V-tech DS6251 User manual

DS6251
DS6251-2
DS6251-3
DS6251-4
2-Line Cordless Answering System
with Smart Call Blocker
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User’s manual
BC

T
Compatible with
Hearing Aid T-Coil
TIA-1083
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.
Important safety instructions
When using your telephone equipment,
basic safety precautions should always be
followed to reduce the risk of fire, electric
shock and injury, including the following:
1. Read and understand all instructions.
2. Follow all warnings and instructions
marked on the product.
3. Unplug this product from the wall
outlet before cleaning. Do not use
liquid or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp
cloth for cleaning.
4. Do not use this product near water
such as near a bath tub, wash
bowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub or a
swimming pool, or in a wet basement
or shower.
5. Do not place this product on an
unstable table, shelf, stand or other
unstable surfaces.
6. Avoid placing the telephone system
in places with extreme temperature,
direct sunlight, or other electrical
devices. Protect your phone from
moisture, dust, corrosive liquids and
fumes.
7. Slots and openings in the back or
bottom of the telephone base and
handset are provided for ventilation.
To protect them from overheating,
these openings must not be blocked
by placing the product on a soft
surface such as a bed, sofa or rug. This
product should never be placed near
or over a radiator or heat register. This
product should not be placed in any
area where proper ventilation is not
provided.
8. This product should be operated
only from the type of power source
indicated on the marking label. If you
are not sure of the type of power
supply in your home or office, consult
your dealer or local power company.
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.
Congratulations
on purchasing your new VTech product.
Before using this telephone, please read
Important safety instructions.
This manual has all the feature operations
and troubleshooting necessary to install
and operate your new VTech telephone.
Please review this manual thoroughly to
ensure proper installation and operation
of this innovative and feature rich VTech
product.
For support, shopping, and everything
new at VTech, visit our website at
www.vtechphones.com. In Canada, please
visit www.vtechcanada.com.

9. Do not allow anything to rest on the
power cord. Do not install this product
where the cord may be walked on.
10. Never push objects of any kind into
this product through the slots in the
telephone base or handset because
they may touch dangerous voltage
points or create a short circuit. Never
spill liquid of any kind on the product.
11. To reduce the risk of electric shock,
do not disassemble this product, but
take it to an authorized service facility.
Opening or removing parts of the
telephone base or handset other than
specified access doors may expose
you to dangerous voltages or other
risks. Incorrect reassembling can cause
electric shock when the product is
subsequently used.
12. Do not overload wall outlets and
extension cords.
13. Unplug this product from the wall
outlet and refer servicing to an
authorized service facility under the
following conditions:
• When the power supply cord or
plug is damaged or frayed.
• If liquid has been spilled onto the
product.
• If the product has been exposed to
rain or water.
• If the product does not operate
normally by following the operating
instructions. Adjust only those
controls that are covered by the
operation instructions. Improper
adjustment of other controls may
result in damage and often requires
extensive work by an authorized
technician to restore the product to
normal operation.
• If the product has been dropped
and the telephone base and/or
handset has been damaged.
• If the product exhibits a distinct
change in performance.
14. Avoid using a telephone (other than
cordless) during an electrical storm.
There is a remote risk of electric shock
from lightning.
15. Do not use the telephone to report
a gas leak in the vicinity of the leak.
Under certain circumstances, a spark
may be created when the adapter
is plugged into the power outlet,
or when the handset is replaced in
its cradle. This is a common event
associated with the closing of any
electrical circuit. The user should
not plug the phone into a power
outlet, and should not put a charged
handset into the cradle, if the phone is
located in an environment containing
concentrations of flammable or
flame-supporting gases, unless there
is adequate ventilation. A spark in
such an environment could create a
fire or explosion. Such environments
might include: medical use of oxygen
without adequate ventilation; industrial
gases (cleaning solvents; gasoline
vapors; etc.); a leak of natural gas; etc.
16. Only put the handset of your
telephone next to your ear when it is in
normal talk mode.
17. The power adapter is 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.
18. For pluggable equipment, the
socket-outlet shall be installed near
the equipment and shall be easily
accessible.

