Phone/fax Equipment

Home Serve

For years we have been dealing with unplugging and plugging in the fax machine when we need to use it because we could not get it to coordinate with the answer machine.
I'm sure there is good equipment out there now where this is not necessary. I'm not really interested in an online fax service because I want to be able to easily fax something also.
Can you enlighten me on this boring but important issue??????
Like what equipment and where from?
thanks,
Dave C

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Missouri Remodeling Company with services for Replacement Windows Vinyl Siding and Entry Doors

KillerToiletSpider

I have a second phone line for my fax machine.

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A flush is better than a full house.

Ed the Roofer

My second dedicated wired line is for my old thermal paper Panasonic KX-F90 fax machine with an answering machine with a micro-cassette recorder. (Circa, 1988)

I turn off the answering machine/telephone mode on it, so that incoming faxes go to my computer with a phone line splitter. When i need to fax papers, I send them through the fax machine, but receive them on the computer, so they are save for archived purposes.

When my old computer dies in March, I lost the use of the online portion and can not remember the name of the fax program, but I liked it alot for archiving old incoming fax messages.

Ed

edit:
The fax program on my computer was called; Ring Central Fax.

firemike

I use my second line for the business line and fax. It used to be a dedicated fax line, but started getting so many business calls on the house line that the wife started getting pi$$ed.

Now I use the second line for business/fax. I have a Brother 7820N multi-function machine with a Panasonic KX-TG5471 digital answering machine/cordless phone for the office. The Brother machine can tell if it is a voice or data call and direct it as needed. I have had it for a little over a year and a half, never a problem with the machine destinguishing between a voice or fax call. Answering machine works fine. The machine (Brother MFC) works well, is a copier/scanner/printer. Had an HP multi-function, was more of a headache, never did work right. After a couple years got tired of the problems, threw it in the trash and bought the Brother unit.

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-Mike-

woodmagman

I got so tired of putting paper in the fax machine that I spent a couple of bucks on a fax modem and software....can you say span costs me nothing now other then delete delete and now auto delete...got to love them.

porkchop

I have a virtual phone system so that someone can fax to my phone number. It automatically detects if someone is trying to send a fax and then accepts it. Then it is converted into a PDF then emailed to me. See my post on virtual receptionist for more info. I also use efax in another business and it works fantastic. Same thing its emailed to me, separate phone number. If you get a lot of faxes it pays for itself right away (savings of not buying toner for the fax and saving some trees)

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- Chris
My construction company- Chicago Painting Contractor, Chicago Handyman, Chicago Remodeling. Chicago Internet Marketing by LSB.

RidgeWalker

eFAX for the win guys! Yes you pay a monthly subscription and you also pay .10 cents per page.

BUT!

You can recieve faxes directly to your computer and if you have a lap top you can recieve faxes anywhere you have an internet connection. Another benefit of eFax is that you get your transmission reports via email. The report tells you if it went through or not when you send a fax. If it doesn't go through it tells you why. Some one picked up the line, or transmission error. Very handy indeed.

The software is only 3 or 4 megs to install so all my networked workstations have them. This allows my sales reps to fax directly from the workstation they are working on, instead of having to wait for some one else to finish using a fax machine. Additionally if the rep instals the program on his computer or lap top he can fax from home if he's working after hours.

I get all faxes transmission via my email so I know exactly who's faxing and to whom they are faxing too.

I've used eFax for 3 years and just this year upgraded to an 1-800 eFax number.