Overview
Disable the Error Correction Mode (ECM) to troubleshoot fax issues. This may also verify whether or not you have a problem with your voice over internet protocol (VOIP) telephony.
WARNING: Incomplete fax output on fax devices may occur if you permanently disable ECM. Contact your VOIP provider to further test this line. Then consider calling Lexmark technical support for further diagnosis.
How faxes received may fail with ECM enabled
(VOIP or Digital Phone Lines)
VOIP's reliance on the TCP/IP protocol to transfer digital fax data over a network can create a problem for ECM.
Here is how this can happen on a network with a known packet loss.
ECM requests re-transmission from the sending fax machine. The sending machine, with ECM enabled, will know to resend the bad block of data.
Packet loss on the network prevents the receiving MFP from acquiring the entire compliment of fax data.
Again, ECM repeatedly retransmits the same data.
TCP/IP's low tolerance for packet loss, and ECMs requirement for an error free fax, results in a fax transmission failure.
How to Enable/Disable ECM
NOTE: Turn OFF ECM for testing purposes only. If disabling ECM fixes a problem, then you or the recipient should consider calling your phone line provider.
ECM Location |
MFP Model | From the User Interface (UI) | From theEmbedded Web Server (EWS) E.g., http://MFP_IP_Address, where MFP_IP_Address is the TCP/IP address of the multi-function printer |
Current MFPs and 4600 (scanner-equipped) MFPs: - X46x Series MFPs
- X64x Series MFPs
- X78x Series MFPs
- X73x Series MFPs
- X65x Series MFPs
- X79X Series MFPs
- X92X Series MFPs
| Menus > Settings > Fax Settings > Analog Fax Setup > Fax Send >Enable ECM Toggle this setting to OFF, and then click Submit. | Configuration (Settings)>Fax Settings>Analog Fax Setup>Fax Send Settings>Enable ECM |
X264, X364 and X54x MFPs | Menus > Settings > Fax Settings > Fax Setup>Fax Send Settings > Enable ECM. Toggle this setting to OFF, and then press Select. | Configuration>Fax Settings>Analog Fax Setup>Fax Send Settings>Enable ECM |
X204 MFP | Menus>Settings>Fax Settings>Fax Send Settings>Enable ECM. | Settings>Fax Settings>Analog Fax Setup>Enable ECM under Fax Send Settings |
X422 MFP* Please contact Lexmark Technical Support for additional assistance. |
Touch-screen MFPs with scanner machine type 4036-501 & 304 (4500 and 7500 Scanners) — User Interface: Configuration > Fax Setup > Fax Mode (Analog) > Configuration > Enable ECM located at the bottom of the screen. |
Legacy products with scanner machine type 4036-302 & 306* (3100 and 3200 scanners) Please contact Lexmark Technical Support for additional assistance. |
Legacy products with scanner machine type 4036-301 & 305* (242 and 443 Scanners) — Please contact Lexmark Technical Support for additional assistance. |
X342 MFP — This setting is located in a special engineering menu. Please contact Lexmark Technical Support for additional assistance. |
X502 MFP | Not Available | Not Available |
X215 MFP | Not Available | Not Available |
* Not all MFPs have the ability to disable this setting.
An ECM overview
- When a fax is sent in standard mode, the sending fax machine blasts data to the receiving fax machine.
- If noise enters into the line, there's no way to recover from that noise. In this situation, the entire fax has to be retransmitted.
- To prevent this situation, Error Correction Mode (ECM), creates checksums for blocks of data that are sent to the receiving fax machine.
- If the receiving fax machine obtains the block of data and the checksum is not correct, it will notify the sender, asking the sender to resend this block of data.
- Hence, with ECM enabled, only the bad block of data has to be resent.
Still Need Help?
Please contact Lexmark Technical Support for additional assistance. NOTE: When calling for support, you will need to know your printer model type and serial number (SN).
Please call from near the printer in case the technician on the phone asks you to perform a task involving the printer.
LEGACY ID: HO214