Skip to main content
Question

Fax from VOIP (digital) vs POTS (analog) expectation table

  • 10 January 2019
  • 3 replies
  • 1057 views

VOIP = Voice over IP, digital lines, internet phones -- Ring Central is VOIP, cellphones are VOIP

POTS = Plain Old Telephone Service -- traditional landlines; uses copper pairs


As the Ring Central documentation carefully explains, Faxing over VOIP has issues and customers with intensive fax requirements should stick with a POTS line.


Our company's reliance on faxing has diminished considerably so we are taking the plunge and going all-VOIP.


Here is an expectation table I derived from my testing of our small (<10) user Ring Central system that some may find useful:



To: RC fax # (VOIP) POTS fax number

From


POTS fax machine works fine traditional faxing not relevant to RC

RC # autodetects

fax call and processes

per settings

VOIP fax machine        may not work        works fine

                        especially if 

                        on same RC account





We have experienced the same issues in many different setups, not just RC.  The most problematic issue being physical fax machine -> anolog-to-VOIP-convertor -> VOIP-fax  (ie. voip to voip fax)   Lots of these type of connections seem to answer, but not acknowledge properly, so the results is the first 1 or 1.5 pages go through and then the receiving VOIP fax line disconnects.
I was tempted to add to the VOIP to VOIP box "why are you doing this in the first place, just email a PDF" but decided not to because some may be using a fax machine without realizing it is tied to a analog to digital converter like the Cisco ATAs Ring Central sells. 
exactly correct - we have several small offices that need to quickly sign a form and have reception fax it off - this is much quicker workflow to just use a physical fax machine with an ATA.

Reply


Terms & ConditionsCookie settings