Customer Reviews

Vtech LS5145 5.8 GHz Digital Cordless Phone System with Bluetooth Wireless Technology

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Don't let the title fool you. I'm not totally dissatisfied with the phone. I bought the base unit and one extension handset, and there's a lot to love about the phone. Unfortunately, the little things were overlooked, hindering this from being absolute perfection. Instead of wasting your time with a drawn out review, I'll bullet it out for you and let you make your own decision.

First some background. I've been a VTech fan for years, stemming back to the old 900MHz days and that ugly clear green phone I had that required the DSL filters to work correctly. I had a VTech i5871 (I think that's the model number) for YEARS....upwards of 6 if I recall, and it served me faithfully; at least the color handset extension did (which ended up becoming my primary, since the default black and white handset's buttons have a flaw where they won't press anymore after some use). That phone had it all: Great charging, headset jack, color screen, picture uploads via USB, recordable ringtones, belt clip, voicemail, caller ID, etc. The phone wasn't perfect; it didn't have a call timer (a minor nitpick) nor did it have a way to clear all voicemails at once without listening to them one by one, even through killing power (not so minor a nitpick). I could overlook these, as the phone itself was of the utmost top quality. However it was later discontinued by VTech, and I needed a phone with one extra extension as I have a significantly larger place than I used to. Enter this model.

For reference, I bought this from BBuy, not Amazon, because for whatever reason Amazon.com does not want to stock this model or its accessory, and I'm not keen on paying ~$55 for shipping. I want to throw this disclaimer: I acknowledge that some of my CONS below may be due to ignorance on how to use the device, but I scoured both the manual and the VTech website and could not find out how these are done.

** PROS **
- The form factor is very modern and upscale. You'd think it would be more expensive than it is.

- 65K color backscreen which supports pictures and animations.
- Lots of various ringers. Some of the default ones are actually quite fabulous.

- Call Timer!!

- Bluetooth allows you to connect a cell phone and make calls using your cell plan or take cell calls using your home phone, or link up a Bluetooth headset.

- Audio quality is very good; very little white noise can be heard in the background or on the speakerphone.

- Great range. My place is 967 square feet and I get crystal clear reception no matter where I happen to be.

- Recordable ringers.

** CONS **
- No standard headset jack. Come on VTech, you've had standard headset jacks on your phones for nearly a decade; what's the problem here?? This is the second VTech I've purchased where this feature was not available. "Just use a BT headset!!!" you say? Well....

- Bluetooth headset is only supported FROM THE BASE. Meaning I can pair it to the base and if I'm just calling a friend or something, that works great, but I can't pair it to any of the handsets, so I can't really move anywhere. I also can't use it in the other room. What if I'm in the bedroom and need to call someone? I can't use the headset, because I have to go to the base to dial the call. "Just dial the call from the handset and transfer it to the base!!" you say? Well....

- Inability to transfer calls from one handset to another or from handset to base. I'm literally appalled by the absence of this feature. What's the point of having these extensions if I can't send calls to them???? This has been a basic selling point of these expandable phones for YEARS.

- Inability to load your own pictures (this is a nitpick). My old VTech could do it; what's the problem here???

- Inability to set your area code (this is a nitpick). Meaning, if I set a specific area code, then I can isolate local calls, so when I dial them back the phone should not append 1+area code, only the 7 digits. The problem with this is that Caller ID does not always include the 1; in fact, rarely does it. So I have to force the phone to "manipulate" the number when I'm calling them back.

- Extension handsets require manual registration (This is a nitpick). My old VTech picked up new extensions automatically and assigned them in order. What's the problem here???

- Must force the base to send audio to the BT headset. Err, this defeats the purpose of using a headset. Headsets have the built-in ability to answer and terminate calls automatically; also, if I pair a headset I expect the phone to ALWAYS send audio to it until I turn the headset off or unpair it; since I'm forced to use the base for the headset, that means I always have to be sitting near the base when using the headset which, of course, defeats the purpose of using the headset when I might as well use speaker or a handset. Basically, the headset is useless as implemented.

