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7

BASIC OPERATION

The AFX-500 manages your incoming calls by listening for a
fax alert tone, transfer code, or modem tone, then routing the
call to the correct jack.

• A 

fax alert tone

 (CNG tone) is a signal sent by most fax

machines to tell the receiving device that a fax will be
transmitted. It is a beep that repeats every three seconds.

• A 

transfer code

 is a signal that a caller can enter on a

touch-tone phone to tell the AFX-500 how to route the call.
# 1 1 transfers a call to the 

FAX

 and 

FAX/MODEM

 jacks.

# 8 1 transfers a call to the 

ANSWERING MACHINE

 and

PHONE

 jacks.

• A 

modem tone

 is a signal sent by some modems. The

AFX-500 can be set to detect 

reverse

 modem tones and

V.25

 modem tones. (See your modem’s owner’s manual

for more information.)

If the AFX-500 does not detect one of these signals, it routes
the call according to the operating mode you have set.

Notes:

• You can change the preset transfer codes. See “Answer-

ing Machine and Phone Jacks Transfer Code” on Page 15
or “Fax and Fax/Modem Jacks Transfer Code” on
Page 15.

• The AFX-500 is preset to detect fax alert tones but not

modem tones. To set the AFX-500 to detect modem tones,
see “V.25 Modem Tone Detection” on Page 16 or
“Reverse Modem Tone Detection” on Page 16.

OPERATING MODES

The AFX-500 operates in one of two modes — automatic or
semiautomatic. It comes preset to operate in automatic mode.

In 

automatic mode

, the AFX-500 answers a call on the first

ring and listens for a fax alert tone, transfer code or modem
tone. 

• If it detects any of these signals, it routes the call to the

FAX

 and 

FAX/MODEM

 jacks.

• If it does not detect one of these signals within four sec-

onds, it routes the call to the 

ANSWERING MACHINE

 and

PHONE

 jacks. If the call is not answered within six rings

(see “Automatic Ring Reduction”), the AFX-500 routes it
back to the 

FAX

 and 

FAX/MODEM

 jacks.

In 

semiautomatic mode

, the AFX-500 routes incoming calls to

the 

ANSWERING MACHINE

 and 

PHONE

 jacks.

• If a call is not answered within six rings, the AFX-500

routes it to the 

FAX

 and 

FAX/MODEM

 jacks (see “Automatic

Ring Reduction”).

• If you or your answering machine answer the call before it

is routed, the AFX-500 still listens for a fax alert tone,
transfer code, or modem tone. If it detects any of these
signals, it routes the call to the 

FAX

 and 

FAX/MODEM

jacks.

Follow these steps to change the operating mode.

1. Lift the handset of the phone connected to the 

PHONE

jack.

2. Press 

#

 , 

then:

• to change to semiautomatic mode, enter 2 1 1

• to change to automatic mode, enter 2 1 0

3. Press   to save the new setting. The phone beeps three

times.

4. Press   again, then hang up.

Automatic Ring Reduction

When the AFX-500 routes a call to the 

ANSWERING MACHINE

and 

PHONE

 jacks, it allows six rings for you or your answering

machine to answer before it routes the call to the 

FAX

 and

FAX/MODEM

 jacks.

After the AFX-500 has routed a call to the 

FAX

 and 

FAX/MO-

DEM

 jacks, it reduces the number of rings on subsequent calls

from six to two, so the next fax call can connect sooner. It au-
tomatically resets the number of rings to six after 10 minutes
of inactivity on the 

FAX

 and 

FAX/MODEM

 jacks. Or, you can

manually reset it by placing a call on any phone on the same
line (or by just picking up the phone then hanging it up).

With automatic ring reduction turned off, the AFX-500 always
allows six rings when it routes a call to the 

ANSWERING MA-

CHINE

 and 

PHONE

 jacks. To turn automatic ring reduction off

or on, see “Automatic Ring Reduction” on Page 13.

RECEIVING VOICE CALLS

To answer a call, pick up any phone on the same line as the
AFX-500. If it is a voice call, talk as usual. Otherwise:

• If you hear a fax alert tone, simply hang up. The AFX-500

routes the call to the 

FAX

 and 

FAX/MODEM

 jacks.

• If you hear only silence, the call might be from a modem or

a fax machine that does not send alert tones. To transfer
the call to the 

FAX

 and 

FAX/MODEM

 jacks, enter # 1 1 on

any touch-tone phone on the same line as the AFX-500,
then hang up. If you are using a pulse (rotary) phone that
is directly connected to the AFX-500, dial 3 to transfer the
call.

