Vtech VT 1721 User Manual

INTRODUCTION

Congratulations! You have pur­chased one of the most sophisticated
cordless telephones on the market!
The VTech VT 1721 has been de­signed to offer a new standard in cord­less telephone technology.

Unlike most other cordless phones,
the VTech VT 1721 digitizes your voice
using advanced digital voice coding to
provide noise and distortion free per­formance. In most conditions you will
not be able to tell you are using a
cordless phone. Gone are the annoy­ances of static, interference and hav­ing to listen to other people’s conver­sations on your cordless phone.

The VTech VT 1721 scrambles your
voice before it transmits it. This allows
you the security of knowing that no one
can tune in and eavesdrop on your
conversations.

The VTech VT 1721 decodes and
displays name and number Caller ID
(CID) information where available and
when subscribed to. The alpha-nu­meric display will show both the name
and number of the calling party (when
available). Up to 15 name characters
and/or 11 phone number digits can be
displayed on the LCD.

Keys. In addition, the handset keypad
and LCD illuminate while the handset
rings to signal an incoming call. This is
very useful in a dark environment.

The VTech VT 1721 also provides a
one-way Page/Find. Pressing the Base
Unit PAGE key will cause the Handset
to ring in a manner which distinguishes
it from normal incoming ringing. This
can be used to alert the Handset user
or to simply locate the Handset in the
event that it is misplaced.

The VTech VT 1721 uses special
memory in both the Base Unit and
Handset which is not susceptible to
power failures. This provides perma­nent storage of all speed dial numbers,
CID information as well as the Base
Unit and Handset security codes.

When a spare battery is installed in
the Base Unit, the VTech VT 1721 uses
this battery to provide operational
backup in case of power failure. In this
way you have access to all normal
phone functions during a total power
outage. Calls can still be placed and
received without interruption. More
than 4 hours backup will be possible
with a fully charged battery in the Base
Unit.

With the VTech VT 1721, the user
can easily answer a call by pressing
any key other than the OFF or VOLUME

The phone will also alert you when
you are Out of Range even when you're
not using the phone!

1

INTRODUCTION

SPECIAL FEA TURES

• 900 MHz Operation.

• Direct Sequence Spread Spec­trum - Digital Cordless Telephone.

• Digitally-Scrambled Voice Com­munication.

• Simultaneous display of Name,
Number, and Time/Date stamp for
Caller ID.

• 30 Caller ID memory locations.

• 4-row by 16-character dot matrix
alphanumeric display.

• Backlit display on handset.

• Backlit handset keypad.

• Three Soft Keys which allow the
user to access different functions,
depending on which mode the
phone is currently in (i.e. Caller ID,
Memory Programming, etc.).

• Smart Dialing from Caller ID
memory eliminates the need to
pre-program your local area code.

• 25 locations Programmable
Memory for 16-Digit Phone
Number. Each location can also
be assigned up to a 15 character
name.

• Out of Range indication while the
handset is in use or in standby
mode.

• Removable handset battery pack.

• Spare battery charger in the base
unit.

• Complete battery back-up in case
of power failure (with optional
spare battery pack installed in
base).

• Face up or down Handset charg­ing.

• Easy answer - When the phone
rings, simply press any key other
than OFF or the Volume Keys on
the handset to answer.

• Auto hang up when returning the
handset to the base cradle.

• 24-Bit Digital Security Code.

• Low Battery Detect and Warning
indicator.

• Tone or Pulse dialing.

• Visual Message Waiting Indication
(VMWI) for use with voicemail
service.

• Up to 7 hours of continuous talk
time or 14 days standby time.

• 8-level Volume control on Hand­set.

• Programmable Ringer Tones and
Volume.

• Headset Compatible, for use with

2.5mm headsets.

This manual is designed to familiar­ize you with the VTech VT 1721. We
strongly recommend you read the
manual before using your phone.

2

INTRODUCTION

P ARTS CHECKLIST

1.

Base unit, Handset, Belt Clip and AC adaptor

2.One-Line Telephone Cord

3.Battery Pack

4.Wall mount accessory

To purchase replacement battery
packs, call VTech at 1-800-595-9511.

3

FCC AND IC REGULATIONS

This equipment complies with Parts
15 and 68 of the Federal Communi­cations Commission (FCC) rules for
the United States. It also complies with
regulations RSS210 and CS-03 of In­dustry and Science Canada. Opera­tion is subject to the following two con­ditions: (1) this device may not cause
interference, and (2) this device must
accept any interference, including in­terference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.

