Fax sending program

  • Thread starter Thread starter OgO
  • Start date Start date
O

OgO

Hi everyone,

I have one program that I just cannot find, a fax sending
program.

All I need to do is send the occasional fax over my phone line
using my fax modem. I really didn't think it would be so hard to
get one..

I have quicklink which I got with the fax modem, but it only
sends faxes at 14.4kbps :( It also has taken to not sending
faxes when I ask it to, and then sending lots of copies of lots
faxes all at once every now and then....

So does anyone know where I can get a free fax sending program?

Regards and thanks in advance

OgO
 
OgO said:
Hi everyone,

I have one program that I just cannot find, a fax sending
program.

All I need to do is send the occasional fax over my phone line
using my fax modem. I really didn't think it would be so hard to
get one..

I have quicklink which I got with the fax modem, but it only
sends faxes at 14.4kbps :( It also has taken to not sending
Click to expand...
^^^^^^^^Last time I looked, fax machines only ran at
14.4...

Cheers,
Gary B-)
 
OgO said:
I have one program that I just cannot find, a fax sending
program.

All I need to do is send the occasional fax over my phone line
using my fax modem. I really didn't think it would be so hard to
get one..
Click to expand...


Hi OgO,

SOS has quite a few fax programs listed on his site, probably a good
place to start. Here's a list of those and others:

Call Center
http://www.sover.net/~whoi/Apps.html

eFAX
http://efax.com/

FancyFax
http://www.sover.net/~whoi/Apps.html

Fax Phone
http://www.sover.net/~whoi/Apps.html

Faxport
http://www.sover.net/~whoi/Apps.html

HQfax
http://www.tpc.int/clients/HQFaxFAQ.html

Impact ColorFax
http://www.blackice.com/impColorFax.htm

WinFax Lite ~2.4Mb
http://www.sover.net/~whoi/Apps2.html

Susan
 
Hi everyone,

I have one program that I just cannot find, a fax sending
program.

All I need to do is send the occasional fax over my phone line
using my fax modem. I really didn't think it would be so hard to
get one..

I have quicklink which I got with the fax modem, but it only
sends faxes at 14.4kbps :( It also has taken to not sending
faxes when I ask it to, and then sending lots of copies of lots
faxes all at once every now and then....

So does anyone know where I can get a free fax sending program?
Click to expand...

I don't know which OS you are using at this moment, but when you use
WinXP, you could try the fax program that comes with it.

With kind regards,
--
Henk de Jong
The Netherlands
(e-mail address removed) (remove NOSPAM)
"Links to Freeware" http://www.hmdejong.myweb.nl/ or
http://linkstofreeware.vze.com/
 
OgO said:
Hi everyone,

I have one program that I just cannot find, a fax sending
program.

All I need to do is send the occasional fax over my phone line
using my fax modem. I really didn't think it would be so hard to
get one..

I have quicklink which I got with the fax modem, but it only
sends faxes at 14.4kbps :( It also has taken to not sending
faxes when I ask it to, and then sending lots of copies of lots
faxes all at once every now and then....

So does anyone know where I can get a free fax sending program?

Regards and thanks in advance

OgO
Click to expand...

A bit of a tangent...

Does anyone know if fax machines handle greyscale? The reason I ask is
that I have a faxing program that only takes images in black and white (if
greyscale, the fax preview is a black sheet). This fax program works as a
"print to fax" printer driver.

It has always been a challenge for me to scan images for fax transmission.
IIRC, fax machines use CCITT3 TIFF compressed images. It is difficult to
scan some documents to black and white (especially on colored paper) and
maintain legibility. I wish I could use greyscale for this reason. If fax
machines accept greyscale, I would like to know if the programs suggested
in this thread have this capability.

Thanks a bunch,
Spacey
 
Spacey said:
A bit of a tangent...

Does anyone know if fax machines handle greyscale? The reason I ask is
that I have a faxing program that only takes images in black and white (if
greyscale, the fax preview is a black sheet). This fax program works as a
"print to fax" printer driver.

