43-777.fm Page 1 Friday, August 13, 1999 3:44 PM
Cat. No. 43-777
OWNER’S MANUAL
Please read before using this equipment.
TAD-277
Single-Microcassette Answering System
with Digital Announcement
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If you are using more than one device
on the line, add up all the RENs. If the
total is more than five, your phones
might not ring and your TAD-277
might not answer. In rural areas, a to-
tal REN of three might impair ringer
operation. If ringer operation is im-
paired, remove a device from the tele-
phone line.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of
fire or shock hazard, do not ex-
pose this product to rain or mois-
ture.
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 SERVIC-
ING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
FCC STATEMENT
Your TAD-277 complies with Part 68
of FCC Rules. You must, upon re-
quest, provide the FCC registration
number and the REN to your phone
company. Both numbers are on the
bottom of your TAD-277.
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.
Note: You must not connect your
TAD-277 to:
This symbol is intended to inform
you that important operating and
maintenance instructions are in-
cluded in the literature accompany-
ing this product.
!
• Coin-operated systems
• Party-line systems
• Most electronic key phone sys-
tems
READ THIS FIRST
We have designed your TAD-277 to
conform to federal regulations, and
you can connect it to most telephone
lines. However, each device you con-
nect 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 your TAD-
277.
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CONTENTS
Preparation ........................................................................................................... 5
Selecting A Location ........................................................................................ 5
Loading the Cassette ....................................................................................... 5
Connecting Power ........................................................................................... 6
Recording the Outgoing Message ................................................................... 6
Checking the Outgoing Message ............................................................. 7
Connecting to the Telephone Line ................................................................... 8
Setting the Maximum Message Length ........................................................... 8
Setting the Number of Rings ........................................................................... 8
Answering System Operation ............................................................................. 9
Setting the TAD-277 to Answer Calls .............................................................. 9
Setting the System’s Volume ........................................................................... 9
Screening Calls ............................................................................................... 9
Playing Messages ......................................................................................... 10
Remote Control Operation ................................................................................ 11
Remote Answer-On ....................................................................................... 11
Remote Playback .......................................................................................... 11
Troubleshooting ................................................................................................. 13
Care and Maintenance ....................................................................................... 16
Cleaning the Tape-Handling Parts ................................................................. 17
The FCC Wants You to Know ........................................................................ 17
Lightning ........................................................................................................ 17
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PREPARATION
2. Lift open the cassette compart-
ment door.
SELECTING A
LOCATION
The TAD-277 is designed to rest on
a flat surface such as a desktop or
countertop. Select a location that is:
• Near an AC outlet
• Near a modular telephone line
jack
If the phone line jack is not a modular
jack, you must update the wiring. You
can convert the wiring yourself, using
jacks and adapters available at your
local RadioShack store. Or, you can
let the phone company update the wir-
ing for you. The USOC number of the
jack to be installed is RJ11C.
3. Put the cassette in the compart-
ment with its full reel toward the
back of the system and its open
edge to the right.
LOADING THE
CASSETTE
Your TAD-277 comes with an MC-60
cassette tape (30 minutes of recording
time per side). You can buy additional
and different length cassettes at your
local RadioShack store.
4. Close the compartment door.
Notes:
• You can turn the tape over and
record on the other side. This lets
you save any messages recorded
on the first side while using the
tape to record more messages.
1. Turn the supplied cassette’s hub
with the tip of a pencil to take up
any tape slack.
• Replace the tape at least once a
year, or more often if it is used fre-
quently.
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message, the TAD-277 sounds a con-
tinuous high tone until you record a
message (see “Recording the Outgo-
ing Message”).
CONNECTING POWER
Use the supplied AC adapter to power
your TAD-277.
Note: If the cassette tape is broken or
is not inserted properly, the TAD-277
sounds a continuous low tone when it
is connected to power. To stop the
tone, unplug the adapter from the AC
outlet. Reinsert or replace the tape,
then plug the adapter back into the AC
outlet.
Cautions:
• The supplied Class 2 AC adapter
supplies 9 volts of power, delivers
at least 500 milliamps, and has a
plug that properly fits the TAD-
9V AC 500mA
277’s
jack. Using an
adapter that does not meet these
specifications could damage the
TAD-277.
