Can you fax using a datacard?

[Terencek]

Apologies if this simple question has been asked before, but is it possible to send faxes (free) using a datacard and data SIM -- in much the same way as you could send and receive faxes using Windows' Fax Wizard when using a dial-up connection?

I know receiving faxes in an e-mail account is easy using one of the many fax-to-email free services, but I haven't yet found one that allows sending -- or indeed that can handle faxes from or to overseas. Anyone know?

 

[Grouter]

fax is analog, datacard is digital, so no, AFAIK it is not possible. I stand to be corrected on this.

 

[MidnightWizard]

FAX of life

fax is analog, datacard is digital, so no, AFAIK it is not possible. I stand to be corrected on this.

In the old days of ISDN one got digital fax machines -- or so I was told. Never tried one so not sure.

But WHAT is a RAMDAC


Bridge to Control room -- calling Captain Scott.

 

[ginggs]

Apologies if this simple question has been asked before, but is it possible to send faxes (free) using a datacard and data SIM -- in much the same way as you could send and receive faxes using Windows' Fax Wizard when using a dial-up connection?

Why should it be free, surely you should pay for the duration of sending the fax, either at voice or CSD rates?

I asked this of MTN sometime ago but never got a satisfactory answer; when I got my Huawei E620 it was sold as not having fax capabilities, there was another card (possibly a Sierra Wireless, not sure) that was sold as having fax capabilities.

Huawei has told me the E620 is definitely capable of sending faxes, and Windows XP detects it as a fax device, but I have never been able to send a fax.

 

[Terencek]

I didn't mean free as in totally gratis -- obviously we would always be paying our standard data rates if there was a way to send it through our data facilities -- precisely as we do if we use one of those 'free' fax-to-email' services where all it costs us to receive a fax is the amount of data used deducted from our bundle.

I have tried using the Windows (XP) faxing software but can't seem to get it to send using my (Novatel) data card.

Ironically, in the bad old days it was no problem to get the cell operators to assign you a 'separate' fax number to your mobile phone, which if used as a modem could then enable the sending and receiving of faxes, at the standard cellular (i.e. per minute) rates. But that doesn't seem to be possible with a datacard?

 

[Iam3G]

This link may be useful.

And here are the costs.

 

[vodacom3g]

Why should it be free, surely you should pay for the duration of sending the fax, either at voice or CSD rates?

I asked this of MTN sometime ago but never got a satisfactory answer; when I got my Huawei E620 it was sold as not having fax capabilities, there was another card (possibly a Sierra Wireless, not sure) that was sold as having fax capabilities.

Huawei has told me the E620 is definitely capable of sending faxes, and Windows XP detects it as a fax device, but I have never been able to send a fax.

My gut reaction is also that it should be possible. It's a CSD call after all. But I think you might need to check if you have the fax VAS service activated.

I've asked the guys to comment.

 

[vodacom3g]

My gut reaction is also that it should be possible. It's a CSD call after all. But I think you might need to check if you have the fax VAS service activated.

I've asked the guys to comment.

Initial feedback seems to indicate that the fax services are off (on the data cards) by default but can be turned on (I assume via an AT command).

ginggs, maybe you can test this?

 

[ginggs]

But I think you might need to check if you have the fax VAS service activated.

Can this be enabled on prepaid? Any cost implication?

Initial feedback seems to indicate that the fax services are off (on the data cards) by default but can be turned on (I assume via an AT command).

To receive a fax one would need to put the card into a state where it was expecting an incoming call, but for sending I would imagine that the Windows fax system would do everything necessary. When I traced this, everything seemed to go well (the modem responded OK) right up until the point where the destination number was dialled, then I'd get a timeout while waiting for the call to connect (but that was on MTN).

 

[vodacom3g]

Can this be enabled on prepaid? Any cost implication?

To receive a fax one would need to put the card into a state where it was expecting an incoming call, but for sending I would imagine that the Windows fax system would do everything necessary. When I traced this, everything seemed to go well (the modem responded OK) right up until the point where the destination number was dialled, then I'd get a timeout while waiting for the call to connect (but that was on MTN).

The fax class command is set to 0 by default and one can change it to 1 to enable low speed fax however this has never been tested and is officially not supported.

Try At+fclass= 0,1,2