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• This quick set-up guide will help you get your voice processor working in a typical environment, providing both automated attendant and voicemail service, with a Panasonic phone system that has either "DPITS" or "APITS" integration (KX-TD308, KX-TD816, KX-TD1232, KX-TA624, KX-TA1232).
• The KX-TA1232 is more of a "dumbed-down" KX-TD1232 than a "grown-up" KX-TA624, so it has more in common with the digital systems than with the A624.
• This page does not apply to older analog systems (KX-T30810, KX-T61610, KX-T123211D, or to the oldest versions of the KX-TD816 and KX-TD1232 digital systems .
• Some of your work will be done from a PC, and some will be done from a phone.
• The instructions on this page are based on using terminal software, such as HyperTerminal which comes with Windows, to access the DOS-like programming imbedded inside the voice processors.
• Many of our clients prefer to use "VoiceMail Master" for Windows. CLICK for info, and a link to download a free demo.
• You can modify the suggested settings to provide the best operation for your particular needs.
• If you want your high-tech voice processor to work like a dumb answering machine, CLICK.
• Some material on this page comes from Panasonic's "Quick Setup Guide."
• On this page, "Voice Processing System," "Voice Processor," and "VPS" mean the same thing.

IMPORTANT You will have to make a few programming changes in your phone system so it will work properly with the voice processor. Programming is usually done with a display phone plugged into the lowest-numbered phone jack (or from a PC with appropriate software if you have a digital phone system).

With DPITS (all recent digital systems, and KX-TA1232): If you are programming from a display phone, use program #117 to specify which jack(s) you're using for the voice processor. If you are unlikely to have more than two ports in the VPS, we recommend jack 8 for the KX-TD308 and KX-TD816, and Jack 16 for the KX-TD1232 and KX-TA1232. If you expect to have more than two ports, start at a lower numbered jack. Remember that with a digital phone system, one jack will support two VPS ports, so jacks 7 and 8 can handle a four-port VPS.   If you want phones to ring before the voice processor answers, use INTERCEPT ROUTING (programs #409 & 410) to send un-answered calls to the extension number that corresponds to that jack, such as extension 108 for jack 8. Unless you have a good reason not to, send all lines ("trunk groups") to the same jack. You can enter "star" to program all lines the same way, to save programming time. After you enter the extension, number, the phone system will probably change it to 165 or 295, the artificial extension number for the first port of the voice processor.   Use INTERCEPT TIME (program #203) to select the number of rings before an un-answered call is sent to the voice processor. The minimum setting for program #203 is three rings, which will seem like four rings to the caller.   If you want calls to be answered immediately by the voice processor, use DIL 1:1 (program #407 & 408). Direct the lines to the extension number for the voice processor (usually an artificial #165 in a KX-TD816 or D1232 system, or #295 in a KX-TD308, regardless of the jack specified in #117).   With APITS (KX-TA624):   If you have the ORIGINAL VERSION of the 624, use program 102 to specify the jacks used for the voice processor. We recommend jacks 7 and 8. You will also have to use program 103 to establish DTMF integration, or upgrade your 624 to a later version.    If you have a "DASH ONE" OR LATER VERSION of the 624, use program 130 to specify  jacks 7 and 8, or program 131 for jacks 15 and 16. You must disable programs 100, 101, 102 and 103 if they were enabled.   If you want phones to ring before the voice processor answers, use programs 411, 412 and 413 to delay its answering. You can select delays of 5, 10 or 15 seconds, an inaccurate timing reference that represents one, two or three rings. Make your changes for the jacks where the voice processor is plugged in.   If you want calls to be answered immediately by the voice processor, use programs 408, 409, 410 to disable ringing for all phone jacks, except the jacks where the voice processor is plugged in. Thanks to PanaWizard Kirt for his help on this section.

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With Panasonic KX-TD digital phone systems, or the KX-TA1232, you use one phone cord for each two ports in the voice processor. With other systems, you will need one cord for each port.

