How Can I Enable My Fax to Receive a Fax?

Make sure the fax is connected properly to ensure a successful fax transmission.

Even with email and other more advanced modes of communication, faxing remains standard for transmitting certain documents, especially those that require signatures. To enable a fax machine to accept fax transmissions, the fax must be set up properly, connected to a phone jack and telephone line. There are other details that must also be accounted for before the fax can print the transmission properly.

Things You'll Need

• 2 to 3 phone cords
• Paper
• Ink cartridge

Instructions

1. Plug in the fax machine and turn it on.

2. Connect the fax to the phone jack by inserting one end of the phone cord into the port on the fax machine labeled "1-Line or Line." This port may also have a graphic of a telephone wall jack above it. Plug the other end of the phone cord into the phone jack. The fax, or multifunction printer with a fax, must be plugged into the phone jack in order to receive the fax transmission.

3. Connect the home or business telephone to the fax machine using another phone cord and plugging the cord into the port on the fax machine labeled "2-EXT or EXT" (this port may have a graphic of a telephone above it). If using an answering machine, connect the answering machine to the fax with a phone cord instead of the telephone. Then connect the telephone to the answering machine with a third phone cord. This step is necessary only if the fax and telephone share the same line.

4. Insert paper into the tray and make sure the fax has plenty of ink. The fax can only print the transmission if paper and ink are available.

5. Make sure the phone is not busy. If the fax machine is sharing a line with the home or business telephone service, an incoming fax transmission will also cause the phone to ring. That ring will then stop and a fax will be transmitted and printed.

6. Change the number of rings required before the fax answers the phone. A fax machine is set to answer a call after so many rings and then accept a transmitted fax. The procedure to change this option differs per fax machine; check the manual if necessary.

References

• HP: HP Officejet 5500 Series, 33, 95, 96
• Lexmark: Lexmark Pinnacle Pro901, 5-6