Cordless telephones?

MikePA · Feb 9, 2003

RaT, also check The Cordless Guys. They have the EnGenius for $40 less.

jwstewar · Feb 9, 2003

( Just FYI if you did not know, DirecTV only needs a landline if you want to use pay-per-view without a steep surcharge. If you don't use PPV, you can disconnect the land line. Mine does not have a landline attached.

-Chris )
That is true, I had my second receiver disconnected (actually I didn't the line had gone bad) and I needed to call them for support on billing or something else. They immediately told me that my second receiver hadn't called in over 3 months and that I had 30 days to get it reconnected or my entire DirecTV service would be stopped. So yes you are correct, but they do get picky.

Jim

TedLynn · Feb 9, 2003

and if they could only build the phone more along the lines of a cell phone in size, they'd have one incredible phone.

I've never had one in my hands, but doing a little research the past few days, it seems the EnGenius is almost identical to the Nokia 5180 series. You might want to check epinions, Nextag, etc. Generally, they got great reviews for distance, but some limitations on clarity. They were also reported to be heavier than the Nokia's. Wish I had tried them before I got my last Panasonic.

I have had excellent results in range with Panasonic TCS-970 and Sony's DSS (I believe it's a 965). They were both Digital Spread Spectrum and got me all around the property. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I last bought a Panasonic KX-TG2563. a 2.4 DSS, and it has around 50-75% /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif of the 900 MHz range. Good phone, just does not get out as far as I like. Good luck. Ted - DK-45

rockyridgefarm · Feb 10, 2003

The Engenius is the same size as a Nokia 51xx cel phone. It is haevier, and has NiMh battery. The battery life isn't as long as LiIon, so a spare is nice (we use ours in a business, probably not totally necesary at home.) What IS necessay is the soft case that is also the belt clip. The clip works like a nokia, the case looks like a safety raft. It really protects the phone from impact.

With the case, the phones really hold up and really reach out...

JATO_RaT · Feb 10, 2003

Rockyridge, ever since the Engenius phone was brought up I have been intrigued. The case you describe does sound like an absolute necessity. The only thing I have read negative about this phone is the weight which consequently can damage it when dropped. The battery life is said to be about 36 hours so it will be necessary to replace it to the charger daily. The old Panasonic we had would go about 5 days off the charger. If the distance on the Enganius is even half of what it claims, then it sounds like the phone for me. I downloaded some Engenius info and one page has the actual size of the phone. It is much smaller then the pictures on the internet picture it to be. I like it. Rat...

rockyridgefarm · Feb 10, 2003

It isn't terribly heavy, but it is heavier than a 51xx. The case does a super job, but you do have to remove it to drop the phone in the charger. Engenius has a parent company that makes other models. They aren't FCC blessed, though. Cordlessmart.com has a good selection. Twacomm has some long range phones from Siemens and Panasonic, with a comparison to the engenius.

Hank · Feb 15, 2003

Any opinions about who makes a great cordless telephone 

We've had several kinds, currently a Siemens 2.4, and are happy with that.

Biggest problem I've encountered is, once in the hands of wife, our six handsets eventually all end up in the same location /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

DavidInNH · Feb 15, 2003

Hank,

It sounds like you have the same Siemens set that I have. My wife and two kids would migrate the phones to unknown locations in short order. I ALWAYS /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif left the phone in the cradle.

I love the functionality and size, but I've had a couple of serious problems with these phones. They do not survive repeated drops on slate and/or wood floors. The displays go first. Most of my charging cradles are now dead as well. I think we are now down from six phones to one or two. I don't know how other cordless phone stand up to the drop test, but I won't be buying more Siemens. To top things off, this is one of the few times I didn't buy the extended warranty. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Hank · Feb 15, 2003

It sounds like you have the same Siemens set that I have 

The Gigaset 2420.

Since we don't have kids, I've not had the problem with dropping them....just the migration problem /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif My manager at work has a Panasonic system, but also experiences similar migration problems in his house, so it must not be brand-specific /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

However, I've noticed in buying some refurbished handsets (that's all you can get now) that there are problems with the charging system. Out of 3 refurbished handsets purchased, I've had to return 2 for just such problems.

First thing I do is replace the NiCad batteries with NIMH...they work in the same charger and last 50% longer, easily.