Faxing problem with nvfax

[tomsyr]

I set up faxing is PiaF as per Ward's instructions. I needed to change the system fax number to a different #, but other then that, everything seems to be working except for the pdf file that gets set is 0 kb, and can't be opened - not that 0 kb would have anything anyway.
The system keeps trying to resend the fax - here's the output from the Asterisk CLI:

== Parsing '/etc/asterisk/asterisk.conf': Found
Connected to Asterisk 1.4.21.2 currently running on syrPBX (pid = 3044)
Verbosity was 3 and is now 6
-- Accepting AUTHENTICATED call from 10.70.20.7:
> requested format = ulaw,
> requested prefs = (ulaw),
> actual format = ulaw,
> host prefs = (alaw|gsm|ulaw),
> priority = mine
-- Executing [279@from-internal:1] Answer("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "") in new stack
-- Executing [279@from-internal:2] Wait("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "1") in new stack
-- Executing [279@from-internal:3] PlayTones("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "ring") in new stack
-- Executing [279@from-internal:4] NVFaxDetect("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "5") in new stack
-- Executing [fax@from-internal:1] Goto("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "ext-fax|in_fax|1") in new stack
-- Goto (ext-fax,in_fax,1)
-- Executing [in_fax@ext-fax:1] StopPlayTones("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "") in new stack
-- Executing [in_fax@ext-fax:2] GotoIf("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "1?3:analog_fax|1") in new stack
-- Goto (ext-fax,in_fax,3)
-- Executing [in_fax@ext-fax:3] Macro("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "faxreceive") in new stack
-- Executing [s@macro-faxreceive:1] Set("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "FAXFILE=/var/spool/asterisk/fax/1230040467.0.tif") in new stack
-- Executing [s@macro-faxreceive:2] Set("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "[email protected]") in new stack
-- Executing [s@macro-faxreceive:3] RxFAX("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "/var/spool/asterisk/fax/1230040467.0.tif") in new stack
-- Executing [h@ext-fax:1] System("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "/var/lib/asterisk/bin/fax-process.pl --to [email protected] --from [email protected] --subject "Fax from 13156870014 " --attachment fax_13156870014.pdf --type application/pdf --file /var/spool/asterisk/fax/1230040467.0.tif") in new stack
-- Executing [h@ext-fax:2] System("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "rm /var/spool/asterisk/fax/1230040467.0.tif") in new stack
-- Executing [h@ext-fax:3] Hangup("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "") in new stack
== Spawn extension (ext-fax, h, 3) exited non-zero on 'IAX2/syrpbx-3127'
-- Hungup 'IAX2/syrpbx-3127'
syrPBX*CLI> Asterisk 1.4.21.2, Copyright (C) 1999 - 2008 Digium, Inc. and others.
No such command 'Asterisk 1.4.21.2, Copyright (C) 1999 - 2008 Digium, Inc. and others.' (type 'help Asterisk 1.4.21.2,' for other possible commands)
syrPBX*CLI> Created by Mark Spencer <[email protected]>
syrPBX*CLI> Asterisk comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; type 'core show warranty' for details.
syrPBX*CLI> This is free software, with components licensed under the GNU General Public
syrPBX*CLI> License version 2 and other licenses; you are welcome to redistribute it under
Connected to Asterisk 1.4.21.2 currently running on syrPBX (pid = 3044)
syrPBX*CLI> certain conditions. Type 'core show license' for details.
syrPBX*CLI>
syrPBX*CLI> == Parsing '/etc/asterisk/asterisk.conf': Found
syrPBX*CLI> Connected to Asterisk 1.4.21.2 currently running on syrPBX (pid = 3044)
syrPBX*CLI> Verbosity was 3 and is now 6
syrPBX*CLI> -- Accepting AUTHENTICATED call from 10.70.20.7:
syrPBX*CLI> > requested format = ulaw,

