AT&T 5830 5.8 GHz Cordless Speakerphone System Review

BOTTOM LINE: You've probably already discovered the lack of full-featured consumer-level cordless phones out there, especially in the 5.8 GHz category and that you really have to move into the SOHO dual-line systems and spend a good deal more to get a full-featured phone. But the bottom line is if you are looking for a full featured, single line, consumer level cordless phone, this is it - it's not perfect, but you don't have many other options in this price range.
THE ALSO-RANS: Panasonic KX-TG2563F - feature-packed, but 2.4 GHz and bad quality reviews (just released 5.8 GHz expandable system out - probably same quality issues). Siemens 4215 - great form factor, but 2.4 GHz, no headphone jack (pricier 2-line 8800 has jack), no base functionality and lukewarm quality reviews. CIDCO's 2.4 GHz D271's - perfect feature set but not in same price range (only marketed through your local Bell company so you're not going to find a deal). AT&T's 2355 - basically the 2.4 GHz version of the 5830/40. Bought it/returned it due to poor speakerphone (don't believe it's full duplex) and handset call quality (I believe it's being test marketed only through Best Buy (as of 5/03) which indicates they may be trying to work the bugs out of the phone).
FINALISTS: The finalists were the 5830/5840 and the VTech 5831, both 5.8 GHz expandable systems. Both are made by VTech, which explains nearly identical feature sets and form factors (and model numbers). AT&T phones are designed by the VTech subsidiary Advanced American Telephones under a licensing agreement with AT&T (my guess is AAT was a Ma Bell spin-off years back that VTech acquired). As mentioned by another reviewer, it's a matter of preference whether you choose the AT&T or VTech - minor differences in feature sets (VTech 5831 has LCD and phone book on base, AT&T has talking caller ID) but similar quality. Anyway, on to the phone. I purchased the 5830 - if you want a digital answering machine, go with the 5840 but you won't get talking caller ID or a keypad on the base. Key points:
PROS:
-Call quality/construction - can't overemphasize this (base sits right by my computer setup and still have great call quality)
-Full-duplex speakerphone: you can hear and be heard at same time (an uncommon feature on consumer speakerphones)
-Talking Caller ID: comes in handy if you don't want to get off the couch to know who's calling
CONS:
-No Speed dial: No one number/one touch speed dial from either base or handset - they really dropped the ball on this one. However, dialing from phone book takes as few as 3 button pushes.
-No LCD or phone book on base unit: makes phone book dialing a little more difficult.
OTHER ISSUES:
-Message waiting indicator flashes neon blue on both base and handset - a little much as others have mentioned
-Inability to share phone books between handsets is a neutral: small business may want the same phonebook on all handsets; family may want parents/kids to have separate phonebooks
-Wi-Fi: phone transmits at 5.8 GHz base to handset but 2.4 GHz the other way. If you have Wi-Fi this may be an issue as 802.11(b) transmits at 2.4 GHz. Possible future migration of Wi-Fi standard to 802.11(g) at 5.8 GHz is less of an issue because that frequency apparently is less congested than 2.4 GHz. Side note: probably did this to save money - calls sound good to you at 5.8 GHz but not as good to party you are calling at 2.4 GHz (but you'd be oblivious to this).
The top contenders in this category each have something (different) missing. In this price range, go with the AT&T 5830/5840 (or the VTech 5831) and be done with it before you drive yourself crazy as I did.

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Product Description:
This innovative cordless telephone operates on the powerful 5.8 GHz frequency. Its classic design provides comfort and ease of use. Advanced features include adjustable sound settings, the ability to use up to six handsets, a speakerphones in the handset, and a duplex speakerphone in the base. (Duplex technology lets both parties talk and be heard simultaneously.)
The dual-band (5.8 GHz/2.4 GHz) design allows the base unit to transmit with more power in the 5.8 GHz frequency band or with greater efficiency at 2.4 GHz. The phone's true duplex transmission keeps the incoming and outgoing signals from interfering with each other.
The LCD on the handset provides caller ID/call waiting information (subscription required though your local phone company). The 5830 also provides talking caller ID, which announces the name or number of incoming callers.
The 5830's expandability, up to five additional handsets for a total of six, eliminates the need to hard-wire multiple extensions throughout your home. One phone jack and one power outlet is all you need to connect the 5830 base station and handset, while each additional model 5800 handset requires only a power outlet for its compact charger/cradle. Calls can be transferred from one handset to another.
The handset receiver lights up with incoming calls and can also be set to vibrate. It stores 50 names and numbers and works with your caller ID service to remember the last 50 callers. Sound Select lets you adjust bass, treble, and midrange to your liking. A spare-battery charging system enables the telephone to work even during a power outage. Choose from eight ringer melodies. The system is backed by a one-year warranty.
What's in the Box
User's manual, quick start guide, base unit, handset, NiMH battery pack, telephone line cord, AC power adapter, wall mounting adapter

