problem with fax & DSL

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sue G.
  • Start date Start date
S

Sue G.

My Compaq Presario 6000 internal fax worked fine when I
had a dial-up ISP, but since I switched to DSL it gives
me an error message that says no dial tone...phone is
either in use or disconnected. I have installed filters
on all my phones, as instructed, and my DSL provider is
now telling me to contact my fax vendor to help solve the
problem, but since it's a fax that is built into my
computer, I'm not sure what to do next. My DSL provider
assures me that when everything is working as it should I
will be able to be on the phone and on the internet at
the same time (which I can do) and also simlutaneously
send a fax (which I can't do). I'm sure it's something
simple, but I can't figure it out and need help from
someone. Please help! Thanks, Sue
 
You must not have realized that faxing is a function that can only use
analog phone lines and analog fax modems. Accordingly, no fax software will
function with cable modems or DSL lines. With some DSL connections you can
obtain a DSL line filter suitable for connecting a standard analog voice
line to the DSL line and can then connect an analog fax modem to that line.
If you have no analog modem or phone line, you will need to use a fee based
Internet Fax Service. Several are listed here: http://www.savetz.com/fax/
 
Are you connecting the built-in Fax modem to one of the DSL filters the same
way you connect your phones? Fax modems are analog devices that can ONLY be
connected to DSL lines through the same line filters used to connect analog
voice telephones.

Hal
--
Hal Hostetler, CPBE -- (e-mail address removed)
Senior Engineer/MIS -- MS MVP-DTS -- WA7BGX
http://www.kvoa.com -- "When News breaks, we fix it!"
KVOA Television, Tucson, AZ. NBC Channel 4
Got Blues? - www.badnewsbluesband.com
 
Sue, I have a similar probllem and it is not the filter.
I have a 2-way splitter plugged into the DSL filter in my
office. One line goes to my DSL modem which is connected
to my computer via a USB cable. This line delivers the
DSL signal to my HP Pavilion and allows it to send faxes
via the telephone line. I do not think it is true that
you can or will be able to talk while simultanneously
sending a fax from your computer, but I will check it out
tomorrow and see if I can make that happen.

Now for my suggestion: The second line from my telephone
jack goes to the computer's telephone modem. This allows
me to connect to the internet and send faxes via dial up
modem when the DSL portion of my line is inoperable. I
also have a telephone/fax machine connected to phone jack
of that modem. When I send a fax, I HAVE TO UNPLUG THE
CORD BETWEEN MY PHONE/FAX MACHINE AND THE COMPUTER.

I just unplug it at the phone for ease, and plug it back
in when the fax has been successfully sent. I have to do
this because the computer tries to send the fax to my
phone/fax machine as well as the intended recipient's.

Try sending a test fax from the computer after unplugging
your phone in this maner and see how it goes. Will check
for a post tomorrow evening when I will post to tell you
whether I can talk and send faxes simultaneously on the
Pavilion. Good luck.
 
Thanks, Jack. I now have a 2-sided filter plugged into
my phone jack. My DSL connection is plugged into the DSL
side, and I have plugged a 2-sided adapter into the phone
side, into which I have plugged the line to my phone and
the phone line that connects to my computer. (That
second connection is what I had forgotten to do. Duh.)
This morning I was able to send a fax, even though the
phone was plugged in, but when I picked up the receiver
to try to place a call I could near the sounds of a fax
being sent. I talked to SBC this morning and they
explained that both faxes and voice calls use the same
part of the phone line, so you can do one or the other
but not both at the same time. Thanks again for your
help. Sue
 
Back
Top