ANSWERING & RECORDING MACHINE No. 404A (Kingfisher 2)

• Outgoing Message Check - Press OGM Start/Stop button.
• Outgoing Message - Up to 30 seconds with tape supplied. Press and hold down REC button and then press the OGM Start/Stop button until a beep is heard. Press Start/stop button once to end OGM.
• Paytone Detection - Up to 15 seconds delay of OGM if paytone is present.
• Incoming Message Tape. Uses standard C3O, C60 or C90 tapes giving 15, 30 or 45 minutes total recording time.
• Incoming Message - Up to end of ICM tape or 1 minute depending on setting of Rec Time switch (1 Min or Vox).
• Incoming Message Tape Full detection. 6 beeps given after OGM.
• Skip OGM. Frequent callers can key * (star) from an MF4 telephone and leave a message without having to listen to the OGM.
• Volume Control. From zero to maximum volume.
• Call Monitoring. Volume Control must be turned up.
• Two Way recording. Press Playback / Pause and Memo/2 Way together. The display shows 2r and a security warning beep is given every 15 seconds.
• Memo Message - No limit, up to end of tape. Press the Memo button to start recording and again to stop.
• Built in microphone. Used for OGM and Memo recording.
• Message Play. Press Playback / Pause button.
• Message Pause. Press Playback / Pause while listening to messages. Press again to continue.
• Automatic Message Save.
• Fast Message tape Forward and Rewind.
• Fast Message Erase. Backwards & Forwards. Press REC and REW or REC and FF>>.
• Clear Detect - Short line break releases machine from line.
• VOX (Voice Operated Switch) release from line. High or Low sensitivity switchable by customer.
• Ring adjuster, Long, 4 or 2. Long = Manual Ring.
• Remote set to Answer. Call machine and let it ring 20 times.
• Branchphone reset. Will release machine from the line should a parallel telephone handset be lifted.
• Integral phone socket. Does away with need for LJU 10/7A.
• Combined power On, message counter and machine information LED indicator.

Remote Interrogation with two digit security code.

Made by Panasonic - Japan.

Distributed by BT on both rental and sale terms.

APPROVAL STATUS
Approval Number S/1000/3/K/501623

Approved as supplied for connection to Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTN) and 2-wire PBX extensions.

DOCUMENTATION
A User Operating Guide TPU 1241 and a Quick Reference Guide TPU 1252 are supplied with each machine.

Kingfisher II Product Manual PDM/TPD/A010.

PLANNING
A Phone Socket and a 240 volts, 13 amp, 50 Hertz mains supply socket are required within easy reach of the line cord (270 Ohm) and mains flex (2400mm).

Kingfisher II is suitable for use on Phone Socket installations on DELs and most types of PBX extensions. Not suitable for use on "C" wire PMBXS.

Ringer Equivalence Number (REN) is 1.

MAINTENANCE
Only machines rented from BT or sold machines with a BT maintenance agreement should be checked, repaired or exchanged on site if faulty. The machine contains no on-site serviceable parts, therefore maintenance is limited to functional testing, checking the line cords and facility switches are correctly positioned, the customer has cleaned the tape heads and checking the condition of both the tapes. If the machine squeaks in operation, it may be necessary to adjust the position of a small capacitor on the circuit board.

If the machine fails completely the output voltage of the Transformer 19B should be checked. The Transformer 19B output is marked 13.5 volts DC, but will measure about 20 volts when tested with the output open circuit.

Faulty transformers and machines should be replaced by a maintenance spare and the recovered item returned to the District stores in the replacement items packing. A completed fault report form should be included describing the fault symptoms.

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
The user guide recommends that the customer should change both tape cassettes at six monthly intervals, and clean the tape heads, pressure roller and the sensing switch every three months with a cotton bud dampened with a proprietary tape head cleaning fluid.

