Vtech VT2961 User Manual

PARTS CHECKLIST

1. Handset

2. Base Unit

3. Wall Mounting Bracket

4. AC power Adaptor

5. Telephone Line Cords (x2)
Short Telephone Line Cord

6. Battery Pack

AM

10:00

SIMON JAMES WILD

654532 465929115

NEW

LINE1 LINE2

00

LINE 1 LINE 2

OFF

ABC

DEF

2

1

3

GHI

MNO

JKL

5

4

6

TUV

PQRS

WXYZ

8

7

9

TONE

OPER

0

PROG

HOLD

REDIAL/PAUSE

FLASH

CONF

INTERCOM

WALL MOUNTING

BRACKET

HANDSET

7. Short Line Cord

8. Belt Clip
To purchase replacement battery packs,

call VTECH Communications at 1-800­595-9511. In Canada, call VTECH
Electronics at 1-800-267-7377.

DIGITAL

900

MHz

CORDLESS

VT 2961

CHARGING

12

REPEAT

MUTE

CONF

LINE 1 LINE 2OFF

MIC

BATTERY

TIME/SET

SPARE

MAIL BOX
PLAY/STOP

SKIP

INTERCOM

HOLD FLASH

MEMO

NEW CALL

SELECT

ANSWER

ANSWER ON/OFF

MENU

MENU

DELETE

3

VOLUME

BASE UNIT

AC POWER ADAPTOR

BATTERY PACK

TELEPHONE LINE CORDS

SHORT TELEPHONE LINE CORD

1

(2-wire)

(4-wire)

BELT-CLIP

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 dry cloth for cleaning.

4. Do not use this product near water, for example, near a bath tub, wash bowl, kitchen
sink, or laundry tub, in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool.

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

6. Slots and openings in the cabinet and the back or bottom are provided for ventilation,
to protect it from overheating, these openings must not be blocked or covered. The
openings should never be blocked by placing the product on the 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 unless
proper ventilation is 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. Do not overload wall outlets and extension cords as this can result in the risk of fire

or electric shock.

10.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.

11.To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not disassemble this product, but take it to

a qualified service personnel when some service or repair work is required. Opening
or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltages or other risks. Incorrect
reassembly can cause electric shock when the appliance is subsequently used.

12. Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service
personnel under the following conditions:

A. When the power supply cord plug is damaged or frayed.
B. If liquid has been spilled into the product.

C. If the product has been exposed to rain or water.

2

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

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 a qualified technician to restore the product to normal operation.

E. If the product has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged.
F. If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance.

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

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR INJURY, READ AND FOLLOW
THESE INSTRUCTIONS.

1. Use only the appropriate type andsize battery pack specified in the instruction

manual provided for this product.

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

and local codes for possible special disposal instructions.

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 battery in order not to short the battery with conducting

materials such as rings, bracelets, and keys. The battery or conductor may overheat
and cause burns.

5. Charge the battery pack provided with or identified for use with this product only in

accordance with the instructions and limitations specified in the instruction manual.

6. Observe proper polarity orientation between the battery pack and battery charger.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

3

SETTING UP YOUR VT2961

DC IN 9V

LINE 2

+-

L1/L1+L2 L2

LINE 2

DC

AC
OUTLET

PRESS and SLIDE
DOWNWARD

PLACE THE NEW
BATTERY PACK
INTO THE
BA TTER Y
COMP AR TMENT

PLEASE NOTE THE
CORRECT POSITION
OF THE BATTER Y
P A CK WHEN
INST ALLING

1. Plug the AC POWER ADAPTER into a
live electrical outlet and the DC POWER
CONNECTOR into the back of the Base
Unit.

2. Slide the Handset battery cover down,
and remove it from the Handset

.

3. Install the BATTERY PACK, with the
metal contacts facing down and aligned
with the Handset contacts. Replace
Handset battery cover.

SLIDE IN THE
BATTERY
COVER

4. Place the Handset into the Base Unit

cradle. Make sure the Charging light is
illuminated. Charge for at least 16 hours
before first using the phone. The
Handset can charge face up or down.

5. Set the TONE/PULSE switch, located on

4

SETTING UP YOUR VT2961

RINGER LEVEL

L1

DIAL MODE

L2

L 2

TONE

PULSE

OFF

HIGH

OFF

HIGH

LOW

LOW

BASE RINGER
SWITCHES

TONE/PULSE SWITCH

6. After charging the battery pack, connect

the antenna side of the Base Unit, to the
desired dialing mode. In most areas , TONE
is the desired mode.

the telephone line(s)

WALL

TELEPHONE
WALL JACK

+-

DC IN 9V

LINE 2

L1/L1+L2 L2

DC

LINE 2

DATA

DATA

TELEPHONE
WALL JACK

+-

DC IN 9V

L1/L1+L2 L2

LINE 2

LINE 2

DC

RJ-11

TELEPHONE
WALL JACK

RJ-14

RJ-14

1. If you have 2 lines coming out of
a single wall jack:

Connect a 4-wire (RJ-14) phone cord be­tween the wall jack and the phone jack la­beled L1 / L1+L2 .

