Radio Shack ET-518 User manual

Cat. No. 43-1018
OWNER’S MANUAL
Cordless Telephone
Please read before using this equipment.
ET-518
with 9-Memory Speed-Dialing
43-1018.fm Page 1 Tuesday, August 17, 1999 8:53 AM

2
FEATURES
© 1995 Tandy Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
Radio Shack is a registered trademark used by Tandy Corporation.
Your Radio Shack ET-518 Cordless
Telephone with 9-Memory Speed Dial-
ing offers the latest advances in cord-
less phone technology. It includes the
following features:
Advanced Super CCT Circuitr
y
—
provides clarity comparable to a cord-
ed phone, reduces background noise,
and increases effective operating dis-
tance.
Automatic Securit
y
Access Code —
changes each time you return the
handset to the cradle to help prevent
other cordless phone users from using
your phone line while the handset is off
the cradle.
COM-LOK®— ensures that other
cordless phone users cannot use your
phone line while the handset is on the
cradle.
9-Number Memor
y
Dialin
g
— lets
you store nine phone numbers in
memory for easy dialing.
Flash — sends an electronic switch-
hook signal for use with special phone
services such as call waiting.
Touch Tone or Pulse (Rotar
y
) Dial-
in
g
— lets you connect your phone to
either type of service.
Redial — quickly redials the last num-
ber dialed with the touch of a button.
Note: Your phone comes with a bat-
tery, which you must install, connect,
and charge before you use your phone
for the first time.
Important: Cordless phones such as
this one require AC power to operate.
When the AC power is off, you cannot
dial out or receive incoming calls using
your cordless phone. For this reason,
this cordless phone should not be your
only telephone. To be safe, you should
also have a phone that does not need
AC power to operate (not a cordless
phone) so you can still make and re-
ceive calls if there is an AC power fail-
ure.
For your records, we urge you to
record the serial number of your phone
in the space below. The serial number
is located on the bottom panel of the
base.
Serial Number: __________________
This telephone has been tested and
found to comply with all applicable UL
and FCC standards.
Your cordless telephone operates on
standard radio frequencies, as allocat-
ed by the FCC. Therefore, it is possible
for other radio units operating on simi-
43-1018.fm Page 2 Tuesday, August 17, 1999 8:53 AM

3
lar frequencies, within a certain area,
to inadvertently intercept your conver-
sations and/or cause interference on-
your cordless telephone. This lack of
privacy can occur with any cordless
telephone.
However, your cordless phone is avail-
able in four different factory-set fre-
quencies. If you have problems with
interference, you can exchange your
phone within 30 days of purchase for
one that uses a different frequency.
Warning: To prevent fire or shock haz-
ard, do not expose this product to rain
or moisture.
This symbol is intended to alert you
to the presence of uninsulated dan-
gerous voltage within the product’s
enclosure that might be of sufficient
magnitude to constitute a risk of
electric shock. Do not open the
product’s case.
This symbol is intended to inform
you that important operating and
maintenance instructions are in-
cluded in the literature accompany-
ing this product.
READ THIS BEFORE
INSTALLATION
We have designed your phone to con-
form to federal regulations, and you
can connect it to most phone lines.
However, each device that you con-
nect to the phone line draws power
from the line. We refer to this power
draw as the device’s
ringer equiva-
lence number
, or REN. The REN is
shown on the bottom of your phone.
If you are using more than one phone
or other device on the line, add up all
the RENs. If the total is more than five,
your phone might not ring. In rural ar-
eas, a total REN of three might impair
ringer operation. If ringer operation is
impaired, remove a device from the
line.
FCC STATEMENT
This telephone complies with Part 68
of
FCC Rules
. You must, upon re-
quest, provide the FCC Registration
Number and the REN to your phone
company. These numbers are located
on the bottom of your phone.
Note: You must not connect your
phone to any of the following.
• Coin-operated systems
• Party-line systems
• Most electronic key phone sys-
tems
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK.
DO NOT OPEN.
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF
ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE
COVER OR BACK. NO USER-SERVICE-
ABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVIC-
ING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
CAUTION !
!
43-1018.fm Page 3 Tuesday, August 17, 1999 8:53 AM

