MFC-8950DW

FAQs & Troubleshooting

FAQs & Troubleshooting
  • Date: 05/10/2012
  • ID: faq00000301_032

I am experiencing problems sending a fax.

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


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

    1. If there is a dial tone, go to STEP 5.

    2. If there is no dial tone, verify the telephone line cord is connected from the jack(socket) on the Brother machine labeled LINE 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, please remove them. Removing the device that is connected between the wall jack(socket) and Brother machine assists in determining if the problem (no dial tone) is related to the device or the Brother machine.

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

      If the line connection required a correction, connect the line cord correctly and then try to listen for a dial tone. If there is a dial tone, go to STEP 5. If there is still no dial tone, go to STEP 2.

 

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.

  1. Verify the date and time is displayed on the LCD.

    1. If the date and time show on the display, go to STEP 3.

    2. If the LCD displays an error message, refer to the necessary solution for the message that is appearing on the LCD.
    3. If the display is blank:

      i. Verify the power cord is connected to the AC power outlet. If the power cord is not connected plug the cord directly into a known working outlet

      ii. If the power cord is connected to a sure protector or power switch, remove the cord from that device and connect it directly to the outlet

      iii. If the display is still blank verify the machine is powered ON.

  1. (For some countries)
    Change the Tone/Pulse setting by following the instructions listed below:
    *If your Brother machine has a touchscreen, please follow the steps under "For touchscreen models" below.

    1. Press Menu.
    2. Press the Up or Down arrow key to choose Initial Setup. Press OK.
    3. Press the Up or Down arrow key to choose Tone/Pulse. Press OK.
    4. Press the Up or Down arrow key to choose Pulse (or Tone). Press OK.
    5. Press Stop/Exit.

    <For touchscreen models>
    1. Press Menu .
    2. Press the Up or Down arrow key to display Initial Setup. Press Initial Setup.
    3. Press the Up or Down arrow key to display Tone/Pulse. Press Tone/Pulse.
    4. Press Pulse (or Tone).
    5. Press Stop/Exit.
  1. 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 the local telephone company for assistance.
    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. Then check if your Brother machine has a dial tone.
    3. If you do not hear a dial tone your machine may require service. Please contact Brother Customer Service from "Contact Us".

  1. If you are having a problem sending a fax to one particular number, verify the number is a working fax number.
  1. If you are using a DSL line, follow the steps listed below. If you are not using a DSL line skip 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 problem continues, go to STEP 7.

     

If you are unable to perform the troubleshooting steps listed below, please contact your DSL provider for assistance.

  1. If you are using Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), (a technology that allows you to make telephone calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (or analog) phone line, review the information listed below.  If you are not using VoIP go to STEP 8.

    Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is not a marketed feature of your Brother machine, however there is a compatibility setting available with this machine that may assist with sending and receiving faxes when using VoIP. Adjusting this setting lowers the baud rate (modem speed) and turns ECM (Error Correction Mode) Off. To adjust this setting follow the steps listed below
    *If your Brother machine has a touchscreen, please follow the steps of "For touchscreen models" below.

    1. Press Menu .
    2. Press the Up or Down arrow key to choose Fax. Press OK.
    3. Press the Up or Down arrow key to choose Miscellaneous. Press OK.
    4. Press the Up or Down arrow key to choose Compatibility. Press OK.
    5. Press the Up or Down arrow key to choose Basic(for VoIP). Press OK.
    6. Press Stop/Exit.

    <For touchscreen models>
    1. Press Menu .
    2. Press the Up or Down arrow key to display Fax. Press Fax.
    3. Press the Up or Down arrow key to display Miscellaneous. Press Miscellaneous.
    4. Press Compatibility.
    5. Press Basic(for VoIP).
    6. Press Stop/Exit.

     

  • Basic reduces the modem speed to 9600 bps.
  • When you change the compatibility setting to Basic(for VoIP), the ECM feature is only available for color fax sending.
  1. Send a fax using the flat bed scanner glass:


    1. The ADF(automatic document feeder) must be empty when faxing from the flat bed scanner glass.
    2. To send a fax using the scanner glass (flat bed), lift the document cover and then using the guidelines on the left, center the document face down on the scanner glass. Close the document cover. Press Fax located below the LCD display if it is not illuminated in blue (For touchscreen models, press Fax on the touchscreen.). Dial the fax number using the dial pad and then press Start.

      * If you are sending a single page and pressed Start, press 2 (For touchscreen models, press No) or Start again. The MFC will begin to dial.

      * If sending multiple pages and you pressed Start, press 1 (For touchscreen models, press Yes), lift the document cover, remove the first document and place the second page on the scanner glass. Press OK. (For touchscreen models, press Start.) The Brother machine starts scanning the second document. (Repeat this procedure for each additional page.) When all documents have been scanned press Start and the machine will begin to dial.
  1. 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 Enter Fax No..(The message may vary depending on your Brother machine.)  If the display changes, go to STEP 10.
    2. If the display continues to show the date and time, verify the documents are between 5.8 and 8.5 inches (147.3 and 215.9 mm) wide and 5.8 and 14 inches (147.3 and 355.6 mm) long.  If the document is less than 5.8 inches wide, 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. Please contact Brother Customer Service from "Contact Us".
  1. 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. Redial/Pause will insert a 3.5 second (for UK: 2.8 second) pause between numbers. You can press Redial/Pause as many times as need to increase the length of the pause.
  1. When sending a fax manually, make sure you wait to hear the fax tones of the receiving fax unit before pressing Start.

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

Related FAQs

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-8510DN, MFC-8512DN, MFC-8710DW, MFC-8712DW, MFC-8810DW, MFC-8910DW, MFC-8912DW, MFC-8950DW, MFC-8950DWT, MFC-8952DW, MFC-8952DWT

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