Facsimile Interface

Facsimile-or fax for short-is a communication technique whereby graphic information is converted into electrical signals for transmission to a receiver which, ideally, reproduces a hard copy printout of the original. Facsimile stations can be received on the short-wave bands, and are intended pri- marily for the transmission of weather charts (meteorological services), press photographs, and handwritten messages. A facsimile receiver is tradition- ally a rather complex electro- mechanical apparatus which does not lend itself to DIY con- struction. Numerous radio ama- teurs, however, are the proud owners of Creed, Muirhead, or Siemens facsimile chassis ob- tained from surplus outlets at a fraction of the original price. These machines are not gener- ally difficult to modify for amateur use, but remain fairly cumbersome to handle devices when compared with the more recently introduced computer- based versions. The electromechanical fac- simile receiver is generally based on the ...