If you are wall mounting your Base Unit, a
short, 4-wire phone is provided for your
convenience

2. If you have 2 lines, each coming
out of a separate wall jack:

Connect a phone cord from the wall jack
you wish to designate as your LINE1, to
the L1 / L1+L2 jack on the back of the
phone; next, connect a phone cord from
the remaining wall jack to the L2 jack on

RJ-11

the phone.

NOTE: You can use your

VT2931

line phone, as well. For best results, raise
the antenna on the Handset and Base Unit
when using your telephone.

as a one-

5

THE RBRC SEAL

TM

The RBRC Seal on the nickel-cadmium battery contained in

R

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 program provides a convenient alternative to placing used nickel-

R

cadmium batteries into the trash or municipal waste, which may be illegal in your
area.

VTech’s participation in RBRC makes it easy for you to drop off the spent battery
at local retailers participating in the RBRC program or at authorized VTech

R

R

product service centers. Please call 1-800-8-B ATTERYTM for information on Ni­Cd 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 Handset battery cover
and sliding downward.

RBRC is a registered trademark of Rechargeable Battery Recycling

R

Corporation.

THE RBRC SEAL

6

WALL MOUNTING

The Wall Mounting bracket is designed to fit on standard Wall Mounting plates.

1.Choose a spot near an electrical

outlet and a telephone jack.

Your phone requires a modular telephone
jack and a standard electrical outlet (120v
AC). The power cord is six feet long; make
sure there is an electrical outlet within
reach of the Base Unit. The outlet should

wooden

stud

wallboard

4. Connect the telephone line cord(s).

Insert one end of the telephone line cord(s) into the appropriate jacks on the back of
the Base Unit, and the other end into the wall jack(s). For your convenience, a short
line cord is provided.

not be controlled by a wall switch. If the
switch is ever turned off, the phone will not
operate.

2. Position the wall mount bracket on
the base.

Line up the tabs on the wall mounting
bracket with the holes on the bottom of the

base. Snap the wall mounting bracket firmly
into place.

3. Mount the base on the wall.

Position the base so the mounting studs will
fit into the holes on the bottom of the base.
Position the power cord to extend down the
wall. Slide the base down on the mounting

studs until it locks into place.

5. Plug the AC adapter into an electrical outlet and the DC connector into the power jack
located on the back of the Base Unit.

7

HANDSET UNIT KEY AND FEATURES

ANTENNA

VOLUME UP & DOWN

HEADSET
JACK

SELECT

LINE 1 LINE 2

OFF

ABC

2

1

GHI

4

PQRS

7

TONE

HOLD

3

JKL

5

6

TUV

WXYZ

8

9

OPER

0

REDIAL/PAUSE

PROG

FLASH

INTERCOM

CONF

BATTERY COMPARTMENT

DISPLAY

BACK KEY

FORWARD KEY
SELECT KEY
LINE 2 KEY

DEF

MNO

OFF KEY

LINE 1 KEY
DIALING KEYS (0-9)

FLASH KEY
REDIAL/PAUSE KEY
PROG KEY

HOLD KEY
INTERCOM KEY

CONF KEY

TONE KEY (Temporary Tone)

8

BASE UNIT KEYS AND FEATURES

DIGITAL

MHz

900

CORDLESS

VT 2961

CHARGING

BATTERY

12

REPEAT

MUTE

CONF

LINE 1 LINE 2OFF

MIC

SPARE

INTERCOM

HOLD FLASH

TIME/SET

MAIL BOX
PLAY/STOP

ANSWER

MEMO

ANSWER ON/OFF

SELECT

MENU

MENU

DELETE

NEW CALL

3

SKIP

VOLUME

Antenna

Memo Key
Answer On/Off Key

Select Key
Menu Key
Time/Set Key
Delete Key
New Call Indicator
Spare Battery Indictor
Charging Indictor

Repeat Key
Skip Key

Mute Key
Intercom Key

Volume Up Key
Volume Down Key
Flash Key
Conf Key

Conf Key
Line 2 Key

Off Key
Line 1 Key

Microphone

BASE RINGER
SWITCH

DATA PORT

AC POWER JACK

PHONE CORD JACK

L 2

TONE/PULSE SWITCH

9

BASIC OPERATIONS

AREA CODE PROGRAMMING

To benefit from all the Caller ID features of your tele­phone, you must enter your home area code.

SELECT

If you live in an area where you dial calls within your
own area code by dialing 7 digits (no area code),
follow these steps (with the Handset OFF ):

1.Press PROG.

2. Press until AREA is blinking.

3. Press SELECT.

4. HOME should be blinking. If not, press until it

blinks.

