Multilink ZipLink?X User manual

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ZipLink‐Xtreme
RuggedizedWireless
EthernetExtender
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(Models#ZipLink‐X,ZipLink‐X200)
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UserManual v.7.1 
Multi‐Link,Inc.
122DeweyDrive|Nicholasville,KY|40356USA
SalesandTechSupport800.535.4651
FAX859.885.6619
Copyright©2014,AllRightsReserved,Multi‐Link,Inc.

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StatementofConformity
Note:Thisequipmenthasbeentestedandfoundtocomplywiththe
limitsforaClassAdigitaldevice,pursuanttopart15oftheFCCRules.
Theselimitsaredesignedtoprovidereasonableprotectionagainst
harmfulinterferencewhentheequipmentisoperatedinacommercial
environment.Thisequipmentgenerates,uses,andcanradiateradio
frequencyenergyand,ifnotinstalledandusedinaccordancewiththe
instructionmanual,maycauseharmfulinterferencetoradio
communications.Operationofthisequipmentinaresidentialareais
likelytocauseharmfulinterferenceinwhichcasetheuserwillbe
requiredtocorrecttheinterferenceattheirownexpense.
ThisdevicecomplieswithIndustryCanadalicense‐exemptRSS
standard(s).Operationissubjecttothefollowingtwoconditions:(1)this
devicemaynotcauseinterference,and(2)thisdevicemustacceptany
interference,includinginterferencethatmaycauseundesiredoperation
ofthedevice.
Terminology:
Master – This is the radio that goes where you already have internet
service or the main office.
Remote – This is the location where no network service currently
exists.
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Technical Support Contact:
1‐800‐535‐4651
techsupport@multi‐link.net
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*SafetyWarningsforGroundingandRFexposure*
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Inordertocomplywithelectricalcodesinmost
areas,aswellasprovideadequateprotection
fromlightning,youMUSTgroundtheZipLink
outdoorunit!
Thisdevicecontainsalowpowerradiotransmitter.Whenthisdevice
isconnectedandtransmitting,itsendsoutRadioFrequency(RF)
signals.
ThisWirelessRadiodevicehasbeenevaluatedunderFCCBulletinOET
65CandfoundtobecomplianttotherequirementsassetforthinCFR
47Sections2.1091,2.1093,and15.247(b)(4)addressingRFExposure
fromradiofrequencydevices.Theradiationoutputpowerofthis
wirelessdeviceisfarbelowtheFCCradiofrequencyexposurelimits.
Nevertheless,thisdeviceshouldbeinstalledandusedinsucha
mannerthatlimitsthepotentialforhumanexposuretodistances
greaterthan20cmor8inchesfromthedevice.
Thisdeviceshouldnotbeinstalledwithin10meters/30feetofany
otherRFtransmitter.

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Contents
Terminology:................................................................................................2
TechnicalSupport ........................................................................................3
SafetyWarningsforGroundingandRFexposure .......................................3
Contents ......................................................................................................4
Introduction.................................................................................................5
BoxContents................................................................................................5
Cabling .........................................................................................................5
CableGlandAssembly .................................................................................6
BenchTesting ..............................................................................................7
Installation ...................................................................................................8
AssemblyTips ..............................................................................................9
ElectricalConnections ...............................................................................11
Aimingtheantennas..................................................................................12
BenchTesting ............................................................................................13
Startup/Testing ........................................................................................13
Warranty....................................................................................................16
Disclaimer ..................................................................................................16
Specifications.............................................................................................17

