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mogan
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Canada		Posted - 8/30/2006 3:30:51 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message
In the past I have used an external fax modem connected to an older lexmark printer as a receive only fax machine (the lexmark had a serial port) is there any hardware/adapter available that could connect an external fax modem to a laser printer (assume a parallel port on the printer) to function as a receive only fax. Trying to have a temporary fix when an MFP (multi function printer) fails - thanks for any ideas!
v.Richard
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USA		Posted - 9/3/2006 8:08:57 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message  v.Richards Homepage
It would have to be a very unusual,rare and special modem that you used - as a regular modem does not have the capability to store a fax and deliver it to a printer. A regular modem requires separate fax software running on the PC to handle faxes.

Aloha! Richard.

zepper
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USA		Posted - 10/15/2006 10:36:02 AM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message
Probably cheaper than that kind of rig would be to just have a stand-alone fax machine in the closet for such emergencies - often less than $50. now - even plain paper ones.

Faxes are image files which can't necessarily be sent directly to a printer unless there is some conversion function in the modem. I have directly hooked a modem to a serial printer in the past for receiving text data communications but not faxes.

I have seen some modems that had (?expandable?) local memory for storing faxes for later dumping to a computer, but I can't recall make or model, but not recently. Maybe it was a Multitech (won't be cheap if it was).

Another option is to obtain or build a PC based on older technology to use as a fax/phone answering machine - can be networked for access to faxes/phone messages from other PCs. SmithMicro's HotFax Message Center software is great for such a thing. Pick the right components (Via/Cyrix CPU on a Socket 370 mobo, for example) and you could get by with a 100 Watt PSU and almost no cooling. Won't need a monitor except for initial setup and occasional maintenance.

..bh.

Ease your voting choices: Find the candidate backed by the Trial Lawyers and vote for the other one.
Edited by - zepper on 10/15/2006 11:24:39 AM

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