V-tech VT-DS6121 User manual

User’s manual
www.vtechphones.com
Model:
DS6121

i
Congratulations
on purchasing your new VTech product.
Before using this telephone, please read
the Important safety instructions
on page 46 of this manual.
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.
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.

www.vtechphones.com
Table of contents
ii
Getting started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Parts checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Telephone base installation . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Battery installation and charging . . . . . . . . . 3
Mounting bracket installation . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Handset layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Telephone base layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Telephone settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Ringer volume (handset) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Ringer tone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Key tone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Clear voice mail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Telephone operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Make a call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Answer a call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
End a call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Speakerphone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Mute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Ringer mute. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Call waiting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Chain dialing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Find handset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Store a directory entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Character chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Search the directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Dial a directory entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Edit a directory entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Delete from the directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
About caller ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Call log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Missed calls indicator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Review the call log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Make a call log entry ready to dial . . . . . . . . 24
Dial a call log entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Save a call log entry to the directory . . . . . . . 25
Delete from the call log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Call log display screen messages . . . . . . . . 27
Redial list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Dial a redial entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

www.vtechphones.com iii
Table of contents
Delete from redial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Answering system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Answering system and voicemail. . . . . . . . . 29
Message capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Activate the answering system . . . . . . . . . . 30
Set the clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Answering system setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Set number of rings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Set telephone base ringer volume . . . . . . . . 32
Set remote access code . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Set message alert tone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Outgoing announcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Play your announcement . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Record your own announcement . . . . . . . . . 35
Delete your announcement . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
New message indication . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Message playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Options during playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Delete all messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Record and play memos . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Record a memo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Memo playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Call screening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Call intercept . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Message window displays . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Remote access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Appendix. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Handset display screen messages . . . . . . . . 41
Handset and telephone base indicators . . . . . 43
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Important safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Operating range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
About cordless telephones . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
The RBRC®seal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
FCC, ACTA and IC regulations . . . . . . . . . . 60
Technical specications . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

www.vtechphones.com 1
Getting started Basic operation
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 (800)
267-7377.
•
8. User’s manual
1. Quick start guide 2. Handset Telephone base
w i t h m o u n t i n g
bracket
3.
6. Telephone base
power adapter
7. Telephone line cord5. Battery
4. Battery compartment
cover
Parts checklist
Your telephone contains the following items. Save your sales receipt and original
packaging in the event warranty service is necessary.
Getting started

www.vtechphones.com
2
Getting started
Use only the
power adapter
supplied with this
product. 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 (800)
267-7377.
The power unit
is intended to be
correctly oriented
in a vertical
or oor mount
position. The
prongs are not
designed to hold
the plug in place
if it is plugged into
a ceiling or an
under-the-table/
cabinet outlet.
•
•
Telephone base
Telephone line cord
Electrical outlet
not controlled by
a wall switch
Telephone base
power adapter
Telephone
wall jack
Telephone base installation
Install the telephone base as shown below. Make sure that the electrical outlet is
not controlled by a wall switch. If you subscribe to Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
high-speed Internet service through your telephone line, you must have a DSL
lter between the telephone base and the telephone wall jack. The lter prevents
noise and caller ID problems caused by DSL interference. Please contact your
DSL service provider for more information about DSL lters.
DSL lter (not included)
required if you have DSL
high-speed Internet service

www.vtechphones.com 3
Getting started Basic operation
Getting started
If the handset
will not be used
for a long time,
disconnect and
remove the battery
to prevent possible
leakage.
To purchase a
replacement
battery, visit our
website at www.
vtechphones.
com or call
1 [phone].
In Canada, go to
www.vtechcanada.
com or call 1 (800)
267-7377.
•
•
Battery installation and charging
Install the battery as shown below. The battery may have enough charge for short
calls. For best performance, charge the handset for at least 16 hours. When the
battery power is low, the handset will beep, display LOW BATTERY and will
ash on the handset screen. Place the handset in the telephone base to charge
the battery when not in use. When fully charged, the handset battery provides
approximately nine hours of talk time or ve days of standby time.
Insert the plug of the battery as indicated. Make sure it is plugged securely
and matches the color-coded label inside the battery compartment.
Place the battery with the label THIS SIDE UP facing up and the wires inside
the battery compartment.
Align the cover at against the battery compartment, then slide it upwards
until it clicks into place.
Charge the handset by placing it in the telephone base. The handset charge
light will be on when charging.
1.
2.
3.
4.
1234
Charge light

