AT&T EL51200 User manual

User’s manual
EL51200
DECT 6.0 cordless telephone
with caller ID/call waiting

© 2009 Advanced American Telephones. All rights reserved. AT&T and
the AT&T logo are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property licensed to
Advanced American Telephones, San Antonio, TX 78219. Printed in China.
Congratulations
on purchasing your new AT&T product. Before using this AT&T product,
please read Important safety information on page 52 of this user’s manual.
Please thoroughly read the user’s manual for all the feature operations and
troubleshooting information you need to install and operate your new AT&T
product. You can also visit our website at www.telephones.att.com or
call 1 [phone]. In Canada, dial 1 [phone].
Model #: EL51200
Type: DECT 6.0 cordless telephone
Serial #: _________________________________________________________________
Purchase date: ___________________________________________________________
Place of purchase: _______________________________________________________
Both the model and serial number of your AT&T product can be found on the
bottom of the telephone base.
Telephones identified with this logo have reduced noise and
interference when used with most T-coil equipped hearing
aids and cochlear implants. The TIA-1083 Compliant Logo is
a trademark of the Telecommunications Industry Association.
Used under license.
The ENERGY STAR® program (www.energystar.gov) recognizes
and encourages the use of products that save energy and
help protect our environment. We are proud to mark this
product with the ENERGY STAR® label indicating it meets the
latest energy efficiency guidelines.

Parts checklist
Your telephone package contains the following items. Save your sales receipt
and original packaging in the event warranty service is necessary.
Wall-mount bracket
Battery compartment
cover x 2
Charger for cordless
handset with power
adapter installed
Quick start guideUser’s manual
Telephone base Cordless handset x 2
Battery for cordless
handset x 2
Telephone line cord
Power adapter for
telephone base

i
User’s manual
EL51200
DECT 6.0 cordless telephone
with caller ID/call waiting
Table of contents
Getting started
Telephone overview..............................2
Indicator lights and alert tones ......4
Screen icons .............................................5
Telephone base and charger
installation...........................................6
Battery installation and charging..8
Wall-mount installation ...................10
Telephone settings
Menu overview.....................................13
Handset settings .................................14
Telephone operation
Making, answering and ending
a call....................................................19
Options while on calls......................21
Redial........................................................24
Handset locator ...................................25
Intercom ..................................................26
Call transfer using intercom..........27
Directory
Directory overview .............................28
Directory storage ................................29
Reviewing the directory...................31
Dialing, deleting and editing a
directory entry................................32
Speed dial locations..........................34
Caller ID operation
Caller ID overview ..............................36
Reviewing call history.......................39
Returning a call and deleting
an entry..............................................40
Storing a caller ID history entry
in the directory...............................41
Appendix
Display screen messages................42
Troubleshooting...................................44
Maintenance ..........................................51
Important safety information........52
FCC part 68 and ACTA .....................54
FCC part 15............................................56
Limited warranty .................................57
Technical specifications...................60
Index..........................................................61

1
Install the telephone base close to a telephone wall jack and an electrical
outlet not controlled by a wall switch. The telephone base can be placed on
a flat surface or vertically mounted on the wall (page 10). For optimum range
and better reception, place the telephone base in a central and open location.
If you subscribe to high-speed Internet service (digital subscriber line - DSL)
through your telephone line, you must install a DSL filter between the telephone
line cord and the telephone wall jack (page 6). The filter prevents noise and
caller ID problems caused by DSL interference. Please contact your DSL service
provider for more information about DSL filters.
Your product may be shipped with a protective sticker covering the handset or
telephone base display - remove it before use.
For customer service or product information, visit our website at
www.telephones.att.com or call 1 [phone]. In Canada, dial
1 [phone].
Avoid placing the telephone base too close to:
Communication devices such as: television sets, VCRs, or other cordless
telephones.
Excessive heat sources.
Noise sources such as a window with traffic outside, motors, microwave
ovens, refrigerators, or fluorescent lighting.
Excessive dust sources such as a workshop or garage.
Excessive moisture.
Extremely low temperature.
Mechanical vibration or shock such as on top of the washing machine or
work bench.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
You must install and charge the
handset battery before using
the cordless handset.
See pages 8-9 for easy
instructions.

