Can I fax with this Modem?

Question

I have a Dimension E520...loaded ....with Vista  Premium 32 Bit.  This system rocks....   I have a broadband connection  for internet access.   I also have a Conexant D850 PCI V.92. Modem installed.  Can I fax using this modem?  I realize that my version of Vista has no fax software and I would need third party software.  The Conexant website is no help at all.   Thanks.

fireberd · Answer

Most modems are both data/fax modems.  Some are also voice modems.  You shouldn't have any problems faxing but you will need to your analog voice telephone line for the fax, not the broadband link.  If you have Voip service, with standard analog telephone interface some fax modems and software work OK, some have problems with those lines.

Mylo1 · Answer

Thank you.  I question this modems capabilities because there is no 'Telephony' type software included, in fact I can find no software in my programs for this hardware at all.   My previous home PC setup was XP with a broadband internet connection and an internal Modem used for faxing through my home phone line.  There was excellent software provided with the modem, and faxing was a snap.

fireberd · Answer

'Telephony' (voice) software is only provided if the modem is 'voice' capable.  If it's just data/fax (what you have) then you wouldn't get any.  And, since Vista Home and Home Premium does not include a fax program there is nothing provided.  Dell should provide a separate fax program but they don't.

Dr. Stan · Answer

Mylo,   I'm in the same boat.  Previously, I had an XP system.  The fax was just another printer.  No problem.   I now have a Dimension E520 with Home Premium Vista.  Microsoft claims that you can use the modem in Vista (Conexant D850 PCI V.92) to fax, only in Word 2003, but you must specify the modem as a printer.  I'm an Information Systems professor and I've played with it all afternoon, and I don't see it happening.   It seems from what you folks are saying is that one 'enhancement' of Vista is the removal of fax software.  Microsoft claims that 'Fax Console' in XP was replaced by 'Windows Fax and Scan' in Vista.  I have not found 'Windows Fax and Scan' anywhere on my machine.   They seem to want you to subscribe to an internet fax service before they make it easy on you.  I have not heard a good word from Vista users.   Have you found a fix?   Dr. Stan

Sebatical · Answer

The Conexant website is no help to you (as the end user) because you are not their customer.  They do not develop the modems themselves, only the chipsets.  Those are then sold to manufactures of modems that use the Conexant chipset.   Unfortunately, Microsoft Windows is showing Conexant as the modem manufacturer, which is not entirely accurate.   Good luck.

LAEarth · Answer

Hi everyone   I am also in the same boat - currently using a Dell E521 with Vista Home Basic 32bit and Conexant D850 PCI V.92  and there is no Windows Fax and Scan software although on my PC Dell have provided their own PC Fax software.   The problem is every time I connect my analog phone line into the back of the PC (either the telephone port or the other port) it keeps my line open and doesn't hang up.  I have also tried downloading other external fax software.   Any ideas?   Is the only solution to upgrade to Vista Premium which has the Windows Fax and Scan software but costs about $500?   Thanks

LAEarth · Answer

Well it seems my modem was faulty and since it was replaced it works fine, now my next disappoinment is the stupid thing doesn't recognise distinctive ring so it won't even answer the fax line !!!!!!! :(

gatorguy · Answer

So, what do we need to do to get Vista Home Premium to work with the Conexant D850 PCI V.92 Modem that Dell sold me together onmy new Inspiron 530?  Even though Vista Home Premium does not have its own fax software, the drivers for the fax modem should do the trick.  But something isn't working.  The modem is working (modem diagnostic tool).

gatorguy · Answer

OK, I did some additional searching after I posted this. If you Google 'cnet vista fax' you'll be directed to an excellent discussion board about this fiasco. Most of us got used to the fax software included with XP and took it for granted. When we got Vista Home Premium as standard with our Dells (I really wanted to stick with XP for reasons exactly like this, and the fact that my home wireless doesn't work with Vista - hello 50 ft of cat5 cable!), we got woken up to Bill Gates' cruel joke that home users don't need faxing capability built in to the operating system (if you spend $170 and upgrade to business edition you get faxing, so it's not like it couldn't be done). As noted on the cnet page and elsewhere, you can buy fax software for as little as $30, and that's not too bad. I haven't bought mine yet, but Snappy Fax seems to be a popular solution. Apparently, most fax software people haven't bothered to write software for Vista yet. I must complain about the way Dell's technical assistance personnel dropped the ball on this. All they had to say was, 'Software not included, buy your own.' But instead, they spent a couple of hours of my time and their time looking for hardware and software issues. Oh yes, the Dell tech guy who knows what's going on here has posted in several places that Dell's all in one printers come with fax software. So if you own one or plan to buy one, you're OK. But if you paid $100 for a fax/modem on your new Dell, go get your own software.

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Can I fax with this Modem?

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