VTech 5831 5.8 GHz DSS Expandable Cordless Speakerphone with Caller ID/Call Waiting

by VTech

Product Details

Product Manual [3.29mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 13 x 5 x 14 inches ; 1.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 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: B00006IS9F
• Item model number: 5831
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (83 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 3, 2002

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Note: The VTech 5831 is no longer being manufactured. You may want to consider purchasing the newer VTech i5853 or i5857 instead.

The VT 5831 is the world's first 5.8 GHz cordless system, offering superior sound quality, security, and clarity. The fully functional handset and base unit gives you two phones in one. Features include Sound Select, an innovative technology that provides personalized audio performance; a vibrating handset ringer alerting you to incoming calls with or without an audible ring; and an analog and digital clock display on the handset.

Expand your VT 5831 system by adding up to five accessory handsets (model VT 5820, for a total of six) without the need for additional phone jacks. Bring telephone service to rooms where it's been unavailable.

What's in the Box
Main base unit with built-in keypad and speakerphone, remote charger base, AC power supply, one handset, one rechargeable battery pack, telephone line cord, belt clip, instructions, warranty information

Product Description

V-TECH VT5831 5.8GHz Digital Cordless Telephone - Designed for home or small office use, you're introduced to a new technology in cordless telephones - 5.8GHz frequencies. This allows greater cordless distance, signal integrity, clarity and fidelity than ever before. Smart Dialing Includes 1 handset and charger - An additional 5 handsets may be added (requires optional VTC VT5820) Includes rechargeable battery for handset Spare Battery Charger (for optional backup battery) Power Backup Handset to Handset conference Each handset can accept optional headset for hands-free conversations Enhanced Boost Audio Performance Selectable ringers include Vibrating and Melody modes User Selectable Audio For Single Line operation Color - Gray

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

87 of 89 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A decent, easy to use phone, September 4, 2003

By 

D. Wilson "WilsongsX" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: VTech 5831 5.8 GHz DSS Expandable Cordless Speakerphone with Caller ID/Call Waiting (Office Product)

I just bought the Vtech phone with two add'l handsets. I have been using them now for two weeks.

The GOOD:
Very high marks for voice clarity; range; and ease-of-use. The menu system on the phones and base unit are VERY well laid-out and everyone in the family quickly learned how to use it. The phone and base feel really solid and quality has been high all the way around.

I have found the voice quality on the base unit speakerphone to be very good. It rivals systems I have used at work.

There are a few really useful functions that I have already become addicted to. The ability to transfer calls from handset to handset (or handset to base) is great - as is the ability to page the base as an intercom ("Kids, come up for dinner, now!!). I no longer feel I'd like to have an intercom system between my upstairs and downstairs.

Also, the ability to use each handset as a speakerphone is really, really useful and the voice quality is very good.

The BAD:
Vtech left off two functions that I really miss from previous phones I've owned:
(1) One-button voicemail dialing. Your only option to access your (phone company) voice mail is to dial your number and enter your password, or scroll throught the redial menu or memory menu for your phone number. You still must enter passcode.
(2) No one-digit speed-dial functionality. This is almost unbelievable to me that Vtech would omit this. The phone stores a large number of entries, but you can't speed dial any of the memorized numbers via entering a memory location (e.g., #1, #2, #3, etc). While you CAN scroll through the list of numbers (either from memory locations or from the dialed number locations) - select the number you want - and press "on", that is different from dialing, say, "Mom and Dad" by simply pushing a location number (e.g., 15) and pressing "on".

Overall, this is a good quality phone. My only negative is the absence of a couple of traditional features.

54 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Phone Ever, Works with DSL, January 14, 2003

By 

Adrian Braun (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: VTech 5831 5.8 GHz DSS Expandable Cordless Speakerphone with Caller ID/Call Waiting (Office Product)

This phone is the best I have ever owned. Clear as a bell from as far as about 70 yards from my apartment, outside, through the buildings brick wall. The person complaining about it not working with DSL is misinformed, in fact it CAN'T interfere with DSL. Of course if the person didn't install the filters that come with every DSL kit ever produced, then ANY phone will cause trouble. On top of that, because this phone is a 5.8GHz phone, it doesn't interfere with 802.11b (Apple AirPort, or any other WiFi) networking either. I have yet to hear ANY static of any kind using this phone.

The caller ID works flawlessly. The hand set has held a charge for over 3 days without recharging. The memory works as advertised. There is even a jack for a headset as well, this jack uses a 2.5 MM input, which is becoming the standard for Cell phones, so there are plenty of choices of which head set to get. The speaker phones on both the hand set and base are very clear, and people I have talked to on them say there is very little distortion.

This phone is easy to set up, has great features, wont interfere with the wireless or wired networking/internet connections in your house, and the price is right. I cant recommend it more clearly.

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Phone, January 7, 2003

By 

J. Beveridge "codenamegray" (Scottsdale, Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: VTech 5831 5.8 GHz DSS Expandable Cordless Speakerphone with Caller ID/Call Waiting (Office Product)

After trying several other phones that I didn't like, I'm extremely pleased with this phone. Looks great, works great, outstanding sound quality and good volume range. The uncluttered keypad appeals to members of the family who like it "simple" while still allowing the power users to customize it. It has a mute button (unlike many popular cordless phones), and it has a simple system for transferring calls between the base and the handset, or handset to handset. The backlit display has text that is large enough to read without a magnifying glass. It even lets you cycle through variations of the caller ID numbers to handle situations where you need to dial 1 or you shouldn't dial an area code.

Unlike another reviewer, I have had no trouble using the phone on a telephone line with a DSL connection.

A few quibbles:
- The caller ID "New Calls" list has to be separately cleared on each handset and the base. This involves many key presses that must be repeated at each location because each caller ID entry must be separately acknowledged.
- By default, both the base unit and the handset ring. This seems like a great idea until you try and locate the handset by its ringing, which is close to impossible if it is in the same room as the base. Fortunately, you can turn off either one.
- It would sure be nice if the caller ID understood custom ringing - we have multiple phone numbers that go to the same phone. Unfortunately, I haven't seen a phone that does this.
- In spite of the prominent "5.8 GHz" designation, the phone only uses 5.8 GHz in one direction - it's 2.4GHz in the other direction. You have to read the fine print to discover this information.