MP2510 / Fax Sends / Does Not Receive

[KenB]

That should work, provided your meter leads have small enough, sharp enough points.

Again, Radio Shack can be your friend here.

[Caveman]

That should work, provided your meter leads have small enough, sharp enough points.

Again, Radio Shack can be your friend here.

Great follow-up - thank you again for offering your help - all very useful information.


Caveman

[blackcat4866]

Make a Tester

Build yourself a simple phone line tester. ~ Total Cost $35.00
Attach a D'Arsonval movement VOM to the back of a fax handset. wire the input=female RJ11 red & green wires to a DPDT switch (to reverse the polarity), then to the VOM/handset. This is not terribly high tech, but you can identify a really bad, out of specs phone line.

Plug the phone cord into your new tester. Check these voltages:

On Hook: -48 VDC (-42.5 to -56.5 VDC), 90 VAC
Off Hook: -10 VDC (-8 to -12 VDC), 8 VAC
Ringing: peak 125 VAC (110 to 137 VAC)

The polarity only matters so that your meter will deflect the correct direction. All modern faxes correct their own polarity.

If the line is out of specs, check the same voltages at the demarc (where the phone line comes into the building). If voltages are still out of specs, its the local telephone provider. If its OK at the demarc, you can be sure its the PBx.

It sounds complicated, but with the tester and a little practice you'll be out of there in 10 minutes with proof it's not your machine. That can be hard to come by.

You'll spend $200 or more for a commercial tester with these same features.

[Caveman]

Build yourself a simple phone line tester. ~ Total Cost $35.00
Attach a D'Arsonval movement VOM to the back of a fax handset. wire the input=female RJ11 red & green wires to a DPDT switch (to reverse the polarity), then to the VOM/handset. This is not terribly high tech, but you can identify a really bad, out of specs phone line.

Plug the phone cord into your new tester. Check these voltages:

On Hook: -48 VDC (-42.5 to -56.5 VDC), 90 VAC
Off Hook: -10 VDC (-8 to -12 VDC), 8 VAC
Ringing: peak 125 VAC (110 to 137 VAC)

The polarity only matters so that your meter will deflect the correct direction. All modern faxes correct their own polarity.

If the line is out of specs, check the same voltages at the demarc (where the phone line comes into the building). If voltages are still out of specs, its the local telephone provider. If its OK at the demarc, you can be sure its the PBx.

It sounds complicated, but with the tester and a little practice you'll be out of there in 10 minutes with proof it's not your machine. That can be hard to come by.

You'll spend $200 or more for a commercial tester with these same features.

Blackcat -

I appreciate the suggestion to build a tester, however, I'm unclear of several items that you mention. I am not familiar with what a D'Arsonval movement is or where I would find this. Also, I am not familiar with DPDT. I service very few fax related calls but would like to be prepared when I do. Your idea is somethng I would like to add to my field tools but I'm not sure how to piece this together - I've tried to locate a phone line voltage tester on-line but found nothing other than very expensive units.

If there is anything further you would be willing to provide with regard to constructing a tester please share.

Thank you -
Greg LoIacono

[rorro]

Disconnect fax line from copier and try the fax number to see if anything else picks up the call.
My bet is that there is something else sharing that line, or the machine is not set to auto rx.

[E Winter]

A simple phone is worth gold for testing a line. If the phone rings during calling the fax number the line should be OK. You can try modifying the line cable - make shure that only the two middle contacts of the RJ11 plug have a connection to the plug on the other end of the chord:

1 x cut wire
2 x cut wire
3 - keep wire
4 - keep wire
5 x cut wire
6 x cut wire

Don't forget a spare cable^^

[Caveman]

A simple phone is worth gold for testing a line. If the phone rings during calling the fax number the line should be OK. You can try modifying the line cable - make shure that only the two middle contacts of the RJ11 plug have a connection to the plug on the other end of the chord:

1 x cut wire
2 x cut wire
3 - keep wire
4 - keep wire
5 x cut wire
6 x cut wire

Don't forget a spare cable^^

I did use a phone to confirm that the line was active - when the fax number was dialed the phone rang. When I dialed my cell from the fax the cell indicated the correct incoming number. The tel. port on the fax option also checked. This unit will send with no problems but will not recognize incoming faxes.

