How to send faxes over VoIP with Linksys SPA-2101?

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snowfly

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#86411 6-Jul-2011 09:53

Has anyone had any experience in sending faxes from a separate fax machine using a VoIP line and Linksys SPA 2102 adaptor?

I am trying to send a fax from a Brother MFC-425CN printer/fax, connected to the VoIP line via a Linksys SPA 2102.
But no luck.

Fax machine scans ok, dials number, gets the communication sounds (screeching noises), but then drops the connection, and waits to redial.

Have tried sending faxes to 2 different numbers, same result.
This printer/fax has worked before at a previous location using a standard phone line (non-voip).

Have checked the SPA 2102 settings, and seems to be setup for Fax with T38 settings enabled.

Any tips?

sbiddle

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#489944 6-Jul-2011 10:12

Who is your VoIP provider?

snowfly

543 posts

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#489946 6-Jul-2011 10:14

sbiddle: Who is your VoIP provider?

Sorry should have mentioned that.
Using WxC VFX.

maverick

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#489966 6-Jul-2011 10:58

is it inbound , outbound or both,

also try this to see if it makes a difference

Overseas Mode
If you are having difficulty sending a fax overseas due to possible
interference on the phone line, we recommend that you turn on the
Overseas Mode. After you send a fax using this feature, the feature
will turn itself off.
1 If it is not illuminated in green, press (Fax).
2 Load your document.
3 For MFC-215C, press Menu/Set, 2, 2, 4.
For MFC-425CN, press Menu/Set, 2, 2, 7.
4 Press ▲ or ▼ to select On (or Off).
Press Menu/Set.

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snowfly

543 posts

Ultimate Geek

#490012 6-Jul-2011 12:35

I'm having problems with outbound / sending faxes.
Haven't tried inbound.

Tried your suggestion maverick, but no luck, same issue.
I can hear the brother MFC dial number successfully, get connection, start those old modem type noises... pause, and the drop connection.

Here is a screenshot of my current SPA 2102 fax settings:

RunningMan

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#490021 6-Jul-2011 12:52

Are you using normal VFX or OpenVFX?

I've used a couple of different hardware configurations with VFX, and outgoing faxing with a Brother MFC series just works as it should. Haven't tried it with a SP2102 though.

sbiddle

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#490027 6-Jul-2011 13:04

My guess is that your T.38 settings are wrong. There are some platform specific settings including the passthru method which is quite often set to re-invite on many VoIP platforms. You also have echo suppression and ECAN settings which may also need changing.

WxC offer full autoprovisioning because there are many options that need to be set correctly toensure 100% compatibility. If you opt to configure your own device you need to understand what a lot of these settings do.

snowfly

543 posts

Ultimate Geek

#490050 6-Jul-2011 13:55

I'm using OpenVFX.

I'll keep playing with various settings, see what I can come up with.
But so far the various changes I have done don't seem to make a difference.

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RunningMan

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#490075 6-Jul-2011 14:25

Given the SPA2102 is one of the supported products for VFX auto provisioning, you could go down that route...
Is there a particular reason for running Open VFX in your situation?

snowfly

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#490077 6-Jul-2011 14:28

RunningMan: Given the SPA2102 is one of the supported products for VFX auto provisioning, you could go down that route...
Is there a particular reason for running Open VFX in your situation?

Because originally I had my VFX line running into a Grandstream GXP2000 VoIP phone (with multiple lines), which is not supported by WxC.

But then I got the SPA 2102, and run my residential line into that, and leave the Grandstream phone for my business lines via Kiwilink (call plus).

Can I tell my SPA 2102 to auto-provision from VFX to test Fax?
Or do WxC need to do something at their end?

RunningMan

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#490099 6-Jul-2011 15:16

snowfly: Can I tell my SPA 2102 to auto-provision from VFX to test Fax?
Or do WxC need to do something at their end?

You need to do two things:

1) Contact the helpdesk, get them to change you over to VFX - they will need the model number & MAC address of the ATA.

2) Enter the auto provisioning URL in to the SPA2102.

Easy!

snowfly

543 posts

Ultimate Geek

#490510 7-Jul-2011 11:36

Before switching our VFX line from OpenVFX to provisioned, I tried a second option:

I have a business VoIP line with Kiwilink, currently running on a Grandstream GXP2000 phone.

So I disconnected the Grandstream phone, and then plugged all the SIP details into the SPA 2102.
Following this guide here: http://www.kiwilink.co.nz/pdf/Kiwilink%20Linksys%20SPA%20instructions.pdf
Which also gives details for FAX.

Now when trying to send a Fax from the Brother MFC via the SPA 2102 using Kiwilink, this is the result:

Brother MFC scans fax OK

Dials number OK

Connects and I can hear the screeching / modem noise

After a few seconds this stops, and I hear a constant beep-beep-beep noise, and the fax isn't sent.

Kiwilink SIP line is registered OK, from an external number I can dial the Kiwilink number, and the Brother MFC rings!
I can also make outgoing calls from the Brother MFC, e.g. dialing 0800 000 000 results in the telecom help service, and can hear the voice prompts ok from the MFC speaker.

Its just Fax doesn't work?

grant_k

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#490531 7-Jul-2011 12:09

snowfly: Before switching our VFX line from OpenVFX to provisioned, I tried a second option:
...
Now when trying to send a Fax from the Brother MFC via the SPA 2102 using Kiwilink, this is the result:

Brother MFC scans fax OK

Dials number OK

Connects and I can hear the screeching / modem noise

After a few seconds this stops, and I hear a constant beep-beep-beep noise, and the fax isn't sent.

...
Its just Fax doesn't work?

Exactly what I found with my Brother MFC when using it with WxC's provisioned VFX service. It would fail more often than not, whereas before that, I had an HP OfficeJet and it worked OK 99% of the time.

Now I have an Epson TX300F and it can fax OK via VFX about 80% of the time. But every so often, I find a fax at the other end that it doesn't like, so TBH I have given up on faxing and now Scan-email which works 100% of the time

My VFX device is a WRTP54G which has similar SIP hardware/software to your SPA2102 (AFAIK).

cyril7

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#490553 7-Jul-2011 12:44

TBH I have given up on faxing and now Scan-email which works 100% of the time

What is a fax anyway?

Cyril

grant_k

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#490556 7-Jul-2011 12:48

cyril7:
TBH I have given up on faxing and now Scan-email which works 100% of the time

What is a fax anyway?

Cyril

Touche!

It's surprising how many "old school" people still use them. A recent example was the livestock auctioneer who wanted a list of our animals to be faxed prior to the auction. I phoned them, and sure enough, they could accept the list via email, but hadn't thought to update their form so it showed the email address. I'm sure we will get there eventually, and it will just be lawyers, real estate agents and the like who will still use faxes, although even that will die eventually.