Why does a fax machine need to be on standby?

Question

Worldwide, machines like PCs, cordless phones and fax machines on standby consume hundreds of megawatts of power. It only takes a couple of seconds for a fax machine or cordless phone to be ready for use when you turn it on. So why don't we have cordless phone base stations and fax machines that consume no power while waiting for an incoming signal, and turn themselves on when one arrives?

Answer 1

Standby mode is supposed to be the setting with the lowest power consumption that will allow the unit to return to a full-state mode in a short period of time. Just how long is defined by the function of the item.

By definition the "Off mode" is consuming no power whatsoever. In this mode there is no operation of the unit, so it cannot even detect signals to reactivate. Any unit that reactivates automatically must have a standby mode.

Finally, as a side note, any electronic device with a power supply is actually consuming a miniscule amount of energy as long as it is hooked to an energized wall outlet. But there are FAR greater wastes of energy than unused or standby electronic devices. Inefficent lighting or leaving lights on when they are not necessary.

Answer 2

If you're in an office you really can't turn it off but if you're a home user you can turn it off and only turn it on when you need it just
remember to run a test page every now and then to keep the cartridges working. They do use a hugh amount of power when you
multiply all the machines sitting on standby, it's not just computers and fax machines and printers but other computer equiptment like
routers, also stereos,TVs,phones it all ads up big time.

Answer 3

If you are worried about the amount of energy being consumed by fax machines just switch to online faxing. Your computer doesn't need to be on to receive faxes. Faxes are sent to your e-mail. Its really easy and it is actually cheaper than buying a fax machine. If you're interested check out the review to find the best one for you.

Answer 4

Fax is like an like an answering machine - it has to receive phone calls and have energy to communicate with another fax machine.

moreover, faxes and cordless pnones are not the biggest energy users, that prize goes to PC's and TV's.

Answer 5

The truth of the matter is that they don't consume hundreds of megawatts per year. The average computer when not in use consumes less than 5 watts of power per day. Sometimes less if energy star compiant components are used.

Answer 6

a fax machine has to stay on standby so it can allow communication with other resources incoming without wasting energy.

Answer 7

It is on standby because the consumer surveys voted for it to be.

Answer 8

if you don,t need it ,don,t turn it on.if you walk out of room,or bathroom w eturmn off the light.when we done with a p/c we logg off.SO>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>we don,t turn on the fax untill we need it!!!

Answer 9

How could it possibly know it's receiving a call if it's OFF??????

And even if it could, by the time it booted up, the caller would have hung up.

Answer 10

to keep the ink warm ;)