A busy signal generally indicates just that - that the line is busy. The modem,
not the software, determines this. The modem returns the word "BUSY"
if it encounters a busy line, and this is what EssentialFax reports.
EssentialFax passed the phone number to the modem, the modem
dialed the number, and the phone company reported a "busy"
signal to the modem.
Some things to check over:
- In some countries, certain modems think the phone ring signal is
the busy signal. If you are certain that this applies to your
situation, click the Ignore Busy Signal box on the Preferences.
Technical note: This is the same as sending the ATX2 modem
command. This is never appropriate in the United States or
Canada.
- Verify that the number EssentialFax is dialing is the correct
number, and that the number being called is not actually busy.
You can determine this by calling with a regular phone. Make
sure the line that EssentialFax uses to dial out is not in use
somewhere else in the home or office.
- Check the contents of the
Dialing Rules being
used, EssentialFax will first dial the information in the
dialing rules prefix, then the Fax Number, then the dialing
rules suffix.
- No long distance service. Before contacting EssentialFax
technical support, make sure that you check that the phone line
has out-of-state or long-distance capability. To do this, plug a
regular telephone into the same outlet where the modem is
connected and attempt to dial the number. EssentialFax technical
support encounters at least several "busy signal' problems each
week caused by this situation.
The notorious
Fast Busy Signal
Another form of busy signal is known as a "fast busy signal".
When you pick up your phone and dial a phone number, your phone
company tries to connect you to the person on the other end. If
too many people in your area are using the phone at the same
time, it overloads the phone system. The way that many phone
companies let you know that their system is overloaded and that
your phone call cannot be connected is by giving you a fast busy
signal.
A fast busy signal sounds just like a normal busy signal, except
that the busy tones occur much faster. Most people hear the fast
busy signal and think the person they are calling is on the
phone, when in reality your phone company cannot complete the
phone call because of inadequacies in their system.