ClearSounds iConnect A6BT DECT 6.0 Amplified Cordless Phone with Bluetooth — Operating Manual

Operating manual for the ClearSounds iConnect A6BT — a DECT 6.0 amplified cordless phone with Bluetooth, designed for individuals with mild to severe hearing loss.

Important Safety Instructions

• Warning: The A6BT can amplify sound to a loud volume — instruct all potential users on proper operation and adjust to minimum volume when not in use to prevent hearing damage.
• Use only the power supply specified in the manual.
• Avoid using the phone near water (bathtub, sink, wet basement, pool) or during electrical storms.
• Do not use if you suspect a gas leak — the electrical contact could spark and ignite gas.
• Unplug before cleaning; use only a damp cloth, never liquid or aerosol cleaners.
• Do not place near an open radiator or heating register; use a surge protector; don't overload outlets or extension cords.
• Never push objects through the phone's slots, and don't cover ventilation slots/openings.
• Stop using if dropped or damaged — unplug and refer to qualified service personnel only.
• Keep out of reach of children. If you or a household member has a pacemaker or other medical device, consult your physician before use.
• Ring volume is very loud — never put your ear close to the ringer.
• Use only NiMH rechargeable batteries as specified; never alkaline. Observe polarity; don't mix exhausted with full batteries; don't dispose of in fire.
• Meets FCC standards for Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC).

Location of Controls

Handset (Front)

1. Visual Phone Ringer, Amplify Indicator, and flashlight
2. (4) One-Touch Memory Dial Keys
3. Large LCD/Caller ID Screen
4. Right Soft Key
5. Speakerphone Key
6. Right/Redial Key
7. End Key
8. Down/Phonebook Key
9. Hash (Pound) Key — flashlight
10. Microphone
11. Star Key — keypad lock
12. Lighted Keypad
13. Dial/Speakerphone Key
14. Left Key
15. Bluetooth Key — wireless headset call/answer
16. Up/Caller ID Key
17. Earpiece
18. SOS button
19. Carrying clip
20. Speaker
21. Battery Compartment Cover
22. Charging Contacts

Handset (Sides)

• Left side: Vol+/Vol- keys (handset volume); 2.5mm Phone Headset/Neckloop Jack
• Right side: Tone key (handset tone control); AMP key (Amplify activation, up to 40 dB)

Base

• Top: Page Key
• Rear: AC Power Adapter Jack; Phone Line Cord Jack

Installation

1. Parts Checklist

Box contains: Phone base, Cordless Handset, Batteries, Phone Line Cords, AC Adapter, Carrying Clip, User Manual.

2. Phone Installation

• Locate near a phone wall jack (RJ11C) and power outlet; avoid proximity to computers, TVs, or microwave ovens (interference).
• Remove the clear plastic Caller ID protective film tab.
• Connect one end of the phone cord to the line jack on the back of the base and the other to a modular phone jack.
• Plug the AC power adapter into the jack on the back of the base, then into a standard outlet or surge protector. The adapter is required for the phone to work.

Installing Batteries

Three AAA rechargeable Ni-MH batteries are included and must be installed before use.

1. Remove the battery compartment cover by sliding it downward.
2. Insert batteries, observing polarity as marked inside the compartment.
3. Replace the cover by sliding upward until it clicks.

Note: Replace batteries if they don't recover full capacity after recharging. Always use good-quality Ni-MH AAA rechargeable batteries — never alkaline.

Charging the Handset

1. Place the handset in the base — the LCD lights and a beep confirms charging has begun.
2. Important: Fully charge for at least 15 hours before initial use.
3. After charging, check for dial tone by pressing the dial key.

Menu Navigation

Press the Back soft key to return to the previous screen, or the End key to return to the main screen at any time. The phone auto-returns to the main screen after 1 minute of inactivity. To access a menu: press the Menu soft key, scroll with up/down, then press Select.

