Viewing Your Mail Online

Viewing Your Mail Online

One of the greatest advantages of having a C-Band Mailbox is the ability to view your physical mail digitally from anywhere in the world. Whether you are at home, traveling, or working remotely, your mail is accessible through your online dashboard whenever you need it. This guide covers everything you need to know about viewing your mail online, from accessing scans to downloading, searching, and archiving your digital mail collection.

Accessing Your Digital Mailbox

To view your mail online:

1. Log in to your C-Band Mailbox dashboard from any web browser.
2. Navigate to your Mail Inbox.
3. You will see a list of all your mail items, organized by status and sorted by date received.
4. Click on any mail item to view its details and available scans.

Viewing Exterior Scans

Exterior scans show the front of the envelope or package as it was received at your operator location. Exterior scans are typically generated automatically when the operator logs your mail into the system and are available at no additional cost for all plans. An exterior scan allows you to:

• Identify the sender from the return address.
• See the mail type (letter, large envelope, package).
• Check for any visible markings (urgent, certified, registered).
• Decide what action to take (open and scan, forward, shred, or hold).

To view an exterior scan, click on the mail item in your inbox. The exterior image will be displayed in the item detail view.

Viewing Interior Scans

Interior scans show the actual contents of your mail, captured page by page after the operator opens the envelope. Interior scans are available after you request a scan or if you have automatic scanning enabled. To view an interior scan:

1. Click on the mail item in your inbox.
2. If a scan has been completed, you will see a "View Scan" button or the scan images will be displayed directly.
3. For multi-page documents, use the page navigation controls to move between pages.

If a scan has not been requested yet, you will see a "Request Scan" button instead. See requesting mail scans for instructions.

Scan Quality

All scans delivered through C-Band Mailbox meet the following quality standards:

• Resolution: Minimum 300 DPI, providing clear and readable text and images.
• Color: Full-color scanning by default for accurate document reproduction.
• Format: Scans are available as high-resolution images and downloadable PDFs.
• Format: Scans are delivered as high-resolution PDF files suitable for archiving and printing.

If a scan does not meet these standards, you can request a free rescan. See scan quality issues for more information.

Zoom and View Controls

When viewing a scan, you have access to the following viewing controls:

• Zoom in/out: Use the zoom controls or pinch-to-zoom on mobile to magnify specific areas of the document. This is useful for reading small print or examining fine details.
• Fit to screen: Click the fit-to-screen button to resize the scan to fill your browser window.
• Actual size: View the scan at its actual scanned resolution for the sharpest image quality.
• Rotate: Rotate the scan view 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise if the orientation needs adjustment.
• Full screen: Enter full-screen mode for a distraction-free viewing experience.

Downloading Scans

You can download your scans for offline access, personal archiving, or sharing:

• Download as PDF: Click the "Download PDF" button to save the scan as a PDF file. Multi-page documents are combined into a single PDF. This is the recommended format for archiving and printing.
• Download as image: Click the "Download Image" button to save individual pages as high-resolution image files (JPG or PNG).

Downloaded files are saved to your device's default download location. File names include the mail item reference number and date for easy identification.

Printing Scans

To print a scan directly from the dashboard:

1. Open the scan you want to print.
2. Click the "Print" button.
3. Your browser's print dialog will open with the scan formatted for printing.
4. Select your printer and adjust print settings as needed.
5. Click "Print" to send the document to your printer.

For the best print quality, we recommend printing from the PDF download rather than directly from the browser view.

Archive and Search Functionality

As your mail collection grows, the archive and search features help you find specific items quickly:

Archiving

You can archive mail items to keep your active inbox clean while preserving access to historical items:

• Select one or more items in your inbox.
• Click "Archive" to move them to the archive.
• Archived items can be accessed through the "Archive" tab in your mail section.
• Archived items retain all their scans, action history, and metadata.

Search

Use the search bar in your mail inbox to find specific items:

• Search by sender: Enter a sender name or return address to find all mail from that sender.
• Search by date: Filter mail by date range to find items received during a specific period.
• Search by status: Filter by mail status (new, scanned, forwarded, shredded).
• Search by reference: Search for items by mail reference number or other metadata.

Mobile Access

Your digital mailbox is fully accessible from mobile devices. The dashboard is responsive and optimized for smartphones and tablets:

• View mail items and scans in your mobile browser.
• Pinch to zoom on scans for easy reading on smaller screens.
• Submit action requests (scan, forward, shred) on the go.
• Receive and respond to notifications in real time.

For the best mobile experience, use the latest version of Chrome (Android) or Safari (iOS). You can also add the dashboard to your device's home screen for quick, app-like access.

Data Retention

Understanding how long your scans and mail data are retained is important for planning your personal document management:

• Active account: All scans and mail data are retained for as long as your account is active and in good standing.
• Completed items: Scans of completed items (forwarded, shredded, recycled) remain accessible in your dashboard history.
• Account closure: If you close your account, scans and data will be retained for 30 days after closure to allow you to download any needed files. After 30 days, data is permanently deleted in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
• Legal requirements: Certain records may be retained longer if required by applicable law.

Tips for the Best Experience

• Use a modern browser: The dashboard works best on the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.
• Download as PDF: Take advantage of high-resolution PDF downloads for your scanned documents.
• Download important documents: While scans are retained in your dashboard, we recommend downloading and backing up critical documents to your own storage.
• Organize with archive: Use the archive feature to keep your active inbox focused on current items while preserving access to historical mail.
• Request scans early: Do not wait to request scans. The sooner you scan your mail, the sooner you have digital access to take action.

For help with viewing your mail or reporting scan issues, visit our Help Center or submit a support ticket.