Can't send or receive faxes

Sounds like your phone cord is plugged into the "tel" or "phone" port on the back of the fax. It should be plugged into the "line" port.

It is a problem with phone cable or with phone settings

The instruction manuals of fax machines are typically large and complex books. Often there are many options to consider. Mostly the machines can be used successfully without much reference to the manual but when there is a problem the question machine or operator fault can only be determined by thoroughly reading it.

To a large extent whether a fax call is picked up or not depends on the settings (including answering machine), the quality of the phone line and connection and the machine sending the fax as well as the receiving machine.

My fax machine will mostly automatically receive a fax but it seems to miss the important ones and I have to answer the ringing phone, hear the fax tone and press the manual fax button.

I strongly suspect the problem mostly lies with the sending machines - if they are fax machines the results were much better than from a computer being used as a fax machine and while a fax machine will send a receipt, a computer doesn't seem capable of doing so.

The problem is in the recieve mode you have it set to tel/fax you need to set it to fax if yu have it on auto or te/fax if you pick the phone up you have to press the start bbutton to get the fax through if you are only using it as a fax set it to fax .. it will then go strait through.. good luck..A

If you have an answering machine, have it answer at three rings. Have the fax answer at five rings. Let the answer machine go thru it's cycle, and see if the fax picks up.

Problem lies in your Receive Mode setting. If you don't have a dedicated phone line for the fax machine, you need to set it up for either Manual where you answer every call or Fax/Tel whereby the Fax machine determines if the incoming call is a fax or phone call. Instructions per Intellifax 4100 Manual.

Select a Receive Mode
Choose the mode that best suits your needs by pressing the Mode button
repeatedly until the FAX and FAX/TEL lights show the setting you want to use.
Manual
You must answer every call yourself.
The Brother machine must be started manually
to receive faxes.
Fax
For use with a dedicated fax line.
Every call is answered as a fax.
Fax/Tel
For receiving fax and voice calls on one line.
The FAX answers every call and receives a fax or
double rings for you to pick up a voice call.
TAD
For use with an answering device.
The TAD answers every call and stores voice messages.
Fax messages are printed.

Do you still have the problem?

Did you go through the entire setup procedure according to the manual including the fax/tel set up? Fax/tel setup tells the fax machine how you are using it. For example is the phone line used for just receiving faxes or is it used to receive phone calls AND receive incoming faxes OR is there a telephone answering device (TAD) attached to your phone line. If there is one, set it to 2 rigns. If you have it set to 4 rings the fax could disconnect before receiving the incoming fax. If you cannot send, then it has to be a line problem assuming you went through all the set up procedures correctly. Short of this you may have a bad unit and need to return it.

Make sure your phone lin is plugged in the jack on the machine that says LINE not the jack that says TEL or PHONE. I have seen this before. the unit gets a dial tone and can send but will not answer.
Hope this helps

if the fax is connected to the same line and you have a phone connected to the fax you need to make sure you connect the line from the socket at wall to the correct socket on the fax you can check this by looking at the point the line is connected on fax there should be two connectors one says line and one says tel.. the line in goes to the line socket and your telephone goes into the tel socket.. if you have them the other way round it cant connect properly..on the front display panel make sure you have it set to the auto setting or tel fax mode for receive.. if you have it to auto it will check the incoming call if it is a fax it will send it through if not it will ring till you answer.. if set to tel/fax mode when it rings you will have to answer the phone and manually press start if you hear it is a fax.. Good luck A

1-you must confirm that your phone line is clean and stable-and this is easy by test the phone line with another good fax if the problem exist.sure your phone line is bad and you connect with the phone company to get help.if the problem goen your fax is guilty.first try to opposite the phone wire from the outlet and change the phone connection with new one.if all above does not work you must send it to nearest workshop.