Main menu structure: CID (Caller ID) Book → Phonebook (PB) → BS (Base) Settings → HS (Handset) Settings → Bluetooth → Default (reset).

Basic Phone Functions

Amplification

Without the AMP key, the handset provides 0–30 dB of volume/tone control. Activating AMP (right side of handset) provides up to 40 dB. Adjust Vol+/Vol- (left side) during calls, and the Tone key (right side, 3-level) to your hearing needs.

Auto Amplification: factory default is OFF. When set ON, amplification activates automatically at the start of every call (no need to press AMP each time). Change via HS Settings → Amplified → On/Off.

Speakerphone

Press the Speaker key to activate hands-free mode; press again to switch back to handset. Avoid high background noise, vibrating surfaces, and recessed/corner placements which can cause echo.

Ringer Settings

• Volume: HS Settings → Ring Setup → Volume — Volume 1–5 or Off (up to +85 dB).
• Melody: HS Settings → Ring Setup → EXT Ring — Melody 1–10.
• Visual/Vibrating Ringer: in standby mode, press and hold 0 to toggle the LED flash + vibration on incoming calls.

Handset Power On/Off

In standby mode, press and hold End to power off. To power on: place in the base (auto-powers on) or press and hold End again.

Hearing Aids & Cochlear Implants

Compatible with telecoil (T-coil) equipped hearing aids/cochlear implants — set your hearing aid's T-switch to "T" and hold the handset close to the T-coil.

Hands-Free Headset Jack

The 2.5mm amplified jack (left side of handset) supports neckloops, headphones, silhouettes, and cellular accessories. Plugging in a device redirects audio to the headset — no handset output will be heard.

Answering & Making Calls

• Answer: press Dial (or the Bluetooth key if using a paired headset) and speak; with Auto Answer on, simply lift the handset from the base.
• Make a call: press Dial or Bluetooth key, listen for dial tone, then dial. You can also pre-dial a number in standby mode before pressing Dial.
• Memory dial: press M1–M4 or SOS to auto-dial a stored number.
• Switch handset ↔ Bluetooth headset: press the Bluetooth key during a call to switch to/from the paired headset.

Phone Base Settings

Dialing Mode: factory default is Tone (touch-tone). Change to Pulse for rotary service via BS Settings → Dial Mode.

Phone Handset Settings

• Handset Name: HS Settings → HS Name — up to 12 characters, displayed above the handset number in standby.
• Handset Reset: Default menu → enter PIN (default 0000) → Confirm — resets Alarm, Ring Setup, Tone Setup, Language, HS Name, Auto Answer, and Date/Time to factory defaults.
• Out of Range Alarm: factory default ON — beeps when the handset leaves base range. HS Settings → Tone Setup → Range Alarm.
• Auto Answer: factory default OFF. When ON, lifting the handset from the base answers calls automatically. HS Settings → Auto Answer.
• Menu Keys Tone: factory default ON (audible tone on keypad navigation). HS Settings → Tone Setup → Key Tone.
• One-Touch Memory / SOS: 5 programmable keys (M1–M4, SOS), each storing up to 20 digits with optional 3-second pause (press Right to insert "P"). These also appear as the first entries in your phonebook.
• Mute: press the Mute soft key to silence your microphone (you can still hear the other party); press Unmute to resume.
• Redial: press Right on the navigation key to view/redial the last number, or scroll the last 10 dialed numbers (Redial Book). Options include adding a redialed number to the phonebook or deleting entries.
• Language: 8 supported languages (English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese) via HS Settings → Language.

Display Settings

• Contrast: HS Settings → LCD Contrast — levels 0–16.
• Date & Time: auto-set via Caller ID service on first call, or manually via HS Settings → Date & Time (Date Format: DD-MM-YY / MM-DD-YY; Time Format: 12/24-Hour — time must always be entered in 24-hour format regardless of display setting).
• The LCD backlight auto-switches off after 10 seconds of inactivity.

