Radio Shack ET-927 User manual

Cat. No. 43-1097
OWNER’S MANUAL
Please read before using this equipment.
ET-927
Digital Spread Spectrum
900 MHz Cordless Telephone
A
43-1097a.fm Page 1 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:01 PM

2
FEATURES
Your RadioShack ET-927 Digital Spread
Spectrum 900 MHz Cordless Telephone
uses advanced digital cordless technol-
ogy to give you superior sound quality. It
uses the 900 MHz band, which means
less interference and clearer sound, and
greater range than 46/49 MHz cordless
telephones. Its cordless operation lets
you make or answer calls just about
anywhere in your home or office.
An optional headset jack lets you con-
nect a headset to the handset for hands-
free conversation — perfect for when
you are working in the yard or garage.
Its features include:
900 MHz Operation —provides better
sound and less interference than many
other cordless phones.
3.5-Hour Talk or 7-Day Standby Time
— lets you talk for 3.5 hours or keep the
phone off the base for 7 days without re-
charging (with a fully charged battery
pack).
Digitally Encoded Signal — prevents
other people from picking up your
phone’s signal and listening to your con-
versations.
Two-Way Intercom/Paging System —
lets you send a signal from the base to
the handset, or from the handset to the
base, so you can page someone or eas-
ily locate the handset when it is away
from the base. If someone answers, you
can use the ET-927 as a two-way inter-
com.
20-Number Memory Dialing — lets you
store up to 16 digits in each of 20 mem-
ory locations for easy dialing.
Digital Volume Controls — let you ad-
just the volume of the sound you hear
through the handset and the base.
Out-of-Range Signal — the handset
beeps twice to let you know when you
move out of the base’s operating range.
Security Access Protection Code —
changes each time you place the hand-
set on the base, to minimize the chanc-
es of other cordless phones using your
phone line.
20 Channels — scans the 20 frequency
pairs used between the base and the
handset and automatically selects a
clear channel each time you make or re-
ceive a call.
Any-Key Answer — lets you press any
key on the handset to answer an incom-
ing call.
Programmable Ringers — let you se-
lect from four ringer types and turn the
ringer on or off at both the handset and
the base.
©1999 Tandy Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
RadioShack is a registered trademark used by Tandy Corporation.
43-1097a.fm Page 2 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:01 PM

3
Mute — prevents the person on the oth-
er end of the phone line from hearing
your conversation with someone in the
room.
Flash — sends an electronic switch-
hook signal for use with special phone
services such as Call Waiting.
Redial — lets you quickly dial the last
number dialed.
Hearing Aid Compatible — lets you
use this telephone with hearing aids that
have a T (telephone) switch.
Three Mounting Options — let you
place the phone on a desk top, or mount
it on a wall plate or directly on a wall.
This phone has been tested and found
to comply with all applicable UL and
FCC standards.
Important:
• Cordless phones such as this one
require AC power to operate. When
AC power is off, you cannot dial out
or receive incoming calls using your
ET-927. For this reason, the ET-927
should not be your only telephone.
To be safe, you should also have a
phone that does not require AC
power to operate (not a cordless
phone), so you can still make and
receive calls if there is an AC power
failure.
• Some cordless phones operate at
frequencies that might cause inter-
ference to nearby TVs and VCRs.
To minimize or prevent such interfer-
ence, the base of the cordless
phone should not be placed near or
on top of a TV or VCR.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or
shock hazard, do not expose this product to rain
or moisture.
CAUTION
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 SERVICING
TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
!
This symbol is intended to alert
you to the presence of uninsu-
lated dangerous voltage within
the product’s enclosure that might
be of sufficient magnitude to con-
stitute 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
included in the literature accom-
panying this product.
!
43-1097a.fm Page 3 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:01 PM