2
Telephone overview
Getting started
REDIAL/PAUSE
Press repeatedly to view the last
20 numbers dialed (page 24).
While entering numbers,
press and hold to insert a dialing
pause (pages 19 and 29).
PHONE/FLASH
Press to make or answer a call
(page 19).
During a call, press to answer an
incoming call when you receive
a call waiting alert (page 22).
1
While reviewing a caller ID
history entry, press repeatedly to
add or remove 1 in front of the
telephone number before dialing
or saving it in the directory
(page 39).
MUTE/DELETE
During a call, press to mute the
microphone (page 21).
While predialing, press to delete
digits (page 19).
While reviewing the redial list,
directory or caller ID history,
press to delete an individual
entry (pages 24, 32 and 40).
TONE
During a call, press to send
touch-tone signals (page 21).
SPEAKER
Press to turn on the handset
speakerphone, press again to
resume normal handset use
(page 20).
INT
Press to initiate an intercom
conversation or transfer a call
(pages 26 and 27).
DIR/VOLUME
Press to scroll up while in
menus (page 13).
Press to increase the listening
volume (page 21).
Press to show directory entries
when the telephone is not in
use (page 31).
While entering names or
numbers in the directory, press
to move the cursor to the left
(page 29).
CID/VOLUME
Press to scroll down while in
menus (page 13).
Press to decrease the listening
volume (page 21).
Press to show the caller ID
history when the telephone is
not in use (page 39).
While entering names or
numbers in the directory, press
to move the cursor to the right
(page 29).
MENU/SELECT
Press to display the menu
(page 13).
Once in the menu, press to
select an item or save an entry
or setting (page 13).
OFF/CLEAR
During a call, press to hang up
(page 20).
While using menus, press to
cancel an operation, back up to
the previous menu, or exit the
menu display (page 13).
Press and hold while the
telephone is not in use to erase
the missed calls indicator
(page 38).
#
Press repeatedly to display
other dialing options when
reviewing a caller ID history
entry (page 39).

3
Getting started
Using menus
Press MENU/SELECT to enter the
main menu.
Press DIR or CID to scroll through
menu items.
Press MENU/SELECT to select or
modify a highlighted item.
Press OFF/CLEAR to cancel an
operation, back up to the previous
menu, or exit the menu display.
Telephone overview
HANDSET LOCATOR
Press to make handsets beep so you can locate
them (page 25).
Main menu
DIRECTORY (page 28)
CALL LOG (page 36)
RINGERS (page 14)
SETTINGS (pages 15-18)
>DIRECTORY
CALL LOG
> indicates the feature
you want to select.

4
Getting started
Indicator lights and alert tones
Handset indicator lights
Telephone base indicator lights
Handset alert tones
One beep A key is pressed.
Two short beeps Command has failed.
-OR-
You have reached the beginning or end of the list.
Three short beeps Out of range while the handset is on a call.
Three short high-pitched beeps The telephone has completed the command successfully.
Four short beeps Low battery warning.
IN USE light
On when the handset is in use.
Flashes when another telephone on the same line is in use.
Flashes quickly when there is an incoming call.
VOICEMAIL light
Flashes when you have new voicemail. Voicemail is a service
offered by your telephone service provider.
CHARGE light
On when the handset is charging in the telephone base or charger.
Backlight (lighted display and dial pad)
On when the handset is lifted from the telephone base or charger.
On when a key is pressed.
SPEAKER light
On when the speakerphone is in use.

