CUPS, Unix, and OSX

[Joseph Bento]

Hey all,

I have had the need to send some faxes lately to help my mother with some health care insurance issues.  I haven't used a fax / modem in years, yet was surprised to see that while they are still manufactured, the big box retailers no longer sell them.  So, I turned to Ebay.  I wanted an external serial device, thinking that it would be the most versatile regardless of machine or operating system.

I bought a new-in-box Zoom 3049.  Of course it configured in my Windows virtual machine (running on the MacBook) flawlessly, using a Keyspan USB-serial adaptor.   Running on OSX is another matter.

I found a Unix script for Minicom (isn't that a blast from the past!) that runs perfectly in OSX Terminal.  We have modem capability along with the usual choices of XMODEM, YMODEM, and ZMODEM for file transfers.  Though I doubt I'll ever use dialup again, it's nice to know it works.

Setting up the FAX capability was a nightmare.  OSX can print PDF to FAX natively - IF you use an Apple modem.  No other manufacturer's modem is directly supported with the native print option.  For some reason, all the commercial FAX applications for OSX have terrible reviews, so I didn't consider them.  I also wanted to avoid running Windows.

Searching the dregs of the Internet, I came across a document that described how to edit the /etc/efax.rc Unix file to point to the serial port rather than the Apple modem.  Once the file is edited, one must use CUPS at http://localhost:631 and do some more magic with Unix commands to properly install a generic serial FAX printer driver.  Why Apple couldn't have made the process easier - of course you're not SUPPOSED to use a non-Apple FAX / Modem.  At any rate....

Everything works perfectly!  I can choose the print to FAX option from any document, it is automatically converted to PDF for formatting, and the FAX send merrily on its way.  Now I probably cursed OSX by digging under the hood in forbidden territory to make my machine do something Apple says can't be done.  (I've spent a LOT of time in a terminal window in the Unix underbelly of OSX.)

You know, I'm not certain I'll buy another Mac.  The premium is getting a bit too dear.  Granted, this machine has performed flawlessly for five years or so now, and even runs Windows XP in VMWare quite acceptably.  But...  Staples had a special a few days ago on a Toshiba with an Intel i3, 4gig, and 500gig HD for under $400.  I should have bought one... 

Joe, N6DGY