AIO 962 Fax Agony

Question

Since most PC users have answering machines, why does Dell market this AIO that doesn't work with an answering machine on the same line as the AIO? They should either warn us or offer a solution other than to install another phone line.

AirRider · Answer

The printer will work with an answering machine but you have to configure it so that there is enough time for the printer to hear the 8k tone so that it can then turn off the answering machine and recieve the fax- if your answering greeting comes on too soon it might be drowning out the fax tone.

tomcola · Answer

Thanks, AirRider, for your reply. My answering machine was set to pick up after 3 rings and the fax was set at 5. The answering machine always picked up the faxes. I reset it to the opposite and then the fax picks up and sends its tones into the ear of the caller.

Is there a splitter available that determines fax vs call and sends it to the appropriate device?

Printboy007 · Answer

'My answering machine was set to pick up after 3 rings and the fax was set at 5. The answering machine always picked up the faxes.'   This is the correct setup for what you are trying to do.  Are you sure that you have the Auto Answer button enabled on the front of the 962?  In this scenario, the answering machine will still answer the call, this is normal behavior.  However, as soon as the fax attempts to leave a message (incoming fax) the tones will alert the 962 to pick up, intercept and print the fax.

ShemyaSteve · Answer

This is good info, glad I went searching, I have asked dell support a similiar question and after their transmission of the on line help (no-help) info I am still waiting (2 days +).

The solution here sounds good and I will try it when I get home, but does it also work if the phone answering machine is in another room and not directly connected to the 962 (per documentation) ???

thanks in advance and have a great holiday

steve

AirRider · Answer

For the printer /fax to work with other devices,the devices must be on the same line.... all must be daisy chained together on the same line in order to work together. The answering machine must establish the initial connection and then the 962 has to hear the fax tone request (8k) to disconnect the rest of the downline ...if the answering machine plays its message too soon ..no tone heard. Distance isn't really a consideration for a phone line (about 500ft total max)so as long as its configured electrically , it can be in any room you want... unlike the USB connection to the printer (max 5m or 16 Ft without a hub) ....if the answering machine isn't connected to the printer electrically it cant communicate any information to it. It has to be on the same line.....think of the garden hose analogy for electrical /communication connections... if its not on the same tap; different water.

Phone line first -Printer--answering machine-then telephone.

And there is always Internet fax for those who tire of the phone line ---less machines /less things to go wrong and less paper /I personally use Genifax and leave the printing to a printer...only print out what I can use and not all of the spam.Preview the incomming and delete the rest ....no mess no frustration and bye bye to the unwanted clammering (after a while they seem to find a way get that ad in front of you for the service that you really need to hear about)..I remember walking into my fax room and shaking my head at all the wonderful useless reading...and garbage cans full of MY paper!!

http://www.omtool.com/products/genifax.cfm

Printboy007 · Answer

'It has to be on the same line.....think of the garden hose analogy for electrical /communication connections... if its not on the same tap; different water. Phone line first  -Printer--answering machine-then telephone.' Actually, this isn't entirely true with the 962.  The order of the devices in the chain is of no importance as long as all of the devices are configured to work on the same phone line (read: same phone number).  The 962 can be constantly monitoring the phone line regardless of your positioning of the telephony devices.  Realistically, you could have the answering machine set up in the kitchen, phones attached throughout different rooms in the house, and the 962 hooked up to the phone line in the office.  The fax behavior would still be identical to that of all 3 devices daisy chained together from one line jack in the wall.  Again, this is assuming you only have one phone line/number for the entire household.  If you have multiple different lines/numbers then you would need to adjust your devices accordingly...

AirRider · Answer

'Actually, this isn't entirely true with the 962. The order of the devices in the chain is of no importance as long as all of the devices are configured to work on the same phone line (read: same phone number). ' I agree and disagree I disagree with your statement as the type of connection determines the behavior and in your statement you confuse the two types of connections; series and parallel...if you have one phone line with three outlets or access points and plug one device into each outlet then the devices are connected in a parallel circuit ..if you use one access point and use a daisy chain they are connected in series ... 'The fax behavior would still be identical to that of all 3 devices daisy chained together from one line jack in the wall. ' This isn't the case and I agree that all will function ...but the 'behavior:' will be different. In the manual it shows how the SERIES circuit should be set up if you want the printer to turn off the answering machine ......From the 962 manual 'Make sure your printer is on, the answering machine is connected to the PHONE jack connector ( — left side connector) on the printer, and the Auto Answer LED is on. When a ring is detected, the answering machine picks up the call. If a fax is detected, the printer receives the fax and disconnects the answering machine. If a fax is not detected, the answering machine completes the call.' In the daisy chain you have to make sure that the answering machine answers first and then have the recorded message contain enough 'dead air' to allow the fax to listen for the fax tone once the answering machine establishes the connection. Ill post a little more on this tomorrow but its usually recommended to use the daisy chain from one access point unless you have distinctive ring which allows the fax and the answering machine to answer only their own ring..... Message Edited by AirRider on 01-02-2006 01:30 AMMessage Edited by AirRider on 01-02-2006 01:36 AM

Printboy007 · Answer

'I disagree with your statement as the  type of connection determines the behavior'   No, this is NOT true.  The type of connection makes no difference in the behavior of fax reception with the 962.  Series or parallel, it doesn't matter.   'In the daisy chain you have to make sure that the answering machine answers first and then have the recorded message contain enough 'dead air' to allow the fax to listen for the fax tone once the answering machine establishes the connection.'   You need to make sure that the answering machine is set to answer first in any scenario/setup for proper 'Auto Answer' fax reception with the 962 (unless of course your fax is set up for distinctive ring).  However, it's simply dependent on the settings on the answering machine itself (as well as the 962), NOT its position in the chain.  'Auto Answer' for fax reception isn't one bit different for daisy chain (series) vs. multiple different rooms of the house (parallel).  If the answering machine picks up the call first and 'Auto Answer' is enabled, the 962 will constantly monitor the active phone line regardless of where or how the devices are connected.  If it hears the fax tones at any time during the call (on any device, in any room), it will attempt to pick up and receive.  Try swapping the devices around if you don't believe me! ;) Message Edited by Printboy007 on 01-03-2006 01:37 AM

ShemyaSteve · Answer

Printboy007,   Thanks for the update,  will give it a try as I rather gave up hope.  It is not a hot button issue, just wanted it to work once to receive correspondence from an E_Purchase went bad.  Have a good 2006.   steve

AirRider · Answer

see below Message Edited by AirRider on 01-22-2006 12:04 PM

AirRider · Answer

see below Message Edited by AirRider on 01-22-2006 12:06 PM

AirRider · Answer

I agree that the fax will be answered in both cases and perhaps my statement should read 'considerations in setting up a message on your answering machine' or 'how the 962 can disconnect your answering machine when answering faxes' For those who do not have additional outlets for the phone and have to daisy chain their answering machine there is one difference. In the daisy chain the 962 can disconnect the answering machine since it is downline . In both scenarios one  factor to consider is the noise factor.There have been a few cases where the message came on too soon and was loud enough to drown out the fax tone request.... a simple fix in those cases was to add a few seconds of delay before their message started.(noise varies on different lines and the message can drown out the fax request) The 962 in either scenario will answer if it hears the tone ... and if daisy chained it will disconnect the answering machine .(a difference in behavior)If the answering machine isn't downline then the 962 will not be able to disconnect it and it will remain active and record the fax...do you not agree??

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AIO 962 Fax Agony

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