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I need some Advice

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by deeda

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I need some advice on Fax Modems. My company just recently bought a new building and now we will need to send faxes that come in to our main building to the second one. My boss asked about a way to have the faxes come into an email account and then we would be able to email to the correct person at the second building. I am wondering if anyone out there is in the same situation with 2 buildings and how they do their faxes? Also if a Fax modem is the way to go, you can still hook the computer up to the network right? & what brand would you refer.

Thanks in advance!

16 replies

by thechas

The only thing that I can think of, is to save the FAX as a file, then send it as an attachment.

As far as modems go, yes you can have a modem and network the PC.
You need to restrict and protect this PC as much as possible as it will be an open port onto your network.

I recommend an external serial port modem.
1. you know you have a true hardware modem.

2. if a voltage surge comes in through the phone line, you are less apt to damage the PC.

Chas

by mark

I have used Faxport by Lansource for quite a while. It sets up a fax server and allows you to setup rules to route faxes to single or multiple people. If you have a network setup between the buildings, then nothing else is needed.

I was just looking for their info and they seem to be restructuring, but also have more enhancement products including IP Faxing which may work even if you don't have a network between the buildings. Checkout http://www.faxport.com/fproducts.html

You might want to check these also:

http://www.protus.com/services/f2e.cfm

http://www.vidicode.com/ipweb/faxserver-ip.htm

http://www.faxserver.com/products/xmediusfax/features.htm

by mark

In response to my other answer below that was rejected, of course you can. You can send faxes from your fax machine or your PC. It doesn't matter. Send them from any fax machine in either building. Most of what you are asking about is budget driven. What is your budget? The below answer is the cheap one, the protus.com answer is the middle one, and the vidicode.com faxserver is the ideal one ($2,000).

by deeda

One more thing to add, is after talking to my boss more, we would still be able to send our faxes with a fax machine, but receive them through email. Is that possible to do with the same fax #?
Thanks for the comments so far!

by jschein

If this is such a business / corporate environment, I'm sure they do not want to use some off shore fax hosting service...

Goto www.castelle.com and e-mail them regaurding your problem. Faxpress will send, receive, mail, route any or all faxes in a network. E-mail them for a pricing solution that your company would be satisfied to have such a solid company work for.

by deeda

We dont want to go through a Third-Party due to Security problems.
Thanks though!

by mark

Here is what I would do if you don't mind someone managing the faxes (like the receptionist/secretary or whoever).

Setup an external fax/modem on this person's PC and use WINFAX Pro. I would suggest a USR Courier V.Everything. Very common low cost software. They also make a network version, but you may not need that. This person can receive all the faxes and either print them or email them to whoever they want. I would also duplicate the software setup on another PC for backup. The external modem also makes it easy to move to another PC in case the primary PC goes down. If you need to buy the modem(s), I have several from a recent modem pool that was taken down.

by deeda

So is it possible with this to still be able to send our faxes with a fax machine, but receive them through email. Is that possible to do with the same fax #?

by sgt_shultz

well, couldn't you set the fax machine up to send only?. set it up to never answer. as for being able to hand out an ordinary fax number and get your faxes by email, try contacting your pbx company with this and see if they have a solution.

by wlbowers

Yes you can have both the PC and Fax Machine on the same phone line. You must set the fax to manual operation. Now set the PC to answer on 2 rings.

Some fax machines will hear the negotiation tones and grab the line. This is the reasion for setting the fax to manual operation.

Lee

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