Problem with a fax machine.

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My mom got a fax machine recently and after some flailing about she decided that she couldn't set it up on her own and called me for help.

Now, this thing is pretty simple to set up. It's got a power cord and another cable to plug into the phone jack. I put everything where it's supposed to be and find that it won't dial out. I've downloaded the manual and it's no real help, so I'm guessing there's something else going on. Do you need a new line if you want to send faxes or something?

There's an extra jack to put the land line through, and I've checked that. The phones work normally when connected through the fax machine, but the phone built into the fax machine doesn't work at all, and when we try to send a fax it won't dial out. The only thing the machine is telling us is that it needs a new ink cartridge, but I can't believe that would be a problem when all she wants to do is send a fax.

Any ideas? Or at least a place to start looking for the problem?

amateurhour

It could be one of two things off the top of my head.

1) It's busted. It happens. Take it back and get a new one

2) Some machines are so stubborn that they will literally cease to function if it doesn't have ink cartridges installed, almost as if the companies are conspiring to make us buy ink at exorbitant prices.

Upon further thought, you can call the phone company and have them run a signal check on the lines to see if there's any kind of interference, although I don't think this is the case if regular phones work on that jack.

Lezard Valeth

Has the fax machine two phone jacks? One Called LINE and the another called PHONE?

Some fax machines requires a functional ink cartridge because they print a report when do you send a fax.

Daenris

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The phones work normally when connected through the fax machine, but the phone built into the fax machine doesn't work at all, and when we try to send a fax it won't dial out.

This makes me think you have a defective machine. Even if the machine would refuse to send a fax without an ink cartridge, the integrated phone should still be functional as a phone.

If it was new, exchange it. If it was used, try to contact the seller and get your money back, but don't hold your breath.

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Busted then? Makes sense, I'm pretty sure she picked it up at a garage sale or something.

Even if that's the case it's better than not knowing. That was a frustrating hour that I'll never get back.

bowen

Don't ever buy technology at a yard sale. Not unless you can guarantee it works. There's probably a reason it was there. Better to make $5 off it than to trash it.