About Fax Machines; Fax Tones And Handshake - Brother FAX1 570MC Owner's Manual

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C H A P T E R O N E

About Fax Machines

If you're a first-time fax machine user, fax operation might seem a little
mysterious. You'll soon get used to the unusual fax tones on your phone line, and
be able send and receive faxes easily.

Fax Tones and Handshake

When someone is sending a fax, the FAX/MFC sends fax calling tones, (CNG tones)
— soft, intermittent beeps at 4-second intervals. You'll hear them when you dial and
Start
press , and they continue for about 40 seconds after dialing. During that time, the
sending machine must begin the "handshake" with the receiving machine. Each time
you use automatic procedures to send a fax, you are sending CNG tones over the phone
line. You'll soon learn to listen for these soft beeps each time you answer a phone on
your fax line, so you can know if you are receiving a fax message.
The receiving fax responds with fax receiving tones — loud, chirping sounds. A
receiving fax chirps for about 40 seconds over the phone line, and the screen
displays "RECEIVE." If your FAX/MFC is set to the FAX ONLY Mode, it will answer
every call automatically with fax receiving tones. Even if the other party hangs
up, your FAX/MFC continues to send the "chirps" for about 40 seconds, and the
screen continues to display "RECEIVE." To cancel the receiving mode, press Stop .
When your FAX/MFC is in FAX/TEL (F/T), it answers with a short beep. After this
beep, the FAX/MFC listens for CNG tones, and then responds with receiving tones.
The fax "handshake" is the time in which the sending machine's CNG tones and
the receiving machines "chirps" overlap. This must be for at least two to four
seconds, so the fax machines can understand how each is sending and receiving
the fax. The handshake cannot begin until the call is answered, and the CNG
tones only last for about 40 seconds after the number is dialed. Therefore, it's
important for the receiving machine to answer the call in as few rings as possible.
When you have an external telephone answering device (TAD) on your fax line,
your TAD will determine the number of rings before the call is answered. Pay special
attention to the directions in the Installation chapter for connecting a TAD to your
FAX/MFC.