4
READ THIS BEFORE
INSTALLATION
Your telephone conforms to federal reg-
ulations, and you can connect it to most
telephone lines. However, each device
you connect to the phone line draws
power from the phone line. We refer to
this power draw as the device’s
ringer
equivalence number
, or REN . The REN
is on the bottom of the base.
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 (three
in rural areas), your phone might not
ring. If ringer operation is impaired, re-
move a device from the line.
FCC STATEMENT
This telephone complies with Part 68 of
FCC Rules . You must, upon request,
provide the FCC Registration Number
and the REN to your phone company.
These numbers are on the label on the
bottom of the base.
You must not connect your phone to any
of the following:
• coin-operated systems
• party-line systems
• most electronic key phone systems
43-1097a.fm Page 4 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:01 PM

5
CONTENTS
Installation ............................................................................................................... 6
Installing the Handset’s Antenna ........................................................................ 6
Selecting a Location ........................................................................................... 6
Preparation ............................................................................................................ 11
Connecting and Charging the Battery Pack ..................................................... 11
Setting the Dialing Mode .................................................................................. 12
Adjusting the Ringers ....................................................................................... 13
Operation ............................................................................................................... 14
Making/Answering Calls ................................................................................... 14
Adjusting the Volume ........................................................................................ 14
Using REDIAL ................................................................................................... 14
Using MUTE ...................................................................................................... 15
Using FLASH .................................................................................................... 15
Using Tone Services on a Pulse Line ............................................................... 15
Special Features ................................................................................................... 16
Memory Dialing ................................................................................................ 16
Using the Intercom ........................................................................................... 17
Using an Optional Headset .............................................................................. 18
Troubleshooting .................................................................................................... 20
Out-of-Range Indications ................................................................................. 22
Care and Maintenance .......................................................................................... 23
Replacing the Battery Pack .............................................................................. 24
The FCC Wants You to Know ........................................................................... 25
Lightning ........................................................................................................... 25
43-1097a.fm Page 5 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:01 PM

6
INSTALLATION
INSTALLING THE
HANDSET’S
ANTENNA
Insert the antenna into the
hole on the top of the hand-
set, then twist the antenna
clockwise until it is secure.
SELECTING A LOCATION
You can place the phone on a desk top,
or mount it on a wall plate or directly on
a wall. Select a location that is:
• near an AC outlet
• near a telephone line jack
• away from electrical machinery,
electrical appliances, metal walls or
filing cabinets, wireless intercoms,
alarms, and room monitors
• away from other cordless phones
The base’s location affects the phone’s
range. If you have a choice of several lo-
cations, try each to see which provides
the best performance.
Notes:
• Your telephone connects directly to
a modular telephone line jack. If
your phone line jack is not a modu-
lar jack, you can update the wiring
yourself, using jacks and adapters
available at your local RadioShack
store. Or, you can let the phone
company update the wiring for you.
• The USOC number of the jack to be
installed is RJ11C (RJ11W if you
want to mount it on a wall plate).
Power the ET-927 using the supplied
9V, 500-mA AC adapter.
Cautions:
You must use a Class 2
power source that supplies
9V DC and delivers at least
500 mA. Its center tip must be set to
positive and its plug must fit the ET-
927's DC 9V jack. The supplied
adapter meets these specifications.
Using an adapter that does not meet
these specifications could damage
the phone or the adapter.
• Always connect the AC adapter to
the ET-927 before you connect it to
AC power. When you finish, discon-
nect the adapter from AC power be-
fore you disconnect it from the
phone.
Placing on a Desk Top
1. Push in the two tabs on the top of
the mounting bracket, then lift off
just the upper part of the bracket.
2. Insert the supplied AC adapter’s
barrel plug into the DC 9V jack on
illus
!
illus -- enlarge to fill space
43-1097a.fm Page 6 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:01 PM

