Multi-handset cordless phone systems

[os1kne]

What am I missing? I'm normally fairly up-to-date on knowing what's going on with current home technology items, but I must have fallen asleep with the new cordless phones.

My wife and I have 4 cordless phones (1 x 5.8 ghz, 2 x 2.4 ghz, and 1 x 900 mhz). The 5.8 ghz one gets used the most and is dying. I'm thinking we just need to get a new cordless phone (single handset), but my wife says we need a 4 handset system (something like this http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-KX-T...9687447&sr=1-3.

The price isn't really so much that it bothers me, but it makes me wonder - what's special about these multi-handset systems that I can't do with what I've already got + replacing 1 bad phone (why ditch the other working phones)?

She talks on phone a lot more than me, (probably 10x as much as me), and I know that we sometimes have interference with the wireless network. I suspect that some of the forum members have used systems like this, so what am I missing? What do they do better than individual units?

Thanks.

[JR]

LOML likes them because extensions can be located without respect to the location of a telephone jack. She's phobic about cables.

JR

[pelligrini]

I had to replace a cordless phone last year and I went with a 4 phone setup I found at Sams. One was weather resistant so it got put out in the shop.

The nice things about not having several individual units is only the base station needs to have phone jack access. The recharger cradles can be put anywhere.

I also like being able to check mesages from any phone, as well as from the base station. The intercom & paging features of mine get used a lot too. Especially from house to shop, or first floor to upstairs bedroom.

[os1kne]

Ok, maybe the paging features will be useful. Over the years, I've put telephone jacks just about everywhere that we'd have a use for one, so now there isn't much benefit to only having to connect one base unit - maybe if I bought one of these systems a few years ago it would have saved me a few hours of crawling in the attic and fishing telephone wire. I have telco provided voicemail, so there's no benefit there. Longer battery life and not having the occasional interference with the wireless network seem like the main benefits so far.

[crokett]

I like them because I don't need to worry about phone jacks. I also have to use them because we have Vonage and the Vonage box is down in the basement with the router.

[Nilt]

Yeah, the intercom and paging features are great. The LOML and I have dumped our land lines (we each had one plus a cell ... why?!) but we keep the multi-handset cordless set up for an intercom. Great way to go if you can afford it. The 5.8 GHz ones will have less interference too, most likely. Also, try to get one with a NiMH battery if you can. They tend to last better than the Ni-Cads ... they don't put decent cells in cordless phone batteries, for some reason.

[atgcpaul]

We have a GE set that works well....BUT....make sure your set can handle
multiple phones being used at once. If my wife picks up in the house before I
can pick up in the shop, I'm locked out. We can't talk to the 3rd party at the
same time.

[Thalermade]

My reasons to have a multi-handset cordless phone system (4 handsets):
1. No more phone jacks to install.
2. 2 story house plus finished basement.
3. 2 teenagers -
4. Phone ring is louder than cell phone. in case you need to awake those mentioned
in #3.
5. Intercom feature

Features to look for
1. Locate-the-handset feature
2. Label-the-handset feature (basement, kitchen, etc) so you know where it
supposed to be.
3. Ability to retrieve messages from answering machine from the handset.

Remember to leave one "old" (corded) phone plugged in somewhere for emergencies

[jackellis]

We have two multi-handset cordless phone systems - one for each phone line. we have them for all the reasons cited earlier. Get 5.8 GHz models - the others either have less range or interfere with the wireless network.

I wish we had bought our setups much earlier. They're very convenient and worth the modest cost, especially if you can get them on sale.

[dkerfoot]

The 5.8 ghz one gets used the most and is dying.

You probably just need to replace the battery. Bring the old one to Walmart and they'll probably have the replacement.

I had lousy luck with the multi-phone sets. Ended up returning two different brands (and 2 different frequencies) to Sam's (and I never return things!)

My old 900Mhz phones are built much better and have much less interference. As long as I can keep getting replacement batteries, I'm keeping them.

[os1kne]

You probably just need to replace the battery. Bring the old one to Walmart and they'll probably have the replacement.

That's actually what started the phone conversation with my wife.
Wife: This phone is dying!
Me: I'll get a new battery. (easy fix)
Wife: No, I think we should get a multi-phone system like this (points to ad).
Me: Ok. (it's wasn't worth arguing about, and I wasn't sure what the benefits of a multi-phone system were. I use the home phone maybe 1 hr/wk, she uses it several hrs/day-as her mother is ill. If the multi-phone systems cost 3x what they do, I might squabble - but they seem like a surprising value.)

Also, it turns out that the bad phone has been having some other issues, mic cutting out, etc. - so a battery wouldn't solve the problem anyway.

So I started this thread to learn more. I can see benefits from the intercom, no wifi interference, better battery life, and I suppose there's a chance we could go with a VOIP type service in the future. Thanks for the responses.

[pelligrini]

If the multi-phone systems cost 3x what they do, I might squabble - but they seem like a surprising value.)

I think the value comes from being all packaged in one box, cutting down packaging costs, distrobution costs, etc. The actual phone hardware isn't all that expensive.

[dewi1219]

I don't own one yet, but the DECT 6.0 units like the one from the original post are supposed to be superior in terms of range and interference rejection to the 2.4 & 5.8GHz units. Panasonic seems to be a favorite brand for these. I'm looking to buy too, and the intercom / naming / other features are a big plus for me.

Also, I'm not sure about the other brands, but the Panasonics use AAA NiMh batteries, so now once they die you don't have to search the ends of the earth for replacements

[os1kne]

Also, I'm not sure about the other brands, but the Panasonics use AAA NiMh batteries, so now once they die you don't have to search the ends of the earth for replacements

I noticed that also about the AAA NiMh batteries. All cordless phones should have gone that way long ago. Not only are replacement batteries a hassle to find, but they tend to cost almost as much as a new phone - so most people probably just buy a new phone and send the old one off to the landfill (not good for the environment).