We've ownd an AT&T Model 5870 Base with one Model 5800 Expansion Handset for several years. We recently bought a newer Model 5800 Expansion Handset at a garage sale but can't figure out out to link it to the base unit. The instructions list it as compatible with the 5870 Base but the registration procedure requires a 15 digit base ID, but the base ID on our 5870 Base only has 14 digits. I've tried inserting a zero in various places but nothing has worked. Does anyone know how to link a handset that calls for a 15 digit base ID to a base with a 14 digit ID??
The 5800-series telephones have been off the market for quite a while.
Try contacting VTech/AAT (Advanced American Telephones) and explain the situation. They may have a solution. It does seem odd to have a handset with an wrong number of digits in the ID.
https://telephones.att.com/att/index.cfm/product-support/contact-us/ If you check the existing handsets (the one that came with your telephone and the 1 expansion unit you already have) are the IDs 14 or 15 digits long?
VTech/ATT produced a 3358 telephone which looked very similar to the 5830/5840/5870 sets. While I've never seen or used one, the IDs may have been 15 digits long.
The two Model 5800 expansion handsets appear to be identical. The BASE ID has 14 digits but the program in the newer handset requests that a 15 digit BASE ID be entered. Since I haven't been able to enter an acceptable 15 digit base ID, the handset won't link to the base.
I have a few 5800 expansion sets (from when I used a 5840) tucked away. I'm in the process of charging one up and will report how many digits it expects to see.
Ok....after finding 2 working battery packs, I checked my 2 spare expansion handsets and both are looking for a base code that contains 15 digits.
I checked our (2) 5840 bases and the codes that appears on the LCD when I select "Base ID" from the menu both contains 15 digits.
I'm not sure why the base code for the 5870 only gives 14 digits. I think I had a 5870 at one time (back when I was writing lots of telephone reviews for epinions.com). I know that the 5870's base does not have an LCD. If the code is printed on the base, could 1 digit have worn off?
My thought is to contact VTech/AAT and see what they say.
"If the code is printed on the base, could 1 digit have worn off?"
dexman,
Your question caused me to take another look at the base ID. After a series of 14 numbers, there is a space and a very small asterisk (asterisk size instead of letter size). When I added an asterisk to the 14 numbers, it worked!
Thanks, Clint
