ClearSounds A500 DECT 6.0 User manual

A500 DECT 6.0
Amplified Cordless Phone with
Answering Machine
User’s Guide
*Instructions are included for
optional additional handsets.
*

1
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cordless telephone with answering machine.
If you purchased additional A500E expandable handsets:
This guide also applies to your expandable handsets.
We hope that you enjoy the robust feature set of your new phone!
•Handset carrying clip
•Headset-compatible
•Large, backlit keys
•Four languages, with voice prompt while dialing,
scrolling lists and receiving incoming calls
•Large, backlit display shows time, number of unheard
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being called
•Alarm clock with snooze function
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selectable ringtone volumes
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•Silence ringing with one touch
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•Handset and base speakerphones with volume control
•One-touch calling via four handset memory keys
•Last number redial
•Mute

2
•Transfer calls and conference calling
•Dialed calls list (last ten calls)
•Personal phonebook (200 entries)
•Answering machine with memo feature and remote access
•Compatible with hearing aid T-coil feature and audio
neckloops
•If contracted with your service provider:
Voicemail (message waiting indication)
Call waiting
Caller ID (last 30 calls), talking caller ID
Non-viewed calls indication
Contact information
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We are happy to assist you!
ClearSounds Communications, Inc.
1743 Quincy Avenue, Suite 155
Naperville, IL 60540 USA
800-965-9043 (toll-free)
www.clearsounds.com

3
Carefully read and observe the warnings and cautions in
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Warnings
Warnings must be observed to prevent bodily injury.
WARNING: Use the phone only in the described
manner to avoid bodily injury or damage to the
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WARNING: Locate and use the phone away from
water and damp areas, such as swimming pools,
bathtubs, sinks and damp basements, and do not
use the phone when you are wet, to avoid electrical
shock. If the phone is submerged, unplug the base
from AC power before you retrieve the phone.
WARNING: Do not overload extension cords or
power strips. This can result in electric shock.
WARNING: Use this phone only with the supplied
AC power adapter assembly. Other types of power
adapter assemblies can damage the phone and
cause personal injury.
WARNING: Avoid using the phone during an
electrical storm. There is a slight risk of electrical
shock from lightning during a storm.

4
WARNING: The phone can emit excessive volume
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For each user to adjust the volume to personal
preferences, keep the volume adjusted to low level.
Do not place your ear next to the ringer.
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the phone while it is plugged in to AC power. This
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WARNING: Do not push any type of object into the
telephone. Contact with dangerous voltage points
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damage.
WARNING: Do not disassemble the phone.
Dangerous voltages or other risks can occur. Use
after incorrect reassembly can lead to electric shock.
WARNING: If you are in the vicinity of a gas leak, do
not use the phone. The phone can produce a spark
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5
Cautions
Cautions indicate practices that could harm the
phone or other objects.
CAUTION: Do not place objects on the cables or
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CAUTION: Locate the phone away from heat
sources of any type. Keep slots and openings on
the components uncovered to enable ventilation
and protection against overheating.
CAUTION: Connect the supplied AC power adapter
assembly into a surge protector. Power surges can
damage the phone.
CAUTION: Use only a damp cloth to clean the unit.
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CAUTION: In these circumstances, unplug the phone
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or precipitation.
•The phone does not operate according to
descriptions in this manual, or performance of the
phone distinctly changes.
•The phone is dropped or the casing is damaged.