• Always plug the adapter into the
TAD-277 before you plug it into an
AC outlet, and unplug the adapter
from the outlet before you unplug
it from the TAD-277.
RECORDING THE
OUTGOING MESSAGE
Before you can use the TAD-277, you
must record the outgoing message.
The maximum length for your outgo-
ing message is 30 seconds.
Hint: To help protect your home or of-
fice, do not tell callers you are away.
Instead, say you cannot come to the
phone at this time.
1. Plug the supplied AC adapter’s
9V
barrel plug into the TAD-277’s
AC 500mA
Follow these steps to record an outgo-
ing message.
jack.
2. Plug the adapter’s other end into a
standard AC outlet.
VOL-
1. If the TAD-277 is off, rotate
UME
to the right until it clicks to
VOLUME
3. Rotate
to the right until it
turn it on. The message indicator
turns on.
clicks to turn on the TAD-277.
The message indicator turns on while
the TAD-277 checks for an outgoing
message.
If an outgoing message is already re-
corded, the TAD-277 automatically
plays it back. If there is no outgoing
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2. Lift open the cassette compart-
ment door.
5. When you finish recording your
message, press OGM REC/PLAY
again. The TAD-277 beeps, re-
winds the tape, and plays back
the message as it is recording it
from the digital chip to the tape.
(The message is backed up on
tape so after a power failure it can
be automatically restored to the
chip).
3. Hold down OGM REC/PLAY until
the message indicator turns off,
then release the button. The TAD-
277 beeps once.
After the message plays back, the
TAD-277 sets itself to answer
calls, beeping twice to indicate it is
set.
4. When the message indicator turns
on again after a few moments,
speak clearly in a normal volume
from about 12 inches away from
the microphone.
6. Adjust VOLUME to a comfortable
listening level.
Checking the Outgoing
Message
Press OGM REC/PLAY at any time to
hear the outgoing message. Set VOL-
UME to the desired level.
Microphone
The TAD-277 records only
Note:
the first 30 seconds of your outgo-
ing message.
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CONNECTING TO THE
TELEPHONE LINE
SETTING THE NUMBER
OF RINGS
To complete the connections, insert
the modular plug into a modular
phone jack.
You can select the number of rings the
TAD-277 waits before it answers calls.
RING SELECT
2 4 7 TS
to , , , or .
Set
To connect a telephone to your TAD-
277, insert the telephone’s modular
The system can answer calls in 2, 4,
TS
PHONE JACK
plug into
the TAD-277.
on the back of
or 7 rings. If you set the switch to
(Toll Saver), the TAD-277 answers in
four rings if there are no new or saved
messages, or in two rings if you have
messages. This can save you long-
distance charges because, if there are
no new messages, you can hang up
before the TAD-277 answers.
SETTING THE MAXIMUM
MESSAGE LENGTH
Your TAD-277 can record messages
REC TIME
of up to 1 or 5 minutes. Set
1MIN
5MIN
for the desired maxi-
to
or
mum recording time.
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ANSWERING SYSTEM OPERATION
sage, then waits 7 seconds for you to
SETTING THE TAD-277
TO ANSWER CALLS
enter the remote operation security
code. If you do not enter the correct
code, the TAD-277 beeps twice and
hangs up. See “Remote Control Oper-
ation” on Page 11.
Rotate VOLUME to the right until it
clicks to turn on the TAD-277. When
the message indicator stays on and
the TAD-277 does not sound any
tones, it is ready to answer calls.
To have the TAD-277 not answer
calls, turn it off by rotating VOLUME to
the left until it clicks. The message in-
dicator turns off.
SETTING THE SYSTEM’S
VOLUME
The TAD-277 hangs up and resets to
answer the next call when:
To adjust the volume, set VOLUME to
a comfortable listening level. (This
does not affect the volume of the mes-
sage the caller hears.)
• The caller hangs up.
• The maximum message length of
about 1 minute or 5 minutes is
reached (see “Setting the Maxi-
mum Message Length” on
Page 8).
• There are more than 7 seconds of
silence.
The TAD-277’s supplied tape can
record up to about 29 minutes of in-
coming messages per side. You can
buy additional and different length cas-
settes at your local RadioShack store.
