How can I send a fax from Windows XP? I have a broadband connection but get a message "no dial tone"

Question

I have a standard modem and a broadband connection but, using the Windows XP software, I can get through all the stages of sending a fax (from Microsoft Works) and I have ticked the box marked 'dialling rules' to reflect that I am sending from the internet. But I get a message saying that I have no dial tone, so the message doesn't go. I'm a bit baffled and now wonder whether I need a special fax modem but really I'm out of my depth here. Does anyone have any simple and easy to follow instructions for me, please?
Failing this, I shall give up the computer and technology entirely and go back to scratching my messages on papyrus with a quill pen, and sending them by courier pigeon. *goes back to the dark ages!*

I have an internal modem in the PC, but also a special external modem supplied by my broadband provider. Re. the first answer, do you think it would work if I plugged my phone line directly into the PC, bypassing the broadband modem?

Answer 1

You say you have a "standard modem". Do you mean an internal faxmodem in your computer, or are you refering to a cable or DSL modem?

To send a fax you do need a fax modem. Most of these are installed internally in your computer but there are still a few external models floating about. A few years ago, before broadband became widely available, virtually every PC came with a fax modem. Many laptops still do but they're not nearly as common on desktops any more.

Anyhow, I get the impression that you are pretty new to computers so I'll walk you through a few things and see if we can get you going.

First off, we need to find out if you do have a fax modem. Have a look around the back of your PC. A fax modem will have two standard telephone jacks right next to each other. If you find it, you're almost home -- just hook a phone line to the line jack on the fax modem (and optionally a standard phone to the other jack) and you're ready to fax!

To fax a document there are two ways to proceed. Normally a fax modem will show up as a printer device on your machine. Select File...Print and select the fax modem as the printer and it will launch the fax wizard where you key in the recipients details and select a cover sheet, etc. Alternatively, you can select File...Send to...Fax Recipient to launch the fax wizard where you select the fax device (fax modem) and proceed as above.

If you don't find a fax modem you'll have to buy one. They're pretty cheap these days, often under $30.00 or so. Any Radio Shack or Best Buy can hook you up. I've even seen them at many Wal-Marts. Installation is pretty simple, full instructions are in the box. If you're really terrified about opening your PC and don't want to pay the typically exhorbitant charge for installation you might be able to locate an external fax modem that connects to a serial port on the back of your PC. Those are a fair bit more expensive -- $50 - $100 or so -- so the final cost may be a wash, however.

To wrap things up a bit, you can't fax directly using a DSL or cable modem. There are some internet based fax services but these all require payment (although some do offer a few freebies to demonstrate how it works) to send and sometimes to receive faxes. There used to be a free service that added advertising to your outgoing and incoming faxes but I'm pretty sure that that died an ignominious death some time ago.

Hope this helped!

Answer 2

Hello,

(ANS) YOU CANNOT send a fax over a braodband connection!! nobody tells you this but I found out the hard way. Why? faxing is old technology, is VERY slow in comparison to broadband & ADSL. Faxing requires an old fashioned phone line, and faxing is slow and runs at 33,000kbps.

**Faxing is fax machine to fax machine, or from a windows computer such as XP but with an old fax modem (dailup phone line) attached. So the fax modem can dailup out to a phone number which has a fax machine or fax answering machine. Or even another computer with a fax modem, either way faxing requires a dailup phone number you cannot do it over braodband itself (yes! you can use the voice channel of your broadband just like an old phone line, hence you can use that part of the broadband to send faxes).

IR

Answer 3

You can't use the Broadband modem to send faxes as it is not the correct type of modem.

You need to either use a standard dial up modem (the type you would use if you were on a dial up connection rather than broadband) or a service such as eFax which allows you to send an e-mail to a fax number.

There are several service like eFax, a quick web serach using the term 'email to fax' brings up quite a few results.

Answer 4

When sending faxes it would be the internal dial up modem that would be used. This would not work with the broadband.

Faxes are sent over the phone system using the normal phone system and not the internet

Answer 5

i have got broadband and i only had to plug my telephone line into the modem that is inside the computer to send a fax,

yes thats correct you dont go near the broadband modem, just plug your phone line into the internal modem

Answer 6

I try to avoid faxes where possible, I seem to be the world's worst user! Email is much simpler to use, and easier and more versatile too.

The help and support section should be able to give you tips if you use the troubleshooter section.

Good luck, I hope you figure it out!

Answer 7

it doesnt matter you connection speed, its all 0's and 1's when it leaves your computer. and you have it backwards, broadband is more versitle than dial-up.

Answer 8

maybe the windows can't work with that modem

Answer 9

make sure every thing is connected