Using FXS Module on AudioCodes Mediant 1000 for Faxing
Hello all, I have a Mediant 1000 SBA setup that is working fine and am now trying to add fax functionality directly off of the Mediant 1000 by adding a 4-port FXS module to the Mediant 1000. After adding the module it comes up correctly in the Mediant Gateway
UI and then I can assign it as a trunk and channel and give it the 4-digit number we want to use for the Fax but then I'm stumped as all the documentation I see talks about routing things to fax servers etc by giving it an IP address. I want to have the fax
directly plugged into the FXS module and have fax calls go directly there. So, I don't see how to do any routing as all of it pertains to IP stuff and there isn't an IP address related plus I must be missing something in the config of the module itself as
when I pick up the fax handset I don't even get a dial tone just a static-y hiss. I'm going to try to get into the AudioCodes forums themselves but thought I'd start here as there seem to be some serious experts on the topic hovering around. So, let me know
if you have any ideas
Steve
September 26th, 2012 6:23pm
ok, some more info that may help. It seems I don't have the software key for IP2IP on the Mediant 1000. I'm guessing I need this, can anyone verify this? Also, it sounds like I need Lync to be the "PBX" for the fax machine so I need to route calls for the
fax number through the gateway into Lync (where I've registered the Device as a fax device with the Mediant as its "gateway") so that Lync can then route it back out to the Mediant to be answered (if I have my IP to Tel routing right). Is that correct? Also,
in instructions I've seen it looks like I need to enable IP2IP application support for this. Is that correct? If so, is there an upgrade key I need? How do I figure that out? I do now have a dial tone but cannot get a call to come through to the fax (even
though I see the attempts through syslog on the gateway). Any help would be appreciated
Steve
September 26th, 2012 8:22pm
man, I have a habit of correcting myself. So, it looks like you don't need the IP2IP software key for analog devices connected directly, only if they then need to route to other gateways (like an AudioCodes Media Pack appliance, etc). I've got the fax
answering just fine and now am just focusing on getting it to actually receive faxes. Right now it answers and I hear the tones fine but then the fax machine on the other end bails like there was no connection. Any ideas?
September 26th, 2012 10:58pm
Hi,
It is a Audiocodes support question. You'd better contact Audiocodes produce engineer for help.
September 27th, 2012 8:09am
yeah, thanks. I've asked them also but no response there either. Since I'm trying to get faxing going through the AudioCodes device AND Lync I thought I'd try here also. Is no one doing faxing with Lync? Can anyone give me the generic Lync method for dealing
with faxes?
September 27th, 2012 10:43pm
This is from my notes to setup FXS on Mediant 1000:
Trunk Group
Select FXS module, Enter channel number on the module,
phone number, Trunk Group ID (next in line number)
Routing, Tel to IP Routing
Source Trunk Group ID * ,
Dest Phone Prefix, Dest IP Address (it's own IP address), port (5068), TCP ---> For each number (on this gateway)
Source
Trunk Group ID (where is it coming from (PRI Lines)), Dest IP Address (it's own IP address), port (5068), TCP ---> For each number
Routing, IP to Trunk Group Routing
Dest Phone Number,
Trunk Group ID for that number.
Manipulation, Dest Number Tel -> IP
Dest Prefix,
Prefix to add (to make the full number) ---> For each number (on this gateway)
Let me know if you have any question. Match colors.
Thank you.
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Marked as answer by
scarr4
Monday, October 01, 2012 9:48 PM
September 28th, 2012 2:06am
thanks for the response. i have things setup just like you notes suggested (very helpful for verification, thanks). the calls seem to route just fine now but the fax machines on the other end don't seem to like what they hear (they just hang up after hearing
the fax tones from my machine). What fax protocol settings are you using, G.711 Transport? Using preamble on T.38? Are you able to use "secure all calls" with it (SRTP)? Any other thoughts on why it isn't quite working?
Steve
September 28th, 2012 5:21pm
I am just learning AudioCodes, so I could be not the best help, but I will tell you what I know.
