StarTech.com USB 2.0 Fax Modem – 56K Externa
$45.38
Price: $23.99 - $45.38
(as of Mar 08, 2025 11:34:53 UTC – Details)
This hardware-based 56k USB fax modem lets you access the internet through a dial-up service, when broadband connections are not available. The compact 56k modem is powered through USB, making it a perfect accessory to have on hand when you’re traveling with your laptop or need to have a backup connection to the internet for your desktop.
Reliable and versatile internet connectivity
You can use this versatile USB modem as a backup internet connection, for traveling to remote locations, or in rural areas where broadband connections are not available. It supports transfer rates up to 56Kbps (data) and 14.4Kbps (fax) and is compatible with the latest transmission standards (V.92, V.90, and so on).
The controller-based modem uses on-chip processing to deliver dial-up access without taxing your computer’s performance, saving your system’s resources and minimizing the load on the CPU.
Send and receive faxes from your computer
The USB modem also enables your laptop or desktop computer to function like a fax machine, capable of sending and receiving faxes. It supports the latest fax transmission modes, providing fax transfer rates at 14.4Kbps.
Easy portability
With a compact and lightweight design, the USB modem is portable, tucking easily into your laptop bag or travel case. It’s powered through the USB host connection, making it fast and easy to connect without requiring an external power adapter.
The USB56KEMH2 is backed by a StarTech.
DIAL-UP & FAX SUPPORT: Hardware-based USB 2.0 Fax modem adds data and fax functionality to your computer / laptop via USB without putting additional load on your CPU; For faxing, rural internet access, security systems, POS credit authorization
VOICE AND CALLER ID SUPPORT: Make and receive phone calls through your desktop / laptop computer; This portable USB modem supports Caller ID functionality and is compatible with most dial-up ISP (Internet Service Provider) networks
DATA/FAX MODE SUPPORT: Data: V.92, V.90, V.34, V.32bis, V.32, V.22bis, V.22, V.23, V.21 Bell 212A & Bell 103; Fax: V.17, V.29, V.27, V.21 Ch 2, EIA/TIA 578 Class 1 and T.31 Fax Class 1.0; DTMF support
TECH SPECS: External 56K Modem; Data Fax; USB Type A; 1 x RJ11 Telephone Jack; 56 Kbps Down, 33.6 Kbps Up Data; 14.4 Kbps Fax V.92; V.44 Compression; Conexant CX93010-21Z; USB Powered; TAA Compliant
COMPATIBILITY: Drivers available for Windows, Windows Server, macOS (10.9 to 12.x) and Linux (kernel 3.16 and up); Windows Drivers available for download
Polar Bear –
Works with MacOS 10.8.5 (Mountain Lion)
The documentation is a bit sketchy one location says it works for 10.6 and below, other location says it works for 10.9 through 10.12. I had 10.8.5 installed on an old Mac and it just works fine.Note – it will not appear in the list of printers when you open the printer setup – click the add printer and it will show up there as “fax”.I tested it with dropbox service (hellofax) and the resolution is quite high – both ways.The Mac can also receive faxes, save them, print them or email them automatically.One thing that is missing – it does not generates and official receipt as paper fax machines do (but there is a list of sent faxes if you click the fax “printer” icon (with the print queue etc.)Overall create value for Money.I can also see it appearing as /dev/ttyACM0 dialout without installing any drivers (Ububtu 22.04) but have tested it yet – would also be nice to see if it works on the Raspberry PiNote – it will not work with IP phone – but it does work with Vonage phone to IP adapter (no sure if they still make those) as it emulates analog phone, and does not filter out too much of the signal — speed may be affected though.
Mark –
Works fine!
Most difficult part is configuring the Windows software to use it. It’s not the modem’s fault. It’s Windows not updating their FAX software UI since ~2003.
Dennis B. –
Not compatible with Magic Jack
This unit will not work or will not work reliably with Magic Jack. I received the unit yesterday and could not get it installed and working. I worked with Star Tech support for over an hour and everything we did proved that the unit was sending out the phone number – Magic Jack could not see the number being sent. The tech support from Star Tech was excellent and if the disclaimer that the unit does not work with Magic Jack, I would not have purchased the unit. Further, there are posts on the web that indicate fax modems do not work in a VOIP environment. The product is a sweet product, and it was easy to install – This is not a negative review of the product nor the support that they provided.