- VTech's refusal to implement backwards compatibility even though it's obvious that the same radios are used in these phones. If I could use the older extension model on this I'd be ecstatic, since I know I could use that phone whenever I needed headset flexibility. But noooo....

Again, I want to stress that I do like the phone, I just wish VTech had gone all the way with its true potential. But that's way too many CONS for me, which is why I had to ding them two stars. The phone doesn't suck, it's just not as great as it clearly should and could have been.

UPDATE: Another negative. The primary handset refuses to hold a charge no matter what I do. I believe it's a symptom that has long affected VTech phones...or rather, the batteries VTech chooses to use, NiMH, Nickel Metal Hydride. That battery technology is poor for "overcharging" - that is, if you leave it on the charger without allowing it to discharge, eventually the battery will be rendered useless. That's why a lot of long-term-tech vendors have moved to LiIon - Lithium Ion - battery tech, as it doesn't suffer from that defect (though LiIon suffers from something totally different...it can only be charged a finite number of times and should not be discharged).

So in summary, the battery is useless and must be replaced. It says use VTech batteries only, but since the connector is a standard one, I'm going to see if I can track down a LiIon battery to replace this one.

I've had this phone with 6 handsets for over a month now and It is amazing to have all my numbers (home and cell phones for both my wife and I ) on one centralized device. It's worked almost perfectly since setup with the exception one big factor - Input/Output... You see, each handset + the base stores 100 contacts but it's not possible to import or export any contact between any of the handsets or any other device. For me this means that my 80+ contacts have to be entered 6 times plus 1 more time if I want it on the base. And if anything happens, like a set dies or I get a new set, it will have to be entered again - all 87 contacts.

I had my brothers and sisters help me over thanksgiving entering this number and believe me, we got only 3 handsets done so far ... It's a very big problem that may leave me with only one choice - possible return.
This is quite unbelievable as vtech's previous model (I5871) was able to import contacts exported from outlook and also transfer contacts between handsets.

I also have a problem where the connection to my phone is canceled out on the LCD and the phone just refuses to connect. This happens about once a week and the only way to fix the problem is to re-pair my cell phone with the device. This is a real pain because the only way I get to know it's not connecting is when I check the phone and it has the connection crossed out and then I get to discover I've missed a number of calls.

I'm also not sure if an update to this phone is possible at all as there's no jack or plug to connect anything so short of returning the phone to VTech for an update, it may never be possible to perform a firmware/software upgrade.

To summarize, this phone is loaded, has clear reception and easy to use; but the decision on vtech's part to leave out a crucial feature that's available on $40 multi-handset phone systems leaves customers with a big decision to make. I'm looking forward to see what others have to say about the phone.

Update:
I've been using this phone now for over two month and I've had some consistent Bluetooth connection problems with both mine and my wife's cell phones (two different manufacturers). Just about every other day, I notice the phone crosses out the number on my phone or my wife's and the connection between this device and the cell can only be restored when the device is power-cycled. Power-cycling the cell phone does not fix the problem and even when I try to get the device connect by using the menus, I get an error message that indicates the device cannot be connected.

I've spoken to a VTech support representative about the problem and the only advice she had was for me to do what I've always been doing - power off the device and then turn it back on. If this problem continues, it will be a real setback as I'll always have to make sure my cell or my wife's are connected whenever we get in and power-cycle if they are not. I will give another update if this problem is resolved (I really hope).

This is my third cordless and by far the best I've owned. Initially, I wanted a good-looking phone with an answering machine.

My first cordless was a 5.8 Motorola dual handset (expandable) which was only $50 and while not particularly handsome, it had all the requisite functions and was easy to use, especially for the money! While I didn't care for the small, bulky handset, I found it hurt my ear during and after an extended call. However, the speakerphone sound quality wasn't good enough to substitute.

The second unit was a DECT 6.0 Philips single-handset (expandable). Color handset display, fairly easy to use. Very good looking unit; base has a small footprint too. Nice feature allows you to insert the SIM card from your cell and copy the phonebook. However, I was always trying to increase the volume on the handset! The speakerphone quality wasn't any better than the Moto whether near my PC or quite removed from it, and this phone cost quite a bit more than the Motorola!

