How do I set up my Mac (OSX Lion) to receive faxes directly from my HP Officejet 6500+

[eayars]

I have a Mac running OSX Lion, and an HP Officejet 6500+. I would like to save incoming faxes directly to my computer rather than having the 6500 print them. I've installed the HP6500 driver on the Mac: printing and outgoing faxing work. Using the Print & Scan setup on Mac System Preferences, I can select the Officejet 6500 fax, click "receive options", and turn on "receive faxes on this computer": I've set it to answer after 1 ring and save the faxes to an appropriate folder.

The problem is that incoming faxes still print directly on the 6500 and are not saved on the computer.

I have tried following the directions on the 6500 manual located here: http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c02519721.pdf but the directions on page 57 for setting up using HP Utility tell me to select the "applications icon" in the tool bar and it's not there.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

[ShlomiL]

Hi,

The Digital Fax configuration is no longer available during the HP Setup Assistant, and have to be configured from the HP Utility.

1. Enter the Applications folder.
2. Under the Hewllet-Packard folder, launch the HP Utility Application.
3. Click Devices on the top bar and make sure you device is selected.
4. Under Fax Settings, You should see an option to recieve faxes to your Mac (As much as i recall, it should be named as Digital Fax or Fax to Mac)

Please let me know if you were able to find it or not,

Shlomi

[eayars]

Nope.

For starters, the HP Utility application doesn't show up in the applications folder on OS X 10.7 (Lion). I can get to the HP Utility program eventually by going through System Preferences, Print & Scan, Open Fax Que, then Open Printer Utility.

Once I get there, I can select "Basic Fax Settings", which has only ---you guessed it--- Basic fax settings. I can put in the company name, the fax number, auto-answer on/off radio buttons, rings until answer, and I can test it. That's it. There's a "more info" button, which provides a text box of utterly obvious "information" and refers me to the Embedded Web Server.

The Embedded Web Server has nothing of use for this problem.

-Eric

Say "Thanks for Nothing" by clicking the Kudos Star in the post.

If my post resolved your problem, you have bigger problems than you think.

I hate HP.

[ShlomiL]

Ok.

It seems you installed the basic software by adding a print queue.

In order to use any feature of your printer, you will have to install the Full Feature Software for your product.

Just to verify, your printer model is HP Officejet 6500A Plus as i understood byyour description, please corret me otherwise before following any of the steps below..

1. Enter System Preferences > Print & Scan
2. Remove any 6500A Plus existing print queue by using the Minus sign.
3. Download and install the full feature software below:
   http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software12/COL40280/bi-98096-1/HP_Lion_Ink_SW_v12.13.18.dmg
4. Make sure to select HP Recommended Software during the installation

Once completing the installation you will see the HP Digital Archive option available within the Fax Settings.

Although i might work with HP, any effort made voluntarily in order to help you get your problem resolved.

You are welcome for nothing

[eayars · Accepted solution]

Well, this got me part way there, thanks.

Once you've installed the software that ShlomiL recommends, then you need to activate the Digital Archive option as described, which will not be available unless the device is physically connected via a USB cable. Wireless is not an option. Set "Digital Fax Archiving" to "Save to Folder", and then choose a folder that is world-writeable. The folder should be specific to incoming faxes, and used for nothing else! Set "Incoming Fax Notification" to whatever you like.

Next, go to the front panel of the 6500 and turn fax printing off. (There's an option buried under "basic fax setup / HP Digital Fax")

Finally, create an automator workflow that automatically prints any new image placed in the incoming faxes folder you created two steps ago. Set it to print to a cheap laserjet printer instead of the absurdly expensive 6500 inkjet. (Or skip this step if you are ok with not having a hardcopy of incoming faxes.)

You can ignore the helpful and well-designed options built-in on your Apple about "receiving faxes on this computer". HP does not play nice with this.

I still hate HP, but at least now I don't have to spent $35 for a new inkjet cartridge every two weeks.

[tangoguy]

I have an HP mfp 3330 (aio).  Can I do something similar to send/receive faxes from/to my macbook (OS 10.6.8) via the mfp?  (The macbook has no fax modem of its own.)     NB: I have been using only the print and copy functions and believe I have only minimal hp s/w installed (as I think someone on the web recommended, because it seems scanning as not well supported for mac .  I never got scanning to really work.)  Thanks.

[Niso17]

I set up the fax to recive it on i imac and choose another printer (cheaper ink) to print as well as getting an e mail

however it does not working I still getting it on the color printer the c309a

pls advise I am runing lion OS