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NOTE: WinFax PRO or TalkWorks PRO does not support distinctive ring when using Windows XP, Windows 2000 or Windows NT 4.1. The following information is reference for troubleshooting distinctive ring when using an older supported operating system, such as Windows 9x.

Distinctive Ring is a telephone service that enables you to use two or three telephone numbers on the same phone line. When the computer is properly configured, WinFax and TalkWorks can be configured to respond only to the telephone numbers that you specify.

How Distinctive Ring works

Distinctive Ring can also be set up to distinguish between different types of calls. For example, one type of ring pattern may be used for fax calls, another for voice calls, and yet another for data calls.

When Windows TAPI (Telephony Application Programming Interface) in Windows 95/98/Me detects a particular type of ring, it routes the incoming call to the waiting communications application defined for that ring pattern.

Requirements for Distinctive Ring

The requirements for Distinctive Ring are as follows:

• You must subscribe to the Distinctive Ring service from your local telephone company.
• Distinctive Ring can only be used in Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me. Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, and Windows XP do not support caller ID or Distinctive Ring using its version of TAPI.
• The modem and modem drivers must support Distinctive Ring as implemented by Windows TAPI.

Modem support for Distinctive Ring

WinFax and TalkWorks do not support the Distinctive Ring feature for some modems. NOTE: WinFax PRO or TalkWorks PRO does not support distinctive
ring when using Windows XP, Windows 2000 or Windows NT 4.1. The
following information is reference for troubleshooting distinctive
ring when using an older supported operating system, such as Windows
9x.

Such modems use DRON/DROF to implement support for Distinctive Ring, rather than the implementation that is required by Windows. Because WinFax and TalkWorks rely on the modem and Windows TAPI to identify each ring pattern and route the call appropriately, modem drivers that are not supported by Windows for Distinctive Ring are also not supported by WinFax and TalkWorks. WinFax and TalkWorks may not function properly when the computer uses a modem driver that implements Distinctive Ring by means of DRON/DROF.

This problem has been seen in modems that use the following chipsets:

Conexant HCF and HSF
Lucent Technologies
Ambient Technologies
ESS Technologies
Motorola SM56
Topic
Some recent US Robotics modems

For information on Windows nonsupport of DRON/DROF messages, consult your Microsoft Windows documentation or read article number Q240996, Troubleshooting Distinctive Ring, in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.

To enable Windows support for such modems, contact your modem manufacturer to determine whether drivers are available that include support for Distinctive Ring that uses Windows TAPI rather than DRON/DROF.

Troubleshooting Distinctive Ring

Distinctive Ring is completely handled by TAPI and the modem. The modem identifies the ring pattern and TAPI routes the call based on the modem's feedback. WinFax PRO/TalkWorks PRO simply wait for TAPI to tell them what type of call is coming in. As such, most Distinctive Ring problems involve configuration problems with the modem or TAPI.

NOTE: WinFax PRO or TalkWorks PRO does not support distinctive
ring when using Windows XP, Windows 2000 or Windows NT 4.1. The
following information is reference for troubleshooting distinctive
ring when using an older supported operating system, such as Windows
9x.

Configure WinFax/TalkWorks to use the TAPI port
In Program Setup, double-click Modems and Communications Devices.
Select the modem, and then click Properties.
Under Communications Port, it must be set to TAPI.

Verify that the correct INF file is installed
Click Start, point to Settings, and click Control Panel. The Control Panel window appears.
Double-click Modems. The Modems Properties dialog box appears.
Select the modem, and click Properties. If a Distinctive Ring tab is displayed, you have confirmed that the modem supports the Distinctive Ring feature and that the correct .INF file is installed.