5
Getting started
Screen icons
(flashing)
Low battery; place the handset in telephone
base or charger to recharge.
or or Indicates the battery voltage level.
(animated display)
or
(animated display)
Battery is charging.
The speakerphone is in use.
The handset ringer is turned off.
New voicemail received from the telephone
service provider.
Missed and unreviewed calls.
Microphone is muted.
11/20
HANDSET 1
16 MISSED CALLS
10:30PM

6
Getting started
If you subscribe to high-speed Internet service (digital subscriber line - DSL)
through your telephone line, you must install a DSL filter between the telephone
line cord and the telephone wall jack. The filter prevents noise and caller ID
problems caused by DSL interference. Please contact your DSL service provider
for more information about DSL filters.
Follow the steps below to install the telephone.
NOTE: The telephone base comes ready for tabletop use without installing the wall-mount
bracket. If you want to mount your telephone on a wall, refer to Wall-mount installation on
page 10 for details.
Telephone base and charger installation
Plug the small
end of the base
power adapter
into the POWER
jack on the
bottom of the
telephone base.
1.
Telephone line cord
DSL filter (not
included) required if
you have DSL high-
speed Internet service.
Telephone wall jackElectrical outlet not
controlled by a
wall switch
Plug one end of
the telephone
line cord into the
TEL LINE jack on
the bottom of the
telephone base.
2.
Plug the other
end of the
telephone line
cord into a
telephone
wall jack.
4.Plug the large end
of the base power
adapter into an
electrical outlet
not controlled by
a wall switch.
5.
Route the cords
through the slots.
3.

7
Getting started
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Use only the power adapters provided with this product. To obtain a replacement, visit our
website at www.telephones.att.com or call 1 [phone].
In Canada, dial 1 [phone].
The power adapters are intended to be correctly oriented in a vertical or floor mount position.
The prongs are not designed to hold the plug in place if it is plugged into a ceiling, under-the-
table or cabinet outlet.
•
•
Telephone base and charger installation
Plug the large end
of the smaller power
adapter into an
electrical outlet not
controlled by a
wall switch.
Ensure the small end
of the charger power
adapter is plugged
in the jack on the
bottom of the charger.

8
Getting started
Battery installation and charging
Battery installation
Install the battery as shown below.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Use only the supplied rechargeable battery or replacement battery (model BT8001). To order, visit
our website at www.telephones.att.com, or call 1 [phone].
In Canada, dial 1 [phone].
To replace the battery, press the tab and
slide the battery compartment cover
downwards. Lift out the old battery and
disconnect it from the handset. Follow the
instructions above to install and charge the
new battery.
Charge the handset by placing it face up in
the telephone base or charger. The CHARGE
light is on when charging.
4.
Align the cover flat against
the battery compartment,
then slide it upwards until
it clicks into place.
3.Plug the battery
connector securely
into the socket inside
the handset battery
compartment, matching
the color-coded label.
1. Insert the supplied battery
with the label THIS SIDE
UP facing up as indicated.
2.

9
Getting started
Battery installation and charging
Battery charging
Once you have installed the battery, the screen indicates
the battery status (see the table below). If necessary, place
the handset in the telephone base or charger to charge
the battery. For best performance, keep the handset in the
charger when not in use. The battery is fully charged after 16
hours of continuous charging. See Technical specifications
on page 60 for battery operating times.
If the screen is blank, you need to charge the handset without interruption for
at least 10 minutes to give the handset enough charge to use the telephone
for a short time. The screen shows LOW BATTERY and the backlight is off until
you have charged the battery without interruption for at least one hour. The
following table summarizes the battery charge indicators and actions to take.
Battery indicators Battery status Action
The screen is blank. Battery has no charge and the
handset cannot be used.
Charge without interruption
until the screen shows
HANDSET X (at least
10 minutes).
The screen shows
PLACE IN CHARGER and
flashes
Battery has very little charge
and the handset cannot
be used.
Charge without interruption
until the screen shows
HANDSET X (at least
four minutes).
The screen shows
LOW BATTERY and flashes.
Battery has enough charge to
be used for a short time.
Charge without interruption
until the screen shows
HANDSET X (at least
one hour).
The screen shows HANDSET X
and the battery icon shows
, or .
Battery is charged. To keep the battery charged,
place it in the telephone base
or charger when not in use.
NOTE: If you are on a call in low battery mode, you hear four short beeps every minute.
Battery status icon
11/20
HANDSET 1
16 MISSED CALLS
10:30PM

