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THE FAX OF LIFE
INTRO
If you run a small business or work from home
you probably already have a telephone answering machine and fax, but wouldn’t
it be more convenient to have them both in one box, sharing a single phone
line? Rick Maybury looks at six fax/answering machine that do just that, costing
between £250 and £600
COPY
Combining the functions of a fax and answering
machine into one compact desktop unit has been a most welcome development for the
rapidly expanding small-office/home-office (SoHo) equipment market, the only
real surprise is that it has taken so long, and that no-one has come up with a
snappy name for them yet...
There’s clearly a need for such a device,
many small businesses are run by one person, who cannot afford or justify the
cost of a permanently-staffed office; this is especially true for those working
from home, who have an even greater need for an efficient message handling
service. Even the expense of a second phone line -- exclusively for a fax
machine -- can be prohibitive, particularly if the volume of fax traffic is
low. Various gadgets have appeared, that enable a fax and answering machine to
share a single line, but whilst they are relatively cheap to buy, and simple to
install, they can be difficult or frustrating for callers to use.
We have been looking at six of the very
latest fax/answering machine combos, ranging in price from just under £250 to almost £600. They have
all been designed more or less exclusively for the SoHo market and take up only
slightly more space than a normal office phone. The price differential is largely
accounted for by the sophistication of their fax systems. In general the dearer
models have extended memories that can store faxes as digital data -- rather
than on paper -- either for reception or transmission. In theory they also have
better resolution and image processing capabilities, more efficient error
correction systems, and convenience features such as message relay and remote paging.
These machines all have the same basic
facilities, i.e. they automatically store voice messages, plus they can receive
and print faxes while you’re out, and function as a multi-function memory phone
when you’re in. In common with most fax machines these days they can double up
as photocopiers as well, though the print quality is not that wonderful -- compared
with a plain-paper copier -- moreover fax paper is nasty thin curly stuff, the
image fades over time and it can work out quite expensive.
SIDEBAR 1
ABOUT OUR TESTS
Our tests reflect the kind of use these
machines will receive in the real world. We used each machine to send and
receive test faxes over local and noisy lines and noted the time each
transmission took using the standard resolution and fine/photo resolution modes.
As a matter of interest there was hardly any difference in the quality of
in-coming faxes received on these machines. We assessed the audio quality of
both the outgoing message (OGM) and in-coming message (ICM), at both ends of
the line. Ease of use for both the user and caller was an important consideration,
and we paid particular attention to the document feeders (where fitted). Past
experience has shown this to be weak point in fax machine design, and a major
irritant for users. Finally we took a long and hard look at build quality, this
is especially important in this application, where they may be subjected to quite
heavy use.
SIDEBAR 2
FAX FILE
All of the machines we’ve been looking at use
thermal paper printing systems, the cost of fax paper varies considerably so it
is not possible to give a definitive price per page but in general, because of
their compact design most of them use relatively small (15-30 metre) rolls that
cost more than the larger (50-100 metre) rolls used in dedicated office fax
machines.
They are all BABT approved and Group 3 compatible
(the current international standard). Additional features, that you may or may
not consider useful, include grey or halftone resolution mode, which allows
photographs to be sent with minimal loss of detail; fax memory, for storing
incoming or outgoing documents as digital data; remote polling, so that other
fax machines can retrieve documents from your machine; timer-controlled and
broadcast faxing, for sending faxes to specified numbers at pre-set times;
selective reception, to prevent the machine from receiving unsolicited faxes,
and bulletin board operation, where a document stored in the machine’s memory can
be retrieved by other fax machines.
SIDEBAR 3
THE RIGHT ANSWER
Digital voice recording systems have largely superseded
tape in low and medium cost answering machine systems. This technology has a number
of advantages, it’s fast -- there’s no delay whilst the tapes shuttle back and
forth; sound quality is normally quite good nowadays and there’s no
deterioration of the outgoing message, because there’s no tape to wear out, or
recording heads to get clogged. They also tend to be more reliable as there are
no moving parts. The downside is relatively short recording times -- less than
10 minutes in some cases -- messages cannot be easily archived, for long-term
storage, and they may be lost in the event of a lengthy power failure.