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Introduction 
TheMulti‐LinkZipLink‐Xtremeisawirelesscommunicationssystemthat
providesanEthernetLAN(internet)connectiontobequicklyinstalled
betweentwobuildingsorlocationsupto3miles/5kilometersapart.
TheZipLink‐Xtremeisdesignedtobeeasytoinstall.Youwillneedthe
followingtools:
‐PowerDrill/Screwdriverw/Phillipsbits
‐10mmnutdriver/wrench
‐Electrician’sfishline
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BoxContents
TheZipLink‐Xtremeboxcontainsthefollowing:
‐2ZipLink‐XtremeOutdoorRadios,Master&Remote
‐2poweradaptersandPowerInjectors
‐2AntennaMounts
‐AccessoryKit
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Cabling
EachZipLink‐Xtremeradiocomesequippedwith30Meters/100feetof
OUTDOORRATEDcablewhichrunsfromtheZipLinktothePower
Injector,whichisusuallymountedinthetelcoroom.Thecableisused
forthedataconnectionsaswellaspower.YOUMAYSHORTENTHIS
CABLEIFYOUWISH,BUTYOUMAYNOTLENGTHENIT.
Keepinmindthatthiscablelengthmaximumdistanceisduetothe
maximumlengthallowableforthepowerwiresinsidethiscableonly.
ThecablelengthFROMtheMulti‐LinkpowerinjectorRJ45connectorTO
themaininternetconnectionorswitch/routermaybeupto300feetin
totalusingCat5eorCat6forEthernet/data,orevengreaterdistances

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whenusingshieldedcables.Thisallowsforalmostanyinstallationtouse
theZipLink‐Xtremesystem.
ThereisoneblackconnectorcomingoutoftheZipLink.Thisweather‐
proofconnectorisforthe4pairCat5eoutdoorrateddatacablethatis
included.
EachoutdoorZipLinkradioshouldbeelectricallygroundedbyuseofa
groundluginstalledononeoftheboltsusedtoholdtheZipLinkonthe
polemountbracketsandruntoaproperelectricalground.Thisisnot
onlyasafetyrequirementforlightningdissipationpurposes,butalso
improvessystemradioperformance,sincetheenclosureprovidesradio
shieldingagainstunwantedradioandelectricalnoiseontheEthernet
connection.
AssumingthattheoutletwhichtheMulti‐LinkPowerInjectorspower
supplyisproperlyinstalledaccordingtoelectricalcodes,nofurther
groundingpointsinthesystemisrequired.Theelectricalcircuitsforthe
Ethernet/dataconnectionsshouldNEVERbegrounded.Thisincludesall
connectionsinthepowerinjector.Ethernetconnectionsmust“float”.
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CableGlandAssembly
InsidetheaccessoryboxthatcamewiththeZipLink,
youwillfind2blackcableglandsthatlooklikethis:
Youshouldunscrewthetwoparts.Youshould
leavethesmallrubberO‐ringwhereitis.
YouwillnoticethattheO‐ringhasaslitinit.Thisisto
allowtheEthernetcabletobecompletelyassembledon
theground,priortoinstallingitontheradio.

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Thisisthecorrectorderforthecableglandcomponentsonthecable:
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Thenextstepistopushtherubberringinto
positionsothatitwillcompresswhentheglandis
assembled.YoushouldGENTLYuseasmall
screwdrivertoslideitinsidethemainbodyofthe
glandhousinguntilitisflushwiththelittleplastic
fingersatthebottomofthegland,likeshownin
thepicturetotheright:
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Youcannowslidetheglandupanddownthecablewhileyoupluginthe
Ethernetconnectorintothebottomoftheradio:
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Screwintheglandhousing: Andthenthebottomglandcap:

