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Instruction Manual: MilnakSkits S9 Landline Test Butt Set Telephone (TelPal S-9)

MilnakSkits S9 Overview

The MilnakSkits S-9 is a basic butt set that can be used to test telephone circuits.  It can be found on-line for as little as $20.  It may be sold under various brand names, such as the TelPal S-9 and the Zolicom Testset 100.
  • It has enough features useful to many home owners and small office professionals.
  • It includes a cable with both RJ11 connectors and tip/ring alligator clips.
  • In includes an FSK "caller id" display, which can be useful for diagnostics
  • It includes a standard DTMF keypad
  • It is very compact and easy to carry

Limitations

Unlike, say, the well-featured Tempo TM-700, this set does have significant limitations:
  • It does not report directly on faults.  It's up the the user to do diagnostics using different tools.
  • The build quality is weak.  A few drops may render it non-functional.
  • It is, in short, it a convenient low-cost POTS handset with caller-id and a non-traditional cable
Replacing the alligator clips with bed-of-nail style clips would be well worth it in my work.

MilnakSkits S9 Instructions:

My unit did not come with instructions, so these might help:

Interface
The jack on the bottom unit supports a single-pair, in RJ11 form.

Bottom switch
The bottom slide switch toggles the butt set between two modes:
Left: Default off-hook mode
Right: Default on-hook mode

Display:
The unit has an FSK / DTMF demodulator for displaying "caller id" data on its unlit on-board LCD panel.  Diagnostics, like voltage and current, are not displayed.

Flash:
The flash button puts the butt set on hook for a at least of 500 ms.  Longer on-hook times can be achieved by holding down the Flash button, or by using the bottom switch.

Keypad:
The keypad can be used to dial numbers using DTMF.

Opening the unit:
There are two small round covers on the back.  Removing these covers reveals phillips-head screws.  By removing these screws and snapping the case off from the bottom, it is possible to enter the device for service or repair.

Speaker and Earpiece:
If the switch is kept to the right-most position. the butt phone can be used as an everyday phone.  The speaker and earpiece are suitable for day-to-day conversation.

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