Cordless phone recommendations please

[Tim Flatcher]

I want to buy a cordless phone for my grandparents.

Most important feature is *ease of use*.

Especially ability to program at least 5 or 6 numbers into memory that you
only need to press one button to call. ie. dont need to press [MEM] and
then number.

And handset not too small for failing eyes

thanks in advance

Tim

 

[Rod Speed]

Tim Flatcher <tim_flat78@nospam.org.au> wrote in message news:ba0f3bede7d52876d5fc31bed6a5377a@news.teranews.com...

I want to buy a cordless phone for my grandparents.

Most important feature is *ease of use*.

Especially ability to program at least 5 or 6 numbers into
memory that you only need to press one button to call.
ie. dont need to press [MEM] and then number.

I'm not sure that any of them are ideal for that, largely because
you cant write the name beside the button for speed dialing.

Some do have a system where you hit the speed dial button,
see the text on the screen, hit another button to initiate the dial.

Not that convenient to setup tho, particularly entering the text.

And handset not too small for failing eyes

And thats another problem, most have relatively small screens
so the handset isnt too big. Cant say I have noticed one that
allows large fonts like some mobile handsets do.

 

[Ian]

"Tim Flatcher" <tim_flat78@nospam.org.au> wrote in message
news:ba0f3bede7d52876d5fc31bed6a5377a@news.teranews.com...

I want to buy a cordless phone for my grandparents.

Most important feature is *ease of use*.

Especially ability to program at least 5 or 6 numbers into memory that you
only need to press one button to call. ie. dont need to press [MEM] and
then number.

And handset not too small for failing eyes

thanks in advance

Tim
I just bought a Telstra F8000 DECT cordless for $69:00 for my older
sister, 60, I programmed it to hold 10 numbers & she reckons its ideal.

I've got much more expensive 'phones at home but reckon this unit is as good
as most!
Robby

 

[Gerhard Beulke]

In article <ba0f3bede7d52876d5fc31bed6a5377a@news.teranews.com>,
tim_flat78@nospam.org.au says...

I want to buy a cordless phone for my grandparents.

Most important feature is *ease of use*.

Especially ability to program at least 5 or 6 numbers into memory that you
only need to press one button to call. ie. dont need to press [MEM] and
then number.

And handset not too small for failing eyes

thanks in advance

Tim

I have a Panasonic KX-TG2583ALS here and would NOT recommend it.
I have the second battery already (the unit is only 8 months old) and
their battery life is shocking!
I put it only in the charger when the battery is flat and take it out
when it is fully recharged. So no misuse...

I was very happy previously with Panasonic products but what I bought in
the last years here lacks on quality.

Cheers

--

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[Rod Speed]

"Gerhard Beulke" <palmcove@email.com> wrote in message news:MPG.1af30c27cc4b483a9897ba@News.individual.DE...

In article <ba0f3bede7d52876d5fc31bed6a5377a@news.teranews.com>,
tim_flat78@nospam.org.au says...
I want to buy a cordless phone for my grandparents.

Most important feature is *ease of use*.

Especially ability to program at least 5 or 6 numbers into memory that you
only need to press one button to call. ie. dont need to press [MEM] and
then number.

And handset not too small for failing eyes

thanks in advance

Tim

I have a Panasonic KX-TG2583ALS here and would NOT recommend it.
I have the second battery already (the unit is only 8 months old) and
their battery life is shocking!
I put it only in the charger when the battery is flat and take it out
when it is fully recharged. So no misuse...

I was very happy previously with Panasonic products
but what I bought in the last years here lacks on quality.

Havent got that effect with my 735.

I also dont put the handset on the base until the battery is well
down. Main downside with the 735 is that it beeps very irritatingly
when the battery is low, bad enough so I cant sleep thru it.

 

[Mal]

Rod Speed wrote:
<snip>

Havent got that effect with my 735.

I also dont put the handset on the base until the battery is well
down. Main downside with the 735 is that it beeps very irritatingly
when the battery is low, bad enough so I cant sleep thru it.

Rod,

There's a setting to turn that beeping off if you want.

From the handset.

Menu
Setting Handset
Tone Alarm
Battery Alarm
OFF

I switched it off because when the battery was pretty low and I was on a
call the noise of it was irritating - even though there was still enough
charge for lots more talk.

 

[Rod Speed]

"Mal" <Mal_Murray@Hotmail.com> wrote in message news:40887d7f$0$20085$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...

Rod Speed wrote:
snip

Havent got that effect with my 735.

I also dont put the handset on the base until the battery is well
down. Main downside with the 735 is that it beeps very irritatingly
when the battery is low, bad enough so I cant sleep thru it.


Rod,

There's a setting to turn that beeping off if you want.

