Re: DECT phones. Latest recommendations.

[Neil Fuller <neil.fuller@xxxxxxxxx>]

We have a Siemens Gigaset S685IP with 4 handsets.

Very happy with it and SWMBO also approves!

There's no central directory but it's simplicity to copy one directory
to other phones.
You can also import outlook directories etc.

The ability to transfer directories is a double edged sword though and
it's easy to wipe out someones number by over-writing with another
phones directory. We've got over this by designating one phone as the
master (it's the one called Living Room - see later about naming
phones), use that to input any additional name/numbers and replicate
that phones directory to the other phones.

VOIP just works too ( we use Draytel at the moment).

You can answer on one handset and transfer to another.

Another nice touch is the ability to name handsets. We leave two
donstairs and two upstairs so when transferring, we know which handset
to transfer to.

Can't comment on range but it works all over our average 4-bed detached
and right to the bottom of the garden.

The menu is OK but a bit fiddly until you get used to it.

Support is excellent - I couldn't get the RSS reader working (didn't
RTFM) so I called the support line.

The guy knew the product well and I had it all working in a couple of
minutes.

Build quality is excellent compared to many with a couple of the phones
having survived drop tests.

The kids love the intercom feature, using the phones like a pair of
walkie talkies and if you have very small ones, you can set up a baby
intercom feature.

I can't remember how much they cost (ISTR £200 ish).

HTH

Regards

Neil

Peter and Jane wrote:
>
> Not sure if this is OT. If yes then AIA (apologies in advance!)
>
> We are still running a Deutsche Telekom DECT phone brought back with
> us 5 years ago. It is brilliant but getting aged and now I want
> several handsets in the new house. Over the years I have found the
> quality, range, features and menu structure of DECT phones to be very
> variable. The German one I have and like is probably made by Siemens,
> and I notice BT sold it as a BT Diverse 5410.
>
> The list of requirements is
> 4 handsets
> Pick up on any and transfer to any
> Answerphone, accessible from all handsets.
> Hands free available on all handsets
> Decent range. House has steel reinforced concrete basement. Signal
> needs to get down there.
> Caller display including lookup from directory so name is displayed.
> Calls in and out list (say last 10)
> Missed calls list
> Page (to find missing handsets)
> Non irritating menu system
> Non irritating failure recovery (I read that some cheapo's revert to
> factory settings if range lost)
> Central directory (or ability to easily copy from handset to handset.
> Not bothered about SMS.
> Not bothered about VOIP as Sipgate does that.
>
> General observations
> Philips (of whom I used to be a big fan) seem to have gone down the
> tubes for quality and reliability (direct experience).
> The budget makes (Binatone and the like) are junk (generalisation from
> direct experience)
> The Japanese makes seem to be "quirky"...odd features, logic
or looks
> (could be wrong)
> I remember a thread on this forum re Siemens Gigastat. Seemed to be
> liked but has the technology moved on from there?
>
> Appreciate any recommendations for or against from list members
> experience.
> Do we have a phone "guru" on the list..if so happy to follow
up off
> list if that is better.
> All depends on who out there is interested in the topic.
>
> Thanks in advance
> Peter
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>

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