AT&T (1740WH) Digital AnsweSystem with Time and Day Stamp, White

The AT&T 1740 I purchased was an Amazon store return, which saved me $4 (total cost under $11, Oct 2022). The unit I received looks new, but clearly had been out of the box. Apparently the previous purchaser was not happy with it, but I found that this answering machine works great.The machine is tiny, so fits just about anywhere that has a nearby phone jack and power outlet. Audio quality is good, installation/setup wasn't difficult, and daily operation is a breeze. But I'm a techie person, so devices like this do not freak me out. It comes with instructions and my best advice is to carefully read them.It has all the features a typical home or small business landline user may need. It can record up to 60 minutes of incoming messages (variable length, recordings end when caller hangs up). While on the road remote control operation is possible using any touch tone phone (landline, cell phone, etc.). You can record a personal announcement (greeting) or use the built-in default announcement provided by AT&T. You can set the number of rings before answering and can listen to the caller live, in case you want to pick up the phone. You can even silence the outgoing message when it answers so you do not have to hear it with each incoming call (but caller still hears it).There's more this machine can do and I think the available features are well thought out. Best of all, you can can change the various features either locally (front panel buttons) or remotely (touch tone commands).The best way to record announcements and memos is to speak directly into the little recessed hole that is on the front left corner; See photo. This hole is the microphone and audio quality will improve if your mouth is close to it (about six inches distance).And here's a tip. I found that my personalized outgoing announcement was too quiet. So I used the remote control feature and recorded the announcement from my cell phone. It was much louder and audio quality was good.Another tip is to use the Toll Saver feature if you will be listening to messages while on the road. This feature will cause the machine to answer on the second ring if callers have recorded a message, otherwise it will answer on the forth ring. So call the machine and if it doesn't answer by the second or third ring you can hang up since there are no messages. Otherwise let it answer, enter your two digit pass code, and press 1 to hear the messages. This feature saves time and money.Pros: Low cost, small size, decent audio quality and features.Cons: Nothing to report, I like the machine.

This machine checks almost all the boxes of an old answering machine--no cassette tape. But, hey, it's serving the purpose adequately. Easy to set up and use. No super tech knowledge needed.

This AT&T answering machine replaced a decade old Panasonic unit that met its demise after a fall to the tile floor. The AT&T machine has similar basic functionality, but the display only provides the number of recorded calls. Set-up was quick and easy with adequate instructions given in a lengthy foldout sheet and verbal instructions from the unit. From removal from the box to operation took 10 minutes including connecting the phone wire, setting the time and day of the week, number of rings and recording the outgoing answering message. It answers incoming calls acceptably and is simple to operate. I have caller ID service so it announces that info verbally. However, the voice for caller ID is totally unintelligible. The numbers are spoken so fast and are truncated so it's impossible to understand the caller ID number. The time and day info is a bit easier to interpret, but could be improved. If we need the number we look at the display of a nearby wall phone with a display. Our broken Panasonic machine displayed the number and call time on the display. This in an inexpensive, simple, but functional device made in China for AT&T. The message sound quality is minimally acceptable, and the recorded outgoing answering message sounds tinny and lacks fidelity. However, it's understandable. Sound quality is it's weakest feature, especially the verbal caller ID info for recorded calls.

This little machine does it's job! Easy set up and very loud and clear.

I bought it for my 95 year old aunt whose answering machine appeared to have gone south. Once I drove to her place (after I ordered this) I found that all she had done was accidentally erased her outgoing message on her perfectly working answering machine (an AT&T similar to this one). I restored her outgoing message and this machine is now a spare for me. I have one just like it and it works perfectly. Actually it is just about the only stand alone answering machine being made right now. Tape answering machines which I would really prefer haven't been made in about 15 or more years. Try finding one. They're being rebuilt by an outfit in California for about $100.00. Yeh you read that right. A machine that cost new about $20 - $30 or so dollars in the day is now a prized collector item. But as endeared to a tape machine as I am, this one is a standout for its price and performance. You just can't take the tape out and archive it like on the old machines. You can however and I do, play a message you want to save into a microcassete recorder you can still pick up for about $20 -$40. So yes, this little guy is very, very good and with my foregoing suggestion you can still archive any important message. Recommendation, buy one of these whether you need one right now or not. Because. if it goes the was lots of stuff like this does, they'll soon quit making them altogether (answering machines will only come with telephones as a built in accessory as they do about 98% of the time now).and then these things will be the $100.00+ item on the net just like the old tape machines are now.Try finding a stand alone DVD recorder. None left. Everyone has quit making them. Oh, there's one machine that is current and it's a combo hard drive unit. The best TV's ever made for consistent fast motion with no blur picture - CRT. They made the last HD CRT Television in 2005. Experts will tell you they have the best rendition of blacks and perfect motion better than any set on the market today - But you can't buy a new one. Keep these little AT&T machines being made. Buy one NOW.