We have got Brother MFC7420 (fax, scan and copy). We use it as a fax machine. It has a duet feature. We have another number for making and receiving phone calls. However, due to the setting of the fax machine (as tested and informed by Telstra technician), the message bank becomes unfunctional. How do we change the Brother fax machine setting? Thanks

Your document scanner has died. Meaning that the row of LED's that light up to scan the documents you are trying to fax are not lighting up. The result is a scanned document that is read as all black. Make a copy....you will get a black sheet because the same process is used to scan the document when making copies.
It might be time for a new fax machine as these machines have become so cheap to buy new that I doubt you could get this machine repaired for what you can just buy a new one for.
Good Luck and Thank You for using Fixya.

Hi,


Manual mode turns off all automatic answering functions unless you are using the Distinctive Ring feature or you are using an external answering machine on the same line as the Brother machine.


*Distinctive Ring is a function of your Brother machine that allows a person with one line to receive fax and voice calls through two different phone numbers on that one line. Brother uses the term "Distinctive Ring," but telephone companies market the service under a variety of names, such as Custom Ringing, Personalized Ring, Smart Ring, Ring Master, Ident-a-Ring, Ident-a-Call, Data Ident-A-Call, Teen Ring, SimpleBiz Fax & Alternate Number Ringing and BT Call Sign.

1. Setting the Receive Mode
   
   1. Press Menu.
   2. Press the up or down arrow key to select Initial Setup.
   3. Press OK.
   4. Press the up or down arrow key to select Receive Mode.
   5. Press OK.
   6. Press the up or down arrow key to select Manual.
   7. Press OK.
   8. Press Stop/Exit.
   
   

Receiving Faxes in Manual Mode

1. Lift the handset of a telephone that is on the same line as your Brother machine.
2. When you hear the sending machine's fax tones (short beeps that occur at regular intervals), do one of the following:
   • If the telephone you answered is near your Brother machine or connected to its EXT jack(socket), press Black(Mono) Start or Color(Colour) Start.
   • If the telephone you answered is not connected to or near your Brother machine, press *51 (*91 for New Zealand) on its dial pad.
3. Your Brother machine will produce receiving tones.
4. Replace the telephone handset. Your Brother machine will begin to receive the fax.

< Easy Receive (Fax Detect) >
The Easy Receive (Fax Detect) feature allows you to receive faxes in Manual Mode by simply lifting the handset of a telephone that is on the same line as the Brother machine. Your Brother machine will automatically generate fax receiving tones, at which point you can replace the telephone handset and wait for your fax to be received and printed.

Your Brother machine's Easy Receive (Fax Detect) feature is turned ON by default. To adjust your Brother machine's Easy Receive (Fax Detect) setting, please follow these steps:

1. Press Menu.
2. Press the up or down arrow key to select Fax.
3. Press OK.
4. Press the up or down arrow key to select Setup Receive.
5. Press OK.
6. Press the up or down arrow key to select Easy Receive or Fax Detect.
7. Press OK.
8. Press the up or down arrow key to select On, Semi or Off. *In some brother machines, Semi may not be in the options.
   If you choose Semi, your Brother machine will only answer an incoming fax if you answer using its handset or by pressing the Hook, Hook/Hold, Hold, Speaker Phone or Tel/R key on its control panel.
   
9. Press OK.
10. Press Stop/Exit.

Note Here are a couple of points to keep in mind:

• If Easy Receive (Fax Detect) is ON, but your Brother machine doesn't automatically answer the incoming fax when you lift the extension telephone's handset, press *51 (*91 for New Zealand).
• If you send faxes from a computer that is on the same telephone line as the Brother machine and the Brother machine intercepts the calls, turn Easy Receive (Fax Detect) OFF.

Please post your feedback and Vote if the problem resolved as per your satisfaction.

Hi, you can check that your phone connection from your 7420 to line works. Listen for a dial tone in a phone connected to your mfc7420. If not, your tel comm module could be at fault.

Fax machines are sorta like printers, sorta like scanners, and sorta like dial up modems all wrapped into one expensive box.
1. First thing to make sure of is that you are hooked to a phone line. most fax machines have a phone handset that you can make calls from. Call someone and make sure that works. If So, you are able to connect to phone networks, and should have no trouble sending or receiving data. If you have a dead line or no sound, check the line and check the power. (its always the easy stuff that is overlooked, just check it and make sure).
2. If this fax machine has computer interface, (usb port or parallel cable port), see if you can scan with it. Drop a document into the scan area and see if the computer can scan an image from the scanner. If the scanner works, you can scan images into the fax machine to be sent to the fax number. (If your fax machine does not have a scan to computer feature, skip this.)
3. if your fax machine has a print from pc feature, try to print a document to it from your computer. If you can print, then the printer works, and you can receive faxes. (if your fax machine does not have a pc printing feature, skip this)
4. Here is how a typical fax machine works. You place the document or image into the scanner feed area. You press a big button that usually says "fax" and then, a screen pops up saying to dial the number. You dial the number and press SEND. once you press Send, the machine will scan the document, dial the number and sing a little dial up modem song awaiting a response from the receiving machine. the receiving machine acknowledges the fax, and the singing is no longer audible (but it continues because the modem song is actually data transmission/reception). after about 20-60 seconds, the fax completes and the call ends. As for the particular model you have, the functions should be about the same, though the buttons and arrangements may be different. FYI, you can send a fax straight from the PC too, if you have a dial-up fax/modem card.

hello! click on menu go to fax click menu set scroll down to easy receive click menu set if you follrwed the directions you should have no problem providing there is dial tone on that line. check with a phone and good luck brother sr tech

please give me more info! what is on the screen? i am a brother tech, i will try and help you but i need mmore info.

Your scanner block has a loose connection or it is bad.

If you can copy ok you have effectively ruled out your machine as you have used both the scanning and printing mechanism of the machine.

It will probably be the fax on the other end as if it sends a poor quality page that's all your machine can receive, a poor line can also cause problems if it is from multiple faxes. If so have your provider check the line (you probably hear static on the line).

Thanks for using Fixya!!!!