SCREENING CALLS
To screen calls, let the TAD-277 an-
swer them. Listen to the caller’s mes-
sage through the TAD-277’s speaker.
If you decide to answer the call, pick
up any phone on the same phone line
as the TAD-277. The TAD-277 stops
recording and resets to answer the
next call.
If the tape reaches the end while a
caller is leaving a message, the TAD-
277 beeps twice and hangs up.
If the incoming message tape is full,
the TAD-277 answers a call after ten
rings, plays back the outgoing mes-
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Note: If you pick up the phone just as
the TAD-277 answers, the TAD-277
might not stop recording the message.
If this happens, briefly hang up the
phone then pick it up again.
If you do not restart playback
within 60 seconds, the tape fast-
forwards to the end of the last
incoming message, as though
playback was never started. This
helps prevent accidental erasure
of incoming messages.
PLAYING MESSAGES
• If a call comes in while playback is
paused, the tape immediately
fast-forwards to the end of the last
message and answers the call.
When you have messages, the mes-
sage indicator blinks. If you have four
messages or less, the light blinks once
for each message stored. (For exam-
ple, if you have two messages, the light
blinks twice followed by a 2-second
pause, then blinks twice more, and so
on.) If you have more than four mes-
sages, the light blinks continuously.
After you play back all the messages,
the TAD-277 beeps twice, rewinds to
the beginning, and resets to answer
calls. New messages will be recorded
over the messages you have heard.
SAVE
To save the messages, press
Note: The light also blinks continuous-
ly if the TAD-277 receives one or more
incoming messages after power is in-
terrupted (see “Troubleshooting” on
Page 13).
before a new call is recorded. The
tape fast-forwards to the end of all the
messages and resets to answer calls.
PLAY
To play the messages, press
.
The TAD-277 beeps once, rewinds
the tape, then plays the messages.
To replay the messages, simply press
PLAY
again.
Notes:
PLAY
PLAY
• To pause playback, press
To restart playback, press
again.
.
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REMOTE CONTROL OPERATION
While you are away from your home
or office, you can use a touch-tone
phone or a pulse phone with a pocket
tone dialer to:
Then you can play any messages
you received while you were gone
(see “Playing Messages” on
Page 10).
• Set the TAD-277 to answer calls
• Play your messages
REMOTE PLAYBACK
• Record a message
You must know your 3-digit remote
operation security code to play back
or record messages from a remote
phone. The code for your particular
answering system is printed on the
bottom of your TAD-277.
• Set the TAD-277 to record over
old messages
REMOTE ANSWER-ON
To play back your messages from a re-
mote phone, dial your phone number.
After the TAD-277 plays the outgoing
message and beeps, enter the remote
operation security code within 7 sec-
onds. (Be sure each button press is at
You can use a remote phone to set
the TAD-277 to answer calls if:
• The TAD-277 has power.
• The cassette is loaded.
• The TAD-277 is off.
1
least /2 second long). The TAD-277
sounds a tone while the tape rewinds.
If no tone sounds, re-enter the code.
To remotely set the TAD-277 to an-
swer calls, dial your phone number
then let your phone ring at least 12
times until the TAD-277 answers.
Then hang up the phone.
Notes:
• If you do not enter the code within
7 seconds, the TAD-277 hangs
up.
Notes:
• If the TAD-277 is set to TS, it
answers on the second ring if
there are messages. If there are
no messages, the TAD-277
answers on the fourth ring.
• Your phone rings 10 times plus
the number of rings you have set
using RING SELECT (see “Setting
the Number of Rings” on Page 8)
before the TAD-277 answers. For
example, if RING SELECT is set to
7, the TAD-277 answers after 17
rings.
The TAD-277 plays back the incoming
messages. At the end of all the mes-
sages, the TAD-277 sounds four short
beeps and automatically saves your
messages.
• When you return, be sure to rotate
VOLUME to turn the TAD-277 on.
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To replay the messages, wait until you
hear a single beep (about 8 seconds
after the four short beeps), then enter
your remote operation security code
again. The TAD-277 replays the mes-
sages.
To record a message, wait until you
hear a single beep (about 8 seconds
after the four short beeps), then
record the message and hang up.
To reset the TAD-277 so new mes-
sages record over the old ones, enter
your remote operation security code
within 8 seconds after you hear the
four short beeps at the end of all the
messages. Then, after the TAD-277
beeps, hang up the phone.
