How to Connect an Arris Cable Modem to a Phone Line
By Nina Nixon
Many types of Arris cable modems can be setup to provide you with two separate telephone lines of service. Based on your model, however, your modem or telephone may not operate correctly if you try to use both of the modem's telephone line ports. Even if you use just a single line, phone and Internet service bundles can help you eliminate your current phone bill and save you more money in the long run.
Step 1
Turn the Arris cable modem around to display the connector ports.
Step 2
Connect the coaxial cable to the splitter, if used or connect it to the cable terminal outlet. Connect the other end of the coaxial cable to the Arris cable modem port marked "Cable."
Step 3
Connect the telephone cable/cables to the Arris cable modem port/ports marked "Tel 1/2" or "Tel 2." Connect the other end of the telephone cable to the telephone line port on the telephone. Note that if you're using a RJ-11 cord, a phone with two separate phone lines, and you have an Arris model number "TM402G," "TM402H" or "TM402P," the telephone line must be connected to the "Tel 1/2" port on the Arris cable modem.
Step 4
Connect the power cord or AC adapter plug into the electrical plug port on the Arris cable modem. Note that it may take up to 30 minutes before you can connect to the Internet after you complete the setup process.
Step 5
Plug the electrical plug end of the power cord or AC adapter into an AC wall outlet.
Step 6
Connect the Ethernet cable to the Arris cable modem's port marked "Ethernet 10/100" or use a USB cable to connect to the port marked "USB." Connect the other end of the Ethernet or USB cable to your computer's Ethernet or USB port.
Step 7
Insert the "Touchstone USB Drivers" CD into the your computer's disk drive, then follow the on-screen prompts to install the drivers.
References
Tips
- Tighten all connections if the power light doesn't light up when after you complete these steps. Try another outlet and then check the circuit breaker and replace blown fuses if problems still occur.
Warnings
- The embedded multimedia terminal adapter may be irreversibly damaged if the cable terminal connection has voltages. Although you may have canceled your previous telephone service, the EMTA may still be negatively affected. To avoid a loss of service, contact a professional electrician to check the wiring. Be sure to ask the electrician to confirm that the previous telephone provider has been removed before installing the modem.
- You may need to configure your computer's TCP/IP settings if you connected via an Ethernet connection. In this case, contact Arris support. You will need additional assistance as well as the IP address, and DNS, subnet and gateway information to complete the setup.
Writer Bio
Nina Nixon has more than 30 years of professional writing experience. She enjoys writing about business and technology. Her articles have appeared on Chron, eHow Business & Personal Finance, Techwalla, and other digital content publishing websites.