4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Installation ............................................................................................................ 5
Selecting a Mounting Location ........................................................................ 5
Placing the Base on a Desktop ................................................................. 5
Mounting the Base on a Wall Plate ........................................................... 6
Mounting the Base Directly on the Wall .................................................... 8
Preparation ......................................................................................................... 10
Installing the Handset Battery ........................................................................ 10
Charging the Handset Battery ........................................................................10
Setting the Dialing Mode ............................................................................... 11
Operation ............................................................................................................ 12
Making/Answering a Call ............................................................................... 12
Using the Handset at the Base ............................................................... 12
Using the Handset away from the Base .................................................. 12
Using Redial .................................................................................................. 13
Using Flash .................................................................................................... 13
Using Tone Services on a Pulse Line ............................................................ 13
Using Page .................................................................................................... 14
Memory Dialing .............................................................................................. 14
Storing a Number in Memory .................................................................. 14
Entering a Pause in a Memory Number .................................................. 15
Dialing a Stored Number ......................................................................... 16
Storing/Chain Dialing Special Service Numbers ..................................... 16
Testing Stored Emergency Numbers ...................................................... 16
Troubleshootin
g
................................................................................................. 17
Care And Maintenance ...................................................................................... 19
Replacing the Battery .....................................................................................20
The FCC Wants You to Know ........................................................................ 20
Lightning ........................................................................................................ 21
43-1018.fm Page 4 Tuesday, August 17, 1999 8:53 AM

5
INSTALLATION
SELECTING A
MOUNTING LOCATION
You can mount the base on a wall
plate or directly on a wall. Or, you can
place it on a desk, shelf, or table. Se-
lect a location that is:
• Near an AC outlet
• Near a telephone line jack
• Out of the way of normal activities
• Away from computers, remote
control toys, wireless micro-
phones, wireless intercoms,
alarms and room monitors, fluo-
rescent lights, electrical machin-
ery, electrical appliances, metal
walls, filing cabinets, and other
large metal objects
For the best reception, you should be
able to fully extend the base’s antenna
and place it in a vertical position.
The base’s location affects the phone’s
range. If you have a choice of several
locations, try each to see which one
provides the best performance.
If the phone line jack is not a modular
jack, you must update the wiring your-
self, using jacks and adapters avail-
able at your local Radio Shack store.
Or, you can let the phone company up-
date the wiring for you.
• The phone company will charge
you for the installation of the nec-
essary jacks.
• The USOC number of the jack to
be installed is RJ11C for a base-
board jack and RJ11W for a wall-
plate jack.
Placing the Base on a
Desktop
Follow these steps to place the base
on a desk, shelf, or table.
1. Plug one end of the supplied mod-
ular cord into the PHONE jack on
the back of the base.
2. Plug the modular cord’s other end
into a modular phone line jack.
3. Insert the supplied AC adapter’s
barrel plug into the 12V DC jack on
the back of the base.
43-1018.fm Page 5 Tuesday, August 17, 1999 8:53 AM

6
4. Plug the adapter into a standard
AC outlet.
Caution: You must use a 120V AC/
12V DC adapter that delivers at least
200 milliamps. Its plug must correctly
fit the phone’s 12V DC jack. The sup-
plied adapter meets these require-
ments. Using an adapter that does not
meet these requirements could dam-
age the phone or the adapter.
Mounting the Base on a Wall
Plate
You need a short modular cord (such
as Cat. No. 279-390, not supplied) and
a standard wall plate (Cat. No. 279-
382, not supplied), for this mounting
method.
1. Plug one end of the short modular
cord into the PHONE jack on the
back of the base.
2. Route the short cord downward
through the top left slot on the
base’s bottom and under the clips
as shown.
3. Route the other end of the short
cord through the hole in the
bracket’s center.
4. To attach the supplied bracket to
the bottom of the base, insert the
tabs on the bracket into the slots
on the base, then slide the bracket
up.
43-1018.fm Page 6 Tuesday, August 17, 1999 8:53 AM