Before starting to program the VPS, make sure it is connected to the phone system.   You can connect the VPS to any jack in a digital phone system, EXCEPT the lowest number jack. With recent digital systems and the KX-TA1232, one jack in the phone system and one phone cord will support two ports in the VPS (connect it to Port 1). We recommend Jack 8 for the KX-TD308 and KX-TD816, and Jack 16 for the KX-TD1232 and KX-TA1232. If you are going to have more than two ports in the voice processor, start with a lower numbered jack in the phone system. Try to avoid connecting the VPS to expansion modules, or to the second cabinet in a twin D1232 system. If you are using the KX-TA624, we recommend using Jacks 7 AND 8. (connect Jack 7 to Port 1 in the VPS and Jack 8 to Port 2). You need to use a four-wire (two-pair) cord, because the outer pair of wires carries the vital data.

Instead of mounting your voice processor next to the phone system control unit, you can 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.

Connect your PC to the VPS using the AbleComm ProCable, or a serial cable and null modem adapter from RadioShack. Be sure to get a cable or adapter that has the right connector for your voice processor. The ProCable-9 has two female DB9 connectors -- perfect for the TVS50 and 80 and most PCs.

• Open HyperTerminal (from Start, Programs, Accessories, Communications).
• Click on FILE, then NEW CONNECTION. Assign a name, such as TVS50, and select an icon that you like, and click on "OK."

• A "Connect to" window should open now (shown above). In the bottom section, select Connect Using COM 1 (or whatever port you are using) and click on "OK."

• A "Port Settings" window should open next (shown below). Select 9600, 8, none, 1, none.
• CLICK on "OK."

NOTE: While programming the voice processor, the PC screen display will often refer to your "PBX." In this case, PBX means the control unit ("KSU") of your phone system.

Plug in the voice processor, and turn it on if there is a power switch.
If your voice processor has four tiny "DIP" switches, start the unit with the switches in the following positions, to initialize the factory settings: 1 right (1) 2 left (0) 3 right (1) 4 left (0) During programming, you will be instructed to move all the switches to left (0), so your settings can be saved.	If your voice processor has a small rotary switch, start the unit with the switch pointed at 5, to initialize the factory settings. During programming, you will be instructed to move the switch to 0, so your settings can be saved.

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After turning the power on, the system starts up in the following sequence:
1. The Power Indicator light goes on.
2. The Power Indicator light begins to flash.
3. “PORT TEST” is displayed on the screen.
4. “SYSTEM SETUP” is displayed.

Screen Output for phone systems with DPITS: (may not be exactly as shown below)

Screen Output for KX-TA624 phone system with APITS: (may not be exactly as shown below)

NOTE: The screen shows "COs," which usually refers to lines from the phone company's Central Office. This is really STOOPID. It is really testing the ports in the VPS.

The display will alert you if System Setup is not completed successfully.

Screen Output:

The default programming for the KX-TVS50 is for use with the KX-TA624 analog phone system. If the TVS50 does not sense that is connected properly to a 624 you will get the error message shown above.

• It is perfectly OK to see this message if you are using a digital phone system, so just press ENTER.
• If, however, you are using a 624, it's time to check your connections and program # 102, where you specify the jacks for the voice processor.  

When start-up is completed:

1. “**ON LINE MODE**” is displayed.
2. System prompt ">" is displayed on the screen.

Press ENTER.

You will then see the System Administration Top Menu.

Type [5] or cursor down to 5, and press ENTER to begin the Quick Setup Sequence.

The screen will show:
 

Press ENTER.

Screen Output:

Select your PBX type (control unit model #) by typing in the digit preceding the model number on the PC screen, and press ENTER.

You'll next see a mailbox editing screen. It may automatically show some names if they had previously been programmed into your phone system.

