AT&T 1717 Digital Answering System (Refurbished)

Setting up the 1717 was easy--we just plugged in the AC adapter and the phone cord. We correctly guessed how to set the clock. A sticker on the bottom of the unit reminds you how to reset it in the event of a power failure.

To set features other than the clock, you press and hold the Setup button and follow the voice prompts. To record the outgoing message, you press and hold the Annc/Skip button. As is typical with AT&T answering devices, this was a little tricky, as the same button that confirms your message also resets the factory prerecorded outgoing message. Overall, setup was quick and easy--we didn't have to consult the manual for any feature, but some users will need to if the 1717 is their first answering machine.

When we removed the AC power, it reset the clock but didn't erase our messages; AT&T's Message Guard protects them from power failures. Sound quality is good but not excellent, just as we would expect for an answering machine in this price range.

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Quick setup
• Records up to 59 messages

Cons:

• Four-minute recording limit per message