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BenchTesting
WhenbenchtestingtheZipLink,youneedtoknowthefollowing:
‐Theminimumdistancebetweentheradiosmustbe25feetor8
meters.IfyouhavetheMasterandRemoteZipLinkcloser
togetherthanthisduringtesting,thesystemmaynotoperate
properly,especiallyforVoIPservicestesting.
‐Youshouldalwaysorienttheradiossimilarlytohowtheywillbe
orientedwhentheyareinstalled.Optionally,youmaysitthem
BOTHsidewayswiththeSKYarrowpointingatthesamewallto
facilitateeasyRJ45cableinstallation.
‐Bothunitsshouldbeelectricallygroundedontheirchassisto
ensurenoisefromlightsandmotorsinthevicinitydonotaffect
signalquality.
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Installation
MounttheZipLinkRadiosashighupaspossibleonbothbuildings.The
radiosmust“see”eachotherwithoutobstructionsbetweenthem,and
sinceradiotravelsina“football”shapebetweenantennas,youmustnot
onlyhaveadirectpathbetweentheantennas,butthepathalsomustbe
wideenough,asdeterminedbythedistancebetweentheradios:
Radioheightrequiredbydistancebetweenradios
Distance(mi./km).25/.40.5/.801/1.6
MinimumHeight(ft/m)10/314/4.319/6
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Forexample,ifyouhavetwobuildingsahalfmileapart,theZipLink
radiosshouldbe14feetabovetheground,plustheheightofanything
elsethatisinbetweenthebuildings.So,iftherearevehiclesmoving
betweentheradios,theyneedtobe14abovethemaximumheightofthe
traffic,approx.30feetup.Sameruleappliesfortrees,buildings,and
otherstructures.

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TherearetwoZipLinkradiosincludedineachkit.ThereisoneMaster
unitandoneRemoteunit.TheRemoteunitneedstobeconnectedto
the“remote”end.TheMasterunitneedstobeconnectedtothemain
networkswitchorrouteratthe“main”location.
 
AssemblyTips
Therearetwoofeverything.Herearesomebasicsetuptips:
•TheradiounitsMUSTbeinstalledatcorrectendpoint.
•Youcanuseanyothercomponentateitherendofthe
installation.ThisincludestheZipLinkPowerInjectors
•Hereiswhateachendwilllooklikejustbeforeyouinstallit:
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•First,attach
thealuminum
brackettothe
backofthe
ZipLink.Use
the(4)10mm
bolts,
washers,and
lockwashers
provided:
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•Next,puttheU‐Boltsinplace.These
arealsopackagedintheAccessoryKit
andarewrappedinplasticwrap,along
withwashersandlockwashers:
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Thehardwareforthepolemountsisincluded
withthebracketsthemselves.Includedarethreebolts‐‐‐2short,square‐
flangedboltsandonelongpivotbolt‐‐‐withnuts.
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ElectricalConnections 
HereisadiagramofallthecomponentsintheZipLinkkit,andhowthey
connect:
ZipLinkElectricalConnectivity(NottoScale)
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•Theelectricalconnectionbetween
thepowerinjectorsandthewall
adaptershavenotbeenshownfor
clarity.Herearewhatthepower
injectorslooklike:
TherearetwoRJ45connectorsona
powerinjector.PleaseensurethattheoutdoorZipLinkradio
Ethernetcablegetspluggedintothesidethatsays“PoE”.This
standsfor“PoweroverEthernet”andishowtheoutdoorradio
getspower.TheEthernetjackontheothersidelabeled“LAN”
willconnecttoyourlaptop,Ethernetswitchorequipment.The
roundbarrelconnectoriswherethepoweradapterconnects.
•Itdoesnotmattertheorderinwhichtheradiosarepoweredup.
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•TheRJ‐45connectionontheMastersidemaybepluggedintoan
officerouter,etc.IftheRemoteRJ‐45connectionistobeshared
betweencomputers,itisrecommendedthatitisroutedaswell,
toensureLANtrafficbetweencomputersattheremoteenddoes
notgo“overtheair”,therebyaffectingtheperformanceofthe
wirelessLANconnectionbyrelayingunnecessaryLANtraffic.
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Aimingtheantennas
Onceyouhavecompletedtheinstallation,trytogetbothradiospointing
attheotherasbestasyoucan.Itisessentialthattheradiosaremounted
insuchawaythatthecablingcomesoutthebottom(towardsthe
ground).
TheZipLinkantennasallowupto15degreesvariationinbetweenthe
RemoteandMasterunitsleft/rightandup/down.Youraimingdoesnot
havetobeperfecttohavethesystemwork.Youcanessentially“eyeball
themin”andgetagood,stablesignal.
Forexample,ifyourZipLinkRemoteandMasterunitsare500
yards/metersapart,andoneismounted5feethigherthantheother,and
theleft/rightangleisoutby3or4degrees,youwillstillhaveagood
stablelink.
TheTUtilZipLinkUtilitysoftwarecanassistyouingettingthebestsignal
possible.
Thelatestup‐to‐datesoftwaremaybeacquiredfrom
Multi‐LinkTechnicalSupport(800‐535‐4651).Thereisnocharge
forthissoftware.



