Programming my payphone to "free"

tec9

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Hey all-
I've had this payphone in my gameroom for just about ten years...the other day it was "dead" I opened it up and found that the 3.6 volt lithium battery and the rechargeable battery were dead. I replaced the batteries and now the phone has some life....I've gotten it to work somewhat, but it is now asking for money to make a phone call. Other times it appears to be dead...But if play with the program button it comes back. I remember when I first got this phone, I had programmed it myself via the program switch and the number keypad. I can't remember or find the instructions I had for it. I googled for them, and I came up empty handed. My phone logic board looks like this:
http://www.payphone.com/Protel-2000-Board.html

Anybody know how to program this board....I see on web that a company will program it for $25.00. I don't know if the phone board works at this point, and it seems like a rip-off to pay someone to punch a few numbers into it.
Any help is much appreciated
-Mark
 
Contact these folks:

http://www.payphone411.com/manuals.html

Manufacturer's website:

http://www.protelinc.com/

One thing to be aware of, the rechargeable battery you installed was likely not fully charged. Normally they are sent out with only a partial charge and must be fully charged before installing or the phone will either not work, or it will be erratic in operation.

To charge a Protel phone board's battery, you must connect the payphone to a phone line and leave it ON HOOK for at least three days to allow the phone line to charge the battery.
 
Ken thanks for the reply, and info. I haven't got a chance to check out all the links, but here is a quick question-
If I were to pay the fee to have the phone programmed, would I have to do this every time the battery dies? Or do they provide me with programming instructions that can be applied to phone in the future.
I know I programmed the phone myself from the keypad when I first got it....wish I could find the instructions.
-Mark
 
The older Protel boards used one of the batteries to hold the memory for the phones programmable settings, features, and rate tables. So yes every time the memory battery dies you will lose all setting and need it to be reprogrammed again.

If you had the phone's software manual for your particular model, you could regram it yourself from the keypad for MOST functions/features. All brands of private payphone "smart" boards still need a computer to access/program some of the functions.

I don't know if The Rate Center or Payphone.com will provide you with any other instructions for programming. You would have to contact them and ask.

Since other people have mentioned Protel getting away from payphones, it would be a good idea to contact Protel and get all the manuals you can.

EDIT:
Just found out this company can program for free:
http://www.payphone411.com/aboutus.html
 
Last edited:
protel 7000

Ken,
I have aprotel 7000 with an xk board , need to know how to program more rings so the phone wont answer right away

thanks
steve
 
I have an Elcotel payphone I installed in my bar. When I had to program it I went to payphone.com and had them do it. There's a couple of questions they ask to customize it but they did it in like 5 minutes. That's what I would recommend unless you can get your hands on the actual software to do it.
 
I gotta say Ken is probably the most knowledgeable and helpful person I've seen on these forums since my humble start.

And Scott of course. You guys rock.
 
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