PE> Remember how we were discussing what happens if you call
PE> straight after someone else, what happens is that my system
PE> exits after receiving mail, takes the phone off hook (but
PE> doesn't answer it), which means you can get a dud call.

Its theoretically possible to organise things so your modem does get a
proper connect with the calling modem in that case, and does just treat
that as a normal caller. The same possibility applys when you are repeat
dialing on Dave and you happen to attempt to dial out just as someone
calls in. It is doable in that last case, tho its harder in the case you
are talking about, because its harder to postpone the mail processing
that you planned to do with the modem busy.

PE> I could make my system not go off-hook after mail,
PE> but what that means is it just rings and rings,

Yeah, that one is a bit of a nuisance if the caller
is calling you with the modem speaker disabled.

PE> unless my system starts up again while you're ringing, answers the phone,
PE> but by then it's too late, and your end times out without connection.

Yeah, and this one isnt preventable by the config at your end at all.

PE> One solution to this problem would be for me to go back to my old method,
PE> and you guys all setting your modems to expire after about 3 minutes or
PE> something, whatever it is before Telecom gives up on your behalf.

Thats a bit tricky coz there can be significant variation in the
handshaking time, particularly with some particular circumstances.

PE> Depends how often you get the current problem.
PE> So far I only know Bill got it once.

I appear to have either got it or managed to call at the
instant you tried to dial out to Dave. Basically failed calls
when your system was busy atleast once in that session.

I currently abort my repeat dialing manually when I get a busy from you,
rather than just let it retry forever till it eventually does get answered.

I basically dont give a damn about a very occasional failed call
which appears to mostly cost me about 23c, coz the modems screech
at each other for a considerable time and get no where. There is
just silence on the line when I eventually pick up the handset.

Corse the totally auto I mentioned at the top would be better, but
it might be a tad tricky to implement. Mainly because you would need
to suspend the mail processing while you accept the new caller.
@EOT:

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