It has always been a challenge for me to scan images for fax transmission.
IIRC, fax machines use CCITT3 TIFF compressed images. It is difficult to
scan some documents to black and white (especially on colored paper) and
maintain legibility. I wish I could use greyscale for this reason. If fax
machines accept greyscale, I would like to know if the programs suggested
in this thread have this capability.
Click to expand...

you can fax in color - see, for instance:

Impact ColorFax
http://www.blackice.com/impColorFax.htm

Susan
 
Susan said:
you can fax in color - see, for instance:

Impact ColorFax
http://www.blackice.com/impColorFax.htm
Click to expand...

You may be able to send color between two computers using Impact ColorFax,
but then you can also just send an email. I'm talking about sending a fax
to a dinosaur Fax Machine, which I just read only has the ability to scan
in black and white only. Read here:

http://home.howstuffworks.com/fax-machine1.htm
another informational link:
http://staff.washington.edu/corey/fax.html

I had searched and searched in the past, but was never quite satisfied with
the info I found... but this time I think I got lucky... for some reason it
is always the simplest searches that bring out the best results in google:
"fax machine" OR "fax machines" "black and white"

So may I go so far to assume that if fax machines scan in black and white,
they can only print in black and white? Typical for thermal paper? I'm
not around any fax machine so I wouldn't know. If that's the case, you
should send in black and white so you decide which "in between dots" are to
be considered white and which are to be considered black. Not to mention
what you transmit should be CCITT group 3 format (TIFF) for the fax machine
to understand it.

Who is to decide how to adjust a color/greyscale document into a black and
white image so that it is most legible: a human or a computer? That's why
it is a pain. What I would like to see is some fax software that is
capable of doing this:

http://staff.washington.edu/corey/fax0.jpg

with a color/greyscale picture (taking averages over an area rather than at
one point). Even then, this may work for a picture, but not for text, and
especially not for faded handwriting (like a carbon copy of a form). I
guess I may have answered my own question. *sigh*

Spacey
 
Spacey said:
You may be able to send color between two computers using Impact ColorFax,
but then you can also just send an email. I'm talking about sending a fax
to a dinosaur Fax Machine, which I just read only has the ability to scan
in black and white only. Read here:

http://home.howstuffworks.com/fax-machine1.htm
another informational link:
http://staff.washington.edu/corey/fax.html

I had searched and searched in the past, but was never quite satisfied with
the info I found... but this time I think I got lucky... for some reason it
is always the simplest searches that bring out the best results in google:
"fax machine" OR "fax machines" "black and white"

So may I go so far to assume that if fax machines scan in black and white,
they can only print in black and white? Typical for thermal paper? I'm
not around any fax machine so I wouldn't know. If that's the case, you
should send in black and white so you decide which "in between dots" are to
be considered white and which are to be considered black. Not to mention
what you transmit should be CCITT group 3 format (TIFF) for the fax machine
to understand it.

Who is to decide how to adjust a color/greyscale document into a black and
white image so that it is most legible: a human or a computer? That's why
it is a pain. What I would like to see is some fax software that is
capable of doing this:

http://staff.washington.edu/corey/fax0.jpg

with a color/greyscale picture (taking averages over an area rather than at
one point). Even then, this may work for a picture, but not for text, and
especially not for faded handwriting (like a carbon copy of a form). I
guess I may have answered my own question. *sigh*
Click to expand...


Hi Spacey,

I did fax some photos years ago and remember it was difficult to get a
decent black and white fax image . . . what I did is lost in the
mists of time . . . plus I think I was not very sucessful. :)

The thread below seems relevant: Request was about converting for OCR
but the problem is the same.

Subject: Re: graphics utility - converting to 2-color images
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 04:20:51 GMT
From: "Andreas Perfora’tus [Stu]" <[email protected]>
Newsgroups: alt.comp.freeware

<quote>
Ok, I've played with several color pictures and the general process
seems
to be this:

1) convert to grey-scale
2) Click on "Enhance colors" and set Contrast to around 100

3) adjust Gamma and brightness as needed to approach black and white but
keep as much detail as possible - varies depending on the
picture/document

4) click "apply to original image" and click ok

5) repeat steps 2,3, and 4 as necessary - sometimes once or twice will
be enough sometimes 3 or 4 times might be needed (you can always click
undo or even re-open the pic if need be)

6) if it looks pretty close to b&w try decreasing color depth to 2-color
(1-bit b&w)

7) if it looks OK to you, you're set. If not, press undo and try 2,3 and
4 again, or even re-open the file and try again from the start.

