SUMMARY: Cordless Phone Recommendations
Bill Sharp-Smith AUG
here's a summary of the responses I got :
# positive
responses Brand Models Comments
----------- ----------- ----------- ---------------------------------
3 AT&T 5600 b/in answ. machine, limited range
5320 clear, good range, solid, not cheap
4305 "really, *really*, REALLY" good (!)
2 Panasonic very good sound, good range
1 Cobra 4 yrs old, tough, heavy, but good
Thanks to all who responded. It seems Panasonic is the brand to go for,
for those of us outside the USA. Otherwise, AT&T is at least equal.
Below are the actual responses in slightly edited form :
From: ran...@microsoft.com
we just recently bought an AT&T 5600. that is one of their newest
cordless
phones with a built-in answering machine. we like it a lot. it does not
have
a tremendous range (between handset and phone unit), but our house is
small.
for $200 US, a phone+answering machine is a pretty good deal
From: RE...@vax5.cit.cornell.edu (David S. Rowell)
Gary,
I have an AT&T model 5320 and I love it. I've had it for about
5 months. It's very clear, and it has a good range (my friend took
it a couple hundred yards down the road!) I won't describe all
the features because there are a bunch of different models to
choose from, but the main reason I bought an AT&T phone is because
it's a good-looking(IMHO, of course), and it's solid. The biggest
complaint about other phones I looked at was that they felt like
cheap hunks of plastic, like you could crush it by squeezing too hard.
As much as I think it's a great phone, it has false-rang on me
on occasion (not very often, though). Other than that, not one
complaint. It's not that inexpensive, though, but I think you
get what you pay for in this case. Good Luck.
From: Matt White <WH...@sask.usask.ca>
The best sounding cordless phones that I have heard are the Panasonic
line. I just bought a basic model (can't remember the model number),
with just paging from the base, and it sounds good. My parents bought
one before Christmas with all the bells and whistles (speakerphone and
keypad on the base, intercom feature between the base and handset,
autodialing, etc) that sells for about $200 Canadian. My basic model
was about $100 Canadian. They both sound like a regular phone. Good
range, too.
From: j...@desktalk.com (John E. Greene)
Sounds to me that someone else in your immediate area has a phone on the
same frequency or there is something nearby that is interferring with
it.
I had the same problem with the exact same symptoms and it wasn't until
I
was at my neighbors house talking on *my* cordless phone when he turned
his on that I realized what was the cause of the problem. His phone was
from Radio Shack and seemed to be splattering all over the band because
I
could reduce the problem by changing the channel but I couldn't get rid
of
it all together.
From: Dave Bushong <dbus...@wang.com>
I really, *really*, REALLY like my AT&T 4305 phone. I have been told
several times that when I switch from it to a corded phone (for privacy)
that the cordless phone sounded "much better." It sounds better to me,
too.
I didn't think there would be much difference, but there is.
By the way, the new 900 MHz digital phones purport to be even better,
and that's probably true (but they're $400, and mine was around $130).
Hope this helps.
From: "Harry A. Reinke, III " <hare...@crdec6.apgea.army.mil>
Gary,
If I were to recommend a cordless phone, it would be the one
that
I have. It's a Cobra cordless, and this phone has been through HELL! I
have dropped it (more than a couple of feet...somthing about playing
catch
with the phone...:) ), spilled varoius liquids in/on it, and its 4+
years
old, and it works great! -- That's the only problem. It's 4 years old.
>From the phones I've seed receintly, they aren't made the way this one
was. The phone I have has a little weight to it-- it feels more like a
phone. If you are interested, I can find out the model number, and
maybe
you could find one at a yardsale or pawn shop.
As to newer ones...I receintly purchased a Panasonic phone as a
gift. (I can't remember the model #) It has 10 channels (a must!!!),
as well as a speakerphone and intercom. It has really good reception.
One thing I will say, is to buy a phone that has 10 channels
selectable from the handset. On my Cobra I have to set a dip switch,
and living in the city, I have to select the lessor of two evils (the
2 channels) before I even make a call. The only problem with my phone
is the limit of the channels, otherwise it is a great phone.
I'd say that about any phone that has 10 channels, and is
manufactured by a known company (i.e. Sony, Panasonic, ...) should be a
good phone. I would recommend staying away from the odd sounding phone
companies (i.e. Phonetech, FLN phones (fly by night), the wierd ones).
I hope this helps you some, if you can, try the phone out at the
store, or see if you can take it back with no restocking charges, that
way you can try it out at home to see if you like it.
Gary McGhee
--
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