I just bought a meridian telephone 9516 and the phone doesn't with the fax connected to it. when an incoming call comes through, the recorder anounce the caller telephone number but the number is cut off in the middle and the other phone extentions in the house start to ring. also the fax machine takes over. I have the fax connected the way the instruction book states it but t just doesn't work correctly.

If your Phone service is recording messages, that disconnects your line. You need to have them turn that feature off, OR set the answering machine to answer is less rings, say two or three. If the FAX machine listens to the line, it can still be set at a higher amount of rings, say four, and should still answer any FAX signal as it's sent to the answering machine.

Check video for 'fax receive set up' in similar model:


Manual receive: In coming call receives like telephone
Fax/tele: Incoming call rings like telephone if its not fax, if incoming is fax it will entered in fax mode automatically
Automatic: Incoming call converts in fax mode after ring count ends( ring to answer option also avail in fax set up mode rage 1-6 rings)
Fax: Incoming calls straight away converts in to fax mode.( this option only for dedicated fax lines)
Set up your best option as per your requirement.

Solved!

Is the Program button on . If it is turn it off. You can also try resetting the phone by unplugging the silver line cord from the phone or the wall jack and then replugging it after about 10 seconds.
see if that works

You can use Feature 3 to start a conference call. You would have to hang up the intercom call to return to your original call.

The Fax Switch
The Fax Switch feature allows you to have two telephone numbers on one incoming line.
There is one telephone number for the line and another telephone number for a Fax Switch peripheral (e.g. fax machine).
To use the Fax Switch, you must subscribe to your telephone company for Distinctive Ringing†. The telephone company will then provide you with an additional telephone number (for your Fax Switch peripheral) which will have a slightly different ring. The 9516 will use the two ring types to determine whether an incoming call is for the telephone or the peripheral. The peripheral should be set to answer after three or more rings.
Note: If Long Distance Ringing† is available in your area, long distance calls will be sent to the Fax Switch peripheral. Also, you cannot use the Fax Switch feature and the Special Greeting feature at the same time. The 9516 must be configured so the Fax Switch peripheral is connected to pins 3 and 4 of jack number 2. See Connecting an optional fax machine or modem on
page 4 for more information.

Note: If you subscribe to your telephone company for Call Waiting services, your Fax Switch peripheral may lose data or get disconnected if someone calls while your fax is receiving data. We recommend that you do not subscribe to the Call Waiting service from your telephone company if you are using the Fax Switch feature.

There is a directory button on your Meridian-press this button and press the down arrow key until the name is displayed in the display window and press your left arrow key to change the name and number after making the correction press your save button to store.  I hope this helps.

go to the menu and find name

The Meridian 9516 is not a visual call waiting (VCW) phone...meaning that you will not see the caller name and number of the second caller when you are on the line..you must purchase a separate call display box (around $10) if you can still find them., but make sure that box is visual call display capable.

Go to your personal greeting and press delete twice and press rls this will delete your personal greeting and you can re-record your new personal greeting I hope this helps you!