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TROUBLESHOOTING
We do not expect you to have any problems with your TAD-277, but if you do, be
sure you installed the tape correctly and turned on the system. If you still have a
problem, this chart might help. If not, take the TAD-277 to your local RadioShack
store for assistance.
Problem
Cause
Solution
The TAD-277 does
not answer and
record callers’ mes-
sages.
The system is turned off. Turn on the TAD-277 by
rotating VOLUME to the right
so the message indicator
turns on.
The outgoing message
is not recorded.
Record an outgoing mes-
sage.
Bad phone line connec-
tion.
Check and reconnect the
modular phone plug.
The TAD-277 records
a dial tone, beeping,
or the operator’s
voice instead of the
caller’s message.
The caller hung up with- If this happens often, dis-
out leaving a message
or without using the
maximum time, and
your phone company
does not send out CPC
(Calling Party Control)
signals.
cuss the problem with your
phone company.
The TAD-277 does
not respond to any
button.
The TAD-277 has been
turned on by remote.
Turn on the TAD-277 by ro-
tating VOLUME to the right
so the message indicator
turns on.
The TAD-277 is locked
up.
Reset the TAD-277 by
unplugging the AC adapter
from the AC outlet then
plugging it in again.
Outgoing messages
sound distorted.
You were too close to
the microphone or you
spoke too loudly when
Re-record the message.
Speak clearly into the
microphone at a normal vol-
you recorded the outgo- ume from about 12 inches
ing message. away.
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Problem
Cause
Solution
Incoming message
sounds distorted.
The tape head is dirty.
Clean the head using a
tape head-cleaning kit (see
“Cleaning the Tape-Han-
dling Parts” on Page 17).
The tape is worn out.
Unplug the adapter from the
AC outlet, replace the tape,
then plug the adapter back
into the AC outlet.
Remote control func-
tions do not work.
The remote operation
security code was not
entered correctly.
Enter the correct code. The
code for your particular
answering system is printed
on the bottom of your TAD-
277.
You are using a pulse
dialing phone.
Use a touch-tone phone or
pocket tone dialer.
The tone output from
Hold down the buttons for
the phone or tone dialer at least 1/2 second or try
is not long enough.
using another phone or
dialer.
The telephone line is
noisy.
Enter the remote operation
security code again.
Seven seconds of
silence have passed so
the TAD-277 hangs up.
Call the TAD-277 and try
again.
Continuous tone
sounds.
No outgoing message
recorded.
Record an outgoing mes-
sage (see “Recording the
Outgoing Message” on
Page 6).
The cassette tape is
jammed, broken, or not
installed.
Unplug the adapter from the
AC outlet, replace the tape,
then plug the adapter back
into the AC outlet.
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Problem
Cause
Solution
The message indica-
tor blinks continu-
ously, but there are
fewer than five incom-
ing messages.
Power was interrupted
to the TAD-277.
Press PLAY. The TAD-277
plays back any saved mes-
sages then any new incom-
ing messages.
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CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Your RadioShack TAD-277 Single-Microcassette Answering System with Digital
Announcement is an example of superior design and craftsmanship. The following
suggestions will help you care for your TAD-277 so you can enjoy it for years.
Keep the TAD-277 dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. Liquids
might contain minerals that can corrode the electronic circuits.
Use and store the TAD-277 only in normal temperature environ-
ments. Temperature extremes can shorten the life of electronic de-
vices and distort or melt plastic parts.
Keep the TAD-277 away from dust and dirt, which can cause prema-
ture wear of parts.
Handle the TAD-277 gently and carefully. Dropping it can damage
circuit boards and cases and can cause the TAD-277 to work improp-
erly.
Wipe the TAD-277 with a damp cloth occasionally to keep it looking
new. Do not use harsh chemicals, cleaning solvents, or strong deter-
gents to clean the TAD-277.
Modifying or tampering with the TAD-277’s internal components can cause a mal-
function and might invalidate your TAD-277’s warranty and void your FCC authori-
zation to operate it. If your TAD-277 is not performing as it should, take it to your
local RadioShack store for assistance. If the trouble is affecting the phone lines, the
phone company can ask you to disconnect the phone until you have resolved the
problem.
