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MFC-5860CN

FAQs & Troubleshooting

FAQs & Troubleshooting

Set up an answering machine (TAD) to work on the same line as the Brother machine.

*The following steps pertain to physical telephone answering devices (TADs) only.


If you are using a voice mail service in stead of a physical answering machine, click here to see the details of how to use voice mail on the same line as the Brother machine.


If you are using a Distinctive Ring number (a second number on the same line) for receiving faxes, click here to see the details of Distinctive Ring and how to program it.



You can connect an external answering machine to the same line as your Brother machine. When someone dials the telephone/fax number, every telephone on the line, including the Brother machine, will ring according to the number of rings you set on the answering machine. If you do not answer the call, the answering machine will. As the outgoing message is playing, the Brother machine is silently listening for fax-sending tones. If the Brother machine detects fax-sending tones, it will take over the line and receive the fax. If the Brother machine does not detect fax-sending tones, the answering machine will continue to play the outgoing message so the caller can leave a message.


To set up an answering machine on the same line as the Brother machine, follow the instructions listed below:

  1. Connecting the answering machine to the Brother machine:

    1. Connect a telephone cord from the jack (socket) labeled "LINE" on the Brother machine directly to the telephone jack (socket) in the wall.
    2. Plug your answering machine directly into a telephone jack (socket) on the same line as your Brother machine or into your Brother machine's EXT jack (socket).
    3. Set the answering machine to answer in 4 rings or less.

    • Brother recommends setting your answering machine to answer in 2 or 3 rings. If the answering machine takes too long to answer, the transmitting fax machine may disconnect before the receiving Brother machine answers the call.

    • The Brother machine's Ring Delay setting does NOT apply when you use an external answering machine.

  2. Recording the outgoing message on the answering machine:

    1. Record 5 seconds of silence before you start speaking.

      *We recommend beginning the outgoing message with 5 seconds of silence because the Brother machine cannot detect fax sending tones over a resonant or loud voice. You can try omitting this pause, but if the Brother machine has trouble receiving, you should re-record the outgoing message with the pause included.

    2. Limit the speaking to 20 seconds.
    3. End the outgoing message by giving the Fax Receive Code for people sending manual faxes.

      For example, "After the beep, please leave a message or send a fax by pressing *51(*91 for New Zealand) and Start."


  3. Setting the Receive Mode on your Brother machine:

    For FAX-1360/FAX-1860C users:

    1. Press Receive Mode.
    2. Continue to press Receive Mode until External TAD appears. Press OK.
      After 2 seconds the screen returns to the date and time display, along with your new Receive Mode setting.

    For other users:

    1. Press Menu.
    2. Select Initial Setup => Receive Mode.
    3. Select the mode.
      • If External TAD is in the options, choose External TAD.
      • If not, choose Manual.
    4. Press Stop/Exit to exit the menu.

    If you chose Manual in STEP c, please follow the procedure below to turn on the Easy Receive (Fax Detect) feature.

    Turning On Easy Receive (Fax Detect)

    The Brother machine's Easy Receive (Fax Detect) feature allows you to receive faxes automatically, even if you lift the handset of a telephone that shares the line with your Brother machine or press the Brother machine's Speaker Phone key. All Brother fax machines are preprogrammed in the factory with the Easy Receive (Fax Detect) feature set to "On."

    After you lift the handset of an extension telephone on the same line as the Brother machine or press the Speaker Phone key, wait for the Brother machine to respond to the sending machine's fax tones ("Receiving" will appear on your Brother machine's display and you will hear fax tones over the extension phone's receiver or the Brother machine's speaker), then hang up the telephone's handset or press the Speaker Phone key again. The Brother machine will receive the fax.


    1. Press Menu.
    2. Select Fax => Setup Receive => Easy Receive (Fax Detect) => On.
    3. Press Stop/Exit to exit the menu.

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:

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