Exactly what do I need to make faxes from my home? Do I need a fax modem, in addition to a fax machine? Do I?

Question

need to pay for a separate fax line every month (in addition to my phone line)?

Answer 1

Nope, a fax machine connected to your modem oughta do it.

All modems made these days can handle fax as well as data. When you save your file in your word processing program, and print it, send it to fax. This will call up the fax software in your modem.

Many printers made these days are all in one machines, with scanner, fax, copier, etc. So you can scan your paper to be sent, then fax it via your all in one machine, which sometimes has its own modem and sometimes needs to go thru your computer's modem, depending on the model of your all in one.

You don't need a separate fax line, these are dedicated data lines used by businesses that send and receive a lot of faxes. They use fax lines because they don't want to tie up their voice line, and because the transmission quality is better. But a dedicated fax line isn't necessary for home use.

Answer 2

Most of the modem does carry a fax capabilities, if you have Windows XP then you can get a Fax program that allow you to send faxes from computer.

You might need Windows XP disc if the component in Add and Remove Programs list is missing.

Answer 3

You can fax using your pc and a fax/modem card connected to your phone line with a phone cord and a program such as WinFax.

Or, you can fax using a fax machine plugged into your phone line. Phone line from wall plugs into the "Line" port of the fax machine, then another phone line plugs into the "phone" port of the fax machine and connects to your telephone. So only one of them can be using the phone line at a time obviously, but if you only send the occasional fax, that's certainly cheaper than having a 2nd phone line just for the fax machine.