Fax question

[monarch]

New printer came with fax feature. We have broadband internet access. Do we need to hook up the computer to the phone line to receive faxes. If not, where do we tell people to fax to?

Believe me, I know how dumb I sound but I have googled this topic until I am dizzy.

[democracyindanger]

1. The fax only needs to be hooked up to your phone line

'Course, it still needs to be hooked up to the computer to print.

On edit: Connected to the computer to print computer files, that is. You could still print faxes if it was only connected to the phone line.

[monarch]

2. Thanks but

I don't see anyplace on the printer itself to attach a phone line.

[FormerDittoHead]

3. Stupid question - did you read the directions?

I've found that these printers come with very easy to read directions.

Also - please look at your original post / question. You didn't even refer to the MAKE of the printer, let alone the model. Are we supposed to be mind readers?

[monarch]

6. Did I read the directions?

Of course I read the directions.

It's a Dell printer but my question is so very basic that I assumed that it would have universal application. It appears from everything I read that there is an assumption that someone who buys a very basic system and has limited need of a fax will have only a dial-up connection so that there is no need to address the phone line question. The obvious answer to my question is that I need to hook up a phone line to the computer just to have the fax work. I was only seeking verification of that fact.

[democracyindanger]

4. If there's no place to attach to a phone line

I don't think it's a fax. There's software out there that allows you to receive and send faxes through your computer--but then any printer you attach to the computer becomes a 'fax'

Make and model?

[ConsAreLiars]

5. Ny best guess is that the printer came with a fax handling program,

but that the computer has to be hooked to your phone line. The software controlling the modem in the computer will intercept Fax calls only, and these will then be stored or sent to the printer. Try running the sofware that came with printer, and examine the Fax-related parts of it. There might be help available within the program.

[monarch]

7. Thank you! Thank you!!

Your answer is exactly what I was looking for.