Summary of Contents for AFX-500

Page 1: ...Cat No 43 1247 OWNER S MANUAL Please read before using this equipment AFX 500 Small Business Fax Switch ...

Page 2: ... a cordless type dur ing an electrical storm There may be a remote risk of electric shock from lightning 3 Do not use the telephone to report a gas leak in the vicin ity of the leak 4 Use only the power cord indicated in this manual READ THIS BEFORE INSTALLATION The AFX 500 conforms to federal regulations and you can connect it to most phone lines However each device that you connect to the teleph...

Page 3: ...omatic No Answer Transfer 13 Automatic Answering Machine Transfer 13 Automatic Answering Machine Transfer Timer 13 Automatic Ring Reduction 13 Automatic Ring Reduction Reset 14 Automatic Ring Reduction Reset Timer 14 Extension Detection 14 Outbound Voice Exclusion 14 Answer Any Jack 14 Rotary Pulse Dial Transfer 15 Pound Key Transfer Required 15 Answering Machine and Phone Jacks Transfer Code 15 F...

Page 4: ...ines a switching device and any number of extensions The AFX 500 works with either KSU or PBX systems To work properly with a telephone system the AFX 500 must be connected between the system and the phone company s incoming lines If there are multiple incoming lines connect the AFX 500 to the last line in the rollover order Also all equipment on that line must connect directly to the AFX 500 You ...

Page 5: ...C jack on the back panel then plug the adapter into a standard AC out let The POWER indicator on the front of the AFX 500 lights Notes If power fails your AFX 500 passes incoming calls to the ANSWERING MACHINE and PHONE jacks allowing normal use of the telephone The POWER indicator flashes during calls MOUNTING ON A WALL To mount the AFX 500 directly on a wall you need two screws not supplied with...

Page 6: ...nd phone number at the tone If you want to send a fax press 1 1 on your touch tone phone then press START on your fax machine For the best performance your outgoing message should be 15 20 seconds long with four seconds of silence at the beginning of the message The silence gives the AFX 500 time to detect fax alert tones modem tones or transfer codes INSTALLING AN OPTIONAL VOICE DATA GUARD If an ...

Page 7: ... jacks If a call is not answered within six rings the AFX 500 routes it to the FAX and FAX MODEM jacks see Automatic Ring Reduction If you or your answering machine answer the call before it is routed the AFX 500 still listens for a fax alert tone transfer code or modem tone If it detects any of these signals it routes the call to the FAX and FAX MODEM jacks Follow these steps to change the operat...

Page 8: ...3 Follow the remote operation procedures for your answer ing machine 4 When you finish hang up USING A DISTINCTIVE RING SERVICE Most phone companies offer a distinctive ring service This service lets a single phone line use two or three phone num bers with each number having a different ring pattern For ex ample your main number might be assigned one long ring your second number two short rings an...

Page 9: ...st fax machines most modems do not send an alert tone Modem calls must be routed using transfer codes or by using a distinctive ring service see Using a Distinctive Ring Service on Page 8 Note For modems that send an alert tone you can set the AFX 500 to detect the tone See V 25 Modem Tone Detec tion on Page 16 or Reverse Modem Tone Detection on Page 16 Using Transfer Codes To have the calling mod...

Page 10: ...Automatic No Answer Transfer 00 Off 10 On On 13 Auto Answering Machine Transfer 01 Off 11 On Off 13 Automatic Answering Machine Transfer Timer 50 0 99 Seconds 30 13 Automatic Ring Reduction 02 Off 12 On On 13 Automatic Ring Reduction Reset 03 Off 13 On On 14 Automatic Ring Reduction Reset Timer 51 1 60 Minutes 10 14 Extension Detection 04 Off 14 On On 14 Outbound Voice Exclusion 05 Off 15 On On 14...

Page 11: ...Notification 017 Off 117 On Off 18 RMN Conditions 70 1 3 1 18 RMN Phone Number 71 Up to 16 Digits None 18 Caller ID 016 Off 116 On Off 18 Rings to Answer Call 40 1 99 Rings 1 18 Rings to Answering Machine and Phone Jacks 41 1 99 Rings 6 19 Rings to Fax and Modem Jacks 42 1 99 Rings 3 19 Phantom Ring Style 82 0 4 Styles 0 19 Reset to Default Settings 999 None None 20 Feature Command Options Default...