Yeah, unfortunately I dont want to turn it off because
I do want to charge the handset when I've forgotten
to charge it and it hits the low during the day.

And it warns much too late too. Damned nuisance when
it warns during a phone call, you cant really used it for long.

I'm tempted to always put it back on the base to avoid
the problem completely and wear the shorter battery life.

It uses standard AA rechargable batterys so its very easy
to change them when they have passed their useby date.

From the handset.

Menu
Setting Handset
Tone Alarm
Battery Alarm
OFF

I switched it off because when the battery was pretty
low and I was on a call the noise of it was irritating

Yeah, it really stops on the phone call during a beep.

- even though there was still enough charge for lots more talk.

I havent found that and have had to put it back
on the base and switch to the base at times.

 

[Ralph]

Can you use the 2200 mHr NiMH rechargeables that are used in a lot of
digital cameras?
Have a standby set already charged.

--
remove n u m b e r s to reply
Rod Speed wrote in message ...

"Mal" <Mal_Murray@Hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:40887d7f$0$20085$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
Rod Speed wrote:
snip

Havent got that effect with my 735.

I also dont put the handset on the base until the battery is well
down. Main downside with the 735 is that it beeps very irritatingly
when the battery is low, bad enough so I cant sleep thru it.


Rod,

There's a setting to turn that beeping off if you want.

Yeah, unfortunately I dont want to turn it off because
I do want to charge the handset when I've forgotten
to charge it and it hits the low during the day.

And it warns much too late too. Damned nuisance when
it warns during a phone call, you cant really used it for long.

I'm tempted to always put it back on the base to avoid
the problem completely and wear the shorter battery life.

It uses standard AA rechargable batterys so its very easy
to change them when they have passed their useby date.

From the handset.

Menu
Setting Handset
Tone Alarm
Battery Alarm
OFF

I switched it off because when the battery was pretty
low and I was on a call the noise of it was irritating

Yeah, it really stops on the phone call during a beep.

- even though there was still enough charge for lots more talk.

I havent found that and have had to put it back
on the base and switch to the base at times.

 

[Rod Speed]

Ralph <Ralph.Smith2@team4.telstra6.com> wrote in message
news:c69vv9$q54$1@mws-stat-syd.cdn.telstra.com.au...

Can you use the 2200 mHr NiMH rechargeables
that are used in a lot of digital cameras?

Have a standby set already charged.

I cant be bothered farting around changing batterys.

I'd basically just treat the batterys rough by always keeping
it on the base and wear the reduced battery life instead.

Come to think of it, since they are NiMH,
likely it wouldnt reduce their life anyway.

Rod Speed wrote in message ...

"Mal" <Mal_Murray@Hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:40887d7f$0$20085$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
Rod Speed wrote:
snip

Havent got that effect with my 735.

I also dont put the handset on the base until the battery is well
down. Main downside with the 735 is that it beeps very irritatingly
when the battery is low, bad enough so I cant sleep thru it.


Rod,

There's a setting to turn that beeping off if you want.

Yeah, unfortunately I dont want to turn it off because
I do want to charge the handset when I've forgotten
to charge it and it hits the low during the day.

And it warns much too late too. Damned nuisance when
it warns during a phone call, you cant really used it for long.

I'm tempted to always put it back on the base to avoid
the problem completely and wear the shorter battery life.

It uses standard AA rechargable batterys so its very easy
to change them when they have passed their useby date.

From the handset.

Menu
Setting Handset
Tone Alarm
Battery Alarm
OFF

I switched it off because when the battery was pretty
low and I was on a call the noise of it was irritating

Yeah, it really stops on the phone call during a beep.

- even though there was still enough charge for lots more talk.

I havent found that and have had to put it back
on the base and switch to the base at times.

 

[Nick W]

Rod Speed wrote in message ...

Ralph <Ralph.Smith2@team4.telstra6.com> wrote in message
news:c69vv9$q54$1@mws-stat-syd.cdn.telstra.com.au...

Can you use the 2200 mHr NiMH rechargeables
that are used in a lot of digital cameras?

Have a standby set already charged.

I cant be bothered farting around changing batterys.

I'd basically just treat the batterys rough by always keeping
it on the base and wear the reduced battery life instead.

Come to think of it, since they are NiMH,
likely it wouldnt reduce their life anyway.

I'd run with that Rod, I've had 2 Panasonic Cordless' and left them on the
base most of the time, the first one lasted longer than my friend who bought
hers at the same time & religiously left it off until it was flat each time.

Nick

 

[streetwise]

You do actually sleep?



