Scanning and receiving fax issues on Office Jet Pro 9015

[DarrenB4]

I use my scanner to send documents to clients for their signatures.  When they fax these documents back to me, there is a tremendous amount of background noise (black dots) behind the content.  It makes the page difficult to read and horrible to look at.  I need this corrected so the document I receive is nearly as clear as the document I am scanning to send to my clients.  One person told me they see a slight gray background when they printed what I emailed them.  The pages I am scanning is on white paper.  Any suggestions?

Another issue is when they fax documents to me, it always prints a blank page with a little ink on the top or bottom of the page between each page they send.  Since I am on the InstaInk plan, this doesn't help me stay within the allotted number of pages on my plan.

Thank you for your help!

[Dragon-Fur]

@DarrenB4 

The basics - What the printer can do

Keep the equipment clean - for example, if you typically scan using the ADF, open the printer (as can be done) and make sure the pathways are clean.  Set the quality to no more than "normal" and keep the DPI (scan resolution) down (to no more than 300).  Simple maintenance 101.

The incoming fax content can be controlled only to the extent that the options support changes to receiving faxes.

For example, you can Test the fax service:

 Test Fax Setup with the HP Fax Test Service

More of what you can try / check / adjust:

•  Improving Fax Quality
•  Fax Error Code Descriptions
•  Resolving Fax Problems

Read the User Guide - The chapter on Fax is worth reading; the content is well presented and easy to understand.

See Chapter 4 - Fax - starting on page 66

If you get back a "dirty" test fax from the HP fax test service, you may have to consider that your phone line is the "noisy" culprit.  If attempts to adjust the speed, error correction, and anything else you can find (in the troubleshooting) fail to correct the issue, the "printer" cannot do more to resolve the issue.

Discussion only - Personal Observation - Not to be confused with "What the phone company says":

The problem is that a noisy voice line does not impact the ability of that line to carry simple voice content (phone calls).  Data can be brutalized when forced to travel the same noisy, squirrel eaten pathways.  Phone companies do not have to care about this - a basic phone line (and the associated cost) is only guaranteed for voice transmission.

What then?

Ideas...

Move the printer to another phone line location in the house / office.  IF the problem is miraculously limited to the original phone line outlet in just the one room, moving the printer to another phone line location may help.

Consider a filter, if such a thing is possible for your location / phone service.

Consider 

1. Install a Fax / data phone - actual data lines are of higher grade and lower noise.  The cost is much higher than for a typical voice line.
2. Perhaps sign up for a fee-based fax service that allows your clients to send you faxes without the need to receive them on a printer.   Make sure you read the vendor's privacy notices to be sure you are comfortable with the data service.
3. Forward faxes that you do receive to a digital destination.  If the data is not already "dirty" / compromised when it gets to you, then shunting the file into a digital format may work to resolve the issue.  See the User Guide - Section HP Digital Solutions, starting on Page 13

General Example - Officejet Pro 9025 - EWS - HP Digital Fax 

NOTE:  Options / Features differ by printer model 

EWS_9025_Digital_Fax_Profile_1

Receiving faxes on the printer - extra pages

The "extra lines" and extra sheets of paper can perhaps be corrected using a "fit" option.

User Guide - Section Set automatic reduction for incoming faxes - Page 74

Page Counts - Instant Ink

If you have had issues with "extra sheets" being used and counting against your page count, do check with your Instant Ink support team.  As I recall, you can log into your instant ink account and simply look for "support" to get connected / find contact information for your region.  Only an HP agent or your Instant Ink support can credit your account (and make the decision to do so).

Reference and Resources – Places to find (more) help and learn about your Printer

Clarification of terms and "what the printer can do" (Specifications)

Printer Homepage – “Things that are your printer”

NOTE:  Content depends on device type and Operating System

HP Drivers / Software / Firmware Updates, How-to Videos, Bulletins/Notices, Lots of How-to Documents, Troubleshooting, Access to the Print and Scan Doctor (Windows), User Guides, Product Information, more

When the website support page opens, Select (as available) a Category > Topic > Subtopic

HP OfficeJet Pro 9015 All-in-One Printer

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