Panasonic installation tips

(1) If you have added an expansion module to a digital control unit or the KX-TA1232, and it does not work, check program #109 to make sure you have told your control unit which kind of modules are in which positions on the front door, and TURN OFF and then TURN ON the control unit. The off/on sequence is vital, and easy to miss. It's the last step printed in the manual for program #109.

(2) If you are using a punch-down block, be aware of the sequence of the wires that are attached to the 25-pair connectors in the KX-TD308 and KX-TD1232 control units, and the KX-TD170 and KX-TD171 expansion modules. Three pairs are assigned to each extension (or "station port") and the sequence is {1} voice (analog) pair, {2} data (digital) pair, {3} skip this pair. The sequence appears eight times in each connector.

(3) If you remove the inner panel on a KX-TD816 to change a chip or add Caller ID, be very careful putting it back on. There's a good chance that the little white plastic connector for a back-up battery will not easily pop through the opening in the panel. You might have to grip it with a long-nose pliers or guide it with a small screwdriver. Be careful not to bend it so much away from the printed circuit board that it comes off or breaks apart.

(4) Be careful installing the KX-TD193 Caller ID module. It's easy to mis-align the pins, and a PITA to remove and re-install. Remember, that in the KX-TD1232, a KX-TD193 in the lower position will work on the first four lines. Also remember to order Caller ID from the phone company, and to use program #406 to make Caller ID work on specific lines.

(5) While it is possible to change a chipset through the convenient little door in the center of a KX-TD816 or KX-TD1232, it can be very difficult, and there's a good chance that you will damage a pin on an expensive chip. It is actually faster to unplug everything, put the control unit down flat, remove the main door and the inner panel, and then replace the chips. Mark or tag the cords and cables that you unplug, so they go back in the right places.

(6) If you want to use two KX-TD1232 units in tandem, make sure that they have the same firmware ("chipset" version) and that one unit is designated as the master, and one as the slave, using the small switch inside the central door. Turn the two D1232s on at the same time, with the outside lines ("CO lines") disconnected for a couple of minutes, and don't let anyone use a phone for a while. The initial interconnecting period is important for "bonding," like a new baby and its mother; and the procedure will work better if there is nothing else going on that can affect either unit. NOTE: a "dash-two" can be a master for a "dash-one" slave, but other combinations will not work.)

(7) Here are some valid numbers for Phantom Extensions: 100, 189, 190, 195, 200, 265-290. Other numbers may conflict with extension numbers and features and will be a major PITA!

(8) Program 804 is called "External Pager BGM." It allows music being fed into the system for music-on-hold and background music through the phones, to be also sent to a an external public address system. The manuals should say "paging system," not "pager."

(9) A 2-line cordless phone can work very nicely in a Panasonic phone system. Connect each line to a different extension port from the control unit.

(10) Unless you really want visitors at your front door to be answered by a robot, make sure that any jack you're using for an answering machine or voice mail, is programmed NOT to ring on calls from the door intercom.

(11) If you need LOUD volume coming out of a Panasonic phone, you can easily connect a public address "horn" speaker. This works well at pool cabanas and in factories. You can get one at Radio Shack for about $40.You'll be surprised how far voices will carry with no additional amplification. The normal microphone should work quite well, too. You can modify a Panasonic door intercom speaker the same way, if you only need intercom capability. Modifications like this may void your warranty -- BE CAREFUL!

(12) We've seen a couple of KX-TD816s lose the ability to ring single-line phones. Somehow the power supply got damaged, perhaps by a short-circuit, or maybe because too many old-fashioned "mechanical" phones were connected. We've never seen the problem with any other control unit. Replacing the fuses on the front panel won't help -- the unit will have to be repaired...so be careful.

(13) Instead of mounting your voice processing system next to the phone system control unit, mount it near one of your computers, so it's easy to make programming changes. It won't take up much space, and the wiring is very simple -- much simpler than extending a serial cable 50 feet.