AMSTRAD FX-7500AT
£246.74 (inc. VAT and delivery)
Amstrad have taken the unusual step of
selling their office equipment and computers direct to customers by mail-order,
so the FX-700 is not, as they say, available in any shop. It’s the smallest and cheapest machine in
this roundup by a considerable margin, the footprint is about the same as a
sheet of A4 paper. Needless to say the specification is quite basic; it doesn’t
have a paper cutter, sheet feeder or journal printout, and the fax is limited
to send, receive and poll. The answering system has a 14-minute capacity and
the phone has a 50-number memory, with hands-free ‘speakerphone’ operating
mode. The rectangular phone handset isn’t very accessible at the back of the box,
and it’s not very comfortable to hold.
There are two auto-answer modes, for fax and voice
messages/fax with separate OGMs, in the latter the caller is invited to leave a
message or send a fax after the bleep.
Voice message were quite bassy but
intelligible. Fax performance is generally okay, copy quality is a bit rough
but outgoing faxes in the standard resolution mode were clean and easy to read.
Copies sent in the grey resolution mode were a little lighter with slightly
more detail but transmission speed was excruciatingly slow. A good budget buy,
and a real space saver but don’t look for any frills.
Performance ***
Features ***
Ease of use ****
Value for money *****
Features: 50-number
memory (10 one-touch, 40 speed dial), hands-free operation, Mercury button,
local/remote polling, remote control
Dimensions: 190
x 280 x 60mm
Contact: AMSTRAD
DIRECT, Brentwood, Essex CM14 3EF Telephone (0800) 338844
Personal Office Verdict 90%
BT
DF200
£410.08 (inc VAT)
The DF200 is another very small machine, only
a little wider than a sheet of A4 paper. The feature list is quite short as
well, there’s no paper cutter, only the bare minimum of faxing facilities and it
doesn’t have a Mercury button, (surprise surprise...). Nevertheless, it does have a useful autodialler with two, 10-number/one-touch
memories, for fax and voice calls, and full remote operation from a touch-tone
phone. The voice recorder has a 15-minute capacity (depending on the length of
the OGM and any memo recordings), and there’s a built-in 24 hour alarm clock. In the auto-answer mode the caller has the
option to leave a voice message, or send a fax, by pressing their start button
after the bleep.
Full marks for the 5-page document feeder, it
worked faultlessly, and the digital voice recording system also deserves a
small pat on the back. Both OGMs and ICMs sounded crisp and clear, there’s some
slight sibilance, but it doesn’t affect intelligibility. Print quality is
average to good, standard resolution is a bit grainy but the fine setting looks
very good, albeit a bit light, transmission speed at this setting is about average.
It works well enough and it could be worth thinking about if space is at a
premium and you’re faxing needs are simple.
Performance ****
Features ***
Ease of use ****
Value for money ***
Features: 50-number
autodialler (2 x 10 one-touch, 30 speed dial), memo recording, 5-page document feed, local/remote polling, timed
transmission, remote control, alarm function, on-hook dialling
Dimensions: 315
x 265 x 100
Contact: BT,
81 Newgate Street, London EC1A 7AJ.
Personal Office Verdict 90%
BROTHER AX-490DT
£470 (inc VAT)
Beauty is only skin deep, which is just as
well as the Brother 490 is not an especially pretty sight, but who’s
quibbling? It is an unusually
sophisticated design with a 1 megabyte memory that can store up to 50-pages of
fax. This can be used to keep sensitive documents from prying eyes, it will
also take over fax reception, should the paper run out, or it can be used to
store documents for automated transmission, polling or broadcast to specified
numbers. Other fax facilities include a smoothing mode, that irons out jagged
edges on the printout; an overseas setting, that overcomes communications
problems associated with line-echo; it has an anti-curl feature that really
works, and it will automatically generate a customised cover page if needed.
Two features stand out, they are the Message
Manager, which governs how the 490’s memory is used, and a paging facility,
which automatically calls the user at a nominated number when a fax or voice
messages has been received. As well as looking after incoming and outgoing
messages one of Message Manager’s other jobs is a memo recorder that alerts the
user with a pre-recorded message at a specified time and date, up to a week
ahead. The machine has three auto answering modes: auto is for fax-only
operation, F/T auto-answers with a fax tone, if it doesn’t detect a fax signal
it bleeps, signalling that the phone should be answered manually, finally in
the TAD (telephone answering device) mode it responds with a pre-recorded message
that asks the caller to leave a message, or send a fax by pressing their start
button. If the paging facility has been enabled the 490 will automatically ring
the nominated number as soon as the incoming call has finished.
