Last Update: August 9th, 2021
3D Fax – A 1990s product that allowed for the sending of binary files (such as computer data) over facsimile. It was also used as a term for the Michelangelo Project, which was focused on 3d scanning objects so that their structure can be transmitted.
Automatic answering – a feature on a fax machine that will automatically answer a fax line when it rings.
Baud (bd) rate – the speed at which an electronic transmission occurs.
Black Fax – Disabling of a Fax Machine.
Cloud fax – a hosted fax service and another term for “online fax.”
Coded dial – a feature that creates a shortcut code for dialing frequent fax numbers.
Collate – assembling large documents from a number of smaller documents.
Collating party – when a group of people to get together to collate lots of documents.
Copier – a machine that makes duplicates of a document.
Copy – to make a duplicate of a document.
Confirmation page – a printed page that shows that the transmission has been received by the other fax machine.
CSID – “called subscriber information.” Information such as fax number and name of the fax machine that is receiving a fax.
Distinctive ring – a feature that allows for more than one phone (or fax) number assigned to a specific phone line. Each number has a different ring tone.
Document feeder – an accessory that scans multiple pages in sequence.
Duplex printing – printing on both sides of a piece of paper.
DRPD (distinctive ring pattern detection) – technology that can tell whether or not to pick up a special ring.
DTMF (dual-tone multi-frequency signaling) – the signal your telephone or fax machine keypad conveys to the phone company when buttons are pressed.
Email fax – a fax that is sent or received with the assistance of an email.
Error Correction Mode (ECM) – A feature on fax machines that helps correct transmission errors when sending and receiving documents.
EXT – a telephone port on a fax machine. It is a line extension to add a phone or answering machine to a fax.
Facsimile – another term for fax or fax machine, alternatively an exact reproduction of a document.
Fax machine – a device for sending and receiving faxes.
Fax – an exact reproduction of a document that has been transmitted between fax machines.
Fax Board – an expansion card that can be added to a multifunction print/scan/copy device or to a fax server.
Fax Demodulator – a device that can be used to intercept and decode fax signals.
Fax Header – information at the top of a fax transmission that includes the date, time, and information about the sending fax machine.
Fax Kit – an expansion card that can be added to a multifunction print/scan/copy device.
Fax Line – a phone line that is attached to a dedicated fax machine or computer with fax software.
Fax Log – a transmission record on a fax machine.
Fax Number – a phone number that can be used to access a fax machine.
Fax Paper – paper used in a fax machine.
Fax Receipt – a printed page that shows that the fax transmission has been received by the receiving fax machine.
Fax Roll – a type of thermal paper that was used by fax machines.
FAX-TEL – a switch that changes a fax’s function between a fax machine and a telephone.
FoIP – fax over IP.
Fultograph – Invented by Otto Fulton
Group 4 (G4) Compression – ITU-T T.6 Standard for fax transmission.
HF Fax (High Frequency Fax) – A method for transmitting images over a high frequency radio signal. The most common applications it was used for was the transmission of newspapers through radio waves, as well as the distribution of maritime weather maps. It is also known as “radiofax” or “weatherfax”.
Hook – A button that is used to simulate hanging up the line. It is often used to change between calls with features such as call waiting.
Internet fax – A fax that is sent in some part through the internet. Typically it is through a specialized standard for FoIP (fax over IP) communications.
Junk Fax – Resources and Regulation.
Landline phone line – a phone line directly connected to the phone network.
LINE – a port that connects the fax to the phone jack.
Manual answering – a feature on a fax machine that will only answer the fax line when a user presses the “receive” button.
Online fax – A fax that is sent through an online interface, or through email.
Phone cord – a cable that connects a fax machine or phone to a landline phone jack.
Pulse dialing – a dialing sound for a touchtone phone that imitates the sound of a rotary phone.
Print – a piece of paper with writing and images on it.
Printer – a unit that outs printed paper.
RADF (reversing automatic document feeder) – a document feeder that reads both sides of the page.
Radiofax – A method for transmitting images over a high frequency radio signal. The most common applications it was used for was the transmission of newspapers through radio waves, as well as the distribution of maritime weather maps. It is also known as “hf fax” or “weatherfax”.
Rotary dialing – the dialing system used on old rotary phones.
Rx – an abbreviation of “received” or “received transmission.”
Scan – a digital representation of a document or image.
Scanner – a unit that makes scans.
T.38 – ITU transmission standard for G3 Fascimile over IP.
TAM – “telephone answering machine.” In the context of fax, a TAM can be used to distinguish whether the call is a fax or a voice call, and direct the call to a fax machine or answering machine (but not voicemail) respectively.
TEL – a port on a fax machine. It can either be where the fax machine connects to the phone jack or where an extension phone is added.
Telautograph – Invented by Elisha Gray
Telefacsimile – another term for fax.
Telefax – another term for fax.
Telephone jack – a port to connect a phone or fax to the phone network.
Tone dialing – the dialing method that is commonly heard when using a touch-tone phone. It is a series of beeps used to dial a phone or fax number.
Tone/pulse – a switch commonly found on phones and fax machines. It changes the phone between tone and pulse dialing methods.
Transmission report – a type of fax log. It includes the date, time, and sender information of fax transmissions.
Transmission status – the status of a fax transmission. It is often listed as “transmission success” or “transmission failure.”
TSID – “transmitting subscriber information” – information about the fax machine (fax number and name) sending a fax.
Tx – an abbreviation of “transmission.”
Pantelegraph – Invented by Giovanni Caselli.
Weatherfax – A method for transmitting images over a high frequency radio signal. The most common applications it was used for was the transmission of newspapers through radio waves, as well as the distribution of maritime weather maps. It is also known as “hf fax” or “radiofax”.