How do you use a fax machine with MJ?

tepeco · Post by **tepeco** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 4:11 pm

I know it's not recommended, but I get the impression from what I've been reading that it MIGHT work, with some manipulation. So far, nobody has given a how-to on the subject. It would sure be helpful to know what needs to be done. Do you just put the fax machine between the MJ and the phone set?

I want to purchase a fax machine but not until I get some good advice on it. No land line is available.

nailgunner · Post by **nailgunner** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 4:33 pm

tepeco wrote:I know it's not recommended, but I get the impression from what I've been reading that it MIGHT work, with some manipulation. So far, nobody has given a how-to on the subject. It would sure be helpful to know what needs to be done. Do you just put the fax machine between the MJ and the phone set?

I want to purchase a fax machine but not until I get some good advice on it. No land line is available.

There are numerous hits on google regarding VOIP and faxing. The setup should be the same. The issue that I keep seeing is that it is an iffy proposition at best with any VOIP. It works better over short distances than long, since the packets frequently will not arrive in the correct order on a long-distance fax. Apparently reducing the BAUD rate helps with that issue.

Matt9876 · Post by **Matt9876** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 9:24 pm

Setting the baud rate to 2400 on your fax machine is a step in the right direction,the rest is mostly luck due to MJs compression codec. and the way your fax modem works with your MJ device/dongle.

Basically MJ was designed for voice communication and not much else.

Good Luck.

conniemadagain · Post by **conniemadagain** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 1:22 am

What was recommended it a great place to start for mj ...

But I can guarantee results every time !!!

Switch to nettalk duo ...I did and I have 100% fax results from one page to 26 (so far) page faxes ...[/i]

nailgunner · Post by **nailgunner** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 2:43 am

conniemadagain wrote:What was recommended it a great place to start for mj ...

But I can guarantee results every time !!!

Switch to nettalk duo ...I did and I have 100% fax results from one page to 26 (so far) page faxes ...[/i]

I don't mean to split hairs, although I tend to be good at it. But were your faxes for a short distance or to the other side of the country? I don't question your success, but more than one resource I have come across says that all VOIP's can have issues over long distances.

I personally quit faxing when I sold my Model-T, so I don't know. Scan any document and send it as a PDF. Crystal clear results and a lot quicker. I have had others try to explain they have to fax signed documents, but not sure why that would be different than a scanned and emailed signed document.

tepeco · Post by **tepeco** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 10:23 am

I don't mean to split hairs, although I tend to be good at it. But were your faxes for a short distance or to the other side of the country? I don't question your success, but more than one resource I have come across says that all VOIP's can have issues over long distances.

I personally quit faxing when I sold my Model-T, so I don't know. Scan any document and send it as a PDF. Crystal clear results and a lot quicker. I have had others try to explain they have to fax signed documents, but not sure why that would be different than a scanned and emailed signed document.

So far, the comments have been good, but I need to hear from a USER or two that have found a way to be successful using the mj/machine combo...... or can give a definite NO to the problem. All answers seem to be repeating what is known, that speed, distance and luck can make a difference, but nobody has reported on THEIR results.

** On faxing as opposed to PDF files: I deal with clients in rural communities that have no computers, no way to print out a PDF or lack the simple skills to handle file retrieval. Yes, ignorance is alive and thriving out there. Most of these people have a source with a fax machine. I have thought about picking up a nettalk device as mentioned. I have not read of anyone spouting solid success at faxing with it with the exception of Connie's results. I have the MJ right now. If it works, I would prefer to stick with it . Most of my faxes will reach out from local to 1200 miles from my location. So far, this is looking doubtful.

bitstopjoe · Post by **bitstopjoe** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 10:32 am

Ok I will make it simple for you. FAXING WITH A MJ IS HIT OR MISS.

What works for someone else may not work for you..

If you have read ALL of the postings on this forum about faxing that is what you should come away with.. If not?? Anything anyone else posts is a waste of time.

crackerjack · Post by **crackerjack** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 11:23 am

tepeco wrote:
I don't mean to split hairs, although I tend to be good at it. But were your faxes for a short distance or to the other side of the country? I don't question your success, but more than one resource I have come across says that all VOIP's can have issues over long distances.

