[WXC/VFX] Faxing and the SPA2102

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gchiu

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#12125 28-Feb-2007 16:41

Well, I thought I'd try faxing with this device ... connected up my HP3015 fax/scanner/laser ...

but ... it doesn't appear to dial out. I can see/hear the HP3015 dialing, but no connection is established. I dialled my fax line, and there were no rings.

Perhaps I should get another fax machine to try out? Or, do I need to twiddle some settings somewhere?

grant_k

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#62317 28-Feb-2007 17:30

Graham: I take it you can plug a standard phone into the same port of the SPA2102 (where your fax is) and it rings?

With some of the Multi-function Fax / Printers, you have to configure the answering mode accordingly, whether it shares the line with an Answering Machine.

Regarding the problem dialling out, usually there is a "Hook" switch or similar, which you can press. If you do that, you should hear a dialtone from the SPA2102, otherwise the cable from your HP3015 to the SPA2102 is incorrectly wired.

I hope that helps.

gchiu

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#62328 28-Feb-2007 18:16

Hi Grant,

What I did was just take the telephone cable from my working phone ( which is plugged into the SPA2102, and plug it into the single phone port on my HP3015 instead. I then attempted to fax out from the HP3015 to my other physical fax line... ie. vfx -> physical fax. I can hear the dialing tones from my HP3015, but the other fax ( yes, I have two fax ) does not ring. I checked the status of the fax modem ( using faxstat ), and it reports that it is idle and waiting.

I could try a different phone cable tomorrow ...

grant_k

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#62332 28-Feb-2007 18:36

OK... Now I see what you are doing.

It sounds to me like the pinouts on your phone and HP3015 are different so the HP3015 is unable to go "off-hook" so far as the SPA2102 is concerned. Thus, the DTMF dialling digits are not going anywhere, so your other fax is never ringing.

You need a straight through RJ11 to RJ11 cable (4-pin) which you can buy from DSE if you don't already have one from some other piece of equipment. Only the centre 2 pins of the RJ11 are used.

Keep me posted on how it goes.

Cheers,
Grant.

gchiu

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#62334 28-Feb-2007 18:43

Thanks .. shall do.

gchiu

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#62665 3-Mar-2007 15:07

Well, no luck so far. I've tried a parallel wired 6 pin/5 wire cable and a 4 pin/4 wire cable. The HP3015 just doesn't detect the dial tone.

I also tried both cables on my laptop fax/modem. It didn't work either. But at least, if I put a "," infront of the number, then it does dial out .. but the fax is not successful.

gchiu

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#64011 17-Mar-2007 11:32

Dunno what's changed, but I found another 4 wire parallel cable and tried that on my HP 3015. And it works!

Lenovo

Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

bender

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#64033 17-Mar-2007 12:33

I've run into cases where NZ designed faxes get touchy with some cables as the Linksys devices are US orientated. Generally it takes a few cables till one works - specifically I've had the most trouble with two wire cables (even though only two wires should be needed). The best cables I've found are RJ11 - RJ11 cables from JA Russell.

gchiu

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#64035 17-Mar-2007 12:35

Spoke too soon .. now it can't negotiate the handshake anymore though I successfully sent a few faxes this morning from one of my fax machines to another