FAX Full Form

FAX Full Form

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on May 31, 2023 04:08 PM IST

What is the full form of FAX?

The word FAX is the abbreviation for “Facsimile”. It is a device that undergoes the process of sending and receiving printed pages or images via telephone lines by digitizing the document with the help of an internal optical scanner and transmitting the information and data as electronic signals.

About the FAX

FAX stands for facsimile. Generally, people used to write and speak it as FAX.

FAX is a telephonic transmission of scanned printed material, normally to a telephone number connected to a printer or another device of exit.

History of FAX

  • The Xerox business developed the first identifiable form of what we now refer to as the telephone fax in 1964, although the technology that made that development possible was developed far earlier. Originally, Alexander Baine is credited with creating the electric printing telegraph in 1843.

  • Though Baine's idea was not extensively tested, it served as the inspiration for subsequent upgraded variants. Frederick Blakewell created one in 1847, while Giovanni Caselli created the first commercial fax system in 1863.

  • Fax machines became common office supplies by the end of the 1970s, and businesses kept improving their products to accomplish more. The first all-in-one devices were made possible by the addition of the copy and scan feature to fax machines in the early 1980s. Up until the late 1990s, when cell phones started to take the place of landlines, these were the faxing industry's peak years. Faxing was the primary method of office communication throughout this time.

Parts of FAX

A FAX machine comprises the following:

  1. Image scanner:

The scanner is used to convert the printed content of a physical document into a digital image. Image and text capture (optical character recognition OCR) allow us to save the information.

  1. Modem:

The modem is used to send the image data over a phone line to another device.

  1. Printer:

The printer is used to produce a copy of the transmitted document at the far en

  1. Phone-line:

The phone line sends signals in digital form.

Important parts of a FAX machines

  • Rotating drums: Attaching the paper with drums and moving the paper with the rotating arms of drums.

  • Photo sensor: The photo sensor is able to focus on and look at a very small spot on the piece of paper and also senses the white and colored parts of the sent document.

Characteristics of FAX

A good FAX machine should have the following characteristics.

  1. It should communicate with other FAX machines.

  2. It should have a horizontal resolution of 203 pixels per inch.

  3. It has three different vertical resolutions.

  4. Standard: 98 lines per inch

  5. Fine:196 lines per inch

  6. Super fine:391 lines per inch

  7. It can transmit at a maximum data rate of 14,400 bits per second to a minimum range of 2,400 bits per second if there is a lot of noise on the line.

Advantages of FAX

  1. Fax has a distinct advantage over postal mail in that the delivery is nearly instantaneous.

  2. It can be delivered at any time.

  3. There is no need to give commands for printing separately on receiving the FAX document.

Disadvantages of FAX

  1. It needs a separate space for the machine

  2. It needs a telephone line

  3. It needs power or electricity.

  4. It requires paper for the process of receiving and sending

  5. Aging of pages could lead to difficulty in maintaining records.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What will happen if FAX fails to be sent?

In case the receiving ends fail to answer then the FAX will automatically retry.

2. Is there any limitation to how much you can fax?

No, there are not any limitations set for faxed documents.

3. How to confirm if a FAX was received?

For confirmation that FAX was received, the FAX machine would print a confirmation page.

4. How long does it take to receive a FAX?

The duration of receiving FAX can be ranged from 1 minute to 6 minutes.

5. Is FAX an instant way of communication?

No, FAX is not an instant way of communication.

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