New HP Printer (OfficeJet 5610) - No Destinctive Ring Feature for Fax?

[pokee]

I just bought a new printer today. I wanted to stick with an HP and as
suspected, I love it and it works great.

But, here's my only beef: My old OfficeJet had a destinctive Ring
feature for the fax machine (I have two phone numbers that share the
same line). The fax on this printer does not have this feature -
WHAAA?

So instead, in my fax set-up, I have to set it up where the fax shares
the same phone number and line (so I entered the fax number) and that I
have an answering machine. So, all I am supposed to do is have my
answering machine answer in less than 6 rings - and supposedly my
answering machine will answer all calls first and the printer will
"eavesdrop" to listen for fax tones. If it "hears" fax tones, it will
take the call and receive the fax automatically. If it doesn't, then
the person will leave their message.

I don't get how this works?! So, that means for every single fax I
receive, my answering machine has to pick it up first? How dumb is
that?

Is there a way to get around this? It sounds like it will still work
for what I need it to do, and I can even get rid of the additional
phone number for the fax, but what a backwards way of handling it.

I could always get a the printer the next size up (HP 6210), which has
distinctive ring detection, but it's also bulkier and more expensive.
And, really, I receive maybe 10 faxes per year (I send more than I
receive). Probably not a huge issue, but a downer nonetheless.

Is this feature commonly missing in multi-functions, or was this just
an oversight by HP?

Thanks,
Paula

 

[William R. Walsh]

Hi!

I don't get how this works?! So, that means for every single fax I
receive, my answering machine has to pick it up first? How dumb is
that?

No, the fax machine is what does the listening. With most of these systems,
your answering machine is plugged into the fax machine. If the fax machine
doesn't hear a fax tone, it lets the answering machine take the call.

Is this feature commonly missing in multi-functions, or was this just
an oversight by HP?

Probably an oversight...most multifunction devices have this option. (For
me, it was finding a device that would receive faxes to the computer for
later printing. I finally got so mad at various other multifunction devices
which couldn't do this and ended up fixing my OfficeJet 500.

William