AT&T 1710 User Manual

Answering System 1710

• Installation

• At Home Operation

• Away From Home Operation

Installation

1. Install the batteries

Open the battery door on the bottom of the unit by pulling on the tabs. Insert the batteries,
then close the door.
The batteries are used to save your messages in the event of a power failure.

2. Connect the line cord

Plug one end of the telephone line cord into the TEL LINE jack at the rear of the unit, and the other
end into a modular wall jack.

3. Connect your telephone

(If you do not want to connect a telephone to the system, go to Step 4.)
Plug your telephone set cord into the TEL SET jack at the rear of the unit.

4. Connect the power cord

Plug the power transformer into an electrical outlet that is not controlled by a wall switch.
The Message Window counts down from 6 to 0, then the
an announcement.

flashes to indicate that you need to record

“0”

At Home Operation

Recording Your Announcement

Before using your new answering system, you should record the announcement that callers will hear when
the system answers a call. The system will not answer calls unless an announcement is recorded.

1. Prepare your announcement.
Example:

and a short message after the beep. I will return your call as soon as I can. Thank you.”

NOTE: Your announcement can be up to 90 seconds long.

2. Press and release CHANGE.

The Message Window displays

3. Press and release ANNC.

The system beeps to indicate that it is recording. Speak toward the microphone in a normal tone of
voice, from about 9 inches away. While you are recording, a “-“ flashes in the Message Window.

4. Press STOP

The unit automatically plays back your announcement. If necessary, adjust the VOLUME control (on the
right hand side of the unit).

After your announcement plays back, the number in the Message Window should be on steady. If it is
flashing, follow steps 2-4 to re-record your announcement.

Reviewing Your Announcement

To review your announcement, press and release ANNC.
If necessary, adjust the VOLUME control (on the right side of the unit.)

“Hello. I can’t come to the phone right now. Please leave your name, telephone number,

“C”.

when you are finished.

Changing Your Announcement

To change your announcement, follow the steps under “Recording Your Announcement.” The old
announcement is deleted when a new announcement is recorded.

Turning the System On/Off

After you have recorded your announcement, the Message Window should be on, indicating that the system
is ready to answer calls. The M essage Window shows the number of messages stored in memory (0 if no
messages have been received).
If the Message Window is not on,

press and release

If you do not want your system to answer call s,

ON/OFF to turn the system on.

press and release

ON/OFF so that the Message Window

turns off.

Answering Calls

When the system answers a call, the caller hears the announcement you recorded, followed by a beep. After
the beep, the system begins recording your caller’s message. While the system is taking a call, the Message
Window displays “-“.

NOTE: To conserve memory, messages are limited to a maximum of 90 seconds each. If the caller is
still speaking after 90 seconds, is silent for more than 7 seconds, or if the system’s memory runs out,
the system beeps once and hangs up.

Screening Your Calls

To screen your calls, set the system to answer calls and adjust the VOLUME control so you can hear the
announcement and a caller’s message on the system’s built-in speaker.
If you decide to take a call, lift the handset of any telephone on the same line. The system will stop
recording and reset to answer calls.

NOTE: If the announcement does not stop right away, press and release the telephone switch hook or
press STOP.

Ring Select (Toll Saver)

Use the RINGS switch on the back of the system to select the number of times the phone rings before the
system answers,

•

Set to 2 if you want the system to answer all calls on the second ring.

•

Set to 4 if you want the system to answer all calls on the fourth ring.

•

Set to TS (Toll Saver) if you want the system to answer calls on the second ring if you have new

messages and on the four th ring if you do not have new messages.

Use the Toll Saver setting when you will be calling from another location to check for messages. The
system will answer after 2 rings only if you have received new messages since the last time you listened to
messages. If no messages have been received, the phone will ring at least 3 times before the system
answers. You can then hang up after the third ring to avoid paying for the call.

When Memory is Full

The system can record approximately 9.5 minutes of messages (including the time for your announcement)
or a maximum of 50 messages. When memory is full or 50 messages have been recorded, an “F” flashes in
the Message Window. To make room for more messages, listen to your messages and delete some or all of
them.
When memory is full, the system will answer calls after 10 rings and present 2 beeps instead of your
announcement.

Message Window

The Message Window is used to display the number of messages that have been recorded. The Message
Window can count only up to 9. If more than 9 messages are recorded, the display alternates between a
and a

“-“.

“9”