Remote message retrieval

dial the phone (use a cell for test run/practice) ...once you hear the message press "*" (the asterisk key) and enter your 4 digit code (the default code is 1234 or sometimes 0000) you really should change this, this might have been done in the initial setup... read your manual for the exact commands to be use after/during retrieving msg....

The remote operation instructions are on the right half of the first page of the manual at
http://www.radioshack.com/graphics/uc/rsk/Support/ProductManuals/4303829_PM_EN.pdf

It's either a message stored on the device itself, or you unknowingly have remote voicemail with your phone service provider.

Call your phone company or visit their website for instructions on how to retrieve remote voicemail.

See if this works for you.

Remote Operation
When you are away from home, you can operate your answering system with any
touch-tone telephone.Use this function to check for recorded messages, to play or
delete messages, even record a new greeting message.
1) Call your telephone number.
2) During the greeting message, press 0 and enter your PIN code.
3) The answering system announces the current time and the number of messages
stored in memory. Then you hear "To play incoming message, press zero two.
For help, press one zero."
4) You may continue to listen to the voice prompts, or you may select a command
from the following chart:

Command Function
0 then 1 Repeat a Message
0 then 2 Play Incoming Messages
0 then 3 Skip a Message
0 then 4 Delete a Message
0 then 5 Stop Operation
0 then 6 Answering System On
0 then 7 Memo Record/Stop*
0 then 8 Greeting Message Record/Stop*
0 then 9 Answering System Off
1 then 0 Voice Prompts

If you forgot to turn on answering system the directions for that are here:

Turn on the Answering System Remotely
If you have forgotten to turn on your answering system, you can turn it on remotely
from any touch-tone telephone.
1) Call your telephone number.
2) Wait ten rings until the system answers. You hear intermittent beeps.
3) Press 0 and then enter your PIN code. The answering system announces the
number of messages stored in memory. You hear "To play incoming message,
press zero two. For help, press one zero."
4) Press 0 then 6 to turn the answering system On. You hear the outgoing message
and a confirmation tone.
5) Hang up the phone; subsequent calls will be answered by the system.

Remote code
A remote code must be entered when operating the answering system remotely. This code prevents unauthorized parties from listening to your messages remotely. Store any 2-digit number (00–99). The default setting is “11”.

1 Press {MENU}.
2 Scroll to “Initial setting” by pressing {V} or {^}, then press {>}.
3 Scroll to “Set answering” by pressing {V} or {^}, then press {>}.
4 Scroll to “Remote code” by pressing {V} or {^}, then press {>}.
5 Select the desired remote code by entering a 2-digit number (00–99).
6 Press {Save}, then press {OFF}.

Note:
To confirm the remote code, repeat steps 1 to 4. Press {OFF} when finished.

Check if message retrieval works with a landline phone. If that works, then either the tones generated by your cellph are too far off frequency, or the cell network is filtering out or compressing too much of the tones.

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Sony TAM-100 Answering Machine

Step I: Set the Remote ID (security code) on themachine itself:

1 Press (SET/REC).
2 Press (ANSWER ON/OFF).

A voice guide will say: “Pleaseset the security code. To select, pressthe SKIP or REPEAT button. To enter,press the SET button”.

3 Set a two-digit number between 00 and 99 bypressing (SKIP/QUICK) or (REPEAT/SLOW). Press (SKIP/QUICK) to increase a number, or (REPEAT/SLOW) to decrease.

Each time you press (SKIP/QUICK)or (REPEAT/SLOW), the answering machine announces a number.

4 Press (SET/REC). The remote ID code (security code) is set,and you hear a long confirmation beep.

To change the remote ID code(security code), Enter a new remote ID code (security code). The new code will replace the old one.

Note: If a powerinterruption occurs, the remote ID code will not be erased.

Please See Next Post to Continue (my response exceedsallowable text restriction ;-) ).

Remotely Operating Your Answering Machine

Call your telephone number and wait for the answering machine to answer. If the answering machine is off, it will answer after about 10 rings and series of beeping sounds.
During the greeting message (or a series of beeps when the answering machine is off), press [0] and enter your PIN code within 2 seconds (see "Setting a Security Code or Personal Identification Number (PIN)" on page 54).
The answering machine announces the current time and the number of messages stored in memory. You hear "To play incoming messages, press zero-two. For help, press one-zero." You will hear a beep.
Enter a remote command within 15 seconds, each command there after must be entered within 2 seconds.

To connect with your answering system:
1 Dial your telephone number from a touch tone phone. 2 When the system answers, enter your Remote Access Code. The system announces the number of messages and begins message playback. 3 Listen to your messages
Change remote access code Press [*] [#]. Follow prompts to set new code.

i found my solution on the AT&T website.
thanks anyway.