MP C4504ex - Increase Fax Memory

[ABS tect]

Hey guys....I am thoroughly confused when it comes to facsimiles

I have a client that is a medical practice and they get a ton of faxes. They are running into an issue of the memory getting full when trying to send out a fax because the memory is already almost used up by incoming faxes that are trying to print. (They don't want to fax forward, they want hard copies)

So I'm trying to expand their memory capacity from the standard 320 pages to the 4,800 pages and I have no clue what I need to buy for that or even how to install it.

My searches are confusing me...in the photo's I posted below, what I have installed at the moment is what I believe is the Fax Connection Unit Type M20.

In the service manual I see Fax Connection Unit Type M20, Fax Option Type M20 (what is the difference on this one?), Fax Memory Unit Type M19 64MB

What do I need to expand that? Is it just the Fax Connection Unit Type M20 SD card (saw no mention of this in the SM)? Or is it the type M19 that looks like a board?

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks

[slimslob]

If I remember correctly, that 64MB adds phone number storage only. The memory used for storing faxes is usually the same memory used for scanning. The best options are to either set forwarding to folder or email. As soon as a fax is received it is forwarded and the memory freed up. Another option is to install a modem card or two in a server and setup fax reception services. I believe that the Fax Connection unit SD card allows a machine without a fax board for sending faxes to utilize the fax board on another machine on the same network. It may help in that I think the faxes are saved on the scanning machine while it waits for access to the fax board.

Having sending and receiving over the same telephone line can often be a major problem. I have seen occasions where hospitals and large doctor offices that have outgoing fax servers can send anywhere from 50 to 100 pages at a time.

[ABS tect]

Hmmm interesting....thanks for that information

If that is the case, could I just install and HDD with more capacity?

That still seems strange to me...when scanning documents it seems like the memory last forever, in testing these ADF's out i've run hundreds and hundreds of pages through as a scan to folder and the memory doesn't go down much...if the fax uses the same memory why does it feel like every page takes a percentage up?

I will try to mention the fax forwarding to a folder, but they are pretty set in having hard copies print off.

The other issue is I just replaced an old Konica Minolta that was there and they never had that issue with that machine.

[RandyW]

Fax Connection Unit Type M20

• Enables users to send and receive faxes on a sub MFP via a main MFP. This option is required on both the Main MFP that has the Fax Option Type M20 installed and on the Sub MFP(s) needing remote fax.

Fax Option Type M20

• Installation required to enable fax services: 33.6 kbps, approximately 2 second transmission speed, standard JBIG, and standard 320 Pages Memory. Includes standard Internet Fax (T.37), LAN Fax, IP-Fax (T.38), Fax Forwarding to Email & Paperless Fax function.

Fax Memory Unit Type M19 64MB

• Increases fax memory to 4,800 pages and fax resolution to 400 x 400 dpi.

Note:
Fax Option Type M20 must be selected to add this option

I copied that from the online Ricoh configurator (for the MPC4504ex)...

Optional: 64 MB (approx. 4,800 pages) with optional SAF memory (was on a copy of the brochure)

 Memory Expansion
This expands the SAF memory and the page memory (used for image rotation); without
this expansion, the page memory is not big enough for image rotation at 400 dpi, so
transmission at 400 dpi is not possible. (service book)
"First, the FCU stores the incoming data from either an analog line to the SAF memory" also service book


The fax unit uses this SAF memory instead of the HDD. I would guess you could try scan in pages in the fax mode and then the scan mode and see the difference...haven't used anything ourselves but a regular fax option.

[ABS tect]

Fax Connection Unit Type M20

• Enables users to send and receive faxes on a sub MFP via a main MFP. This option is required on both the Main MFP that has the Fax Option Type M20 installed and on the Sub MFP(s) needing remote fax.

Fax Option Type M20

• Installation required to enable fax services: 33.6 kbps, approximately 2 second transmission speed, standard JBIG, and standard 320 Pages Memory. Includes standard Internet Fax (T.37), LAN Fax, IP-Fax (T.38), Fax Forwarding to Email & Paperless Fax function.

Fax Memory Unit Type M19 64MB

• Increases fax memory to 4,800 pages and fax resolution to 400 x 400 dpi.

Note:
Fax Option Type M20 must be selected to add this option

I copied that from the online Ricoh configurator (for the MPC4504ex)...

Optional: 64 MB (approx. 4,800 pages) with optional SAF memory (was on a copy of the brochure)

 Memory Expansion
This expands the SAF memory and the page memory (used for image rotation); without
this expansion, the page memory is not big enough for image rotation at 400 dpi, so
transmission at 400 dpi is not possible. (service book)
"First, the FCU stores the incoming data from either an analog line to the SAF memory" also service book


The fax unit uses this SAF memory instead of the HDD. I would guess you could try scan in pages in the fax mode and then the scan mode and see the difference...haven't used anything ourselves but a regular fax option.

Thanks Randy, so you think putting the little SD card on the side of the machine would help increase the speed then?
Do you have a link where I can purchase the 64MB expansion board? The place I got the photo from I don't believe is for that machine.

[slimslob]

Thanks Randy, so you think putting the little SD card on the side of the machine would help increase the speed then?
Do you have a link where I can purchase the 64MB expansion board? The place I got the photo from I don't believe is for that machine.

I found one that had product in stock. https://ithardwarehub.ca/ricoh-mx417518ra/

[ABS tect]

I found one that had product in stock. https://ithardwarehub.ca/ricoh-mx417518ra/

Awesome, thank you Slim!

So is that a pretty simple install onto the fax unit, no additional software required to donwload to the machine right?

[anothertech]

Yes it's easy to add the additional memory. No additional software to worry about.

[ABS tect]

Great, thank you, I will order it and give it a shot!

One more quick question I don't think is worth starting a new thread for (or I can)...which bit switch enables the fax to print a fax confirmation page with an image of the first page on it?
I know Switch 03 Bit 0 for the confirmation, but there is no image of the first page of the fax, just the confirmation.

**Found it...sorry - Switch 04 Bit 7**

Thanks