hello i have a multi tech modem MT932BA hooked to a Epson FX 870 printer to
print out fire calls
we are looking to have a buzzer sound when the printer start to print
any help
thanks
Grover
BFD/NY

Grover,

What do you mean "print out fire calls"? Is there some application/HW
between the modem and printer? Does the modem only connect when a call
comes in (and is printed)?

Most consumer modems have a disclaimer about "life threating
situations", and rightly so (I've written modem code :+). Is this a
backup just for records, or are people's lives going to depend on this?

Jim


GCUM2ME wrote:

On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 04:45:48 GMT, Jim
<sorry_nomail_nospam@verizon.net> put finger to keyboard and composed:

It could be that this printer has a serial interface option by which
it connects to the modem. I'm guessing the modem may be a standalone
unit which is configured to output caller ID data to the printer. If
so, then I would connect a 3-terminal buzzer to the Ring Indicator pin
of the RS232 interface via a buffer transistor. This buzzer would have
Vcc and ground pins, and a logic level on/off input.


- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 's' from my address when replying by email.

jim
thanks for your response
our system is hooked to the centeral alarm office where the calls are taken and
than dispatched to the firehouse by printer first than over the radio
the calls come across phone lines
some firehouses have the printer setup in their kitchen or watch room
this would give us a quicker response
ours is setup next to the fire truck
our city is hurting for funds so our communication division don't have any
equipment to help us some firehouses have setup pop cans on the printer
so when a call comes in the cans will fall

the print out has street address cross streets name, phone number of person
that needs help and a past record of any other calls to the same address
someone has mentioned a data alarm device
your thoughts please

thanks again
Grover/BFD NY

Grover,

Most modems connecting over a serial port (RS232) have a Carrier Detect
indication (CD). This goes active when the modem connects. A Radio
Shack type buzzer tapped into this lead can be made to buzz when CD is
on (when the modem is connected).

Another option is to open up the printer and find the power lead to the
print head drive. Tap onto this with a suitable buzzer to make the
modern day printer sound like one of the impact printers of old.

Of course, all this would need some tinkering and testing.

As an aside, I assume "BFD NY" is a professional fire house? I'm a bit
concerned that things like this were not addressed with the
equipment/communications upgrade recommendations following 9/11. (Note:
Not a political statement, per se, but "pop cans falling off the
printer"?!?! In my perfect world, all the firehouses would have some
standard, effective, equipment to make such a small part of their
dangerous jobs more predictable...)

Jim

GCUM2ME wrote:

GCUM2ME wrote:
I would suggest checking with your group of firefighters and find
out who has a friend/brother/neighbor who has enough phone line
experience to relocate both the modem and printer within the
firehouse to wherever is the best location. A few feet of 2 or 4
wire cable and it's done. Nothing says you can't extend the line
from the existing demarc to wherever you need within the building.

--reed

hello and thanks to all for the help and recommendations for our modem
buzzer.
I have found just what we needed from B&B electronics it's call DATALM
or DATA ALARM it's a 25 pin pass through device with a built in relay
and buzzer it can be configured for the presence of data of the
absence of data
it just so happened to be a discontinued unit and the last one on the
shelf
it works great

thanks again for all the input

Grover
BFD/NY