Topic: Fax software

[DJ]

Hi all,

I need to be able to send faxes from my laptop to a normal fax machine.

I have installed the 'Fax Services' that are bundled with windows XP Home / Office 2000 (not sure which!).

But in the setup it'll only allow me to connect using my old 56k internal modem.

I'm now connected using a wireless network to a ADSL line and was wondering does anyone know how to make it work with this.  

Failing this is there any service / software (hopefully FREE) that'll do the job for me.

Thanks all,

Any questions you need answering just ask  

DJ1UK

[Robotochan]

Yes! With a standard "dial-up" connection, the modem is used to dial and connect to your ISP. The modem can also be used to dial a FAX machine directly, then send the FAX. This is how sending a FAX with a dial-up modem is commonly achieved.

With ADSL, the ADSL connection is a completely seperate fixed connection to the Internet. Using an ADSL modem to directly "dial" a FAX machine directly is not possible.

However, there are two ways to send a FAX...

Option 1
You can retain your old "dial-up" modem on your PC. Though you will not be using it to connect to the Internet - you will be using your ADSL, of course - you CAN use it to dial a FAX machine directly, and then send a FAX.

Option 2
As you have a connection to the Internet, it is worthwhile to look at the many Internet-to-FAX gateways that are available. These gateways take the information that you want to FAX (via the Internet), and dial (from THEIR server) the destination FAX machine to send your FAX. The advantage of this is that the cost of the FAX call is often billed to them, not you - a major advantage for international FAXes! The disadvantage is that the free gateways commonly append an advertisment for them (or their sponsor), to the beginning or end of the FAX. The free gateways may also have a limit on the number of FAXes you can send, over a given period of time.

Probably the best example of an Internet-to-FAX gateway is www.tcp.int (note... Check first to make sure that the phone No. that you want to send the FAX to is covered by the gateway.) For more details on how to use Internet-to-FAX gateways, plus a comprehensive listing of free and commercial gateway addresses, take a look at www.savetz.com

Found this at http://www.btofaq.net/articles/misc/internet2fax.html

[DJ]

Robo.

I'll have a look into that!

DJ1UK

[Robotochan]

No problem   I've been very helpful today for some reason  

[DJ]

Just found that my ISP (force9) have a fax-2-email where I can send and receive faxes.

Sadly its broke at the moment as their upgrading servers - has been for the last month or so.

I'll have a go at this if it ever gets fixed!

EDIT:  Had a go at that TCP.int site and it worked a treat. Very fast.
For anyone who wants to have a go its as follows:

remote-printer.FIRSTNAME_LASTNAME/COMPANY_NAME@44TELNUMBER.iddd.tpc.int

Where...

FIRSTNAME > Replaced with first name.
LASTNAME > Replaced with last name.
COMPANY_NAME > Replaced with compnay name _ is a space.
44TEKNUMBER > fax tel number in 44 format

so for example...
sending an email to

remote-printer.joe_bloggs/PC_PALS@441234888777.iddd.tpc.int

Would send a fax to Joe Bloggs at PC pals at fax number 01234888777

The body contents of the email would become the main body of the fax. Same with subject etc.

DJ1UK

[Adept]

I wonder how they finance that? Their phone bill must be astronomical