Fax Frustration!

[badhairdaylady]

I'm about at the end of my rope trying to get this machine to send faxes!  All the tests I've run pass the correct setup and configurations to send and receive faxes.  I've tried sending the fax by scanning pages, from computer file, from feeder tray of printed pages, nothing works.   I get a message after the fax fails to send 'call can't be completed as dialed, or not answering"  I've tried putting a 1 before the dialed number, I've tried with and without dashes, I've phoned where I'm sending the fax to see if there's something wrong at their end, but nothing is wrong, and I can't get this thing to send a fax!  I'm about ready to take a sledge hammer to it!

I have cable internet/phone with a modem.

[Dragon-Fur]

@badhairdaylady

I doubt a bigger hammer will help -- I can understand the frustration that causes you to consider it an option.  

This model printer is far more likely to cooperate as expected using a wired phone line (land line).

Explanation and details: 

User Guide > Page 81

The printer is designed to work with the standard wired phone connection.

Using "fax from computer" option (if / when available per printer model) depends on the printer / fax being connected to the phone line.

Available options for correcting fax issues on this printer:  

User Guide > section Solve fax problems (Page 141)

Fax Test is discussed on Page 204 of the User Guide.

References

Printer Homepage – “Things that are your printer”

Drivers and Software, Videos, How-to, Troubleshooting, Manuals, Product Information, and more

HP Officejet Pro 8610 e-All-in-One Printer series

Cannot Send or Receive Faxes

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We are a community of HP enthusiasts dedicated to supporting HP devices and technology.

[badhairdaylady]

I am using a wired landline telephone connection!  I have everything configured the way it should be and the tests I've run pass every time.  I've configured the fax settings outlined in the links many times over to make sure that everything is set up correctly and it still fails to send with the message being that 'call cannot be completed as dialed and call not being answered, please try again later'.  I have black wire running from phone jack to Line 1 on printer, the jack also has an input for internet modem because it is a cable telephone/internet connection.  To use my telephone, I have a regular phone cord going from my telephone to the 2-EXT at the back of the printer.  I'm at a loss here and sledgehammer is looking pretty good about now.  I have been audited by the gov and they're awaiting my papers which were due yesterday!

[Dragon-Fur]

@badhairdaylady

Sorry, I misunderstood:

 I have cable internet/phone with a modem.

I did not recognize "cable phone" being the same thing as a standard wired land-line.

So, what happens if you connect the land line to the printer according to the instructions in the User Guide > Appendix B Additional Fax setup and not plug in your phone?  (Case E?)

Phone cable between the fax and the wall likely needs to be a two-line cable (and not a standard four-line cable).  (See the many comments in the section similar to "Use the phone cord supplied with the printer in the box".)

Edits...

If you have not done so, 

Consider installing the Universal Fax Driver

Restart the computer after the driver is installed.

Consider installing the printer Firmware

READ (when provided) the description and all instructions before installing the firmware

If / After the firmware is installed, Restart the computer and log in

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[badhairdaylady]

I tried hooking up directly from phone jack to printer and still get the same response.  I do not own a cell phone, just old landline.  Middle age, but do all my own computer maintenance/repair, software/hardware installation and repair so I'm probably more tech savvy than most, but this has me stumped!  I had a different model of printer before and could send faxes no problem, this is a new printer, and first time trying to send fax but it's got me soooooo frustrated!

[badhairdaylady]

As per these instructions I found online, fax sent out successfully and received the call back as well, so I'm not sure what's going on!  

"On the Fax setup, set fax auto answer to off. Go to the advance fax setup and set error correction mode to off and fax speed to 9600 bps.

Connect phone jack to line 1 on the Arris modem and the other end off the line to jack 1 on the back off the hp printer. Run the second line to the phone from the printer.

To check proper fax function send the test fax first by dialing HP faxback service number 1888-473-2963 from your phone. Do not use dialer on the hp printer.  Put blank piece off paper into the fax machine.

Dial the number and when you will hear the fax tone, hit start button to send fax.

In 3-5 minuts you will recieve faxback call from hp system to conform you setting.

To recieve fax use manual option on the hp settings."

After completing these steps and getting confirmation that incoming/outgoing faxes are working properly and that there is nothing wrong at my end, the only conclusion I can come to is that the problem is at the other end! I again tried to send this fax out, to its government destination, and yes, got the same "call can't be completed as dialed, no answer, try later".   Funny though, when I spoke to the government person on Friday, she vehemently denied that there was anything wrong at their end!

[Dragon-Fur]

@badhairdaylady

Assuming the wired connection using the phone cord necessary to support fax:

If you have not done so, 

Consider installing the Universal Fax Driver

Restart the computer after the driver is installed.

Consider installing the printer Firmware

READ (when provided) the description and all instructions before installing the firmware

If / After the firmware is installed, Restart the computer and log in

Thank you for participating in the HP Community Forum.

We are a community of HP enthusiasts dedicated to supporting HP devices and technology.

[badhairdaylady]

I wrote an extended comment and for some reason it was deleted.  I have no idea why.  I found a blog on a website describing my set up exactly.  I followed the instructions exactly, and phoned a test #, the fax went through, and I received a call back fax confirmation.  This same test # is in my manual for my HP Officejet pro 8610.  Whatever is wrong, appears not to be at my end.  Even though the person where the fax is supposed to be going to assured me that there's nothing wrong at her end, it appears that it most probably is!  

[Dragon-Fur]

@badhairdaylady

In the sense that the receiver can indeed receive faxes from other clients (assuming this is the case since there is a claim that "all is good" on her side), it still does not mean that the phone lines, connection centers, servers, and other factors between your machine and her machine are good in this case. 

If the receiver is willing to do a bit of work with you to test, changing the fax setup on her side might help.  For example, (if possible) If she can change the speed of the incoming fax or switch on error correction mode, the change(s) might allow your fax to be received. 

If you have someone else with whom you can exchange a test fax, it might help cement "all is good" on your side with this fax setup.

Good Luck.

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We are a community of HP enthusiasts dedicated to supporting HP devices and technology.

[badhairdaylady]

The destination of the fax is to the government.  I've been audited and was trying to send my report to the fax number they gave me.  I doubt very much that their system has to be reconfigured!