| It's easier than ever to have a phone where | | | | usually sold separately for about $20. |
| you want one. The newest breed of cordless | | | | |
| phones lets you put a handset in any room in | | | | Other convenient features include auto talk, |
| the house, even if no phone jack is nearby. | | | | which lets you lift the handset off the base |
| | | | for an incoming call and start talking |
| However, manufacturers still offer a | | | | without having to press a button, and any key |
| bewildering array of phones: inexpensive | | | | answer. |
| models that offer the basics; multihandset, | | | | |
| full-featured phones with a built-in | | | | Some phones provide a battery holder for |
| answering machine; single-line and two-line | | | | battery backup--a compartment in the base to |
| phones; digital and analog phones, and | | | | charge a spare handset battery pack or to |
| different frequency bands. In many instances, | | | | hold alkaline batteries for base-power |
| a phone will have a phone-answerer sibling. | | | | backup, either of which can enable the phone |
| Many phone-answerers come in a phone-only | | | | to work if you lose household AC power. |
| version. If you have a cordless phone that's | | | | Still, it's wise to keep a corded phone |
| several years old, it's probably a 900-MHz | | | | somewhere in your home. |
| phone. Newer phones use higher frequencies, | | | | |
| namely 2.4 or 5.8 GHz. They aren't | | | | Some multiple-handset-capable phones allow |
| necessarily better than the older ones, but | | | | conversation between handsets in an intercom |
| they may provide more calling security and a | | | | mode and facilitate conferencing handsets |
| wider array of useful capabilities and | | | | with an outside party. In intercom mode, the |
| features. | | | | handsets have to be within range of the base |
| | | | for handset-to-handset use. Others lack this |
| WHAT'S AVAILABLE | | | | handset-to-handset talk capability; they |
| | | | allow you to transfer calls from handset to |
| AT&T, Bell South, GE, Panasonic, Uniden, and | | | | handset but not to use the handsets to |
| VTech account for more than 70 percent of the | | | | conference with an outside caller. Still |
| market. VTech owns the AT&T Consumer Products | | | | other phones allow direct communication |
| Division and now makes phones under the AT&T | | | | between handsets, so you can take them with |
| brand as well as its own name. | | | | you to use like walkie-talkies. Some phones |
| | | | can register up to eight handsets, for |
| The current trends include phones that | | | | instance, but that doesn't mean you can use |
| support two or more handsets with one base, | | | | all eight at once. You might be able to use |
| less expensive 2.4- and 5.8-GHz analog | | | | two for handset-to-handset intercom, while |
| phones, and full-featured 2.4 and 5.8-GHz | | | | two others conference with an outside party. |
| digital phones. Some of the | | | | |
| multiple-handset-capable phones now include | | | | HOW TO CHOOSE |
| an additional handset with a charging cradle. | | | | |
| About a third of the cordless phones sold | | | | Decide how much hardware you need. The basic |
| include a digital answering machine. | | | | options are a stand-alone phone, a phone with |
| | | | a built-in answerer, or a phone that supports |
| A main distinction among cordless phones is | | | | multiple handsets from one base. A |
| the way they transmit their signals. Here are | | | | stand-alone phone is best suited for small |
| some terms that you may see while shopping | | | | families or people in a small apartment with |
| and what they mean for you: | | | | little need for more than one phone. The |
| | | | built-in answerer, a common choice, adds a |
| Analog. These phones are the least expensive | | | | big measure of convenience. A |
| type available now. They tend to have the | | | | multiple-handset phone is good for active |
| better voice quality and enough range to let | | | | families who need phones throughout the |
| you chat anywhere in your house and yard, or | | | | house; this type of phone lets you put |
| even a little beyond. They are also unlikely | | | | handsets in a room that doesn't have a phone |
| to cause interference to other wireless | | | | jack. |
| products. But analog transmission isn't very | | | | |
| secure; anyone with an RF scanner or | | | | Select the technology and frequency band. A |
| comparable wireless device might be able to | | | | 900-MHz phone should suit most users, but |
| listen in. Analog phones are also more likely | | | | that type may be hard to find because 2.4- |
| than digital phones to suffer occasional | | | | and 5.8-GHz models dominate. You're likely to |
| static and RF interference from other | | | | find the widest range of models and prices |
| wireless products. Price range: $15 to $100. | | | | with 2.4-GHz phones. But if you want to |
| | | | minimize problems of interference with other |
| Digital. These offer about the same range as | | | | wireless products, look to a 5.8-GHz or |
