# Programming/Configuring the RTU

There are three different methods to configure the Catalyst RTU:

1. Using the keypad at the Front Panel

2. Using the touch-tone keys of a voice telephone

3. Using the Alarmware™ configuration software

The easiest and best method, by far, is by using Alarmware™!

One Important Exception: User Recorded Voice Messages

The initial recording of user recorded voice messages must be done either at the RTU front panel or via a voice phone call to the RTU, rather than from Alarmware™. However once the messages are recorded, the recorded message data can be transferred back to the computer running Alarmware™ just as with other configuration data, to be saved for later use. This transfer process does take substantial time, since recorded messages require a lot of data in comparison with other configuration settings.