Motorola L701M cordless phone with answering machine keeps showing "Searching..." on the screen. I already unplugged it and plugged it back in, to no avail.

SOURCE: ge phone answering machine

The solution for the base (not the handset) is to press and hold for 2 seconds the "Skip" button (it's marked with ">>").

SOURCE: phone says searching

The battery may be weak. Or it is too far from the base. Try exchanging the two. take the handset near the base and see if it will link.

SOURCE: Philips CD125 Twin Cordless Phone "Searching" problem

Maybe, RF amplifier chip die or antenna broken.

SOURCE: my Philips Cordless phone answer

The handset is not ‘registered’ with the based unit.
By default, the Master PIN is 0000.

1. On the base station, press and hold The paging key for approximately 5 seconds.
2. On the handset, press Menu key,
3. scroll : to ADVANCE SET and press (Menu) OK,
4. scroll : to REGISTRATION and press (Menu) OK.
   Note: If no action is taken on the handset within 10 seconds, the registration procedure will be aborted. If this happens, repeat Step 1.
5. Enter the Master PIN when prompted and press (Menu) OK to confirm.

Joe Negus

• 652 Answers
• Posted on Apr 14, 2009

SOURCE: I cannont register a ATT 2042 cordless phone to

Are you sure it's a 2042...I found 2402 manual http://www.retrevo.com/samples/AT%26T-Telephone-manuals.html