www.vtechphones.com
4
Getting started
Mounting bracket installation
Your telephone base comes with the mounting bracket installed for desktop use. If
you prefer to mount your telephone on the wall (optional), it is designed to mount
on a standard telephone wall plate.
Wall mounting bracket installation:
Slide the bracket down and away from the telephone base.
Tilt the top of the bracket down so that it rests on the base. Align the grooves
on the bracket with the tabs on the base. See image 2 below.
Slide the bracket down until it clicks into place. See image 3 below.
Align the holes on the telephone base with the standard wall plate and slide
down until the telephone is secure.
1.
2.
3.
4.
123
Tabs
4

www.vtechphones.com 5
Getting started Basic operation
Getting started
Mounting bracket installation (continued)
Desktop/tabletop bracket installation:
Your telephone comes ready for desktop use. If you have repositioned the bracket for
wall mounting and now want to return to desktop use, follow the following steps:
Remove the bracket from wall mount orientation by sliding it up towards the
top of the base.
Tilt the top of the bracket up so that the lower portion of the bracket rests on
the base. See image 2.
Slide the bracket up, onto the tabs towards the center of the telephone base
until it clicks into place.
1.
2.
3.
123
Tabs
4

www.vtechphones.com
6
Handset layout
Getting started
/CID
• When the telephone is not in use, press to
review the call log.
While in the menu, press to scroll down.•
/FLASH
• Press to make or answer a call.
• During a call, press to receive an incoming call
when you receive a call waiting alert.
/ (Directory)
• Press to enter the directory when the telephone
is not in use.
While in the menu, press to scroll up.•
MENU/SELECT
• Press to display the menu.
• When in the menu, press to select an item, or
save an entry or setting.
OFF/CLEAR
• During a call, press to hang up.
• While the handset is ringing, press to silence
the ringer.
• Press and hold while the telephone is not in
use to erase the MISSED CALLS display.
• During programming, press to exit without
making changes.
REDIAL/PAUSE
• Press to review the redial list.
• While dialing or entering numbers into the
directory, press and hold to insert a dialing
pause.
CHARGE light
• On when the handset is charging in the
telephone base.
#
• Press repeatedly to display other dialing options
when reviewing a call log entry (page 24).
/ SPEAKER
Press to activate the handset speakerphone.
Press again to resume normal handset use.
•
•
MUTE
• While on a call, press to mute microphone.
REMOVE
• While reviewing the call log, press to delete
an individual entry, or press and hold to delete
the entire call log.
• Press to delete digits when predialing (preview
numbers before dialing).

www.vtechphones.com 7
Getting started Basic operation
Getting started
Telephone base layout
/REPEAT
Press to repeat a message or
press twice to play back previous
messages (page 36).
•
Message window
Shows the status and number of
messages (page 39).
•
RECORD
Press to record a memo (page 37) or an announcement
(page 35).
•
CLOCK
Press to set the clock (page 30).• ANNC
Press to enter announcement mode (pages
34-35).
•
SET UP
Press to enter to the set up menu
(pages 31-33).
•
/SKIP
Press to skip to the next message
(page 36).
•
X/DELETE
Press to delete message currently
playing (page 36).
Press and hold to delete all old
messages when the telephone is
not in use (page 37).
•
•
ANS ON/OFF
Press to turn the answering system
on or off (page 30).
•
/PLAY/STOP
Press to play or stop messages
(page 36).
•
FIND HANDSET
Press to page the handset.•
IN USE light
Flashes when there is an incoming
call or another telephone on the
same line is in use.
On when the handset is in use.
•
•
VOICEMAIL light
Flashes when you have new voicemail. Voicemail
is offered by your telephone service provider.
•
VOL+/ VOL-
Press to adjust the playback volume
during playback (page 36).
•

www.vtechphones.com
8
RINGER VOLUME
>RINGER VOLUME
RINGER TONE
The ringer will
be off if the
volume is set to
the lowest level,
and a ringer off
icon will be
displayed.
•
Telephone settings
Ringer volume (handset)
You can change the ringer volume to a comfortable level. The
ringer can also be turned off so the telephone does not ring
when there are incoming calls.
To adjust the ringer volume:
Press VOL or VOL to select the desired ringer volume
when the handset is not in use.
When you stop pressing the volume buttons, the setting
will be saved.
-OR-
Press MENU/SELECT to display the menu when the
handset is not in use.
Press or to select >RINGER VOLUME, then press
MENU/SELECT.
Press or to adjust the volume. A sample of each ringer
volume will be played when scrolling through the choices.
Press MENU/SELECT to conrm your selection. You will
hear a conrmation tone.
The telephone base ringer volume is set separately. See
page 32 for details.
1.
2.
1.
2.
3.
4.