I personally quit faxing when I sold my Model-T, so I don't know. Scan any document and send it as a PDF. Crystal clear results and a lot quicker. I have had others try to explain they have to fax signed documents, but not sure why that would be different than a scanned and emailed signed document.
So far, the comments have been good, but I need to hear from a USER or two that have found a way to be successful using the mj/machine combo...... or can give a definite NO to the problem. All answers seem to be repeating what is known, that speed, distance and luck can make a difference, but nobody has reported on THEIR results.

** On faxing as opposed to PDF files: I deal with clients in rural communities that have no computers, no way to print out a PDF or lack the simple skills to handle file retrieval. Yes, ignorance is alive and thriving out there. Most of these people have a source with a fax machine. I have thought about picking up a nettalk device as mentioned. I have not read of anyone spouting solid success at faxing with it with the exception of Connie's results. I have the MJ right now. If it works, I would prefer to stick with it . Most of my faxes will reach out from local to 1200 miles from my location. So far, this is looking doubtful.

So, have you plugged in your fax machine and tried for yourself?
That is the only meaningful answer...

bitstopjoe · Post by **bitstopjoe** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 11:37 am

^ Exactly..........

tepeco · Post by **tepeco** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 12:57 pm

I currently fax from my PC at my retail office using POTS, but I'm moving most of the clerical activities to my in-home office where the MJ is used as the prime phone. The MJ has worked very well in this capacity for the past year. The fax would be a freestanding all-in-one unit there. It has not been purchased yet and if I do, it will be a more expensive unit for reasons I will not bother you with here. I don't wish to purchase it to simply try it out.

It would appear that the best answer I'm going to get is 'maybe yes, maybe no' and that's fine. I'll simply keep the faxing activities at the retail location. Rather inconvenient, but apparently safer. My clients would not be interested in chasing down lost faxes and all of the back and forth that might entail.

Thanks to you that responded.

sabresfan · Post by **sabresfan** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 1:00 pm

Personally I would not go through the aggravation of trying to fax reliably with MJ again. At one time I could but upgrades to the MJ dongle and their system have made faxing for me impossible. Try using an online service if faxing is a must. Hopefully this helps http://savedelete.com/best-free-online- ... vices.html keep us informed on the way you decide to go.

nailgunner · Post by **nailgunner** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 2:18 pm

If I had a business and no land-line was available (you must be out in rural b.f.eqypt, didn't know there was a place left on the planet that didn't have a land-line option), and that business was important to me, I would spend the extra money and go with a more reliable VOIP or some other system.

Being in a rural area, you have the high possibility that MJ could start blocking some of the exchanges you are faxing to tomorrow. I wouldn't touch MJ with a ten foot pole if I was interested in my business staying a business.

tepeco · Post by **tepeco** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 5:48 pm

sabresfan wrote:Personally I would not go through the aggravation of trying to fax reliably with MJ again. At one time I could but upgrades to the MJ dongle and their system have made faxing for me impossible. Try using an online service if faxing is a must. Hopefully this helps http://savedelete.com/best-free-online- ... vices.html keep us informed on the way you decide to go.

Decided to scrap the idea of using a fax machine with mj. Nobody has had a successful experience with it. Going to leave the faxing detail at the retail location.

Thank you for your suggestion.

nailgunner wrote:If I had a business and no land-line was available (you must be out in rural b.f.eqypt, didn't know there was a place left on the planet that didn't have a land-line option), and that business was important to me, I would spend the extra money and go with a more reliable VOIP or some other system.

Being in a rural area, you have the high possibility that MJ could start blocking some of the exchanges you are faxing to tomorrow. I wouldn't touch MJ with a ten foot pole if I was interested in my business staying a business.

No 'gunner, I'm not in bf Egypt and I'm not rural by any means, it's my clients that are rural. Don't think I ever said anything about my being rural.... I'm in the Saint Louis, Missouri area and although I do have a land line available, I prefer not to pay an additional $40 monthly and .05 per minute for long distance services just to use a fax machine. And in my area, it's long distance to call 20 miles down the road, much less 1200 miles!