6
Setup ....................................................................... 10
Unpack .............................................................. 10
Install handset batteries......................................11
Connect the cords ............................................. 13
Charge the batteries .......................................... 14
Carrying clip (optional)....................................... 15
Important concepts.................................................. 16
Personalize your phone..................................... 16
Choose answering machine or voicemail .......... 16
Let's begin! .............................................................. 17
Register additional handsets ............................. 17
Place a call ........................................................ 17
Answer a call ..................................................... 17
Handset ................................................................... 18
Backlighting ....................................................... 19
Home screen ..................................................... 19
Icons .................................................................. 19
Let’s navigate .................................................... 21
Handset keys..................................................... 23
Area settings............................................................ 26
Language........................................................... 26
Call storage: local area code ............................. 28
Dialing mode...................................................... 29
Display adjustments ................................................ 30
Handset name ................................................... 30
Screen contrast ................................................. 31
Backlight-on time ............................................... 31
Date and time .................................................... 32

7
Audio adjustments................................................... 34
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Keypad beep ..................................................... 36
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Handset voice prompt........................................ 37
Paging and alarms................................................... 40
Page a lost handset........................................... 40
Alarm ................................................................. 40
Assistive listening .................................................... 43
T-Coil ................................................................. 43
Neckloops.......................................................... 43
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Ringtones .......................................................... 44
Ringer volume ................................................... 46
Memory keys ........................................................... 48
Manually store or edit a memory-key entry ....... 48
Delete a memory-key entry ............................... 52
Keypad tips.............................................................. 53
Using the keypad .............................................. 53
Inserting a pause..................................................... 54
What is a pause?............................................... 54
For example....................................................... 54
Insert pauses while storing a number................ 55
Phonebook .............................................................. 56
Manually store phonebook entries..................... 56
Store entries from lists....................................... 58
Copy entries from one handset to another ........ 60

8
Edit a phonebook entry...................................... 63
Delete one or all phonebook entries.................. 65
Memos..................................................................... 66
Record a memo ................................................. 66
Retrieve a memo ............................................... 67
Answering and calling.............................................. 71
Auto answering.................................................. 71
Answer, place or end a call................................ 73
Silence a ringing handset .................................. 74
Place a one-touch call ....................................... 74
Redial a number ................................................ 75
Call from your phonebook ................................. 76
Call from the inbound calls list........................... 77
Call other handsets in your home (intercom)..... 78
During calls.............................................................. 79
Adjust sound...................................................... 79
Use the speakerphone ...................................... 80
Mute the microphone......................................... 81
Transfer a call .................................................... 81
Use a headset ................................................... 82
Set up a conference call .................................... 83
Answering machine adjustments............................. 84
Is the answering machine right for you?............ 84
Answering machine with call waiting ................. 84
Turn on or off the answering machine ............... 85
Record a personalized greeting......................... 87
Listen to your greeting ....................................... 89
Restore the default greeting .............................. 90

9
Personalize your remote access security code . 90
Change the number of rings before pickup ....... 93
Voicemail and inbox................................................. 96
Screen a call...................................................... 96
Intercept a call waiting call................................. 96
Visual indicators of calls and voicemail ............. 97
Review inbound calls......................................... 98
Listen to voicemail messages............................ 98
Machine messages.................................................. 99
Screen a call...................................................... 99
Intercept a call during an incoming message .... 99
Visual indicators of messages ......................... 100
Listen to answering machine messages.......... 100
Delete machine messages and memos .......... 106
List maintenance ................................................... 108
Delete entries from lists ................................... 108
Security.................................................................. 109
Personalize the system PIN ............................ 109
Restoring defaults...................................................111
Restore handset default settings ......................111
Additional handsets ................................................113
Register additional handsets to the base .........113
Delete a handset registration............................114
Troubleshooting......................................................115
Compliance............................................................ 122
Warranty ................................................................ 128
Accessories ........................................................... 130
Service................................................................... 131

10
Unpack
Ensure that your packing box includes all of these parts.
If any parts are missing or damaged, please contact your
vendor or ClearSounds.
Answering machine base
Handset
(Optional) additional A500 handsets
are available. Each additional handset
comes with an A500 base, a power
adapter, batteries, a carrying clip and
a Setup Guide.
Phone line cord
AC power adapter assembly
Three rechargeable AAA NiMH batteries
Carrying clip
User's Guide

