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jourdant

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#68344 19-Sep-2010 22:24
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Hey everyone

So I've set up a few VoIP deployments as of late and there has been one common question from each client. Can I still send and receive faxes?

Of course the answer is YES, but there are so many options. Ideally the client would still like to use a fax machine (apparently it is easier than scanning a document and emailing it to be faxed).

So my question to you before I go and buy a whole lot of ATAs:

Is anybody using an ATA with a traditional fax? and if so, how is the quality?

Just some random information:
FreeSWITCH Software PBX is used for the SIP trunk endpoint, 2talk is the VoIP provider, G711 is used both ways, FreeSWITCH supports T38.


In the end I want to find out what the best ATA for faxing is!

Cheers :D

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Zeon
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  #382057 19-Sep-2010 22:55
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Apparently the PAP series isn't great but the SPA series is meant to be better. TBH I have run both a PAP2t and SPA2102 using fax machines to send without fault. Incoming has always been fax 2 email though.




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jourdant

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  #382058 19-Sep-2010 22:58
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Ahhh ok sweet. I was looking at an SPA1001 to begin with. Also Fax to Email will be used in tandem!

Has anyone tried the SPA1001 by any chance? would you suggest going T38 or G711?

philelvey
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  #382060 19-Sep-2010 23:02
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Gidday,

I've had experience with the SPA2102s and the Netcomm V210/V220 ATAs.

The netcomms work well!  With the SPA2102s, I know that some of the firmware versions didn't work well with faxing, and the solution was to restore to an older firmware version.  Those issues may be fixed in the latest firmware version - I'm not sure about that.

Haven't had experience with a SPA1001, but it may be sweet.  You'll want to use T.38, and still set the port's codec to G711a only.

Cheers




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jourdant

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  #382061 19-Sep-2010 23:05
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Awesome! I'll grab a few of these mentioned units and get these results out Laughing Do you have any preferred resellers or loaners?

richms
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  #382062 19-Sep-2010 23:11
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Not the grandstream whatever you do...




Richard rich.ms

nate
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#382070 19-Sep-2010 23:33
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richms: Not the grandstream whatever you do...


But the Grandstreams are such a reliable and trusted brand!

 
 
 

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richms
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  #382074 19-Sep-2010 23:47
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nate:
richms: Not the grandstream whatever you do...


But the Grandstreams are such a reliable and trusted brand!


It works fine except the t38 which just.... doesnt? and there seems to be no way to see why it didnt with asterisk inbetween the ata and 2talk.

Now using a SPA9000 for fax which is good because it will route 4 sip accounts to 1 analog port, and its t38 actually seems to work, but with all I have read about them I dont think I would recommend it.

But really, fax2email should do for recieve. I wish my MFC would print the format they email in directly, but it only wants to do some strange brother format or plain text.




Richard rich.ms

jourdant

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  #382084 20-Sep-2010 00:19
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Is there a number we can dial to test fax? I think there used to be an 0800... last time I tried I don't think it worked though...

richms
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  #382093 20-Sep-2010 03:03
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dont try with the 2talk fax2email - almost everything I had would work to that, yet fail to actual fax machines, and the faxmail service I have never got to work at all even sending back the file that fax2email sent me.

Friend who has a faxmachine is your best bet.

Also you will have to turn off all the fancy modes on the fax machine on the ata. no 33600 and turning on the international mode made it pretty reliable for me.




Richard rich.ms

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  #382098 20-Sep-2010 06:32
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SPA2102's and SPA3102's work well.

I know from many comments I've had from people that 2talk's fax service can be very hit or miss at times.

jourdant

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  #389124 7-Oct-2010 12:06
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Thanks everyone! I got an SPA2102 succesfully configured and I would definitely recommend it - rock solid and the faxes come out good quality (for a fax).

Cheers!

 
 
 

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webwat
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  #389314 7-Oct-2010 19:42
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Fax over VoIP should preferably be T.38 so hope it works out for you. Set the G.711 for any modems etc that you may still want to use eg alarm.




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