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General Fax Troubleshooting Steps To Take On Dell Multi-Function Laser Printers

Summary: Learn how to troubleshoot Dell Multi-Function Laser Printer fax issues.

This article applies to   This article does not apply to 

Symptoms

Not applicable

Cause

Not applicable

Resolution

Table of Contents:

  1. Verify the Phone Number
  2. Check the Phone Line
  3. Verify Line Type and Mode
  4. Disable Error Correction Mode (ECM).
  5. Lower the Baud Rate

Verify the Phone Number

Verify the fax number being used is valid. If the fax still does not send, try sending a fax to a known good fax machine. If the fax goes through, the issue is with the receiving fax machine.

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Check the Phone Line

Check the telephone line for any static or a busy signal; if so, check with the phone company. Check that the phone cord is plugged in the correct port on the back of the printer.

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Verify Line Type and Mode

Check that there is no answering machine, credit card machine, or multiple filters on the line. If they do, then disconnect them, and try to send the fax again. Verify the mode that is needed for the environment.

  • Fax Mode: Answers all calls made to this line (good for a dedicated line).
  • Tel Mode: Only answers Fax's if you tell it too. ) to do this you pick up the phone hooked directly into the fax machine. Check that On Hook Dial is enabled or Yes, and when you start to hear tones you press the Start button then fax.
  • Ans/Fax Mode: The fax machine monitors the line to see if it is a Fax tone, to know whether to answer it or not, this mode does not work with a Serial Phone Connection.
  • DRPD: The phone company must install the Distinctive Ring Pattern Detection the Fax only picks up if it gets the Ring ton it looks for the patterns.
Distinctive Ring Pattern

Dell E514dw Multifunction Printer 

  • Press Fax
  • Press Menu
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to display the Fax option, and then press OK.
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to display the Setup Receive option, and then press OK.
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to display the Receive Mode option, and then press OK.
    Note: If you cannot change the Receive Mode option, check that the Distinctive Ring feature is set to Off.
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to select the Fax only, Fax/Tel, External TAD, or Manual option, and then press OK.
  • Press Cancel

Dell E515dn, E515dw Multifunction Printer

  • Press Fax
  • Press Menu
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to display the Fax option, and then press OK.
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to display the Setup Receive option, and then press OK.
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to display the Receive Mode option, and then press OK.
    Note: If you cannot change the Receive Mode option, check that the Distinctive Ring feature is set to Off.
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to select the Fax only, Fax/Tel, External TAD, or Manual option, and then press OK.
  • Press Cancel

Dell 1125 Multifunctional Laser Printer

  • Press the Right Arrow until Fax appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right Arrow until Fax Defaults appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right Arrow until Other Settings appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right Arrow until Receive Mode appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right Arrow until the Mode of your choice (Fax, Tel, Tel/Fax, and DRPD) press the Check Mark.
  • Attempt to send the fax again

Dell B1165nfw Multifunction Mono Laser Printer

  • Press the Fax Option and then press Menu.
  • Press the Right Arrow until Fax Setup appears, and then press OK.
  • Press the Right Arrow until Receiving appears, and then press OK.
  • Press the Right Arrow until Receive Mode appears, and then press OK.
  • Press the Right Arrow until the Mode of your choice (Fax, Tel, Tel/Fax, and DRPD) and press OK.
  • Attempt to send the fax again

Dell 1355cn, 1355cnw Color Laser Printer

  • Press the Menu button.
  • Press the Down Arrow until the System appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until the Admin Menu appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until Fax Settings appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Check Mark on Receive mode.
  • Press the Down Arrow until the Mode of your choice (Fax, Tel, Tel/Fax, and DRPD) and press OK.
  • Attempt to send the fax again

Dell C1765NF, C1765NF, C1765NFW MFP Laser Printer

  • Press the Menu button.
  • Press the Down Arrow until the System appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until the Admin Menu appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until Fax Settings appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Check Mark on Receive mode.
  • Press the Down Arrow until the Mode of your choice (Fax, Tel, Tel/Fax, and DRPD) and press OK.
  • Attempt to send the fax again

Dell 1815dn Multifunction Mono Laser Printer

  • Press the Right Arrow to highlight Menu, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right Arrow to highlight Fax Defaults, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right Arrow to highlight Receive Mode, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right Arrow to highlight the Mode of your choice (Fax, Tel, Tel/Fax, and DRPD) then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Cancel button to exit.

