It should be correct to send some image data, and end with the image data signal end message. However, some T.38 implementations misbehave when this is all that is sent. Immediately following the signal end message with a no-signal indicator message seems to greatly improve compatibility with some T.38 implementations.

T.38 defines hdlc-fcs-OK, hdlc-fcs-OK-sig-end, hdlc-sig-end, and no-signal messages. Always end periods of HDLC transmission with either a hdlc-fcs-OK, hdlc-sig-end, no-signal sequence or a hdlc-fcs-OK-sig-end, no-signal sequence. Do not send hdlc-sig-end after hdlc-fcs-OK-sig-end. A number of T.38 implementations choke on this sequence, even though it looks fairly harmless.