| analog phones, but with better security and | | | | 900-MHz phone. Analog phones, apt to be less |
| less susceptibility to RF interference. And, | | | | expensive than digital, are fine for many |
| like analogs, they are unlikely to cause | | | | people. But if privacy is important, choose a |
| interference to other wireless products. | | | | DSS or digital phone. |
| Price range: $50 to $130. | | | | |
| | | | To be sure you're actually getting a DSS or |
| Digital spread spectrum (DSS). A DSS phone | | | | digital phone for its voice-transmission |
| distributes a call across a number of | | | | security, check the packaging carefully. Look |
| frequencies, providing an added measure of | | | | for wording such as "digital phone," "digital |
| security and more immunity from RF | | | | spread spectrum (DSS)" or "frequency-hopping |
| interference. The range may be slightly | | | | spread spectrum (FHSS)." Phrases such as |
| better than that of analog or digital phones. | | | | "phone with digital security code," "phone |
| Note that some DSS phones--usually the | | | | with all-digital answerer," or "spread |
| 2.4-GHz or the multiple-handset -capable | | | | spectrum technology" (not digital spread |
| phones with handset-to-handset talk | | | | spectrum) all denote phones that are less |
| capabilities--use such a wide swath of the | | | | secure. |
| spectrum even in standby mode that they may | | | | |
| interfere with baby monitors and other | | | | Phones that use dual-band transmission may |
| wireless products operating in the same | | | | indicate the higher frequency in a larger |
| frequency band. Price range: $75 to $225 (for | | | | print on the packaging. If you want a true |
| multiple handset systems). | | | | 2.4- or 5.8-GHz phone, check the fine print. |
| | | | If only the frequency is prominently shown on |
| Frequency. Cordless phones use one or two of | | | | the package, it's probably analog. |
| the three available frequency bands: | | | | |
| | | | Settle on the features you want. You can |
| * 900-MHz. Some manufacturers still make | | | | typically expect caller ID, a headset jack, |
| inexpensive, 900-MHz phones, usually analog. | | | | and a base that can be wall-mounted. But the |
| They are fine for many households, and still | | | | features don't end there for both stand-alone |
| account for about one-quarter of the market. | | | | phones and phone-answerers. Check the box or |
| | | | ask to see an instruction manual to be sure |
| * 2.4-GHz. The band most phones now use. | | | | you're getting the capabilities and features |
| Unfortunately, many other wireless | | | | that matter to you. As a rule, the more |
| products--baby monitors, wireless computer | | | | feature-laden the phone, the higher its |
| networks, home security monitors, wireless | | | | price. |
| speakers, microwaves ovens--use the same | | | | |
| band. A 2.4-GHz analog phone is inherently | | | | Performance variations. Consumer Reports' |
| susceptible to RF interference from other | | | | tests show that most new cordless phones have |
| wireless devices, and a 2.4-GHz DSS phone may | | | | very good overall voice quality. Some are |
| cause interference in other products. | | | | excellent, approaching the voice quality of |
| However, DSS phones billed as | | | | the best corded phones. In our latest tests, |
| "802.11-friendly" are unlikely to interfere | | | | most fully charged nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) or |
| with wireless computer networks. | | | | nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries |
| | | | handled eight hours of continuous |
| * 5.8-GHz. The band that newer phones use. | | | | conversation before they needed recharging. |
| Its main advantage: less chance of RF | | | | Most manufacturers claim that a fully charged |
| interference because few other products | | | | battery will last at least a week in standby |
| currently use this band. Some phones are | | | | mode. When they can no longer hold a charge, |
| dual-band, but that only means they transmit | | | | a replacement battery, usually proprietary, |
| between base and handset in one band and | | | | costs about $10 to $25, and may be difficult |
| receive in another; you can't switch to or | | | | to find. Some phones use less-expensive AA or |
| choose one band or another. | | | | AAA rechargeable batteries. (To find a store |
| | | | that will recycle a used battery, call |
| IMPORTANT FEATURES | | | | 800-822-8837.) |
| | | | |
| Standard features on most cordless phones | | | | Give the handset a test drive. In the store, |
| include handset earpiece volume control, | | | | hold the handset to your head to see if it |
| handset ringer, last-number redial, a pager | | | | feels comfortable. It should fit the contours |
| to locate the handset, a flash button to | | | | of your face. The earpiece should have |
| answer call waiting, and a low-battery | | | | rounded edges and a recessed center that fits |
| indicator. | | | | nicely over the middle of your ear. Check the |
| | | | buttons and controls to make sure they're |
| Some phones let you support two or more | | | | reasonably sized and legible. |
