How do I change my phone from announcement only mode?

It means your system is set to "Announce" mode instead of "Answer." In this mode it announces you're not available to take the call but does not allow the caller to leave a message. If you want the system to take a message, switch to "Answer" mode.

Enter the model of your VTech 5.8GHz system into the search box at http://www.vtechphones.com/support/general/manuals to download a copy of the manual.

The CS6719-16 isn't an answering machine. Please give us the make and model of the answering machine on which you'd like to change the number of rings.

Your system is set to "Announce" mode, where it plays an announcement but does not record a message. You want "Answer" mode, where the system allows the caller to leave a message.

Since you didn't give the model of your VTech system, I can't tell you how to switch modes. Enter the model into the search box at http://www.vtechphones.com/support/general/manuals to download a copy of the manual.

Press MUTE. The system announces the number of new and old messages, then starts to play the messages unless it has no messages. Press 5 to stop the announcements or message playback. You will hear intermittent beeps indicating that the system is in the command waiting mode. Press 8 to start the recording. The system announces, Record greeting. Begin recording after the announcement. When you finish recording, press 8 again or press 5. You will hear a confirmation tone, and your recorded greeting plays back for you.



The above is from page 43 of the manual.

5 8 GHz Expandable Digital Cordless Answering System with Two Handsets

Possible issue if you have Caller ID:

Why does the date and time change automatically after I have programmed the date and time on my phone?

If you are subscribed to Caller ID from your phone company, the unit's date and time setting will be automatically adjusted when caller information is received. If you do not wish for this feature to work, press [MENU] [#] [2] [2] [6] on the handset, then press [0] to select "Manual" and press [SAVE]

ftp://ftp.panasonic.com/telephone/om/kx-tg5631_en_om.pdf

Page 21 - setting date and time in manual at link above.

This feature lets you know who is calling

without looking at the display.

To use this feature, you must:

- subscribe to a Caller ID service of

your service provider/telephone

company.

- turn this feature on (page 24).

When caller information is received, the

handsets and base unit announce the

caller's name or phone number received

from your service provider/telephone

company following every ring.

The unit announces in English only.

L Name pronunciation may vary. This

feature may not pronounce all names

correctly.

L Caller ID service has a limit of how

many characters can be displayed. If

the caller's name is too long, the

handset may not be able to display or

announce the entire name.

L The announcement is heard at the

same level as the ringer volume (page

16, 23).

L If you turn on the answering system

and set the number of rings "2

rings" (page 36), the unit does not

announce the caller information. If

"Toll saver" is selected and there

is a new message, the unit does not
announce the caller information.

Click on a left side link of download manuels. ------------ 40000 series DS4122-4 ------------ 50000 series cs5121-4 ------------ i6785 English Not sure what series you have, but take a look at these manuels. found here :http://www.vtechphones.com/vtechui/support/manual_list.cfm#214 if not anyof these listed- there are many others to view and I know you'll find right instructions here!! Let me know if this helped.--Stevie ----------------------------------- 5.8 GHz Digital four handset cordless phone system with digital answering device and caller ID ------------------------------- 5.8 GHz digital Four Handset Cordless Phone System with Digital Answering System and Caller ID --------------------- 5.8 GHz Digital four handset cordless phone system with digital answering device and caller ID i6785 - Spanish 5.8 GHz Digital four handset telephone system with digital answering system english i6786 5.8 GHz digital four handset cordless phone system with caller ID and digital answering device i6786 - Spanish 5.8 GHz digital four handset cordless phone system with caller ID & digital answering system

Recording a Personal Greeting
Your answering system comes with a pre-recorded outgoing message or greeting that plays when you receive a call: “Hello, no one is available to take your call. Please leave a message after the tone.”
You can record your own personal outgoing greeting. Your recorded greeting must be between two seconds and thirty seconds long.

1. Press /mute. The system announces the number of new and old messages, then starts to play themessages unless it has no messages.
2. Press 5 to stop the announcements or message playback. You will hear intermittent beeps indicating that thesystem is in the command waiting mode.
3. Press 8 to start the recording. The system announces, “Record greeting.” Begin recording after the announcement.
4. When you finish recording, press 8 again or press 5. You will hear a confirmation tone, and your recordedgreeting plays back for you.
   

Selecting a Greeting
Once you have recorded a personal greeting, the phone automatically switches to your personal greeting. You can also switch back and forth between the pre-recorded greeting and your own greeting at any time.

1. Press the /mute. The system announces the number of new and old messages, then starts to play the messages unless it has no messages.
2. Press 5 to stop the announcements or message playback. You will hear intermittent beeps indicating that the system is in the command waiting mode.
3. Press 6. The system plays the current greeting.

No,must be rerecorded

This is the info from the users manual, it seems a bit strange,
but claims if you set the number of rings before it answers, (for the answering system) to "2" it will stop the audible caller ID.
Here it is from the manual.

If you turn on the answering system
and set the number of rings “2” (page
38), the unit does not announce the
caller information. If “Toll saver” is
selected and there is a new message,
the unit does not announce the caller
information.
When you receive a call while on the
phone, the 2nd caller’s name is not
announced even if you subscribe to
both Caller ID and Call Waiting with
Caller ID services