STFax very unstable :(

[AmigaMance]

Hi.
 I installed the freeware version of STFax 4 from Aminet and then i upgraded it to version 4.1. The problem is that it is ridiculously unstable on my system. (Amiga 1200, BPPC 68040, BVision, Serial modem connected to SilverSurfer, OS 3.9) It hangs frequently. Sometimes while just browsing the preferences window, sometimes while trying to open another window and everytime i'm trying to send a fax.
 I haven't manage to send a fax yet because of this. It dials the fax number, the fax machine of the other peer responds but then STFax hangs immediately after this. Therefore, the fax that i'm trying to send never reaches the recipient.
 So.. i would like to make some questions to anyone who has ever used his Amiga as a fax machine:
 Have you experienced similar problems with STFax?
 Have you found a way to fix this?
 Are older versions of STFax more stable?
 Are there any decent alternatives to STFax (preferably free) that i could try? (AOS 3 or MOS)

   Thank you!

[Castellen]

I'm running STfax 4.5 (registered) here 24/7 mainly for answerphone & voicemail, but also for sending and receiving faxes.  OS3.9 on 68060.
Always runs fine for me, never had any problems at all.

As it's MUI based, perhaps it might be an idea to investigate your MUI installation?  A bad custom class could be causing all the grief.

Download and follow the instructions in my MUI archive, which you can find here.

[Homer]

No problems here with the last registered version of STFax, and an Amiga A1200t 68030 OS3.5 and using the standard com port. STFax is an excellent program  :-D

[wurzel]

Homer wrote:
No problems here with the last registered version of STFax, and an Amiga A1200t 68030 OS3.5 and using the standard com port. STFax is an excellent program  :-D

Yeah, wot he wrote!

Except I've been running STFax since I had a stock A1200 with hard drive, up to my current setup (see sig).

Try using SnoopDos to see what's causing the failure - I'd be very surprised that it was STFAx - more likely a missing lib or something.

[wa9yoz]

Greetings all & especially Amiga radio ham operators!
I have never installed my STFax. Since there are very few software programs for
radio amateurs that are using their Amigas, STFax should work with my A-1200 connected
to the MFJ-1278B multi-mode controller & transceiver?
BTW: Anybody have experience with "GPFax" software?
Tony

[LoadWB]

I used GPFax on a stock A500, then later when upgrade with a GVP A530Turbo, under AmigaOS 1.3 up through 3.1.  With it I used an Emerson 2400bps modem, then a 14.4 modem (can't remember the brand, but I think is was a Supra)  In all configurations it worked great, with the exception of not being able to share the serial port device with Miami.

[Homer]

Yes, I had GPFax before I bought STFax. I much preferred STFax   :-)

[AmigaMance]

 Thank you all for your feedback!
 It seems that there something wrong with my setup since nobody reported any problems.

@Castellen
 I doubt that there is something wrong with my MUI installation since i don't have problems with other MUI apps, but i will try to send a fax under MorphOS with the latest MUI4 beta installed and see what will happen.
 Edit: Tried it, but without sending the fax yet. I get some hits from the task "STFax_spooler" (or something) on startup and it hangs while i try to quit... It can not be a fault of MUI then.
 Furthermore, failing to work properly on both OS's, indicates a hardware problem, imho.

@wurzel
 I have already ran snoopdos and it doesn't report any missing system file.

 I wonder if the SilverSurfer port or the Modem could cause such behaviour?... They work as they should on accessing the internet, though.. :-?

[wurzel]

 I wonder if the SilverSurfer port or the Modem could cause such behaviour?... They work as they should on accessing the internet, though.. :-?

Time to check your STFax settings, to make sure you're sending it to the correct modem device (mine's serial.device, if you use silversurfer, it would be different), baud rate etc is all correct.

Do you have the Init string set up correctly for your modem?

Are your timeouts correct (default seeting is usually best).

It's always worth double checking your settings

[wurzel]

Hi,

Did you manage to sort your problem?

I'd be interested to know :inquisitive:

[AmigaMance]

Hi wurzel.

Did you manage to sort your problem?

I'd be interested to know

 No.. :-( Things with STFax are still as i have described them. No luck with MorphOS either in where i have MUI4 installed!
 Let me answer your previous questions:

Time to check your STFax settings, to make sure you're sending it to the correct modem device (mine's serial.device, if you use silversurfer, it would be different), baud rate etc is all correct.

 I have set the device and device number correctly. Otherwise STFax will complain that it can't find modem or something from the beginning.

Do you have the Init string set up correctly for your modem?

 I have tried the default init string of STFax and the factory default of the modem. (AT&F)

Are your timeouts correct (default seeting is usually best).

 If you mean the timeout values in STFax preferences, i have tried the defaults and the tried to increase them a bit.
 Nothing of the above works. Perhaps i will try my spare modem when i have time.