MFC-7420
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FAQs & Troubleshooting |
How do I set up an answering machine (TAD) to work on the same line as my Brother machine?
The following steps apply to physical telephone answering devices (TADs) only. If you have Voice Mail on the same telephone line as the Brother machine, there is a strong possibility that Voice Mail and the Brother machine will conflict with each other while receiving incoming calls. Depending on which of the 2 (Brother machine or voice mail) answers first, will determine where the incoming call will be received. Voice mail service can only be used with the Distinctive Ring feature. Please note that the Distinctive Ring function is not supported for some countries.
To set up an answering machine to share the telephone line with the Brother machine, please follow these instructions:
Physically connecting the answering machine to the Brother machine:
- Connect a telephone cord from the jack (socket) labeled LINE on the Brother machine directly to the telephone jack (socket) in the wall.
- Connect the answering machine's phone line from the jack (socket) labeled Telephone Line on the answering machine to the jack (socket) labeled EXT on the Brother machine. Double check that the TAD's phone line cord is plugged into the jack (socket) labeled Telephone Line and not Telephone Set on the TAD.
- To put the machine in TAD mode, press the MENU/SET and select Initial Setup, Receive Mode. Press the up or down navigation key (located above and below the MENU/SET key) to select "EXTERNAL TAD". Press MENU/SET and then STOP/EXIT.
When someone dials your telephone/fax number (to send a fax or to speak to you), all the telephones (including the fax) will ring according to the number of rings you set on the TAD (telephone answering device). If you do not answer the call, the TAD will answer. As your outgoing message is playing, the Brother machine is in the background, silently listening for fax tones. If the Brother machine hears fax tones, it will automatically go into the receive mode. If the Brother machine does not hear fax tones, it remains silent, allowing the caller to leave a message.
The answering machine (TAD) must answer within 4 rings. The recommended number of rings is 2 or 3. When faxes are being sent, fax tones are transmitted for approximately 40 seconds. If it takes the TAD too long to answer, the transmitting fax machine may disconnect before the receiving fax answers the call. We also recommend the TADs outgoing message be a maximum of 20 seconds with a 5-second pause before the message starts and to end your message by giving your Fax Receive Code for people sending manual faxes. For example, "After the beep, leave a message or to send a fax press *51 then the Start button". When they press *51, it will create a fax signal for their machine to send.
All fax machines are preprogrammed in the factory with an Easy Receive feature set to ON. When you use this feature, you don't have to press the Fax Receive Code (*51) when you answer a fax call on an extension or external telephone. Just wait for the fax machine to answer the call (you will hear fax tones) and then hang up the handset. The Brother machine will do the rest.
The Ring Delay setting of the Brother machine is NOT recognized when the unit is set in EXTERNAL TAD mode.
To set Easy Receive to "ON":
- If it is not illuminated in green, press the FAX mode key located under the LCD display.
- Press MENU/SET and select Fax, Setup Receive, Easy Receive.
- Press the up or down navigation key (keys located above and below the MENU/SET key) to select ON.
- Press the MENU/SET key.
- Press the STOP/EXIT key to exit. The LCD will return to date and time.
