I have a Uniden cordless unit hooked in 4 lines. Incoming calls ring briefly for about 1 second and go out! You can talk if you pick up but not sure why no normal rings. There is no problem calling out. The Uniden phones are about 2 years old - is this the end of the road for the phone?

unplug your unit and allow it a few minutes to reset it's self. than call it using a cell phone and see if it does the same thing. If so check you menu option and make sure that the anserwing machine is not set up to only record for a certain period of time before disconnecting the call.

Check the ring volume and settings? There not much else I can think of.

Got it, and you can set it for 2, 4, or 6 rings on incoming calls.

1. Press MENU/CLOCK on the base to enter setup.
2. Press MENU/CLOCK repeatedly to select RING TIME.
3. Press VOL:/SELECT to set the number or rings at 2, 4, or 6.
4. Press SET to save the setting.

You can download and print the operating manual for youir phone system at
http://www.uniden.com/pdf/DXAI8580-2om.pdf

The problem may be a short on your line. (Have the local Teleco check your line.) If you have other phones, you may want to check them for dial tone(DT) when this happens. If you have no DT, your cordless may be the problem...unplug, and let charge overnight. If problem continues, replace the battery in cordless, or discontinue use.

Thanks for your attention

I had placed the base unit where the telephone line enters our home. When I swapped it to the extension all worked properly

just set the amount of rings higher on the back of the phone and make sure all you old messages are deleted and also make sure its not set to do not disturb

You need to reset the main base unit. Unplug the power from the back of the base. While the power is disconnected, press and hold the delete key while reconnecting the power. Wait for a long beep tone. When the display shows 88 or P, press play button one time. If you have a phone without an answering machine, disconnect the power from the back of the base, press and hold find hs button while reconnecting power.

The only reference to flash timing I can find in the manual is shown below for you, also here is link to manual :
I hope it helps !
http://www.uniden.com/products/productdetail.cfm?product=TRU8885-2

If you have Call Waiting service and a call waiting
tone sounds while you are on a call, press talk/flash
on the handset or flash/find hs on the base to accept
the waiting call. There is a short pause, and then you
will hear the new caller. To return to the original
caller, press talk/flash on the handset or flash/find
hs on the base again.

Setting the Ring Time
Ring Time allows you to set the number of rings the caller hears before your
answering system plays the outgoing message. You can set the ring time to answer
after two, four, or six rings. If you enable the Toll Saver (TS), the answering system
picks up after two rings if you have new messages and after four rings if there are
none.
1) Enter the Answ. Setup menu, and then the Ring Time
submenu (see "Entering the Menu" on page 16).
2) Press volume up/down to select a Ring Time (Toll
Saver, 2 Times, 4 Times, or 6 Times).
3) Press the OK soft key. You will hear a confirmation tone.
Setting the Record Time
Record Time sets the duration for recording the incoming messages. You have three
record time options. The options "1 minute" or "4 minutes" set the duration for
recording the incoming messages. "Announce only" answers the call but prevents
the caller from leaving a message.
1) Enter the Answ. Setup menu, and then the Record
Time submenu (see "Entering the Menu" on page 16).
2) Press volume up/down to select Record Time
(1 Minute, 4 Minutes, or Announce Only).
3) Press the OK soft key. You will hear a confirmation tone.