Specifications

67
Office Computer Operations Guidelines
• Modem connection
A modem in your PC calls the modem in your paging terminal.
• Serial connection (Local Connect)
A serial port in your computer is cabled directly to a serial port in the paging
terminal.
• IP Network connection
An after-market network-to-serial convertor is attached to the maintenance port on
the paging terminal. When the location information for the site is entered in
ZbaseW/ZlinkW, the IP address and port number for the convertor is entered in
place of a phone number or serial baud rate.
These maintenance connections are discussed in detail in the following subtopics.
Maintenance Port
Regardless of the method normally used by the system operator to link up to the terminal,
the technical support personnel at Zetron need a maintenance telephone line into the
modem maintenance port of the terminal. This is particularly true during initial installation
so we can configure the terminal for you; and later for answering questions, running
diagnostics, and sending software updates.
This telephone line is completely separate from any telephone lines used for routing
paging calls into our trunk cards. The maintenance line is an ordinary subscriber line, like
your home telephone or a FAX line. Be sure the line does not have a Call Waiting feature.
If someone called that number while you (or we) were linked up to the terminal, the
momentary interruption of audio would drop the line, possibly causing problems.
It is best if this telephone line is completely dedicated to this use. If the paging terminal is
not in your office, the telephone line must be dedicated, unless you have some kind of
automatic or remote-controlled telephone switch.
If the paging terminal is in an office, you can share the telephone line with another device,
such as a desk set or a FAX line. If you use a FAX line, you will need a switch to select
either the paging terminal or the FAX. This means that each time someone needs to link
up to the paging terminal via modem, the line will need to be switched over (and then
switched back when done).
This “shared-line” situation usually works reasonably well if you use Local Connect,
otherwise it is usually too inconvenient for personnel in the office. If it is shared with a
desk telephone, people tend to pick up the line instead of letting the paging terminal
answer it. (Our default setting is to answer after two rings).
Overall, it simpler and more reliable if you can dedicate an ordinary telephone line to the
terminal for maintenance purposes.
PC Modem Connection
If you decide to use a modem installed on your office PC to communicate with the paging
terminal via its maintenance port, this will require a second telephone line for paging