I have had the fax maching for several years and I just hooked up the answering machine...?

Question

Like I said, I just hooked up the answering machine. Everything is working fine, but when a fax or a phone call comes thru How can I tell the difference.

Once the call goes to voicemail the Answering Machine Takes Over and I can't answer the call.

When I get a call or fax just says Call Pickup.

If I answer it and its a fax then it screws everything up.

So...how do I do this sucessfully?

I have a brother intellifax 2800, if that helps.

Answer 1

Sounds like you need to add a phone to the answering machine.  Most answering machines also have a telephone output to let you hook them together on a single line.  When you pick up the phone, the answering machine stops.  It sounds like you are still trying to use the handset on the FAX machine -- and that won't work. (You are plugging the ans. machine into the FAX Ext jack, right?)

Make sure you set the FAX receive mode to TAD answering machine and record your greeting as they spec in the manual.  Get a cheap phone for the answering machine output so when you answer, the machine turns off.

When a call comes in, the FAX should listen for the FAX tones.  If it hears them, it will receive the FAX.  If it doesn't, it will pass the call through to the answering machine.  If you want to take the call, pick up the phone connected to the ans. machine -- it should stop.  If you ever accidentally hear a FAX call, just press the FAX Start button and the FAX should receive the data as usual.