geoFAX Requirements

geoFAX Takes the 64 Beyond Its Capabilities!

What you need to run geoFAX

One goal in the development of geoFAX was to keep the hardware requirements to a minimum. Even so, you need certain items before being able to use geoFAX.

Here's a brief rundown:

Software needed:
GEOS 2.0 for the 64 or 128

Hardware:
Any disk drive setup or ramdisk that GEOS supports
A SwiftLink or Turbo232 modem interface
A Class 2 or Class 2.0 faxmodem
A good printer that can be used with GEOS

Optional Equipment:
Fax machine for use as a scanner and printer
Second phone line

Here's a more detailed outline of what you need:

Software needed:

GEOS 2.0 for the 64 or 128

Earlier versions of GEOS are not supported since some routines are accessed that don't exist in the earlier versions. The same copy of geoFAX works with both GEOS 128 and GEOS 64, however on the 128, it only runs in 40 column mode. You are still allowed to load geoFAX from 80 column mode, and when it comes up on the screen, it will prompt you to switch to 80 column mode. Likewise, upon exiting the program, it will give you the opportunity to return to 80 column mode or to stay in 40 columns.

Hardware:

Any disk drive setup or ramdisk that GEOS supports

geoFAX was written to work on all the drives and ramdisks that GEOS supports. There is nothing special that it does in this area. It even works on a 1541 drive, although the faster drives and ramdisks will improve its performance somewhat.

A SwiftLink or Turbo232 modem interface

Sorry, no other RS-232 adapter is supported with geoFAX. geoFAX must run its connection to the modem at a high speed (19200 and 38400) and other methods of communication such as user port RS-232 adapters can't be operated at this speed.

A Class 2 or Class 2.0 faxmodem

Only certain faxmodems will work with geoFAX due to the nature of the fax protocol. Class 2 and Class 2.0 modems with at least 16K of internal ram work well with geoFAX. Click here to learn more.

A good printer that can be used with GEOS

In order to print your fax documents, you need a printer that is capable of exceeding the resolution of a fax. A minimum would be a 9-pin printer that is capable of 240x216 dpi. The older 60dpi printers do not work at all. Plus any 80dpi printer that doesn't have a higher density mode won't work either. In order to use one of these printers, you will have to use geoFAX to convert your faxes to GeoPaint format and then print. The drawback is that you will lose a lot of detail in the conversion process.

Optional Equipment:

Fax machine for use as a scanner and printer

When it comes to scanning pictures and other paper documents with a 64 or 128, you can't beat geoFAX. If you can run it through your fax machine, you can scan it into geoFAX. This is a great way to create your GeoPaint files. You can hand draw your own clip art on paper and then transfer it to GeoPaint images with geoFAX and your fax machine. The fax machines to look for are the ones that support halftones or grayscales. The higher the number of halftones supported, the better the image will look when you're scanning color images. Plain black and white clip art will turn out well with just about any fax machine.

Second phone line

With a second phone line, you can leave geoFAX unattended for receiving faxes. It can also be used for your fax machine to call geoFAX when your particular combination doesn't work with a direct connection between the fax machine and modem for scanning purposes.