How to Connect a Fax Machine to a Home Phone

Connecting your fax machine to your home phone line.

Fax machines are usually a standard piece of office machine in many businesses and homes. Fax machines are used to send documents to anyone around the world. Most fax machines are set up with the option to provide verification that the document was sent. You can hook your fax machine as a stand-alone, to an answering machine or a standard telephone line.

Things You'll Need

• Telephone cord
• Answering machine, if applicable
• Telephone, if applicable

Instructions

1. Locate the fax machine's telephone jacks and power cord connections. Usually, the connections are located on the back of the machine or on the side. Most fax machines have break-off tabs which protect the telephone jacks; gently remove the tabs from the slots, if your machine has them.

2. Attach the power cord to the fax machine plug outlet and plug the other end in a grounded electrical outlet.

3. Take your incoming telephone line from your phone wall jack and plug it in the telephone jack on the fax machine. The jack on most fax machines is labeled "L" or "LINE."

4. Take another telephone cord and plug it into the second jack on the fax machine that is labeled "TEL." Plug the other end of the cord into the answering machine or extension telephone.

5. Turn on the power on your fax machine. If you hear a dial tone, your fax machine is ready.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are connecting your fax machine with an answering machine, refer to your owner's manual. Some fax machines require that you set up the fax machine to differentiate the data tone (from the fax) and voice tone.