You need to have the following setup:
VoIP, SIP Definitions, General Parameters
Fax Signaling Method - T.38 Relay
Configuration->VoIP->Media->Fax/Modem/CID Settings
Fax Transport Mode Relay/Enabled
V.21 Modem Transport - Type Enable Bypass
CODERS
U-law
A-law
G.729
Tel Profile settings
Fax Signaling Method - T.38 Relay
IP Profile settings
Fax Signaling Method - T.38 Relay
Sorry, that is all I have in my notes. You will have to call AudioCodes if this does not work. If you do, please let me know how you fixed the problem. I will add it to my notes.
September 28th, 2012 5:29pm
thanks. i tried your settings (as they were different than mine) but got the same result. Time to try and get AudioCodes to respond.
thanks again
Steve
September 28th, 2012 5:50pm
Not a problem. Sorry, it did not work. Please let me know what you do to fix it.
Thank you.
September 28th, 2012 5:54pm
i'll keep you posted. BTW, anyone do this fax thing by bypassing Lync altogether with a Mediant 1000. I don't see a way but i've seen how-to's for Lync about bypassing it so am wondering
Steve
September 28th, 2012 9:03pm
Just had an issue with one of the AudioCodes do not sending fax to the FXS. I found that I had to add the following:
Source Trunk Group ID * ,Dest Phone Number, Dest IP Address (it's own IP address), port (5068), TCP ---> For each number (on this gateway)
Note, I had
Dest Phone Prefix, but it needed the full number.
Thank you.
September 29th, 2012 5:15pm
Hi scarr4,
I did not follow your complete thread, but I use fax on the Audiocodes gw always without configuration in Lync. This was the best and easiest way to successful configure all fax machines.
September 29th, 2012 8:38pm
that is what i've been reading but haven't found how to do it that way as all the routing is either "Tel to IP" or "IP to Tel" whereas what i want to do is Tel to Tel and there doesn't seem to be that option so any pointers would be much appreciated.
thanks
Steve
September 29th, 2012 9:27pm
Ok, you have to configure from the T1 Routing tel to IP and the IP to tel to route to the FXS port like
T1 Routing to 127.0.0.1 and the from 127.0.0.1 to the FXS port for the faxnumbers
September 29th, 2012 10:29pm
Ok, I think Im catching on. Since I have TLS setup for working with the SBA do I need to use that for the 127.0.0.1 or can I use TCP or UDP for transport type?
September 30th, 2012 9:42pm
well, no matter what I try in the Tel to IP routing table it seems to ignore it and route to our SBA even though I put the route to 127.0.0.1 at the first line matching the 4-digit Dest Prefix coming in from the T1 lines. not sure what to try next and am
completely baffled why there isn't any documentation for using the local loopback when routing straight to an FXS port. All I've seen thanks to Igor's link is for routing to a Fax server etc. Anyway, any thoughts appreciated as usual
Steve
September 30th, 2012 10:48pm
First of all, I would not use 127.0.0.1. Use the IP address of the AudioCodes device.
Second, can you run logs to see what is going on? You might see what the problem is.
Thank you.
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Marked as answer by
scarr4
Monday, October 01, 2012 6:53 PM
September 30th, 2012 10:58pm
great, got it working with the actual IP (accidentally had it using a proxy set at first). thanks for all your help (both of you). Obviously Lync and faxing do not mix as once I took Lync out of the loop (bypassed it completely) then all worked beautifully.
it would be nice to get the CDR info on these extensions but at least it now works.
Phew!
thanks
Steve
October 1st, 2012 6:52pm
Hi Scarr4, yes with integration in Lync you can have the CDR reports.
If you need the CDR info, you could use a syslog Server and send the CDR info from the Audiocodes to this Sylogserever as textfile.
October 3rd, 2012 11:25am
Hi,
I know I'm posting one year later, but I was just wondering if you found any solution for this or you still run the fax environment without Lync in the picture.
Thanks a lot!
Alex
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Edited by
Alex Costea
Wednesday, September 11, 2013 11:53 AM
September 11th, 2013 11:53am
we never went back after getting faxing to work while bypassing Lync. We decided the CDR stuff wasn't as necessary as having faxing simply work. I've done this at two other sites now and gone the same route (one site I run through a Dialogic box and straight
out to a few AudioCodes MediaPack boxes. This works like a charm.
