Home telephone brand choice?

Yvsa

Yvsa

Joined
May 18, 1999
Messages
15,395
We're looking to replace our home phone system after the first of the year and with all the choices available today I'm in a quandary about which brand of phone to purchase for long term use and being as trouble free as possible. :confused:
We haven't had good luck with V-Tech or Panisonic.

Sony is our present phone system and we've had the best luck with Sony even though we've had to replace one of the cordless units and three batteries since September 2001.
I don't mind replacing the batteries since they're going to eventually go bad no matter what brand or which device they're being used in but I didn't like having to replace the cordless, which it appears is going to need replaced yet again.:rolleyes:
The base phone, not cordless, has been trouble free. And even though we've had our best luck with the Sony phones we've also had some problems with the system, the cordless model in particular. Evidently my ear will sometimes press against the off button effectively cutting my connection. And I think maybe the age of the system may be why there's a lot more static as well that didn't used to be there.:rolleyes: :(

I've been looking at the AT&T E5209B model thinking that if I go back to the AT&T phones that maybe I'll get the same kind of dependability that the AT&T/Southwestern Bell phones had years ago, or is that even possible anymore without paying an arm and a leg and a left hanging appendage? ;) :)
The AT&T E5209B is very affordable and will give us an extra cordless unit, which would be very handy for us.:thumbup:

Looking at the E5909B Quick Start Guide (PDF) level it appears that the off button on the cordless wouldn't cause me to be inadvertently disconnected. Also a new system would upgrade our security to the newer 5.8 GHz.:thumbup: :cool:

Opinions and recommendations please.:)

​
 
Yvsa,
I have been using the Radio Shack 5.8 GHz digital cordless system for about 3 years now. The phones are comfortable, good range, good features and it is expandable. The price is reasonable, I think theforst one is in the 50=60 dollar range and the additions are 40.
Terry
 
Watch out that your cordless doesn't conflict with any wireless routers. :( My new one does. It's phone OR internet.


Mike
 
tsf said:
Yvsa,
I have been using the Radio Shack 5.8 GHz digital cordless system for about 3 years now. The phones are comfortable, good range, good features and it is expandable. The price is reasonable, I think theforst one is in the 50=60 dollar range and the additions are 40.
Terry
Click to expand...

Thanks Bro, is the base phone in your system a corded land line?
A corded land line is an absolute must for us since our power, along with four other houses, does have a history of going out while no one else's in the neighborhood does.:grumpy:
Everyone seems to be leaning more and more toward complete cordless systems and cell phones anymore.

Broken Arrow said:
Yvsa,

I always use Panasonic for my house phones. It's still a top brand in Japan.
Click to expand...

Thanks Ray.:thumbup: :D
Even though we haven't had good luck with VTech or Panisonic in the past that doesn't mean I wouldn't entertain the thoughts of getting another as I know companies can and do improve, as well as go downhill in other extremes.;)

I'd like to hear as many pros and cons as possible on as many phones as possible, just like to keep the cost under a $100.00 bill.:thumbup: ;) :D
I really thought there would've been more responses after 50+ folks have viewed this thread.:rolleyes: :p ;)
 
I have an ATT 3358 5.8gHz cordless phone system with answering machine and the base phone has a backup battery in it which allows the phones to still work during a power outage. We also lose power fairly frequently. I have not seen any with the backup battery slot like it recently, though.

It is always good to have at least one corded phone in the house for power outages.

It is an older model, but it has been replaced by a newer one. Yes, it is made by V-Tech, but we also have a V-Tech system and both have had no problems. My wife is pretty hard on the handsets, too! The handsets work all the way to about 6 houses down the street with no interference.

We bought this one about 4 years ago from Sam's Club and paid around $130 which included 3 handsets and the base. They are cheaper now.
 
I finally fired my last set of cordless phones, too many problems, poor battery life,etc.

I may be the only guy in America that went back to corded phones, lol
 
I recently bought a set of 4 Panasonic DECT 6.0 phones (KX-TG1034S) at Sams Club. I got them on sale for less than $100, about $20 less than they were online. I gave my old Radio Shack 2.4 Ghz phone set to my Mom; I had static problems with them, but she doesn't, so it was probably interference with a neighbor's phone/wireless devices. I've been pleased with my new phones; they sound clear and the handsets fit my face better than most -- I prefer the ergonomics of corded handsets, but I want the convenience of a cordless system that uses a single base and is expandable.