Finally decided why not get a Bluetooth-enabled cordless and use my extraordinarily comfortable Moto H700 headset and not have to rely on a speakerphone! To my surprise, I couldn't find any Bluetooth-enabled DECT 6 cordless units. I suspect that will change shortly.

The only really elegant-looking cordless with an answering system, and Bluetooth capability, was the 5.8 Vtech LS5145. It's also expandable.

This phone is great. I love everything about it. (Though I wish the base message counter/date and time readout would stay lighted when in idle mode, but that's just quibbling.) I have two Bluetooth devices paired, the H700 headset and a Moto RAZR v3. This means you can receive cell calls via your regular phone and not have to worry about dropped calls.

Set up was a snap for both. In fact, setting up all the options was easy and intuitive, i.e., phonebook, call log, remote access. Changing "wallpaper" and/or "animated" wallpaper on the handset is easy too. There are quite a few choices in both categories if you care. Even setting the date and time on this phone was the easiest I've encountered. (Don't understand why manufacturers frequently make this particular task into Rubik's Cube.)

Sound quality is excellent using the handset, and wouldn't you know it...so is the speakerphone! You can dial from the base or the handset, which has nice blue backlighting on the keypad for dialing in the dark. Switching between the handset or base and the headset is simple too.

I experience no interference with the LS5145 when close to my PC, or any other electronic equipment, and I've quite a lot of it.

Excellent product. I highly recommend it.

P.S.: Wanted to add that the handset is longer and slimmer than most and very elegant-looking. The color display is clear and crisp and about as large as one can make it on a handset. Ditto the base--long, thin, elegant as you can surmise from the accompanying Amazon product photo. The product is so easy to program and use that I can't find anything negative to say. Happily.

We bought this phone and an extra handset to replace our VTech 5871. We briefly (2 days) owned a Philips 937 but returned it (posted review).

The design of the LS5145 is an improvement on the already-nice 5871. My wife was disappointed that the ringtones hadn't been updated. The new phone provides direct voicemail access and the capability to connect Bluetooth devices. Setup of the base unit + registration of the additional handset was straightforward (some bias here -- we have a good pile of gadgets).

The bluetooth feature allows you to connect mobile phones and headsets to the base unit. This is great for phones but not useful in general for headsets. We have assigned different rings to the two connected cell phones (must leave cell phone near base unit). Also you can use the home line + one cell phone simultaneously. Cannot use 2 cell + home. Not sure about 2 cell but probably not.

ONLY the base unit has bluetooth capability. This means you CANNOT connect a bluetooth headset to one of the VTech handsets. This doesn't bother me as I have no desire to use a headset but it would be a big issue if you need this feature.


Pro
- Looks great! Comfortable to use, doesn't feel like cheap junk.
- Excellent sound quality.
- Ability to connect bluetooth cell phones is very nice.
- Excellent answering system/voicemail features.

Con
- Cannot send contact list from one handset to the other like on the 5871.
- No USB connection to upload pictures, sounds, manage contacts (5871 also had this).
- No bluetooth on handsets which means you can only use a headset near the base.

Overall highly recommended -- 5 stars for the phone itself. -1 for bluetooth limitations and lack of contact list management. I would like to see functionality for uploading images/ringers and managing contact lists from a bluetooth device. I haven't tried connecting the laptop to the phone, but I probably will today. Will post here if I can do anything useful with that.

Avoid this overpriced-underfeatured phone at all costs, unless the only reason you buy it is for the cool shape. To it's credit, this beautiful, expensive feeling phone looks a lot like a Bang & Olufson, and the range is fairly decent (I can get about 900 feet away from the base, walking to my mailbox). The base speakerphone is actually quite impressive, in fact the only one I have ever used without callers suspecting I am on speaker. Those are are the only good things I can say about it.

However, when it comes to the phone itself, it is the most worthless phone I have ever owned. Wireless phones from 10-12 years ago have more features than this model. The battery life is very short - on a call you have about 60 minutes from full charge until the battery is dead; on standby you have 3-5 hours and 80 percent of your charge is lost, leaving you with 10-15 minutes of talktime. VTech has replaced both the base and the extensions I bought, the new phones have the same short battery life. They let me keep the batteries from the other phones, so I have 6, but who wants to spend this much for the phone and then manually swap batteries 2x a day?