For Windows 95, verify the version of the Unimodem.vxd file
Click Start, point to Find, and click Files or Folders. The Find dialog box appears.
From the Look In drop-down list, select the drive onto which you installed Windows.
Check Include subfolders (if not already checked).
In the Named field, type unimodem.vxd and click Find Now. Windows displays all files matching the search criteria.
Select the found file, click File, and then click Properties.
Click the Version tab. Make sure that the file version is 4.10.0431 or later. If you do not have the correct version installed, download and install Unimodem/V from the Microsoft Web site. For instructions on how to do this, and a link to the download, read the Microsoft Knowledge Base article Unimodem V Adds Additional Support for Data/Fax/Voice Modems.

Configure the modem for Distinctive Ring
Click Start, point to Settings and click Control Panel. The Control Panel window appears.
Double-click Modems. The Modems Properties dialog box appears.
Select the modem, and click Properties.
Click the Distinctive Ring tab.
Select “This Phone Line has Distinctive Ring Services.”
If you want to answer:
Fax calls only, select Fax from the Double Ring drop-down list.
Voice calls only, select Voice from the Single Ring drop-down list.

Select an entry in the Telephon.ini file
Select the [HandOffPriorities] section in the Telephon.ini file for the correct entry.
Click Start, and then click Run. The Run dialog box appears.
In the Open field, type telephon.ini and press Enter.
Locate the [HandOffPriorities] section.
Verify that the following line exists in this section:

g3fax=wfxmod32.exe

Add the line if it is missing.

Verify the ring patterns
To verify that the correct ring patterns are being used by your modem:

Exit all open programs.
Verify that the modem responds to commands:
Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click HyperTerminal. The HyperTerminal folder window appears.
Double-click HyperTerminal or Hypertrm.exe. The HyperTerminal window appears.
Type any name for the connection in the Name field of the Connection Description dialog box.
Click OK. The Phone Number dialog box appears.
Type any number in the Phone Number field.
Select the modem from the “Connect Using” drop-down list. The default selection will do in most cases.
Click OK. The Connect dialog box appears.
Click Cancel.
In the blank HyperTerminal window, type atz and press Enter. The modem should respond with OK. If the modem does not respond or does not respond with OK, it is not properly configured in Windows.
Dial into the telephone line using the appropriate phone number for the ring pattern and check for the RING response in HyperTerminal.

One of the following ring types should be displayed if TAPI is working correctly:
For ring pattern 1, either RINGA or RING1 should be displayed.
For ring pattern 2, either RINGB or RING2 should be displayed.
For ring pattern 3, either RINGC or RING3 should be displayed.

If you see a different response from the modem, contact the modem manufacturer for further assistance.

For U.S. Robotics V.Everything modems, add configuration information
If you have a U.S. Robotics V.Everything modem installed in the computer, configure the modem as follows:

Click Start, point to Settings and then click Control Panel. The Control Panel window appears.
Double-click Modems.
Select the modem, and click Properties.
If you do not have a Distinctive Ring tab, contact the modem manufacturer to obtain and install the latest .INF file for the modem.
Click the Connection tab.
Click Advanced.
Type the following in the Extra Settings field: ats41=1 and click OK.

More information
WinFax and TalkWorks can be configured to ignore specific ring patterns. NOTE: WinFax PRO or TalkWorks PRO does not support distinctive
ring when using Windows XP, Windows 2000 or Windows NT 4.1. The
following information is reference for troubleshooting distinctive
ring when using an older supported operating system, such as Windows
9x.

To configure WinFax/Talkworks to ignore calls from specific ring patterns:
In the WinFax PRO or TalkWorks PRO Program Setup, double-click Receive. The Receive Properties dialog appears.
Select the Advanced tab. You see options for Distinctive Ring. If Distinctive Ring is unavailable, see that all the requirements have been met and that the modem is configured to use TAPI instead of a COM port.
Check Do Not Answer Calls Using the Ring Pattern Assigned to Data Calls.
Click Ring Pattern Setup. The Modems Properties dialog box appears for your modem.
Click the Distinctive Ring tab and set the appropriate ring pattern to Data. WinFax PRO/TalkWorks PRO will ignore a call of that ring pattern type.