Phone Sold
Consumer Reports – wireless-phone
It's easier than ever to have a phone where you want. The newest generation of mobile Wireless allows you to put a phone in any room of the house, even if no phone jack nearby.
However, manufacturers continue to offer a bewildering variety of phones: inexpensive models that offer the basics; multihandset, full-featured phones with a built-in answering machine, a single line and two line phones, analog and digital phones, and different frequency bands. In many cases, a phone will have a brother telephone-answering machine. Many phone-to respond with a phone-only version. If you have a cordless phone that is several years old, probably phone is 900-MHz. Newer phones use higher frequencies, ie 2.4 or 5.8 GHz They are not necessarily better than the previous ones, but may provide more security and calling for a wider range of useful capabilities and features.
What's Available
AT & T, Bell South, GE, Panasonic, Uniden, VTech and has more than 70 percent of the market. VTech is the owner of AT & T Consumer Products Division and now makes phones under the AT & T and its own name.
The current trends include phones that support two or more mobile phones with a base, less expensive than 2.4 and 5.8 GHz analog phones, and full-featured 2.4 and 5.8 GHz digital phones. Some of the many capable phones phone-now include an additional handset with charging cradle. About one third of wireless phones sold include a digital answering machine.
A major distinction between wireless phones is the way they transmit their signals. Here are some terms you may see while shopping and what mean to you:
Analog. These phones are the cheapest type available now. They tend to have the best voice quality and enough range to allow chat anywhere in your home and garden, or even a little further. They are also unlikely to cause interference with other wireless products. But analog transmission is not very safe, anyone with an RF scanner or comparable wireless device may be able to listen in. Analog phones are also more likely than digital phones to suffer occasional static interference and RF from other wireless products. Price Range: $ 15 to $ 100.
Digital. They offer the same range as analog phones, but with greater safety and less susceptibility to RF interference. And, like the analogous is unlikely to cause interference with other wireless products. Price Range: $ 50 to $ 130.
Digital Spread Spectrum (DSS). A phone DSS distributes a call through a number of frequencies, providing an extra measure of security and more immunity from RF interference. The range may be slightly better than analog or digital phones. Note that some phones DSS – tends to be the 2.4 GHz or more phones with phone capability handset to handset talk capabilities – such use of a wide swath of spectrum, even in sleep mode can interfere with the baby monitors and other products Wireless operating in the same frequency band. Price Range: $ 75 to $ 225 (for multiple telephone systems).
Frequency. Phones wireless use one or two of the three frequency bands available:
* 900-MHz. Some manufacturers are making low-cost 900 MHz phones, usually analog. They are fine for many households, and continue to represent around a quarter of the market.
* 2.4-GHz. The band now used by most phone. Unfortunately, many other wireless products – baby monitors, wireless computer networks, home security monitors, speakers wireless, microwave ovens – use the same band. A 2.4 GHz analog phone is inherently susceptible to RF interference from other wireless devices, and a 2.4-GHz DSS phone may cause interference to other products. However, DSS phones advertised as "802.11-friendly" are unlikely to interfere wireless networks.
* 5.8-GHz. The band use the new phones. Its main advantage: less chance of interference because few other RF products currently use this band. Some phones are dual band, but that just means that transmitted between the base and handset in one band and receive in another, you can not change or choose one or the other side.
IMPORTANT FEATURES
Standard features on most cordless handset phone include volume control, handset ringer, last number redial, a pager to locate the handset, a flash button to answer the call waiting, and a low battery indicator.
Some phones can support two or more phones with a single base without the need for telephone jacks additional. Further, including wireless base load are usually sold separately, although they are more telephones are being bundled with a headset load additional cot.
An LCD screen found on many phones and some bases, can display a personal phone directories and other information useful as the name and / or number dialed, caller ID, battery strength, or how long it has been connected. Caller ID displays the name and number the caller and the date and time of the call if you use your phone company Caller ID service calls. If you have caller ID with call waiting, the phone displays the data in a second call when you're already on the phone.
A phone that supports two lines can be received calls for two phone numbers – useful if you have, say, a line of business and a personal line that you want to use from a single telephone. Some phones have two fingers, each with a distinctive tone to let you know which line is ringing. The function also provides two-line conference Two callers to three-way connections. Some phones with two lines of data have an auxiliary port to connect a fax, modem or other device another phone that can also be useful.
A speakerphone offers hands-free way to converse or wait on hold and lets others chime too. A base speakerphone lets you answer a call without the handset, a handset speakerphone lets you chat hands-free anywhere in the house, provided remains within a few feet from the handset.
A base complements the keyboard keypad on the handset. It is useful to navigate the menu-based systems, as no have to take the phone away from your ear to hit the keys. Some phones have a keyboard light or glow in the dark or lights up when pressed a key, or when the phone rings. This makes the phone easier to use in low light. All phones have been ringing phone, and many phones have a ringer from the base. Some let you turn on or off, adjust volume or change the audio tone.
