How to Use a Fax Machine?

Q: How to send a fax with a fax machine?

1. Put the documents you wish to fax in the order you want them to be received. 2. Dial the recipient’s fax number. 3. Press the 'Fax' or 'Send Fax' button. 4. Allow the transmission process to begin. 5. You may receive a confirmation page depending on the type of fax machine you are using.

Q: How to receive a fax with a fax machine?

1. Ensure your fax machine has enough paper and ink/toner. 2. Wait for the fax machine to ring and press the 'Start' button. 3. The fax machine will print out the received faxes automatically.

Q: How much does a fax machine cost?

Traditional fax machines generally range in price from $100 to $500, and you should also factor in the maintenance cost for paper, ink, and toner. For high-quality transmission, the price can increase to around $3,000.

A fax machine is a device that can send and receive documents electronically, usually over a phone line or telecommunication links. While fax technology is still recognized as a reliable and secure communication tool, traditional fax machines have largely been replaced by more secure methods, such as online fax services. With Fax.Plus, you simply need to sign up for a free account, upload your files, and hit send.

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How does a fax machine work?

A fax machine sends and receives documents over a telephone network by converting them into electrical signals. The transmission can be between two fax machines, a fax machine, and fax server, an online fax service, or any other platform that is capable of receiving faxes.To send a document, the user puts the document into the fax machine and enters the recipient's phone number. The fax machine then dials the number and sends the document over the phone line as an electrical signal. On the other end, the recipient’s fax machine converts the electrical signal back into a document, which is then printed out.To use a fax machine and be able to send and receive faxes, you need to make sure your traditional fax machine is already connected to a phone line, has enough paper in the tray, and Installed the toner cartridge or ink correctly.

How to Send a Fax with a Fax Machine?

Ensure the fax machine is plugged into a power source and connected to a working phone line

Turn the fax machine on and wait for it to be ready.

Create a fax cover sheet with the recipient's name, fax number, your name, phone number, and a brief message.

Arrange the documents in the order you want them to be received, with the cover sheet on top.

Place the documents face-up or face-down in the feeder tray, depending on the machine's specifications.

Use the keypad to dial the recipient's fax number, including any necessary area or country codes.

Press the "Send" or "Fax" button to initiate the transmission.

Wait for the fax machine to scan and send the documents. You may hear fax tones during this process.

Some fax machines will print a confirmation page once the fax is sent successfully.

How to receive a fax with a fax machine?

Make sure the fax machine is turned on and connected to a working phone line.

Ensure there is enough paper in the paper tray and sufficient ink or toner.

When a fax is received, the fax machine will automatically print the document.

Check the coversheet to confirm all pages were received correctly.

It's polite to confirm receipt of the fax with the sender, especially for important documents.

How to Set Up and Test the Fax Machine?

Connect the fax machine to a power source.

Connect the machine to a phone line. A fax machine uses a phone line to send and receive faxes.

Check the phone connection by sending a test fax from Fax.Plus to your fax machine. Send a free test fax by creating a free account and faxing a document to your machine.

How to Fax from Computer with our Web App?

Follow these steps to fax from your computer, desktop or laptop, with Fax.Plus. Send and receive faxes over the internet.

Login to your Fax.Plus account online. If you don't have one you can create a free account using your email or Google account.

Go to the Send Fax section in your Fax.Plus Dashboard, and type in the fax number of your recipient including the country code and area code.

Attach your fax document(s). Fax.Plus supports various formats like PDF, Word, Excel, images, and text files.

Optionally, include a fax cover sheet.

Arrange your files in the desired order. The top file will be the first page of your fax

Click on Send to fax instantly and get an email or check your Fax.Plus dashboard to verify that your fax was sent successfully.

Send Fax

How to Send a Fax from Computer via Email?

Fax.Plus makes it easy to send a fax from your laptop or desktop computer using email. This feature allows you to quickly send important documents to any fax number directly from your email account, whether you are using Gmail, Outlook, or another email provider. No need to switch devices—just fax right from your inbox.

Go to and sign up for an account if you don’t already have one

Navigate to Settings head over to the Email to Fax section and make sure the email to fax option is active.

Open your email client (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo)

Compose an email, entering the recipient's fax number in the "To" field.*

Attach the files you want to send as a fax (PDF, DOCS, Images). Any text in the body of the email will be sent as a cover page with the fax.

Click Send to instantly fax your documents and receive delivery confirmation via email.