7
I
5. nsert the supplied AC adapter’s
barrel plug into the 12V DC jack on
the back of the base. Then route
the adapter’s cord through the
right slot on the base’s bottom and
under the clips as shown. Plug the
adapter into a standard AC outlet.
6. Plug the short modular cord into
the wall plate’s jack.
7. Align the bracket’s keyhole slots
with the wall plate studs and slide
the base downward to secure it.
8. Press and lift out the handset
holder. Rotate the holder 180°as
shown, and then snap it back into
place so it holds the handset.
Note: If you later want to mount the
base on a desktop, press PUSH and
slide the bracket down to remove it
from the base’s bottom.
43-1018.fm Page 7 Tuesday, August 17, 1999 8:53 AM

8
Mounting the Base Directly
on the Wall
You need two wood screws (not sup-
plied) for this mounting method.
1. Drill two holes 315/16 inches apart.
Then thread a screw into each
hole, letting the heads extend 1/4
inch from the wall.
2. Plug one end of the supplied mod-
ular cord into the PHONE jack on
the back of the base.
3. On the bottom of the base, route
the modular cord downward and
under the left slot’s clips as
shown.
4. To attach the supplied bracket to
the bottom of the base, insert the
tabs on the bracket into the slots
on the base, then slide the bracket
up.
43-1018.fm Page 8 Tuesday, August 17, 1999 8:53 AM

9
5. Insert the supplied AC adapter’s
barrel plug into the 12V DC jack on
the back of the base. Then route
the adapter’s cord through the
right slot on the base’s bottom and
under the clips. Plug the adapter
into a standard AC outlet.
6. Plug the modular cord into a mod-
ular phone line jack.
7. Align the keyhole slots with the
mounting screws and slide the
base downward to secure it.
8. Press and lift out the handset
holder. Rotate the holder 180°as
shown, and then snap it back into
place so it holds the handset.
Note: If you later want to mount the
base on a desktop, press PUSH and
slide the bracket down to remove it
from the base’s bottom.
43-1018.fm Page 9 Tuesday, August 17, 1999 8:53 AM

10
PREPARATION
INSTALLING THE
HANDSET BATTERY
Your phone comes with a battery
which you must install, connect, and
charge for 15 hours before you use
your phone for the first time.
To install the battery:
1. Slide off the battery compartment
cover.
2. Insert the battery into the compart-
ment so its connector can reach
the pins inside the compartment,
and secure it with the plastic
strap.
3. Slide the battery’s connector onto
the pins.
Caution: The connector only fits
one way; do not force it. If you
have difficulty sliding the connec-
tor onto the pins, turn it over and
try again.
4. Replace the cover, then follow the
instructions under “Charging the
Handset Battery’’ before you use
the phone.
CHARGING THE
HANDSET BATTERY
When you install a new battery, set
POWER to OFF. Then place the hand-
set on the cradle so the IN USE/
CHARGE indicator lights and charge
the battery for about 15 hours.
Recharge the battery when LOW
BATT on the handset lights.
Caution: To avoid damage to the bat-
tery, always recharge the handset bat-
tery as soon as LOW BATT lights.
Notes:
• You can set POWER to ON while
the battery charges, but it charges
more quickly if you set POWER to
OFF.
• If the IN USE/CHARGE indicator
does not light when you place the
handset on the cradle, be sure the
battery is connected to the pins
inside the battery compartment,
and the AC adapter is securely
connected to the base. Also,
check the charging contacts on
43-1018.fm Page 10 Tuesday, August 17, 1999 8:53 AM

11
the handset and base. If the con-
nects are dirty or tarnished, gently
clean them with a pencil eraser.
• About once a month, fully dis-
charge the battery by keeping the
handset off the cradle until LOW
BATT lights, then return the hand-
set to the cradle and fully
recharge the battery. If you do not
fully discharge and recharge the
battery periodically, it loses its
ability to fully recharge.
• The first time you use your phone
after installing a new battery, the
handset might not work and might
sound an error tone when you
press
TALK. This might also occur
when you recharge a battery that
has been completely discharged.
If this happens, be sure the hand-
set is turned on. Then return the
handset to the cradle for 5 sec-
onds. This resets the security
access code.
SETTING THE DIALING
MODE
Set TONE/PULSE on the back of the
base for the type of service you have.
If you are not sure which type you
have, do this test.
1. Set TONE/PULSE to TONE.
2. Lift the handset and listen for a
dial tone.
3. Press any number other than 0.
If the dial tone stops, you have
touch-tone service. Leave TONE/
PULSE set to TONE.
If the dial tone continues, you
have pulse service. Set TONE/
PULSE to PULSE.
43-1018.fm Page 11 Tuesday, August 17, 1999 8:53 AM