7
the back of the base, route the
adapter cord through the strain relief
slot and the hole on the bracket,
then push in the mounting bracket’s
upper end to click the bracket into
place.
3. Plug one end of the supplied long
modular cord into the phone line
jack on the back of the base.
4. Plug the AC adapter into a standard
AC outlet.
5. Plug the modular cord’s other end
into a modular phone line jack.
6. For the best reception, raise the
base’s antenna to a vertical position.
Mounting on a Wall Plate
1. Push in the two tabs on the top of
the mounting bracket, then lift off the
entire bracket.
2. Plug one end of the supplied short
modular cord into the phone line
jack on the back of the base, then
press the cord into the center
groove on the bottom of the base.
3. Insert the supplied AC adapter’s
barrel plug into the DC 9V jack on
the back of the base. Then route the
cord through the strain relief slot
illus -- label strain relief
Illus
Illus
Illus
Illus
illus -- enlarge to fill space
Illus
43-1097a.fm Page 7 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:01 PM

8
and press the cord all the way down
into the cord groove on the bottom
of the base.
4. Position the mounting bracket with
the narrow end on top. Route the
short modular cord through the cen-
ter hole of the bracket, and insert
the two tabs at the top of the bracket
into the matching slots on the base’s
back, near the jacks.
5. Press the two tabs at the bottom of
the bracket into the matching slots
on the back of the base to lock the
bracket into place.
6. Plug the modular cord’s other end
into the wall plate’s modular phone
line jack.
7. Align the keyhole slots on the
bracket with the studs on the wall
plate, then slide the base downward
to secure it.
8. Plug the AC adapter into a standard
AC outlet.
9. For the best re-
ception, raise the
base’s antenna to
a vertical position.
illus -- label strain relief
Illus
Illus
Illus
illus -- show modular
cord already connected
Illus
Illus
43-1097a.fm Page 8 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:01 PM

9
Mounting Directly on the Wall
For this mounting method, you need two
wood screws (not supplied) with heads
that fit into the keyhole slots on the
mounting bracket.
1. At the desired mounting
location, drill two holes
315/16 inches (100 mm)
apart. Then thread a
screw into each hole,
letting the heads extend
about 3/16 inch (5 mm)
from the wall.
2. Push in the two tabs on the top of
the mounting bracket, then lift off the
entire bracket.
3. Plug one end of the supplied long
modular cord into the phone line
jack on the back of the base. Then
press the cord into the center
groove on the bottom of the base.
4. Insert the supplied AC adapter’s
barrel plug into the DC 9V jack on
the back of the base, route the cord
through the strain relief slot, then
press the cord into the groove on
the bottom of the base.
5. Position the mounting bracket with
the narrow end on top. Insert the
two tabs at the top of bracket into
the matching slots on the base’s
back, near the jacks.
Press the two tabs at the bottom of
the bracket into the matching slots
on the back of the base to lock the
bracket into place.
3/16
315/16
add illus like that below
Step 1 of previous section
Illus
illus -- label strain relief
Illus
43-1097a.fm Page 9 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:01 PM

10
6. Align the keyhole slots on the
mounting bracket with the screws on
the wall, then slide the base down-
ward to secure it.
7. Plug the ET-927’s AC cord into a
standard AC outlet.
8. Plug the long modular cord into a
modular phone line jack.
9. For the best reception, raise the
base’s antenna to a vertical position.
Illus
Illus
illus -- like that below Step
5 of previous section
43-1097a.fm Page 10 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:01 PM