* Write the destination’s fax number (along with the country and area code) followed by @fax.plus (example: +16692001010@fax.plus).

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What are the disadvantages of fax machines?

High maintenance costs

Fax machines need paper, ink, toner, and some other equipment to be able to transmit and receive faxes. You need to have a checklist and always have some spare paper packs, ink, and toner.Therefore, this is a good place to start enquiring about options for sending a fax, as well as other business needs such as post services

Requires a landline phone number

To ensure proper functionality, a fax machine requires a physical connection to a landline phone number, as it relies on the analog transmission of data through telephone lines, which is a fundamental aspect of its operation.

Not scalable as your business grows

With a traditional fax machine, there is no option to send a fax to multiple recipients at once. It drastically reduces the productivity of your business if you have to deal with sending and receiving faxes on a high-volume basis.Therefore, this is a good place to start enquiring about options for sending a fax, as well as other business needs such as post services

Not accessible everywhere

You can access the incoming faxes only if you are beside your fax machine, and there is no way to get urgent faxes when you are outside your office or have taken a few days off.

High rate of international faxes

If you need to send faxes abroad, you need to take international fees into account.

Not environment-friendly

Fax machines will automatically print every faxes, even spam faxes, and if you plan to become a green company, you should really consider saying goodbye to your fax machine.

What are the fax machine alternatives?

While your business is still tied to sending and receiving faxes, it doesn't mean you have to deal with traditional fax machines too. Online fax services are the best fax machine alternatives that not only can help you transmit documents faster and more securely, but will also help corporates and enterprises be more productive and environment-friendly. Simply sign up for a free Fax.Plus account, upload your files, and hit send.

Add Recipient Fax Number

Go to the Send Fax section and enter the recipient’s fax number in the To field (country code + area code + fax number). You can send fax online from computer or phone to multiple fax numbers at once.

Attach Fax Documents

Attach the documents you wish to fax. You can also add an optional fax cover sheet to you faxes and add some details about the recipient.

Send Fax

Send your fax and wait for the confirmation report. You will receive the report in your email, via push notification within Fax.Plus mobile app and can also be viewed in your Web dashboard.

What are the fax machine alternatives?

While your business is still tied to sending and receiving faxes, it doesn't mean you have to deal with traditional fax machines too. Online fax services are the best fax machine alternatives that not only can help you transmit documents faster and more securely, but will also help corporates and enterprises be more productive and environment-friendly.Let’s review the advantages of online faxing as the best fax machines alternatives:

Super cost-saving

There is no maintenance cost, and there is no need for a phone line, paper, ink, or toner

Send and receive faxes everywhere on any device

Unlike fax machines, with online faxing, you can access all your faxed documents on your computer or mobile phone and send and receive faxes whenever you want and wherever you are.

More secure and compliant

With an online fax service, only the intended recipients can access incoming faxes, and depending on the online fax service you choose, all your fax files can be encrypted as an extra layer of security.

Boost productivity across team members

With a traditional fax machine, there is no way to set up a team, organize faxed documents and send one single fax to multiple recipients at once. However, with online faxing, as the best fax machine alternative, you can easily set up a team, assign multiple numbers to one or multiple team members, send one fax to multiple recipients at once, and much more

Fax.Plus is the best alternative to fax machines

If you are looking for an enterprise-ready, easy to use, extremely secure, compliant, reliable, and scalable online fax service, Fax.Plus is the best solution for you.You can check the Fax.Plus Features page to learn more about our secure online faxing solution and contact us for a personalized demo.

How to fax without a fax machine?

Sign up for a free account on Fax.Plus (No credit card needed).
Go to the Send Fax section and enter the recipient’s fax number in the To field (country code + area code + fax number).
Click on the Add Text or Add File buttons to attach the documents you wish to fax.
Send your fax right away and wait for the confirmation email.

FAQs

Where can I find a fax machine near me?

With an online fax service, you no longer need to look for a nearby fax service, as you have access to a powerful fax machine in your pocket without having to have an actual fax machine, landline phone service or fax modem.

When was the fax machine invented?

The fax machine (electronic printing telegraph) was invented in 1843 by Scottish inventor Alexander Bain.

How much does a fax machine cost?

Traditional fax machines are typically priced between $100 to $500, and you should consider the maintenance cost as well as the price for paper, ink, and toner. If you want to transmit faxes in high-quality, the price can increase to $3,000.

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