12
OPERATION
MAKING/ANSWERING A
CALL
You can use your cordless telephone
in two ways: at the base or away from
the base.
Using the Handset at the
Base
You can use the handset at the base
like a regular corded telephone. Just
set the handset’s POWER to ON and
place the handset in the cradle.
To answer a call, just lift the handset
from the base.
To make a call, lift the handset from
the base and press TALK so the TALK
indicator lights.
To disconnect a call, replace the hand-
set on the base.
Using the Handset Away from
the Base
To use the handset away from the
base, set POWER to ON, then press
TALK to make or answer a call. The
TALK indicator lights.
To disconnect a call, press TALK so
the TALK indicator turns off.
Notes:
• To conserve battery power, you
can turn off the handset’s power
when you are not making or
answering a call. The cordless
phone does not ring when it
receives an incoming call with the
handset’s power turned off. How-
ever, other phones on the same
line still ring. Set POWER to ON to
answer the call using the cordless
phone.
• You can make or answer a call on
a phone on the same line as the
cordless phone, even if the hand-
set is away from the base.
43-1018.fm Page 12 Tuesday, August 17, 1999 8:53 AM

13
• When dialing a number, if you
press a number and 3 short beeps
sound, you are out of the base’s
range, the battery is too low, or
there is too much interference on
the line. Move the handset closer
to the base or recharge the bat-
tery, if necessary.
USING REDIAL
To quickly redial the last number di-
aled, simply lift the handset from the
base or press TALK so the TALK indi-
cator lights. Then press REDIAL.
The redial memory holds up to 80 dig-
its, so you can redial long distance as
well as local numbers.
Notes:
• We recommend you not use
REDIAL to dial numbers that
include a TONE entry (see “Using
Tone Services on a Pulse Line”).
• The redial memory does not store
a FLASH entry or any digits
entered after you press FLASH.
USING FLASH
Use FLASH on the handset to send the
electronic equivalent of a switchhook
press for special services, such as call
waiting.
For example, if you have call waiting,
press FLASH to take an incoming call
without disconnecting the current call.
Press FLASH again to return to the first
call.
Notes:
• If you do not have any special
phone services, pressing FLASH
might disconnect the current call.
• The redial memory does not store
a FLASH entry or any digits
entered after you press FLASH.
USING TONE SERVICES
ON A PULSE LINE
Some special services, such as bank
by phone, require tone signals. If you
have pulse service, you can still use
these special tone services by follow-
ing these steps.
43-1018.fm Page 13 Tuesday, August 17, 1999 8:53 AM

14
1. Be sure TONE/PULSE on the base
is set to PULSE.
2. Dial the service’s main number.
3. When the service answers, press
TONE. Then dial the additional
numbers. The phone sends these
numbers as tone signals.
4. When you complete the call, place
the handset on the cradle or press
TALK to disconnect the call. The
phone automatically resets to the
pulse mode.
Note: We recommend you not use RE-
DIAL to dial numbers that include a
TONE entry.
USING PAGE
PAGE allows someone at the base to
page you at the handset or helps you
find the handset if you misplace it. With
the handset’s POWER set to ON and its
TALK indicator off, the handset sounds
four sets of four beeps when someone
presses PAGE on the base.
MEMORY DIALING
You can store nine telephone numbers
in memory and then dial them by
pressing the corresponding memory
location number. Each stored number
can be up to 16 digits long.
Notes:
• When using special tone service
numbers, we recommend that you
manually press TONE, rather than
storing the entry in memory. How-
ever, you can store the service’s
main number in one location and
numbers for additional information
in other locations. See “Storing/
Chain Dialing Special Service
Numbers.”
• To keep your accounts secure, we
recommend you NOT store your
personal access code for services
such as bank-by-phone in a mem-
ory location.
Storing a Number in Memory
1. Make sure the handset’s POWER
is set to ON and TALK is not lit.
2. Press MEMO.
43-1018.fm Page 14 Tuesday, August 17, 1999 8:53 AM

