Panasonic TDA-50 phone with TVA-50 voicemail questions

Discussion:

(too old to reply)

Roveer

2008-09-12 14:15:03 UTC

Our Panasonic installer is here getting our phone system and voicemail
connected. So far it's been a frustrating ordeal to say the least.

Our installer tried to tell me in order to have voicemail on all
phones with voicemail would have to have the FWD/DND light flash
continuousely (KX-T7633). I told him no way would I accept "normal
operation" to have flashing lights on the phones. Flashing lights
means there's something that needs your attention. He then messed
with it for an hour and came back and told me that he was able to get
the light to stay ON steady. The phone is a kx-t7633. Does this
sound right? Does this light have to be on in order to voicemail to
work? Right now the Auto ANS light is on full time and I guess I
undrestand that (for auto intercom answer). The light is stuck on
which I guess is a system setting, but Is there a way to control the
lights on these phones? I would prefer that there are no lights on
unless you are using the phone. I can live with the Auto Ans, but
really want to know about hte FWD/DND having to be on in order for
voicemail to work.

I guess I'm asking because I'm trying to figure out if the installer
has a clue. "He keeps telling me he's never been able to do it any
other way", which to me is a signal that he's never reached out for
help (like I'm doing now). One thing about being good at what you do
is to understand that you dont' always know everything and sometimes a
call to panasonic is a good thing. Afterall, panasonic makes these
models "dealer only" installs, so there dealers need know what they
are doing.

Also this morning, my voicemail light was on so I went into my
voicemail (intercom, message button) (Is that the only way to do it?
Can't it just be the message button like one would think?) After
going into voicemail I deleted all of the test messages he left
yesturday but the voicemail light is still ON GRRR... AND I can't get
back into voidemail using "Intercom message" double GRRR.

He's coming back today, but I'd like to have a better undrestanding as
to whether he has a clue.

Carl Navarro

2008-09-13 04:32:44 UTC

Permalink

Post by Roveer
Our Panasonic installer is here getting our phone system and voicemail
connected. So far it's been a frustrating ordeal to say the least.
Our installer tried to tell me in order to have voicemail on all s
phones with voicemail would have to have the FWD/DND light flash
continuousely (KX-T7633). I told him no way would I accept "normal
operation" to have flashing lights on the phones. Flashing lights
means there's something that needs your attention. He then messed
with it for an hour and came back and told me that he was able to get
the light to stay ON steady. The phone is a kx-t7633. Does this
sound right? Does this light have to be on in order to voicemail to
work? Right now the Auto ANS light is on full time and I guess I
undrestand that (for auto intercom answer). The light is stuck on
which I guess is a system setting, but Is there a way to control the
lights on these phones? I would prefer that there are no lights on
unless you are using the phone. I can live with the Auto Ans, but
really want to know about hte FWD/DND having to be on in order for
voicemail to work.

So you found the solid FWD/DND option for forward. The blinking now
becomes DND. It can be disabled, but the standard practice is to
leave it that way so you know it's set.

The AUTO answer can also be disabled and set to ON all the time, but
now the button won't do anything.

Post by Roveer
I guess I'm asking because I'm trying to figure out if the installer
has a clue. "He keeps telling me he's never been able to do it any
other way", which to me is a signal that he's never reached out for
help (like I'm doing now). One thing about being good at what you do
is to understand that you dont' always know everything and sometimes a
call to panasonic is a good thing. Afterall, panasonic makes these
models "dealer only" installs, so there dealers need know what they
are doing.

Make sure you get a copy of the Operating Manual and the PTPM, along
with the ADMIN access to the system. Panasonic suggests that you also
get all passwords, but it's not mandatory.

Post by Roveer
Also this morning, my voicemail light was on so I went into my
voicemail (intercom, message button) (Is that the only way to do it?
Can't it just be the message button like one would think?) After
going into voicemail I deleted all of the test messages he left
yesturday but the voicemail light is still ON GRRR... AND I can't get
back into voidemail using "Intercom message" double GRRR.

In the Appendix of the operations manual is a set of numeric codes. In
the *7xx codes, you'll find most of the stuff you're looking for.
For example, *700 plus your extension will cancel ALL message waiting
lights. If you press the message button and look at the display, it
will show you where the message came from. Dialing 701 101 from
another phone for exiample will LIGHT the message lamp of 101 (you can
also press the MESSAGE button), but that's tough to do from a single
line set.

