Even though it’s not the cutting edge of technology, faxing is nevertheless an indispensable resource for many companies today. With the development of internet faxing, it is now simpler than ever to send and receive faxes without having to leave the comfort of your own home.
Google Voice, a feature integrated with Gmail, allows users to send and receive faxes online. Here, we’ll go over the steps necessary to get Gmail faxing up and running, as well as how to fix some of the most common issues with sending faxes that happen while utilising the service over the NBN.
Using Google Mail for Faxing Setup
Create a Google Voice account
The first thing to do is create a Google Voice account if you don’t have one already. The procedure is as follows:
Start by visiting voice.google.com and logging into your Google account there. You’ll need to sign up for a Google account if you don’t already have one.
Select a Voice number
Fairly simple step, just select Get a Voice number.
Pick a phone number
Step 3: Pick a phone number from the list. A specific area code can be looked up, or you can select from the available options.
Just follow the on-screen instructions to register your phone number and activate voicemail.
Once you have a Google Voice account set up, you can connect it to your Gmail inbox by navigating to the Google Voice website, hitting the three-dot button, and selecting “Settings.” You should then be able to connect your Google Voice number with your Gmail account.
Gmail makes it easy to send a fax by simply creating a new message and putting the recipient’s fax number (complete with area code) in the “To” line. Simply fax the file you wish to send and hit the send button. Within a few minutes, the recipient’s fax machine should receive the fax that was sent from your Google Voice number.
The setup procedure and fax transmission can go off without a hitch if you take these precautions
Ensure a constant and reliable connection to the internet. A fax demands a lot of data, so if your connection is poor or unstable, you may have problems sending and receiving faxes.
It’s important to make sure your computer has the necessary specs to run Google Voice. For voice conversations, you’ll need a microphone and speakers (or a headset), while video calls require a camera.
Make sure Google Voice can access your system by adjusting your firewall and antivirus settings. Make sure you typed the full fax number, including the area code.
The faxed document must be in a format that can be read by the recipient’s machine (such as PDF, Word, or Excel).
Issues that frequently arise, and how to fix them
Problems with sending and receiving faxes using Gmail are possible despite your best efforts. Listed below are some of the more prevalent problems, along with solutions:
Problem 1: Notification of “no fax detected”
The document you are attempting to fax may have an issue with the fax machine’s settings if you see this error notice.
First, make sure your fax is set up correctly by double-checking the settings.
The faxed document must be in a format that can be read by the recipient’s machine (such as PDF, Word, or Excel).
Verify the image or graphic resolution in the document. If you must use a high-quality image in a fax, consider decreasing the image’s resolution to 200 DPI or less. If you must use a scanned document, scan it at a low resolution and export it as a PDF.
Two, the fax isn’t transmitting or receiving.
There might be a problem with your fax machine or your phone connection if you are having trouble sending or receiving faxes.
The second option is to double-check the phone and fax lines.
Be sure the fax machine is powered on and linked to the phone line.
See whether the fax machine is displaying any error warnings.
Make a call to a different number to ensure proper phone service. Problems with making or receiving calls might indicate a problem with your phone connection or your service provider.
Problem 3
The fax is sluggish while transmitting or receiving
A poor or inconsistent internet connection might be to blame if sending or receiving a fax takes an excessive amount of time.
Retry sending the fax after verifying your internet connection.
- Ensure a constant and reliable connection to the internet. Switching to a different network (such as a cable connection instead of Wi-Fi) might help you achieve higher transfer rates.
Resending the fax may help if the problem persists. Occasionally, a momentary hiccup in the system can create a delay, and in these cases, resending the fax might assist remedy the issue.
An additional piece of advice: see whether your ISP has any maintenance or outage notices.
If you have already attempted these procedures and are still having problems, your ISP may be experiencing an outage or doing maintenance. Check their homepage or social media pages for any updates, and come back later if the problem has been fixed.
Resolutions to complex problems
The following are some more sophisticated troubleshooting steps to take if your fax transmission problems persist
Check the fax history for clues: All fax transmissions, as well as any problems or faults that may have occurred, are recorded by Google Voice. Visit the Google Voice website and select the “Faxes” option to view your fax history. Examine the fax machine for any malfunctioning or error messages.
Make use of available internet tools and customer service: The Google Voice Help Center and user forums are only two of the many online options available for resolving Google Voice and faxing-related difficulties. If you need help with Google Voice, you may also contact customer service.
Conclusion
Internet faxing with Gmail makes it simple to send and receive faxes from anywhere at any time, making this an invaluable tool for businesses. Some hiccups with the service’s functionality are to be expected, but you shouldn’t allow that stop you from taking use of it. You should be able to fix the vast majority of faxing problems by following the instructions suggested in this article.