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iCEBOX Owner’s Manual
Appendix
Analog vs digital phone lines
There are two types of phone lines commonly available: analog and digital. Most
homes are wired with analog phone lines. Digital lines are usually found in
commercial and industrial sites. However, newer homes, apartments, and
condominiums may be pre-wired with high speed digital phone lines.
All modems, including the modem in the iCEBOX, require an analog phone line.
Connecting a modem to a digital line will cause permanent damage to the
modem.
To determine which type of line you have, look at the phone line connector. An
analog phone connector is terminated with 2 or 4 copper wires. A digital
connector is terminated with 6 or 8 copper wires. If you cannot determine
for
certain
which type of phone line you have, contact your phone service provider.
If you have a digital phone line
In commercial buildings, apartment buildings, and condominiums, digital phone
lines usually come from a "telephone switch" or PBX located in the building.
These telephone switches will also support analog phone lines. The telephone
system administrator can arrange for an analog phone line to be brought to your
location from the local telephone switch.
If you live in a house wired with a digital line, you can arrange with your phone
company to have an analog line brought into your home. In addition, many
digital phone manufacturers offer inexpensive adapters that plug into the digital
phone line and convert it to an analog line. These adapters usually work best at
lower modem speeds.
Appendix
