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SamC
White Water Yakist
3467 Posts |
 Posted - 2004-06-01 : 14:08:32
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| Some time ago I began to dip my big toe in the cold waters of wireless networking. The water turned out to be pretty warm. Several months of operation have actually given better performance for unknown reasons. At least - I haven't had to reboot my cable modem since going wireless. This may not sound like much, but with no power switch, and an inconvenient location, it was trouble to reboot that modem almost every day.I'm thinking about getting a wireless print server now. They're not cheap - somewhere around $150 USD. The theoretical benefit is minor: it eliminates 1 more cable and I can print from my backyard. OK, there's no benefit, it's just a new gimmick.My printer is also a FAX. The tipping point for me to spring for a print server would be if the print server also served up the phone line for FAX purposes (I've no phone outlet by my printer/fax and need to run an extension when I need to fax). Maybe [this is a real stretch] there is a print/fax server product somewhere that connects a FAX using IP telephony? Is that too much to ask? [I'm familiar with internet FAX services that deliver faxes as email attachments. This is not what I'm after.] Does anyone know of a: FAX to WiFi to (either) Telco-line or IP Telephony solution?Sam |
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nr
SQLTeam MVY
12543 Posts |
Posted - 2004-06-01 : 14:26:59
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| I've thought about getting one of those to save plugging my laptop into the printer.==========================================Cursors are useful if you don't know sql.DTS can be used in a similar way.Beer is not cold and it isn't fizzy. |
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AjarnMark
SQL Slashing Gunting Master
3246 Posts |
Posted - 2004-06-02 : 02:49:42
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| OK, Sam, I'm a little confused as to what you're really looking for. I use a service that incoming faxes are turned into PDFs that I can save or print. Or I can forward the fax to a "real" fax machine. I can send out faxes over IP by printing to their client software that will send it out. (This system also handles email, voice mail, conference calling and is voice controlled, including the option to read your email to you, all with a personal toll-free phone number. Great for business! (and yes, I do rep the company as a reseller, too.)) But if I have a physical document that I need to fax I either have to scan it in or go find a real fax machine.So, will that meet your needs? Or are you looking for a real fax machine that hooks into everything via IP and can communicate with a phone line plugged into the network somewhere else?--------------------------------------------------------------Find more words of wisdom at [url]http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/markc[/url] |
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SamC
White Water Yakist
3467 Posts |
Posted - 2004-06-02 : 08:02:59
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| Mark,PC/Internet FAX solutions have come a long way, but I can't get away from the need to scan a physical document into a FAX machine. There are some *expensive* FAX networks that will take calls from a fax, demodulate the line, packetize the data, send it internationally to another FAX machine - at a lower cost than international dial-up (and sometimes more reliably than international dial-up).I expect it's a few years off, but some company will soon offer affordable connectivity of physical FAX equipment to the Internet for transmission. What's missing is a small edge device to convert the FAX telco line to Ethernet (or an affordable FAX machine with an Ethernet connection), and the infrastructure on the far end to terminate that IP session, and send the remodulated signal to the off-net remote fax.I hadn't planned on becoming evangelical in this thread. This started when I began to consider investing in a wireless print server. Trying to add FAX services to a wireless print server is like trying to cram 50 pounds of functionality into a 10 pound sack.I got sidetracked.Sam |
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AjarnMark
SQL Slashing Gunting Master
3246 Posts |
Posted - 2004-06-02 : 14:02:40
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Sam, I understand. I was really happy with the "print to IPFax" ability, but hate it when I have to deal with physical documents. Fortunately there's a UPS Store only 1/2 mile away and I only have to do this once in a while.Maybe you should invent the product you want, market it like crazy and get filthy rich!  --------------------------------------------------------------Find more words of wisdom at [url]http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/markc[/url] |
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Merkin
Funky Drop Bear Fearing SQL Dude!
4970 Posts |
Posted - 2004-06-07 : 01:01:47
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| I think I found what you are looking for Samhttp://www.grandstream.com/y-product.htmObviously it needs ethernet, but you could hook it into a bridge like the Linksys WET11. You also need a VoIP service to plug it into. But it's an avenue worth exploring.Damian |
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Wireless Wireless Wireless