Fax software suggestion needed

[ArmchairAthlete]

Did a quick search here without seeing anything.

To begin, we have cable internet and one phone line. We once had a second phone line dedicated to the fax machine but my dad canceled it to save money (he got his faxes at work after that). Now he wants to get faxes at home again. Sending faxes isn't so important since he needs to send his documents through fedex (they are stamped with a seal).

My dad wants some software so that he can do this with one phone line used for both fax and phone calls (I'll put a 56k modem in his PC):

-Identify phone call as a fax or a person calling the house and act appropriately (either saving and/or printing the fax or allowing the phone to ring or taking a message from the caller).
-save messages on his PC (or allow a normal answering machine to take the call)
-save faxes as image files (or print)


Is there any good software out there that does something like this?

Thanks!

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: ArmchairAthlete
Did a quick search here without seeing anything.

To begin, we have cable internet and one phone line. We once had a second phone line dedicated to the fax machine but my dad canceled it to save money (he got his faxes at work after that). Now he wants to get faxes at home again. Sending faxes isn't so important since he needs to send his documents through fedex (they are stamped with a seal).

My dad wants some software so that he can do this with one phone line used for both fax and phone calls (I'll put a 56k modem in his PC):

-Identify phone call as a fax or a person calling the house and act appropriately (either saving and/or printing the fax or allowing the phone to ring or taking a message from the caller).
-save messages on his PC (or allow a normal answering machine to take the call)
-save faxes as image files (or print)


Is there any good software out there that does something like this?

Thanks!

-Identify phone call as a fax or a person calling the house and act appropriately (either saving and/or printing the fax or allowing the phone to ring or taking a message from the caller).

Some modems have the capability for call detection. You will have to shop around for a high end modem that can.
Alternatively, you can get a small electronic box (RadioShack or similar type place) that can route an incoming call to selected lines (voic,data,fax).

-save messages on his PC (or allow a normal answering machine to take the call)
Some modems will be able to (or have S/W that will) act as an answering machine for you. You will have to the select the call via the computer.
If the call is being routed by a switch box or the modem ignores the call, then let the answering system in use within the household take care of that problem.

-save faxes as image files (or print)
Most fax S/W saves incomings faxes as images. They can be then printed with a fax viewer application that will come with your fax receiver S/W.

Some modems will come with a Fax S/W package, or you can use a commercial package. Some OS's come with a limited fax capability built in.

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

Thanks for the information.

Could you suggest any software in particular? Would it have to come with a specific modem that it was designed for?

 

[EagleKeeper]

WinFax used to be the industry standard.

Most modems will come with some limited S/W.

 

[TSDible]

Have you considered using an online fax service like eFax?

Faxes are sent to your email. I still use my Free eFax number when I want to get a fax.

edit:

it seems that the free eFax accounts are highly restricted now. I never notice since I only use the account a couple times a year.

Probably not the route to go if you are looking for a free solution.