Can DSL and a fax machine play together?

June 3, 2011 9:17 PM

Is anyone using a fax machine with a DSL connection?

We need a new printer and the Canon PIXMA all-in-one's fax is very tempting. I've been faxing with an online service but I'd like to be able to do it from home if possible. I've read about something called a shared line and wonder how that works, with a Mac if software is involved. Our phone service is VOIP through the same provider. The PIXMA also sports an answering machine we'd like to use, too.

posted by tangram1 to Technology (5 answers total)

Best answer: We have DSL and I have been using a Brother MFC-7840W printer for a few years. Works just fine.

Also, FWIW, some old 1940's phones I have with dials work OK, too. These use pulse dialing.

There are little filters that DSL provides that keep the digital stuff and the old analog stuff separated, and you don't need to rewire anything.

You can use a distinctive ring feature from the phone company to have several (usually up to three) different numbers use the same line. The ring pattern for one of them can be used to trigger the fax after a few rings. I've never seen a fax that didn't have that feature. The only rub is if you have voice features like call waiting or answering on the same line and the fax is in use. Sounds like you don't need to worry about that, since you use VOIP.

You'll probably only need one number, the fax can be set to auto asnwer quickly, and if you put a handset on the line, you can make outgoing calls.

I was in Staples yesterday marvelling at how cheap all the AIOs were. Toner, of course, is a different story! I am very impressed by my Brother machines. I recommend not using their toner. It's 5x more expensive than recycled. Not sure about Canon. I highly recommend laser printers, not the cheaper inkjets. The Brother I have is a monochrome laser with an intergral scanner and fax, plus wireless. Costs in the $200's. Mine went through a fire and is melted in places but works. Good hardware AND software.

TMI, I am sure, but that's the scoop.
posted by FauxScot at 10:12 PM on June 3, 2011

Best answer: The VOIP is going to be your problem. As proof of concept, I once faxed something over Vonage, but it only worked once. Apparently, the VOIP provider can change some settings that make faxing work better, but it will never work very well.
posted by gjc at 5:02 AM on June 4, 2011

Best answer: Re-reading the question, OP, if you have internet-only DSL, you'll have to get phone service on that line. It overlays the DSL. No new wires required, inside or out. (We have Fairpoint DSL here in the boonies of Vermont, and both voice and internet service over the same lines, and no VOIP. The economics of this particular installation and my long distance usage patterns speak to this setup and VOIP doesn't make much sense.) I think I interpreted your question properly, but wanted to amplify that you'll need an actual phone number to go with that DSL hookup.
posted by FauxScot at 5:38 AM on June 4, 2011

Best answer: The VOIP is going to be your problem. As proof of concept, I once faxed something over Vonage, but it only worked once. Apparently, the VOIP provider can change some settings that make faxing work better, but it will never work very well.
posted by gjc at 5:02 AM on June 4 [+] [!]

Not quite true. My office uses Vonage and we had lots of problems with faxes. However, after talking with Vonage some settings were changed or something and now faxing works just fine. It was a pain, though.
posted by jayder at 6:29 AM on June 4, 2011

Response by poster: Thanks, everyone. Since I'm not up to the pains right now I'll stick with internet faxing. You saved me a lot of frustration!
posted by tangram1 at 12:20 PM on June 4, 2011