www.vtechphones.com 9
Basic operation
Telephone settings
Telephone settings
RINGER TONE
1
>RINGER TONE
KEY TONE
Ringer tone
This menu allows you to choose from different ringer tones.
To choose a ringer tone:
Press MENU/SELECT to display the menu when the
handset is not in use.
Press or to sel ect >RINGER TONE , then press
MENU/SELECT.
Press or to select the desired ringer tone. A sample
of each ringer tone will be played when scrolling through
the choices.
Press MENU/SELECT to conrm your selection. You will
hear a conrmation tone.
1.
2.
3.
4.
If the ringer
volume is turned
off while scrolling
through the
options in the
RINGER TONE
menu, the sample
of the ringer will
not be heard.
•

www.vtechphones.com
10
Telephone settings
>KEY TONE
LANGUAGE
Key tone
The handset will beep when you press any handset key. You
may turn the key tone on or off. To change the setting:
Press MENU/SELECT to display the menu when the
handset is not in use.
Press or to select >KEY TONE, then press
MENU/SELECT.
Press or to choose ON or OFF.
Press MENU/SELECT to conrm your selection. You will
hear a conrmation tone.
Language
You can select ENGLISH, FRANÇAIS or ESPAÑOL to be
used in all screen displays. To change the setting:
Press MENU/SELECT to display the menu when the
handset is not in use.
Press or to select >LANGUAGE, then press
MENU/SELECT.
Press or to scroll through the choices.
Press MENU/SELECT to conrm your selection. You will
hear a conrmation tone.
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
2.
3.
4.
KEY TONE
ON
LANGUAGE
ENGLISH
>LANGUAGE
CLR VOICE MAIL

www.vtechphones.com 11
Basic operation
Telephone settings
Telephone settings
The telephone
service provider
may alert you to
new messages
with a stutter
(broken) dial tone.
Contact your
service provider
for details.
•
>CLR VOICE MAIL
DIRECTORY
TURN INDICATOR
OFF?
Clear voice mail
If you subscribe to voicemail service offered by your telephone service provider,
NEW VOICE MAIL and will appear on the handset, and the VOICEMAIL light
on the telephone base will ash when you have new voicemail messages. Please
contact your local telephone company for more information and assistance about
using your voicemail service.
After you have listened to all new voicemail messages, the indicators on both the
handset and telephone base will be turned off automatically.
Use the clear voicemail feature when the telephone indicates that there is new
voicemail but there is none (for example, when you have accessed your voicemail
from a different telephone line while away from home). Clearing the voicemail
waiting indicator only turns off the indicators; it does not delete your voicemail
message(s). If there actually are new voicemail messages, your local telephone
company will continue to send the signal which will turn the indicators back on.
To manually turn off these indicators:
Press MENU/SELECT to display the menu when the
handset is not in use.
Press or to select >CLR VOICE MAIL, then press
MENU/SELECT. The screen displays TURN INDICATOR
OFF?
Press MENU/SELECT to conrm your selection. You will
hear a conrmation tone.
1.
2.
3.

www.vtechphones.com
12
Make a call
Press /FLASH or /SPEAKER.
Dial the number.
-OR-
Dial the number.
Press /FLASH or /SPEAKER.
Answer a call
Press /FLASH, /SPEAKER or any of the dialing key (0-9, #, *).
End a call
Press OFF/CLEAR or put the handset in the telephone base.
Speakerphone
During a call, press /SPEAKER to switch between
speakerphone and normal handset use.
Volume
During a call, use the volume buttons on the right side of the
handset to adjust the listening volume.
Press VOL or VOL to adjust the listening volume to a
comfortable level.
1.
2.
1.
2.
•
•
•
The screen
displays the
elapsed time as
you talk (in hours,
minutes and
seconds).
When predialing
(preview numbers
before dialing),
press REMOVE
or OFF/CLEAR
to backspace and
delete;
press and hold
REDIAL/PAUSE
to insert a dialing
pause.
•
•
Telephone operation