Dell 2135cn Color Laser Printer

  • Press the Down Arrow button until Setup is indicated, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow button to scroll to Admin Menu, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow button to scroll to Fax Settings, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Up or Down Arrow button to scroll to Receive Mode, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right or Left Arrow button to change the setting to the Mode of your choice (Fax, Tel, Tel/Fax, and DRPD) then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Back button to exit out of this setting.

Dell 2155cn, 2155cdn Color Laser Printer

  • Press the Menu button.
  • Press the Down Arrow until the System appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until the Admin Menu appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until Fax Settings appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Check Mark on Receive mode.
  • Press the Down Arrow until the Mode of your choice (Fax, Tel, Tel/Fax, and DRPD) and press OK.
  • Attempt to send the fax again

Dell 2335dn Multifunctional Laser Printer

  • Press the Right or Left button to highlight Setup, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right or Left button to highlight Fax Defaults, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right or Left button to highlight Receive Mode or DRPD Mode, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right or Left button to highlight the Mode of your choice (Fax, Tel, Tel/Fax, and DRPD) then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Cancel button to exit.

Dell 2355dn Multifunction Mono Laser Printer

  • Press Setup
  • Press Machine Setup and then press Next.
  • Press Default Settings
  • Press Fax Default and then press Common.
  • Press Receive Mode
  • Select the Mode of your choice (Fax, Tel, Tel/Fax, and DRPD).

Dell 3115cn Color Laser Printer

  • Press the Down Arrow button until Setup is indicated, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow button to scroll to Admin Menu, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow button to scroll to Fax Settings, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Up or Down Arrow to scroll to Receive Mode, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right or Left Arrow button to change the setting to the Mode of your choice. (Fax, Tel, Tel/Fax, and DRPD) then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Back button to exit out of this setting.

Dell C3765dnf Color Laser Printer

  • Press the Info Button.
  • Press the Tools tab.
  • Press Admin Settings
  • Press Fax Settings
  • Press Incoming Defaults and then select Receive Mode.
  • Select the Mode of your choice (Fax, Tel, Tel/Fax, and DRPD).
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Disable Error Correction Mode (ECM)

Dell E514dw Multifunction Printer

  • Press Menu
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to display the Fax option and then press OK.
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to display the Miscellaneous option, and then press OK.
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to display the Compatibility option and then press OK.
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to select basic (for VOIP) option and then press OK.
    Note: Selecting Basic (for VoIP) reduces the modem speed to 9600 bps and turn off Error Correction Mode.
  • Press Cancel

Dell E515dn, E515dw Multifunction Printer

  • Press Menu
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to display the Fax option and then press OK.
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to display the Miscellaneous option, and then press OK.
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to display the Compatibility option and then press OK.
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to select basic (for VOIP) option and then press OK.
    Note: Selecting Basic (for VoIP) reduces the modem speed to 9600 bps and turn off Error Correction Mode.
  • Press Cancel

Dell 1125 Multifunctional Laser Printer

  • Press the Right Arrow until Fax appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right Arrow until Advanced Fax appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right Arrow until ECM Mode appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right Arrow until Off appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Attempt to send the fax again

Dell B1165nfw Multifunction Mono Laser Printer

  • Press the Fax Option and then press Menu.
  • Press the Right Arrow until Fax Setup appears, and then press OK.
  • Press the Right Arrow until Sending appears, and then press OK.
  • Press the Right Arrow until ECM Mode appears, and then press OK.
  • Press the Right Arrow until Off appears, and then press OK.
  • Attempt to send the fax again