11
PREPARATION
CONNECTING AND
CHARGINGTHE BATTERY
PACK
The ET-927 comes with a rechargeable
nickel-cadmium battery pack in the
handset, but not connected. Before us-
ing your phone, you must connect the
battery pack, then charge it for about 24
hours.
1. Slide off the handset’s battery com-
partment cover.
2. Insert the battery pack’s
connector with its flat
side up into the phone’s
socket. The connector
fits only one way.
3. Replace the cover.
To charge the battery pack, place the
handset on the base.
Recharge the battery pack when the
BATT LOW indicator on the handset
lights.
Notes:
• You can hang the handset face up
on the base if it is wall-mounted
(using the slot on the back of the
handset); however, the battery pack
will not fully charge in this position.
• When you first use your phone after
charging or recharging the battery
pack, the handset might not work or
it might sound an error tone when
you press TALK. If this happens,
place the handset on the base for
about 5 seconds, then try again.
• If the CHARGE indicator does not
light when you place the handset on
the cradle, be sure the battery pack
and AC adapter are correctly and
securely connected.
Also, check the charging contacts
on both the handset and base. If the
contacts are dirty or tarnished, clean
them with a pencil eraser.
If the battery and AC connections
are correct and secure and the
charging contacts are clean, the bat-
tery might be fully charged. This is
not a malfunction.
Illus
Illus
add illus of indicator
location
illus of indicator
location
illus of contacts’
location
43-1097a.fm Page 11 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:01 PM

12
• If the phone stops operating prop-
erly, check the base’s phone line
cord and AC adapter connections. If
the connections are secure but the
phone still does not work, unplug
the base’s AC adapter from the AC
outlet and disconnect the handset’s
battery pack. Wait 3 minutes, then
reconnect the battery pack and plug
the AC adapter back into the AC
outlet. The phone should operate
properly.
• If the battery pack becomes weak,
the handset sounds a short beep
every 16 seconds during a call and
the BATT LOW indicator flashes.
Within about 10 minutes, the phone
will automatically disconnect. Re-
charge the battery pack.
• If the battery pack loses its charge
completely or the base loses power
while the handset is away from it,
the security access-protection code
needs to be reset. To reset the secu-
rity code, place the handset on the
base. If it was the handset that lost
power, leave the handset on the
base to charge the battery pack.
• About once a month, fully discharge
the battery pack by keeping the
handset off the base until the BATT
LOW indicator turns on. Otherwise,
it loses its ability to fully recharge,
and you might have to recharge and
replace it more often.
SETTING THE DIALING
MODE
Set T/P (Tone/Pulse)for the type of ser-
vice you have. If you are not sure which
type you have, do this test after the bat-
tery pack is fully charged.
1. Set T/P on the back of base to T.
2. Press TALK and listen for a dial
tone.
3. Press any number other than 0.
Note: If your phone system requires
that you dial an access code (9, for
example) before you dial an outside
number, do not press the access
code either.
If the dial tone stops, you have
touch-tone service. Leave T/P set to
T.
If the tone continues, you have
pulse (rotary) service. Set T/P to P.
4. To hang up, either place the handset
on the base or press TALK so the
TALK indicator on the handset and
the IN USE indicator on the base
turn off.
Illus
Illus
43-1097a.fm Page 12 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:01 PM

13
ADJUSTING THE
RINGERS
The ET-927’s handset and base each
have four different ringer tones. You can
set the base’s and handset’s ringer tone,
or turn off the ringer on either or both.
Turning On/Off the Ringers
To have the base ring when a call
comes in, set RINGER ON/OFF on the
back of the base to ON.
To have it not sound, set RINGER ON/
OFF to OFF.
To have the handset ring when a call
comes in, set RINGER ON/OFF on the
handset’s left side to ON.
To have it not sound, set RINGER ON/
OFF to OFF.
Note: Even if you turn off the ringer on
the handset or base, you can still make
calls using that keypad, and you can still
answer calls if you hear another phone
on that same line ring (see “Operation”
on Page 14).
Setting the Ringer’s Volume
To adjust the ringer’s volume when the
phone is not in use, repeatedly press
VOLUME ▲or ▼on the handset.
Checking/Setting the Ringer
Tone
The base and handset are both preset
to use the same ringer tone (1). To
change or hear the different tones, press
FLASH then 1, 2, 3, or 4 when the phone
is not in use. (The last number button
you pressed is the tone you will hear.)
Illus
location of handset’s
RINGER ON/OFF
set to ON
add illus of FLASH
43-1097a.fm Page 13 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:01 PM

