Scanning, Faxing & Copying

I have distinctive ringing on my line. I trained the fax to recognize the correct fax ring. The problem is that when a fax comes in, it doesn't answer and receive but asks (on screen) for me to accept the fax??? what if a fax comes in the middle of the night. I'm not going to be there to accept it.

I'm not sure if I should select auto answer (in the Fax preferences) off or on.

I would logically assume that if I set auto answer to ON, that if the distinctive ring is detected, that it would answer the fax.

I'm not sure why it would make a difference how many rings I select, if it will detect the distinctive ring, because it should accept the fax when it "hears" the distinctive ring no matter how many rings are selected. I'd rather not hear the fax ringing and ringing if it can answer quickly. But of course I want it to continue ringing until I answer if it is a phone call.

The fax  shouldn't answer if it doesn't detect the distinctive ring no matter how many rings are selected.

I would like to understand how these two settings relate to each other when the fax is on the same line as the phone with a distinctive ring.

Is there any documentation that explains the fax Preferences settings and choices that you could refer me to??? Otherwise we are all just guessing about these settings!!! Some are ovbious or self explanatory. Others ????

e.g. What is scan and fax method (On or Off)

What is Stamping?

What is error correction mode?

what is backup fax reception?

what is HP digital fax? (it says to refer to the manual...there is no info in the tiny manual)

Thank you.