Dell 1355cn, 1355cnw Color Laser Printer

  • Press the Menu button.
  • Press the Down Arrow until the System appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until the Admin Menu appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until Fax Settings appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until ECM appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until Off appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Attempt to send the fax again

Dell C1765NF, C1765NF, C1765NFW MFP Laser Printer

  • Press the Menu button.
  • Press the Down Arrow until the System appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until the Admin Menu appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until Fax Settings appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until ECM appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until Off appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Attempt to send the fax again

Dell 1815dn Multifunction Mono Laser Printer

  • Press the Right or Left button to highlight Menu, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right or Left button to highlight Advanced Fax, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right or Left button to highlight ECM Mode, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right or Left button to highlight Off, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Cancel button to exit.

Dell 2135cn Color Laser Printer

  • Press the Down Arrow button until Setup is indicated, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow button to scroll to Admin Menu, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow button to scroll to Fax Settings, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Up or Down Arrow button to scroll to ECM, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right Or Left Arrow button to change the setting to Off, then press the Check Mark.
  • Turn the printer off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on for the settings to take effect.

Dell 2155cn, 2155cdn Color Laser Printer

  • Press Setup
  • Press Machine Setup and then select Next.
  • Press the Down Arrow until Fax Setup appears, then press Fax Setup.
  • Press the Down Arrow until ECM Mode appears, then press ECM Mode.
  • Press Off
  • Attempt to send the fax again

Dell 2335dn Multifunctional Laser Printer

  • Press the Right or Left Arrow buttons until Setup is highlighted, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Up or Down Arrow buttons until Fax Setup is highlighted, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Up or Down Arrow buttons until ECM Mode is highlighted, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Up or Down Arrow buttons until Off is highlighted, then press the Check mark.
  • Press the Cancel button to exit.

Dell 2355dn Multifunction Mono Laser Printer

  • Press Setup
  • Press Machine Setup and then select Next.
  • Press the Down Arrow until Fax Setup appears, then press Fax Setup.
  • Press the Down Arrow until ECM Mode appears, then press ECM Mode.
  • Press Off
  • Attempt to send the fax again

Dell 3115cn Color Laser Printer

  • Power off the printer
  • Close all printer covers and doors.
  • Hold down the Up and Down buttons on the printer and power the printer on.
  • Release your fingers from the keys when the message Please wait… appears. Customer Mode, FAX/Scanner Diag and Printer Diag are displayed.
  • Press the Check Mark button to select Fax/Scanner Diag. The LCD displays Please Wait… for a brief period, then displays Fax/Scanner Diag and Information.
  • Press the Up and Down button until Parameter is indicated, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Check Mark to select Fax Parameter.
  • Press the Up or Down button until Capability ECM is indicated, then press the Check Mark. The default setting is Enable.
  • Press the Up or Down button until Disable is indicated, then press the Check Mark. An asterisk appears next to Disable.
  • Power the printer off then on

Dell 3333, 3335dn Mono Laser Printer

  • Press Menu and then press Settings.
  • Press Fax Settings
  • Press the green arrow next to Analog Fax Setup.
  • Press Fax Send Settings
  • Press Enable ECM and select Off.

Dell B3465dn Mono Laser Multifunction Printer

  • Press Menu and then press Settings.
  • Press Fax Settings
  • Press the green arrow next to Analog Fax Setup.
  • Press Fax Send Settings
  • Press Enable ECM and select Off.

Dell C3765dnf Color Laser Printer

  • Press the Info button.
  • Press the Tools Tab.
  • Press Admin Settings
  • Press Fax Settings
  • Press Transmission Defaults
  • Press ECM and select Off.

Dell 5535dn Mono Laser MFP

  • Press Menu and then press Settings.
  • Press Fax Settings
  • Press the green arrow next to Analog Fax Setup.
  • Press Fax Send Settings
  • Press Enable ECM and select Off.

