Windows FAX

I rarely need to send/receive a FAX, but I would like to know how before I need to. In the past, I had a dialup FAX modem, but now I'm on cable, and I never thought about FAXing until just now. My printer also has a FAX function, but the only driver available for it on W7 is the one that W7/Windows Update installs.

In the Windows FAX/Scan program, the scanner works perfectly, but When I try to creat a new FAX, it says that I need a FAX modem. I have no idea of whether my cable modem is capable of that or not, but when I select to send a FAX, a window appears stating that I need a fax modem or server, but when I select to use a local modem, an error appears saying that I need to contact the administrator (me). From the interface, the only thing that appears to be for setting this up is the Tools>Options menu, but when I click on that, nothing happens.

The first question is whether it is typical for a cable modem to be able to handle a FAX or not?

Second, if it is, does anyone know how to set it up?

As far as I understand, to send a fax, you will need a normal phone line, so you need a old plain modem. Your cable modem is not sufficient, because you need a phone line.

zx81

I had a hunch that might be true, but I guess that I'll have to break down and call my cable company to confirm that. I use a FAX so infrequently, that it's not worth getting a second telephone line. I guess that I would have to drive to someone with a FAX service, if I need it.

seekermeister said:

I had a hunch that might be true, but I guess that I'll have to break down and call my cable company to confirm that. I use a FAX so infrequently, that it's not worth getting a second telephone line. I guess that I would have to drive to someone with a FAX service, if I need it.

You can find some "virtual" fax services online; where you email your "fax" to them and they then relay it on an analog line to a fax machine/server/client.

However you might find that your recipient has email (apart from fax) and that it would have been faster (and cheaper) to just email each other...

You cannot send a fax using a cable modem. As ZX81 correctly pointed out, you will need a PCI fax modem (about $12.00) and a phone line plugged into it.

3strokes said:

You can find some "virtual" fax services online; where you email your "fax" to them and they then relay it on an analog line to a fax machine/server/client.

However you might find that your recipient has email (apart from fax) and that it would have been faster (and cheaper) to just email each other...

Yes, I came across a couple of them a little while ago, but they are subscription services, and I don't want an ongoing subscription. They did have a 30 day free trial, so in a pinch, I might give that a try.

The only time that I use a FAX service is when I must send required documents, not just email text. Then again, I suppose that I could send a scanned document via email as an attachment. That seems like it would be the same thing as using an online FAX service, because from what I read, they are just middle men, using email themselves.

Have you tried this service? Free Internet Faxing Service by Email2Fax.com Limited to the US, Hawaii and Canada, so no good for me in the UK, but may suit your infrequent needs.

Thanks, that's worth a bookmark. I noticed that for a FAX number, that there is a charge of $3.49 per month, but I guess that wouldn't be needed except to receive a FAX, and that is something that I've never done.

I have a fax machine which faxes through my cable modem. My windows fax tries to find a dial-up modem. All my phone calls are made and received through my cable modem. If HP can program their all-in-ones to work on a cable phone line I would surely think MS could do the same. Just a thought.

It's probably a matter of models, but I have a HP AIO (5510v), but it won't FAX via cable, but they never supported it very well, even with XP x64.