No such command ' -- Accepting AUTHENTICATED call from 10.70.20.7:' (type 'help -- Accepting' for other possible commands)
No such command ' > requested format = ulaw,' (type 'help > requested' for other possible commands)
syrPBX*CLI> > requested prefs = (ulaw),
No such command ' > requested prefs = (ulaw),' (type 'help > requested' for other possible commands)
syrPBX*CLI> > actual format = ulaw,
No such command ' > actual format = ulaw,' (type 'help > actual' for other possible commands)
syrPBX*CLI> > host prefs = (alaw|gsm|ulaw),
No such command ' > host prefs = (alaw|gsm|ulaw),' (type 'help > host' for other possible commands)
syrPBX*CLI> > priority = mine
syrPBX*CLI> -- Executing [279@from-internal:1] Answer("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "") in new stack
-- Executing [279@from-internal:2] Wait("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "1") in new stack
syrPBX*CLI> -- Executing [279@from-internal:2] Wait("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "1") in new stack
syrPBX*CLI> -- Executing [279@from-internal:3] PlayTones("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "ring") in new stack
syrPBX*CLI> -- Executing [279@from-internal:4] NVFaxDetect("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "5") in new stack
syrPBX*CLI> -- Executing [fax@from-internal:1] Goto("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "ext-fax|in_fax|1") in new stack
syrPBX*CLI> -- Goto (ext-fax,in_fax,1)
syrPBX*CLI> -- Executing [in_fax@ext-fax:1] StopPlayTones("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "") in new stack
syrPBX*CLI> -- Executing [in_fax@ext-fax:2] GotoIf("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "13:analog_fax|1") in new stack
-- Executing [in_fax@ext-fax:3] Macro("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "faxreceive") in new stack
syrPBX*CLI> -- Goto (ext-fax,in_fax,3)
syrPBX*CLI> -- Executing [in_fax@ext-fax:3] Macro("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "faxreceive") in new stack
syrPBX*CLI> -- Executing [s@macro-faxreceive:1] Set("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "FAXFILE=/var/spool/asterisk/fax/1230040467.0.tif") in new stack
syrPBX*CLI> -- Executing [s@macro-faxreceive:2] Set("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "[email protected]") in new stack
syrPBX*CLI> -- Executing [s@macro-faxreceive:3] RxFAX("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "/var/spool/asterisk/fax/1230040467.0.tif") in new stack
syrPBX*CLI> -- Executing [h@ext-fax:1] System("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "/var/lib/asterisk/bin/fax-process.pl --to [email protected] --from [email protected] --subject "Fax from 13156870014 " --attachment fax_13156870014.pdf --type application/pdf --file /var/spool/asterisk/fax/1230040467.0.tif") in new stack
syrPBX*CLI> -- Executing [h@ext-fax:2] System("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "rm /var/spool/asterisk/fax/1230040467.0.tif") in new stack
syrPBX*CLI> -- Executing [h@ext-fax:3] Hangup("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "") in new stack
syrPBX*CLI> == Spawn extension (ext-fax, h, 3) exited non-zero on 'IAX2/syrpbx-3127'
syrPBX*CLI> -- Hungup 'IAX2/syrpbx-3127'
syrPBX*CLI> syrPBX*CLI>
Usage: _command nummatches "<line>" text
This function is used internally to help with command completion and should.
never be called by the user directly.
No such command ' -- Executing [in_fax@ext-fax:2] GotoIf("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "13:analog_fax|1") in new stack' (type 'help -- Executing' for other possible commands)
No such command ' -- Goto (ext-fax,in_fax,3)' (type 'help -- Goto' for other possible commands)
No such command ' -- Executing [in_fax@ext-fax:3] Macro("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "faxreceive") in new stack' (type 'help -- Executing' for other possible commands)
No such command ' -- Executing [s@macro-faxreceive:1] Set("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "FAXFILE=/var/spool/asterisk/fax/1230040467.0.tif") in new stack' (type 'help -- Executing' for other possible commands)
No such command ' -- Executing [s@macro-faxreceive:2] Set("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "[email protected]") in new stack' (type 'help -- Executing' for other possible commands)
No such command ' -- Executing [s@macro-faxreceive:3] RxFAX("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "/var/spool/asterisk/fax/1230040467.0.tif") in new stack' (type 'help -- Executing' for other possible commands)
No such command ' -- Executing [h@ext-fax:1] System("IAX2/syrpbx-3127", "/var/lib/asterisk/bin/fax-

