Fax Solutions

[LimitedTech]

I am looking for ideas for a computer based fax.
We currently use a fax machine with <gasp> paper.
There are so many different ways to go out there.
Ultimately I want to "fax" without having to print it out first and I want to receive them in digital format (pdf?) to be stored on a server.
I would like to keep the same fax number at least to receive on.

Anyone have any experiences with a service or software they like or dislike?

Thanks
Mark

 

[vacunita]

Provided the computer has a modem, you can simply plug the phone line into it, and use at the very basic Windows own Fax manager.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/crawford_02october21.mspx

As far as PDF goes you may need to convert the faxes after they have been received, this can also be accomplished through Windows Fax software, by setting it to print the incoming faxes to a PDF Printer driver. You can then specify the location of the resulting PDFs.

http://www.aloaha.com/wi-software-en/articel.php

This article uses Aloha, but you can just change that to whichever PDF Printer driver you are using such as Adobe's or even free drivers.



----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[webrabbit]

I use Winfax Pro. I've used it for years and am very happy with it. It integrates with Outlook, but I am not happy with that interface. Perhaps someone else has figured that out.

Note that the default outgoing dialing is pulse. My telephone providor {Cox) does not do well with pulse dialing and I used to get many wrong numbers, until I found the check-box buried deaply in the setup menus.

 

[tf1]

You say 'We' currently fax using paper. So is this more than one PC on a network? If it is, you can use something like GFI Faxmaker but you need a dial up or ISDN connection (though I believe ISDN is on the way out).

The other alternative if you have a broadband connection is to subscribe to an on line Fax service. Then you can send and receive faxes directly from your desktops over the Internet.

Finally, if you have a server, then look at FoIP (Fax over IP).

Your solution depends on how many of you there are and how many faxes you need to send and receive.


Regards: Terry

 

[goombawaho]

Fax Server, RightFax Edition (formerly just RightFax) is a great product if you're looking to do it up real nice and professionally (means spend money) with scalability for all your faxing needs.

 

[gbaughma]

We put in a new phone system, that sends and receives faxes as well.

Of course, we needed a new phone system anyway.

But Unified Messaging is REALLY the way to go.



Just my 2¢

"What the captain doesn't realize is that we've secretly replaced his Dilithium Crystals with new Folger's Crystals."

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[LimitedTech]

Thanks for all the input.
Just to clarify, it's a network setup running Windows 2000 on the server (no dial up modem) and 5 workstations.
I would not be opposed to dedicating a PC to send and receive faxes if needed.
Just estimating that we do 100 - 150 faxes a day. (incoming + outgoing)
I am willing to use an online service but it seems most require that I use their number to receive faxes on and many seem "scamish". If someone has had a good experience using specific online service, I am interested in getting the name of the company.

 

[vacunita]

Just to clarify, it's a network setup running Windows 2000 on the server (no dial up modem) and 5 workstations

You'll definitely need to look at getting a modem if you really want to receive faxes on there or whichever other computer you dedicate to receiving them (if it doesn't have one either).

Otherwise, there's no actual way of connecting your phone line onto the PC.

You could of course try one of these:

http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20080310/save-paper-with-this-usb-digital-fax-machine/

But maybe 135 bucks is a little expensive, specially when you pit it against the cost of a regular modem at 10 maybe 15 bucks even external ones won't be more than 35 or so.

New Egg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...2810018 1126509662&name=PCI Bus (Plug & Play)

Tiger Direct

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...6K-Internal-Modems&Nav=|c:157|&Sort=0&Recs=10

----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[kjv1611]

Okay, now I've got one more thing to look into, for one customer, well maybe. Now I've got to look into a fax solution where they can do that digital. For some reason, I just never thought of using the computer as a fax machine. Hmm, thanks for all the mentions so far (I was just a passerby on this one.

gbaughma (or anyone for that matter),

Can you make any suggestions on "unified messaging"? As in what applications would be good in this regard - either just for the fax function, or for the all-in-one deal. I mean, Outlook was mentioned. Is it the best choice there if it's already available, or would something else be better?

Thanks for any thoughts/suggestions, and if nothing else, thanks for the mentions so far here... I'll come back later and look more..

 

[gbaughma]

Well, I'm NEC certified, so we put in a NEC SV8100 with unified messaging.

It works great (now that it's all set up)... fax to/from desktop, voicemail to email, the option to have it READ email in your voicemail, integration with Outlook, and a feature I wish I could use (you need a PRI); which is to have your cell phone ring at the same time as your desk phone; pick it up from either one.

Unfortunately, our DSS T-1 doesn't set the call up fast enough, so it only rings like 1/2 a ring on the cell phone before it goes to voicemail.



Just my 2¢

"What the captain doesn't realize is that we've secretly replaced his Dilithium Crystals with new Folger's Crystals."

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[LimitedTech]

Thanks Greg but that last post is WAY over my head.
If you can get an invite Google Voice may be an option for your personal use.

http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html

I found a serial modem here at the office, I am going to kock the dust off it and see what I can come up with.

The USB fax gadget looks like a nice solution but I can't find much information on exactly how it operates. I.E. software it comes with, what type file it saves the fax to etc. Just for the record it does look like it's a stand alone unit that can receive faxes and download at a later time.

 

[gbaughma]

If you are doing that many faxes a day, it sounds like you need a fax pool, so that if you're sending a big fax and tying up a line, an incoming fax would go to another line and so forth.



Just my 2¢

"What the captain doesn't realize is that we've secretly replaced his Dilithium Crystals with new Folger's Crystals."

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com