[asterisk-users] fax / t38 gateway

[Wilton Helm]

I've been following this thread and trying to sort out what is wanted, what is available, and why.  Comments to the following would be appreciated and might be useful to others.

1.  Why would anyone originate a FAX via VoIP?  If it has to go through a bunch of translation steps at both ends, it would seem better to simply scan the document (assuming it isn't in electronic form to begin with) and attach it to an E-Mail.

2.  Why would anyone terminate a FAX call coming through Asterisk in a FAX machine?  Isn't there a way to capture it electronically?  If so, it seems that putting the electronic documents in a queue where people can open them, save them, and if they wish, print them would be much more useful (and planet friendly, since a lot aren't worth putting on paper).

IMHO, there are only three realistic needs:

A.  Electronic end to end document transfer which is best done with E-Mail and not telephony.

B.  Receipt of FAX from outside (old school) sources, which is best done electronically.

C. Generation of FAX to outside (old school) destination, which could be done either electronically or in the traditional manner.

If end to end FAX is desired, is there any reason why Asterisk should treat it any differently than any other call?  The FAX machines on each end generate and decode the information, VoIP is simply an audio channel through which is passes.

I don't know what T38 defines or implies, but if it is anything other than how to electronically decode a voice call that happens to contain FAX information (rather than passing it on to a real FAX machine) then I'm not sure what use it is.  It would seem to me that the OP needs a way to electronically capture calls that turn out to be FAXes.

Wilton
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