19. CAUTION: Use only the batteries
indicated in this manual. There may
be a risk of explosion if a wrong type
of battery is used for the handset.
Use only the supplied rechargeable
batteries or replacement batteries
(BT183342/BT283342) for the handset.
Do not dispose of batteries in a fire.
They may explode.
20. Use only the adapter included with
this product. Incorrect adapter polarity
or voltage can seriously damage the
product.
Base unit power adapter:
Output: 6V DC @ 600mA.
Charger unit power adapter:
Output: 6V DC @ 400mA.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
Battery
• Use only the battery provided or
equivalent. To order a replacement, visit
our website at www.vtechphones.com
or call 1 [phone]. In Canada,
go to www.vtechcanada.com or
call 1 [phone].
• Do not dispose of the battery in a fire.
Check with local waste management
codes for special disposal instructions.
• Do not open or mutilate the battery.
Released electrolyte is corrosive and
may cause burns or injury to the eyes
or skin. The electrolyte may be toxic if
swallowed.
• Exercise care in handling batteries in
order not to create a short circuit with
conductive materials.
• Charge the battery provided with this
product only in accordance with the
instructions and limitations specified in
this manual.
Precautions for users of implanted
cardiac pacemakers
Cardiac pacemakers (applies only to digital
cordless telephones):
Wireless Technology Research, LLC
(WTR), an independent research entity,
led a multidisciplinary evaluation of the
interference between portable wireless
telephones and implanted cardiac
pacemakers. Supported by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration, WTR
recommends to physicians that:
Pacemaker patients
• Should keep wireless telephones at least
six inches from the pacemaker.
• Should NOT place wireless telephones
directly over the pacemaker, such as in a
breast pocket, when it is turned ON.
• Should use the wireless telephone at the
ear opposite the pacemaker.
WTR’s evaluation did not identify any risk
to bystanders with pacemakers from other
persons using wireless telephones.

About cordless telephones
• Privacy: The same features that make a
cordless telephone convenient create
some limitations. Telephone calls are
transmitted between the telephone
base and the cordless handset by radio
waves, so there is a possibility that
the cordless telephone conversations
could be intercepted by radio receiving
equipment within range of the
cordless handset. For this reason, you
should not think of cordless telephone
conversations as being as private as
those on corded telephones.
• Electrical power: The telephone base
of this cordless telephone must be
connected to a working electrical outlet.
The electrical outlet should not be
controlled by a wall switch. Calls cannot
be made from the cordless handset
if the telephone base is unplugged,
switched off or if the electrical power is
interrupted.
• Potential TV interference: Some cordless
telephones operate at frequencies that
may cause interference to televisions
and VCRs. To minimize or prevent such
interference, do not place the telephone
base of the cordless telephone near or
on top of a TV or VCR. If interference
is experienced, moving the cordless
telephone farther away from the TV or
VCR often reduces or eliminates the
interference.
• Rechargeable batteries: Exercise care in
handling batteries in order not to create
a short circuit with conducting material
such as rings, bracelets and keys. The
battery or conductor may overheat and
cause harm. Observe proper polarity
between the battery and the battery
charger.
• Nickel-metal hydride rechargeable
batteries: Dispose of these batteries in
a safe manner. Do not burn or puncture
the battery. Like other batteries of this
type, if burned or punctured, they could
release caustic material which could
cause injury.