Eric Nordin –
Install Windows 8 drivers for use with a Windows 10 computer
I purchased this device in order to be able to send FAXs securely and w/o charge or subscription. Installation was easy once I figured out which driver to install on my wife’s Windows 10 computer. Select “Windows 8” from the menu offerings on the installation utility (which should auto-run from the install CD that comes with the unit).Once the drivers were installed, Windows seemed to know how to connect to the device. We had a ten page PDF document that we needed to FAX. While viewing the document inside the PDF viewer, I just selected “File,” “Print” and then selected “Fax” from the available printers. A new dialog box popped up where I was able to enter the telephone number to send the fax to. I entered the number (digits only, no separating dashes) and pressed the “Send” button in the dialog box. After a few seconds a new box appeared on the screen where progress of the call and fax transmission was shown. The LEDs on the device also light up and the “Data” LED flashes to indicate when data is being transmitted.I saw it mentioned in some reviews that the sound of the handshake and/or the FAX transmission can be heard through the computer’s speaker(s). This does not seem to be the case for our installation, or at least not so far. I suppose it’s possible that I overlooked a setting to enable sound somewhere in the setup but, now that I know the thing works, I’m not really interested in hearing this anyway.I can’t comment on the dial-up modem capability of this unit because I no longer subscribe to any dial-up provider but this is a nice compact little device that would be easy to include in most laptop or netbook carry bags and it seems to work just fine for the purpose of sending documents by way of FAX and an analog telephone line. I also can’t comment (at least not so far) on this device’s capability of receiving FAXs. It’s doubtful we will ever need to use it for that purpose so that’s not something I’m interested in exploring at this time. If I ever have occassion to use it (or attempt to us it) for that purpose, I might post an update explaining how that went.I knock off one star because the installation program didn’t show a driver selection for Windows 10 and the printed instructions that came with the device didn’t explain which driver to select when installing on a Windows 10 machine either. It was only after visiting the support page on the StarTech website and seeing a driver there listed as “Windows 8/10” that I realized I should try selecting the Windows 8 driver in the install program. Had I not bothered to check further, I might have concluded from the supplied documentation and installer package options, that this device would not work with Windows 10 and would have returned it. StarTech would do well to update their install program or at least the printed instructions that they are packaging with this device.I hope this review is helpful.
Doogie –
Worked right out of the box for CallAttendant on a Synology NAS
I picked this up so that I could start using my homelab to screen my calls. Wasn’t sure if it would work 1) on a Synology NAS 2) in Docker and 3) specifically with the CallAttendant app, but I gave it a shot anyways.It succeeded on all 3 of those things (after installing the synocommunity USB drivers package)Now I have a docker container running that screens my calls and blocks robocallers! Sweet!lsusb shows this modem as the following:0572:1349:0100 02 1.10 12MBit/s 100mA 2IFs (Conexant USB Modem 24680246)
WiKline –
description indicates it will work with win 10 NOT
Does not work with win 10
Fritz The Wolf –
Not Many Like This Around
This is a hardware-based, voice compatible modem which makes things like faxing or emulating a dial-up ISP POP (for things like the SEGA DreamCast’s homebrew ‘DreamPi’ solution) possible. Often times people recommend used but commonly available modems, however a new solution is nice to have and integral for making these dial-up adaptation solutions viable.If the voice does not work you may have an older version, contact StarTech directly for a firmware update. Typically the newer batches should just plug and play, mine did. This is also Linux compatible even though it’s not stated on the box.The chipsets from 2022 to the time of writing this have not changed, so this should be a consistent solution. A great purchase.
Fernando Castillo de Huelva –
Funciona bien en modo de voz, al menos en Linux y programándolo.En EEUU es raro que aún usen algo que no sea celular o WiFi, en Europa es común el inalámbrico DECT,este módem es muy adecuado para instalaciones alambradas clásicas, públicas o privadas.
Lawrence –
The USB faxmodem was bought largely to receive fax into the Windows PC. The item arrived on time and the setup was just plugging faxmodem into the USB port and connecting the telephone wire into the faxmodem. Then install the driver provided in the tiny CD, and set up your software in the PC to use the external USB faxmodem to receive and send fax. Not much to it. The USB faxmodem has been working steadily since.
Tapsy –
Super einfach einzurichten, unter Windows 10 getestet!
Vmirv0games –
Non ero sicuro che una tecnologia così obsoleta e tuttora utilizzata fosse compatibile con Windows 11; occorre installare una componente aggiuntiva da facoltativi: fax e scanner. Dopo di che sarà possibile inviare e ricevere fax con il computer
OniKuno –
The price maybe high but you also get a robust customer service.You can use this to work on a dreampi set up straight out of the box without needing to update to the latest firmware, watch out for a sticker with rev 2, and you’re good to go.Despite having the modem and raspberry pi, you still need a line voltage inducer. To get your dreamcast online.