MFC-J497DW

FAQs & Troubleshooting

FAQs & Troubleshooting

I am experiencing issues sending a fax.

If you are experiencing issues sending faxes, follow the instructions listed below:

  1. Verify if your Brother machine has a dial tone.
    > Click here to see how to verify that the Brother machine has a dial tone.

     

    1. If there is dial tone, continue to STEP 4.
    2. If there is no dial tone, verify the telephone line cord is connected from the jack (socket) on the Brother machine (labeled "LINE" for some countries) directly to the wall jack (socket).

      If there are splitters, commshare devices, power strips. or surge protectors between the wall jack (socket) and the Brother machine, remove them. Removing the device that is connected between the wall jack (socket) and Brother machine assists in determining if the issue (no dial tone) is related to the device or the Brother machine.

      If you subscribe to DSL, VoIP or magicJack services, contact your service provider for connection instructions.

      VoIP (Voice over IP) is a type of phone system that uses an Internet connection, rather than a traditional phone line.

      If the line connection does not require any changes, continue to STEP 2.

      If the line connection required a correction, connect the line cord correctly and then try to listen for a dial tone.
      To protect your investment against power surges and lighting, Brother strongly recommends that you connect your machine to a surge protector. In particular we suggest that you use a surge protector that is compatible with both standard AC power cords and telephone line cords. Surge protectors equipped with telephone jacks (sockets) will assist in insulating your machine from any power surge that might travel through a telephone line.
  2. Verify the date and time is displayed on the machine's display (hereinafter called LCD).

     

    1. If the date and time show on the display, continue to STEP 3.
    2. If the LCD displays an error message, refer to the necessary solution that addresses the message that is appearing on the LCD.
    3. If the display is blank:

       

      1. Verify the power cord is connected to the AC power outlet (electrical socket). If the power cord is not connected plug the cord directly into a known working outlet.
      2. If the power cord is connected to a surge protector or power switch, remove the cord from that device and connect it directly to the outlet.
      3. If the display is still blank verify the machine is powered ON. The machine has a Power On/Off key located on the control panel.
  3. If there is still no dial tone, remove the telephone line cord from the wall jack (socket) and connect a known working extension phone with a known working telephone line cord to the same wall jack (socket). Lift the handset of the telephone and listen for a dial tone.

     

    1. If the telephone does not have dial tone, the issue is related to the phone line or wall jack (socket). Contact your local telephone provider.
    2. If the telephone has a dial tone, disconnect the telephone line cord from the telephone and connect it to the jack (socket) on the Brother machine (labeled "LINE" for some countries). Then verify whether your Brother machine has a dial tone.
    3. If you do not hear a dial tone your machine may require service.
      > Contact Brother Customer Service from "Contact Us".
  4. (Available only for some countries)
    If you are having an issue sending a fax to all numbers, change the TONE/PULSE setting by following the instructions listed below:

     

    1. Press Menu or Settings.
    2. Select Initial Setup => Tone/Pulse.
    3. Select Pulse or Tone.
      If you are unsure which setting to use, contact your local telephone provider.
    4. Press OK.
    5. Press Stop/Exit.
  5. If you are having an issue sending a fax to one particular number, verify the number is a working fax number.
     
  6. If you are using a DSL line, follow the steps listed below. If you are not using a DSL line continue to STEP 7.

     

    1. Turn off the DSL modem or disconnect its power supply.
    2. Disconnect the DSL modem from the telephone line filter.
    3. Remove the filter from the wall jack (socket).
    4. Connect the Fax machine to the wall jack (socket).
    5. Test by sending a fax. If the fax is sent successfully you'll need to contact your DSL provider for assistance in resolving the interference from the DSL system. If the issue continues, continue to STEP 7.
    If you are unable to perform the troubleshooting steps listed below, contact your DSL provider for assistance.
  7. If you are having issues sending or receiving a fax due to possible interference on the telephone line or if you are using a VoIP system, we recommend changing the modem speed to minimize errors in fax operations.
    > Click here to adjust this setting to Basic (for VoIP).
    • VoIP (Voice over IP) is a type of phone system that uses an Internet connection, rather than a traditional phone line.
    • Basic (forVoIP) reduces the modem speed to 9600 bps and turns off Error Correction Mode (ECM).
    • (Available only for Brother machines with color fax function.)
      Basic (forVoIP) turns off color fax receiving. The ECM feature is only available for color fax-sending.
  8. Send a fax using the flatbed scanner glass:

     

    1. The automatic document feeder (ADF) must be empty when faxing from the flatbed scanner glass.
    2. Lift the document cover and then using the guidelines on the left, top the document face down on the scanner glass. Close the document cover.
    3. Send a fax from your Brother machine.
      > Click here to see how to send a fax from your Brother machine.
  9. Sending a fax using the ADF (automatic document feeder):

     

    1. Before placing your document(s) in the Automatic Document Feeder (ADF), verify the LCD displays the date and time. Place a document in the Automatic Document Feeder (ADF). Verify the LCD changes to "ADF Ready". (The message may vary depending on your Brother machine.) If the display changes, continue to STEP 10.
    2. If the display continues to show the date and time, verify the document(s) meet the required specifications for ADF use.
      > Click here to see details of the document(s) meet the required specifications for ADF use.
      If the width of the document is too small, the document sensors will not "sense" the document and the fax machine will not transmit. The document must be wide enough to reach the sensors to inform the machine there is a document to send. You will need to use a wider sheet of paper. If the paper meets the specifications and the LCD remains on date and time when a document is placed in the ADF your machine may require service.
      > Contact Brother Customer Service from "Contact Us".
  10. If you are using access numbers for calling cards, long distance security codes, pressing 9 to access the outside line, etc. and a pause is required between the dialing of those numbers and the fax number press Redial/Pause when needed. You can press Redial/Pause as many times as needed to increase the length of the pause.
     
  11. When sending a fax manually, make sure you wait to hear the fax tones of the receiving fax unit before pressing Black (Mono) Start or Color (Colour) Start.

    If you continue to have issues sending faxes after following the steps listed above your machine may require service.
    > Contact Brother Customer Service from "Contact Us".

If your question was not answered, have you checked other FAQs?

Have you checked the manuals?

If you need further assistance, please contact Brother customer service:

Related Models

MFC-J491DW, MFC-J497DW

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