GE answering machine 29870 How do I change the number of rings beffore the machine picks up

The CS6719-16 isn't an answering machine. It will ring until someone answers, some other answering machine picks up, or the caller hangs up.

If you want to change the number of rings before an answering machine picks up, please reply to this post and specify the answering machine.

The "Changing the Settings" section begins on page 10 of the manual. You need to go past the language and day/time to get to the number of rings.
http://www.home-electronics.net/USER-GUIDES/29875_DOM_EN_AN_IB.pdf

Press and hold the SETUP/ENTER button for two seconds to access the setup mode. Following the language and time/day you can set the rings to answer.

Full details are in the "Changing the Settings" section of the manual (page 10 in my copy). If you need a manual, you can download one at
http://www.home-electronics.net/ge/pc/IB/29871GE3_IB.pdf

Either your fax machine is set to answer on more rings then your answering machine is or you dont have the automatic answer key pushed?

Determine how many rings your answering machine picks up on and then change the number of rings to a lower amount on your fax machine. To change the number of rings before picking up the line, press the "menu" key on the fax machine and use the up and down arrows to scroll until you find the "basic fax set up" or the "advanced set up" areas. I am not sure which one will have the number of rings setting. Try looking in both until you find it.

when you see it press "ok" or "enter" get in and change the amount of rings before answering. call your fax machine to make sure it picks up before your answering machine.

This should solve your problem.

Press and hold the SET button to enter the change mode. The unit announces the current time and day. Press SET repeatedly until the unit announces the rings to answer. Press and release NEXT or PREVIOUS until the unit announces the correct number of rings for the answerer to pick up. Once the rings to answer is set, press SET to enter the incoming message length menu.

If you need a manual, you can download one here.

Hi kcee
I think I did find the manual here :
http://157.254.235.130/public/347A8329-0001 (Rev. 1 E&S).pdf
and here :
http://phone.manualsonline.com/manuals/mfg/ge_appliances/29827.html

you can find more types here :
http://phone.manualsonline.com/manuals/mfg/ge_appliances/ge_appliances_answering_machine_product_list.html


You can find General Electric home page here:
http://www.geappliances.com/electronics/

I suggest you contact GE on the link to get the manual and understanding your answer machine with a reply :
http://www.geappliances.com/service_and_support/contact/form_operating.htm

FOR Thomson Consumer Electronics :
you get there homepage here :
http://www.home-electronics.net/

I did try to find the manual for your specific phone, but could only find these answer machines here (previous and next model number) :
http://www.home-electronics.net/ge/pc/IB/29871GE3_IB.pdf

http://www.home-electronics.net/ge/pc/IB/29869GE2_IB.pdf

source :
http://www.home-electronics.net/ge/pc/user-manuals.asp

on the second manual here on page 9 you find the settings to answer. I think they have used the same shortcuts for these models. They write ;

### This feature is used to set the unit to answer a call after
a specific number of rings.
The unit announces the rings to answer. To change,
press NEXT or PREVIOUS. To set and go on to the next
item, press SET.
1. Press and release NEXT or PREVIOUS until the unit
announces and displays the correct number of rings
for the answerer to pick up.
2. Once the rings to answer is set, press SET. The unit
announces the rings to answer, then enters the
incoming message length menu.
TOLL SAVER
The toll saver is the final setting in the Rings to Answer..........####

For the GE model you find these features on page 17

One last thing, you can contact Thomson Consumer Electronics for more specific answer or get the manual here :
http://www.home-electronics.net/ge/pc/contact.asp
they have also a phone :
"For customer service assistance, dial 1.800.448.0329. Our hours of operation are Monday thru Friday, 8am to 8pm Eastern, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 7pm Eastern."

Hope that helps
IF NOT then try to return here
Have a nice time over there
Please rate my answer

Rings to Answer:

THIS SETTING ALLOWS YOU TO SELECT THE NUMBER OF RINGS BEFORE THE UNIT ANSWERS A CALL.

1. The unit announces, "Rings to Answer (the current rings to answer setting). To set rings to answer press NEXT. Press SET to continue.

2. To chantge the rings to answer, press and relase the NEXt OR GREETING/PREVIOUS button and the unit announces a number, such as "2,3,4," or "2, toll saver, 5."

3. After choosing a number, press and release the STOP/SET button to store the rings to answer. The unit confirms the setting and enters Message Length menu.

Taken directly from the instruction booklet that came with my GE 29888GE1 instructions.

Hope it works for you ! jp

http://www.home-electronics.net/ge/pc/user-manuals.asp

I was looking for your model number on the GE website listed above - I found the "69" model and the "71" model. There may be more letters and numbers after the model number you gave
Example 29870GE3

try this page...
http://images.owneriq.net/download/images/9/99351467-0ae8-2444-1dd3-486419692db0-000001.png

Press "Mute" to setup handset, select "Ring to answer", here are 1,2,3,5,6,L choice. you can change to 3.