www.vtechphones.com 13
Basic operation
Telephone operation
Telephone operation
PHONE 0:00:00
MUTED
MUTE
Mute
The mute function allows you to hear the other party while
the other party cannot hear you.
During a call, press MUTE on the handset. MUTED will
be temporarily displayed on the screen, along with the
smaller MUTE icon.
Press MUTE again to resume the conversation.
MICROPHONE ON will be temporarily displayed on the
screen.
Ringer mute
You can mute the ringer temporarily when the telephone is
ringing.
Press OFF/CLEAR or MUTE to temporarily silence the
ringer. The next call will ring normally.
Call waiting
If you subscribe to call waiting service from your telephone
company, you will hear an alert tone if there is an incoming
call while you’re on another call. Press /FLASH to answer
the new incoming call. Press /FLASH again to return to
the original call.
1.
2.
•
RINGER MUTE
PHONE 0:00:00
MUTE

www.vtechphones.com
14
Telephone operation
** PAGING **
Chain dialing
This feature allows you to initiate a dialing sequence from numbers stored in the
directory, call log or redial list while you are on a call.
To access a number in the directory:
Press MENU/SELECT twice to enter the directory menu.
Scroll by pressing or to nd the desired entry.
Press MENU/SELECT to dial the desired number when it is displayed.
To access a number in the call log:
Press MENU/SELECT and then press to select >CALL LOG.
Press MENU/SELECT to conrm.
Scroll by pressing or to nd the desired entry.
Press MENU/SELECT to dial the desired number when it is displayed.
To access the last number in the redial list:
Press REDIAL/PAUSE to dial.
Press REDIAL/PAUSE again within two seconds to cancel the chain dialing.
Find handset
This feature allows the telephone base to page the handset .
Press FIND HANDSET on the telephone base. The handset
will ring and its screen displays ** PAGING **.
Press /FLASH,/SPEAKER or any dialing key (0-9, #, *)
on the handset; or press FIND HANDSET on the telephone
base to end paging.
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
3.
4.
•
•
1.
2.
Chain dialing
can be useful
if you wish to
access numbers
other than phone
numbers (such
as bank account
information or
access codes)
from the directory,
call log or redial
list.
•

www.vtechphones.com 15
Basic operation
Telephone operation
Telephone operation
Directory
The directory can store up to 50 entries. Each entry may
have up to 30 digits for the phone number and 15 characters
for the name.
The directory can be accessed when the handset is not in
use by pressing once or MENU/SELECT three times.
The screen will display DIRECTORY EMPTY if there are
no records in the directory.
When the directory is full and you attempt to save an entry,
the screen will display LIST FULL.
If you attempt to save a number already stored in the
directory, the screen will display ALREADY SAVED.
If the telephone number in the directory exceeds 15 digits,
<
*will be displayed in front of the telephone number. Press *
to scroll towards the end of the telephone number or press #
to scroll towards the beginning of the telephone number.
•
•
•
•
•
DIRECTORY EMPTY
LIST FULL
ALREADY SAVED
ELIZABETH JONES
<* 180012345678
ELIZABETH JONES
123456789012 #>
ELIZABETH JONES
<* 800123456 #>

www.vtechphones.com
16
Telephone operation
>DIRECTORY
CALL LOG
>STORE
REVIEW
ENTER NUMBER
_
ENTER NAME
_
Store a directory entry
Press MENU/SELECT twice when the handset is not
in use.
Press or to select >STORE, then press MENU/SELECT .
The screen displays ENTER NUMBER.
Use the dialing keys to enter the number.
Press REMOVE to backspace and erase a digit.
Press and hold REMOVE to erase the entire entry.
Press to move the cursor to the left or to the right.
Press and hold REDIAL/PAUSE to insert a dialing pause
(pwill be displayed).
- OR-
Copy a number from the redial list by pressing REDIAL/PAUSE
and then , or REDIAL/PAUSE to scroll to the desired
number. Press MENU/SELECT to copy the number.
Press MENU/SELECT to move on to the name. The screen
displays ENTER NAME.
Use the dialing keys (see the Character chart on page 17)
to enter the name.
Press REMOVE to backspace and erase a character.
Press and hold REMOVE to erase the entire entry.
Press to move the cursor to the left or to the right.
Press #to insert a space.
Press MENU/SELECT to conrm. You will hear a conrmation tone.
1.
2.
3.
•
•
•
•
•
4.
5.
•
•
•
•
6.