13

BenchTesting
WhenbenchtestingtheZipLinkpriortodoingafieldinstallation,there
areafewimportantthingstoknow.
First,theradiosaredesignedtobeatleast20feetapartwhenin
operation.Itispossibletooverdrivetheradiosiftheyareonlyafewfeet
apartandfacingeachother.
Generally,itisokaytoputbothZipLinkradiosonthebenchfacing
upwardsandafewfeetapartwhentesting.Thiswillbringthesignal
strengthdowntoareasonablelevel.
WhenusingtheZipLinkwithdeviceswitholderEthernetportsorlegacy
computers,becarefulaboutthewaythattheEthernetcablesarewired
betweentheinjectorsandthecustomerequipment.Someolder
Ethernetequipmentwillnotautomaticallyswitchwhentheline
connectionsarereversed.Therearewhatarecalled“straightthrough”
Ethernetcables,and“crossover”Ethernetcables.IftheLEDsonthe
equipmentRJ45portsdonotlight,youmayneedtouseadifferenttype
ofEthernetcable.

Startup/Testing
OncetheZipLinkEthernet‐Xtremeradioshavebeeninstalledandaligned,
youmaytestthesystembyplugginginacomputerattheremoteendand
poweringitup.Itshouldbehaveexactlyasifitwasbeingusedinthe
mainlocation.Agoodcheckistogetinternetaccessonalaptopatthe
MasterlocationendandsimplymovethelaptopacrosstotheRemote
endlocationandplugitin.Ifeverythingworksthesame,youaredone.
Ifyouneedadditionaltips,seethe“BasicTroubleshooting”section,
following.


14

BasicTroubleshooting
•WithEthernetcablespluggedin,youshouldalwaysgetat
leastoneLEDtolightupontheEthernetportsyouhave
equipmentpluggedinto.IfyoudonotseeanyLEDsthat
lightupwhenyouplugintheEthernetcable,eitherthe
ZipLinkoutsideunitisnotgettingpower,orthereisa
cablingproblem.
•TUtilZipLinksoftwareisaprogramthatwillassistwiththe
installationandconfigurationsettingsoftheZipLinksystem.
Thelatestup‐to‐datesoftwaremaybeacquiredfromMulti‐
LinkTechnicalSupport(800‐535‐4651).Thereisnocharge
forthissoftware.
•Ifyouareexperiencinganykindofstuttering,sporadic
service,orgeneralbadvoicequalityduringaVoIPphone
call,thismayindicatethatoneoftheoutdoorunitshasnot
beenproperlygrounded.Youneedtogroundtheoutside
chassisoftheoutdoorunitsinordertoensureasuitable
pathtoground,bothinthecaseofalightningstrike,andto
reducespuriousradionoise.
•Grounding–TheZipLinkisconsideredtobealowvoltage
device,andthereforeusuallymaybeinstalledbyanyone
withoutneedforpermitsorinspections.However,you
needtomakecertaintheoutsidecaseisgroundedfor
lightningreasons,andyoushouldconsultyourlocal
electrical/safetycodesinyourareapriortoperformingany
kindofpermanentequipmentinstallation.
•ItisimportanttounderstandthateachZipLinksystemis
programmedtoONLYtalktoitself.IfyouhavetwoZipLink