WARRANTY
New units carry a 21 month warranty from the date of manufacture as shown on the year and month marking on the base of the machine. The year and month marking forms part of the machine serial number as follows:-

Serial No.9IBHA001024:-
Indicates:- 9 is the year. 9 = 1989, 0 = 1990, 1 = 1991 etc
            I is the month I = Sep, L = Dec, A = Jan etc
            B is days in month.  A = 1 to 10, B = 11 to 20 and C = 21 to 31
            HA001024 is the machine serial number.

PARTS
Description                                   			BT Item Code
Answering/Recording Machine 404A                                  870410
(Complete with Transformer 19B (13.5v DC), 30 second OGM
and C-60 Incoming Message tape)
BT Remote Interrogator No.2 (MF4)     				  870427
(Supplied with rented machineand must be booked out separately.
Contains 4 overlays detailing button function and 4 User 
Guides making it suitable for use with Kingfisher II, Wren
and all Rapports)
Transformer 19B (13.5 volt DC)                                    870411

LINE TESTING
Normal test conditions while waiting to answer. After answering the machine loops the line.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Since the introduction of Kingfisher II several customers have complained about an apparent malfunction of their machines. It is possible to identify the problems easily and clear them on-site when making a maintenance visit. The two problems and solutions follow:-

Problem 1
The machine answers a call and without playing the OGM gives the beep inviting the caller to leave a message. The reason the OGM has not played is the OGM tape is not driving / winding forward. The possible causes are:-

• A batch of OGM tapes supplied appear to be sticky, this is possibly aggravated by hot humid conditions. The tape because it is sticky cannot / does not wind freely on its spool, therefore it sticks and does not play the OGM. or
• The capstan, pressure roller, sensing switch and heads are dirty which prevents the tape from driving/winding correctly. Possibly lubricant from the machine or a build up of tape oxide is causing the problem.

With either of the above problems, when the caller clears, the machine tries to reset to the answer mode, but if the OGM tape is not driving/winding forward, after 2 minutes 40 seconds, the machine correctly diagnoses a tape drive fault and will not answer any more calls.

Solution 1
Change the tapes as specified in the User Guide and clean the capstan, pressure roller, sensing switch and heads.

Note:- The same problem would be apparent on the original Kingfisher machine should one of the suspect OGM tapes be inserted.

Problem 2
A squeaking noise is apparent when the machine is playing. If recording the OGM the noise will also be recorded onto the OGM tape along with the message. The noise is caused by the rubber drive belt rubbing on capacitor C61.

Solution 2
Disconnect machine from the line and mains supply. Take normal ESD precautions and using a Screwdriver Instrument No.10 remove the base of the machine. Leave the PCB attached to the top section of the machine. Place the machine upside down so that the solenoid (copper coil) faces you and the line cord is to the right, view the drive belt directly below the microprocessor. You will see two capacitors immediately to the left of the drive belt, the first is C61. Carefully slide a Screwdriver Instrument No.4 into the machine to the left side of a plastic pillar, lever very gently using the pillar as a fulcrum to move both capacitors clear of the drive belt. Reassemble the machine taking care not to foul the action of the volume control and test.

An explanation of the machine facilities follows:-

ANSWER ONLY FACILITY
This is not a design feature and not included in the User Guide. If a customer specifically requests this facility, you may inform them that by removing the Incoming Message Tape callers will not be able to leave messages and will hear 6 beeps after the OGM. The OGM should be suitably worded advising callers that the OGM is an announcement only and that a message cannot be left.

RINGING RECOGNITION
Unlike many Answering and Recording machines, Kingfisher II detects ringing from LJU terminal 3 and 5 using the LJU capacitor. This method of connection overcomes the excessive capacitance problem often associated with other machines. When used in conjunction with a "Level 8" dialer the machine will not answer because the output of the "Level 8" dialer is 2-wire presented. Kingfisher II requires connection via a Master Line Jack Unit i.e. the ringing is detected from LJU 3 via the MLJU capacitor.

