It's time for me to buy a fax machine, I have a few dumb questions on how they work.

Where do you get a fax number? How do you know what it is after you buy a fax machine.

When you fax something like to another state is it the same as a long distance call? do you get charged long distance for it.

When you fax something do all fax machines send back a papper saying it went through or do they have to be setup to do that.

I think you can buy papper for them but why do you need it? When i need to fax a contract i print it off sign it and then run up town to fax it......nearest place for me to fax something is 45min away lol

thanks!!

Whats a papper???

Actually a fax machine uses a regular phone line, so hence if you dial a long distance number to send a fax youll pay long distance charges.

thanks teacher :)

but where does your fax number come from?

You would arrange with your telephone company to get a new phone line to be installed in your building, and your fax should be plugged into this line.

The phone line would then get its own 'fax number'.

You can also get an auto-fax machine, which would turn on by itself and receive the message.

Originally posted by New1
Where do you get a fax number? How do you know what it is after you buy a fax machine.

Unless you are going to be doing a whole lotta faxing, most people generally just hook it up to an existing phone line. It can be turned on and off at will. Combining this with an answering machine could be problematic though (my computer likes to pick up before the machine does, and that doesn't work out so well).
When you fax something like to another state is it the same as a long distance call? do you get charged long distance for it.
Same as a call, billed on your phone bill.
When you fax something do all fax machines send back a papper saying it went through or do they have to be setup to do that.
The machine will have a setting, which you can set to print a confirmation page (or not).
I think you can buy papper for them but why do you need it?
Assuming you mean paper, there are two kinds. Plain paper and thermal. Advantages to both (thermal won't run out as quick as plain paper, but costs more).

Be sure to get a plain paper fax. The older technology thermal paper ones aren't as good for a few reasons. Thermal paper deteriorates over timne and the print fades. If you run out, your fax reception is halted until you get more.

Some fax machines come with line sharing devices built in and various other options. You might even consider a combo unit that includes fax, printer, scanner and copier in one. In fact, color faxing is now a possibility with some fax machines.

There are various options for line sharing. You can use one line for voice and fax and the fax machine may detect a fax tone and switch to fax mode, or ring like a phone if no fax tone is detected. An alternative is distinctive tone, known as Ringmaster in the Bell affiliates. You get a separate number that shares the same line as your voice number. It make sit easier for call routing with line sharing devices as the fax number will have a different ring than the voice number.

You can get a dedicated line for the fax, but it is largely a waste unless you expect to do a lot of faxing.

If you have DSL, you can run a fax on the same line (what I do). I don't have a great need for faxing (I mostly receive them) and do it all on my computer. I can receive faxes while on line (unless the DSL service falters, which it hasn't for awhile and I have to use regular dial up).

Where's Joe Friday when you need him?