Several years ago, I bought a set of Panasonic phones for my Mom -- they didn't last a year. That experience almost prevented me from buying these, but my Sams Club Plus membership gives me an automatic warranty extension, so I figured I'd give it a shot. I've only had them a month, but I've been pleased thus far.
 
I've always had good luck with uniden cordless phones,they seem to last for years and are relatively inexpensive. The last one i had for 7 years before it died and it cost less thsn $20.The new one i got to replace it cost $9.95 at wally world.
 
Cordless phone battery life comments.

I have heard many complaints in this area. Too many people do not follow the owners manual advice.

"About once a month, fully discharge the battery pack by keeping the handset off the base until Low Batteru flashes. Otherwise, the battery pack loses its ability t fully recharge. "

Using a pencil eraser, clean the charging contacts on the handset and the base about once a month.

Don't put the handset back on the charger every time you use it. The battery packs have memories in them that overtime reduce the ability to recharge. Another way to say it. the batteries need to have their memory reconditioned by running it down or even dead to fully recharge.
I get about 2.5 years out of a battery pack.

I've been using Radio Shack cordless systems for many a year. Currently 2.4 GHz with caller Id and digital answering machine. Years ago I had an AT&T cordless system. Worked for many a year but expensive to replace.
I still have a 'princess' phone next to my computer in my little study. Other phone systems still being used in the house are AT&T 712 (number programming went on the whack, but still good for touch tone dialing) and an old conair touch tone.
 
gcs said:
I finally fired my last set of cordless phones, too many problems, poor battery life,etc.

I may be the only guy in America that went back to corded phones, lol
Click to expand...

No,you're Not the only one.;) :p There's a few old folks back in the rural areas around here and in the deep south that still think the cordless phones are a newfangled fad that will eventually pass and will never break down and buy one. LOLOL. :D

Thanks guys and keep them coming, Just keep in mind that our Base Phone, Must be a land line phone so when our power goes out we will still have a phone with Caller ID and the other amenities on it.
We keep one very old wall phone plugged in that we sometimes use when Barbie and I both want to talk at the same time but it's really inconvenient for me seeing as how I can't talk but a few seconds unless I am setting down.

Ics37 we do completely discharge our cordless phone(s) at least once a month and then recharge them for at least a full 16-18 hours before we pick it off its base to use it.
But I have rarely cleaned the contacts like you say to do; only when the phone doesn't act like its getting a full charge or such or I happen to notice they're corroded a bit.:o
I'll work on that when we get our new phone system.;)
 
I hate only having chordless phones. Its so nice to have a couple of concrete locations where you know a phone will be.

I've had two sets of multiple chordless packs, and they both sucked. I'm not gonna be any help.
 
I worked in telecommunications for 30+ years starting with Western Electric and ending with Lucent Technologies. I have three phones and they are all corded.
 
I concur that I have had poor luck with AT*T and vtech phones.

I had a $20 GE that lasted about 3 years, and I currently have a 5.8Ghz Radio shack brand that's working well, no interference with wireless internet, range isn't great around $45.
 
It seems like the higher the GHz the less battery time you get. I've had nothing but excellence from Uniden Phones. I'm currently using the Uniden 2.4 GHz digital answerer with two cordless phones system. I had Uniden before that as well.
 
The newer phones using NiMh batteries should not be discharged completely like the older NiCd's.

There is no "memory effect" on the NiMh batteries and it will ruin them if you run them down completely.
 
Another happy Uniden user here. I've been using my 5.8 GHz. PowerMax cordless system here for several years and it's been great. The phones are much louder than either of the two 2.4 GHz. systems I tried first. And no interference from my Logitech wireless computer mice (phone basestation and mouse basestation are only inches apart). I'm still using the original batteries in all six handsets. (Only problem is that my model doesn't allow adding the "1" before automatically dialing numbers, a requirement added by the phone company after I had bought the phones.)

Regards,
Bill
 
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