Buying a cordless phone - need suggestions

[QueHuong]

Armed with my $20 off $50 Office Depot coupon, I need a good cordless phone with an integrated answering machine.

2.4ghz is nice to have, and digital spread spectrum transmission is a plus as well, but neither are necessary. I just need a reliable, durable phone that offers good sound quality (and integrated answering machine).

OD offers these phones for sale:
here

I'm willing to pay about $40 after the coupon is applied. I'm eyeing these Vtechs:

VTech VT2420

VTech 9162 (this is my favorite so far)


VTech 2468

For the price and features, which would be the best? And most importantly, how good are the VTechs? I've only recently heard of them so I don't know what they're like. Should I opt for GE instead?

 

[loup garou]

I've had several VTechs and one GE cordless phones. Don't buy them, they're crap. Go for a Panasonic. They're the best bang for the buck out there.

 

[Thegonagle]

Friends don't let friends buy 2.4 GHz. They suck, IMHO.

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Yeah, VTech isn't exactly top quality...I have two of their 900mhz phones and they work fine, but not great (the range is so-so). What do I expect for $10 after rebate from staples

 

[bmacd]

Originally posted by: werk
I've had several VTechs and one GE cordless phones. Don't buy them, they're crap. Go for a Panasonic. They're the best bang for the buck out there.

get a Panasonic 2.4ghz phone. Best phone investment you'll make. BTW...STAY AWAY FROM V-SHI...er..V-TECH!!

-=bmacd=-

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Originally posted by: Garfang
Friends don't let friends buy 2.4 GHz. They suck, IMHO.

And you base that on what logical reasoning? 2.4Ghz should be better than 900mhz...but sure, if you buy a $20 POS you're going to get a POS no matter what frequency it is...

 

[TechnoKid]

2.4Ghz? Why such old tech? hahah...j/k. Wait for the new 5ghz phones coming out...heard about them from consumer reports.
Right now, I'd go with a 2.4ghz from panasonic as well.

 

[Thegonagle]

I base this reasoning on the fact that 2.4 GHz does not penetrate walls as well as lower frequencies, 2.4 GHz phones and wireless LANs interfere with one another, oh and one more thing, 2.4 GHz is the approximate radio frequency that heats up water for your tea and pops popcorn. (Do you want that frequency right next to your brain?)

 

[LiekOMG]

Yep, stay away from Vtech phones, they are absolutly horrible.
I have a Panasonic 900mhz, and although the quality of it is pretty good, the range is very very short and it cuts off when you get too far without warning. Although a lot of people recommend Panasonic phones so maybe the model I have is a crappy one?
I also have a new Siemens 2.4Ghz phone. The range is a bit better than the Panasonic phone, however, the quality is terrible! Random static and pops and people complain that it sounds like i'm using a speakerphone when I use it (like a slight echo).

The best cordless phone I ever had was a 900mhz Uniden. Flawless quality, and I was able to take it with me to the end of my block and it would still work just fine. My two current phones I can barely step outside of my house with. Oh well, too bad the Uniden one fell on the floor and broke

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: DOACleric
Yep, stay away from Vtech phones, they are absolutly horrible.
I have a Panasonic 900mhz, and although the quality of it is pretty good, the range is very very short and it cuts off when you get too far without warning. Although a lot of people recommend Panasonic phones so maybe the model I have is a crappy one?
I also have a new Siemens 2.4Ghz phone. The range is a bit better than the Panasonic phone, however, the quality is terrible! Random static and pops and people complain that it sounds like i'm using a speakerphone when I use it (like a slight echo).

The best cordless phone I ever had was a 900mhz Uniden. Flawless quality, and I was able to take it with me to the end of my block and it would still work just fine. My two current phones I can barely step outside of my house with. Oh well, too bad the Uniden one fell on the floor and broke

I forgot about Uniden. They're definitely one of the best along with Panasonic.

 

[ohtwell]

I like the VTech VT2420.


: ) Amanda

 

[QueHuong]

Why are VTechs so crappy? My OD do not offer a wide range of cordless telephones w/ integrated answering machine within my budget, and the ones that are are mostly GEs and VTechs.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Get a Panasonic!

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: MindStorm
Why are VTechs so crappy? My OD do not offer a wide range of cordless telephones w/ integrated answering machine within my budget, and the ones that are are mostly GEs and VTechs.

Problems I had with my VTechs:

Crappy range
Short battery life
Horrible sound quality
Lack of features (dependant on your model)
If you shook the phone slightly, the battery would lose contact, requiring you to return the phone to the base to reset itself (HUGE PAIN IN THE ASS)

The same goes for the GE I have, except for the last problem.

 

[DogFromDuckhunt]

UGH! Stay away from VTech ... those phones are crap. I've had two, and both break so quickly and easily it's unbelieveable. You get what you pay for...

If you're looking for a cheaper phone that will last, get the GE. Yeah, it's no Panasonic ... but I've got a couple and they've been solid. If you want quality and something that will last, get the Panasonic. If you want something that will work fine for the most part and is a bit cheaper, get the GE. If you want a POS, get the VTech.

Side note: AT&T makes some great phones as well.

<edit: Hmmm... I had one GE crap out on me a month into it ... took it back and got a new one. Both have been working flawlessly since.>

 

[QueHuong]

Side note: AT&T makes some great phones as well.

The reason I assumed VTEchs are pretty good because I read that they now own AT&T's phone division now (but still continue to sell under both names). I don't think I'll be buying any Panasonics since the ones that comes with an answering machine are just too expensive ($80 and up) and we don't use the phone often enough to buy one at that price.


I bought the GE 6992 yesterday and thought about buying a better one so that's why I was looking at the VTechs. Guess not....so some people are saying GE suck, but one is said it's decent. So any other opinions about the GE, and specifically, my GE model?

 

[QueHuong]

Nevermind....my mom just said she doesn't even need a cordless phone (thought she needed one) so I'm just gonna return the GE I bought yesterday and that's it. But thanks everyone, I'll know to avoid VTechs in the future.

 

[Josh]

I believe VTech has released a new phone with a frequency of 5.8GHZ!! I've got a 2.4GHZ and that's clear enough...i can only imagine a 5.8GHZ

 

[freebee]

Panasonic is having a horrible time with some of their newer phones, prompting huge returns at the retail level. Not too long ago panasonic was quite reliable, unfortunately something has happened to their quality control over the last few months.

However, when they work, they work very well. Kinda like IBM hard drives.

 

[T2T III]

I've had several VTechs and one GE cordless phones. Don't buy them, they're crap. Go for a Panasonic. They're the best bang for the buck out there.

Like many others have said: stay away from the Vtech, AT&T and Bell (Southwestern, Northwestern, etc.) phones. These have been nothing but junk based on my experiences. I'm also surprised by the comments on the latest issues with the newer Panasonic phones. We have 2 Panasonic phones that are over 2 years old and still performing great. The AT&T phones that I had before that never lasted more than a year. The Panasonic that we have in the kitchen has been dropped a few times and still keeps on working. One time, the Panasonic hit a tile that was on our floor and cracked the tile - again, the phone kept on working. I've been pretty impressed with the Panasonic products.

 

[Mill]

Friggin' Bellsouth phones sucks. I have a 2.4 GHZ and a regular 25 channel. THe battery life is extremely short and their is so much static on the 3.4 that it is unbearable.

 

[RossMAN]

In my personal experience, hearing from others and reading reviews I would avoid VTech and Panasonic's 2.4GHz cordless phones.

Personally I'd find a Panasonic 900MHz w/ integrated answering machine or a Uniden 900 or 2.4