Faxing Problem

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Dec 31, 2004 Posts: 1

I've been a Vonage customer for the last 18 months and I love the service. However, I recently replaced my Lexmark 125 all-in-one with an HP 2710. Now when I send a fax, I receive Error 344 every time. I get a dial tone, the machine dials the number, phone rings, fax handshake, then the machine beeps and prints out the error report.

I have tried changing the fax speed (fast, medium, and slow options on the HP 2710 menu). I have also tried diabling ECM under all three scenarios, but I get the same results. This seems to be the limit of what Vonage's online troubleshooting offers.

I am using Vonage Voip service (one line, since I only need to fax 1-2 pages each month) with my cable internet service provided by Brighthouse. The cable line connects to a Toshiba PCX2500 modem, which is connected to a US Robotics 8054 Router (4-port switch and WAP). One of the ports is connected to the Cisco ATA186 Analog adapter. I've connected this via an RJ11 line to the HP 2710. I ran the line out from the 2710 to a VTech expandable cordless phone system, and I've never had problems with voice. This configuration worked fine with my Lexmark 125, but it has never worked with my HP.

Has anyone else managed to get their HP all-in-ones to fax with Vonage?

Thanks

Posts: 19 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jan 05, 2005 Posts: 19

I have a Dell all-in-one (which is made by Lexmark) and I have no problems sending faxes. I connect through my RT31P2 router.

Sorry though, don't have an HP to try. Off hand I'm not sure what would cause the problem you're experiencing. Just for kicks have you restored all the defaults on the HP??

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Dec 22, 2004 Posts: 3

I have an HP7130 and can send faxes but was having problems receiving (the fax machine would not answer). I followed the link below to change my baud rate to v.17 9600. At first it didn't help, then I found this link on HP forums:

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=760997

The above link explains how to change the r\w parameters for the auto answer feature on the fax machine. Now, everything is working perfectly!

I also have to disable voicemail and call forwarding on my Vonage phone in order to receive faxes. I installed two DSL filters, one for the input to the Vonage Phone Adapter which goes to the Wall Jack port on the HP and another on the back of the HP phone port.

I have spent the last two hours tweaking and the bottom line is I have to disable Vonage Voicemail in order to receive faxes with my HP 7130 All-in-one. I am using one Vonage line for both voice calls and faxes. I don't send or receive enough faxes to justify a separate fax line. Regardless of what tech support says, it WILL work. You may have to do some research for your particular fax device to find the right settings.

Follow all instructions in all previous posts; (search "fax" on this forum), i.e., set baud rate to 9600, disable Vonage voice mail and call forwarding, use a DSL filter, make sure fax machine is set to auto answer.

Depending on your fax machine, there may be other necessary tweaks. I had to set up my HP 7130 as if I have an answering device connected (even though I disabled Vonage Voicemail), because my HP would not auto answer unless it "thought" it was connected to an answering device.

I have also used another alternative (since I have both a "land" line and a Vonage line). Before I found the above solutions, I was SENDING faxes on my Vontage line and RECEIVING them on my land line. If Vonage is the only phone service you have, then you may have to look into other alternatives.

Meanwhile I love my Vonage service. It provides a cheap alternative for long distance calls. I could not get a Vonage phone number in my area code , so I use my Sprint "land line" mainly to receive local calls , so my next door neighbors don't have to make a long distance call to phone me! Since I also have a cell phone to receive calls during power outages, I will soon have no need for a "land line" at all.

When Vonage expands their coverage to my area code, I will ditch Sprint along with all their access fees!