5. Press SELECT. ENTER AREA CODE is displayed.

6. Enter your own home area code.

7. Press SELECT.

KEY BEEPS

Your Handset keys emit a beep as you press them.
If you do not want to hear the beep, do the following
while the Handset is not in use (on hook):

1.Press PROG.

2. Press until KEYBEEPS is flashing.

3. Press SELECT.

4. Press until OFF is flashing.

5. Press SELECT.

LINE 1 LINE 2

4

7

HOLD

OFF

ABC

JKL

TUV

OPER

FLASH

INTERCOM

DEF

3

MNO

6

WXYZ

9

REDIAL/PAUSE

2

1

GHI

5

PQRS

8

TONE

0

PROG

CONF

To turn the keybeep feature ON again,repeat steps 1 to 3 at the fourth step, press until
ON is flashing, then press SELECT.

BASIC OPERATION

AL TERNATIVE METHOD

If you live in an area where all local calls require 10 digits (area code plus phone number,
without dialing “1” first:)

1. Press PROG.

2. Press until AREA is blinking.

3. Press SELECT.

4. HOME should be blinking. If not, press until it blinks.

5. Press SELECT. ENTER AREA CODE is displayed.

6. Enter 000.

7. Press SELECT and continue below.

10

BASIC OPERATIONS

You may program up to 5 local area codes. An area code is “local” if you do not dial “1” when
you make calls to that area code. In other words, you make calls to “local” area codes by
dialing 10 digits (area code plus phone number) without a preceding “1”. This might include
your own area code

1.Press PROG.

2. Press until AREA is blinking.

3. Press SELECT.

4. Press until LOCAL is blinking.

Press SELECT.

5. Press until the desired location is blinking (#1…..#5).

6. Press SELECT . ENTER AREA CODE is displayed.

7. Enter a “local” area code.

8. Press SELECT.

9. Press OFF when finished.

NOTE: To replace or edit an existing area code, use the key to delete the

existing digits, and enter the desired area code. Press SELECT when done.

MAKING CALLS

SELECT

LINE 1 LINE 2

OFF

ABC

2

1

DIGITAL

900

CORDLESS

VT 2961

CHARGING

12

REPEAT

MUTE

CONF

DEF

3

MHz

TIME/SET

SPARE

BATTERY

MAIL BOX

PLAY/STOP

SKIP

INTERCOM

HOLD FLASH

MEMO

SELECT

NEW CALL

ANSWER

ANSWER ON/OFF

MENU

MENU

DELETE

3

VOLUME

From the Handset:

listen for dial tone. Dial the phone number . The Base Unit
will display HANDSET IN USE, and the corresponding
LINE key will blink. Press OFF to end your call.

Alternative Method

1. Dial the phone n umber, checking the dis­play for accuracy. If you make a mistake,

use the key to backspace. 2. Once you
have entered the phone number, press the
desired LINE key. 3. Press OFF to end your

call.

SPEAKERPHONE TIPS

If you use your Speakerphone in a noisy
environment, the other person’s voice may

fade out. In this case, try eliminating the envi­ronmental noise (a television or radio play­ing, for example). Otherwise, press MUTE

while the other person is speaking. Before
you start to talk, press MUTE again so the
other person can hear you.

Press desired LINE key and

BASIC OPERATION

MIC

LINE 1 LINE 2OFF

11

BASIC OPERATIONS

REDIAL/PAUSE

From the Handset: Your VT 2931 Handset remembers the

last 5 phone number you dialed. With the Handset off, press
REDIAL/PAUSE. The Handset will display:

This is the last phone number dialed from the Handset. Press or to scroll through
the previous numbers dialed. Once the desired number is displayed on the Handset, press
the appropriate LINE key to dial.

.

ANSWERING CALLS

From the Handset:

LINE key will glow steadily and the Handset will display:

1. Press the flashing LINE key . The

2. The Base Unit will display
corresponding LlNE key will blink.

3. Press

From the Base

will glow steadily and the Base Unit will display:

2. The corresponding LINE key on the Handset will blink while
the Speakerphone is in use.

3. Press OFF to end your call.

OFF

to end your call

: 1. Press the flashing LINE key. The LINE key

HANDSET IN USE,

.

and the

HANDSET VOLUME

Adjust the Handset volume with the and keys, located on
the side of the Handset.
The Handset will display the relative volume level as you adjust it.

VOLUME KEYS

SPEAKERPHONE VOLUME

Adjust the Base Unit volume with the and keys, located to
the right of the dialpad. The Base will display the relative volume

level as you adjust it. The Speakerphone volume can only be
adjusted while the Base Unit is IN USE (in Speakerphone or Inter­com mode).

BASIC OPERATION

While the Handset or Base is on a call, the corresponding display will show the approximate
duration of that call. This is very helpful in monitoring long distance expenses.

HOLD

To place a call on hold, press HOLD on the Handset or Base, whichever you are using.
HOLD will be displayed on the corresponding screen.

CALL TIMER

To return to your call, press the appropriate LINE key.

12