Radio Shack AFX-400 User Manual

Cat. No. 43-1246

OWNER’S MANUAL

Please read before using this equipment.

AFX-400

Three-Device Home Fax Switch

INTRODUCTION

he RadioShack AFX-400 T hree-Device Hom e F ax Swi tch al-

ows you to conne ct a telepho ne, an ans wering machine, and

fax machine or modem to a single telephone line, eliminating he expense of installing a second line. Your AFX -400 is easy o install. It connects to an existing telephone jack and re-

uires no special wiring.

ou can operate your AFX-400 in one of two modes:

• Office mode: the AFX-400 answers each call on the first ring and automatically routes the call to the correct device.

• Home mode: the AFX-400 rings your phone six times, giving you or your answering machine time to answer the call first. If you do not answer, the AFX-400 automatically routes the call.

our AFX-400 is ea sy to o perate an d preset to work for most

nstallations, and you can easily customize its operation to suit

our needs. Its built-in features are designed to work with the istinctive ringing, Caller ID, and voi ce mail s ervices provided y most phone companies.

or more information about the AFX-400’s various features,

ee “Questions and Answers” on Page 11.

his fax/data switch has been tested and found to comply with

ll applicable standards.

mportant:

ng services.

The AFX-400 is n ot compatible with call forward-

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

hen using your telephone equipment, basic safety precauions should always be followed to reduce the risk of fire, elecric shock and injury to persons, including the following:

1. Do not use this product near water, for example, near a bath tub, wash bowl, kitchen sink or laundry tub, in a wet basement or near a swimming pool.

2. Avoid using a telephone (other than a cordless type) during 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 vicinity of the leak.

READ THIS BEFORE INSTALLATION

Each device that you connect to the phone line draws power from the phone line. We refer to this power draw as the de-

ringer equivalence number

vice ’s bottom of your AFX-400.

If you are using more than one device on the line, add up all the RENs. If the total is more than five, your phone might not ring and your answering machine might not answer. In rural areas, a total REN of three might impair ringer operation. If ringer operation is impaired, remove a device from the line.

, or REN. The REN is on the

FCC STATEMENT

The AFX-400 complies with Part 68 of upon request, provide the FCC registration number and the REN to your phone company. These nu mbers are on the bottom of your AFX-400.

You must not connect your AFX-400 to any of the fol-

Note:

lowing:

• coin-operated systems

• party-line syst ems

• most electronic key phone systems

Warnin

pose this product to rain or moisture.

CAUTION

NOT REMOVE COVER OR BACK. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.

: To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not ex-

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK.

DO NOT OPEN.

: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO

This symbol i s i nten de d to a le rt you to t he pre se nce of u ni nsu lat ed dangerous voltage within the product’s enclosure that might be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock. Do not open the product’s case.

This symb ol is in t en ded to i nf or m y ou th at i mpo rt ant o pe rat in g and maintenance instructions are included in the literature accompanying this product.

FCC Rules

. You must,

4. Use only the power cord indicated in this manual.

RadioShack is a registered trademark used by Tandy Corporation.

CONTENTS

Installation .................................................................................................................................................................................... 4

Making the Connections .......................................................................................................................................................... 4

Mounting on a Wall ................................................................................................................ ................................................. . 5

Preparing an Answering Machine for Use with the AFX-400 ........................................... ....... .. ....... .......... ............................. 5

Installing an Optional Voice Data Guard ....... .. ..... .. ..... .. ... .... ... .... ... .... . ...... . ...... . ...... . ..... .. ..... .. ..... ............................................ 5

Operation ........................................................................................................................ .............................................................. 6

Operating Modes ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6

Automatic Ring Reduction ................................................................................................................................................ 6

Receiving Voice Calls .............................................................................................................. ................................................ 7

Using an Answering Machine .......... ........................................................................................................................................ 7

Answering Machine Remote Operation ............................................................................................................................ 7

Receiving Faxes ................................................................................................................. ..................................................... 8

Using Tra n sfe r Codes ...... .............. ................................................................................................................................... 8

Receiving Modem Calls ................................................................................................................ ............................... ............ 8

Using Tra n sfe r Codes ...... .............. ................................................................................................................................... 8

Special Features ..................................................................................................................... .................................... ................. 9

Using Caller ID ........................................................................................................................................................................ 9

Using a Distinctive Ring Service ............................................................................................................................................. 9

Using Voice Mail ........................................................................................................................ .............................................. 9

Using Your Fax Machine as a Scanner . . ............................................................................................................................... 10

Questions and Answe rs ............................................................................................................................................................ 11

Troubleshootin

Care and Maintenance ............................................................................................................................................................... 13

The FCC Wants You to Know ................................................................................................................................................ 14

Lightning ................................................................................................................................................................................ 14

......................................................................................................................................................................... 12

INSTALLATION

S OFF

A ON

TEL LINE

ANSWERING MACHINE

PHONE

FAX/ MODEM

SWITCH SETTINGS

S OFF

A ON

TEL LINE

ANSWERING MACHINE

PHONE

FAX/ MODEM

SWITCH SETTINGS

ou can place the AFX-4 00 on a flat surf ace or m ount it on a all (see “Mounting on a Wall” on Page 5). Choose a location

hat is:

• near an AC outlet

• near a telephone line jack

• out of the way of normal activities

• at least 2 feet away from any electronic equipment

aution:

rs at least 830 mA. Its plu g fits the AFX-400's

The supplied AC adapter supplies 12 volts and deliv-

12VAC

jack.

sing an adapter that does not meet these specifications

ould damage the AFX-400 or the adapter.

