We actually need to fax!

[BrinkJ]

I need someone's help, please! I'm trying to sort out our ADSL cum Fax line, and I swear, something's going to get hurt if I can't get this stupid old technology to work.

We have a fax machine connected to the ADSL line, and a CISCO as our router. The ADSL is working fine, and I even get a near-perfect dial tone via the fax machine's EXT port, and the calling works just fine - UNTIL... well, until someone asks us to time-travel one century back and make us send a fax, because why would anyone in their right minds make use of a dreaded email, am I right? /sarcasm/

I've monitored the fax line's dial tone with a phone. All is well, before you start the dialing to start the transmission. When the transmission starts, for some odd reason the dial tone can't be accessed by the fax machine. The fax machine can't dial out, and won't receive faxes. It even shows "No Dialing Tone Detected".

What I've tried:

1. Test the Line for Faults - Results OK
2. Test Jacks - Results OK
3. Replace ALL POTS filters on line - Results OK
4. Test Dial Tone on all Ports after POTS - Results OK
5. Test telephony (101999) - Results OK
6. Test DIS via phone call to line - Results OK
7. Test other fax machines - Results BAD

Can someone please assist with a solution or some other perspective of troubleshooting this? It would seem like I'm too young to operate a fax machine...

Thanks!

 

[LazyLion]

Is there an option in the menu settings of the fax machine to go ahead and dial without dial tone?

 

[geezer]

You can perhaps check in the setup menu of the fax machine what line type was selected, being Tone or Pulse dialing. I really cannot remember what it should be, but you can possibly just change it to the opposite of what currently is selected.

 

[BrinkJ]

Is there an option in the menu settings of the fax machine to go ahead and dial without dial tone?

Doing that, all faxes result in "No Answer"

 

[BrinkJ]

You can perhaps check in the setup menu of the fax machine what line type was selected, being Tone or Pulse dialing. I really cannot remember what it should be, but you can possibly just change it to the opposite of what currently is selected.

Not working. Tried Pulse, and back to Tone. Same outcome.

 

[Geoff.D]

What about receiving a fax? Get someone to send you a fax -----
Is this a new fax machine?

Fax previously connected to a PABX? Set to dial "0" or some other digit for an external line?

Suppose I should not ask if anyone has taken a look at the fax machine's manual .....

 

[AchmatK]

Cant help with your problem but signed up with Mweb faxmail, load credit on account, send fax from any email client and attach documents to email, receive fax confirmation. Can even send a fax using the email on my phone.

Faxes can only be sent from the email address registered. Not sure if you can add more email addresses to send from the same fax account.

 

[The_Other]

Maybe the Fax is just broken? The pass thought works to the phone... but the actual fax module got damaged?

You know there are Fax to email services and email to Fax service that you can port your number and send and receive faxes.
I also daydream of the day faxes just DIE. But because it was classified as a secure delivery method... it is stick in around.

 

[moklet]

SARS still requires a fax when you register for e-filing. Stupid

 

[FNfal]

Have you tried it with out a filter ?

 

[chewiesw]

Test the FAX machine on a non adsl line.

 

[Drifter]

And here I thought FAX was used to circumvent the swear word filter.

 

[KingRat1]

Is it an ICASA approved fax? It might not recognize our dial tone.

 

[Geoff.D]

Test the FAX machine on a non adsl line.

Why?

OP has already shown that normal fixed voice services work .... Nothing to do with whether it is also a ADSL line ....

My fax machine (which incidentally is also a printer), works just fine. There are only two issues these days .... pulse/tone dialling and is the fax setup to work through a PABX/local telephone system or not. Real simple exercise to set up .....

Just about everything else is completely automatic.

 

[Geoff.D]

Is it an ICASA approved fax? It might not recognize our dial tone.

That is a stretch ....but I suppose with all the grey imports a remote possibility.

 

[jacojvv75]

if all else fails get a free fax to email nr,if you need one let me know

 

[kidcolt]

Try disconnecting the ADSL modem + filter and plug the fax machine directly into your line. Additionally, make sure your fax transmission settings are not forced to 33.6Kb/s. As some fax-2-email receivers and old fax machines do not support that speed. Try lowering your transmission speed to 9.6Kb/s.

 

[BrinkJ]

That is a stretch ....but I suppose with all the grey imports a remote possibility.

Yup, ICASA approved with stickers on. It previously worked (but yet again patchy). No faxes in, no faxes out.

 

[Trollsmite]

Hey bud.

Chuck that Fax system away and just get a cheap service called Fax to Email. Cheap and simple and it all works through an email system.

 

[kidcolt]

Mostly, clutching at straws all these changes/pseudo solutions you are suggesting.

IF the fax machine is actually working and not faulty, ALL you have to do is go through its configuration process.

Absolutely amazed at all the suggestions in this thread so far and the work-arounds! Does no one try and use the tools they have anymore?? What the H is wrong with getting a fax to work if it is not faulty??

I know most youngster's where never taught netiquette... so if you where not, try googling it. And if that is to much effort... insulting someone trying to helping the parent poster is not in-line with the spirit of community.

Additionally since I have ACTUALLY worked for a fax-2-email company and I should have a bit of experience supporting people having problems sending faxes. And would maybe just happen to know that removing unknowns from a equation... plus knowing that many new all-in-one devices force v.34 rather than allowing fall back to v.17 or v.29 is standard debugging.

Of-course, why would my *actual* experience with (PRI, BRI, SS7 links, T.38, etc) count against some random keyboard cowboy.