3
INTRODUCTION
Fax Tones and Handshake
When someone is sending a fax, the fax machine sends fax calling tones,
(CNG tones)—soft, intermittent beeps at 4-second intervals. You’ll hear
them when you dial and press Start, and they continue for about 40
seconds after dialling. During that time, the sending machine must begin
the “handshake” with the receiving machine. Each time you use
automatic procedures to send a fax, you are sending CNG tones over the
phone line. You’ll soon learn to listen for these soft beeps each time you
answer a phone on your fax line, so you can know if you are receiving a
fax message.
The receiving fax responds with fax receiving tones—loud, chirping
sounds. A receiving fax chirps for about 40 seconds over the phone line,
and the screen displays RECEIVING. If your fax machine is set to the
Fax Only Mode, it will answer every call automatically with fax
receiving tones. Even if the other party hangs up, your fax machine
continues to send the “chirps” for about 40 seconds, and the screen
continues to display RECEIVING. To cancel the receiving mode, press
Stop.
When your fax machine is in Fax/Tel (F/T) Mode, it answers with a
short beep. After this beep, the fax machine listens for CNG tones, and
then responds with receiving tones.
The fax “handshake” is the time in which the sending machine’s CNG
tones and the receiving machines “chirps” overlap. This must be for at
least 2 to 4 seconds, so the fax machines can understand how each is
sending and receiving the fax. The handshake cannot begin until the call
is answered, and the CNG tones only last for about 40 seconds after the
number is dialled. Therefore, it’s important for the receiving machine to
answer the call in as few rings as possible.
When you have an external telephone answering device (TAD) on your
fax line, your TAD will determine the number of rings before the call is
answered. Pay special attention to the directions in the Installation chapter
for connecting a TAD (or answering machine) to your fax machine.
ECM (Error Correction Mode)
The Error Correction Mode (ECM) is a way for the fax machine to check
the integrity of a fax transmission while it is in progress. ECM
transmissions are possible only between machines that both have the
ECM feature. If they do, you may send and receive fax messages that are
continuously checked for their integrity.
Sufficient memory must be available in your machine for this feature to
work.