subject: Panasonic Kx-tde Series Telephone System Overview [print this page] There are three models within the KX-TDE series - the medium size KX-TDE100, the large size KX-TDE200 and the extra large size KX-TDE600.
The KX-TDE100 has a Central Processing Unit and 6 universal card slots. Each universal card slot can accommodate any number of trunk cards, extension cards or option cards. People starting out with a KX-TDE100 and then later outgrowing it have 2 upgrade options available, the KX-TDE200 or the KX-TDE600.
The KX-TDE200 has a Central Processing Unit and 11 universal card slots. Like the KX-TDE100, each universal card slot can accommodate trunk cards, extension cards or option cards. Should someone outgrow a KX-TDE200, it is a matter of simply upgrading to the extra large, KX-TDE600. A few of the cards available for the KX-TDE100 and KX-TDE200 are not transferrable to the KX-TDE600. Those cards are the KX-TDA0174 (SLC16), KX-TDA0175 (MSLC16), KX-TDA0180 (LCOT8) and KX-TDA0181 (LCOT16).
The KX-TDE600 is the enterprise level product in Panasonic's telephone system product line, and is their largest and most configurable system. It starts out as a large single-cabinet PBX and grows into a very large PBX by adding as many as 3 expansion cabinets. Since this system can be easily networked to other KX-TDA and KX-TDE systems, multiple KX-TDE600 systems can be chained together to form a large cluster of KX-TDA/TDE systems. The end result is a product that is capable of supporting upwards of 5,000 C.O Lines (trunks) and over 8,000 extensions.
KX-TDE series PBX systems can support nearly any type of Trunking available, including Loop Start Central Office Lines (POTS), VoIP, T1, ISDN-PRI, SIP and H.323. With a few external adapters, it will also support Cellular and Satellite, which is especially useful for command vehicles, motor yachts and large private aircraft.
Something else that makes the KX-TDE series unique is called a "Virtual Shelf" and "Virtual Cards." Each KX-TDE100, KX-TDE200 and KX-TDE600 have 1 Virtual Shelf included with the main cabinet. Virtual Shelves are split into two halves - a Virtual C.O. (or trunk) Bay and a Virtual Extension (or station) Bay.
Up to 4 Virtual Cards may be installed in each Bay for a total of 8 Virtual Cards. Virtual Cards can be installed remotely. Currently the 4 cards that are available are:
1. The V-IPGW16: a 16-circuit network trunk gateway card used to communicate with other PBX systems that support H.323 protocol.
2. The V-SIPGW16: a 16-circuit network trunk gateway card used to communicate with SIP Trunk service Providers, such as Broadvox.
3. The V-IPEXT32: a 32-circuit network extension card used to communicate with Panasonic high-end KX-NT series Proprietary VoIP phones.
4. The V-SIPEXT32: a 32-circuit network extension card used to communicate with SIP extension devices including VoIP Phones, SIP Softphones, SIP Paging, SIP Gate Phones, etc.
The ability to use Virtual Cards on a moments notice makes the KX-TDE series an extremely customizable PBX. The ability to add cards remotely means that site visits are no longer necessary and there is no need to wait for parts to be ordered and shipped.
To summarize, KX-TDE series PBX phone systems are high-end telecom PBX products ranging in size from Small (approximately 180 ports) to Medium (approximately 250 ports) to Large (approximately 1200 ports) to Extra Large (Clustered into 10,000 ports or more). If unexpected growth occurs, there are several inexpensive upgrade options available since most cards may be used throughout the entire series.