After a few tries you're sure to develop a rythm or system that works
fairly quickly. I can usually do most of my "conversions" in 20 or 30
seconds anymore.
</quote>

I believe The Gimp was also recommended for doing this type of
conversion.

HTH

Susan
 
Hi Spacey,
I did fax some photos years ago and remember it was difficult to get a
decent black and white fax image . . . what I did is lost in the
mists of time . . . plus I think I was not very sucessful. :)

The thread below seems relevant: Request was about converting for OCR
but the problem is the same.

Subject: Re: graphics utility - converting to 2-color images
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 04:20:51 GMT
From: "Andreas Perfora?tus [Stu]" <[email protected]>
Newsgroups: alt.comp.freeware

<quote>
Ok, I've played with several color pictures and the general process
seems
to be this:

1) convert to grey-scale
2) Click on "Enhance colors" and set Contrast to around 100

3) adjust Gamma and brightness as needed to approach black and white but
keep as much detail as possible - varies depending on the
picture/document

4) click "apply to original image" and click ok

5) repeat steps 2,3, and 4 as necessary - sometimes once or twice will
be enough sometimes 3 or 4 times might be needed (you can always click
undo or even re-open the pic if need be)

6) if it looks pretty close to b&w try decreasing color depth to 2-color
(1-bit b&w)

7) if it looks OK to you, you're set. If not, press undo and try 2,3 and
4 again, or even re-open the file and try again from the start.

After a few tries you're sure to develop a rythm or system that works
fairly quickly. I can usually do most of my "conversions" in 20 or 30
seconds anymore.
</quote>

I believe The Gimp was also recommended for doing this type of
conversion.

HTH

Susan
Click to expand...

Thanks Susan! You are a doll.
 
In alt.comp.freeware, on 18 Jul 2003, Susan Bugher announced:
Hi OgO,

SOS has quite a few fax programs listed on his site,
probably a good place to start. Here's a list of those and
others:
Click to expand...

A very good place to start Thanks Susan!

I do feel quite silly - I thought I *had* already checked SOS's
site... I guess I was just getting frustrated the other night
when I posted and didn't think clearly enough to do my search
properly...

Regards

OgO
 
In alt.comp.freeware, on 18 Jul 2003, Lance M Hillier, Sr
announced:
Try ColorFax Lite from www.blackice.com, maybe
I use it and it works like a charm.
Click to expand...

Trying it now thanks :)
BTW, 14.4Kbs is the max for fax transmissions, as far as I
know,,,,
Click to expand...

Oh, I didn't know that, I just figured that they would run as
fast as the phone line would let them - seems extraordinarily
silly for them not to - given that most phone lines will transmit
data at at least twice that (I'm sure I read somewhere that here
in Australia at least, they had to be guaranteed to transmit at
33.6k, but most could do faster).

The other reason I figured that I should be able to fax faster
was that I know at work if I send a fax it only takes 30 seconds
or so to send a couple of pages, from when the machine starts
feeding them in to when it indicates the send was successful, yet
when I do it from home using my 33.6k fax modem and QuickLink
message center it takes 5-10 mins...

Oh well, thanks for all the suggestions ppls, hopefully I'll get
something good from them :)

Regards

OgO
 
OgO wrote:
[SNIP]
data at at least twice that (I'm sure I read somewhere that here
in Australia at least, they had to be guaranteed to transmit at
33.6k, but most could do faster).
Click to expand...
Not in Oz, you drongo.

The minimum acceptable data rate for telephone lines is 2400bps.

Yes, there is supposed to be a _recommended_ minimum of 28.8K, but that
is in metropolitan areas, within a certain distance (as the wire snakes)
of a suitable exchange.