Dell B5465dnf Mono Laser Printer MFP

  • Press Menu and then press Settings.
  • Press Fax Settings
  • Press the green arrow next to Analog Fax Setup.
  • Press Fax Send Settings
  • Press Enable ECM and select Off.

Dell S2815dn Smart MFP printer, Dell S2825cdn Smart MFP Laser Printer, Dell H815dw Cloud MFP Printer, Dell H625cdw Cloud MFP Laser Printer, and Dell H825cdw Cloud MFP Laser Printer

  • Select the Info Key.
  • Select the Tools Tab.
  • Select Admin Settings
  • Select Fax Settings
  • Select Transmission Defaults
  • Scroll Down with the arrow tab.
  • You find the ECM configuration here.
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5. Lower the Baud Rate

Dell E514dw Multifunction Printer

  • Press Menu
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to display the Fax option and then press OK.
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to display the Miscellaneous option, and then press OK.
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to display the Compatibility option and then press OK.
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to display the High, Normal, or basic (for VOIP) option and then press OK.
  • Press Cancel

Dell E515dn, E515dw Multifunction Printer

  • Press Menu
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to display the Fax option and then press OK.
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to display the Miscellaneous option, and then press OK.
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to display the Compatibility option and then press OK.
  • Press the Up or Down arrow to display the High, Normal, or basic (for VOIP) option and then press OK.
  • Press Cancel

Dell 1125 Multifunctional Laser Printer

  • Press the Right Arrow until Fax appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right Arrow until Advanced Fax appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right Arrow until Modem Speed appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right Arrow to select the baud rate of the internal modem, and then press the Check Mark.

Dell 1355cn, 1355cnw Color Laser Printer

  • Press the Menu button.
  • Press the Down Arrow until the System appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until the Admin Menu appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until Fax Settings appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until Modem Speed appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until 9.6 appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Attempt to send the fax again

Dell C1765NF, C1765NF, C1765NFW MFP Laser Printer

  • Press the Menu button.
  • Press the Down Arrow until the System appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until the Admin Menu appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until Fax Settings appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until Modem Speed appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until 9.6 appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Attempt to send the fax again

Dell 1815dn Multifunction Mono Laser Printer

  • Press the Right or Left button to highlight Menu, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right or Left button to highlight Advanced Fax, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right or Left button to highlight Modem Speed, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right or Left button to highlight 9.6 or 4.8, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Cancel button to exit.

Dell 2135cn Color Laser Printer

  • Press the Down Arrow button until Setup is indicated, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow button to scroll to Admin Menu, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow button to scroll to Fax Settings, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Up or Down Arrow button to scroll to Modem Speed, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Right or Left Arrow button to change the setting to 9.6, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Back button until you are back at the Ready menu.

Dell 2155cn, 2155cdn Color Laser Printer

  • Press the Menu button.
  • Press the Down Arrow until the System appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until the Admin Menu appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until Fax Settings appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until Modem Speed appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Down Arrow until 9.6 appears, and then press the Check Mark.
  • Attempt to send the fax again

Dell 2335dn Multifunctional Laser Printer

  • Press the Left or Right Arrow buttons until Setup is highlighted, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Up or Down Arrow buttons until Fax Setup is highlighted, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Up or Down Arrow buttons until Modem Speed is highlighted, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Up or Down Arrow buttons until 9.6 or 4.8 are highlighted, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Cancel button.