Voicemail & Caller ID

• Caller ID requires a subscription through your local phone provider; displays caller number/name with date/time, storing up to 40 records (oldest auto-deleted on the 41st call). "Out of Area" or "Private" messages display when unavailable/blocked.
• Call Waiting Caller ID: press the Flash soft key to hold the current call and answer a second incoming call; press Flash again to resume the first.
• Caller ID List: access via the Up navigation key or Menu → CID Book. Records can be dialed directly (with adjustable 7/10/11-digit format), deleted individually or all at once, or saved to the phonebook.
• Voicemail: requires provider subscription; new messages show a stutter dial tone and an icon on the LCD. You can program an M1–M4 key with your voicemail access number.

Phonebook

Stores up to 50 numbers.

• Add: Menu → Phonebook → New — enter name, then number (up to 24 digits), then assign a ring Melody (1–10).
• View/Dial: in standby mode, press Down to enter the phonebook; scroll or jump by first letter, then press Dial.
• Edit/Delete: via Menu → Phonebook → select entry → Edit or Delete (or Delete All to clear everything, with confirmation).
• PB Status: shows the number of stored entries.
• Pause: press Right on the navigation key while entering a number to insert a 3-second pause (shows as "P") — useful for telebanking, calling cards, etc.

Additional Functions

Bluetooth Wireless Headset

Pairs and connects with a Bluetooth wireless headset for hands-free calls within 9 feet (3 meters). Supports up to 8 paired devices.

• Pair (once): turn on Bluetooth in the headset, then on the handset go to Menu → Bluetooth → On → Add Device. Wait for a confirmation tone through the headset.
• Connect: Menu → Bluetooth → On → Device List → select device → Connect. The Bluetooth indicator lights when connected. Reconnecting later just requires both devices' Bluetooth to be on.
• Disconnect: happens automatically if the headset powers off, moves out of range, or Bluetooth is turned off in the handset menu — reversing any of these auto-reconnects.
• Unpair/Remove: Menu → Bluetooth → On → Device List → select device → Remove.
• Toggle Bluetooth on/off: Menu → Bluetooth → On/Off.

Paging

Press the Page key on the base (hold under 5 seconds) to ring the handset for about 1 minute and help locate it. Press again, or any handset key, to stop. Holding over 5 seconds instead enters registration mode.

Key Lock

Locks all keypad keys except M1–M4 and SOS. The handset can still be answered while locked. To lock: press and hold Star until "HS Locked" appears; press and hold again to unlock.

Alarm

Set via HS Settings → Alarm — On/Off, time entry (HH:MM in 24-hour format), and Snooze On/Off (rings every 11 minutes if snoozed). Press any key to silence; pressing End cancels snooze mode entirely.

Flashlight

In standby mode, press and hold the Hash (#) key to toggle the visual ringer light on as a flashlight.

Troubleshooting

Technical Specifications

Accessories

• Neckloop CS-CLA7V2 — connects to the 2.5mm headset jack; requires hearing aid(s)/cochlear implant(s) with T-coil(s)
• Bluetooth Wireless Headset CS-HS 500

Regulatory Compliance

FCC ID: US:6NYW400BA6BT. Complies with FCC Part 15 and Part 68 rules; Industry Canada device IC 4002A-A6BT, meets CS03 technical specifications and Industry Canada RSS license-exempt standards. Ringer Equivalence Number (REN): 0.0B. This equipment should be installed/operated with a minimum 20cm distance between the base and your body.

Warranty & Service

One-year limited warranty against manufacturing defects in material/workmanship under normal use. Save your sales receipt as proof of purchase — required for any warranty claim. Contact Customer Service for a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) before shipping any product back.

ClearSounds Communications, Inc., 1743 Quincy Avenue, Suite 155, Naperville, IL 60540 — Tel: 1-800-965-9043, Fax: 1-630-654-9219. www.clearsounds.com