Due to not being able to post the entire CLI - I clipped off some of the above.
It keeps sending the same bad fax every 2 minutes.
I have this fax coming via a IAX channel from another Asterisk box. Please see this thread:
http://pbxinaflash.com/community/threads/multiple-fax-to-email-setups.2866/
I wanted to start a new thread for this problem.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
TomSyr.

 

[tomsyr]

More Details on faxing

I was able to watch the .tif file get created before it is turned into a pdf. It shows that the tif file is only 8 bytes - so the problem is not when the file is converted to pdf - it is during the initial receiving of the fax.
If a few people could send a fax to me, that may be helpful. Please PM me for the phone number.
Thanks,
TomSyr

 

[wardmundy]

As was noted in the article, MANY providers do not handle fax transmissions well because of the compression techniques they use in sending voice calls. Our article mentions several providers that we know work. Beyond those, YMMV! Who is your provider? Are you using an FXO/FXS card? If so, whose is it and have you contacted them?

 

[tomsyr]

Hi Ward,
I'm sending the fax from a fax machine in my building out a T1 PRI, then back in via the same T1. We can fax anywhere with this manual fax machine. No compression is being used.
We also have a Rightfax server out of our home office in Portland Oregon. I tried that as well, and was just able to make a successful fax - but there were a few unsuccessful ones too.
Is there any tweaks I can do? I have heard some comments about the rxgain - right now I'm just uing the IAX trunk.

 

[tomsyr]

update on the faxing (FIXED!)

I made a minor teak in FreePBX - I put in "Pause before answer" the digit 3.
I can now reliably receive faxes from multiple fax machines outside of my building/network.
I still can't send a fax from our manual machine out the PRI and back in again.
To further complicate that faxing - it actually goes to a Internal Mitel box, then through a T1 connected to an Asterisk box, then out the PRI. Coming back - it goes through the PRI, Asterisk Box, to PiaF box. Since I will not be faxing myself too often, I'll just forget about it since the Mitel is going away.

I was able to configure a SPA 1001 to send faxes, so I sent one internally, which worked out great. I moved on to faxing by dialing to a DID that was set up on the PiaF box, and that worked.
I can now also send out faxes to any outside fax machines (including the one I had issues with internally).

Bottom line, the PiaF inbound faxing works great. I can now configure a SPA 1001 to send faxes - I was never able to do this with plain Asterisk - but it works great with Piaf/FreePBX 2.5
Added to all this is the fact that I'm passing these faxes via IAX from an Asterisk box to PiaF, so I feel very comfortable with being able to use VoIP for faxing, as long as the provider provides it via IAX.

Thanks Ward and the PiaF team for making the faxing work in your distribution. The actual setup was very easy, and as noted, since I had a 'funky' setup, it required some additional effort - but certainly worth it!
Have a great Christmas and New Years!
TomSyr

 

[wardmundy]

If it makes you feel any better, this implementation with PBX in a Flash is the first time I ever have gotten outbound faxing to work reliably with NVfax.

 

[Alex]

Ward,

When you wrote, "this implementation," are you referring to the use of the SPA-1001 with the fax machine? I'm asking because I have not been able to get outbound faxing to work with the VOIP.MS SIP trunk and I'm wondering if I should stop while I'm behind and catch a ride on the SPA-1001 bandwagon to the finish line.

 

[wardmundy]

Take another look at our writeups. You should get faxing to work reliably on your internal network before attempting to implement it externally. Have you done that? Voip.ms was not on my list of providers that supported faxing reliably, but YMMV.