i
Table of contents
What’s in the box ............................................ 1
Overview ........................................................ 2
Handset overview.................................................2
Telephone base overview.................................. 4
Charger overview .................................................5
Display icons overview........................................ 6
Handset lights overview......................................7
Telephone base lights overview ........................7
Connect...........................................................8
Connect the telephone base ............................. 8
Connect the charger............................................ 8
Mount the telephone base ................................ 8
Install the battery.................................................. 9
Charge the battery............................................... 9
Before use.....................................................10
Set date and time............................................... 10
Set Smart call blocker through
voice guide.................................................... 10
Set answering system through
voice guide.................................................... 10
Operating range .................................................11
Configure your telephone............................ 11
Set language........................................................11
Set date and time................................................11
Use caller ID to automatically set
date and time .................................................12
Home area code .................................................12
Dial mode.............................................................12
Temporary tone dialing .....................................12
Headset usage .............................................. 12
Telephone operations................................... 13
Make a call............................................................13
Predial a call .........................................................13
Answer a call ........................................................13
End a call...............................................................13
Speakerphone.....................................................13
Volume control....................................................13
Mute ..................................................................... 14
Equalizer .............................................................. 14
Hold ..................................................................... 14
Call waiting.......................................................... 14
Conference call................................................... 14
Answer an incoming call during
a conference call............................................15
Chain dialing........................................................15
Find handset ....................................................... 16
Redial list....................................................... 16
Review the redial list.......................................... 16
Dial a redial list entry.......................................... 16
Save a redial list entry........................................ 16
Delete a redial list entry .....................................17
Multiple handset use .....................................17
Join a call in progress.........................................17
Intercom ...............................................................17
Answer an incoming call during
an intercom call............................................. 18
Call transfer using intercom.............................. 18
Push-to-talk (PTT) ............................................... 19
Turn PTT on or off............................................... 19
PTT call to a single device................................. 20
PTT call to multiple devices .............................. 20
Answer a PTT call.................................................21
Phonebook ................................................... 21
Add a phonebook entry....................................21
Review a phonebook entry...............................21
Alphabetical search ............................................22
Edit a phonebook entry.....................................22
Dial a phonebook entry.....................................22
Delete the phonebook entries.........................22
Speed dial ............................................................22
Assign a speed dial entry...................................23
Review the speed dial list..................................23
Reassign a speed dial entry...............................23
Dial a speed dial number ..................................23
Delete a speed dial entry ..................................23
Caller ID......................................................... 24
Review a caller ID log entry.............................. 24
Memory match ................................................... 24
Missed call indicator .......................................... 24
View dialing options...........................................25
Dial a caller ID log entry.....................................25
Save a caller ID log entry to
the phonebook..............................................25
Delete a caller ID log entry................................25
Smart call blocker.......................................... 26
Call categories .....................................................27

ii
Call controls..........................................................27
Set Smart call blocker on/off............................ 28
Control calls without numbers......................... 28
Control uncategorized calls.............................. 29
Block list............................................................... 30
Add a block entry .............................................. 30
Review block list................................................. 30
Edit a block entry ............................................... 30
Save a caller ID log entry to the block list .......31
Delete a block entry ...........................................31
Delete all block entries ......................................31
Allow list................................................................31
Add an allow entry..............................................31
Review allow list..................................................32
Edit an allow entry...............................................32
Save a caller ID log entry to the allow list........32
Delete an allow entry .........................................32
Delete all allow entries.......................................32
Star name list........................................................33
Add a star name entry........................................33
Review star name list ..........................................33
Edit a star name entry.........................................33
Save a caller ID log entry to
the star name list ............................................33
Delete a star name entry................................... 34
Delete all star name entries.............................. 34
Screening announcement ................................ 34
Play your current announcement of
screening with caller name ......................... 34
Play your current announcement of
screening without caller name ....................35
Record your name for all screening
announcements .............................................35
Reset all your screening announcements .......35
Voice guide to set Smart call blocker ............. 36
Allowed calls....................................................... 36
Allow calls without numbers............................ 36
Allow uncategorized calls................................. 36
Blocked calls.........................................................37
Block calls without numbers..............................37
Block uncategorized calls ..................................37
Screen calls without numbers...........................37
Screen uncategorized calls............................... 39
Option while on a call ....................................... 42
Sound settings .............................................. 42
Key tone............................................................... 42
Ringer tone ......................................................... 42
Ringer volume .................................................... 43
Temporary ringer silencing .............................. 43
Quiet mode......................................................... 43
About the built-in answering system and
voicemail service......................................44
Set your built-in answering system ..............44
Turn the answering system on or off ..............44
Default announcement ..................................... 45
Record your own announcement ................... 45
Play the announcement ................................... 45
Delete or reset the announcement................. 45
Set number of rings...........................................46
Turn the call screening on or off......................46
Turn the message alert tone on or off............46
Set message recording time .............................47
Voice guide..........................................................47
Use your built-in answering system ............. 47
New message indication ...................................47
Message playback ..............................................47
Delete all messages...........................................49
Remote access....................................................50
Set your remote access code ...........................50
Record, play, and delete memos.................... 50
Call screening ......................................................51
Call intercept........................................................51
Use the built-in answering system and
voicemail service...................................... 51
Retrieve voicemail from
telephone service .................................... 52
Retrieve voicemail...............................................52
Set your voicemail number................................52
Turn off the new voicemail indicators..............52
Expand your telephone system.................... 52
Screen messages........................................... 53
Frequently asked questions.......................... 55
ECO mode..................................................... 59
General product care.................................... 59
The RBRC®seal ..............................................59

