Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Is the STICK compatible with phone company Voice Mail?
Answer: Since the STICK must always "answer" the ring from the phone company to do its job, there will never be an un-answered call situation which means that the only time a message will be taken by the phone company VM will be when the line is already busy and another party tries to call the number. This can be of benefit to some people if they frequently occupy the line for lengthy periods. An on-site answering machine will be necessary to take messages when the line is available but you can't answer. For a more details see How will this item work with phone company voice mail?

Question: Is the STICK compatible with phone company Call Forwarding services?
Answer: Since the phone number that The Stick is installed on is used for voice as well as fax and/or modem(s), phone company call forwarding will transfer all calls including your fax calls. You probably don't want you fax calls transferred along with your voice calls to your cell phone for example. Unless you have another Stick installed at the number you are forwarding your calls to, your fax calls would be lost. We do not recommend using phone company call forwarding with The Stick.

Question: How can I make Caller ID work with the STICK?
Answer: You must delay the STICK to answer after the phone company sends the CID data packet, between the 1st and 2nd ring from the phone company. See programming instructions in the Operation Manual (Sections 2 & 3) and set "Rings To Answer" option register 14 to value of 2. See Caller ID Compatibility.

Question: Is the STICK compatible with DSL or ADSL Service?
Answer: The STICK is compatible with Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) service available from the phone company. Remember the STICK is an Analog device just like your phone while your DSL service is digital. Simply insure that the DSL filter, which should be provided by your DSL service provider, is installed between the DSL service connection and the Line jack on the STICK. See DSL Compatibility for a diagram and more info.

Question: How do I program the STICK?
Answer: Specific instructions are provided in Sections 2 & 3 of the Operations Manual. It explains commands and responses. Tip: When entering a command to change the value in a register, enter the 2 digit register # followed immediately by the data to be entered. Examples; set Register 14 to 2 (enter 142), set register 13 to #345 (enter 13#345). See Overview of Programming.

Question: All incoming calls, including Fax & Modem, ring on the telephone. What's wrong?
Answer: Either you have lost power to the STICK (check that LED is glowing red) or the program options in the STICK may have gotten "scrambled" by a power glitch causing the STICK not to answer. In the first case, confirm your power source. In the second case, see Operations Manual Sections 2 & 3 and reset the options to Factory Presets, then re-program any custom settings you may have had, i. e. CID ring to answer delay.

Question: Some FAX calls ring to my phones while others are received by the FAX machine directly. What's wrong?
Answer: The FAX calls that are ringing on your phone are probably being initiated by the sender in a manual way, which will not have the CNG tone necessary for automatic routing and reception. (See What is a Fax Tone in the manual for a detailed description.) The sender must either initiate their call in a way that will generate the CNG tone or you will need to enter the *2 Security Access code on your phone to transfer the call to your Fax machine.


Another reason some FAX calls ring to my phones while others are received by the FAX machine directly is some equipment used for sending FAX's may not be able to emit the CNG signal. They must then use the correct access stream as shown in the Operations Manual Section 4.3 to direct the call to the FAX port with the Security Access Code, i.e. 555-666-777,,*2,,*2.

Question: Can I connect more than 1 modem to the STICK?
Answer: Generally, any analog telephony equipment can be attached to any device port as desired to meet individual needs.


The Stick can be used with two modems and voice, two modems and fax, or three modems if you wish.


If you need more than three modems to share a single line, see Polnet ACP, Versa-Link ATX-300/6 or The Line Hunter.

Question: I am only sharing this line for Fax and Modem type equipment with no inbound voice calls. What is the best installation configuration?
Answer: The Stick can easily configured to work with fax and modem only applications. We recommend connecting the FAX to Voice 1 and change option register 01 to value of 0. This will let all FAX calls, with and without CNG tone, find the FAX machine. The Fax port can be used for any other equipment, including a phone for outbound calls.

Simple Step-by- step Instructions on how to make make this programming change (turn off fax tone detection) is at Programming the Stick for applications without voice in this manual.

