Skutch AS-2500-1
Telecommunication Watch Dog Product Manual

INTRODUCTION

If you are experiencing intermittent computer lock up problems with either your computerized voice application or modem, then this is the product that you have been dreaming about. When a lock up condition is detected the AS2500-1 will automatically reset your computer and will keep track of the total number of times that your system has locked up. This gives you the ability to debug your problem without loosing service to your voice or modem application. Best of all, you don't need to make any modifications to your existing software to use the AS2500-1. The AS2500-1 monitors the duration of the "OFF HOOK" state, and the number of "RINGS" on your primary telephone line. If the computer fails to answer a call within a pre-determined number of rings, or stays in the "OFF HOOK" state for over a pre-determined amount of time, the AS2500-1 will automatically reset your computer, and your software will re-boot.

There are two different methods in which the AS2500-1 can reset your computer. The AS2500-1 has a switched power outlet on the rear of the unit. If you connect the power cord from your computer to this outlet, the AS2500-1 will disconnect power to your computer for a 20 second period every time that it detects a reset condition. This 20 second period provides time for your computers power supply and hard drive to power down before it re- applies power.

The AS2500-1 also has a fully isolated pair of relay contacts that can be connected directly across your computers RESET switch. The AS2500-1 provides a 2 second closure across these contacts when a reset condition is detected.

The power LED on the front of the AS2500-1 flashes to indicate the number of times that the AS2500-1 has detected a reset condition. The system setup information and number of resets, are stored in a non-volatile memory device that retains the data for up to 100 years without power. This helps to make the AS2500-1 a reliable tool that you can count on when you need it.

FEATURES

No software modifications needed for operation
Maximum RINGS user programmable from 1 to 99
Maximum OFF HOOK state user programmable from 1 to 999 minutes
Non-volatile ram retains reset and programmed info for up to 100 years
Keeps track of total number of reset conditions
Two different methods provided to reset your computer
Easy to install

INSTALLATION

Connect the male modular cable that came with the AS2500-1 to the modular jack on the rear of the AS2500-1 labeled "TELEPHONE LINE". Connect the other end to your RJ-11 or RJ-14 telephone jack.
Connect your modem or primary voice channel to the jack on the rear of the AS2500-1 labeled "DEVICE". Note if you are using a voice board with two channels, the AS2500-1 will be connected to the first port and will pass the second line through.
Next you must determine which one of the two methods that you are going to use to reset your computer. If you use the switched power outlet on the rear of the AS2500-1, then connect the power cord from your computer to the power outlet on the rear of the AS2500-1. When a reset condition is detected by the AS2500-1, the unit will disconnect power from the switched outlet for 20 seconds, then will restore power. This 20 second period will give time for your computers power supply and hard drive to properly power down before restoring power.
If you choose to use the isolated relay contacts of the AS2500-1, then connect the 3.5mm plug from the supplied reset cable to the 3.5mm phone jack on the rear of the AS2500-1. Connect the other end to the two wires that are connected to your computer's reset button. Note that these contacts are fully isolated from all power inside of the AS2500-1.
Connect the power plug from the AS2500-1 to your main power. It is not recommended that you use small gage extension cords to connect the AS2500-1 to power. Make sure that you have good power connections all of the way around.

PROGRAM MODE

The AS2500-1 has the ability to monitor for two different types of conditions. It can monitor the number of times that the telephone line rings, and the amount of time that the telecommunication device that is connected to it, stays in the "OFF HOOK" state. You have the ability to use either one, or both of these monitoring conditions as you see fit.

CHANGING THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF RINGS

Change the PROGRAM switch on the rear of the AS2500 to the UP or PROGRAM position. The LED on the front of the AS2500-1 will start flashing to indicate that you are in the PROGRAM MODE.
Call the telephone line that the AS2500-1 is connected to, from a touch tone telephone. The unit will answer after the first complete ring, then the AS2500-1 will play a START tone.
After the START tone has stopped, press the [#] key followed by the maximum number of rings, followed by another [#] tone. The entry can be from 0 to 99. A value of 0 will disable the RING DETECT function. For example, if you wanted to make the maximum rings equal to 15, you would press the following keys after the end of the START tone: [#] [1] [5] [#]
A maximum of 5 rings would be entered like: [#][5][#]
If you wish to disable the RING detect function simply enter 0 for the number of rings by entering: [#][0][#]
After you are finished simply hang up and the AS2500-1 will automatically disconnect after 10 seconds.
After you are finished return the PROGRAM switch to the down or NORMAL position.

VERIFYING MAXIMUM NUMBER OF RINGS

Change the PROGRAM switch on the rear of the AS2500 to the UP or PROGRAM position. The LED on the front of the AS2500-1 will start flashing to indicate that you are in the PROGRAM MODE.
Call the telephone line that the AS2500-1 is connected to, from a touch tone telephone. The unit will answer after the first complete ring, then the AS2500-1 will play a START tone.
After the START tone has stopped, press [#] [#]. The AS2500-1 will play back the MAXIMUM RINGS via a series of short beeps. A 0 is indicated by 10 short beeps. For example if the maximum rings was 14. The unit would beep once, pause 3 seconds, then beep 4 times.
After you are finished simply hang up and the AS2500-1 will automatically disconnect after 10 seconds.
After you are finished return the PROGRAM switch to the down or NORMAL position.