iii
FCC, ACTA and IC regulations .......................60
California Energy Commission battery
charging testing instructions ................... 62
For C-UL compliance only............................. 62
Mesures de sécurité importantes.................... 62
Limited warranty...........................................66
Technical specifications ................................68

1
What’s in the box
Your telephone package contains the
following items. Save your sales receipt
and original packaging in the event
warranty service is necessary.
• To purchase a replacement battery or power
adapter, visit our website at
www.vtechphones.com or call
1 [phone]. In Canada, go to
www.vtechcanada.com or call
1 [phone].
1 set for DS6251
2 sets for DS6251-2
3 sets for DS6251-3
4 sets for DS6251-4
1 set for DS6251
DS6251-2
DS6251-3
DS6251-4
1 set for DS6251
DS6251-2
DS6251-3
DS6251-4
1 set for DS6251-2
2 sets for DS6251-3
3 sets for DS6251-4
Quick
start
guide
Introducing
Smart call
blocker
Important
safety
instructions

2
Overview
Handset overview
1 – Handset earpiece
2 – LCD display
3 – Softkeys (2)
• Press to select the menu item
displayed above the key.
• While in a menu, press to select an
item, save an entry or setting, cancel
an operation, or back up to the
previous menu.
4 – OFF
• During a call, press to hang up a call.
• While in a menu, press to cancel an
operation, back up to the previous
menu, or exit the menu display.
• When the handset is ringing, press
to mute the ringer temporarily.
• Press and hold to erase the missed
call indicator while the phone is not
in use.
5 – /
• Press to show phonebook entries
when the telephone is not in use.
• Press to increase the listening
volume when on a call, or increase
the message playback volume.
• Press to scroll up while in a menu.
• While entering names or numbers,
press to move the cursor to the right.
/
• Press to show the caller ID log when
the telephone is not in use.
• Press to decrease the listening
volume when on a call, or decrease
the message playback volume.
• Press to scroll down while in a
menu.
• While entering names or numbers,
press to move the cursor to the left.
6 – LINE 1 / LINE 2 / FLASH
• Press to make or answer a call on the
corresponding line.
• During a call, press to answer an
incoming call on the corresponding
line when you receive a call waiting
alert.
• During message playback, press
to call back the caller if the caller’s
number is available.
7 –
• Press repeatedly to show other
dialing options when reviewing a
caller ID log entry.
• While editing the name of a caller
ID log entry, press repeatedly to
re-arrange the order of the name.
• Press and hold to enter the
quiet mode setting screen, or to
deactivate quiet mode.
8 – OPER
• Press and hold to add a space when
entering names.
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