You can now access the fax port using a SAC code like you would with any other modem application with the Stick. The factory access code (SAC) is *2. i.e. 555-666-777,,*2,,*2. For more information about directing a MODEM call to the FAX port see Security Access Codes.

Question: I am only sharing this line for only Modem type equipment and voice calls. What is the best installation configuration?
Answer: Recommend connecting the Phone(s) to Voice 1 and the Answering machine to Voice 2. change option register 01 to value of 0. This turns off CNG detection, which you don't need since you are not connecting a FAX machine. The Fax port can be used for a modem or any other equipment, including a phone for outbound calls. Then plug your MODEM into "Modem" on the back of the Stick. then add the SAC to your dialing sting in the sending modem software (PC Anywhere for example). For more information on Security Access Codes (SAC) see Computer Modems in the manual.

Question: How do I add a SAC (Security Access Code) in the sending software?
Answer: In order to add the SAC, you simply put your phone number (where the Stick is) into your sending modem software just like you always do, except at the end of the phone number you add three commas (commas represent a half second pause in computer language) and then the SAC (security access code). You can change the SAC to whatever you want up to 4 digits with the Stick.


The factory programming is *1 for device one (Labeled "VOICE 1" and "VOICE 2"), * 2 for device two (Labeled "FAX"), and *3 for device three (Labeled "MODEM"). So for example you would use 1-866-337-0965,,,*3,,,*3 to access your modem. Of course, you change our phone number for yours in the example. Note: I repeated the ,,,3 twice for insurance just in case the phone system is very slow to respond for some reason. For more information on Security Access Codes (SAC) see Computer Modems in the manual.

Question: Can I program the STICK from a remote location?
Answer: Yes, but you must have someone at the STICK location initiate a call to you from a phone attached to the STICK. After you answer, with the caller on the line, programming codes can be entered from either location.

Question: Why does my Stick repeatedly click-click when I pick up the line?
Answer:If you cannot get a dial tone, and only hear a click-click every two seconds or so, the Stick does not have a good connection to the phone company. Check your installation and wiring for loose or open connections. Connect a single-line telephone directly to the incoming line. Check for dial tone and proper operation. A dead line should be reported to your telephone company.

Question: Can I share two fax machines on 1 line and if the first fax doesn't answer after x amount of rings, I want it to go to the second fax?
Answer:I would put the primary fax on voice 1, set it for 2 rings to answer. We will turn fax tone detection off on the Stick (Register 01=0). Put the secondary fax on the fax port and have it set at 1 ring to answer. Set max rings on the Stick to 4 (Register 15=4) and turn unanswered call silent transfer on (Register 03=1). All incoming calls will go to the primary fax, if it does not answer for some reason, the Stick will then transfer to the secondary fax (after 4 rings). Both faxes will still have their normal outbound capability.

Question: The light (LED) on the STICK blinks. What does it mean?
Answer: The blink pattern indicates which device port is active (off-hook or ring). A single blink for voice port, double blink for fax port, and triple blink for modem port.

 

Question: How do I reprogram The Stick back to factory specifications?
Answer:
The first thing you should do is to place a local call to your best buddy. Ask him or her to lay their phone receiver down for a moment.... but don't hang it up. This will keep you from incurring any long distance phone charges or "freaking out" the local phone company with all the numbers you will dial to program The Stick.

 

After placing a call to your friend, wait at least five seconds before proceeding. First, DIAL "# # 7 7" on your telephone key pad. The LED light will begin blinking rapidly. Immediately listen for three rapid high - pitch beeps in your handset. Three high-pitched tones indicate that you have entered the programming mode and may "PROCEED".

 

At this time, you should enter the Register Number of the feature you wish to program and proper value(s). Dial "60". All registers automatically revert to factory preset. The Stick will answer with an “OK” tone followed immediately by a “PROCEED” tone. Dial “80” to save and exit. Your Stick is now reprogrammed to the original factory settings.