[WXC/VFX] Fax to ..... something

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › [WXC/VFX] Fax to ..... something

benkepes

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#22008 13-May-2008 13:40

We use VFX/WxC for data and VoIP but still have a POTS to allow for faxing

With nDSL there is no reason to retain this once WxC can do something with faxes

So the question is...... what can ya do guys?

(and just in case you were wondering why I have multiple and conflicting WxC questions - we're already on WxC/VFX @work and are planning to go that way @home too)

Ben Kepes
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kfella2000

495 posts

Ultimate Geek

#130668 13-May-2008 18:56

SPA2102

Available: Now

Ideal for a network without a router - as can connect both existing phones and your PC
Connects to an Ethernet port of your modem/router
Two standard telephone ports for analog phones or use one of the ports for a fax machine, each with an independent phone number
Ethernet out port to connect to your PC
Compatible with all common telephone features: Caller ID, Call Waiting, Voicemail, etc

I would suggest that you buy a SPA 2102 instead of the PAP2T as the SPA 2102 is capable of sending faxes

Niel

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#130671 13-May-2008 19:11

Agree on the SPA2102, and is also easy to remove from your network if you are going away for a while and want to take you phone with you. Easier that the all-in-one type solutions.

The PAP2T is an older/basic product which does not support all the CODECs that the other devices do. It is cheaper, bith price wise and guts wise.

But if you were to retain your land line phone, then go for the SPA3102 which is the same as the 2102 but can "fall back" to the land line when the internet connection is down.

I've got an all-in-one, but regret it. A separate box would be easier to take with us when we visit the in-laws. Also, ADSL uses a lot of power and WiFi uses a lot of power. Combining the two into one box results in a box that runs hot. Electronics do not like that, and I believer that is why the WAG54GP2 is not as stable as the other solutions. I've got the WRTP54G which is modemless, but would rather have separated everything if I had to start over.

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benkepes

77 posts

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#130755 14-May-2008 06:30

hmmmm - thanks guys but we have to lines plus the fax

so really need a three line ATA

hmmmmm

Ben Kepes
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mushion22

297 posts

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#130769 14-May-2008 07:57

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=65&topicid=21542

Read maverick's reply. Doesn't help a lot if you also want outgoing faxes, Options are to use an ATA if you want to retain the Caller ID and control the header or you could look at porting it to 2talk who, according to their forum, are planning on allowing you to manipulate the header on their fax out service.

How do you have your lines set up now? Do you have the two lines coming in to seperate ATAs or IP Phones or an IP PBX or what?

You could just get an ATA like the SPA2102 and use it solely for the fax without using it's router functions.

EDIT: The details of 2talks faxing service are here. Would be nice to see WxC doing something similar, particularly if having a virtual fax number was as cheap as FaxAbility and also have the option of a distinctive ring notification on the main Voice line if customers want to know when they've received a fax. There are other companies overseas that do similar things but the downside is that people have to fax to overseas numbers. There is also www.ifax.co.nz

kfella2000

495 posts

Ultimate Geek

#130772 14-May-2008 08:20

benkepes:

so really need a three line ATA

hmmmmm

Another thing to remember too Ben is that if you have 3 or more VFX lines you will get charged for local calls as well. Dont quote me on this though but am pretty sure that is how it works. Phil will correct me if I am wrong here.

sbiddle

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Biddle Corp

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#130778 14-May-2008 08:41

benkepes: hmmmm - thanks guys but we have to lines plus the fax

so really need a three line ATA

hmmmmm

What exactly are your requirements for a phone system?

There are still advantages in keeping a PSTN line for a fax but what do you require the other 2 lines for?

coffeebaron

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#130779 14-May-2008 08:44

As the post above, WxC will release a fax to email service, soon (could still be a few months away though). This would handle incoming faxes, then use one of your other VFX lines to send them outgoing.
Also, the advanced feature pack, also coming soon will allow additional virtual numbers. I think that may be able to be setup like the current faxibility service that Telecom do.

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mushion22

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#130787 14-May-2008 09:12

coffeebaron: As the post above, WxC will release a fax to email service, soon (could still be a few months away though). This would handle incoming faxes, then use one of your other VFX lines to send them outgoing.
Also, the advanced feature pack, also coming soon will allow additional virtual numbers. I think that may be able to be setup like the current faxibility service that Telecom do.

Still requires a fax/faxmodem for outgoing which somewhat defeats the purpose if you need to keep sending faxes as well. Fine if it is just legacy support for incoming faxes.

I suppose you could use the WxC service for incoming, and another for your outgoings so long as you dont mind people seeing it come from another (possibly international) caller ID.

And yes the new advanced features apparently allow virtual numbers with distinctive rings, so assumably you could use it like faxability if your fax can be connected to one of the existing lines.

Anyrate those things aren't available yet, so for now as far as I can see your options are:

1) Keep the POTS line and fax machine- this should mean no quality hassles and also a backup line in case VoIP goes down for some reason (you could set calls to divert to it when no device is registered for the VoIP lines, for instance). Perhaps investigate WxCs faxing solution and VFX advanced features when they release them.

2) Replace the POTS line with another VFX VoIP line and connect the fax machine to it using an ATA. Some people have had quality problems, but it seems that its just a matter of chosing the right ATA. Re-assess when VFX release their faxing and advanced features.

3) Use the 2talk or iFax or other similar service to port your POTS fax number and use email to send and receive faxes (not sure if porting is available for just a fax line with 2talk). Junk the physical fax, use a scanner or just fax directly from applications.

Shash

157 posts

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#130790 14-May-2008 09:17

benkepes: We use VFX/WxC for data and VoIP but still have a POTS to allow for faxing

From my experience...you will be better keeping this POTS for faxing as VFX fax capabilities will not allow you International Faxing.

benkepes

77 posts

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#130794 14-May-2008 09:30

sbiddle:
benkepes: hmmmm - thanks guys but we have to lines plus the fax

so really need a three line ATA

hmmmmm

What exactly are your requirements for a phone system?

There are still advantages in keeping a PSTN line for a fax but what do you require the other 2 lines for?

office phones

Ben Kepes
Diversity Limited

E ben@diversity.net.nz
P +64 3 3146006
M 021 2384136
skype ben_kepes
blog diversity.net.nz

mushion22

297 posts

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#130796 14-May-2008 09:33

benkepes:

office phones

Care to elaborate?

What kind of setup do you have/want?

Do you have your VoIP phonelines coming into a PBX, and the out to handsets?

Do you simply have 2 VoIP handsets or ATAs?

Give us some details about what you need to be able to achieve.

benkepes

77 posts

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#130797 14-May-2008 09:33

Shash:
benkepes: We use VFX/WxC for data and VoIP but still have a POTS to allow for faxing

From my experience...you will be better keeping this POTS for faxing as VFX fax capabilities will not allow you International Faxing.

yep - which means there is no point going fusion as we need the pots anyway

cheers all

Ben Kepes
Diversity Limited

E ben@diversity.net.nz
P +64 3 3146006
M 021 2384136
skype ben_kepes
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paulspain

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#130800 14-May-2008 09:43

For the Australian division of my comany we send and receive faxes by email using an Australian VOIP provider.

You just scan the outgoing fax, attach it to an email with outgoing fax number and your credentials in the email. Not very secure as your credentials pass over the Internet in clear text, but we only send faxes a few times a year anyway.

Paul Spain
Founder: Gorilla Technology, NZ Tech Podcast