ZyXEL MODEMS TAKE A LICKING AND KEEP ON TICKING

A ZyXEL user from Massachusetts accidentally put his ZyXEL U1496E modem to
the ultimate high-speed test by flying it off the roof of his car at 55
mph and watching numerous cars run over it on a major highway.

James Pennock of Marblehead, Mass., a Certified Network Engineer, was
headed to a client visit on Monday, September 26 when suddenly he heard a
rumble on the roof of his Cherokee Jeep. He looked in the rear view mirror
just in time to see a box of his networking equipment fly off the roof and
crash on the highway. The equipment was strewn across Route 114, a
four-lane highway in Middleton, Mass. Car after car drove through the
debris. Pennock saw the ZyXEL modem take a direct hit from a fast moving
vehicle which broke the case apart and sent the modem skidding down the
road shedding pieces.

Pennock then put the car in reverse, floored it, stopped at the side of the
road and jumped out. He began dodging cars on the highway in order to
salvage the equipment that remained. The ZyXEL modem was the only
recognizable piece with its serial cable still attached -- and it was
hardly recognizable. The AC adapter was just a transformer dangling on the
end of some wires. Even though the circuit board was still fastened to the
bottom of the case, the top of the case was in another lane. Then he
spotted the chip on the double yellow line.

The accident results: concentrator not a scratch, each one of the RJ 45
connectors on the ends of the wires were intact, the AC adapter had a
small scrape where it hit the road, the ZyXEL manuals were fine, but the
ZyXEL U1496E Modem/Fax was as Pennock says "a roadkill."

But Pennock didn't give up on his ZyXEL modem. He began piecing the modem
back together by fitting the chip in with a little bending of the pins. He
took the AC adapter, which only had the remaining "prongs," and
straightened it out. He twisted the wire of the transformer back together.
Pennock then bravely reconnected me equipment. He watched in amazement as
the green lights began blinking while the modem powered on and tested
itself. The next step to confirming the modem was back in working order
involved sending a test fax to his wife, which she received and sent back
successfully.

He contacted ZyXEL immediately after his successful repair job to share his
story. ZyXEL will be replacing the enclosure case and providing a thorough
checkup to make sure the modem is back to its normal condition.

Company Background

ZyXEL, headquartered in Anaheim, California, is a leading supplier of
highspeed modems and compatible products including V.32bis/V.42bis
modem/faxes with voice and cellular capabilities. Since its inception,
ZyXEL has been building a reputation as the price/performance leader in
modems by providing high-quality products at affordable prices.

ZyXEL
4920 E. La Palma Ave
Anaheim, CA
92807
714-693-0808,  fax 714-693-8811,  bbs: 714-693-0762

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