Typical Small Business Fax Scenario
These fax server and computer-based faxing notes are intended to illustrate a few of the benefits of installing a fax server for a typical small business.
If you are interested in implementing a fax solution, please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Fax Line(s)
- one fax phone line shared is typical
- multiple fax lines easily accommodated
Primary Fax System
- Fax Server
- answers on the first ring
- routes all inbound faxes as e-mail attachments
- to one or more user
- simple per-modem (per line) routing, if desired
- fax server easily handles multiple modems/multiple lines
- minimal additional expense per modem
Secondary Fax System
- Fax Machine (or Copier or All-in-One)
- used to fax paper documents outbound
- connected to same fax phone line, if only one fax line exists
- answers on 5th ring and prints all received faxes
- acts as a backup tothe primary fax system
Fax Server Operation
- fax servers generally send faxes much more quickly than fax machines
- save on long distance charges
- fax line more available
- inbound fax attachments can be .ps, .pdf or .tif format
- attachments are the same format for all users
- TIF files are readily edited or turned into text by OCR software
- PDF files are nearly universal format readable by any PC
- the primary/secondary roles can easily be reversed
- simply change the number of rings on both devices
- or use distinctive ring detection
- distinctive ring detection is a common feature of fax machines
- no extra hardware required to implement
- only adds about $5-$7 per month to phone bill
- much less expensive than a second fax line
- can be used to publish a second fax number
- direct to secondary fax system
- if a client reports problems sending to your primary fax system
- just give them the number of your secondary
- can still only send or receive one fax at a time
At the Workstation
- outbound faxing from your PC workstations works great
- resultant faxes as received at the recipient are of outstanding quality
- computer-based faxing is almost like remote printing because the quality is so good
- quality of the sent faxes is surprisingly NOT dependent on the quality of the recipient's fax machine
- requires fax client software to be installed on each workstation
- fax client software is of two flavors
- primary difference is how they handle cover pages
- free
- WinPrintHylaFAX
- This free client works well, but doesn't support cover pages. If you can do without cover pages or if you can include them as part of your fax to be printed, this client is for you.
- WinPrintHylaFAX
- commercial
- HylaFSP (about $34 per workstation)
- This is a commercial fax server client that integrates tightly into Windows and uses the standard, built-in fax cover page tools just like the standard Windows fax feature...only better. If flexibily of fax cover pages is important, this is the fax client for you.
- HylaFSP (about $34 per workstation)
- fax servers also work well over VPN connections for remote offices
- no additional expense for remote offices
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