To add names, just type them in the "OWNER" column. You can do lots of mailboxes now, or just enter one and come back later. To move from one column or row to the next, press "enter." To leave this screen, press "S" while your cursor is in the "MAKE" column.

You will next see the Port Service Setting screen. We recommend that you leave it alone for now. You can change it later if you want; but the default settings are fine for most situations.

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The next screen is where you set an administrator's password, to keep other people from messing up the system. You'll have to enter it several times.

The next screen is the last part of Quick Setup. It saves your mailbox settings, and restarts the voice processor. Type "1" and press ENTER.

The system will then restart and you will see:

You will then reach the Top Menu.
Enter your password.
Type 1 and press ENTER to program.

You will then see the Program Menu.
Type 4 and press ENTER to program your service settings.

Next comes the Service Setting Menu.
Type 2 and press ENTER.

The next screen is where you start to program the menus that callers will hear.
Type 1 and press ENTER.

In the next screen, you will start working on the first menu, called "Custom 1."

We recommend that you make the entries shown in blue in the screen shot below, and keep the other settings for now.

In some cases, simply typing in an entry will move you along to the next step.
In some cases, you will have the press ENTER after typing.

You will then be able to start forming the actual menu, by associating an action with a caller's key stroke on a touchtone phone. It's a good idea to write out a script before you start programming the buttons.

Any key stroke can send the caller to a person, or to a group of people in a department, or to a mailbox, or to another menu, or to the main menu, or can repeat the current menu, or allow the caller to type in a few letters of a last name to reach someone, or do other things.

Create a “tree” diagram to design a route leading callers to the desired person, department, mailbox, or next menu. This tree should include all available caller options and cannot be deeper than eight layers. You might want to discuss available options with users before programming the system.

The top of the tree (at left below -- our tree fell down) should include what callers will hear after a brief company greeting (in the TVS50, it may be a replacement for the pre-recorded prompt # 819 -- more about it in the big yellow box below). Then create a branch for each option. Fill in each box so you can easily see what action corresponds to each keystroke, and make sure that your spoken message corresponds to the programming.

Remember that it is possible and often necessary to have one custom service lead to another custom service. For example, if someone presses [1] for sales, you might want another menu to say “for cars, press [1]; for trucks, press [2].” This way callers are routed directly to the person best suited to handle them.

The first menu (Custom 1) could be something like:

"If you know the extension number of the person you are calling, you can dial it at any time. For a staff directory, press one. To dial by name, press two. For sales, press three. For customer service, press four. For travel directions, press five. For our fax number, email address and website, press five. To repeat this menu, press six. Thank you."

You will work your way through all the buttons on a touchtone pad, starting with zero. We're showing just one here, but they all look the same.

Once you have finished entering the settings for each digit in each menu, the menu "messages" or "prompts" should be recorded. Menu messages tell the caller what options are available and what keys correspond to those options, so the messages must match the programming.

The next sequence shows you how to record the custom service menus.

1. Access the "Message Manager's Main Command Menu": dial the intercom number for the voice processor (usually 165 for the KX-TD816, KX-TD1232 and KX-TA1232; 295 for the KX-TD308, and 107 for the KX-TA624), then press  #, 6, *, 998 (or 98 for the KX-TD308). >>IMPORTANT: This will not work if a PC is still connected and in the programming mode.<<
2. Press [5] to modify messages.
3. Press [4] to change the custom service menu.
4. You will hear: "Enter the Custom Service number [1] through [100]. To record the Custom Service Exit prompt, press [0]."
5. Press the button on your touchtone pad corresponding to the custom service menu you want to record or change.
6. Follow the instructions until all Custom Service prompts have been recorded, using the tree that you created as a guide.
7. After you have entered and recorded all menus, it is important to try the program yourself to see that all functions perform properly. Dial into the system and try all the choices to see if you are routed correctly. Verify that each menu choice works as it should.

People should learn how to use the system, and should record their names and mailbox messages. Click for our User Guides

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