Most operations are reasonably
straightforward, though it’s not a very easy machine to get to know, mainly due
to the almost impenetrable instruction manual which runs to almost 150 pages.
Fortunately the machine has a simple ‘help’ facility which prints out shortform
instructions. The machine is supplied with a roll of Therma Plus paper, this
gives excellent results, better still, it doesn’t feel like fax paper, though
it will work quite happily with normal paper and it can take 50 metre rolls.
Resolution and contrast are both good in the standard modes, the photo transmission
mode is excellent, lots of fine detail and it’s fast too, though it’s quite
noisy and documents go through the machine with a unusually jerky motion. The
document feeder didn’t do very well, it bunched pages after the second or third
sheet. Otherwise a credible performer, very flexible with some genuinely useful
features. Good value, recommended.
Performance ****
Features ****
Ease of use ***
Value for money *****
Features: 60-number autodialler (20 one-touch,
40 speed-dial), message paging, fax forwarding, 50-page fax memory,
time/broadcast transmission, job queuing, remote retrieval,
remote/local/sequential/delayed polling, paper cutter, anti-curl system,
15-page document feed, Mercury button, help function (instruction printout),
out of paper receive, memo record, on-hook dialling, telephone index, remote
control operation, overseas mode, secondary keypad
Dimensions: 376
x 311 x 127mm
Contact: Brother
Business Machines, Shepley Street, Audenshaw, Manchester M34 5JD. Telephone (0161)
3306531.
Personal Office Verdict 95%
SAMSUNG SF-2800
£470 (inc VAT)
The SF2800 is a solid, middle-of the road
design with just enough convenience features and gadgetry to make it stand out
from the crowd. The phone section boasts a 98-number autodialler and the
digital answering machine can store up to 30 minutes worth of voice messages.
The rather routine fax section has a delayed
transmission facility, plus remote and local polling. Unusual features include
a world-time clock and a fast-playback option on the ICM recorder, which comes
in handy when there’s a lot of messages to plough through. There’s also a
simple to use paging system, that calls a specified number after each message
has been received. When this function is engaged a red LED flashes incessantly
on the front panel, even when the machine is in the manual answer mode, and
this can become quite annoying after a while. The user can play back the
recording, and access pretty well all of the machine’s main functions remotely,
via a touch-tone phone.
It’s very easy to set-up and use, the hefty
instruction manual is well laid out, there are short-form instruction on the
underside of the top panel, and it will even print out an instruction crib
sheet by pressing the help button. The machine has four operating modes, for
automatic fax reception, manual telephone/fax answering, automatic fax
answering and automatic answering machine/fax recording. The OGM asks the
caller to leave a voice message, or press the start button on their fax
machine.
Standard resolution faxes are a little darker
than average, and quite contrasty. Faxes sent in the super-fine/photo mode look
a little washed out though resolution is good, however, it was very very slow,
taking over 8 minutes to complete one page. Audio on the digital voice recorder
is a little bass-heavy, though speech remains understandable. Multiple document
handling is poor with bunching after about the third or fourth page. The 2800
has fairly average fax performance, but good phone and TAM facilities, at a
sensible price, worth considering as a small office workhorse.
Performance ***
Features ****
Ease of use ****
Value for money ****
Features: 98-number
autodialler (18 one-touch, 80 speed dial), memo recording, 2-way recording,
on-hook dialling, 10-sheet autofeeder, auto redial, call transfer (paging),
delayed transmission, remote /local polling, help (instruction printout),
world-time clock, time/date stamps
Dimensions: 359
x 280 x 104
Contact: SAMSUNG
UK LTD
Unit 1, Hook Rise Business Centre, 6225 Hook
Rise South, Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 7LD. Telephone 0181-391 0168
Personal Office Verdict 90%
SHARP UX254
£499 (inc VAT)
The UX254 was launched late last year, it’s
the first Sharp machine to feature a digital voice recording system, the TAM in
question has an 11-minute recording capacity with a somewhat meagre single
14-second OGM. The phone side is quite well appointed with a 50-number
autodialler and on-hook dialling. The fax facilities comprise remote and local
polling, timer transmission and an unique paper save feature. This has two settings:
mode one reduces the white spaces between lines but doesn’t affect text or
graphics, mode 2 reduces the entire page by 50%.
