VTech 20-2481 2.4 GHz DSS 2-Line Expandable Cordless Phone with Digital Answering System and Caller ID (Silver and Black)

by VTech

Product Details

Product Manual [1.94mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 3 x 9.8 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000060K4Y
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 11, 2002

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The ultimate two-line phone system for the home or office, this 2.4 GHz digital spread spectrum system features a digital answering system with a separate mailbox for each line. It includes handset and base speakerphones, caller ID/call waiting compatibility (with paid local service), a 50-number phone book directory (in both base and handset), and headset compatibility. Expand your VT 20-2481 by adding up to seven accessory handsets (model VT 20-2420) without additional phone jacks. Bring telephone service to rooms where it was previously unavailable.

Product Description

2.4GHz 2-Line Expandable Integrated Cordless Digital Phone Answering SystemDuplex Speakerphone?Handset/BaseLCD Display?2-LineMemory Presets?50Conferencing?3-WayPagingCall Waiting Caller ID?Requires subscribing to local phone company servicesCaller ID Memory/Redial?50 StationAuto Scan Channels?95Page/Handset LocatorDual KeypadsHeadset JackDesk/Wall MountableMulti-Handset Capability?Up to 8Additional Handset/Charger Unit (VTEVT202420), sold separately.Silver

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lots of features at a great price... but not perfect, September 13, 2002

By 

David S. Grossman "Truth, Justice & The Ameri... (Armonk, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: VTech 20-2481 2.4 GHz DSS 2-Line Expandable Cordless Phone with Digital Answering System and Caller ID (Silver and Black) (Office Product)

I looked all over to find a 2.4GHz 2 line cordless phone, before purchasing the Vtech. What I liked about it (besides the price) was that it has a very readable caller id screen on both the base and handset and a speaker phone on the base and handset. The handset speakerphone is a very unusual feature that I find very handy. The phone is also nice in that you can purchase additional handsets for locations where there are no telephone jacks.

Sound quality is very good, and the range seems much better than my old Sony 900MHz phone.

Here's the downside:
1. The base is not wall mountable. That may not be a problem for most people, but it is for me.
2. Occasionally, pressing a button on the phone does not create the correct tone. For instance, when calling my answering machine, I'm supposed to press 7 to delete the message. Although I press 7 on the phone (and 7 shows in the display), it is not always recognized by my answering machine. This has happened on other voice mail/computer phone systems too. I don't know if this is a problem on my specific handset, or is common to Vtech.
3. The quality of sound from the handsfree speakerphone varies. I can be talking to a caller using the handset speakerphone, and the voice fades in and out... even when I'm right next to the base.

In sum, it's a great looking phone with all the right features at a good price. The minor problems I've described are probably limited to my unit. I'll try it for a while longer, and then exchange it for another of the same model if I continue to have some problems.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great features / poor quality audio, November 4, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: VTech 20-2481 2.4 GHz DSS 2-Line Expandable Cordless Phone with Digital Answering System and Caller ID (Silver and Black) (Office Product)

The features of both the handset and the base-unit are excellent, it seems that they've thought of everything you could imagine. And the full-text displays make it rather easy to use. Some people may find the handset a little too small. A larger handset would make it a little easier to press-against your shoulder (so you have both hands free) - but it can be done.

The audio quality of the answering machine is rather poor. Has that tin-ish, echoey sound. And, the answering machine doesn't let you rewind/fast-forward within a message. You can either go back to the beginning, or skip to the next. But, if you need to hear a certain part over-again, you have to hear the whole thing over again.

In one questionable design item, they have a very large light (about the size of a dime) that indicates whether or not the answering machine is enabled (even more annoying is that it blinks if you've only enabled the answering machine on one of the two lines). But, the really important light (that tells you if you've got a messaging waiting) is the size of a pencil point. They should've reversed the size of these two lights. And they really could've done without the first one.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars VTech 20-2481, Not Perfect, But Good Phone System, September 21, 2003

By 

Richard Krigsman (Stamford, CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: VTech 20-2481 2.4 GHz DSS 2-Line Expandable Cordless Phone with Digital Answering System and Caller ID (Silver and Black) (Office Product)

Not a bad phone, no real big issues. Very limited choices in 2-line expandable handset group.

Although from the following it would seem that the Cons are overwhelming, in reality, they are somewhat nitpicking however they do sigificantly take away from the overall package of the device being user friendly.

Pros:
Very very nice voice quality I'm told (in my ear though there is a hint of hiss which apparently others don't hear). Size is small enough to fit in pocket and very comfortably fits on a belt clip. However, it's smaller then most phones, about the size of a candy bar sized cellphone and takes a day to get used to. I find the phone to be very ergonomic and of a nice physical design. Very nice feature mix on this item.

Battery life has been really great after living with this phone for about 3 weeks.

Transmit/ receive range seem to be good. I've noticed no degradation in comparison to other cordless phones I own.

Cons:
Can't change almost any features on all phones/ base at the same time. This in and of itself makes programming a big chore. Memory programming has to occur on each phone and base independently. So, to program a bunch of numbers etc is a big pain in the you know what. Additionally, to clear the caller ID log which is the top display on all handsets and base is another big hassle for the same reason.

The relatively humongous red light showing that status of the answering machine is annoying to say the least especially when the answering machine is enabled for 1 line only and this thing flashes making it a major distraction when it's on a desk or in a bedroom in this mode (what were they thinking?).

Answering machine rates a 8 out of 10 in voice quality to the caller. It's not as crisp as I would have liked but it's definately not annoying or a big issue.

Summary: I would buy this phone again if I had to make another buying decision.

SHORT UPDATE AFTER 3 MONTHS OF USE:
Voice quality of callers leaves something to be desired... My voice quality Im told is very good.

Default display on handsets and base showing call history is lame and a big pain to clear out.

Programming system is also difficult as previously mentioned, each device must be programmed indvidually. Another poor item.

Large red flashing LED is distracting and is a useless feature.

OVERALL:
I would look elsewhere that perhaps there's new options in this catagory. The only contender I'm aware of (multi handset 2-line) is the Panasonic but that has the issue of lousy battery life from a lot of users. The deminished quality on received calls on this phone is very annoying. (I wonder if it's just mine but it's on all the handsets I own and I may try to get it serviced). It's not noticed when you use this phone all day but switch to another and then back again and it's very visible.