10
Getting started
Wall-mount installation
The telephone base comes ready for tabletop use (see Telephone base and
charger installation on page 6). If you want to mount your telephone on a
wall, use the provided wall-mount bracket to connect with a standard dual-
stud telephone wall-mounting plate. If you do not have this mounting plate,
you can purchase one from many hardware or consumer electronics retailers.
Professional assistance may be required to install the mounting plate.
Tabletop to wall-mount installation
To install the telephone base in the wall-mount position, make sure you first
unplug the power adapter from the electrical outlet and unplug the telephone
line cord from the wall outlet.
Plug one end of the telephone line cord into the TEL LINE jack on the
bottom of the telephone base. Plug the small end of the base power adapter
into the POWER jack on the bottom of the telephone base.
Position the telephone base as shown below. Insert the extended tabs of the
wall-mount bracket into the slots on the back of the telephone base. Push
the telephone base down until it clicks securely in place.
Route the telephone line cord through the wall-mount bracket hole. Route
the power cord out of the bottom of the telephone.
1.
2.
3.
DSL filter (not included)
required if you have DSL high-
speed Internet service.
Slots for wall-mount
bracket installation

11
Getting started
Wall-mount installation
Plug the other end of the telephone line cord into the telephone wall jack.
Plug the large end of the base power adapter into an electrical outlet not
controlled by a wall switch.
4.
Align the holes on the wall-mount bracket with the wall-mounting plate and
slide the bracket down until it locks securely. Bundle the telephone line cord
and power adapter cord neatly with twist ties.
5.
DSL filter (not included)
required if you have DSL high-
speed Internet service.
DSL filter
DSL filter

12
Getting started
Wall-mount installation
Wall-mount to tabletop installation
To change the telephone base from the wall-mount position to tabletop
position, follow the steps below.
Unplug the large end of the base power adapter from the electrical outlet.
Slide and remove the wall-mount bracket from the wall-mounting plate. If
the telephone line cord and power adapter cord are bundled, untie them
first. Unplug the end of the telephone line cord from the telephone wall jack.
1.
2.
Lift the telephone base up to detach it from the wall-mount bracket.3.
Refer to Telephone base and charger installation on page 6 to reinstall the
telephone base.
4.

13
Menu overview
Use the menu to change the telephone settings.
Press MENU/SELECT in idle mode (when the telephone is
not in use) to enter the main menu.
Press DIR or CID to scroll until the >symbol is next to the
feature you want to select.
Press MENU/SELECT to select or save the highlighted item.
-OR-
Press OFF/CLEAR to cancel an operation, back up to the
previous menu or exit the menu display.
-OR-
Press and hold OFF/CLEAR to cancel an operation and
return to idle mode.
-OR-
If no key is pressed after 30 seconds, the handset
automatically cancels an operation and returns to idle mode.
NOTE: The menus DIRECTORY,CALL LOG,CLR VOICEMAIL,SET
DATE/TIME,HOME AREA CODE and DIAL MODE are stored in the telephone base, and are
shared by all handsets. Changes made to them on any one handset apply to all.
1.
2.
3.
Main menu
DIRECTORY
CALL LOG
RINGERS
SETTINGS RINGER VOLUME
RINGER TONE
LCD LANGUAGE
CLR VOICEMAIL
KEY TONE
SET DATE/TIME
HOME AREA CODE
DIAL MODE
The handset is in
idle mode.
11/20
HANDSET 1
16 MISSED CALLS
10:30PM
> indicates the feature
you want to select
>DIRECTORY
CALL LOG
Telephone settings