There are two auto answer options: fax only,
or TAM and fax, the latter is fully automatic with the OGM inviting the caller
to either leave a voice message, or start their fax machine. The initial set-up
routines are easy to follow and should take no more than a few minutes. Most
operations are very straightforward, though it pays to keep the instruction
book to hand.
Audio quality on the OGM is good but incoming
messages sound quite bassy, occasionally making them difficult to understand. Full
marks for the document feeder, a faultless performance with no bunching. Faxes
sent in the standard resolution mode looked fine with a good range of contrast.
Copies sent in the fine/halftone came out very light, though there was a lot of
detail, and it was very quick at just under 4 minutes per page. Capable but
pricey.
Performance ***
Features ***
Ease of use ****
Value for money ***
Features: 50-number
autodialler, 10-sheet autofeed, paper cutter, remote control and message retrieval,
paper save mode, remote polling, memo record, 2-way record, timed transmission,
Mercury button, on-hook dial
Dimensions: 340
x 255 x 115
Contact: SHARP
UK LTD., Thorp Road, Newton Heath, Manchester M10 9BE. Telephone 0161-205 4255
Personal Office Verdict 85%
PANASONIC UF-V60
£586.32 (inc VAT)
This is Panasonic’s newest machine, closely targeted
at the top-end of the SoHo market. The fax section is particularly impressive
with a large (1Mb) memory that can store up to 50 pages of information. This
has a variety of uses, including automatically storing received documents in
the event of the paper running out; storing messages on an electronic bulletin
board, for retrieval by other fax machines, and as a personal mailbox, for
holding sensitive messages which can be relayed to another fax machine using a
message transfer facility. It has a selective reception mode, to screen out
junk faxes, and 64-level halftone resolution.
The digital answering system shares memory
with the fax section and it can theoretically record up to nine minutes of
audio, (or 99 messages) though only if it’s not being used for faxes. It can also be used to record telephone
conversations, or to store voice memos. The machine has full remote control
operation and a handy help feature, which prints out relevant instructions.
Most of the set-up routines are fairly easy
to follow, though it’s just as well it has the on-line help facility as there
are so many features. It can be set up to respond to incoming faxes only, or as
an answering machine with fax option, with the caller given the option to
indicate they want to send a fax by pressing the asterisk button on their phone
twice. Alternatively it can be set to auto answer incoming calls with a short
message and fax tone, if the phone isn’t picked up it responds with a second
message, inviting the caller to send a fax.
The 10-page document feeder actually works, and
fax quality is outstanding, particularly in the super-fine and half-tone mode
settings, which incidentally was the fastest of the lot at under 4 minutes per
page. OGM sound quality is fine, though it’s little quiet -- you have to speak
quite loudly when recording the message -- ICM audio is also very clear,
certainly as good as the better tape systems. It’s nopt cheap but this is the
one to beat, as far as fax performance and flexibility are concerned, accordingly
it is the winner of Personal Office’s award of excellence.
Performance *****
Features *****
Ease of use ***
Value for money ****
Features: 20-number
autodialler, (5 one-touch, 15 speed-dial), music on hold, Mercury button, voice
memo recording, 2-way recording, fax broadcast, auto re-transmission, auto
memory reception (if paper runs out), 10-page document feeder, 64-level
halftone, fax bulletin board, secure message mailbox, remote operation,
verification stamp, time/date stamps, selective reception, help function
(instruction printout), on-hook dial, paper cutter
Dimensions: 404
x 269 x 126mm
Contact: Panasonic
Business Systems UK Ltd., ., Panasonic House, Willoughby Road, Bracknell,
Berkshire RG12 4PF. Telephone (01344) 853235
Personal Office Verdict 98%
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Ó R. Maybury 1995 0303
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