The underside of the Base Unit con­taining engravements of either the FCC
registration number and Ringer Equiva­lence Number (REN), or the IC regis­tration number . You must, upon
request, provide this information to your
local telephone company.

This equipment is compatible with
inductively coupled hearing aids.

Should you experience trouble with
this telephone equipment, please con­tact:

VTECH CUSTOMER SERVICE DE­PARTMENT at 1-800-595-9511.

The equipment has been tested and
found to comply with part 15 of the FCC
rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference in a residential
installation. This equipment gener­ates, uses and can radiate radio fre­quency energy and, if not installed and
used in accordance with the instruc­tions, may cause harmful interference
to radio communications. However,
there is no guarantee that interference
will not occur in a particular installa­tion. If this equipment does cause
harmful interference to radio or televi­sion reception, which can be deter­mined by turning the equipment off and
on, the user is encouraged to try and
correct the interference by one or more
of the following measures:

- Reorient or relocate the receiving

antenna.

- Increase the separation between the

equipment and receiver.

- Connect the equipment into an outlet

or on a circuit different from that to
which the receiver is connected.

- Consult the dealer or an experienced

radio/TV technician for help.

The telephone company may ask
you to disconnect this equipment from
the line network until the problem has
been corrected.

FCC Part 15

Warning: Changes or modifications
to this unit not expressly approved by
the party responsible for compliance's
could void the user’s authority to oper­ate the equipment.

4

FCC AND IC REGULATIONS

FCC Part 68

The FCC requires that you connect
your cordless telephone to the nation­wide telephone network through a
modular telephone jack (USOC
RJ11C, RJ11W or RJ14).

Your telephone company may dis­continue your service if your equip­ment causes harm to the telephone
network. They will notify you in ad­vance of disconnection, if possible.
During notification, you will be informed
of your right to file a complaint with the
FCC.

Occasionally, your telephone com­pany may make changes in its facili­ties, equipment, operation, or proce­dures that could affect the operation of
your equipment. If so, you will be given
advance notice of the change to give
you an opportunity to maintain unin­terrupted service.

This equipment may not be used on
coin service provided by the phone
company or Party Lines.

The REN is useful in determining the
number of devices you may connect to
your telephone line and still enable the
devices to ring when you receive a call.
The general rule is that the REN value
should not exceed 5.0 total; however,
contact your local telephone company
for the specific number in your area.

The Base Unit contains no user serv­iceable parts. The Handset contains a
user replaceable battery pack.

If it is determined that your telephone
equipment is malfunctioning, the FCC
requires that it not be used and that it
be unplugged from the modular jack
until the problem has been corrected.
Repairs to this telephone equipment
can only be made by the manufacturer
or its authorized agents or by others
who may be authorized by the FCC.
For repair procedures, follow the in­structions outlined under the Limited
Warranty.

5

FCC AND IC REGULATIONS

IC (Industry Canada)

This telephone is registered for use

in Canada.

Notice:The Ringer Equivalence
Number(REN) assigned to each termi­nal device denotes the percentage of
the total load to be connected to a
telephone loop which is used by the
device, to prevent overloading. The
termination of a loop may consist of any
combination of devices subject only to
the requirement that the sum of the
Ringer Equivalent Numbers of all de­vices not exceed 5.0.

Notice: The Industry Canada label
identifies certified equipment. This cer­tification means that the equipment
meets certain telecommunications
network protective, operational and
safety requirements. The Department
does not guarantee the equipment will
operate to the user's satisfaction.

Before installing this equipment,
users should ensure that it is permis­sible to be connected to the facilities of
the local telecommunications com­pany. The equipment must also be
installed using an acceptable method
of connection. The customer should
be aware that compliance with the
above conditions may not prevent deg­radation of services in some situa­tions.

tions company cause to request the
user to disconnect the equipment.

Users should ensure, for their own
protection, that the electrical ground
connections of the power utility, tel­ephone lines and internal metallic
water pipe system, if present, are con­nected together. This precaution may
be particularly important in rural areas.

Caution: Users should not attempt
to make such connections themselves,
but should contact the appropriate elec­trical inspection authority, or electri­cian, as appropriate.

Your VTech VT 1721 is designed to
operate at the maximum power allowed
by the FCC and IC. This means your
Handset and Base Unit can communi­cate only over a certain distance - which
will depend on the location of the Base
Unit and Handset, weather, and the
construction and layout of your home
or office.

