!), voice works), but here are a couple of notes for different products:

• MicroLink 56k/56k pro – standard analogue voice/fax/data modem. Pretty good for about everything, but make sure you use the latest firmware version (1.58), as earlier versions have bugs switching between voice and fax mode.
• MicroLink Office – in addition to being a nice modem, this thing can do fax reception and answering machine functionality in "standalone mode", without a computer. Received voice calls and faxes can be downloaded via X-Modem to the computer. I’m working on a nice GUI application to ease using the standalone mode. The ML Office seems to be the only non-ISDN ELSA modem that can do Caller ID (CLIP).
• MicroLink TL/V.34 – this is an ISDN terminal adaptor that can also do V.34 modem calls and fax. Works nicely.
• TanGo – this an ISDN only terminal adaptor. Works, but it’s pretty boring stuff.
• MicroLink 28.8/33.6 TQV – this is the old voice/fax/modem series. Works, but uses a different command to got to hardware flow control mode (AT\Q3 instead of AT+IFC=2,2) so you’ll see some errors in the voice log files. Don’t worry about that.

If you have any problems with ELSA modems and mgetty concerning fax/voice support, report them to me first, and let me report them to ELSA - I’m actively working together with them to iron out bugs, and it’s easier if all the reports come from only one contact person (me).