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How to FAX over VOIP on the Internet

Sunday, February 17th, 2008
at 9:22pm

Brightstar wrote: “I keep hearing about how hard it is for faxes to work through VOIP. I’ve prepared a top 5 list of things you can do to make sure your faxes have the best chance of going through.”

  • Set your baud rate to 9600 and turn off Error Correction Mode. The slower your Fax goes, the more likely it is to go through without errors. Most VOIP providers are unable to support the default baud of 33600 baud due to the amount of data that has to go through. Error Correction Mode was designed for faxing PSTN to PSTN. Voice over IP often has extra noise added due to jitter instabilities in the connection as it travels from one fax to another. This causes false positives for Error Correction Mode because it will cause the fax to loop over and over trying to fix these noise errors, when it can’t be fixed. This will end in a communication error usually.
  • Use a provider that supports T.38 - T.38 is an audio codec designed for Faxing over VOIP. it allows for more detail and better looking images as well as stability by creating redundancy in the RTP stream.
  • Set your packetization to 10 milliseconds or less. The more header there is in the stream, the less likely jitter and instabilities in your internet connection are going to cause a synchronization error. (You may need to contact your provider to make this happen if your box is locked, such as if you use Vonage.)
  • Keep on top of your ISP. Stability in your internet connection are paramount in making sure that faxes are successful. Speed tests can help you track this. Look for an advanced speed test that offers more than just and upload and download speed. A personal favorite of mine is located at MyVoipSpeed (Note: An up to date Java version is required) which is really nice because once you’re done, you can click on the detailed analysis link and then call up your ISP and give them the URL for the test so they can see what’s going on.
  • When all else fails, call your VOIP provider. There may be issues in the routing of your calls that are causing problems. Only your VOIP provider’s call processing team will be able to fix this kind of thing. Have your provider test from a PSTN line and then their own VOIP line. If they can send through PSTN but not their own VOIP line, it’s a routing issue on their own end.
  • Bonus Tip!Don’t even think about faxing using Voice over IP on a satellite or wireless connection. These kinds of connections are too unpredictable, and add a huge amount of latency that will make it impossible for fax machines to sync up properly.

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13 Comments

njpalko314

February 17th, 2008
at 12:26pm

That noise was messed up, man. I’m sorry, but I had to say it.

ltsAboutJesus

February 17th, 2008
at 12:27pm

i found u b4 and didnt realize u actually were such a good techy gure. now im subbed so 5 stars ill be watching thanks for your show

ltsAboutJesus

February 17th, 2008
at 12:28pm

guru* …and im glad i stumbled upon lockergnome recently as i have discovered some really good entertaining vids with quality info

ltsAboutJesus

February 17th, 2008
at 12:30pm

I used to use vonage and also they provide toll free numbers at a great price. im not being paid by them to say this either lol. but i started having probs with the modem going out on the phone and online frequency and not sure if it was the isp or vonage causing the prob ?

88luda88

February 17th, 2008
at 2:01pm

yeah he is ^^ tht one of the reasons we love em

a1gaius

February 17th, 2008
at 2:12pm

BTW, wtf is up with the -2 rating on my comment? Now, THAT’s nuts.

Windows Vista Torrent

February 18th, 2008
at 6:18am

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Professional Online Publishing: New Media Trends, Communication Skills, Online Marketing

February 18th, 2008
at 8:04am

Chris PirilloHow to FAX Over VOIP on The InternetBrightstar wrote: “I keep hearing about how hard it is for faxes to work through VOIP. I�ve prepared a top 5 list of things you can do to make sure your faxes have the best chance of going through.” * Set your baud rate to 9600 and …

Professional Online Publishing: New Media Trends, Communication Skills, Online Marketing

February 18th, 2008
at 8:04am

Chris PirilloHow to FAX Over VOIP on The InternetBrightstar wrote: “I keep hearing about how hard it is for faxes to work through VOIP. I�ve prepared a top 5 list of things you can do to make sure your faxes have the best chance of going through.” * Set your baud rate to 9600 and …

shanedk

February 18th, 2008
at 11:11am

I use fax in my business, where it’s necessary. Of course, it’s a fax/scanner/copier (color, of course) and fully controllable from my computer.

I’d rather use email, and my clients do well with me just sending them their invoices as a PDF in an email. But some third parties will only accept a fax, and for some reason legal documents are only recognized as valid when faxed, not scanned, so they MUST be faxed.

shanedk

February 18th, 2008
at 11:14am

By the way, I do my faxing over the internet with Packet 8. They have a special service for fax, free to anywhere in the US and Canada.

Caminews

February 18th, 2008
at 4:10pm

… Fonte:http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/02/17/how-to-fax-over-voip-on-the-internet/

Greg W

February 19th, 2008
at 1:24pm

I have been using Vonage for close to year now to fax and so far no pronblems

graemehunter.co.uk

February 19th, 2008
at 6:22pm

How to FAX over VOIP on the Internet ~ Chris Pirillo

GiM

February 20th, 2008
at 11:50pm

I do not understand why, after so many years, do not have a software, a “driver” to send digital info (fax) by digital line (network, internet)…

I am able to “print” from Word to a “fax machine”, a digital info, and send it by analog phone line only, but not to send to an IP address or to a “gateway” from internet to a phone line (such technologies were used few years ago, but I did not hear any more these days, when VOIP is more used). At least a “sending” machine for each PC should be easy, up to the moment we will have “answering fax” machines at an internet address…

Generally, we have software, fax machines, to send or/and receive data, but only as a digital communication over an analog phone line.

Strangely enought, it should be easier to have digital communications over digital line (network, internet…).

And I believe we can go higher than 9.6 kbps, like 5-8 MBps or even more…

Jaiku | Antonio Manfredonio

February 25th, 2008
at 2:03pm

How to FAX over VOIP on the Internet ~ Chris Pirillo

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