Chapter 2 - Hardware Installation

A Note About Power Connection, Surge Protectors, and Lightning

Power surges and other transient voltages on power lines, such as those caused by lightning strikes, can damage or destroy your modem. Therefore, we recommend that you plug the modem into a surge protector rather than directly into a wall outlet, preferably a surge protector that provides protection against electrical spikes on the phone line as well as on the power line. Note that not even a surge protector can guard against damage from a nearby lightning strike. During an electrical storm, it is safest to unplug your computer equipment from both the power outlet and the phone line.

Power-On Test

Test the modem by turning it on (an on-off switch is located on the side panel). When you apply power, the modem performs a diagnostic self-test. The PWR indicator lights; and if a terminal program is running, the TR indicator also lights. If this does not happen, check that the power switch is on, the power supply is solidly connected, and the AC outlet is live. If these measures do not work see the Troubleshooting chapter.

Note: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Industry Canada impose certain restrictions on equipment connected to public phone systems. For more information, see Appendix B.

Using Your Modem

Right now the modem is set up for the most typical user application, that is, the modem is set to make dial-up calls to remote installations where the calls are answered automatically. Therefore, you shouldn’t need to change the current default configuration.

You will likely use your data communications software to:

•Launch a data communications session through a set of modem configurations which you select and then associate with a target phone number. Once you have created, saved, and named this set of information according to your connection needs and your data communications software’s conventions, the software then simplifies your dialing. You need not reconfigure the modem nor run the risk of mistakenly keying-in incorrect information, or

•Enter terminal mode, where you can issue AT commands .

Multi-Tech Systems Inc. MT5656ZDX Series User Guide

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