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How do I move and set up an existing phone/fax number to GV on an OBI202?

Started by newtovoip, July 09, 2020, 02:19:25 PM

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newtovoip

Currently we have a Verizon landline that allows phone calls and fax on the SAME number (I think we manually switch it to the fax machine).  If we're moving to GV and OBI202, can we still keep the fax line on the same number or would we have to get a new second dedicated GV number for the faxing?  I'd rather not have to tell people a new number for faxing.  I'm assuming the OBI202 can handle two GV numbers because of the two physical ports.  But can the OBI202 handle routing a single GV number to either the fax and phone (if that is even possible on GV)?  Hope this makes sense.

Thanks!

SteveInWA

Well, welcome to VoIP and Google Voice, but there is a lot to learn, and probably every question you will have about Google Voice specifically is answered either in the Google Voice help center: (https://support.google.com/voice/#topic=1707989) or on the official Google Voice help forum:  (https://support.google.com/voice/community?hl=en).

Google Voice is not a standalone phone company.  Don't expect it to behave like a bare-bones SIP VoIP trunk provider.  It integrates voicemail, calling and SMS/MMS.

It does not have any support for fax, and it likely never will.  You only need one Google Voice phone number.  Just set your fax machine to not answer automatically.  When you need to receive a fax, answer it manually. 

Porting a land line number into Google Voice is neither a direct process, nor an easy one.

You can read my detailed instructions on land line porting, here:  https://support.google.com/voice/thread/57690050?msgid=57705848

newtovoip

Thanks for your reply.. in terms of the obi202, if we are using one number for both phone and fax, would that mean that we don't use the second port for the fax machine and instead manually switch it into the first port only when a fax is coming in?

drgeoff

Quote from: newtovoip on July 09, 2020, 04:15:27 PM
Thanks for your reply.. in terms of the obi202, if we are using one number for both phone and fax, would that mean that we don't use the second port for the fax machine and instead manually switch it into the first port only when a fax is coming in?
Correct that you don't use the second phone port on the 202 but connect both fax machine and phone to one OBi port.  Many fax machines have a "through" port.  You connect the fax to the OBi and the phone to the fax.  As SteveInWA wrote, don't set the fax to auto answer.  When a call comes in pick up the phone.  If you hear the fax beep fax tone, manually switch the fax to grab the line.

Otherwise use a "doubler" to connect phone and fax in parallel to the OBi phone port.

newtovoip