Faxing/Phone Line Problem?

Question

We opened up a new location of our business and installed a new fax machine. From day one, transmission of faxes ran very slow. Finally recently it stopped receiving faxes. So we figured the machine was defective and got a new one. Same problem with the new machine. Staff has told us that a credit card machine that transmits over the same line sometimes has problems too.

We assumed there was a phone line problem. We called our phone service provider Globalcom (who leases and resells lines from AT&T) to check the line. They said nothing was wrong with it – but three separate machines have had trouble on that line. Currently we are able to transmit faxes but not receive.

Anyone have an idea what is going on?

Answer 1

Did Globalcom come out to your property to test the lines? If not, you probably need someone to make sure your lines are good from your property to the local phone company's connections.

If they did check your lines on your property and it's all OK, you might have an AC power problem. There could be electrical problems between the sockets you plug your machines into and the phone lines. Try a good computer UPS with a telephone line filter in it. This will clean up the power for the fax machines and filter the telephone lines for any noise that might be coming in and wiping out your systems.

I've used APC for quite a while and their stuff seems to work well. I'm sure other mfg's would do a good job, too...