>>>>>>Hi,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I would like to switch from receiving my work faxes on a fax machine to an email-type fax. So far the only service I found is eFax which is, relative to the number of pages I receive, expensive ($16.95/month).
>>>>>>I wonder if there is a less expensive service or a DIYS approach?
>>>>>
>>>>>Some inexpensive multifunction printer/scanner/fax machines have fax forward to e-mail capabilities. It might be cheaper to buy one of these than pay $XX per month for a service - plus, you still have a "real" fax machine, which has some advantages.
>>>>
>>>>Yes, I did see that some HP printers (unfortunately not the model I have) has the "limited" eFax services (up to 20 pages).
>>>>I decided to switch to the eFax, at least for a year, and then see how I like it. The idea is that when I travel I can still receive faxes.
>>>>Thank you.
>>>
>>>Dunno about HP, but some models can forward fax to e-mail without using any kind of online conversion service.
>>>
>>>Most MFPs these days are basically Linux computers and are quite capable. Those that can forward fax to e-mail receive the fax, convert to TIFF or PDF, then e-mail to address(es) you specify via an SMTP server you configure. For this capability the device must have a network connection (wired or wireless).
>>
>>My MFP, unfortunately, does not have these capabilities (Officejet Pro 8600). I looked through the manual but to no avail.
>
>At 200$ per year I'd consider buying a new machine which can automatically forward to email and keep the old printer as backup.
>Or get a refurbished or used one to use as backup (as it will almost never print, previous use not that important...) for probably 1 year cost plus additional one-time setup effort... I thought the Pro all could at least copy fax to file on computer, so if you have a home server/NAS type always connected in your net, you could probably hack something together yourself scanning new additions to fax directory ;-))

My concern regarding a printer that can email or save to a folder (which my printer does not have out of the box) is as follows. The reason for considering eFax is when I travel (usually on vacation a couple of times a year for a week or 9 days) I want to be able to receive my faxes. The home office router/internet modem can lose internet at any time (it does happen from time to time and requires rebooting the modem/router). And nobody is at home when I travel since my wife is traveling with me.
I am now considering (and will test it today) an option of forwarding my fax number to a friend or someone who is willing for a week to get my faxes, scan them and email them to me.

UPDATE. I just called my phone provider and asked them about being able to forward my fax call to another number. And - they explained - since my fax line is very "basic" it does not have a feature of call forwarding. And to enable it would cost about $16/month. So basically it would cost the same as switching to eFax. No matter where I go, I have to pay. Which is what I expected since when I do something I expect my customers to pay too.