15
Note: While you are storing a
number in memory, if you do not
press any button on the keypad
within about 10 seconds, the
handset beeps three times and
you must press MEMO again to
store the telephone number.
3. Dial the number.
4. Press MEMO again.
5. Press the number (1-9) for the
memory location where you want
to store the number. The phone
beeps twice. The phone number is
now stored in memory.
6. Press TALK twice to exit the store
mode.
7. Repeat Steps 2-6 for other tele-
phone numbers.
8. Remove the plastic covering from
the base’s index sheet with a
small pointed object, such as the
end of a straightened paper clip.
Write the person’s or company’s
name and memory location num-
ber on the sheet in pencil (in case
you want to store a different num-
ber later).
Notes:
• If you receive a call while you are
storing a number in memory,
press
TALK to answer the call.
After the call, begin again at Step
1 to store the number.
• To change the phone numbers
stored in memory, repeat Steps 1-
6. The new phone number
replaces the previously stored
phone number in that memory
location.
• To clear a memory location so no
number is stored there, press
MEMO, PAUSE, MEMO, and then
the location number. The phone
beeps twice and the phone num-
ber is now cleared from the mem-
ory.
• If AC power fails, the phone beeps
three times and keeps stored
numbers in memory.
Enteringa Pause ina Memory
Number
In some telephone systems, you must
dial an access code (9, for example)
and wait for a second dial tone before
you can dial an outside number. If your
phone is connected to one of these
systems, you might want to enter a
pause at the appropriate point when
you store a phone number in memory.
43-1018.fm Page 15 Tuesday, August 17, 1999 8:53 AM

16
At the appropriate place in the number,
press REDIAL to enter a 2-second
pause. For a longer pause, press RE-
DIAL again (each press enters a 2-sec-
ond pause).
Dialing a Stored Number
Follow these steps to dial a number
stored in memory.
1. Lift the handset from the cradle or
press TALK so the TALK indicator
lights.
2. When you hear a dial tone, press
MEMO, then press the correct
memory location button. The
phone dials the stored number.
Storing/Chain Dialing Special
Service Numbers
When storing numbers for special ser-
vices (such as alternate long distance
or bank by phone services), store the
service’s main phone number in one
memory location and numbers for ad-
ditional information in other locations.
Follow these steps to chain-dial mem-
ory numbers.
1. With the handset’s POWER set to
ON and TALK lit, press MEMO and
the memory-location number for
the service’s main number.
2. Wait for the service to answer.
Note: If you use pulse dialing to
dial the service, after the service
answers, press TONE before pro-
ceeding with the next step.
3. Press MEMO and the memory-
location numbers for the addi-
tional information.
4. To disconnect the call, press TALK
so the TALK indicator turns off.
Testing Stored Emergency
Numbers
If you store an emergency service’s
number (police department, fire de-
partment, ambulance) and you choose
to test the stored number, remain on
the line to explain the reason for your
call. Make the test call during the late
evening or early morning hours to
avoid peak demand periods.
43-1018.fm Page 16 Tuesday, August 17, 1999 8:53 AM

17
TROUBLESHOOTING
We do not expect you to have any problems with your telephone, but if you do, the
following suggestions might help. If you still have problems, check other phones on
the same line to see if they work properly. If they do and the problem does not seem
to be with your phone service, take your phone to your local Radio Shack store for
assistance.
Problem Solution
The handset does not
work. •BesurePOWER is ON.
• Move the handset closer to the base.
• Be sure the phone line cord and AC adapter are
correctly and securely connected.
• Be sure the battery is charged.
• Fully extend the base’s antenna vertically.
• Return the handset to the cradle for 5 seconds,
then try again.
• Your phone has a special circuit that protects it
from static discharge. The circuit turns off the
handset if it receives a static discharge. Turn the
handset off for a few seconds to reset this circuit.
Volume drops or you
hear unusual sounds. • Someone has picked up another phone on the same line. Hang up the other phone.
Call is noisy. • Do not mount the base near electrical appliances
or large metal objects.
• Hang up and redial the number.
• Keep the handset away from interference
sources such as computers, remote control toys,
wireless microphones, wireless alarm systems,
wireless intercoms and room monitors, and fluo-
rescent lights. If the interference is severe, turn
off the interfering device.
• Exchange your phone for one with a different
operating frequency (within 30 days of the date
of purchase).
43-1018.fm Page 17 Tuesday, August 17, 1999 8:53 AM