Dell 2355dn Multifunction Mono Laser Printer

  • Press Setup
  • Press Machine Setup and then select Next.
  • Press the Down Arrow until Fax Setup appears, then press Fax Setup.
  • Press the Down Arrow until Modem Speed appears, then press Modem Speed.
  • Set the modem speed to 9.6.
  • Attempt to send the fax again

Dell 3115cn Color Laser Printer

  • Power off the printer
  • Close all printer covers and doors.
  • Hold down the Up and Down buttons on the printer and power the printer on.
  • Release your fingers from the keys when the message Please wait… appears. Customer Mode, FAX/Scanner Diag and Printer Diag are displayed.
  • Press the Check Mark button to select Fax/Scanner Diag. The LCD displays Please Wait… for a brief period, then displays Fax/Scanner Diag and Information.
  • Press the Up and Down button until Parameter is indicated, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Check Mark to select Fax Parameter.
  • Press the Up or Down arrow button until G3M Baud Rate Fix is indicated, then press the Check Mark.
  • Press the Up or Down button until 9600 bps is indicated, then press the Check Mark.
  • Power the printer off then on

Dell 3333, 3335dn Mono Laser Printer

  • Press Menu and then press Settings.
  • Press Fax Settings
  • Press the green arrow next to Analog Fax Setup.
  • Press Fax Send Settings
  • Change the Max Speed to 9600.

Dell B3465dn Mono Laser Multifunction Printer

  • Press Menu and then press Settings.
  • Press Fax Settings
  • Press the green arrow next to Analog Fax Setup.
  • Press Fax Send Settings
  • Change the Max Speed to 9600.

Dell C3765dnf Color Laser Printer

  • Press the Info button.
  • Press the Tools Tab.
  • Press Admin Settings
  • Press Fax Settings
  • Press Transmission Defaults
  • Press Modem Speed and change it to 9.6.

Dell 5535dn Mono Laser MFP

  • Press Menu and then press Settings.
  • Press Fax Settings
  • Press the green arrow next to Analog Fax Setup.
  • Press Fax Send Settings
  • Change the Max Speed to 9600.

Dell B5465dnf Mono Laser Printer MFP

  • Press Menu and then press Settings.
  • Press Fax Settings
  • Press the green arrow next to Analog Fax Setup.
  • Press Fax Send Settings
  • Change the Max Speed to 9600.

Dell C5765DN MFP Color Laser Printer

  • Login as Admin
  • Press the Tools button.
  • Press Fax Service Settings under Group
  • Press Fax Defaults under Features
  • Click Starting Rate.
  • Change to Forced 4800BPS
  • Click Save

Dell S2815dn Smart MFP printer, Dell S2825cdn Smart MFP Laser Printer, Dell H815dw Cloud MFP Printer, Dell H625cdw Cloud MFP Laser Printer, and Dell H825cdw Cloud MFP Laser Printer

  • Select the Info Key.
  • Select the Tools Tab.
  • Select Admin Settings
  • Select Fax Settings
  • Select Transmission Defaults
  • Scroll Down with the arrow tab.
  • You find Modem Speed (Baud Rate) configuration here.
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Affected Products

Dell 1110 Laser Mono Printer, Dell 1125 Multifunctional Laser Printer, Dell 1355cn/cnw Color Laser Printer, Dell 1815dn Multifunction Mono Laser Printer, Dell 2135cn Color Laser Printer, Dell 2155cn/cdn Color Laser Printer , Dell 2335dn Multifunctional Laser Printer, Dell 2355dn Multifunction Mono Laser Printer, Dell 3115cn Color Laser Printer, Dell 3333/3335dn Mono Laser Printer, Dell 5535dn Mono Laser MFP, Dell B1165nfw Multifunction Mono Laser Printer, Dell B3465dn Mono Laser Multifunction Printer, Dell B5465dnf Mono Laser Printer MFP, Dell C1765NF MFP Laser Printer, Dell C1765NFW MFP Laser Printer, Dell C3765dnf Color Laser Printer, Dell C5765DN MFP Color Laser Printer, Dell E514dw Multifunction Printer, Dell E515dn Multifunction Printer, Dell E515dw Multifunction Printer, Dell H625cdw Cloud MFP Laser Printer, Dell H815dw Cloud MFP Printer, Dell H825cdw Cloud MFP Laser Printer, Dell S2815dn Smart MFP printer, Dell S2825cdn Smart MFP Laser Printer ...