Page 12: ... change then press The AFX 500 beeps three times Repeat this step for each feature you want to change Note If you make a mistake entering a touch tone com mand the AFX 500 beeps once Simply repeat Step 3 4 When you finish programming the AFX 500 press to save your changes then hang up COMMAND DESCRIPTIONS Each of the following sections describes a different AFX 500 special feature and explains how...

Page 13: ...nswering ma chine disconnects a call and it does not route calls to the FAX and FAX MODEM jacks Related Commands Automatic Answering Machine Transfer Timer Automatic Answering Machine Transfer Timer Touch Tone Command 50xx xx 0 to 99 seconds Default Setting 30 seconds If you program the AFX 500 to use the Automatic Answering Machine Transfer feature you should set the Automatic An swering Machine ...

Page 14: ... When Extension Detection is turned on and the AFX 500 routes a call to the ANSWERING MACHINE and PHONE jacks you can answer the call using any extension phone After six rings the AFX 500 routes the call to the FAX and FAX MODEM jacks and you can no longer answer the call from an exten sion phone When Extension Detection is turned off the AFX 500 only lets you answer a call using a phone connected...

Page 15: ...one connected directly to the AFX 500 The calling party cannot initiate rotary dial transfers Pound Key Transfer Required Touch Tone Command 08 Off 18 On Default Setting On With this feature turned on you or a caller must press before entering a transfer code or the Remote Access Security Code When this feature is turned off you or the caller can transfer a call by entering the transfer code witho...

Page 16: ...nds This command sets the timer for Single Tone Detection Related Commands Single Tone Detection Fax Alert Tone Detection Touch Tone Command 011 Off 111 On Default Setting On This command sets the AFX 500 to detect an 1100 Hz fax alert tone When you or the AFX 500 answers a call the AFX 500 listens for a fax alert tone If it detects the tone it routes the call to the FAX and FAX MODEM jacks Relate...

Page 17: ... Ring Service Assignment Touch Tone Command 80xx x 0 3 Default Setting 12 To use distinctive ring service to route your incoming calls you must first turn on Distinctive Ring Service Detection see Dis tinctive Ring Service Detection With distinctive ring detec tion turned on the AFX 500 processes calls as follows Calls to the main number are routed to the ANSWERING MACHINE and PHONE jacks Calls to...

Page 18: ...ransfer Timer Related Commands Remote Message Notification Automatic Answering Machine Transfer Timer on Page 13 RMN Phone Number Touch Tone Command 71 phone number Default Setting none This command sets the phone number that the AFX 500 dials when Remote Message Notification is activated The phone number can be up to 16 digits long Related Commands Remote Message Notification Caller ID Touch Tone...

Page 19: ...ODEM jacks In semiautomatic mode when a call comes in the AFX 500 rings the ANSWERING MACHINE and PHONE jacks up to six times If the call remains unanswered the AFX 500 routes it to the FAX and FAX MODEM jacks which ring until the fax ma chine answers or the caller hangs up In automatic mode any time a call is routed to the FAX and FAX MODEM jacks this feature allows three rings for the fax machin...

Page 20: ... the sender to wait until the answering machine answers then enter 1 1 on a touch tone phone before sending the fax Change your answering machine s outgoing message to include 4 seconds of silence at the beginning only for semiautomatic mode Be sure your fax machine is set to answer on fewer rings than your answering machine Fax calls are not transferred to the fax when the phone is answered by a ...

Page 21: ...and dirt which can cause premature wear of parts Handle the AFX 500 gently and carefully Dropping it can damage circuit boards and cases and can cause the AFX 500 to work improperly Wipe the AFX 500 with a damp cloth occasionally to keep it looking new Do not use harsh chemicals cleaning solvents or strong detergents to clean the AFX 500 Modifying or tampering with the AFX 500 s internal component...

Page 22: ...the op eration of your AFX 500 The phone company notifies you of these changes in advance so you can take steps to prevent interruption of your phone service LIGHTNING Your AFX 500 has built in protection circuits to reduce the risk of damage from surges in the phone and power line current These protection circuits meet or exceed FCC requirements However lightning striking the phone line or power ...

Page 23: ...23 NOTES ...

Page 24: ...product defect during the warranty period take the product and the RadioShack sales receipt as proof of purchase date to any RadioShack store RadioShack will at its option un less otherwise provided by law a correct the defect by product repair without charge for parts and labor b replace the product with one of the same or similar design or c refund the purchase price All replaced parts and produ...

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