Kingfisher II will seize the line after the number of ringing cadences set on the ring selector switch. The ringing circuit has been designed to recognise both PSTN and all internal ringing cadences generated by BT PABXS. It will not recognise a ringing cadence of 0.4/0.8 or 0.828/0.828 given by some proprietary PBX's.

By select ting the LONG position, Kingfisher II will respond to PMBX ringing, i.e. continuous ringing of > 2 seconds.

VOICE/TONE DETECTION (Voice Operated Switch - VOX)
Kingfisher II is able to differentiate between voice and tone signals. It is required to hold the line to voice signals, but release the line when a network tone or silence is present after 5 seconds.

Differentiation is carried out by the VOX detecting the frequencies of the incoming signals. Network tones being of low frequency, whilst speech contains both low and mid-band frequencies. Therefore, if the machine sees low frequency signals, the signal is detected as a network tone and it releases the line. If mid-band frequencies are present, the signal is detected as speech and the machine stays connected and records the incoming speech.

The VOX sensitivity has a High and Low sensitivity switch provided. The normal switch position is High. In this position it is possible that line noise may be detected as speech. If this happens the machine will record line noise up to its maximum message length. A Low setting is therefore provided for use in cases where line noise causes persistent problems.

PAYTONE DETECTION
When the machine answers the line, it checks whether paytone is present. if paytone is detected, the OGN is delayed for up to 15 seconds. It in also possible that mains hum or noise on the line can be mistaken for paytone, this to can delay the sending of the OGM. Setting the VOX switch to Low may overcome this problem.

CLEAR DETECT
Short line break releases machine from line. Modern exchanges such an System X and Y, generate a 100 ms line break on the called parties line when the calling party clears down, this is a called a disconnect clear signal. (On Strowger exchanges it was often called the "K" break). Shorter line breaks are generated by most other exchange types. Kingfisher II will detect a disconnect clear signal of about 2 and 5mS depending on line length. This will cause the immediate release of the machine from the line without the need to wait for network tones.

BRANCHPHONE RESET
This facility causes the machine to release the line when a telephone connected to the same line is taken off-hook. For a period up to 4 seconds after answering this facility is inhibited to prevent false release of the machine from the line due to line "ringing" (current surge to & fro) when answering.

RESET AT THE END OF A CALL
The reset time can be calculated as follows;-

Maximum OGM tape recording time + 18 seconds, minus OGM length and is typically 20 - 40 seconds for a 30 second tape.

Only 30 second OGM tapes are recommended as longer tapes would extend the reset period to an unacceptable time.

REMOTE INTERROGATION
Kingfisher II provides the facility for remote interrogation using a security code set on the base of the machine. The code setting comprises two digits, the first is factory preset, and the second is user selectable. The user is advised not to choose "7" as the second digit, because if an error occurs during remote interrogation, the OGM could be lost. (7 is the remote command to change the OGM).

Remote interrogation is achieved by using a BT Remote Interrogator or MF4 telephone to enter the two security digits during the OGM, and then further instructions as per user guide.

In the BT 1992 catalogue

User Guide
Kingfisher II

Controls

Answering calls
Kingfisher II answers a call after the pre-set number of rings.  There will be a silent pause for 3 seconds after the unit has answered (or until paytone ceases should the caller be using a payphone).  Kingfisher II then plays your OGM to your caller followed by one long beep.

Kingfisher II commences recording and your caller should now start to speak.

When the call ends Kingfisher II automatically re-sets to ANSWER mode and the display counter indicates the number of incoming messages recorded.

Answering calls
Ending calls During a call, recording will stop if:-

Note - For a short period both before and after starting to answer a call, Kingfisher II is unable to recognise that you have lifted the handset of the associated telephone or an extension telephone. If you leave your Kingfisher II set to answer calls when you are at home, you must lift your handset either before the second (or fourth) ring is received or wait until your message has started to play. Failure to do this may result in Kingfisher II answering the call and playing your message.

Monitoring calls
The monitoring sequence is as follows:-

Last revised: January 24, 2023