14
OPERATION
MAKING/ANSWERING
CALLS
To make a call, lift the handset and
press TALK. When you hear the dial
tone, dial the number.
To answer a call when the handset is on
the base, just lift the handset and begin
your conversation.
To answer a call when the handset is
not on the base, press any key on the
handset before speaking.
Both the IN USE indicator on the base
and the TALK indicator on the handset
flash when you receive a call, and the
TALK indicator lights steadily while the
handset is in use.
To end a call, place the handset on the
base or press TALK so the TALK indica-
tor on the handset turns off.
Important: If you move the handset out-
side the base’s range (about 550 feet),
the handset will not operate properly
and a call in progress might be discon-
nected (see “Troubleshooting” on
Page 20).
ADJUSTING THE VOLUME
The handset’s VOLUME control lets you
set the volume you hear through the
handset to one of four levels.
To turn the volume up or down during a
call, repeatedly press VOLUME ▲or ▼
on the handset. The ET-927 beeps once
each time you press VOLUME ▲ or ▼.
When you reach the highest or lowest
volume level, the ET-927 beeps three
times.
USING REDIAL
To redial the last number dialed, press
REDIAL when you hear the dial tone.
illus -- add callout to
TALK indicator
Illus
Illus
43-1097a.fm Page 14 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:01 PM

15
USING MUTE
The MUTE button on the handset lets
you talk to someone else in the room
without the person on the other end of
the phone line hearing your conversa-
tion. Press MUTE during the call. The
BATT LOW indicator on the handset
lights steadily.
Press MUTE again to resume your
phone conversation. The BATT LOW in-
dicator turns off.
USING FLASH
You can use FLASH on the handset to
produce a switchhook signal for special
phone services, such as Call Waiting. If
you have Call Waiting, press FLASH to
take an incoming call without discon-
necting the current call. Press FLASH
again to return to the first call.
Note: If you do not have any special
phone services, pressing FLASH might
disconnect the current call.
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 services.
With T/P set to P, just press when
you want to begin sending tones. Any
additional numbers you dial are sent as
tone signals. When you hang up, the
phone automatically resets to the pulse
mode.
Illus
illus -- make sure all
button labels are visible
illus
43-1097a.fm Page 15 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:01 PM

16
SPECIAL FEATURES
MEMORY DIALING
You can store up to 20 numbers of up to
16 digits each in the ET-927’s memory,
then dial them with the press of a few
buttons.
Storing a Number
Notes:
• You must complete these steps
within 30 seconds of each other. If
you do not, the ET-927 sounds a
long beep, all indicators stop flash-
ing, and you must start over again at
Step 1.
• You can store special banking or
telephone service numbers (such as
access codes or account numbers)
in memory, but for security pur-
poses, we recommend that you do
not store private numbers (such as
personal identification numbers or
passwords) in memory.
1. Press MEM (memory) on the hand-
set. The TALK indicator on the
handset and IN USE indicator on
the base flash.
2. Enter the number you want to store.
Notes:
• If you have pulse service and
want to send tone signals, press
at the appropriate place in the
sequence of numbers.
• Each or pause entry (see
“Storing a Pause”) counts as one
digit in memory.
3. Press MEM then press the number
key (01–20) of the memory location
where you want to store the number.
The ET-927 beeps twice and stores
the number.
Notes:
• To change a number in memory,
store a new one in its place.
• To erase a number from memory,
repeat Steps 1 and 3, skipping Step
2.
Storing a Pause
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. You can
store the access code with the phone
number. However, you should also store
a pause after the access code to allow
the outside line time to connect.
To add one or more 2-second pauses to
a phone number you are storing in
memory, press REDIAL at each point
where a pause is needed.
Note: Each pause entry counts as one
digit in memory.
Illus
43-1097a.fm Page 16 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:01 PM

