How to Fax with a Cable Modem

A fax machine is a necessary piece of equipment for most businesses. It may also be a helpful tool to have around the home for speedy transactions of important documents. However, you don’t need an expensive fax machine and an additional phone line to send your documents quickly. All you need is a cable modem and a working telephone line. These steps will show you how to send a fax using your cable modem.

Instructions

1. Set up the Windows XP fax component. You will need to open the control panel and select the “Add or Remove Programs” tab. Then click “Add/Remove Windows Components” and check the “Fax Services” box. Click “Next” and the Windows Component Wizard completes the setup.

2. Configure the fax component. Click “Start”, mouse-over “All Programs”, then “Accessories”, “Communications” and “Fax” and select “Fax Console” from the drop-down menu. Now choose the “Configure Fax” option from the tools menu and click “Next”. Fill in the sender information page with your name and fax number. Choose your modem on the “Select Device for Sending or Receiving Faxes” page. Enter your business name and fax number on the “Transmitting Subscriber Identification” and “Called Subscriber Identification” pages. Finally specify how incoming faxes will be handled on the “Routing Options” page. Now you are ready to plug your phone line into your modem to start sending faxes.

3. Select the “File” tab at the top of the interface and choose “Print” from the drop-down menu. Select “Fax” from the “Name:” dialog box in the print setup. Click “OK” to open the Send Fax Wizard.

4. Enter the recipient’s fax number or click the address book to import it. Setup your dialing rules by clicking the “Dialing Rules” icon. Click “OK” when you finish.

5. Pick a cover page for your fax from the list and specify the fax priority and when it should be sent. The fax is ready to send.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not have Windows XP, there are programs such as eFax and jConnect that allow you to use their faxing services for a small fee. This enables you to use your cable modem to send faxes as well.