A standard fax transmission can be broken into 5 distinct phases.

The tables below reference these

phases and give an indication as to the extent of the call progress.

• Phase A : Call Setup - The fax machines go "off hook" and identify themselves as fax
machines.
• Phase B : Pre-Message Procedure - Exchange and negotiation of capabilities of each fax
machine.
• Phase C : Message Transmission - Actual exchange of data.
• Phase D : Post-Message Procedure - Confirmation that message was received.
• Phase E : Call Release - The call is ended and the machines disconnect.

Error code organization

Phase A errors are associated with the call placement and initial connection. Phase B errors are
usually associated with a compatibility issue between two fax machines or a firmware issue. Phase C
errors are usually associated with noise on the phone line or a dropped phone line from the other fax
machine. There may not be an error associated with every consecutive number as many numbers are
held in reserve and not used. The error codes are organized as shown in the following table:

Error No. (or Range) Transmit/Receive Phase

0 Transmit or Receive Normal call, successful
1-15 Transmit Call placement/termination
16-31 Transmit Phase A
32-47 Transmit Phase B
112-127 Receive Phase B
64-79 Transmit Phase C
144-159 Receive Phase C
80-95 Transmit Phase D
160-175 Receive Phase D
All other numbers n/a Reserved

Errors associated with call origination

Error Cause Corrective Action
17 No DIS frame heard on a non-V.34 call Make sure the remote number is to a fax
machine.
32-47 General Phase B transmit error Upgrade firmware if problem persists.
37 No response heard to DCS/TRN sequence Try call again.
39 Failure to train at minimum speed Adjust minimum speed lower if it is set
above 2400.
67 Underflow error when sending page Upgrade fax machine firmware to keep
modem supplied with data while sending.
82, 84, No response heard to end of page message Try call again.
86 (MPS/EOP/EOM) respectively
224 General state timeout Try call again.

Errors associated with call answering

Error Cause Corrective Action
17 No DCS frame heard in Probably a voice call, retry call.
response to DIS frames.
112- General Phase B receive Upgrade firmware if problem persists.
117 error.
145 No scan line received in Use ECM mode if possible, otherwise, upgrade firmware if
non-ECM mode for 12 problem persists.
seconds.
160- Error when receiving Disabling ECM mode could help with errors that occur when
175 page data. ECM connections are made. Also disabling V.34 could help as
well (but probably not much at this point).