However, in my search to locate information on the problem I've learned that it is very possible to have a phone ring using the fax line yet the voltage may be too low in order to trigger the fax to receive.

Would like to monitor the actual line voltage - I have been unable to locate a device specifically designed to monitor phone line voltage - the only units I've found on the internet are extremely expensive and impractical for the limited use I would need it for.

Suggestions welcomed - thank you for offering your ideas on the problem.

Caveman

[blackcat4866]

Blackcat -

I appreciate the suggestion to build a tester, however, I'm unclear of several items that you mention. I am not familiar with what a D'Arsonval movement is or where I would find this. Also, I am not familiar with DPDT. I service very few fax related calls but would like to be prepared when I do. Your idea is somethng I would like to add to my field tools but I'm not sure how to piece this together - I've tried to locate a phone line voltage tester on-line but found nothing other than very expensive units.

If there is anything further you would be willing to provide with regard to constructing a tester please share.

Thank you -
Greg LoIacono

An D'Arsonval movement is an analog, needle type volt ohm meter. The ones that I've used typically go for $10.
A DPDT switch, or dual pole dual throw switch will allow you reverse the polarity from the phone line to accommodate the deflection of the analog meter. An analog meter cannot auto range like a digital VOM so you have to have the polarity correct. You'll wire the switch like so:
DPDT.JPG
Please excuse my crude illustration.

Honestly most commercial testers do not even take voltage readings, so this is a step up. Does that help?

[Caveman]

An D'Arsonval movement is an analog, needle type volt ohm meter. The ones that I've used typically go for $10.
A DPDT switch, or dual pole dual throw switch will allow you reverse the polarity from the phone line to accommodate the deflection of the analog meter. An analog meter cannot auto range like a digital VOM so you have to have the polarity correct. You'll wire the switch like so:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]7232[/ATTACH]
Please excuse my crude illustration.

Honestly most commercial testers do not even take voltage readings, so this is a step up. Does that help?

Blackcat -

Thank you for taking the time to illustrate your tester design - you did a great job, illustrations well done.

One question - what does RJ11 indicate?

I will review your precious posts and attempt to construct this tester - if I have further questions I will try to reach you.

Thank you again for your patience and willingness to offer your help - I appologize for repeated posts to you on this problem, as mentioned , I see very little in the way of fax related problems but would like to be prepared when a call of this type is assigned to me.

I appreciate all of your help.

Caveman

[Caveman]

An D'Arsonval movement is an analog, needle type volt ohm meter. The ones that I've used typically go for $10.
A DPDT switch, or dual pole dual throw switch will allow you reverse the polarity from the phone line to accommodate the deflection of the analog meter. An analog meter cannot auto range like a digital VOM so you have to have the polarity correct. You'll wire the switch like so:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]7232[/ATTACH]
Please excuse my crude illustration.

Honestly most commercial testers do not even take voltage readings, so this is a step up. Does that help?

Typo - my last post should have read 'previous' post NOT 'precious' post - my error, typing skills not very accurate.


Caveman

[blackcat4866]

An RJ11 is a 4-pin connector commonly used on analog phone lines.

You might try out the Google search engine. It can help you find information on almost any topic. =^..^=

[Caveman]

An RJ11 is a 4-pin connector commonly used on analog phone lines.

You might try out the Google search engine. It can help you find information on almost any topic. =^..^=

Thanks again Blackcat - I appreciate that you took the time and interest to help me out.

Caveman

[Herrmann]

does the mashine not respond at all, or is there a message popping up, like "take off phone hook" ?

[Caveman]

does the mashine not respond at all, or is there a message popping up, like "take off phone hook" ?

When the fax number for the copier is dialed the machine sits idle - no communication indicator - no messages displayed on panel.

[blackcat4866]

Phone Line Tester

I like my new toy:

Phone Line Tester.JPG

I like the Ricoh handset because it's got the keypad built in and it's compact. I've seen some Canon handsets that would be appropriate also.

You'll know a lot more once you've checked the voltages, and have manually dialed some numbers via the tester. =^..^=