Mine is set up with a simple splitter. If you have an answering machine set up on any of your phone lines, you will have to program the multifunction printer/scanner/fax to tell it to pick up before the ring which triggers the answering machine (in my case, the answering machine picks up on ring four, so the printer starts listening for the fax tone on ring two). If no incoming fax tone is detected, it rolls over to the answering machine. It's all pretty well spelled out in the instructions which came with the printer. I probably receive less than a dozen faxes a year (most everything comes as attachments to emails these days),but it is pretty handy when you need it. Good luck!