Q: Can I use my fax with a VoIP phone line?
A: The answer depends largely on which VoIP service you use. Most of the time, it is not a good idea. Fax machines generally use the standard analog network (normal phone service) to transmit data, where VoIP compresses analog voice data into digital data, which tends to work differently with fax. Short answer: They are not compatible
.However, Vonage claims that you can connect an analog fax machine to your Vonage phone adapter, as long as you already have a vocal line with Vonage. Of course, you can not make calls and accept faxes at the same time to get a second line would be desirable. They also have a fax wide troubleshooting section on their online support page if you were having problems.
Most other VoIP companies offer Internet fax options, so you do not even need to deal with the old analog fax machine. VoIPo offers a virtual fax service that can be added to an existing account for those who want a fax line for their home or office. When a fax is sent to the line, the service will turn the fax into a PDF file and email it to your e-mail address provided. Phone.com also provides digital fax service standard with most of their phone plans.
If you do not set your fax service via your VoIP account, there is also the possibility of using a third party fax services, which we review here.