How to Set Up a Fax Machine

HP Fax Machine Receiving a Fax

Fax machines are nearly essential in the home now for sending papers to businesses, offices and others in a timely fashion. Email has become the major form of communication for most businesses today. Since it is almost instant, we now want every communication that way. It is just faster. Fax machines also allow us to send information almost instantly. Fax machines are pretty simple. They make a copy of what you put into it and print it out at the number you dial. If you need to send someone a document quickly, using a fax machine would be ideal.

Things You'll Need

• Fax Machine
• Phone Jack
• Fax Paper
• Fax Ink

Instructions

1. 

   Lay out all of the components of your fax machine so you can see each piece. You should have the machine itself, a power cord, a telephone line cord, the receiver, the handset cord, the paper tray (if there is one), document tray (which is usually a metal piece), and ink.

2. 

   Install the ink. Open the front cover where all of the buttons are. You will see a colored button inside or lever to open the back cover. Use it. Some fax machines only have to be opened with the front cover. You will see a spot where the ink will go. One part of the ink roll goes in the front portion of the fax machine, and the other goes in the back portion of the fax machine. After you have inserted the ink roll properly, you need to close the back compartment and then the front.

3. 

   Install the paper tray. There should be tabs that insert on the machine. They should slide in relatively easy. You will hear them snap into place. This is where your fax paper will go to print incoming faxes and send sheets.

4. Add the document tray. This is where your outgoing faxes will be placed. This is the metal piece. Insert one side at a time to get it in safely.

5. Connect the handset cord. This cord has two phone jacks on it. One goes into the receiver, and the other into the left side of the fax machine.

6. Plug in the power cord and connect it to the proper port in the back of the fax machine. You will see that it will only fit into one port because of its shape.

7. Plug in the phone line into the nearest phone jack. Connect it to the fax machine in the back.

8. Add your fax paper to the paper tray. Test out your fax machine by sending a sample fax to a friend and having them return the favor.

Tips & Warnings

• Complete one step at a time.

• Even if you haven't done this before, you can with these steps.

• Never set up a fax machine during a thunder storm.