Home > Consumer Reviews > Vtech CS6219-2 DECT 6.0 Expandable 2-Handset Cordless Phone System with Caller ID and Handset Speakerphone (CS6219-2)

We purchased these telephones as a replacement for our old VTechs. We had a problem with our phone system and as a result purchased new phones during the diagnosing phase. Our VTechs lasted over 10 years and, as it turns out, were still working well. So we replaced them with VTechs and glad that we stayed with the same manufacturer. The new phones have all the features we expected and they work great with our phone company's set-up. Easy to create your own directory, retrieve numbers, etc. Most of the functions I did without reading the manual. Very user friendly. You will be glad you purchased this phone system.

This simple set offers solid performance and attractive looks for half the price of the competition. It's perfect for anyone who subscribes to a digital voice service with carrier-based voicemail (e.g. FiOS, Comcast) and doesn't need the fancy features that other sets offer.

I've used Vtech phones for quite a while now, dating back to a 900Mhz basic unit that was one of the first cordless phones I purchased for my home. That phone was quite basic, without any phone book or speaker phone features and I'm not even sure it that system even included any sort of 'find handset' paging feature. Somewhere in the house I'd be willing to bet I still have that phone though if memory serves the battery in it had gotten to the point where it would barely hold a charge and by the time I looked at the cost of the replacement battery I quickly determined that it was more cost effective to replace the phone rather than the battery.

The replacement for that phone was a Vtech 'V-Mix' VTech gz2334 2.4 GHz V-Mix Cordless Phone with Caller ID (Yellow and Black). I selected the V-Mix because it offered the ability to choose different ring tones for callers as well as offering caller ID display features (caller ID required for the unique ring tones feature). While that phone was apparently targeted towards teens, it's feature set made it useful for adults as well. Again, I can fairly easily look around the house for one of those phones (I bought a second one over time) and find one that is still (barely, more in a minute) in service and one that I recently retired. I say barely in service because while the phone does work and has had the battery replaced (both of those phones that I had wound up getting a new battery), I've had to retire those phones because they interfere (badly) with the WiFi internet in my home that my family members depend upon. The ringing doesn't do it, but using the phone to talk to a caller does. Almost as quickly as the conversation begins I can hear an exclammation from the other end of the home because the internet connection there has gone down. While I could (and had) minimize the use of the V-mix that I had kept at my desk, it was irritating to my family members and I do the best I can to keep the peace where possible.

Besides those V-mix phones I had gotten a set of phones from a retailer that calls their stores shacks. Those phones, I believe, were made by a company named Uni.. something (and would seem to belong in a den). They were 5.8Ghz phones and they don't seem to interfere with the WiFi in the house. While not offering the more 'hip' ring tones that the V-mix phones did, they also featured unique ring tones and met another requirement of mine: reasonably loud and easy to hear phone conversations as well as offering speaker phone features for the few times I may be stuck on hold with customer service or something like that.

So, with the WiFi issue known and becoming more of an irritant, I started researching on potential replacements for my beloved V-mix phone (and it's mate). With a little research I learned that the DECT 6.0 phones typically operate in the 1.9Ghz range which means they don't interfere with the 2.4Ghz band ranges that WiFi typically uses. With that known, it became a matter of what features I could find in a set of DECT 6.0 phones and just how much I might have to pay for same.

I knew I didn't need nor want voice mail/answering system features as my phone service includes those features. I'd assume that there were ways to ignore such features if I bought a set that included them, but I didn't want to go through any hassle and just wanted phones that work. I should note that it's not all that easy to find an Expandable Cordless phone system that doesn't include an answering system and I wish the manufacturers wouldn't force customers to pay for such features when they aren't needed.

Once past that issue, the list of requirements was fairly small: inexpensive (hey, I try to watch the budget!), adjustable headset volume that makes it easy to hear phone conversations, speakerphone features, and caller id. If the phone featured unique ring tones (assignable to any given phone number that calls in), it would be a bonus, but it wasn't a requirement given the importance of keeping the costs reasonable.

The Vtech DECT 6.0 White/Black Expandable 2-Handset Cordless Phone System with Caller ID and Handset Speakerphone (CS6219-2) system meets those requirements, but as noted in the subject line for this review, these phones are really basic. The set is low cost, and the expansion phones, see: Vtech DECT 6.0 White/Black Accessory Handset with Caller ID and Handset Speakerphone (CS6209), aren't expensive. Yes, they include Caller ID features, yes they have Speakerphone features, but there only a few ring tones available and no way to add any other tones. There's also no way to assign tones to numbers in your phone book so there's no simple audible way to identify callers when the phone is ringing, you must look at the CID (caller id) display on the phone. Something else that the V-mix model featured was an ability to plug in an external headset so that you can use the phone through a headset for added comfort on long calls, and again that feature is missing on the phones in this set.

These phones do have an 'in use' indicator on the base unit and also share directory information between the units which is nice as you need only edit information on one handset to get all handset's updated. In addition there's an intercom feature that can be used between the phones and the requisite 'find handset' paging feature that can be used to help find a misplaced handset (something that happens frequently compliments of my family members).

In the end, this is a good basic cordless phone set. It is relatively inexpensive, and includes the features that most customers would need. The phones aren't flashy (side detour here: these are listed as 'white and black' phones while in reality, they are more 'silver and black' phones) but they work as required. Recommended purchase for those that are looking for a set of usable phones that won't break the bank. On the other hand, if you're looking for more features, Vtech does make other phones that you should consider.

Small, reliable phones. It's an easy way to add a phone to a room that doesn't have a phone jack. Unlike some phones of this type, two people can talk to the same caller on each extension. You don't have to transfer the call to the other handset unit. The speakerphone works great.

After owning a set of 3 GE phones that were total junk, these phones seem to be perfect for my needs so far. I especially like the voice mail indicator. Another issue I had with my old phones is that you had to transfer a call if you wanted to pick it up on a different phone, something my family never mastered. You can pick up a call on these phones without transferring. They are small and lightweight, the volume is great (another GE issue) - so I am very happy!