Last, VM has an access code. In the TD days it was 165 IIRC by
default it's 500 in a TDA. Get the number from your installer.

Installing phone systems can be an adventure. I just found out last
month that the voice mail can now record conversations as new and
email them at the conclusion of the conversation. Panasonic issues
one or two system upgrades a year, and both the TDA and the voice
mail have been upgraded several times.

Sometimes Panasonic screws up. My first deluxe programming console
for the vista OS erased ALL my TAW-848 programs, moved all my TDA
files, and crashed. Now I had to load every single release of every
Panasonic program back into my vista craptop. Not a very fun thing to
do.

So no, I don't think the installer is incompetent or lazy or anything
like that. There's a lot of stuff to learn and remember and a lot of
different options to apply. Voice mail takes the most time and the
concepts of building custom menu tables is not a concept that you just
pick up in 20 minutes. And to think you don't need to go to class to
learn it....why even an alarm guy can buy a TAW and TVA and install it
:-)

Anyway, cut the guy some slack and post back in a couple of weeks.
He'll get it.

Carl Navarro

Roveer

2008-09-15 16:09:46 UTC

Permalink

So you found the solid FWD/DND option for forward. The blinking now
becomes DND. It can be disabled, but the standard practice is to
leave it that way so you know it's set.
The AUTO answer can also be disabled and set to ON all the time, but
now the button won't do anything.

Make sure you get a copy of the Operating Manual and the PTPM, along
with the ADMIN access to the system. Panasonic suggests that you also
get all passwords, but it's not mandatory.

In the Appendix of the operations manual is a set of numeric codes. In
the *7xx codes, you'll find most of the stuff you're looking for.
For example, *700 plus your extension will cancel ALL message waiting
lights. If you press the message button and look at the display, it
will show you where the message came from. Dialing 701 101 from
another phone for exiample will LIGHT the message lamp of 101 (you can
also press the MESSAGE button), but that's tough to do from a single
line set.
Last, VM has an access code. In the TD days it was 165 IIRC by
default it's 500 in a TDA. Get the number from your installer.
Installing phone systems can be an adventure. I just found out last
month that the voice mail can now record conversations as new and
email them at the conclusion of the conversation. Panasonic issues
one or two system upgrades a year, and both the TDA and the voice
mail have been upgraded several times.
Sometimes Panasonic screws up. My first deluxe programming console
for the vista OS erased ALL my TAW-848 programs, moved all my TDA
files, and crashed. Now I had to load every single release of every
Panasonic program back into my vista craptop. Not a very fun thing to
do.
So no, I don't think the installer is incompetent or lazy or anything
like that. There's a lot of stuff to learn and remember and a lot of
different options to apply. Voice mail takes the most time and the
concepts of building custom menu tables is not a concept that you just
pick up in 20 minutes. And to think you don't need to go to class to
learn it....why even an alarm guy can buy a TAW and TVA and install it
:-)
Anyway, cut the guy some slack and post back in a couple of weeks.
He'll get it.
Carl Navarro- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

Thanks for the great information. My frustration with my installer is
that the guy who came out to do the work (after the kids worked on it
for a while, one ending up in jail), is the manager of the group and
hasn't done much phone programming. He manages. So I get a lot of
that 20 minute hunting around to figure out how to do what I'm asking
for. He left the other night with the voicemail not working at all
after giving it a "it all works with big puffy chest" This is a
business, and he left us with no functioning voicemail. My other
concern is that he does not know nor care to know about the latest
methods to set up the phone system and voicemail. Case in point, he's
telling me that he's got 100 phones sitting on desks in his office all
flashing the FWD/DND light in order to get them to work with
voicemail. To me, this an absolute horror. The mear fact that he was
able to change the disposition of that light on our system (after 20
minutes of hunting around), then telling me he's never found another
way to do it, tells me that he is not sufficiently trained.

I like these guys, I just wish they were better and cared more.

You made 1 or 2 references to getting my passwords etc. What is the
deal with the Panasonic KX series of phones and VM? I've asked for
the administrator softare for both and was told flat out NO that it is
dealer only. I've programmed all kinds of things (including writing
code) for more than 20 years and am sure that I would learn this
system without too much difficulty. This is restricted? I noticed
the CD with the software came with the Voicemail (I copied it). Is
the same true for the phone system? I would certinly like to do MAC's
myself But they won't budge. Help me understand this better.

