Fax on a Merlin Legend 1

[wombats4all]

We are a one location, small non-profit and have "inherited" a Merlin Legend system in our new building.

Is there anything special I need to be aware of in hooking up a fax to this system? Can any extension be a Fax?

And lastly, if we add new extensions to the system, how many wires does each extension require, 2 or 4?

Many Thanks...

 

[tdaugirdas]

Nothing special to hook up a fax to the system - you can plug it into an 012 Basic Telephone module or an 016 Basic Telephone Module or into an "adjunct" unit that can be added to the bottom of an MLX telephone. You do need to let the system know - through programming which extension is a fax - so it will automatically route all fax calls to that extension. As for wiring, my preference and suggestion would be to run CAT5e cable (4 pair-wiring) from the phone location wall plate to the telephone system - ending the wire run in a standard RJ45 jack - which will plug right into the phone system module (MLX or ATL). This is exactly the same wiring you would need to run for a computer router/ethernet connection.

Tom Daugirdas,
President
STCG, Inc.
stcg.com

 

[wombats4all]

Thanks for the input.

As for the wiring, we are running CAT 5 to each phone. I was wondering how many pairs the merlin phoneset require to operate, 1 pair or two pair.

 

[tdaugirdas]

Actually, 4-pair is best. Just do your RJ45 jacks the same as you would for standard ethernet cable, following the 568A color code - and you will be fine. The BIS-style, analog phones actually have 2 analog channels and 1 pair is used for "power" - so don't scrimp - use all 4 pairs in the cable. This is best for both analog and MLX phones.

Tom Daugirdas,
President
STCG, Inc.
stcg.com

 

[RickChaisse]

It may be a bit late, but standard wiring for Merlin & computer is 568B.. 568A is a 'crossover' configuration.

 

[tdaugirdas]

Actually - both work just fine - as long as you are consistent - and don't mix the two configurations.

Tom Daugirdas,
President
STCG, Inc.
stcg.com

 

[merlinman]

OK, My two cents worth, while I am here....

Setting an Extension to be a Fax Extension under Aux Equip causes the RING CYCLE to be like an outside line at all times, that is, it sends the Fax Machine ONE LONG RING each time it sends ringing. Thus, the fax machine will not be confused by the Ring Ring it can get on a Transferred or Outside call.

Other options under Aux Equip can allow another extension to get notification when a fax is received on the fax extension.

Voice Mail can also be set to know that when it gets FAX TONE in an auto attendant, it can use a FAX EXTENSION to route that call to as well.

THESE ARE 2 SEPERATE but SIMULAR functions.

WIRING - Fax machines work on the center pair, so who cares how many pairs you have.

HOWEVER, next year, when the fax machine goes away, and you want to put an MLX Set in that jack, -OR- an ethernet connection, wouldn't it be handy to have CAT-5 there?

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.....