How to Send a Fax With a Computer Fax Modem

A fax modem is a special type of modem connected to your computer or fitted inside it to send documents over phone lines. This modem does not require an internet connection because it uses the phone line just like a stand-alone fax machine.

A standard RJ-11 telephone line jack connects to it and documents from the computer are sent over the line as a fax.

However, if you do have a fax modem, you can send and receive fax messages using your phone line, without requiring a fax machine. Send softcopy (word-processed) documents or scanned documents that you have saved on your computer in image or PDF format. Use your fax modem with fax software on your operating system.

Many people encounter problems with their fax modems because of the wrong driver installation. Make sure you have the right driver, which you get along with the new hardware or download from the vendor's site.

Fax modems only dispatch the data at the network level. You need a piece of software to manipulate, format, and send the document. For Windows machines, use the Windows Fax & Scan software to send and receive faxes. You do not have to install it as it is included as a utility app in your Windows installation.

Use the utility to send a fax; configure it to automatically or manually answer the phone when a new fax arrives.