FAX MODEMS FOR X200, T60, C700, W520

My house and office still have telephone land lines. They can be used to send faxes which are still useful because sometimes it is more convenient for them to receive faxes, although nowadays, we should be able to convince them to receive email photos of the documents, like CIMB bank CRU but they still haven't replied yet to my request to change my phone number.

FAX IS A REMOTE PRINTER

I spent a lot of time researching on ways to use the built-in fax modems in my laptops. I didn't realise that a lot of laptops have them. In fact, one of them actually was bought for my daughter but I didn't even know that it has a modem. It also didn't occur to me that modems mean fax modems until I research through the internet.

All of them can be turned into fax modems because Windows provides the fax handling. What is required is that phone socket which means that you have the device to handle modems which also behaves like a phone. It means that Windows have been a phone and fax machine all these while.

If you don't have the built-in modem, you can buy a USB modem adapter but that requires extra cost.

DIAL-UP FAX

Fax machines are printers which connect to other fax machines using dial-up telephone lines. Personal Computers are also fax machines but require printers to print messages.

If a PC or Mobile Phone does not have a printer, it can send images to fax machines to be printed by dialing up to the number of the fax machines. You do not need a web address to print remotely which makes it easy to send printed messages. However you cannot send data through fax machines although theoretically it can be done.

FAX SERVER

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fax_server

Any PC that has a dialer can be converted into a Fax Server which allows other PCs to send faxes to fax machines with printers. You just need to setup the PC so that it can share its modems.

You nned not just use LAN to connect to Fax Servers, you can also connect to Fax Servers using WAN (Wide Area Network).

https://faxzero.com/ provides free fax to be sent to US and Canada telephone numbers.

https://www.lifewire.com/free-fax-services-2378048 review a few free faxes.

https://www.efax.com.my/online-fax is a Fax Server located in Kuala Lumpur so it can send faxes to telephone numbers in Malaysia economically.

LENOVO X200

For the past few days I had been testing the builtin fax modems in the Thinkpad X200 notebook.

I had finally succeeded to dial out and  Windows fax can send a test page, but sure how it looks like at the other end. I tested using a UMS fax machine.

Driver

The secret is in installing the driver from Lenovo website:

 https://download.lenovo.com/eol/index.html

http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/6imb06ww.exe

This program is for Windows 7 but works for Windows 10 1909 even without using compatibility mode. Based on my testings with other notebooks, the default Win10 drivers should be useable. Just set them to not wait for dial tone.

This driver changes the default driver installed by Windows 10 automatically to a Lenovo Modem Adapter.

I am using a Unify telephone line and needs to change the driver to not wait for the dialing tone. Otherwise it won't dial because it is waiting for a valid dialing tone. Increase the speaker volume to maximum so that you can hear the dialing process. Right click the Thinkpad Modem Adapter, in the Device Manager, and select Properties.

Dialer

My success was partly due to the "dialer" program in Windows 10. I was able to test the dialing process although its function is just to call a number. It changes your PC into a telephone.

https://superuser.com/questions/294007/windows-7-software-to-do-voice-calls-over-modem-dialer-exe-doesnt-work-as-expe

Installing Dialer

Dialer is builtin but it does not appear in the menu, so need to search for it, using Windows Search.
Once you find it, right click and you can pin to the start or taskbar.

Selecting Modems

Before you dial, you need to select the correct modem first. Under Line Properties \  Advanced, tick the bringing up terminals so that we can monitor the messages from the modem. This modem is actually for W520, with its default HDA CX11270 Soft Modem.

Dialing rules

Dialing rules is actually from Phones and Modems in the Control Panel. Just enter its name and any area code number. No need to set the Area Code Rules. In this way we can enter any number we like when we dial. It is much easier than programming all the various dialing options.

HP/COMPAQ C700

Tested to work with the default Win10 driver. Just untick the wait for dialing tone.

LENOVO T60

Also worked with default modem, as well as a PCMCIA modem, using default WIN10 driver.

LENOVO W520

I confirmed that it worked by using the default Win10 driver. Just untick the "wait for dialing tone".