14
Telephone settings
Handset settings
Ringer volume
Use this feature to set the handset ringer volume level (1-6), or turn the ringer
off. When the ringer is off, appears on the handset screen.
Press MENU/SELECT in idle mode to enter the main menu.
Press DIR or CID to scroll to >RINGERS. Press MENU/SELECT.
Press MENU/SELECT to select >RINGER VOLUME.
Press DIR or CID to sample each volume level.
Press MENU/SELECT to save your preference and return to
the main menu.
NOTES:
The handset ringer volume also determines the ringer volume of intercom calls (see Intercom
on page 26).
If the handset ringer volume is set to off, that handset is silenced for all incoming calls,
but that handset still has the paging tone when initiating the handset locator feature (see
Handset locator on page 25).
While the telephone is ringing, pressing OFF/CLEAR or MUTE/DELETE silences the ringer
temporarily on that handset only (see Temporary ringer silencing on page 19).
Ringer tone
Use this feature to choose one of 10 ringer tones for the handset.
Follow steps 1 and 2 in Ringer volume on this page.
Press DIR or CID to scroll to >RINGER TONE, then press
MENU/SELECT.
Press DIR or CID to sample each ringer tone.
Press MENU/SELECT to save your preference and return to
the main menu.
NOTE: If you turn off the ringer volume, you will not hear ringer tone samples.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
•
•
•
1.
2.
3.
4.
RINGER VOLUME
RINGER TONE
1

15
Telephone settings
Handset settings
LCD language
Use this feature to select the language used for all screen displays.
Press MENU/SELECT in idle mode to enter the main menu.
Press DIR or CID to scroll to >SETTINGS.
Press MENU/SELECT twice to select >LCD LANGUAGE.
Press DIR or CID to select ENGLISH,FRANÇAIS or
ESPAÑOL.
Press MENU/SELECT to save your preference and return to the main menu.
Voicemail (visual message waiting) indicator
If you subscribe to a voicemail service offered by your
telephone service provider, this feature provides a visual
indication when you have new voicemail messages. NEW
VOICEMAIL and appear on the handset screen. The NEW
VOICEMAIL light flashes on the telephone base.
NOTE: Your telephone service provider might alert you to new voicemail messages with a
stutter (broken) dial tone. Contact your telephone service provider for more details.
Clear voicemail indication
Use this feature when the telephone indicates there is new voicemail but there
is none. This may occur, for example, when you have accessed your voicemail
while away from home. This feature only turns off the NEW VOICEMAIL light
and the displayed NEW VOICEMAIL message and icon; it does not delete
your voicemail messages. As long as you have new voicemail messages, your
telephone service provider continues to send the signal to turn on the indicator.
To manually turn off the new voicemail indicator:
Follow steps 1 and 2 in LCD language on this page.
Press DIR or CID to scroll to >CLR VOICEMAIL, then press
MENU/SELECT. The screen shows TURN OFF INDICATOR?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
11/20
HANDSET 1
NEW VOICEMAIL
10:30PM
TURN OFF
INDICATOR?
LCD LANGUAGE
ENGLISH

16
Telephone settings
Handset settings
Press MENU/SELECT to turn the voicemail indication off.
-OR-
Press OFF/CLEAR to cancel the procedure.
NOTES:
Your telephone service provider might alert you to new voicemail messages with a stutter
(broken) dial tone. Contact your telephone service provider for more details.
For information about using your voicemail service, contact your telephone service provider
for assistance.
Key tone
The handset is factory programmed to beep with each key press. If you turn
off the KEY TONE, there are no beeps when you press keys.
Press MENU/SELECT in idle mode to enter the main menu.
Press DIR or CID to scroll to >SETTINGS, then press
MENU/SELECT.
Press DIR or CID to scroll to >KEY TONE, then press
MENU/SELECT.
Press DIR or CID to select ON or OFF.
Press MENU/SELECT to save your preference and return to the main menu.
Set date/time
If you subscribe to caller ID service, the day, month and time are set
automatically with each incoming call (see About caller ID on page 36).
However, the year must be set so that the day of the week can be calculated
from the caller ID information.
Follow the steps below to set the month, day, year and time.
Follow steps 1 and 2 in Key tone on this page.
Press DIR or CID to scroll to >SET DATE/TIME, then
press MENU/SELECT.
Press DIR or CID to select the month, or use the dial pad keys to enter
the correct number (01-12), then press MENU/SELECT to confirm.
Press DIR or CID to select the day, or use the dial pad keys to enter the
correct number (01-31), then press MENU/SELECT to confirm.
3.
•
•
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
KEY TONE
ON
SET DATE
--/--/--