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How does the "FAX/TEL" Mode work?

This FAX/TEL mode allows the FAX and the telephone to share the same telephone line.

Before choosing the "FAX/TEL" Mode, please review the following information:

  • You cannot receive voice messages on either voice mail or an answering machine when choosing this mode.
  • The remote access codes will not be recognized on an external telephone. 
  • An extension telephone is any telephone that is plugged into a separate wall jack on the same line as the FAX.
  • An external telephone is a telephone that is connected to your FAX.

 

The F/T Mode is used to allow the fax machine and the telephones to share the same telephone line. When a call comes in, the fax machine and all extension telephones on that line will ring according to the number of rings you have set for the Ring Delay.
When the Ring Delay is completed, the fax machine will answer the call and determine if it is a fax call or a telephone (voice) call.
The fax machine can determine this by the signal it is receiving on the telephone line. If someone is sending a fax automatically , the sending fax machine will transmit a fax tone (a series of beeps every 3 seconds).
If your fax machine hears these tones, it will receive the fax.


If the fax machine does not hear any fax tones, it assumes it is a telephone (voice) call and will begin ringing the F/T ring tones (double ring) for the length of time you selected for the F/T Ring Time. These tones will only ring on the fax machine's handset (extension or external phones will not ring). At the end of the F/T ring time the fax machine will go into the receive mode in order to receive a manual fax.
(If the call was a voice call and was not answered, the caller will hear the fax receive tones also).

  • If you answer the call before the fax machine(during the ring delay period) and determine it is a fax, you can transfer the fax to the fax machine for receiving.

  • If you answer the call on an "extension" phone and hear a beep every 3 seconds (automatic fax) or silence (manual fax), press *51 or *91 for New Zealand (remote activation code) on the telephone keypad, wait to hear the fax machine turn on (chirping sounds) and then hang up.

  • If you answer on the handset of the fax machine and hear a beep every 3 seconds or silence, press the Fax Start or Start/Copy key on the control panel of the fax machine and then hang up the handset.

  • If you answer a call on an "extension" phone during the F/T Ring Time, you will hear the F/T ring tones.
    To release the call from the fax machine, press #51 or #91 for New Zealand (remote deactivation code) on the telephone keypad and you can speak to the calling party.

  • If you pick up the handset of the fax machine during the F/T ring time, you may talk to the calling party immediately.

The Remote Activation/Deactivation code will not work on external telephones.

 

<Step1>

To program your fax machine to function correctly in the F/T (FAX/TEL) mode you must first set the answer mode:

  1. Press the Receive Mode key on the control panel. The LCD will show the current setting.
  2. Continue to press Receive Mode until FAX/TEL appears on the LCD. After two seconds, the LCD returns to the date and time.

 

<Step2>

Next, you will need to set the Ring Delay. When a call comes in and the fax machine is set to FAX/TEL Mode, all phones on this line will ring the number of times you selected in Ring Delay.

  1. PressMenu/Set, 2, 1.
  2. Press the up or down navigation key to select how many times the line rings before the fax machine answers.
  3. Press Menu/Set.
  4. Press Stop/Exit

For the models with "Toll Saver": Toll Saver must be OFF to use the Ring Delay setting.

 

<Step3>

Once the unit answers the call, it will determine if it is a fax or a telephone (voice) call by listening for fax tones (a series of beeps every 3 seconds). If your fax machine hears these tones, it will receive the fax. If the unit does not hear any fax tones, it will assume it is a telephone (voice) call and will alert you to the call through "special" ring tones (double rings). These tones will ring on the fax machine's handset only (extension or external phones will not ring).

However, you can answer the call on any extension phone. The length of time that the "special" ring tones occur is called the F/T Ring Time. Do the following to set the F/T Ring Time:

 

  1. Press Menu/Set, 2, 2.
  2. Press the up or down navigation key to select how long the faxmachine will ring to alert you that you have a voice call (20, 30, 40 or 70 seconds) (20, 30, 40 or 55 for New Zealand).
  3. Press Menu/Set.
  4. Press Stop/Exit

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

FAX-878

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