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CLEANING THE TAPE-
HANDLING PARTS
THE FCC WANTS YOU
TO KNOW
To restore the sound quality, you
must inspect and clean the tape
head. Dirt, dust, or particles of the
tape’s coating can accumulate on the
tape heads and other parts that the
tape touches. This can greatly re-
duce the performance of the cassette
player.
In the unlikely event that your TAD-
277 causes problems on the phone
line, the phone company can discon-
nect your service. The phone compa-
ny attempts to notify you in advance. If
advance notice is not practical, the
phone company notifies you of your
right to file a complaint with the FCC.
We recommend cleaning the tape
head after about every 20 hours of
Also, the phone company can make
changes to its lines, equipment, oper-
ations, or procedures that could affect
the operation of your TAD-277. The
phone company notifies you of these
changes in advance, so you can take
the necessary steps to prevent inter-
ruption of your phone service.
VOLUME
playing time. Rotate
to the left
until it clicks to turn off the TAD-277
and remove the cassette. Insert a spe-
cial head-cleaning cassette (such as
Cat. No. 44-1168), and follow the
cleaning cassette’s directions to clean
the tape head.
Caution: To avoid damage to the tape
head, never use a chemical not ap-
proved for tape head cleaning and
never touch the tape head with your
fingers or any metal object.
LIGHTNING
Your TAD-277 has built-in protection
circuits to reduce the risk of damage
from surges in phone and power line
current. These protection circuits meet
or exceed FCC requirements. Howev-
er, lightning striking the phone line or
power lines can damage your TAD-
277.
Lightning damage is not common.
Nevertheless, if you live in an area
that has frequent electrical storms, we
suggest that you unplug your TAD-
277 during storms to reduce the possi-
bility of damage.
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NOTES
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Limited One-Year Warranty
This product is warranted by RadioShack against manufacturing defects in material and workman-
ship under normal use for one (1) year from the date of purchase from RadioShack company-owned
stores and authorized RadioShack franchisees and dealers. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN, Ra-
dioShack MAKES NO EXPRESS WARRANTIES AND ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING
THOSE OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE LIMITED
IN DURATION TO THE DURATION OF THE WRITTEN LIMITED WARRANTIES CONTAINED
HEREIN. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN, RadioShack SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY OR RE-
SPONSIBILITY TO CUSTOMER OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY WITH RESPECT TO ANY
LIABILITY, LOSS OR DAMAGE CAUSED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BY USE OR PERFOR-
MANCE OF THE PRODUCT OR ARISING OUT OF ANY BREACH OF THIS WARRANTY, IN-
CLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY DAMAGES RESULTING FROM INCONVENIENCE, LOSS
OF TIME, DATA, PROPERTY, REVENUE, OR PROFIT OR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDEN-
TAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF RadioShack HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
Some states do not allow the limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts or the exclusion of in-
cidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you.
In the event of a product defect during the warranty period, take the product and the RadioShack
sales receipt as proof of purchase date to any RadioShack store. RadioShack will, at its option, un-
less otherwise provided by law: (a) correct the defect by product repair without charge for parts and
labor; (b) replace the product with one of the same or similar design; or (c) refund the purchase
price. All replaced parts and products, and products on which a refund is made, become the prop-
erty of RadioShack. New or reconditioned parts and products may be used in the performance of
warranty service. Repaired or replaced parts and products are warranted for the remainder of the
original warranty period. You will be charged for repair or replacement of the product made after the
expiration of the warranty period.
This warranty does not cover: (a) damage or failure caused by or attributable to acts of God, abuse,
accident, misuse, improper or abnormal usage, failure to follow instructions, improper installation or
maintenance, alteration, lightning or other incidence of excess voltage or current; (b) any repairs
other than those provided by a RadioShack Authorized Service Facility; (c) consumables such as
fuses or batteries; (d) cosmetic damage; (e) transportation, shipping or insurance costs; or (f) costs
of product removal, installation, set-up service adjustment or reinstallation.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from
state to state.
RadioShack Customer Relations, Dept. W, 100 Throckmorton St., Suite 600, Fort Worth, TX 76102
We Service What We Sell
3/97
RadioShack
A Division of Tandy Corporation
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
6A7
Printed in Hong Kong
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