I took the next step in my addiction, I bought a Panasonic KX-T61610 EASA-PHONE PBX. I'm planning on hooking up some of the phones in the garage and possibly in the house. I picked it up off eBay. The seller had it on Buy it now for $79.99 USD or make an offer. I took a shot and offered $40.00 USD. He accepted my offer. I broke it down to what the cost were CAN vs USD. Living here in Canada we always get shafted with import charges and taxes. Now, I have to keep my fingers crossed and hope all is well with it. I know totally nothing about what I'm about to do, so I will be doing a lot of reading and asking questions if I get stumped.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/401172435467?ul_noapp=true
( dead link 06-01-21 )
PBX KX-T61610 $52.06 CAN
Shipping $21.89 CAN
Import charges $12.88 CAN
Total C $86.83
PBX KX-T61610 US $40.00
Shipping $16.82 US
Import charges $9.90 US
Total $66.72 US
Great move. I have had mine for several months now. It's a fun tool to bring life, useability (and fun) to your collection!
There is a lot of information on the forum about wireing and using this piece. I bought a program phone but have yet to alter the program.
Have fun!
Like Benny, I have a 308 & 616 too. They are fun to play with. It's great being able to call back & forth between a lot of your phones. If you like the sound of certain ringers, just plug them in & call them. They are also useful as a tool to see if all the functions of a phone work. Now start looking for a good deal on a programming phone. They are sometimes hard to find cheep.
Yup, that is a definite sign that you are hooked. I too have a 616 and love it. I have it running behind my 1A2 key system and as an intercom throughout the house. I recommend the programming phone. I only have a few lines set up to dial out and the ringers shut off after 9:00 pm. Even with the stock configuration, it's great.
It's okay, I bought a 616 initially, then the "risky" 308 that needed minor repairs, both still need backup batteries though, but it's all a part of the affliction that is addiction... :)
I have plans for mating mine together to animate a display of phones in my office over the winter. I'm in the process of stealing display ideas from forum members, now!
Quote from: Pourme on October 22, 2016, 08:48:30 AM
I'm in the process of stealing display ideas from forum members, now!
Now I don't think the word STEALING is the right word. Maybe BORROW would be more like it. ;)
That way I could maybe borrow your ideas. :)
Quote from: Autonut on October 22, 2016, 09:37:39 AM
Now I don't think the word STEALING is the right word. Maybe BORROW would be more like it. ;)
I prefer "Repurposing"... ;D
I stand corrected....Sharing knowledge and ideas, I guess that, in a general sense, is the point of a forum. Ha!
Just wait until you take the next step...
--Eric
My wife would love that.....
If you sneeze hard and hear bells ringing afterwards, then you are deep in your addiction.
I'm close....Every time I close a drawer on my desk, one of 20 phones on my desk dings ever so lightly....
Quote from: JorgeAmely on October 24, 2016, 10:51:32 PM
If you sneeze hard and hear bells ringing afterwards, then you are deep in your addiction.
Or your name's Quasimodo... ;D
It arrived this morning and it's alive! I unpacked it and plugged it in and it came on. I plugged a phone into ext. 12 and one into 22 I dialed the extensions and each phone rang when dialed. Ext. # 21 is marked low DT I checked it and the dial tone is low on the ext. Not enough to matter as I can hook up a volume controlled phone to it. It is missing a back up battery, I'll just have to start looking for one.
The backup battery's only really needed if you want to keep settings applied with a systemphone, so for just regular telephones it's not really necessary... :)
Quote from: Autonut on November 02, 2016, 01:07:28 PM
It is missing a back up battery, I'll just have to start looking for one.
Two things:
1) If you want to program your unit and need a battery to save the programming, one source for the battery is Interstate Batteries - battery model number TEL0710 (http://www.interstatebatteries.com/b/cordless-phones/N-sZzihwsq?dsNav=Ntk~SearchGroup%7cBattery+Country+370780+TEL0710%7c3%7c,A~Part+Number). This battery will fit the battery compartment. Other similar batteries may be too large or won't have the correct connector. By personal experience with Batteries Plus, their conversion tables to find a current battery for an "obsolete" battery came up with a replacement battery that was too big and had the wrong connector, just saying.
2) Is that a battery pig tail connector I see in the battery slot? If so a battery can be used. But, if not, it may be that the battery is right on the PC board and can not be changed. There is a topic on the forum fully discussing the replaceable vs. permanent battery and if I can find it, I will attach it to this reply.
===========
Here is the permanent battery topic:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=14945.msg155702#msg155702
Quote from: JorgeAmely on October 24, 2016, 10:51:32 PM
If you sneeze hard and hear bells ringing afterwards, then you are deep in your addiction.
Try whistling while in your phone room. For me, it's gotten to the point where I hear a deafeningly high-pitch ringing afterwards! Sneezing works too sometimes... ;D
Quote from: TelePlay on November 02, 2016, 03:34:39 PMBut, if not, it may be that the battery is right on the PC board and can not be changed.
It can be changed, it just requires careful use of a soldering iron and desoldering wick, though the added benefit of that is you could solder on wire & an appropriate plug to fit a removable battery... :)
Quote from: TelePlay on November 02, 2016, 03:34:39 PM
. . . Is that a battery pig tail connector I see in the battery slot? If so a battery can be used. But, if not, it may be that the battery is right on the PC board and can not be changed.
Okay, should have said "easily" changed as in disconnecting a connector without disassembly of the 616. IIRC, that large cap next to the "almost permanent" battery does most of the work in a power failure to hold programmed code. Haven't read that topic in some time. I suppose if someone had one with a permanent battery, or the schematics, they could come up with where to solder what to lead to the external "easily removable" battery in the battery compartment, but it seems only one member has such a 616 so . . . hint, hint ::)
The model I have is a Version 1. There is a plug for the battery.
Can anyone tell me the difference is between the 3 Versions?
The programming code is different. You need a Ver. 1 programming manual (http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=13613.0;attach=143032) for yours.
You can find it here:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=16290.msg168776#msg168776
The KX-T61630 Phone was delivered yesterday. I now have the PBX up and running on 3 phones in the garage. Thanks to Jeff Lamb / Ktownphoneco, he sent me the template cover for the phone so I could program the 616. I will have to order a battery on line, so that I don't lose my programing. Now to start the wiring for more phones.