LaserJet Pro uses wrong line for fax

[Pezz2themax]

I  am trying to set up fax from my office printer. Currently we have a single phone line that comes into the office. The line is split with a standard splitter. One line goes to the phone, the other to the printer. The phone line is plugged into the phone in its "Line 1/Line1 + Line 2" port. This allows calls received on line 1 to roll over to line 2 if line 1 is busy. We can call out and receive calls on either line one or two at any time while the printer is not plugged into the phone line. When the printer is plugged into the splitter, we can send and receive faxes but only using line 1. If someone calls while the printer is plugged in, they get the fax tone. I have setup the fax header so that it uses the line 2 fax #, but if someone calls that phone # they do not hear the fax; only if they call the line 1 phone #, which is the office phone #.
I am trying to find a way to set up the printer so that it sends and receives faxes on line 2 and so that incoming calls do not reach our fax machine by default. 

[zoey7886]

@Pezz2themax, Welcome to the HP Support Community!  

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding Setting Up Fax on HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP with a Shared Phone Line! 

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.  

To set up your HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301 for faxing when you have a shared phone line using a standard splitter, follow these steps:

Determine Your Phone System Type: Confirm your phone system type (parallel or serial). Typically, if you are using a standard splitter, you are dealing with a parallel-type phone system.

Phone Line Preparation:

• Ensure your phone line is functioning properly by testing it with a regular phone.

Setting Up Fax:

• Connection:
  1. Unplug the phone and splitter:
     • Disconnect the phone cord from the phone and the splitter.
  2. Connect the Printer:
     • Using the phone cord supplied with the printer, connect one end to the telephone wall jack and the other end to the "Line" port on the back of the printer.
  3. Reconnect the Phone:
     • Plug the splitter into the wall jack.
     • Connect one line of the splitter back to the phone (using the "Line 1/Line 1 + Line 2" port if applicable).
     • Connect the other line of the splitter to the back of the printer in the "Line" port.

Fax Settings:

• Auto Answer Setting:
  • On the printer control panel, navigate to Setup > Fax Setup > Fax Settings > Auto Answer.
  • Turn on Auto Answer. This ensures that the printer will automatically answer incoming fax calls.
• Rings to Answer:
  • Set your Rings to Answer setting on the printer to the maximum supported by the printer (varies by country/region).
  • Ensure your answering device answers after fewer rings than the fax.

Run Fax Test:

• Testing Connection:
  • On the printer control panel, go to Setup > Fax Setup > Tools > Run Fax Test.
  • This will check the status of the fax setup and confirm the connection.
  • Verify the report and make adjustments if necessary.

Hope this helps! 

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, Please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!  

Regards, 

[Pezz2themax]

This describes the basic setup for the fax that I am already using. Our phone system is parallel, but when set up as described, the fax is sent and received through Line 1 on the phone system. I need it to find a way to get fax to go through line 2.
The line going to the printer is a two wire cord and is plugged into the fax line in port on the back of the printer. Nothing is plugged into the telephone line out port, because the setup says that's for answering machines. Should I be using the line out port? Should I be using a 4 wire cord instead of a 2 wire cord? What else could I try?

[zoey7886]

Hi @Pezz2themax, 

Thanks for the update, and I see what you’re aiming for now — getting the fax to work over Line 2 instead of Line 1.

Here’s the simple version:

🔹 HP fax machines are designed to use only Line 1 for faxing. There's no internal setting to switch it to Line 2.

🔹 The printer’s “Line” port always connects to Line 1 of your phone system — even if you plug in a 2-wire or 4-wire cord.

🔹 The “Line Out” port is only to connect a phone or answering machine, not for faxing through another line.

What you can try:
You could use a separate, dedicated Line 2 jack (not shared via splitter) and plug that directly into the printer’s Line port. That way, fax traffic stays on Line 2. But this would require a true Line 2 wall jack from your phone provider — not just a rollover function or splitter.

Let me know if you need help checking if your phone system supports that!

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, Please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!  

Regards,