Many cordless phones have a headphone jack on the handset and includes a belt clip to carry the phone. This allows hands-free conversation anywhere in the house. Some phones have a headphone jack on the base, which allows hands-free conversation without any drain on the battery terminal. The headphones are sold separately by usually for about $ 20.
Other convenient features include auto talk, which lets you lift the handset from the base of an incoming call and start talking without having to press a button, and any key answer.
Some phones provide a battery holder for battery backup – a compartment at the base to charge a spare phone Battery Pack or alkaline batteries to keep backup power base, either of which may allow the phone work if the electricity goes home. However, it is wise to keep a corded phone somewhere in your home.
Some phones with capacity for multiple phones allow conversation between handsets in an intercom mode and facilitate conferencing handsets with an outside party. In intercom mode, phones must be within the scope of the database for mobile to mobile. Others do not have this capability talk phone to phone, but allows you to transfer calls from phone to phone, but do not use the conference phone with external caller. However, other phones allow direct communication between terminals so you can take with you to use as walkie-talkies. Some phones can register up to eight mobile phones, for example, but that does not mean you can use all eight at once. You may be able to use two phone to phone intercom, while two others conference with a third party.
HOW TO CHOOSE
Decide how much hardware you need. The basic options are a separate telephone, answering a phone with a built-in or a phone that supports phone number of a database. A separate phone is best suited for small families or people in a small apartment with little need for more than a phone. The built-in responding, a common choice, add a large measure of convenience. A mobile phone is good for many active families who need phones throughout the house, this type of phone headset lets you put in a room that does not have a phone jack.
Select technology and bandwidth frequency. A 900 MHz phone should suit most users, but these can be difficult to find because of 2.4 and 5.8 GHz models dominate. It is likely that find a wide range of models and prices with 2.4GHz phones But if you want to minimize interference problems with other wireless products looks at a 5.8-GHz and 900 MHz phone. analog phones, which may be less expensive than digital, are fine for many people. But if privacy is important, choose a DSS or digital phone.
To ensure that DSS is made to get a digital or phone for your voice up, mark the container carefully. Look for words like "digital phone" from "digital spread spectrum (DSS)" or "frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS). "Phrases such as" phone with digital security code, "" all-digital phone with answering machine "or" Spread Spectrum "(spectrum expanded non-digital) denote that all phones are less secure.
Dual-use phones transmission band may indicate a higher frequency in a larger footprint in the package. If you want a true 2.4 or 5.8 GHz phone, check the fine print. If only the frequency will be prominently displayed on the packaging, is likely to be analog.
Decide on the features you want. Normally you would expect from caller ID, a headphone jack, and a base that can be mounted on the wall. However, the features do not end there for the two cell autonomous, and they respond by telephone. Check the box or ask to see an instruction manual be sure to get the capabilities and features that interest you. In general, the more feature rich phone, the higher its price.
Performance variations. Consumer Reports tests show that most new cordless phones are generally very good voice quality. Some are excellent, approaching the voice quality of the best corded phones. In our latest tests, most fully charged nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) or nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) operates eight hours of continuous talk time before needing recharging. Most manufacturers claim a battery fully charged last at least a week in standby mode. When they can not hold a charge, a Replacement Battery, usually proprietary, costs about $ 10 to $ 25 and can be difficult to find. Some phones use less expensive AA or AAA rechargeable batteries. (To find a store that a used battery recycling, call 800-822-8837.)
Give the handset a test drive. At the store, hold the handset to your head to see if you feel comfortable. It must adapt to the contours of your face. The headset should have the edge rounded and recessed center that fits perfectly in the middle ear. Check the buttons and controls to ensure they are reasonably sized and legible.
Do not throw the landline phone. It's a good idea to have at least one corded phone in your home, if only for emergencies. Your wireless phone may not work if you lose power, and a Cell Phone will not work if you can not get a signal or the circuits are full. A phone based leadership the telephone system and can operate without power from the wall.
Message centers and answering machines
digital machines come as independent response devices or as part of a telephone / answering machine combo unit. The major advantage of a combo unit – less clutter – it must be weighed against the loss of part of the combo if the other is wrong. Top Answerers usually have standard features and capabilities such as a selectable number of rings and a cell saver, which responds on / off, call screening, remote access from a touch-tone telephone, and a variety of ways to navigate through your messages. The Most have a date and time message, you can delete all messages or only the person, you can adjust the speaker volume, and can retain messages after a momentary outage greeting.
Other features that answer you may want to consider are the number of mailboxes, advanced controls playback, remote access, conversation recording, a message display counter indicating the number of messages received, and a visual or audible indicator message alert lets you know when you have new messages.
In Consumer Reports tests, most of the ones that have responded delivers voice quality very good for recorded messages and good quality for the greeting. Phones that allow you to record your greeting through the handset (ie, using remote access) usually sound better. Some let you listen to your greeting through the phone, instead of listening when the speaker at the base, which gives a better indication of how the greeting will sound to the caller. Price Range: $ 20 to $ 80 (separate units), $ 30 to $ 240 (combos).
Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union U.S., Inc.
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Who makes the best selling cell phone in the U.S.?
I always prefer NOKIA
