Help setting up a Panisonic 308

[eightbitmagic]

Hello to all and thank you for admitting me to the forum.

First off, I am on old Bell head.  I worked for Mountain Bell and US West for 17 years,  I started in 78.  I worked most of the time in outside plant as a loop tech working on POTs.

I was also a big computer geek.  In the 80's I ran a BBS on an IBM clone computer.  Today I am trying to recreate my old BBS and a little phone network.  I want to use both dial and tt phones.  I have read postings on this forum suggesting that a Panasonic 308 key system is the way to go.  I bought a KX-TEB308 off ebay, it came from the Ukraine.  I also bought a KX-T7030 as a programming phone.  I also have an old Western 306.  I connected everything up and powered on the 308.  I get some Cyrillic text on the KX-T7030.  I can press * # and put in a password.  Because of the language I can't tell what is all going on.  I did  clear the setup memory on the 308 and it appeared that I got the correct flashing lights. 

So my first questions are this...  I don't get any dial tone on either phone.  I am getting battery on both.  Should I expect to get dial tone, or do I first have to run the setup program?  (I downloaded the ISO from the Internet archive.)  Is it possible to change the language on the 308's?

Thanks in advance!

Len

[TelePlay]

Did you clear the programming by taking the back up battery out, disconnecting the line power cord and letting it sit for some time before powering it back up?

That bootstrap restart will load the basic programming. If it comes back up in Cyrillic, that's a new one on the forum but others may know more about that.

(If you can not find a backup battery, you may have a large capacitor on a board used as the programming backup)

[eightbitmagic]

No, I only flipped the run/clr switch to the clr position.  Powered up the 308.  At first the LED flashed quickly and then slow. Then returned the switch to the run position and power cycled the box.  ( I saw that method on a video. )

There is not currently an external battery connected to the 308.  I did notice a yellow cap or battery on the main PCB.  After work I can take a closer look to see if it is a button cell or cap.

Does not the run/clr switch properly clear the configuration?

len

[TelePlay]

This isn't your PBX but it does discuss the PCB battery/capacitor, removable vs fixed.

https://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=14945.msg155507#msg155507

This is one of several topics on the forum that include a battery discussion. Use the search function to find others.

I don't know if a cold start bootstrap is possible with a fixed battery.

[poplar1]

Voltage in Ukraine is 220V 50Hz. I don't know if your Panasonic Key System will work on 120V 60Hz.

[TelePlay]

Voltage in Ukraine is 220V 50Hz.

Good point! What does it say on the unit's serial number plate?

616 example:

[eightbitmagic]

Voltage in Ukraine is 220V 50Hz. I don't know if your Panasonic Key System will work on 120V 60Hz.

It's a switching PS with input from 100 to 240 volts.  50/60hz.  I knew that before I bought the 308.

It does have a coin cell built onto the main PCB.  Though I don't think that is the issue being that there is a procedure to clear the setup with the run/clr switch.

[TelePlay]

I found a "Getting Started" manual (pdf file attached) and page 25 of that manual which addresses characters. I could not find a programming manual in English (did find one in Russian) in a Google search.

I don't know if the type of characters can be switched, the bottom of this page discusses switching.

[eightbitmagic]

Success!  I finally got a proper reset.  The methods I watched on the videos didn't work.  Searching last night I found the proper method in the manual. (Duh...) 

This was the correct method:

System Reset with System Data Clear

When the PBX does not operate correctly after restarting, you can clear the programming data stored in the PBX. The PBX will restart with the default settings.

1. Make sure that all outside (CO) lines you use are connected to the PBX.

2. Slide the System Clear Switch to the "CLR" position.

3.Press the Reset Button, and then return System Clear Switch to the "NOR" position before the power indicator stops flashing. (The power indicator will flash for about 5 seconds.


After the reset I got dial tone and could dial between my extensions with TT and rotary!

I didn't get to spend more time than that.  Next I can go after the language.

Thanks everyone!

len

[TelePlay]

Good news!

Did the reset boot up with Arabic characters? Did that get rid of the Cyrillic?

[poplar1]

Installation manual for KX-TEA308 and KX-TEB308:

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/831613/Panasonic-Kx-Tea308.html

Feature guide for KX-TEB308:
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/831609/Panasonic-Kx-Teb308.html

Feature guide for KX-TEA308:
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/831326/Panasonic-Kx-Tea308.html

There is a feature code for changing the country, but only for later version system with CE or NE suffix.

[eightbitmagic]

Good news!

Did the reset boot up with Arabic characters? Did that get rid of the Cyrillic?

I didn't actually look too closely.  I was just excited to have dial tone.  I'll get more time to play with the 308 over the weekend.

len

[eightbitmagic]

I went to work on it over the weekend and the setup was gone again.  I have to replace the CMOS battery before I make more progress. I found a matching one on Digikey.