Brother IntelliFax 2820 Laser Fax/Copier

I bought this fax machine in 2007 (price then was $194). We have given it light use as a fax machine and copier over the nearly four years that we have owned it. Recently, we got the “toner low” message, which suggests that we have printed out nearly 2500 pages, and now have gotten a “Toner Life End” message. (See tip no. 1 below to see how we circumvented the Toner Life End message so the machine will keep printing.)

Occasionally a misfeed, but not often. Never a real malfunction with the machine.

The copies are good, though a little heavier than a first-rate copy machine. The only negative comment I have is that the machine is pretty noisy when it starts up. Some other reviewer said that it sounded like a jet plane getting ready to take off. Not exactly, but I know what was meant!

The price-performance ratio is excellent.

Here are two tips that I picked up from other reviewers, which can solve problems that bedevil those not in the know.

1. After the “Toner Life End” message appears, the machine refuses to print even if it has just received a fax. This can happen without further warning after the Low Toner warning appears, and the machine will refuse to print even though the cartridge in fact has more toner in it.

Here’s the tip (courtesy of C. MacPhail). Remove the toner cartridge. On each side of the cartridge, you will find clear plastic-covered hole. (Apparently the light from an LED on each side shines through these holes to allow the machine to determine when toner is too low.) Cover both holes with a small piece of masking tape. I used blue masking tape. Not only will this get the document that is in the machine printed out without the need to use a new cartridge, but it will also allow you to use the cartridge until the quality of the print forces a replacement of the cartridge. That can be many hundred additional sheets.

2. You might get a Toner End Life error that you can’t clear.

Here’s the tip (courtesy of Jeffrey L. Schronce). Open front cover, leave toner cartridge in unit. Press options button, when “Replace Drum?” comes up quickly press the Start button. Immediately press the “1” and “0” button. The display will say “Accepted” and the error will go away. Make sure you enter those buttons quickly or it will not take.

Great machine, good functionality, particularly with the auto sensing of an incoming fax vs phone call. Our fax is on the same line as our phone; if I pick up the phone anywhere in the house and it’s a fax, you simply do nothing and the fax machine takes over and starts.

Easy setup, pretty good menu system, good copies, no jams yet. Jams are a common problem with most fax machines I’ve had but that can be fixed easily if you have access to the rubber rollers that feed the paper…Panasonic machines are horrible to get to the rollers, this Brother fax is GREAT!

One nasty little issue is the caller ID function. We have caller id on our phone line and this fax has a caller id text to voice converter that announces verbally over the fax machine who is calling. There is no way to turn that function off so every time any phone call (fax or voice) comes in the fax is “yelling” at you who is calling. Using the menu to turn the handset and speaker volumes off does not stop this problem. Some folks might like that feature but we do not and since there is no way to turn it off it is pretty aggravating to us. After a month or so, my plan is to simply open the fax machine up and cut one of the speaker wires. This will void the warranty of course but we don’t care since it’s only a $150 fax machine.

Great for the home office. No problems at all.