"Rod Speed" <rod_speed@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c69tup$9nnri$1@ID-69072.news.uni-berlin.de...
|
|
| I also dont put the handset on the base until the battery is well
| down. Main downside with the 735 is that it beeps very irritatingly
| when the battery is low, bad enough so I cant sleep thru it.
|
|

 

[eug k]

In aus.electronics Gerhard Beulke <palmcove@email.com> wrote:

In article <ba0f3bede7d52876d5fc31bed6a5377a@news.teranews.com>,
tim_flat78@nospam.org.au says...

And handset not too small for failing eyes

thanks in advance

Tim

I have a Panasonic KX-TG2583ALS here and would NOT recommend it.
I have the second battery already (the unit is only 8 months old) and
their battery life is shocking!
I put it only in the charger when the battery is flat and take it out
when it is fully recharged. So no misuse...

I was very happy previously with Panasonic products but what I bought in
the last years here lacks on quality.

That reminds me of my friend's 10-to-15-year old Panasonic whose
nicad battery has never been changed. Still works fine! I don't
suppose the battery will have much life, but it works for them.

I replaced it with an Audioline DECT. A few months later, the
base started causing a buzz in the handset. sigh.



--

 

[eug k]

In aus.electronics Rod Speed <rod_speed@yahoo.com> wrote:

"Mal" <Mal_Murray@Hotmail.com> wrote in message news:40887d7f$0$20085$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
Rod Speed wrote:
snip

There's a setting to turn that beeping off if you want.

[...]

I'm tempted to always put it back on the base to avoid
the problem completely and wear the shorter battery life.

Does it really shorten the battery life? I thought it was
a smart charger. Definitely a slow one too.

I know my ericsson dect knows when the battery is full - if I
put a fully-charged handset into the base, the charging LED
will just flash and switch off. For a high-end Panasonic
handset, I'd expect something like that to be standard...

It uses standard AA rechargable batterys so its very easy
to change them when they have passed their useby date.

That's true, I find it almost liberating that I don't have
to buy a ridiculous $30 battery later on.

The absolute best thing about using AAs is that the
handset never gets a rest - I always have nimh AAs on
charge on a seperate charger for my other stuff, so when
the phone batt runs flat I just swap them over.



--

 

[Rod Speed]

eug k <wired_au@change-this-to-ho.tmail.com> wrote
in message news:c6pah1$qll$3@bunyip.cc.uq.edu.au...

Rod Speed <rod_speed@yahoo.com> wrote
Mal <Mal_Murray@Hotmail.com> wrote
Rod Speed wrote:

There's a setting to turn that beeping off if you want.

I'm tempted to always put it back on the base to avoid
the problem completely and wear the shorter battery life.

Does it really shorten the battery life?

It shouldnt with an NiMH battery,
but the manual still says that it will.

I thought it was a smart charger.

Thats not the problem, its certainly a problem with NiCad batterys.

Definitely a slow one too.

Yeah, its a bit of a pain compared with say a Nokia mobile phone.

I know my ericsson dect knows when the battery
is full - if I put a fully-charged handset into the base,
the charging LED will just flash and switch off.

Yeah, my Logitec MX700 cordless optical mouse does it like that too.

And if its warning of low battery, you can still used it fine for half
a day or more regardless, and it charges quite quickly too, good
enough so that say charging over lunch is all you need. Not sure
how long it takes to fully charge because I normally stick it in
the charging garage when I go to bed and its off when I get up.

For a high-end Panasonic handset, I'd
expect something like that to be standard...

Sure.

It uses standard AA rechargable batterys so its very easy
to change them when they have passed their useby date.

That's true, I find it almost liberating that I don't
have to buy a ridiculous $30 battery later on.

Yeah, one of the reasons I picked it.

The absolute best thing about using AAs is that the
handset never gets a rest - I always have nimh AAs
on charge on a seperate charger for my other stuff,
so when the phone batt runs flat I just swap them over.

I deliberately chose to not go that route with the cordless
optical mouse, too much of a hassle physically changing them.

Not sure what happens with the 735 cordless handset
programming if you swap the batterys either.

 

[eug k]

In aus.comms Rod Speed <rod_speed@yahoo.com> wrote:

eug k <wired_au@change-this-to-ho.tmail.com> wrote

The absolute best thing about using AAs is that the
handset never gets a rest - I always have nimh AAs
on charge on a seperate charger for my other stuff,
so when the phone batt runs flat I just swap them over.

I deliberately chose to not go that route with the cordless
optical mouse, too much of a hassle physically changing them.

bah, i bought mine too early, before the rechargable ones
came out. It was a hassle at first swapping the batteries,
but after a while it just became routine. It's only once
every two weeks or so anyway. A rechargable one does make it
more convenient though, and I assume the cradle would avoid
the problem of waking the monitors up if i bump the table.

Not sure what happens with the 735 cordless handset
programming if you swap the batterys either.

good news - nothing!


--