Want to share phonebooks on all of your extensions without manually re-entering them (Which your old cheap wireless would do 5 years ago)? This phone won't do it. You have to manually enter the entire phone book on each extension phone and the base - there is no sync feature.

I am not hard-of-hearing, but on most calls, I have to turn the handset speaker phone on because the volume is insufficient to hear the caller; even with the speakerphone volume on high, it is hard to hear many callers. My wife has same problem - we're only in our mid-30's, so old age not the problem. Both the 1st phones and the replacements are the same.

Oh, maybe you are interested in it for the bluetooth feature to pair this with your mobile. Don't waste your time. Won't stay paired, calls drop constantly (+75% drop). Clunky to set it up, and then it won't work consistently when you do get it set up.

Unfortunately VTech had me convinced my 1st phone was defective, so I waited for the (still defective) replacements to show up and missed my opportunity to return this piece of junk to Amazon for a refund. Please don't make the same mistake!

I've had this unit and 2 additional bases for a week. I primarily bought for the bluetooth feature. I don't want to carry both my personal and business cell phones around, so this is working out well. 2 reasons for not giving it 5 stars:

1 - I haven't used it that long to get to all the functions.
2 - The ring tones are pretty lame. It can be hard to distinguish between all 3 phones (home, cell 1 and cell 2). I haven't look at whether I can make my own ringtones yet.

The menu system is just as easy or as hard as any other phone, no big deal: you're not going to be fiddling with it day in and day out.

The bluetooth feature works well, even too well. I have this unit in the basement of a townhouse. I left my personal cell phone on the 1st floor, and the unit picked up an unexpected incoming call. Scared the **** out of me!

As an added bonus, there is a nice blue light at the bottom of each craddle, not obtrusive, but a welcomed pointer to finding the handset at night.

I'm a serious techie - I don't NEED a phone that'll bond with my cell phones and let me make calls through them...a phone that'll let me assign a different [pre-loaded] picture or ringer for people in my phone book...a phone that glows and looks like the most modern remote the wife has ever seen with a beautiful color display, while having all the functionality I ask for in a digital cordless/answering machine.

I don't need it, but I seriously crave it, so I bought it. I'm completely satisfied. If forced to come up with a complaint, it would be that the display in the base unit is a bit crooked - like it wasn't mounted correctly inside. No biggie though...if it bothers me enough I'll rip it apart.

My wife was a bit intimidated by it at first - she complains that I buy things specifically that she won't be able to operate - but after using it a few times, she realized that the bells & whistles don't overshadow the fact that this is a high quality, crystal clear digital cordless phone...period. The extras don't have to be used, which is good for someone wanting to make a simple phone call.

Definitely recommend.

Great concept, however the phone will not successfully link with two cell phones of the same type, as its software cannot differentiate between the separate bluetooth addresses. I have given each cell a unique name, but the Vtech can't seperate them. We have two RAZR V3A cells, and if I link both to the base I lose all cell audio. Vtech says it is a known problem they cannot do anything about (no ability to update firmware on this unit!). They may address it on next generation models. Do not buy this if your family has two of the same types of cell phones.

Overall, this phone works great. However, it will work with only one iphone (or one iphone and one 'regular' cell) it does not work when connected to two iphones. I called VTech, they told me they are aware of the problem and that I would have to return the phone as they have no fix for it at this point. I'm disappointed, as I really thought the phone was a good deal, had great reception, etc. If you are not an iphone household, this is a great product.

I bought this phone about 1 1/2 years ago. It worked okay at first, except the sound quality on the handset was always very low, even with it turned up. In the last 6 months, the phone has been dropping calls, and saying that it cannot find the base. Well, we stand in front of the base, and it still cannot find it! So, we have been reduced to using our cell phones or running upstairs to use our second cordless, and cheaper phone. We cannot trust it to handle ANY calls, without it being dropped. I've called the customer service, and what we're told is that "oh well, sorry about that, but go to our website and buy another of our phone at 15% off". I would never trust a VTech phone again!!