Steve
September 11th, 2013 4:52pm
Hi Steve!
Thanks a lot for your response! I do have one more question: within your fax environment, do you also have the option 'send faxes to email'?
Thanks!
Alex
September 13th, 2013 7:58am
sorry, no, we don't use that option. We do only a little faxing and it is usually for privacy reasons (we are a medical school and need to keep patient records confidential so we try to keep them out of email altogether).
Steve
September 13th, 2013 3:33pm
Ok, understood. Thanks a lot for your responses!
Alex
September 16th, 2013 6:47am
Steve
Sorry to drag up this post that will never die!
How did you get around your proxy sets issue. Our fax number is always going to the Lync using a proxy set. If I remove the proxy set then no calls get through so I am unsure how to proceed here without breaking Lync just for a single fax machine!
Thanks
September 20th, 2013 11:32am
I'm assumin you mean on the AudioCodes gateway coming in from the outside. I just do it in the routing. Any fax routes come first in the list (get explicit matching with destination number and source trunk etc) with Destination IP set to our
fax gateways (MP-124's etc) and then we have a catch-all routing rule at the bottom which is a match for our proxy set number. Whether it is Tel to IP or IP to Tel as long as you have your routing rules set you should be fine
Steve
September 20th, 2013 11:18pm
We are trying to setup using the direct fax plugged into the FXS port. Tel2IP points to the IP of our Mediant 1000 and then IP to trunk points from the fax destination number associated with the FXS port to the trunk port associated with the FXS lines.
The FXS port blinks when I attempt to call the FXS number associated with the port but I get no ringing on the handset of the fax and when I answer the LED continues flashing and the caller hears constant dialling. When attempting from the fax itself
I have no dial tone. I am using a RJ11 cable with only the two centre pins connected as per instructions I have read online.
Its as if the call is being routed but I am unable to answer from the analog device.
Any ideas folks?
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Edited by
Powerupandpray
Thursday, October 03, 2013 3:27 PM
October 3rd, 2013 2:38pm
I have found that the very best way to figure this stuff out is to turn on syslogging and point the IP to your workstation and then download a simple tool like ACSyslog098.exe and then run that exe and make some calls back and forth to see what is happening.
Usually the logging is pretty clear once you get used to it. Other than that if you can post the parts of your board config file that applies wh=ith the numbers your trying to route and I could see if it makes sense.
Steve
October 3rd, 2013 4:40pm
I don't suppose you have some info on how you got a dial tone on your FXS ports? I have no dial tone and no ringer so nothing either way :(
October 3rd, 2013 8:20pm
hmmm, no. As far as I've noticed those ports put out a dial tone without even being configured because I've learned that having a dial tone means nothing w.r.t. whether you can make incoming or outgoing calls.
Steve. Do the FXS ports show up fine as a trunk group option in the web UI?
October 3rd, 2013 8:35pm
Igor what do you set the destination IP Group to in Tel 2 IP Routing?
June 26th, 2015 4:53am
For fax, you dont have to route everything to the proxy. I would recommend to route the FXS port direct to the pstn line.
On the M1K Gateway, you will route the FXS Fax port with tel-to-ip (127.0.0.1) and than ip-to-tel to the isdn trunk
I never route the fax calls to Lync.
June 26th, 2015 9:54am
You have to setup Control Network -> Proxy set table and Control Network -> IP group table .
Use IP group number from that table. I would recommend not to use 0.
June 26th, 2015 9:55am
If the routing is corect, you will have a dial tone or you get a busy tone.
You have to setup the correct routin tel-to-ip and IP-to-tel. The callflow from and to the FXS port will always go through the IP stack.
June 26th, 2015 9:56am
For fax, you dont have to route everything to the proxy. I would recommend to route the FXS port direct to the pstn line.
On the M1K Gateway, you will route the FXS Fax port with tel-to-ip (127.0.0.1) and than ip-to-tel to the isdn trunk
I never route the fax calls to Lync.
June 26th, 2015 9:59am