11
IMPORTANT: YOUR RECEIPT IS REQUIRED FOR
WARRANTY. PLEASE RETAIN YOUR RECEIPT.
Install handset batteries
Follow these warnings to avoid explosive or caustic reactions.
WARNING: Insert batteries according to the marked
polarity symbols.
WARNING: Use only rechargeable AAA NiMH
batteries. Other types of batteries can damage
the phone and cause personal injury. Do not mix
battery brands, battery types (chemistries) or
exhausted/full batteries.
WARNING: Do not attempt to recharge a battery
unless it is marked “rechargeable.”
WARNING: Immediately remove exhausted
batteries, and dispose of them properly.
WARNING: Do not burn exhausted batteries.
WARNING: Do not dispose of batteries with
household waste. Recycle or dispose of batteries
according to regulations of your local municipality.

12
To install handset batteries
1. Slide back the battery cover and remove the cover.
2. Insert the batteries according to the marked polarity
symbols.
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3. Slide the battery cover until it snaps into place.

13
Connect the cords
To avoid potential interference, place the phone away
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On the underside of the base, thread the cord(s) between
the guides.
To connect the cords
A 500 base (Optional) A500E charger
If you subscribe to DSL service
If you hear noise during conversations or if the caller ID
function does not work properly, please obtain and attach
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telephone communication jack in the wall.
To phone jack
To AC outlet
Guide
To AC outlet

14
Charge the batteries
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the batteries for approximately 24 hours.
Recharge the batteries regularly.
Note: If or appears on the screen, the battery
charge is low or depleted. If you attempt to fully recharge
the batteries and the battery icon does not return to ,
insert fresh batteries.
To charge the batteries
1. Place the telephone
handset on the base.
A beep occurs and
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charges.

15
Carrying clip (optional)
If you want to converse using a headset while keeping your
hands free, you can attach the handset to a belt and use a
handset or base speakerphone.
To install the carrying clip
To install a handset carrying clip
1. On the back of the phone, align the arms of the
carrying clip above the slots on the sides of the phone.
2. Gently press the arm clips into the slots.

16
Personalize your phone
The ClearSounds A500 phone is feature-rich.
This manual describes all available features. Scan the
topics, and if you see an interesting feature, follow the
instructions to personalize your phone.
Choose answering machine or voicemail
Before you set up and personalize your new phone, decide
how you prefer to store messages. You must choose
one method as a primary message retrieval method:
answering machine or voicemail.
The phone includes a built-in answering machine.
Voicemail service is purchased through your
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When your line is engaged, voicemail service detects and
stores a record of incoming calls and messages, whereas
the answering machine does not.
If you prefer using an answering machine for
easy message access, but you also want to be
alerted to incoming calls when you are on the
line with another caller, you can primarily use the
answering machine and purchase voicemail with the
caller ID on call waiting feature. For further information,
see page 84.
By default, the answering machine is turned off. To turn on
the answering machine and set it up, see page 85.

17
Register additional handsets
Your telephone handset is registered to the base (Base 1).
If you purchased additional ClearSounds A500E
handsets, you must register each additional
handset to the base. For registration instructions, see
page 113.
Place a call
Note: You can reverse Step 1 and Step 2, but you can
make corrections only if you dial in Step 1.
1. Press the alphanumeric keys.
If you make a mistake, press beneath Clear on
the screen.
2. Press and speak.
Call duration appears on the handset screen.
3. To end the call, press .
Answer a call
1. Lift the handset from the base.
2. Press and speak.
Call duration appears on the handset screen.
3. To end the call, press .

18
Alpha-numeric keypad
Earphone
White ringer indicator
Microphone
Display
Speaker
Battery compartment
Carrying clip

19
Backlighting
The display and keys light when you lift the handset from
the base or when you press handset keys.
After 20 seconds, the backlighting turns off. To turn it on
again, press .
Home screen
The home screen is the phone display that you see when
the phone is at rest or when you press .
Icons
Signal strength Blinks if the handset is out
of range of the base.
Battery strength Black = fully charged
White = depleted.
Display icons appear here.