Hi folks

I have Windows XP home SP2 on a Dell Vostro 200 and connect to the net via a BT Voyager 220v adsl router. My broadband tel no is also my fax number.

Up until now, I have been using an HP 6110 all-in-one fax/scanner/printer on which I have sent & received faxes manually, but I was hoping I would be able to use the Windows fax console to send and receive directly from my PC.

When I try to set this up it tells me it needs a fax modem? Can someone tell me exactly what this is?

Can I not set up my broadband router connection to act as the modem or does it need a genuine (what I thought was old fashioned) modem connections.

I'm hoping that a colleague would also be able to send/receive the faxes on a network and that I'd no longer need the printer fax as I have a better printer.

I'd appreciate any help

Best regards

Jesper

Hi Jesperaudi,

It is not possible to send/receive a fax from a broadband modem. A fax modem is very very much different from a broadband modem. A broadband modem can only be used to connect to the internet and not dial telephone numbers.

A fax modem, if you have one installed (unlikey), will have the same socket at the back of your PC, as you have at the back of your all in one printer (RJ-11 connection).

You can purchase a fax modem, for example: Amazon.co.uk: Apple USB Modem - Fax / modem - external - USB - 56 Kbps - V.92: Electronics & Photo: Apple

Alternatively, there are internet services that provide a "Fax to e-mail" service such as Internet Fax - Online Fax To Email Service - MyFax.com (but with these services will normally charge you line rental since you are effecively purchasing a fax number).

I've been lucky enough to have this service provided free by my broadband company (plus.net). It's not standard for ISP's to provide this service, but there's no harm in checking with them.

Hi MadMonkey

Thats very helpful; thanks.

1) The problem I've so far found with the free email fax services are that they don't appear to be instant; you don't really know if the fax has been received, and you only seem to be able to send a body of a text, which is one reason I'd like to send by pc as my fax machine will (now) only send one page at a time

2) I have a fax modem in an old pc and may think about transferring it, otherwise I'll stick with my fax machine.

Many thanks for your interest Mad Monkey

Cheers

Jesper

No prob's Jesper. Transferring you fax modem from you old PC will certainly work.

Marked as Answered.