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+--- Thread: USB modem for Faxing (/showthread.php?tid=94304)
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USB modem for Faxing - modelamac - 03-16-2010
Several times a year I need to send faxes for various reasons. I either have to pay someone or go to my brother's house to do so. I'd like to have the ability to send faxes from my mini via a phone line. I have VoIP. I should be able to do it with a USB modem that is used for dial-up internet. Correct?
1. Anyone doing this now?
2. What is your hardware set up?
3. Do you use special software? If so, what and why?
Re: USB modem for Faxing - mrlynn - 03-16-2010
Apple sells a USB modem for about $50, or did when I bought my MBP anyway. I use it frequently.
FaxSTF software was included with the OS, but everyone here panned that and recommended PageSender,
http://www.smileonmymac.com/
which works pretty well (occasionally an incoming failure will freeze it, but I may need an update).
/Mr Lynn
Re: USB modem for Faxing - JEBB - 03-16-2010
Send the file as an email attachment.
Re: USB modem for Faxing - modelamac - 03-16-2010
Some problems require a fax. Email attachments won't fly in some situations.
Re: USB modem for Faxing - raz - 03-16-2010
somebody over at MacinTouch recommended
http://www.smileonmymac.com/PageSender/
For those occasional faxes, it might make more sense than getting a modem.
Re: USB modem for Faxing - JoeH - 03-16-2010
Apple sells a USB modem for about $50, or did when I bought my MBP anyway. I use it frequently.
Apple stopped selling that USB modem over a year ago. There are few makers with USB modems on the market that will work. The other option if you have an external modem already is a USB to serial adapter. Those are easiest to find for the 9 and 25 pin RS232 serial ports, not so easy for modems using the Mac serial port connection.
Re: USB modem for Faxing - modelamac - 03-16-2010
So far I got 2 s/w suggestions and some help on a modem, and alternative method that avoids the questions.
I take it no one is currently using a Mac to fax on a USB modem for dial-up.
Re: USB modem for Faxing - Ken Sp. - 03-16-2010
Sometimes you can pick up a cheap all in one with rebate and fax from it.
Re: USB modem for Faxing - mrlynn - 03-16-2010
modelamac wrote:
So far I got 2 s/w suggestions and some help on a modem, and alternative method that avoids the questions.
I take it no one is currently using a Mac to fax on a USB modem for dial-up.
Oh—you mean you want to use the modem that you currently use for dial-up Internet access as a fax modem.
Yes, you should be able to do that, using either FaxSTF or PageSender. Every modem I've seen in the last 20 years is also a 'fax modem'.
PageSender also supports Fax-to-eMail services, which I've never used.
/Mr Lynn
Re: USB modem for Faxing - JoeH - 03-16-2010
Yeah, it has been over half a dozen years since I used my Mac to send faxes. So I am totally out of touch on current software. However, I have helped persons get modems attached to current model Mac's, though I disconnected mine long ago as my DSL was nearly 100% reliable.
Current makers of USB modems I have helped others get set up with for regular non-fax modem usage are Zoom and USRobotics. They were not interested in the fax capability of the modems, though it was available. There are a couple other makers of USB modems that have Mac compatibility, I just have not worked with them in the past decade.
So, not trying to avoid the software questions, as I am not in touch with what is currently available and how well it works.