Recommend:
To the knowledge base
Knowledge document #1199

Callers hear a fax tone

Callers hear a fax tone when they call you. The telephones connected to the FRITZ!Box do not ring or only ring a couple of times and you cannot answer the call.

Cause

  • A fax (external fax machine, integrated fax function of the FRITZ!Box, or fax software) answers the call immediately, so you cannot answer the call with a telephone.

Note:All instructions on configuration and settings given in this guide refer to the latest FRITZ!OS for the FRITZ!Box.

Simply proceed as described below. After each measure, check whether the problem is solved.

1 Checking the FRITZ!Box's call list

  1. Click "Telephony" in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  2. Click "Calls" in the "Telephony" menu.
  3. Check whether the calls the fax reacted to are marked with a blue or red handset.
  4. If the handset is red, the fax is not connected to the FRITZ!Box. A voice mailbox from your telephony provider may have answered the call. In this case, the problem lies with the telephony provider or the other device.
    • If the handset is blue, either the fax function of the FRITZ!Box or a different device connected to the FRITZ!Box answered the call, for example a telephone with a combined telephone/fax machine:
      1. Check the name of the device in the "Telephony Device" column.
      2. If it is the fax function of the FRITZ!Box, continue with the next section.
        • If it is not the fax function of the FRITZ!Box, correctly configure the the fax machine in the FRITZ!Box. You can check how the device is connected with the FRITZ!Box under "Telephony > Telephony Devices" in the user interface.

2 Disabling the number for the fax function

  1. Click "Telephony" in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  2. Click "Telephony Devices" in the "Telephony" menu.
  3. Click the (Edit) button for the entry "Fax function".
  4. Disable the telephone number(s) you want to accept calls with.

    Important:You can no longer receive telephone calls with the telephone numbers you select there because the internal fax answers accepts all calls to this number - even telephone calls.

  5. Click "OK" to save the settings.

If callers still hear a fax tone, the FRITZ!Box cannot cannot solve this problem because another device is answering the call. Most fax machines have a delayed answer feature, for example. Refer to the manufacturer of the device for information on how to set it up, for example consult the manual.

Language selection