I have a Panasonic KX-T7731 phone. I would like an outside line to connect when the headset is picked up rather than the intercom.

PRESS PROGRAM #* STORE

That's because whatever system it's connected to, it either has to be in the port by itself, or you have to BRIDGE the answering machine in system programming. You pick.

If it's a port on a TA series, you can tell the system there's an answering machine on it and it will let you override the incoming playback and pick a call from the line.

Carl

Panasonic analog phones plug into analog KSU's and have extension numbers beginning with 101. In additon, you can dial 0 to reach the phone programmed as Operator, and it's usually extension 101.

With the intercom dial tone (press INTERCOM or pick up the handset or press SP PHONE) you can start dialing codes defined in your number plan. You can also program left side buttons to monitor are directly select other extensions or dial codes to page all idle speakers in a 77xx phone.

Note this is specific to TA series systems, but the operation is similar in all Panasonic models.

Carl

It's automatic. Press the SP Phone button.

My headset is a TCA-60 and it works in all systems on all Panasonic phones.

Carl

What happens when you dial "9" on the intercom? If that gets you an outside line, then press PROGRAM, one of the buttons, and dial 9 plus your number and STORE.

Hmmm...Speed dial :-)

If you get a vacant line at "9", then you need to reprogram your 400 line access on your phone sytem to disable the vacant lines.

Carl

Let's pretend that this is connected to the TA family of phone sytsems. It could be one of 18 different systems, but let's guess.
From the intercom, dial 7311# and 7321# That sets the call waiting on busy for both outside and inside calls and lets the phone "soft ring".

The real question is whether you should have programmed more than one phone to ring, but I'll leave that for another time.

Carl

What happens when you dial "9" into the intercom dial tone? Is that the line you wnat to auto select?

A lot depends on the system your phone is connected with. In a TA series on an idle phone, press PROGRAM 11 for no preference (what you have) 12 for Idle line (what you get when you dial 9) or 13 and a number from 1 to however many lines you have to select a specific line.
Those commands are followed by the STORE button and PROGRAM to end the programming.

Carl

From each of those 2 phones, on the intercom dial 7311# and 7321# The first tuns on call waiting CO and the second CW-Intercom. (0) cancels.

Carl

On the intercom, if it's a TA or similar phone system, dial 7311# for call waiting on outside lines and 7321# for call waiting on the intercom. (0 cancels).

Carl

No.

The feature that lets you conference in is Executive Busy Override. There's also an intercom feature that is EBO Deny.

How it's programmed depends on your phone system and not the phone, but it typically (824) involves a program 608 change and turning it on by the 7331# command at each phone.

Carl