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Dect 6.0 Duel Hs Premier Review

I purchased this phone because I became tired of the terrible reception that 5.8GHz phones have provided. I live in a small single-story condo (800sq ft). Many times the 5.8GHz models wouldn't even work around the corner in the hallway. I have your normal drywall on wood stud construction, so nothing seriously blocking the signal. I bought a new Uniden 5.8GHz setup (since it was advertised to have extended range) and the reception was only slightly better. There was no way to take the phone into a bedroom or outside for a private conversation. 5.8GHz just doesn't penetrate drywall, wood and other building materials the same way lower frequencies do. 2.4GHz provides acceptable range but you are competing with everything else in that spectrum, including your microwave oven and wifi, the neighbor's baby monitor, etc. 900MHz phones work very well, and the digital models are quite secure, but you can't find them anymore. I found these DECT phones and they run in the 'unlicensed personal communications' 1.9GHz spectrum. There are far fewer signals in this band to crowd and interfere with your phone's signal, and they are to be used only for voice per the FCC-so there aren't other services like wireless networks or pagers in the same band. Since it's a lower frequency, the signal cuts though walls much better. This is the same technology that is used in commercial $500 cordless headsets that are used in call centers and offices.

With that, this phone has great clarity and signal. I have have conversations on the other side of my condo and they have the same voice fidelity as they do 10ft from the base. I would give it five stars, but there are a few little issues that bother me. First of all, although it says so on the box and in the description, there is NO ANSWERING MACHINE WITH THIS PHONE. I don't know why it would be described as having a Digital Answering System when all it does is integrate with your landline provider's voicemail system. If you have voicemail and it supports Message Waiting Indicator, the phone will blink to alert you to a waiting voicemail message. This works well, but I really wanted an answering machine since it allows me to screen my calls and allows for a few more seconds to pick up the phone as opposed to dropping everything and running to an available handset. I would return it simply because of this, but the price was right and the call quality has sold me on this phone, anyway. There is no 'hotkey' method of assigning phonebook entries, such as holding down the '1' key to dial your voicemail like a cell phone. You can add it to the address book, but it is nearly as many key presses to find it in the address book as it is just to dial the voicemail (*123 on Vonage).

Why oh why did they assign the normal cell-phone style pick-up key to the speakerphone? If you want to answer the phone and speak on the handset, you press the middle round button, not the button you would expect to press. This made calling my father-in-law entertaining when he was house-sitting for us. Speaking of which, the speakerphone is acceptable quality and there are some pleasant ringtones in there to choose from. If you place the remote charging base or the base station in a bedroom, be sure to put something in front of it or put a piece of tape over the eye-searing blue charging indicator on the base. It lights up the whole room. If you have a message waiting, it blinks and you may as well have a police cruiser parked outside your window.

I would recommend this phone since as a phone, it works very well. The little things are simply annoyances and don't affect the usability of the phone, itself.

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Product Description:
PRODUCT FEATURES:Google free one touch directory assistanceTrue digital soundDECT 6.0 technologyHandset speakerphoneHearing aid compatibleVIP ringtonesSelectable ringtonesDial back function/redialDigital clock with alarmDigital room monitoringCall waiting caller IDMelody ringtonesHandset volume controlLine in use indicatorFlash functionEnhanced visual ringerAutomatic date and time set

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Bang & Olufsen BeoCom 4 Single Line Telephone (Beige) Review

No manual required... it does the job simply and elegantly. Long bat. life. Best telephone I have ever used.Yow... it's not from the "factory to the world." One little tip: put something tactile on the dial tone button.

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Product Description:
BeoCom 4 is a plug and play concept, which means that no downloads or programming is necessary before using the phone - simply plug it in and use it. It has all the relevant functions, and yet operation is easy and explicit. The innovative navigation wheel makes for very easy use of the features, including Redial and Caller ID list, and Phonebook for up to 200 names and numbers. A handy belt clip, that comes with the phone, is perfect for bringing the handset around with you and with the comfortable fit of the EarSet 1 Home headset, BeoCom 4 can be used completely hands-free.

