You can't...well, not without looking really
carefully!
Check the back of the telephone. If you see "complies
with part 68, FCC Rules" and a Ringer Equivalence
Number (REN), the phone is analog and you're safe to
connect. If not, then the line is most likely digital.
Also look at the phone's keypad. Are there multiple
function keys? An LCD? These are all indicators that
the phone line is digital. These methods aren't fool
proof and I accept no responsibility for any fried
electronics...I can tell you that the above method
works for me every time I used it!
Otherwise, there are two alternate methods. One,
purchase one of those digital line detectors for about
$29 (you can find them at most good phone stores) or
you could plug your modem into it and if it fries,
then it's a digital line! I wouldn't recommend the
last method unless you got a lot of money to
spend...and if that's the case, might I suggest a few
charities....
Ed
web/gadget guru
--- Sumit Roy <skroy@online.no> wrote:
> How does one differentiate an analogue telephone
> line from its digital
> counterpart? The telephone jacks are identical, at
> least to cursory
> inspection. Would like to know because I've been
> given to understand that
> connecting a modem to a digital line will
> permanently damage the former.
>
> Sumit Roy
>
>
>
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu Jun 01 2000 - 00:00:08 CDT