That's why, when your new 56K modem only connects at 14.4 or 28.8, you
ring up Hellstra and say "my *voice* line is bloody awful", you must
_never_, _ever_ admit to running a modem or facsimile machine on that line.

Cheers,
Gary B-)
 
In alt.comp.freeware, on 20 Jul 2003, Gary R. Schmidt
announced:
OgO wrote:
[SNIP]
data at at least twice that (I'm sure I read somewhere
that here in Australia at least, they had to be guaranteed
to transmit at 33.6k, but most could do faster).
Click to expand...

Not in Oz, you drongo.

The minimum acceptable data rate for telephone lines is
2400bps.
Click to expand...

Oh ok, my bad :)

No wait, Hellstra's bad, my *mistake* ;)

My modem usually connected at anywhere from 20k - 48kbps when I
was on dialup (on cable now, so only use the modem for faxing).
Still though, it leaves the question - why are faxes limited to
14.4k, and not to as fast as the hardware (fax - phone line -
fax) allows?

Regards

OgO
 
data at at least twice that (I'm sure I read somewhere that here
in Australia at least, they had to be guaranteed to transmit at
33.6k, but most could do faster).
Click to expand...
The minimum acceptable data rate for telephone lines is 2400bps.
Yes, there is supposed to be a _recommended_ minimum of 28.8K, but that
is in metropolitan areas, within a certain distance (as the wire snakes)
of a suitable exchange.[/QUOTE]

Thank God I don't live in Australia, if things are so bad in there...
Here in Finland phone network is 100% digital, normal land lines give
CONNECT 49333 very happily around the country, including cottages at
Lapland somewhere in the middle of nowhere.
That's why, when your new 56K modem only connects at 14.4 or 28.8, you
ring up Hellstra and say "my *voice* line is bloody awful", you must
_never_, _ever_ admit to running a modem or facsimile machine on that line.
Click to expand...

Here if you have connection problems with a modem you must report to
operator "this line is used for high speed data transmission and the
current line quality is too low" so they know the real problem and
how to start solving it. It's just basic customer service.
 
OgO wrote:
[SNIP]
data at at least twice that (I'm sure I read somewhere that here
in Australia at least, they had to be guaranteed to transmit at
33.6k, but most could do faster).
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Not in Oz, you drongo.
Click to expand...
The minimum acceptable data rate for telephone lines is 2400bps.
Click to expand...
Yes, there is supposed to be a _recommended_ minimum of 28.8K, but that
is in metropolitan areas, within a certain distance (as the wire snakes)
of a suitable exchange.
Click to expand...
That's why, when your new 56K modem only connects at 14.4 or 28.8, you
ring up Hellstra and say "my *voice* line is bloody awful", you must
_never_, _ever_ admit to running a modem or facsimile machine on that line.
Click to expand...

A friend of mine was (not so) happily downloading at about 14K on her
56K modem with Telstra. When she asked them if it could be improved
they said that they could possibly put in a new line but it might not
be any faster (pair gain ?). She changed to Optus and immediately got
about 42K. Not perfect but she was happy with going three times her
previous speed.


Regards, John.
 
OgO wrote:
[SNIP]
Oh ok, my bad :)

No wait, Hellstra's bad, my *mistake* ;)
Click to expand...
Yep :->
Still though, it leaves the question - why are faxes limited to
14.4k, and not to as fast as the hardware (fax - phone line -
fax) allows?
Click to expand...
Because the Group 3 CCITT Facsimile Transmission Standard specifies a
maximum speed of 14.4Kbps. You are a decade or more late to get that
one changed!

Cheers,
Gary B-)
 
In alt.comp.freeware, on 22 Jul 2003, Gary R. Schmidt
announced:
Because the Group 3 CCITT Facsimile Transmission Standard
specifies a maximum speed of 14.4Kbps. You are a decade or
more late to get that one changed!
Click to expand...

Up until recently (when I met people, annoying people, without
email, but with faxes, whom I needed to send stuff to), I didn't
have to send too many faxes and so never really worried about it
:)

I do still want to know what the reason for specifying a maximum
transmission speed was though... Maybe I'm just thinking about
the situation the wrong way or something, but I can't see any
reason for it.

Regards

OgO
 
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