18
Problem Solution
The handset’s range
decreases. • Fully extend the base’s antenna in a vertical posi- tion
• Return the handset to the cradle, and recharge
the battery
• Be sure the antenna is not touching a metal sur-
face.
Receiver sound flutters
or fades. • Be sure the battery is charged.
Can make calls, but
telephone does not
ring.
• Handset’s POWER must be set to ON to ring.
Can receive calls, but
cannot make calls. •Set
TONE/PULSE on the base correctly for your
type of service.
You cannot answer/
make a call and the
handset sounds an
error tone when you lift
it from the base or
press TALK.
• The phone might be receiving interference from
another RF signal; or, if the handset is away from
the base during a long period of AC power failure,
the phone might lose its access protection code.
Return the handset to the base for a few sec-
onds.
43-1018.fm Page 18 Tuesday, August 17, 1999 8:53 AM

19
CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Your ET-518 Cordless Telephone with 9-Memory Speed-Dialing is an example of
superior design and craftsmanship. The following suggestions will help you care for
your phone so you can enjoy it for years.
Keep the phone dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. Liquids
might contain minerals that can corrode the electronic circuits.
Handle the phone gently and carefully. Dropping it can damage cir-
cuit boards and cases and can cause the phone to work improperly.
Use and store the phone only in normal temperature environments.
Temperature extremes can shorten the life of electronic devices and
distort or melt plastic parts.
Keep the phone away from dust and dirt, which can cause premature
wear of parts.
Wipe the phone with a damp cloth occasionally to keep it looking
new. Do not use harsh chemicals, cleaning solvents, or strong deter-
gents to clean the phone.
Modifying or tampering with the phone’s internal components can cause a malfunc-
tion and might invalidate your phone’s warranty. If your phone is not performing as
it should, take it to your local Radio Shack store for assistance.
CLEANER
43-1018.fm Page 19 Tuesday, August 17, 1999 8:53 AM

20
REPLACING THE
BATTERY
If you follow the instructions in “Charg-
ing the Battery,’’ the supplied battery
should last for over 1 year. When the
battery loses its ability to fully charge,
order a 3.6 volt, 300 milliamp battery
with a connector that fits the connector
in the battery compartment. You can
order a replacement battery through
your local Radio Shack store.
Install the new battery as described
below, then charge the battery (see
“Charging the Battery’’).
1. Slide off the battery compartment
cover and loosen the plastic strap
securing the battery. Then discon-
nect and remove the old battery.
2. Insert the new battery in the com-
partment and secure it with the
plastic strap.
3. Slide the battery’s connector onto
the pins inside the compartment.
Caution: The connector only fits
one way; do not force it. If you
have difficulty sliding the connec-
tor onto the pins, turn it over and
try again.
4. Replace the battery compartment
cover.
Important: Your telephone contains a
rechargeable nickel cadmium battery.
At the end of the battery’s useful life, it
must be recycled or disposed of prop-
erly. Contact your local, county, or
state hazardous waste management
authorities for information on recycling
or disposal programs in your area.
Some options that might be available
are: municipal curb-side collection,
drop off boxes at retailers, recycling
collection centers, and mail back pro-
grams.
THE FCC WANTS YOU
TO KNOW
In the unlikely event that your phone
causes problems on the phone line,
the phone company can temporarily
discontinue your service. If this hap-
pens, the phone company attempts to
notify you in advance. If advance no-
tice is not practical, the phone compa-
ny notifies you as soon as possible and
advises you of your right to file a com-
plaint with the FCC.
Also, the phone company can make
changes to its lines, equipment, opera-
tions, or procedures that could affect
the operation of the phone. The phone
company notifies you of these changes
in advance, so that you can take the
necessary steps to prevent interrup-
tion of your phone service.
43-1018.fm Page 20 Tuesday, August 17, 1999 8:53 AM