Using a answering machine under unix (complete pc, big mouth)

[Phil Hughes]

In article <163 at beagle.UUCP>, chandler at beagle.UUCP (Jim Chandler) writes:
> I was wondering if anyone had experience running one of the computerized
> internal answering machines under unix or vpix.  The two that I know about
> are the Complete Answering Machine and Big Mouth.  Has anyone or does anyone
> currently run under this configuration.  I would also like to hear from users
> of the above systems for comments about performance, reliability, etc.  Thanks
> in advance.  I will summarize here if there is some interest.

I have fairly seriously looked into this stuff.  Here is what I know so
far:

1. The Complete Answering Machine people absolutely refuse to tell you how
to talk to their board.  They won't even tell the developer that they
refer people to for DOS custom applications.  

2. Bigmouth (by Talking Technology) generates zillions of interrupts to
do its job.  Useless for a multi-tasking system.

3. Powerline II (by Talking Technology) is a 2-line board with two
processors on it.  One processor is for the analog stuff, the other to
talk to the host computer.  I have this board.  Software drivers for
DOS and development come in a package called Commando.  There is no
end-user applications.

The problem with Powerline II is that you need to buy Commando to get the
documentation on the hardware (strange as this seems).  I bought it
through Personal Computer Tools in Los Gatos, CA as they have a decent
return policy.  I talked them into xeroxing the Commando manual but I
eventually ended up buying Commando.

The demos run fine under DOS and there is certainly enough information in
the manual to write the UNIX driver.  It is, however, non-trivial.  
Probably about as hard as writing a driver for a smart comm board.


-- 
Phil Hughes, SSC, Inc. P.O. Box 55549, Seattle, WA 98155  (206)FOR-UNIX
     uunet!pilchuck!ssc!fyl or attmail!ssc!fyl            (206)527-3385