I'm having trouble with the fax server running on my SBS 2008 box. Here's the facts:
I have 3 fax modems to choose from; two USB and one serial port. I have tested through two lines: one digital (from TimeWarner) which cannot be used since it routes through the PBX and has no direct phone number, and one Analog (from Frontier) which is our fax line. I have hooked up multiple systems to these lines to test them. Here are my results:
- Test 1
- Line: Digital.
- Modem: USB 1
- System: SBS 2008
- Results:
- Sending: Crystal clear perfect fax
- Receiving: Unable to test.
- Test 2
- Line: Analog.
- Modem: USB 1
- System SBS 2008
- Results:
- Sending: Pure garbage. Top quarter page consists of random parts of the whole page.
- Receiving: Bad. Some lines are "pinched" and cannot be read.
- Test 3
- Line: Analog.
- Modem: USB 2
- System SBS 2008
- Results:
- Sending: Pure garbage. Top quarter page consists of random parts of the whole page.
- Receiving: Bad. Some lines are "pinched" and cannot be read.
- Test 4
- Line: Analog.
- Modem: Serial
- System SBS 2008
- Results:
- Sending: Pure garbage. Top quarter page consists of random parts of the whole page.
- Receiving: Bad. Some lines are "pinched" and cannot be read.
- Test 5
- Line: Analog.
- Modem: USB 1
- System Windows 7 Laptop
- Results:
- Sending: Crystal clear perfect fax
- Receiving: Crystal clear perfect fax
I have come to my wits end with this. I need the SBS server to operate on our fax line, which seems to have no trouble with any other system or traditional fax machine, but regardless of modem, the SBS server cannot use the fax line. It can use the digital PBX line, even with a modem that specifically says "DO NOT USE WITH DIGITAL PHONE SERVICE"
Broken down into table, all of my tests are:
Modem | System | Line | Sending | Receiving |
USB1 | SBS 2008 | Digital | Pass | N/A |
USB2 | SBS 2008 | Digital | Pass | N/A |
Serial | SBS 2008 | Digital | Pass | N/A |
USB1 | SBS2008 | Analog | Fail | Fail |
USB2 | SBS 2008 | Analog | Fail | Fail |
Serial | SBS 2008 | Analog | Fail | Fail |
USB1 | Windows 7 x64 | Analog | Pass | Pass |
USB2 | Windows 7 x64 | Analog | Pass | Pass |
Serial | Windows 7 x64 | Analog | Pass | Pass |