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Panasonic KX-TGA560M 5.8 GHz FHSS GigaRange® Expandable Digital Cordless Handset Review

We purchased this phone with four headsets about a year and a half ago. Overall, it has performed very well - the headsets retain their charge for a long time while off the cradle (they often go for several days before being returned to the cradle for part of a day).We've never experienced interference on the sets and everything works in a straightforward, logical manner regarding saving numbers, viewing caller id, etc.The speakerphone - like most - sounds a bit hollow, but it is still clear enough for long, hands-free conversations.We don't often use the answering machine, but it is also easy to use when we need it.This has been a great cordless phone system.

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Product Description:
In this optional handset for TG56 Series Expandable Phone System, the 5.8 GHz digital technology operates on a different wavelength with much less traffic than the 2.4 GHz technology; and you still get great security and incredible clarity. Select base units can be expanded with up to 4 optional handsets.

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VTech 920ADL 900 MHz Analog 2-Line Speakerphone Review

We have 2 lines coming to the office, so this is the perfect priced phone for us. It has a front jack for your laptop connecticon. If you have 3-way calling on both lines it is possible to make 5 people conference call. Ithas 2.5 mm jack for headphone, so you are free to go anywhare and doanything while talking on the phone. I will buy one more.

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RCA ViSYS H5250RE1 - Cordless extension handset w/ call waiting caller ID - DECT 6.0 - 2-line operation - black, silver Review

So far so good. I got the base and three additional hand sets. The voice quality is very good; no static at all. The speaker phone is also surprisingly good.

It would be nice to be able to use a hand set to record the outgoing messages on the answering machine. Using the speaker phone, despite the quality, allows more background noise on the messages than I would like.

An indicator for provider voice mail would be a nice feature that is lacking.

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Product Description:
RCA H5250RE1 ADDITIONAL HANDSET ADDITIONAL HANDSET FOR RCA25210RE1 & RCA25250RE1

Get 16% OFF

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Panasonic Dect 6.0 Expandable Digital Cordless Answering System - Dual Handset System (KX-TG9342T) Review

I bought the unit with two handsets.In fact, I bought TWO units with two handsets, since this doesn't come in a two line phone.In the brief test I did, they don't seem to interfere with each other.The range is really good, too.When you get too far (like across the street), the voice starts to break up, and you can move back to complete the conversation.Has all the usual pluses that Panasonic phones have, so I will not cover everything in detail.The handset speakerphone, while good, could be a bit louder.But I could say the same about all other cordless phones. The base speakerphone is loud enough. The answering machine has a blinking red light to indicate messages, this should be a number to show how many messages you have.Took me a while to figure out that the redial button is the same one marked PAUSE. Most of the other buttons and functions are pretty straightforward, though. The yellow LED on top of the phone is too bright when trying to sleep at night, I covered it with black electrical tape (black magic marker was not enough). On the second handset, it blinks to let you know you have messages. Last thing, I called Panasonic customer service to see if two of these phones used at the same time would interfere with each other, and the rep was clueless.I should have asked for next level of support, or her supervisor.

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Product Description:
Panasonic KX-TG9342T DECT 6.0 Expandable Digital Cordless Answering System w/2 Handsets

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Panasonic Dect 6.0 Expandable Titanium Digital Cordless Answering System - 3 Handset System (KX-TG9343T) Review

After reading numerous reviews (on Amazon and other web sites) about this and many other DECT cordless phones, I ordered this system.This system is used by me and my wife.A primary consideration is that we use Vonage, which is a voice over internet protocol service provider.As a result, we needed one base unit that could be connected to the Vonage telephone modem and then have additional phones that do not require to be plugged into a phone jack.This system fit the bill.We recently moved into a three level New England home (four if you include the basement); we have used this phone system for three weeks as of this writing, and we have placed and received numerous phone calls; the base unit and one other unit are located on the second level; the third unit is located on the first level; we receive clear reliable reception on every level (including the basement) and outside in the front and back lawns.I have used the hand-free speaker option several times on each phone -- it works as advertised.The "night mode" has already come in very handy.After receiving a phone call late one night, I turned on the night mode feature -- again, it works as advertised (yes, I received another late night call, which was identified on the "missed caller" list because the phone in our bedroom did not ring).The "talking caller ID" also works fine.Sure, the voice sounds like a computer and not a real person, but that's what it is.The system identifies who is calling if that person has been added to your phone book, and that's what I expected.I tested just about every feature and this system is everything I expected -- a very good cordless DECT system.Over the past 15 years we have owned several different cordless phones (Sony, GE, Uniden, VTech and others) -- this Panasonic is definitely one of the best we've owned.We are very satisfied with our purchase and would recommend this system to our friends and family.

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Product Description:
Panasonic KX-TG9343T DECT 6.0 Expandable Digital Cordless Answering System w/3 Handsets

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