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Facsimile, or fax as it is usually known, is a communications method in which text and graphic materials may be transmitted over a telephone. It was invented in 1940’s, but after many years, the fax has gained widespread popularity. Fax terminals may be likened to a photocopying machine which can reproduce an exact copy of the original document. The only difference is that a fax has a telephone pad.

Most fax machines are programmed to perform an easy transmission like redialing system, delayed transmission (according to the time you may want the document to be transmitted), clear copy impressions, abbreviated fax numbers, and more. You may also use the telephone of the fax machines for voice calls.

How the fax works:

1. Place the document, upside down, on the sending tray of the fax terminal.
2. Using keypad on the terminal (or the attached telephone handset), enter the telephone number you wish to dial. Keep in mind that international calls would require country code and area code, while for local calls; you simply dial the fax number of the called party.
3. If the telephone connection cannot be established, the dialing procedure must be repeated. Reasons for failure to establish connection include busy telephone / cable lines, a busy receiving fax terminal, or the receiving terminal is temporarily out of order.
4. When the phone connection has been established, press the “send” key on the fax terminal after the “beep” tones.
5. If the telephone connection has been interrupted before the fax transmission has been completed, the dialing procedure must be repeated then resend the interrupted page.

When the transmission is completed, the Activity Report or transmission slip will automatically be printed. The charges in transmitting documents are based on actual minutes consumed while transmitting the document. The only disadvantage is that every interrupted calls and retransmissions would mean additional cost – you still have to pay the garbled messages.

Some fax machines have key functions like copy, speed / abbreviated dialing, redialing, telephone / fax changeover, voice communications / talk function, confidential communication, relay broadcasting, scanning, and many more.

With the many high technology gadgets/apparatus that are coming out, it is no doubt that facsimile is still useful nowadays.