Fax Modem

[couch-potato]

I would like the ability to send a fax. I have read some information about fax machines and setting the baud rate to work with MJ, but I do not have a fax machine. I use the modem in my computer and Microsoft Fax Console 5.1

So I have MagicJack plugged into a USB port, then a phone cord from MJ into my modem in the computer.

Does anyone have any experience trying this or any idea if this works, or how well it might work? or any tweaks that I might perform to improve the quality. I have read a few other posts that attempted to use MJ as a modem, and have seen limited success, I am only trying to send one page, so hope that the call will remain stable long enough for that.

I tried it last night, and the call seemed to connect, but the tranmission was not successful. This morning, the MJ soft phone hangs up after less than 30 seconds, but the Microsoft fax console looks like it is still trying to connect, then finally gives up and says no answer.

I was not able to check with the recipient because when I tried to call (the recipient's voice number) with both MJ and my cell phone there was too much stuttering, or a busy signal or a fax screech. The recipient has a phone and a fax, with separate numbers, on the same line, with different ring tones. I think there is also a point-of-sale direct payment machine attached to the same phone line. So I don't know if there was something else going on that was disrupting the voice call - or if my previous attempt to send a fax had hung up the fax machine. I did learn that the phone had also been left off the hook for an hour.

So in summary - I don't know what part of the problem is mine and what part of the problem is the recipient's. The only person I know with a fax machine that I can use to test is running a business and I don't want to harass them with constantly ringing phones.

Also, I have been doing all this with the caller ID spoofer, which might be causing it's own problems.

I will continue to work on this, and I'll try it without the caller ID spoofer, and will post if I have a positive result, but in the meantime I would appreciate any comments or suggestions from anyone else who might have tried this.

[Stewart]

Faxing with VoIP is always problematic; MJ is IMO worse than most. Using a software fax app running on the same PC is pushing your luck even further. While there may be some modem settings and dialing patterns that might let you get through sometimes, IMO you should just avoid it and save yourself a lot of frustration.

These days, about 90% of the time, if you ask the recipient if he has an email address where you can send the document, you'll get a positive response; only a few old-line companies still insist on fax.

You can send a free fax at http://faxzero.com/ ; the cover page will contain an ad. If that is inappropriate, e.g. because you're faxing your resume, try http://www.fax1.com/ ($0.12/page after 8-page free trial).

Here in Paris, my ISP/TV/phone provider allows you to send faxes from their web portal (you are charged as if the call was made from your phone, usually nothing, because the service includes free calling to 70 countries). If US providers did the same thing, there wouldn't be any complaints about this issue.

Incoming is easy -- just get a free fax number at http://www.k7.net/ or a similar service.

[monkeyboy]

The first thing to do is to crank the modem speed WAY DOWN... no faster than 9600baud. If you keep the speed low, you have some chance for success -- otherwise forget it...

[mike72172]

I run my fax modem all the time through the MagicJack and the native fax appplication in XP. I've never had an issue sending or receiving fax data.

[couch-potato]

Mike - any tips on what you did to the settings to get it to work? That is exactly what I am trying to do - use the built in fax in Windows XP.

I did get it to work - but it seems intermittent - which may be the best I get - I had a few errors, but the utility kept trying and eventually it was successful.

Here's what I did:
1. Windows Task Manager>Processes>magicJack.exe>Set Priority>High
2. Modem Properties>Modem>Maximum Port Speed>300
3. Modem Properties>Advanced>Advanced Port Settings>Use FIFO Buffers>Receive Buffer=Low(1) and Transmit Buffer= Low(1)

[JohnnyFreightTRAIN]

If you need to receive faxes, this website apparently offers free fax numbers.
Faxes will be sent to your email
http://www.faxdigits.com/

They also offer free U.S. phone numbers. However, signup has been temporarily disabled due to fraud issues. The website says to come back later. (http://www.freedigits.com/)