17
Dialing a Stored Number
To dial a stored number, when you hear
the dial tone, press MEM then the de-
sired memory location number (01–20).
Chain Dialing Service Numbers
You can make a call using more than
one of the ET-927’s memory locations.
This is called chain dialing. Chain dialing
is useful for dialing special services such
as alternate long distance or bank-by-
phone.
When calling special services, dial the
service’s main number first. Then, at the
appropriate place in the call, press MEM
and the number for the memory location
where the additional information is
stored.
Testing Stored Emergency
Numbers
If you store an emergency service’s
number (police department, fire depart-
ment, ambulance) and you want to test
the stored number, make the test call
during the late evening or early morning
hours to avoid peak demand periods. Al-
so, remain on the line to explain the rea-
son for your call.
USING THE INTERCOM
You can use the ET-927 as a two-way
pager and intercom between the base
and the handset. This is useful if the
handset is away from the base and you
want to locate it, or if you want to have a
conversation between someone with the
handset and someone at the base.
Notes:
• If a call comes in during an intercom
conversation, the person using the
handset can answer the call, but the
intercom call is disconnected.
• If the handset is in use when it
receives a page, the person using
the handset hears one quiet ring
over the phone.
Paging from the Base to the
Handset
To send a page from the base to the
handset, press PAGE on the base. The
handset beeps twice per second for 15
seconds. The base’s PAGE indicator
flashes while the handset beeps.
illus -- add callout to
PAGE indicator
43-1097a.fm Page 17 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:01 PM

18
To answer a page at the handset, press
INTCM. Begin your conversation after
the INTCM indicator on the handset
lights steadily.
To end an intercom call, press PAGE on
the base or INTCM on the handset. All
indicators turn off.
Paging from the Handset to the
Base
To send a page from the handset to the
base, press INTCM on the handset. The
base sounds two short beeps, and auto-
matically answers the handset’s page
(whether or not anyone is there). Begin
your conversation after the INTCM indi-
cator lights steadily on the handset.
To end an intercom call, press PAGE on
the base or INTCM on the handset. All
indicators turn off.
USING AN OPTIONAL
HEADSET
Your ET-927’s handset is equipped with
a headset jack on top. This jack allows
you to connect a headset for hands-free
conversation — perfect for when you are
working in the yard or garage. A handset
holder carries the handset for you while
you use the headset. (Headsets and
handset holders are available at your lo-
cal RadioShack store.)
Follow these steps to use a headset.
1. Place the ET-927’s handset in the
handset holder.
2. Insert the headset’s 3/32-inch (2.5
mm) plug into the jack on the top
of the handset.
Illus
illus of handset in holder
Illus
43-1097a.fm Page 18 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:01 PM

19
3. Place the headset on your head with
the earpiece over either ear and
adjust the microphone boom until it
is about even with your chin.
4. Clip the handset on your belt.
5. Make or receive calls as you would
normally.
illus -- enlarge to fill
space
illus -- don’t show back
of clip; it would not be
visible if it was attached
to a person’s belt
43-1097a.fm Page 19 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:01 PM

20
TROUBLESHOOTING
We do not expect you to have any problems with your phone, but if you do, the follow-
ing suggestions might help.
Problem Solution
Low volume or unusual sounds. Someone has picked up another phone
on the same line. Hang up the other
phone.
Press VOLUME ▲on the handset to turn
up the handset’s volume.
Noise interference. Return the handset to the cradle for a few
seconds to reset the security access pro-
tection code, then try again.
You might be moving out of range (see
“Out-of-Range Indications” on Page 22).
Move the handset closer to the base or
relocate the base.
Keep the handset away from computers,
remote controlled toys, wireless micro-
phones, alarm systems, intercoms, room
monitors, fluorescent lights, and electrical
appliances.
Move to another location or turn off the
source of interference.
The phone cannot be operated at a
useful distance from the base
because the signal becomes weak or
noisy (the handset’s range has
decreased).
Adjust the base’s antenna so it stands
straight up.
Be sure neither antenna is touching a
metal surface.
Return the handset to the cradle, and re-
charge the battery pack.
43-1097a.fm Page 20 Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:01 PM