15

systems,youcannotmixandmatchRemoteandMaster
units.
•Ifyouareexperiencingunclearvoiceordataperformance
problems,thereisapossibilitythattheZipLinkisgetting
interferencefromanotherwirelessnetworknearthesite.
Tocheckifthisisthecasedownloadandinstallonalaptop
computeraprogramcalledinSSIDerfromthefollowinglink:
http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider/ .Ifyouneed
assistance,contactMulti‐LinkTechnicalSupportdirectly1‐
800‐535‐4651;techsupport@multi‐link.net
•ShouldyouwishtoremovetheoriginalZipLinkstickerfrom
thefrontoftheoutdoorunit,andreplaceitwithsomething
else,pleaseensurethatanythinginstalledonthefrontof
theZipLinkradioallowshighfrequencyradiotopass
through.Youcannotuselabelsthathaveanykindof
metallicbasedinks,orafoillabelwithoutharmingthe
ZipLink,orseriouslydegradingitsperformance.


16


Warranty
Multi‐LinkwarrantstheZipLinksystemforoneyearfromdateof
purchasebytheoriginalowner.
Multi‐Linkwillreplaceorrepair,atitsoption,anyZipLinksystem
thatfailstoperformundernormaluse,providedthatthesystemis
returned,atthecostoftheowner,toMulti‐Link.Itemsthatare
returnedforwarrantyrepairmustbeaccompaniedbyacopyofthe
originalinvoiceorproofofpurchase.Forfurtherdetailsabouthow
toreceivewarrantyorafterwarrantyserviceinformation,please
contactMulti‐LinkTechnicalSupportat1‐800‐535‐4651;
techsupport@multi‐link.net
AnyoperationoftheZipLinkoutsideofspecifiedtemperatures,
power,environment,orinamannerspecifiedinthismanualas
harmfultothedevicewillvoidanywarranty.Additionally,any
attemptedrepairordismantlingofanyMulti‐Linkproduct,inany
way,willvoidallwarranties.
InnoeventshallMulti‐Linkliabilityexceedtheoriginalpurchase
priceoftheproductfromdirect,indirect,special,incidental,or
consequentialdamagesresultingfromtheuse,ormisuse,ofthis
product.
Disclaimer
Installationofthisequipmentmustbeinstrictaccordancewiththe
instructionsincludedinthisdocumentation.
Anychangesormodificationsmadetothisdevicethatisnotexpressly
approvedbyMulti‐Linkmayvoidtheuser’sauthoritytooperatethe
equipment.

17



Specifications

RadioRange3Miles/5kilometers
EthernetPortRJ45
Overtheairdatarate  ZipLink‐X:Upto80Mbps
ZipLink‐X200:Upto200Mbps
OperatingTemperature‐40Fto+145F(‐40Cto+60C)
PowerRequired  19Wmaximum,10Wtypical
RadioType5.8GHzDSSS,LicenseFree
Encryption256BitWPA‐PSK(AES)
RadioPower+40dBm(adjustable)
RadioSensitivity‐80dBm@10
‐5
BER
OutdoorUnitSize  12”x12”x3.5”
(31cmx31cmx9cm)
SystemShippingWeight 23lbs/10.5kg





18






Multi‐Link,Inc.
122DeweyDrive
Nicholasville,KY40356
800.535.4651x225
sales@multi‐link.net
ContactInfoforDataSheets&Pricing
ZipLinkSeries‐‐
A
vailablein these Models: 
ZipLink‐1:ExtendaSingleanalogPOTSlineAND12Mbpsof
Ethernetuptoamile
ZipLink‐2:ExtendTwoanalogPOTSlinesAND12Mbps
Ethernetuptoamile
ZipLink‐E:Extend40MbpsEthernetuptoamile
ZipLink‐X:Extend80MbpsEthernetupto3miles
ZipLink‐X200:Extend200MbpsEthernetupto3miles 

19

Whenusingyourtelephone/electricalpowerequipment,basicsafety
precautionsshouldalwaysbefollowedtoreducetheriskoffire,electricshock
andinjurytopersons,includingthefollowing:

1.Readandunderstandallinstructions.
2.Followallwarningsandinstructionsmarkedontheproduct.
3.Unplugthisproductfromthewalloutletbeforecleaning.Donotuseliquidcleanersor
aerosolcleaners.Useadampclothforcleaning.Letdrythoroughlybeforepluggingdevice
backinto120Voltoutlet.
4.Donotusethisproductnearwater,forexample,nearabathtub,washbowl,kitchen
sinkorlaundrytub,inawetbasement,ornearaswimmingpool.Donotusethisproduct
outdoors.
5.Donotplacethisproductonanunstablecart,stand,ortable.Theproductmayfall
causingseriousdamagestotheproduct.
6.Thisproductshouldneverbeplacednearoroveraradiatororheatregister.This
productshouldnotbeplacedinabuilt‐ininstallationunlessproperventilationis
provided.
7.Thisproductshouldbeoperatedonlyfromthetypeofpowersourceindicatedonthe
markinglabelIfyouarenotsureofthetypeofpowersupplytoyourhome,consultyour
dealerorlocalpowercompany.
8.Donotallowanythingtorestonthepowercordtophonelinesconnectedtolocatethis
productwherethecordwillbeabusedbypersonswalkingonit.
9.Donotoverloadwalloutletsandextensioncordsasthiscanresultintheriskoffireor
shock.
10.Neverpushobjectsofanykindintothisproductthroughcabinetslotsastheymay
touchdangerousvoltagepointsorshortoutpartsthatcouldresultinariskoffireor
electricshock.Neverspillliquidofanykindontheproduct.
11.Toreducetheriskofelectricshock,donotdisassemblethisproduct,buttakeittoa
qualifiedservicepersonwhensomeserviceorrepairworkisrequired.Openingor
removingcoversmayexposeyoutodangerousvoltagesorotherrisks.Incorrect
reassemblycancauseelectricshockwhentheapplianceissubsequentlyused.
12.Unplugthisproductfromthewalloutletandreferservicingtoqualifiedservice
personnelunderthefollowingconditions:

20

A)Whenapowersupplycord/plugorphonelinecordconnectedtotheproduct
isdamagedorfrayed.

B)Ifliquidhasbeenspilledintotheproduct,butitisthoroughlydriedout.
C)Iftheproducthasbeenexposedtorainorwater,butitisthoroughlydried
out.
D)Iftheproductdoesnotoperatenormallybyfollowingtheoperating
instructions,adjustonlythosecontrolsthatarecoveredbytheoperating
instructionsbecauseimproperadjustmentofothercontrolsmayresultin
damageandwilloftenrequireextensiveworkbyaqualifiedtechnicianto
restoretheproducttonormaloperation.
E)Iftheproducthasbeendroppedorthecabinethasbeendamaged.
F)Iftheproductexhibitsadistinctchangeinperformance.
13.Avoidusingatelephone(otherthanacordlesstype)duringanelectricalstorm.There
maybearemoteriskofelectricshockfromlightning.
14.Donotusethetelephonetoreportagasleakinthevicinityoftheleak.
15.Donottouchorattempttounplugthisproductfromthewalloutletif:
A)Liquidhasbeenspilledintotheproductanditiswetorsuspectedtobewet.
B)Theproducthasbeenexposedtorainorwateranditiswetorsuspectedto
bewet.
INSTALLATIONINSTRUCTIONS
1.Neverinstalltelephonewiringduringalightningstorm.
2.Neverinstalltelephonejacksinwetlocationsunlessthejackisspeciallydesignedfor
wetlocations.
3.Nevertouchuninsulatedtelephonewiresorterminalsunlessthetelephonelinehas
beendisconnectedatthenetworkinterface.
4.Usecautionwheninstallingormodifyingtelephonelines.
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Copyright©2014,AllRightsReserved,Multi‐Link,Inc.
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