Analog or Digital Telephone System?, Setup Tips

Quick Start Guide

3. Analog or Digital Telephone System?

Caution: if the Voice Center is connected to a digital telephone system using the Analog Telephone System Interface, it will not operate correctly, and may cause damage to the AT-103 Analog Interface and cause it to overheat. It is therefore important to use the correct interface for your telephone system.

How do you determine if your telephone system is analog or digital?

The best way is to consult the phone system’s documentation or - in a corporate environment - to call your company’s teleservices department. Here is additional information to help you deter- mine the type of phone system you have.

Analog

Analog phones are used for public switched telephone networks - plain old telephone service (POTS) from Ma Bell. However, some private exchanges support analog telephones, fax machines, and modems. Look at the back of your telephone; if it says, “complies with Part 68, FCC Rules,” and has a Ringer Equivalence Number (REN), the phone and line are analog.

For analog telephone systems, use the Voice Center AT-103 Analog Interface shown at right (supplied with the Voice Center Conference Phone), and follow the installation and operating instructions that begin on page 4.

Digital

Digital telephone systems are usually found in corporate environments. Most PBXs (private branch exchanges) are digital. Signs that the

phone and line are digital: phones with multiple function keys and/or

multiple lines, the need to dial 9 for an outside line, no fax machines or modems connected directly to the phone line. Caution: if analog

equipment is connected directly to a digital telephone system, it will not work, and the equipment can be damaged.

For digital telephone systems, use the Voice Center DT-104 Digital Interface shown at right (sold separately from the Voice Center Conference Phone). The Digital Interface is the same size and shape as the Analog Telephone System Interface, but has different circuitry; the Digital Interface can be identified by the 4-position switch on its front side. For digital telephone systems, follow the installation and operating instructions that begin on page 8.

4.Setup Tips

•Choose an appropriate location for the Conference Phone.

–Use the Conference Phone in an environment as free as possible from background noise.

–To minimize echoes, position the conference phone at the center of the room, or at least away from walls.

–Avoid items that could cause noise or acoustic interference.

•Set up the Conference Phone following the instructions for the type of telephone system you are using:

–Instructions for an Analog Phone System begin on page 4.

–Instructions for a Digital Phone System begin on page 5.

•Make adjustments (as necessary) to obtain optimal acoustic performance.

Important: The Voice Center Conference Phone's digital sound processing actively responds to the acoustic environment. In small and/or reflective rooms, resonance (echoes) can cause variable performance. Some small adjustments can dramatically improve results. See page 12 for tips to improve acoustic performance.