We'll soon be buying a printer/scanner/fax combo deal and I have a stupid question...

Is setting up the FAX as simple as buying a modular phone plug splitter and hooking it up to start sending/receiving faxes?

We will not be faxing enough to justify a dedicated line/number but wanted to make use of the feature if it was doable with a minimum of drama.

Thanks!

Robert:

Yes, just about as easy.
You 'may' have to ok incoming faxes.but maybe not.

You a tech ready guy like you, can't be easier!

Doug

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!

If you have the Verizon FIOS telephone service you may experience problems. I could never get my HP 6110 all in one to fax after the FIOS telephone service was installed. Also could not get a standalone fax to work either. Has something to do with the FIOS signal. Once tried to contact Verizon support but gave up. Do not use the fax much any more. Just an FYI.

Robert, I have a brother printer and I can either set it up to distinguish between a fax and a phone call or to just manually answer a fax when I know one is due to come in. I opt for the latter as I get maybe 6 faxes a year
I don't have a modular phone splitter (not sure what that is, lol) I just connect it with the phone jack cord that comes with the printer.

What I like about Brother printers is that I can get the very expensive replacement ink on Ebay. It's generic ink but I can't tell the difference between that and name brand ink. I get a case of 4 blacks and two of each color for under $20.

You may not even need the splitter. Most printer/fax machines will have two phone plugs in the back - one to plug the line from the wall and another to go back to the phone.

Instead of messing with phone lines, try scanning and sending documents as an email attachment. In the last 2 years I haven't found anyone who had to fax rather than send an email attachment. It works for legal documents and other items requiring a signature.
Jim

Thanks everyone! I'm going with the Brother MFC-490cw Karen linked me to.

LOL, M - that thought occurred to me just as I was drifting off last night...cable internet - not over the phone line...anyway...