Fax and Scan with AT&T U-Verse Not Working

I know this problem has been around for a while but has anyone figured out how to get Faxing to work with U-Verse? My searches have not turned up any working solutions. I did read where U-Verse is essentially VoIP and that VoIP in general does not work well for faxing but is this one of those problems that has no solution? TIA.

 

Not being a smarty but why not call AT&T U-Verse and ask them. You pay for their service and part of that service is assistance with problems.

Here is their support page

AT&T Support Center

 

Thanks for the reply but I've already done that. Unfortunately AT&T only provides support for hardware problems with the line to the U-Verse router and will only replace defective routers as part of the service. Anything beyond that requires an additional support contract with a 1 year commitment. From what I've read it is a general VoIP problem with faxing. I'm sure they will point the finger at MS and not resolve it for me in the end. It is not worth spending the money to have them tell me it is not their problem.

 

Some recommended fax settings from Vonage (another VOIP) that may help.

.Refer to your fax machine’s user guide to optimize its settings.

• Turn off Error Correction Mode (ECM).
• Adjust Fax Speed to the lowest setting.
• Set Resolution to the lowest setting (usually marked Standard or Normal).
• Disable Color setting.
• Turn off Distinctive Ring.

.If you cannot receive faxes, check the Answer setting on your fax machine. Many fax machines have an Auto-Answer option that must be turned on to receive faxes. Additionally, if you have a Rings to Answer setting in the fax machine menu, set the value to the zero (0) or the lowest number available.

.If you cannot send faxes, make sure your fax machine is not set to require entering a 9 or other digit before dialing the fax number.

 

OK, I guess I was not clear enough. I am talking about using MS Fax and Scan. There is no problem dialing out. The problem is the handshake always fails with "unexpected error." None of those settings are anywhere I can find in MS Fax and Scan.

 

Since MS Fax and Scan is generic software you'll find the settings in either the fax machine,if using an external fax, or the properties of the internal fax/modem board in device manager.

Turning off ECM and reducing the fax speed (baud rate) are the main things.

2 other solutions.
. Check if your carrier supports T38 protocol (probably does) and then get a fax machine that also supports it. T38 protocol is for sending faxes (analog) over a VOIP (digital) network.
. Use an internet fax service

 

Just a thought - do you have to pay your carrier for an extra landline for FAX?
We have to in NZ.