| handsets with just one base without the need | | | | |
| for extra phone jacks. Additional handsets | | | | Don't discard the corded phone. It's a good |
| including the charging cradle are usually | | | | idea to keep at least one corded phone in |
| sold separately, although more phones are | | | | your home, if only for emergencies. A |
| being bundled with an additional handset and | | | | cordless phone may not work if you lose |
| charging cradle. | | | | electrical power, and a cell phone won't work |
| | | | if you can't get a signal or the circuits are |
| An LCD screen, found on many handsets and on | | | | full. A corded phone draws its power from the |
| some bases, can display a personal phone | | | | phone system and can function without |
| directory and useful information such as the | | | | household AC power. |
| name and/or number dialed, caller ID, battery | | | | |
| strength, or how long you've been connected. | | | | MESSAGE CENTERS AND ANSWERING MACHINES |
| Caller ID displays the name and number of a | | | | |
| caller and the date and time of the call if | | | | Digital answering machines come as |
| you use your phone company's caller ID | | | | stand-alone devices or as part of a phone |
| service. If you have caller ID with call | | | | answerer combo unit. The main advantage of a |
| waiting, the phone will display data on a | | | | combo unit--less clutter--has to be weighed |
| second caller when you're already on the | | | | against the loss of one part of the combo if |
| phone. | | | | the other goes bad. Answerers usually have |
| | | | standard features and capabilities such as a |
| A phone that supports two lines can receive | | | | selectable number of rings and a toll-saver, |
| calls for two phone numbers--useful if you | | | | answerer on/off control, call screening, |
| have, say, a business line and a personal | | | | remote access from a touch-tone phone, and a |
| line that you'd like to use from a single | | | | variety of ways to navigate through your |
| phone. Some of the phones have two ringers, | | | | messages. Most have a message day/time stamp, |
| each with a distinctive pitch to let you know | | | | can delete all messages or just individual |
| which line is ringing. The two-line feature | | | | ones, allow you to adjust the speaker volume, |
| also facilitates conferencing two callers in | | | | and can retain messages and greeting after a |
| three-way connections. Some two-line phones | | | | momentary power outage. |
| have an auxiliary jack data port to plug in a | | | | |
| fax, modem, or other phone device that can | | | | Other answerer features you may want to |
| also be useful. | | | | consider are the number of mailboxes, |
| | | | advanced playback controls, remote handset |
| A speaker phone offers a hands-free way to | | | | access, conversation recording, a message |
| converse or wait on hold and lets others | | | | counter display that indicates the number of |
| chime in as well. A base speakerphone lets | | | | messages received, and a visual indicator or |
| you answer a call without the handset; a | | | | audible message alert that lets you know when |
| handset speakerphone lets you chat hands-free | | | | you have new messages. |
| anywhere in the house as long as you stay | | | | |
| within a few feet of the handset. | | | | In Consumer Reports' tests, most answerers |
| | | | delivered very good voice quality for |
| A base keypad supplements the keypad on the | | | | recorded messages and good quality for the |
| handset. It's handy for navigating | | | | greeting. Phones that let you record your |
| menu-driven systems, since you don't have to | | | | greeting through the handset (i.e., using the |
| take the phone away from your ear to punch | | | | remote handset access) usually sound better. |
| the keys. Some phones have a lighted keypad | | | | Some let you listen to your greeting through |
| that either glows in the dark or lights up | | | | the handset, as opposed to listening though |
| when you press a key, or when the phone | | | | the base speaker; that gives you a better |
| rings. This makes the phone easier to use in | | | | indication of how the greeting will sound to |
| low-light conditions. All phones have a | | | | the calling party. Price range: $20 to $80 |
| handset ringer, and many phones have a base | | | | (stand-alone units); $30 to $240 (combos). |
| ringer. Some let you turn them on or off, | | | | |
| adjust the volume, or change the auditory | | | | Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of |
| tone. | | | | U.S., Inc. |
| | | | |
| Many cordless phones have a headset jack on | | | | For the latest information on this and many |
| the handset and include a belt clip for | | | | other products and services, visit |
| carrying the phone. This allows hands-free | | | | |
| conversation anywhere in the house. Some | | | | Find Morecordless Phone with Easy Deal at |
| phones have a headset jack on the base, which | | | | |
| allows hands-free conversation without any | | | | ShopNdeal. |
| drain on the handset battery. Headsets are | | | | |