Repairs to certified equipment
should be made by an authorized
Canadian maintenance facility desig­nated by the supplier. Any repairs or
alterations made by the user to this
equipment, or equipment malfunc­tions, may give the telecommunica-

6

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 to per­sons, 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 cleaners or aerosol clean­ers. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.

4.Do not use this product near water
(for example, near a bath tub,
kitchen sink, or swimming pool).

5.Do not place this product on an
unstable cart, stand, or table. The
product may fall, causing serious
damage to the product.

6.Slots and openings in the cabinet
on the back or bottom are provided
for ventilation. To protect it from
overheating, these openings must
not be blocked by placing the
product on a bed, sofa, rug, or
other similar surface. This product
should never be placed near or
over a radiator or heat register.
This product should not be placed
in a built-in installation where
proper ventilation is not provided.

7.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 to your home, con­sult your dealer or local power
company.

8.Do not allow anything to rest on the
power cord. Do not locate this
product where the cord will be
abused by persons walking on it.

9.Never push objects of any kind into
this product through cabinet slots
as they may touch dangerous
voltage points or short out parts
that could result in a risk of fire or
electric shock. Never spill liquid of
any kind on the product.

10.To reduce the risk of electric
shock, do not disassemble this
product, but take it to an authorized
service facility. Opening or remov­ing cabinet parts other than speci­fied access doors may expose you
to dangerous voltage or other
risks. Incorrect reassembling can
cause electric shock when the
appliance is subsequently used.

11.Do not overload wall outlets and
extension cords as this can result
in the risk of fire or electric shock.

12. Unplug this product from the wall
outlet and refer servicing to an
authorized service facility under
the following conditions:

A. When the power supply cord or

plug is damaged or frayed.

B. If liquid has been spilled into the

product.

7

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

C. If the product has been exposed

to rain or water.

D. If the product does not operate

normally by following the operat­ing instructions. Adjust only those
controls that are covered by the
operating instructions, because
improper adjustment of other con­trols may result in damage and will
often require extensive work by an
authorized technician to restore
the product to normal operation.

E. If the product has been dropped

and the cabinet has been dam­aged.

F. If the product exhibits a distinct

change in performance.

13.Avoid using a telephone (other
than a cordless type) during an
electrical storm. There may be a
remote risk of electric shock from
lighting.

14.Do not use the telephone to
report a gas leak in the vicinity of
the leak.

VTECH CUSTOMER SERVICE

DEPARTMENT at 1-800-595-9511.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

8

INSTALLING THE BATTERY PACK

The Handset of your VTech VT

1721 cordless telephone is powered

by a rechargeable battery pack. It
charges automatically whenever the
Handset is in the Base Unit. You should
charge the battery pack for 16 hours
when you first receive your phone.
You’ll know the battery pack needs
charging when:

• The low battery message is dis­played:

• The Handset seems completely
dead, the LCD is completely clear
and does not activate when you
press the keys.

tween charges is 7 hours of continu­ous talk time or 14 days of stand by.

Alternatively, if you have purchased
a spare battery pack and it has been
charging in the Base Unit, simply ex­change the drained Handset battery
pack with the fully charged replace­ment battery pack from the Base Unit
charger. Place the drained Handset
battery pack into the Base Unit charger
so that it will charge.

The Base Unit spare battery charger
does NOT charge a battery pack as
quickly as the main Handset battery
charger. A full charge requires 24
hours.

A WORD ABOUT RECHARGE­ABLE BA TTERIES

Your Ni-Cad battery pack recharges
whenever the Handset is returned to
the Base Unit.

TO CHARGE THE BA TTER Y
P ACK

To charge the battery pack, place the
Handset in the Base Unit. The
CHARGING indicator will light to show
the Handset is seated properly and the
battery pack is charging. It is recom­mended that the battery pack be
charged for at least 16 hours initially.
Afterwards, 8 hours of maintenance
charging should be sufficient. You can
use your telephone before that with
diminished capacity, but it is best to
charge the battery pack fully. It will take
several recharge cycles to maximize
the charge capacity of your battery
pack. The maximum battery life be-

IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO OVER-CHARGE
THE BA TTERY P ACK

The battery pack can be recharged
many times but if you get a low-battery
signal even after 8 hours of charging in
the Base Unit cradle (or 24 hours in the
Base Unit spare battery charger), the
battery pack(s) should be replaced.

To purchase replacement battery

packs, call VTech at 1-800-595-9511.

9

INSTALLING THE BATTERY PACK

REPLACING THE HANDSET
BA TTERY PACK

Follow the steps below:

1.Remove the battery case cover by
pressing on the ridged lines and
sliding downward.