Again, thanks for the insight.

Roveer

j***@gmail.com

2008-09-26 02:35:35 UTC

Permalink

So you found the solid FWD/DND option for forward. The blinking now
becomes DND. It can be disabled, but the standard practice is to
leave it that way so you know it's set.
The AUTO answer can also be disabled and set to ON all the time, but
now the button won't do anything.

Make sure you get a copy of the Operating Manual and the PTPM, along
with the ADMIN access to the system. Panasonic suggests that you also
get all passwords, but it's not mandatory.

In the Appendix of the operations manual is a set of numeric codes. In
the *7xx codes, you'll find most of the stuff you're looking for.
For example, *700 plus your extension will cancel ALL message waiting
lights. If you press the message button and look at the display, it
will show you where the message came from. Dialing 701 101 from
another phone for exiample will LIGHT the message lamp of 101 (you can
also press the MESSAGE button), but that's tough to do from a single
line set.
Last, VM has an access code. In the TD days it was 165 IIRC by
default it's 500 in a TDA. Get the number from your installer.
Installing phone systems can be an adventure. I just found out last
month that the voice mail can now record conversations as new and
email them at the conclusion of the conversation. Panasonic issues
one or two system upgrades a year, and both the TDA and the voice
mail have been upgraded several times.
Sometimes Panasonic screws up. My first deluxe programming console
for the vista OS erased ALL my TAW-848 programs, moved all my TDA
files, and crashed. Now I had to load every single release of every
Panasonic program back into my vista craptop. Not a very fun thing to
do.
So no, I don't think the installer is incompetent or lazy or anything
like that. There's a lot of stuff to learn and remember and a lot of
different options to apply. Voice mail takes the most time and the
concepts of building custom menu tables is not a concept that you just
pick up in 20 minutes. And to think you don't need to go to class to
learn it....why even an alarm guy can buy a TAW and TVA and install it
:-)
Anyway, cut the guy some slack and post back in a couple of weeks.
He'll get it.
Carl Navarro- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

Thanks for the great information. My frustration with my installer is
that the guy who came out to do the work (after the kids worked on it
for a while, one ending up in jail), is the manager of the group and
hasn't done much phone programming. He manages. So I get a lot of
that 20 minute hunting around to figure out how to do what I'm asking
for. He left the other night with the voicemail not working at all
after giving it a "it all works with big puffy chest" This is a
business, and he left us with no functioning voicemail. My other
concern is that he does not know nor care to know about the latest
methods to set up the phone system and voicemail. Case in point, he's
telling me that he's got 100 phones sitting on desks in his office all
flashing the FWD/DND light in order to get them to work with
voicemail. To me, this an absolute horror. The mear fact that he was
able to change the disposition of that light on our system (after 20
minutes of hunting around), then telling me he's never found another
way to do it, tells me that he is not sufficiently trained.
I like these guys, I just wish they were better and cared more.
You made 1 or 2 references to getting my passwords etc. What is the
deal with the Panasonic KX series of phones and VM? I've asked for
the administrator softare for both and was told flat out NO that it is
dealer only. I've programmed all kinds of things (including writing
code) for more than 20 years and am sure that I would learn this
system without too much difficulty. This is restricted? I noticed
the CD with the software came with the Voicemail (I copied it). Is
the same true for the phone system? I would certinly like to do MAC's
myself But they won't budge. Help me understand this better.
Again, thanks for the insight.
Roveer- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

When a Dealer becomes Panasonic certified they have to sign a
contractual agreement that makes it illegal for them to distribute to
any non certified dealer. The voicemail software is another story. But
if it were me, AND I had warranty issues at hand I certainly would
allow anyone else to play around with the programming I would have to
come back and fix for free later. It sounds like the installer kinda
knew what he was doing, but he shouldn’t have to poke around looking
for a common setting like the FWD/DND button assignment. So perhaps
their experience is just a bit light. I have been a certified TDA,
TVA , KX-TVA and the Panasonic KX-TD 816/1232/500 since 2001. I
believe I have installed over 400 systems all over 3 states. I would
like to think that I knew it all, but there are situations like yours
that throws even me for a loop. I believe it to be personality
differences. Sometime installs and training goes awesome… other times
I would rather shoot myself than deal with the idiots I have to work
with… Too bad I can’t institute an I.Q. test before the sale… But
it’s all part of the game… Good Luck.