The socket-outlet shall be installed near the equipment

ote:

nd shall be easily accessible.

MAKING THE CONNECTIONS

1. Plug one end of t he supplied modular telep hone line co rd into the plug the other end into a modular telephone line jack.

TEL LINE

jack on the AFX-400’s back pan el, and

3. To connect a modem instead o f a fax machine, plug the modular cord from its line input jack into the

FA X/MODEM

jack on the back pa nel of the AFX -400. Set the modem ’s ring number to its minimum setting (typically 1 ring).

4. To connect an answering machine, plug the mo dular cord from its line input jack into the AFX-400’s

MACHINE

jack. Also, see “Preparing an Answering

ANSWERING

Machine for Use with the AFX-400” on Page 5.

TEL LINE

ANSWERING MACHINE

PHONE

FAX/ MODEM

SWITCH SETTINGS

A ON S OFF

TEL LINE

ANSWERING MACHINE

PHONE

FAX/ MODEM

SWITCH SETTINGS

A ON S OFF

Notes:

• Your AFX-400 connects directly to a modular telephone line jack. If your telephone wiring does not have a modular jack, you can update the wiring yourself using jacks and adapters available at your loc al RadioShack store, or have the telephone company update the wiring for you.

• The USOC number of the jack to be installed is RJ11C.

2. To connect a fax machine, p lug its modular cord int o the

FAX / M O DE M

jack. Set the fax machine’s ring number to its

minimum setting (typically one ring).

TEL LINE

ANSWERING MACHINE

PHONE

FAX/ MODEM

SWITCH SETTINGS

A ON S OFF

5. To connect a Caller ID unit, plug the modular cord from its line input jack into the AFX-400 ’s

PHONE

jack. Also see

“Using Caller ID” on Page 9.

6. To connect a telephone, plug its modular cord into the AFX-400’s

PHONE

jack. or into your Caller ID unit’s phone

jack.

TEL

ANSWERING

LINE

MACHINE

If your Caller ID unit does not have a connection for

Note:

PHONE

FAX/ MODEM

SWITCH SETTINGS

A ON S OFF

a telephone, connect your telephone to your answering machine or directly to the

ANSWERING MACHINE

jack.

7. Plug the supplied adapter’s barrel plug into the

jack, then plug the adapter into a standard A C outlet. The POWER indicator on the front of the AFX-400 lights.

SWITCH SETTINGS

A ON S OFF

Operating Mode

Caller ID

Distinctive Ring

Ring Reduction

12VAC

Note:

• If AC power fails, your AFX-400 automatically passes incoming calls to i ts

ANSWERING MACHINE

and

jacks, so you can answer the calls.

• The POWER indicator flashes slowly during calls.

MOUNTING ON A WALL

12VAC

PHONE

PREPARING AN ANSWERING MACHINE FOR USE WITH THE AFX-400

1. Be sure your answering machine is set to answer calls i less than six rings, because the AFX-400 will ring th

ANSWERING MACHINE

the call to the

FAX/MODEM

2. Because some fax ma chines do not send a fa x alert tone your outgoing message shou ld give callers in structions o how to send a fax (see “Receiving Faxes” on Page 8).

For example:

“Hello. Please leave your name and phone num ber at th tone. If you want to send a fax, p ress #91 on your touch tone phone, then press START on your fax machine.”

3. For the best performance, y our outgoing m essage shoul be 10–15 seconds long with 4 seconds of silen ce at th beginning of the message. The silence gives th e AFX -40 a chance to detect fax alert tones or transfer codes.

jack only six times before routin

jack.

1. To mount the AFX-400 directly on a wall,

/16"

you need two screws (not supplied) with heads that fit the keyhole slots on the bottom of the switch. Drill two holes 3 inches (83 mm) apart. Then thread a

/4"

screw into each hole, letting the heads extend about

/16 inch (5 mm) from the

wall.

2. Route the modular line cords through the line guides on the bottom of the AFX-400.

Line Guides

Line

Guides

3. Place the keyhole slots over the screws and slide the AFX-400 downward to secure it.

INSTALLING AN OPTIONAL VOICE DATA GUARD

If a telephone device on the same line as the AFX-4 00 is i use, the AFX-400 does not let your fax machine or modem ac cess the line or interrupt the call.

However, to prevent an extension telephone from interruptin a fax or data call in progress through the AFX-400, you mus plug that extension pho ne into an optional voice data guard such as RadioShack Cat. No. 43-107.

You do not need to use a v oice data guard if your an

Note:

swering machine automatically stops playing the outgoin message when you pick up an extension phone and you c on nected the answering machine to the AFX-400’s

MACHINE

jack.

ANSWERIN

+ 11 hidden pages