CHANGING THE MAXIMUM OFF HOOK TIME

Change the PROGRAM switch on the rear of the AS2500 to the UP or PROGRAM position. The LED on the front of the AS2500-1 will start flashing to indicate that you are in the PROGRAM MODE.
Call the telephone line that the AS2500-1 is connected to, from a touch tone telephone. The unit will answer after the first complete ring, then the AS2500-1 will play a START tone.
After the START tone has stopped, press the [*] key followed by the maximum number of minutes, followed by another [*] tone. The entry can be from 0 to 999 minutes. A value of 0 will disable the OFF HOOK detect function. For example, if you wanted to make the maximum OFF HOOK time 120 minutes, you would press the following keys after the end of the START tone: [*][1][2][0][*]
A maximum of 5 minutes would be entered as follows: [*][5][*]
If you wish to disable the OFF HOOK DETECT function simply enter 0 for the maximum OFF HOOK minutes as follows: [*][0][*]
After you are finished simply hang up and the AS2500-1 will automatically disconnect after 10 seconds.
After you are finished return the PROGRAM switch to the down or NORMAL position.

VERIFYING MAXIMUM OFF HOOK TIME

Change the PROGRAM switch on the rear of the AS2500 to the UP or PROGRAM position. The LED on the front of the AS2500-1 will start flashing to indicate that you are in the PROGRAM MODE.
Call the telephone line that the AS2500-1 is connected to, from a touch tone telephone. The unit will answer after the first complete ring, then the AS2500-1 will play a START tone.
After the START tone has stopped, press [*] [*]. The AS2500-1 will play back the MAXIMUM OFF HOOK minutes via a series of short beeps. A 0 is indicated by 10 short beeps. For example if the maximum rings was 120. The unit would beep once, pause 3 seconds, then beep 2 times, pause 3 seconds then beep 10 times.
After you are finished simply hang up and the AS2500-1 will automatically disconnect after 10 seconds.
After you are finished return the PROGRAM switch to the down or NORMAL position.

ADJUSTABLE BUFFER TIMER

After your computer has reset, it may take a few minutes before the computer re-boots up your application and is ready to process calls again. The AS2500-1 has a built in user programmable timer to help deal with this situation. After the computer has rebooted, it will wait a pre-determined amount of time before it starts to monitor again. The timer is programmed in tenth of minute increments from .1 to 9.9 minutes.

CHANGING THE BUFFER TIMER

Change the PROGRAM switch on the rear of the AS2500 to the UP or PROGRAM position. The LED on the front of the AS2500-1 will start flashing to indicate that you are in the PROGRAM MODE.
Call the telephone line that the AS2500-1 is connected to, from a touch tone telephone. The unit will answer after the first complete ring, then the AS2500-1 will play a START tone.
After the START tone has stopped, press the [#] key followed by the maximum number of tenths of minutes, followed by another [*] tone. The entry can be from 0 to 999 minutes. For example, if you wanted to make the buffer period equal to 1.5 minutes, you would press the following keys after the end of the START tone: [#][1][5][*]
A 3 minute buffer period would be entered as follows: [#][3][0][*]
After you are finished simply hang up and the AS2500-1 will automatically disconnect after 10 seconds.
After you are finished return the PROGRAM switch to the down or NORMAL position.

VERIFYING THE BUFFER TIMER

Change the PROGRAM switch on the rear of the AS2500 to the UP or PROGRAM position. The LED on the front of the AS2500-1 will start flashing to indicate that you are in the PROGRAM MODE.
Call the telephone line that the AS2500-1 is connected to, from a touch tone telephone. The unit will answer after the first complete ring, then the AS2500-1 will play a start tone.
After the start tone has stopped, press [#] [*]. The AS2500-1 will play back the buffer timer in tenths of minutes via a series of short beeps. For example if the buffer timer was set to 1.5 minutes, the unit would beep once, pause 3 seconds, and beep 5 times.
After you are finished simply hang up and the AS2500-1 will automatically disconnect after 10 seconds.
After you are finished return the program switch to the down or normal position.

Programming Note:

After each programming or verification function is complete, the AS2500-1 issues another start tone. If you wish to perform multiple programming and/or verification operations you can issue new commands after the AS2500-1 issues a new start tone. Simply wait for the start tone to stop before issuing a new command.

Normal Operation:

For normal operation, the program switch on the rear of the AS2500-1 must be in the down position.

Reset Indication:

The LED on the front panel of the AS2500-1 will indicate if it has detected any reset conditions in this case, every 2.5 seconds the LED will wink the number of times that the AS2500-1 has reset the computer. For example, if the unit has reset 12 times, the LED will wink one time every 2.5 seconds. If the unit has reset 5 times, the LED will wink 5 times every 2.5 seconds.

Skutch AS-2500-1 Telecommunication Watch Dog Product Manual