About This Guide: This guide will help you connect your emergency response system (like Medical Care Alert HOME) to your phone line. It works for all types of phone service, and you don't need to be technical to follow it.
What You'll Need
Your emergency response system base unit
The phone cord that came with your system
Access to where your phone plugs into the wall
About 15 minutes of time
Quick Setup Flowchart
START: Gather your equipment
↓
Find a phone jack or internet modem
↓
Do you have a phone plugged into the wall?
YES:
Unplug your phone
↓
Plug base unit into that jack
NO:
Find your modem/router
↓
Plug into phone jack on modem
↓
Plug in power cord & wait for steady lights
↓
Press emergency button to test
↓
Did base unit dial & connect?
YES:
Test from different rooms
↓
✓ Setup Complete!
NO:
Check connections
Try different phone jack
or call for support
Detailed Step-by-Step Instructions
1Find Your Phone Connection
Look for where your regular phone (if you have one) plugs into the wall. This is usually:
In the kitchen, living room, or bedroom
A small rectangular jack in the wall (about the size of your thumb)
May have a phone symbol next to it
Don't have a traditional phone? Look for your internet modem or router (the box with blinking lights from your internet provider) or any wall jack that looks like it could fit a phone cord.
2Understanding Your Phone Service
You may have one of these types (you don't need to know which one):
Traditional Phone Line: Direct phone service from the phone company
VoIP (Voice over Internet): Phone service through your internet (like from cable company)
DSL: Internet through your phone line
Good news: Your emergency system should work with all of these! Let's test it.
3Connecting Your System
Option A: If You Have a Regular Phone Plugged In
Unplug your regular phone from the wall jack
Plug your emergency response base unit into that same wall jack
If your phone has two phone jacks on the back: Plug your regular phone into the second jack on the emergency base unit (this lets both work together)
If you want to keep your phone separate: Find another phone jack in your home and plug your phone there
Option B: If You Have Internet Phone Service (Router/Modem)
Look at the back of your internet modem or router
Find a jack labeled "PHONE," "TEL," "LINE 1," or with a phone symbol
You might see a phone cord already plugged in here
If a cord is already there: Unplug it and plug in your emergency base unit instead
If you need both to work: Plug the emergency base unit into the modem, then plug your regular phone into the second jack on the base unit
Option C: If You're Not Sure
Plug the emergency base unit into ANY phone jack in your home
Follow the testing steps below
If it doesn't work in one location, try a different phone jack
4Power On Your System
Plug the power cord of your emergency base unit into a wall outlet
Make sure the outlet is one you won't accidentally unplug (avoid outlets controlled by light switches)
Wait for the lights on the base unit to stop flashing (usually takes 1-2 minutes)
You should see a steady green or blue light (check your specific system's manual for what lights mean "ready")
5Test Your System
Test the Phone Connection
Press the button on your emergency pendant or bracelet
You should hear the base unit making sounds (beeping, dialing, talking)
Within 30-60 seconds, you should be connected to a monitoring center operator
Tell the operator: "This is a test"
Confirm with them that they can hear you clearly
Ask them if your signal came through properly
If the Test Doesn't Work
Problem: No sound or dialing from the base unit
Check that the phone cord is pushed in firmly at both ends
Try a different phone jack in your home
Make sure the power cord is plugged in
Problem: Base unit dials but doesn't connect
You might have DSL service with filters. See troubleshooting below.
Your phone service might require a different setup
Problem: You connect but the operator can't hear you
The base unit might be too far away. Try moving it to a more central location.
Test again from a closer distance
6Test from Different Rooms
Walk to each room where you might need help
Press your emergency button
Make sure you can hear and talk to the operator clearly
If some rooms don't work well, you might need a different placement for the base unit
Special Situations
If You Have DSL Internet
If you have DSL internet service (internet through your phone line), you need small devices called "DSL filters" to prevent interference.
What to look for:
Small rectangular boxes plugged into phone jacks
Usually tan or white colored
About the size of a matchbox
What to do:
Your emergency base unit should plug into a DSL filter
If you don't have one, contact your internet provider or emergency response company
Never plug the base unit directly into a DSL line without a filter
Final Setup Checklist
Base unit is plugged into phone jack and power outlet
Green/blue "ready" light is showing
Test call successfully connected to monitoring center
Operator could hear you clearly
You tested from multiple rooms in your home
Your regular phone still works (if you have one)
When to Call for Help
Contact your emergency response system provider if:
You cannot get a dial tone or connection after trying multiple jacks
The operator reports poor sound quality during test
Your system worked before but suddenly stopped
You're not sure what type of phone service you have
Important Reminders
Wear your emergency pendant or bracelet at all times
Keep the base unit plugged in where it won't be accidentally unplugged
Test your system once a month
Notify your monitoring center if you change your phone service
Make sure family members know you have this system
Keep this guide in a safe place for future reference