2.Discard the old battery pack. Don’t
put the old battery pack in a trash
compactor or a fire - it could burst.
Please recycle.

3.Place the new battery pack in its
housing with the metal contacts
facing down.

4.Replace the battery case cover by
sliding the cover upwards.

5.If the new battery pack is not
already charged, place the Hand­set in the cradle of the Base Unit
to allow it to charge for 16 hours.

CAUTION: To Reduce the Risk of
Fire or Injury to Persons, Read and
Follow the Instructions

1.Use only VTech rechargeable bat­tery pack, or equivalent.

2.Do not dispose of the battery pack
in a fire. The cell may explode.

IMPORTANT: Do not dispose of this

battery pack into household gar­bage. For information on recycling
or proper disposal, consult your
local solid waste collection or
disposal organization.

3.Do not open or mutilate the battery
pack. Released electrolyte is cor­rosive and may cause damage to
the eyes or skin. It may be toxic
if swallowed.

4.Exercise care in handling batteries
in order not to short the battery with
conducting materials such as rings,
bracelets, and keys. The battery
pack or conductor may overheat
and cause burns.

To purchase replacement battery
packs, call VTech at 1-800-595-

9511.

SP ARE BA TTERY CHARGER /
POWER BACKUP FUNCTION

When an optional Spare Battery pack
is installed in the Base Unit, the VT
1721 uses this battery to provide op­erational backup in case of a power
failure. If you have a fully charged
battery pack in the Spare Battery
charger and there is a power outage,
you will still be able to place and re­ceive calls on the VT 1721 Handset for
up to 4 hours.

The Spare Battery pack can also be
used to replace a drained Handset
battery to ensure uninterrupted use.
Be sure to put the drained battery pack
in the Spare Battery charger.

10

INSTALLING THE BATTERY PACK

The RBRCTM Seal

The RBRC Seal on the (easily
removable) nickel-cadmium battery
(contained in our product) indicates
that VTech Communications, INC. is
voluntarily participating in an industry
program to collect and recycle these
batteries at the end of their useful
lives,when taken out of service within
the United States and Canada.

The RBRC
convenient alternative to placing used
nickel-cadmium batteries into the trash
or municipal waste,which may be illegal
in your areas.

VTech’s payments to RBRC make
it easy for you to drop off the spent
battery at local retailers participating in

the RBRC
VTech product service centers. Please
call 1-800-8-BATTERYTM for
information on Ni-Cd battery recycling
and disposal bans/restrictions in your
area.VTech’s involvement in this
program is part of its commitment to
protecting our environment and
conserving natural resources.

Remove the nickel-cadmium battery
pack by pressing on the lock knob and
sliding downward as mentioned on
this page.

RBRC is a registered trademark
of Rechargeable Battery Recycling
Corporation.

program provides a

program or at authorized

11

GETTING STARTED

SETTING UP AC POWER
ADAPTOR

Plug the AC power adaptor into an
electrical outlet and the DC connector
to the back of the Base Unit.

CAUTION: USE CLASS 2, 9V

DC POWER SUPPLY ONLY.

SETTING HANDSET RINGER

automatically whenever the Handset
is in the Base Unit. The battery pack
must be charged for 16 hours before
using your phone for the first time.

CONNECT THE TELEPHONE
LINE CORD

Plug one end of the telephone line
cord into the jack on the back of the
Base Unit, plug the other end of this
cord into the wall jack.

CHECK FOR A DIAL TONE

After the battery is charged, rotate
the Base Unit antenna to upright posi­tion. Now press PHONE on the Hand­set. PHONE ON will appear on the
LCD, and you will hear a dial tone. If
not, see IN CASE OF DIFFICULTY.

Fill in the telephone number card on
the Base Unit.

The Handset ringer is programmed
ON as the factory default setting. To
change ringer settings, see RINGER

TONE / VOLUME.

TONE/PULSE SELECTION

Your VT 1721 is preset for Tone
dialing. If you have rotary (pulse)
service, program the Handset
accordingly. See SET TONE/PULSE
for details.

CHARGE THE HANDSET BATTER Y
P ACK BEFORE USE.

The battery pack recharges

12

GETTING STARTED

CAUTION:

1. Never install telephone wiring dur­ing a lightning storm.

2.Never install telephone jacks in
wet locations unless the jack is
specifically designed for wet loca­tions.

3.Never touch uninsulated telephone
wires or terminals unless the tel­ephone line has been discon­nected at the network interface.

4.Use caution when installing or
modifying telephone lines.

13