If I could use the mj to fax reliably, it would be desirable. We fax a lot of documents weekly and it wouldn't contribute to the commercial minutes we run up at the office. After all, saving money is the reason we all bought into the MJ, right? No cost long distance? The purpose of my post was to research the possibility, prior to purchasing. I think I've got the point however. The MJ will not be used in combination with a fax machine.

nailgunner · Post by **nailgunner** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 7:12 pm

tepeco wrote:No 'gunner, I'm not in bf Egypt and I'm not rural by any means, it's my clients that are rural. Don't think I ever said anything about my being rural.... I'm in the Saint Louis, Missouri area and although I do have a land line available,

Then say what you mean and mean what you say Sparky. Hard to read between the lines. Your very first post says : "No land line is available". Which "usually" means not available, not too expensive for my needs, so was easy to assume you were WAY out in the boonies.

I still think if my business was important to me, I would find other ways to save money than to rely on MJ, for anyone else thinking of MJ in a business environment. Not that we have seen posts in here about business people panicking because their MJ is suddenly screwing up big time. Oh wait, yes we have.

Doing a quick search, looks like you're getting hosed on the price you're paying. There are lots of companies offering pretty cheap long-distance business plans. Qwest, which is available all over has one for $18 a month and .05 per minute. And it appears you can make (not receive) faxes through Google Voice for free: http://ascendwiki.cheme.cmu.edu/Faxing_via_Google_Voice

Good luck with whatever you end up doing.

cell14 · Post by **cell14** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 7:17 pm

If you have rural clients who do not have internet , computer and scanner,
one of the many e-fax services could provide a good and inexpensive solution.

conniemadagain · Post by **conniemadagain** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 10:56 pm

To answer the questions let me say this ...

my nettalk is connected so I can fax a word doc from my computer to using my hp 4315 fax machine ...

but connect through the house electrical wiring using bellsouth gaming devices to the router ... not connected though my computer ... i posted pictures somewhere ...

I have faxed from 5 miles to another state which was about 600 miles ...

I have faxed all in between ...

I would much prefer to send pdf files though email but some companies still use fax ...

nettalk had not let me down ...

tepeco · Post by **tepeco** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:09 pm

Connie, thank you for sharing your experience with NT. As stated however, I have scrapped the idea of using MJ for faxing.

...... and 'gunner, in spite of your need to put a negative slant on the intelligence of my questions, I thank you for your input anyway.

.... Sparky

nailgunner · Post by **nailgunner** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 3:30 pm

tepeco wrote: ...... and 'gunner, in spite of your need to put a negative slant on the intelligence of my questions, I thank you for your input anyway.

What negative slant on the intelligence of anything? The first part of my response to your question was based on YOUR statement that you had no land-line option. (Which you then said you never mentioned). I also made a fairly logical assumption, after you mentioned rural faxing, that along with not having a land-line option that you were too were in a "remote" location and made another assessment based on that.

It is difficult enough trying to help users with their questions when all the facts are there. But when the facts are erroneous, and then defensively changed, it doesn't help the process at all. I put no negative slant on anything, if you can't keep your facts straight, you shouldn't be so sensitive when someone posts a response based on confusion YOU have created.

dogcacher · Post by **dogcacher** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 11:29 am

nailgunner wrote:It is difficult enough trying to help users with their questions when all the facts are there.

OP: Can you fax with MJ?

Consensus: Maybe

OP: Thank you.

Real bitch, wasn't it?

nailgunner · Post by **nailgunner** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:15 pm

dogcacher wrote:
nailgunner wrote:It is difficult enough trying to help users with their questions when all the facts are there.
OP: Can you fax with MJ?

Consensus: Maybe

OP: Thank you.

Real bitch, wasn't it?

The real bitch was in trying to recommend suggestions and alternatives when apparently there was some confusion in the OP's mind as to whether he did or didn't have a land-line available, and the apparently outrageous assumption that he lived in a rural area if he didn't.

Those would be and are important factors in using MagicJack for any reason, let alone for faxing in a business environment. And some of us prefer to give more than yes or no answers to questions. So yes, it was a real bitch.

Edit: And to the OP, it was more of a real mild bitch. I could refer you to a real bitch if you are interested. I have no issues with you. We do try to be helpful, but try to keep it focused, most of the time, until Joe brings up Eva. So no offense was intended.

sabresfan · Post by **sabresfan** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 6:56 pm

An update to my previous post in this thread. Today I made an 8 page fax with MJ due to the other parties email being down and this was time sensitive. Last time I tried faxing with MJ was when it was hooked to my desktop for a month or so. So many things seem to come into play with getting fax and MJ to work. I would have thought that the desktop would have handled this better than the laptop due to the desktop being a more robust machine.

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