VTech VS113-5 Extended Range 5 Handset Cordless Phone for Home with Call Blocking, Connect to Cell Bluetooth, 2" Backlit Screen, Big Buttons, and Answering System, Silver & Black

The phone setup can be confusing for elderly/non-technical folks. This is due to answering the phone verse answering the cellphone button. The system doesn't hold setting, so every power outage / unplug it has to be reprogrammed (w or w/o handset). It does work great with cellphone Bluetooth up to 2 phones. The range and coverage is excellent, those with radio sensitivity may want due to pass 5 ghz range. Phone answering needs to be shorter than your cellphone pickup, back to setup complexity.

I like that they announce the caller (with caller i.d.), they are well made and convenient. The answering machine is not really clear when listening to messages, but most of them aren't so I wouldn't give it bad marks for that. The AT&T ones I had before were new, but they were so lousy made and did not announce the caller, made you go through all sorts of inconvenience to use, etc., they had to go (trash) and these VTech are a welcome improvement.

My elderly dad has dementia and is very vulnerable to the robo calls we’re bombarded with every day. Our local phone company offers call blocking but it’s $8/month & is limited to 5 numbers. That doesn't work for me. I finally found a phone to block the landline scam & robo callers from reaching my Dad, who has dementia and still insists on answering every phone call. He believes whatever the scammers tell him so he gives anyone his social security number and DOB. I like the VTech version of smart blocker technology because it filters out the robo calls before ringing. Some other brands ring first then checks to see the caller is allowed or not. This causes too much stress for my Dad. He thinks someone is playing on the phone. Another benefit is we’re able to keep the hardwired trim line phone plugged in, in case of a power outage. I have the VTech set to reject unknown or anyone not in allowed list. It’s the simplest smart call option & works perfectly. I tried the announce caller option but Dad got confused when choosing to accept or reject every call. The phone used to ring 10-15 times a day with telemarketers, surveys, robo and scammer calls. It so quiet now I check to see if the line is still active. I also blocked a few relatives who take advantage of Dad’s vulnerable state and ask for money. This phone is well worth it.

1. This has the potential to be a very useful phone in dealing with unwanted nuisance phone calls.2. Unfortunately, this phone has too many problems that VTech is aware of but fails to address.3. The phone is somewhat complicated to setup, but reading the instructions completely and taking your time will be very beneficial for a satisfactory setup.4. Setting up your "Allowed List" is important. It is slow and painstaking if you have a lot of people to add to this list.5. Unfortunately, you cannot transfer "Allowed List" names and numbers to the "Directory List" or vice versa. BIG DESIGN FLAW BY VTECH! Yes you can sync this phone with your smart phone. I have hundreds of contacts in my phone. It took a very long time to download, but the contacts were all messed up and I had to enter the ones I wanted individually, but then the problems continued. READ ON.6. I have an issue that has occurred several times . My "Directory List" will be totally deleted. VTech is aware of this problem, but offers no solution other than resetting the entire phone by unplugging the base and removing the battery from each handset. THIS DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. Another issue is when I add a new name and number to the "Directory List" I get a confirmed "Saved" message, but the name and number are not there. The "Directory" will be totally empty.7. Another issue I have is when an unknown caller goes through the "Home Screening" process and and I am not home to answer the call, the call fails to go to the answering machine. I potentially miss an important call.8. When using the speaker phone the volume level is not as loud as my older Vtech phone.9. The Bluetooth connects easily to both my Android and I phones. The sound quality is just okay. Make sure your smart phone is close to the VTech base station if you want to answer a cell phone call on an extension phone that is in another room or on another level of your home.10. Customer service is hit or miss depending on who you get. They do not want to refund your money. They want you to pay for return shipping if they send a replacement phone.11. Callers in your "Blocked Calls" list will get a message telling them the party is not receiving calls from that number and to hang up. The phone will still ring one time. In my opinion, the phone should not ring if a call is blocked.12. The phone will ring one time for all calls that go through the "Home Screening" process.13. In other words, the phone will always ring at least one time regardless if the call is blocked or being screened.14. Bottom Line:The phone has some good features, but the problems out weigh the good. I am stuck with this phone because of the short return window. You may not find out about the problems with this phone in the first 30 days. I cannot recommend this phone.

If you connect your cell phone to this unit--you experience land line call drops frequently. It is/was difficult to navigate the call block instructions and I'm still not certain if I have it right (I started using this system in October, 2024). The phone speaker clarity is hit and miss. Sometimes it's like the person you are talking to is in the same room with you--other times they are in a tin can at the bottom of the ocean. For the money--it's an OK system, but you have to have patience!!!

I noticed immediately that the handsets take a little battery pack instead of little AAA lithium batteries like a lot of these kinds of phones take. (You can buy replacement battery packs down the road if you need to.) There are lots of features like ability to pair two cell phones to it so your house phones can ring with calls from your cells when you are home, and you can even load the contacts from the cell phones to the phone book in the base. There are 10 available ring-tones, some sound like the first electronic phones from the 70's and 80's, a nice retro sound. The audio quality is good and they look sharp. They came in a very plain brown box, everything all ready to connect and set up in a few minutes. Love this phone set so far.