Fax modems give computer users direct access to facsimile transmission and reception capabilities and provide dial-up access to internet services using analog telephone lines. They're also an excellent solution for point-to-point computer communications. Use them for point-of-sale credit card processing or to provide administrative access to systems in remote locations. Find a modem that meets your needs when you explore the selection of communications, networking, and Wi-Fi® hardware and accessories available at Staples®.

Fax Modems Offer Industry Standard Communications Options
Fax machines use several data transmission protocols to send and receive documents, and most of these products support Group 3 Class 1 fax transmissions, which send and receive documents at speeds of 300 to 14,400 bits per second. They also handle the V.92 standard created by the International Telegraph Union, an organization that coordinates the development of telecommunications standards around the world. V.92 provides network communication speeds of up to 56 kilobits per second and is backward compatible with slower protocols. Modems also support V.42 error correction and V.44 compression, which ensures accurate data transmission and enhances transfer speeds. The Hayes-compatible AT command set gives users complete control over modem features and settings.

Fax Modems for Any Computer
These devices offer a range of physical connection options, making it simple to find a modem that works with any system. All modems have at least one RJ-11 phone jack that provides a link to the required analog phone line, and many models have a pass-through port for a phone handset. On the computer side of things, external modems connect to a serial port and are ideal for point-of-sale systems and linking communications terminals to remote servers. A USB fax modem offers plug-and-play convenience with most computers. PCI card modems plug directly into a desktop or laptop computer case. They're a space-saving communications option. Some PCI products have four to eight modem circuits built into a single card. Use them to provide server connections to multiple users.

How Do Fax Modems Transmit Data?
Modem stands for modulator-demodulator, and that describes how these devices send and receive information. The sending modem modulates digital data into an audio waveform that it sends across a phone line. The receiving modem demodulates this signal back into digital data. Anyone that's used a modem has probably heard the weird series of audio tones they emit when making a connection. Those sounds are the sending and receiving modems figuring out which communication protocol to use.

What Operating Systems Can Use Fax Modems?
Many of these modems work with the Microsoft® Windows® and MacOS® operating systems. Select products are also compatible with Linux™ and UNIX®. Most operating systems offer native support for sending and receiving faxes. In some cases, third-party applications can provide access to additional modem capabilities. External modems with serial ports require no operating system at all and are compatible with any device that has a serial port.

What Are The Differences Between DSL and Fax Modems?
A DSL modem connects to the outside world using a digital subscriber line, a specific data transmission protocol. A fax modem uses the same analog signals as voice communications. DSL connections are an extra service and cost more than a basic phone line. Analog modem connections are slower than DSL but just require a standard phone line.