I have a Brother fax machine FAX-2820 and I cannot seem to get it to receive faxes no matter what I do. It is on the same line as my house phone and answering machine. No matter what amount of rings I put into either one it doesn't work. What am I doing wrong.

To have the machine answer faxes and record voice messages unattended change the answering mode to message centre. If you are home and pick up the phone , but it is a fax, not a phone call push *91 on the phone you answered on, and hang-up the phone. the fax machine will tyhen start receiving.

try switching the fax with a phone and calling... that phone with your cell... see if you have static... if you have static on the line... then call your phone company and have them fix the line... or try putting a magnet filter on the line... next reconnect your fax and call... if your phone line is ok... and it just keeps ringing.... adjust the ring wait time to 2.... if thats doesn't help... you have a bad mainboard...

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/norman_d2fa496dce30c65d

I would suspect a DSL or some other kind of DIGITAL phone system.

ALL fax machines are ANALOG devices.

Turn off auto receive and set to manual, or unplug phone line to fax when not in use. -Carl

dial *67 before the fax number

The FAX machine will print the Tel number that has been programmed in your machine. It does not print on the basis of the caller ID received. So i think if you remove the number programmed in your fax machine

make sure your answering machine is plugged in to the "EXT" jack on fax machine, and your main line plugged into "line". try setting fax rings to 1 or 2. set your answering machine to 4. your fax should intercept the call and if it hears the fax tone, will receive the fax. if it doesn't hear the fax tone, it should forward the call to your answering m/c.

hth,
razors

sleep mode is just a status of the machine when it is in idle mode.you cannot turn this off however you can delay the time before the unit goes into a sleep mode.it has nothing to do when you are sending out faxes.so here are a few things you need to check when sending a fax (1)dial tone by pressing hook/hold button (2) insert the doc into the adf, make sure it will change to "enter fax # and start,or copy press copy (3) dial the number (4) wait for fax tones of the receiving unit before you press start. now if you can hear an operator on the line,that has to be verified with your phone company since brother machine does not restrict incoming and outgoing faxes UNLESS that is restricted from your phone line.

http://www.retrevo.com/support/Brother-FAX-2820-Multifunction-Printers-manual/id/386bh831/t/2/

look in the RX settings

Do you have a DSL or other digital phone line?