Lewin EdwardsEdwards was raving on in AUST_MODEM about digital phone lines:
ML>> Some PABX systems are digital and have identical phone connectors
ML>> to
ML>> analog phone system. Apparently, if you plug your modem into one
ML>> of
ML>> these the high current of the digital line can fry your modem. I
ML>> think

 LE> Yes it will, and most PCMCIA modems these days will go
 LE> "bleeeeeeeeeeep!!!" when you plug in 
 LE> a digital line. You've got about 10-15 seconds to pull the plug
 LE> once you hear that sound, or 
 LE> parts of the DAA will explode (Yes, I have a couple of fried
 LE> modems). The manuals for my 
 LE> PCMCIA modems all say something like "This modem will issue an
 LE> audible warning if connected 
 LE> to a digital telephone line. If you hear this warning, unplug the
 LE> modem immediately. It may 
 LE> have been damaged, and your warranty is no longer valid".

I can say that the older Netcomm PCM modems don't do this. Two out of three
fried but fixed under warranty. The trick is that there was no section in
the manual that explicitly said not to do it.

Tom Bulum
e-mail: tom.bulum{at}accc.gov.au  or  tomb{at}pcug.org.au
netmail: 3:620/250.5
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