Cordless phones - 5.8Ghz?

[Slickone]

I need a new cordless phone and was thinking of getting a 5.8Ghz. Any negatives to 5.8Ghz? I want a built in answering machine too.
The Vtech 5881 seems like a good phone.
The only other ones I was thinking of getting are the Motorola's.
Any feedback on these?

I hear Panasonic cordless phones aren't good anymore. I'm having trouble with my two 900Mhz DSS Uniden phones where I can't answer them. Possibly interfering with each other.

BTW, this Vtech 2456 is cool, with downloadable midi ringtones, and changable color plates, but is 2.4Ghz.

 

[0roo0roo]

just pay as little as possible. 900mhz was fine, these new ones are just marketing.

 

[ggavinmoss]

I have this phone minus the answering machine. I like it a lot.

-geoff

 

[MournSanity]

I want a 5.8 Ghz computer.

 

[KokomoGST]

VTech makes junk... well, it's not junk but it has the tendency to suck after a bit. But you get what you pay for. The Unidens seem good and I haven't heard any complaints about the Panasonic 5.8 from my customers.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
just pay as little as possible. 900mhz was fine, these new ones are just marketing.

no way, i have a 900 mhz phone still and the 2.4 ghz phones are MUCH better. it isn't JUST marketing, there is a difference in performance.

 

[ggavinmoss]

Originally posted by: KokomoGST
VTech makes junk... well, it's not junk but it has the tendency to suck after a bit. But you get what you pay for. The Unidens seem good and I haven't heard any complaints about the Panasonic 5.8 from my customers.

I used to agree with you, but this phone has continued to perform great for me and the last Uniden I bought really sucked.

-geoff

 

[Slickone]

Originally posted by: KokomoGST
VTech makes junk... well, it's not junk but it has the tendency to suck after a bit. But you get what you pay for. The Unidens seem good and I haven't heard any complaints about the Panasonic 5.8 from my customers.

Really? I've never heard anyone complain about Vtechs. Always that they do OK, especially considering the price. How do they suck? Has your experience always been bad or is this just lately? And I've read more and more complaints about the Panasonics in the last year or so. Maybe not 5.8 though. Where do you work?

Originally posted by: ggavinmoss
I have this phone minus the answering machine. I like it a lot.

What phone?

 

[suklee]

Originally posted by: hypersonic5
I want a 5.8 Ghz computer.

When would those be coming out you think? 2005?

 

[merlocka]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
just pay as little as possible. 900mhz was fine, these new ones are just marketing.

no way, i have a 900 mhz phone still and the 2.4 ghz phones are MUCH better. it isn't JUST marketing, there is a difference in performance.

Lower frequency radios (e.g 900M vs 2.4G vs 5.8G), all other things equal, will provide better performance in typical home envirionments. This is because there is less signal attentuation and less multipath effect.

However, things are not all equal with cordless phones, and as they squeeze all the radio components into small ICs, many of the newer 2.4G units are as good as the older 900M (digital) phones. Can't compare to the old 900M analog phones, that's apples to oranges.

The 5.8's that I've messed seem OK, but nothing special. The only reason I'd go to 5.8 was if my WLAN was suffering due to the 2.4G phones. I'm using the Motorola 2.4G FHSS handsets and they don't seem to bother my WLAN, where the old Panansonic GIGArange would kill my WLAN.

For my downstairs office phone, where I need the best range and performance, I use my trusty Panasonic 900M digitial. It's been the best cordless phone I've ever tried out.

 

[Slickone]

As I mentioned my two 900Mhz Unidens are somehow interfering with each other. Ever since I bought a second one, sometimes I can't answer either one.

If 5.8Ghz isn't worth the price right now, I may get these Vtech 2.4Ghz because of the price, and I can always sell if I ever setup a WLAN. Unless someone has a better response about Vtech's quality.

Eventually I imagine they'll all be 5.8Ghz. Aren't 900Mhz harder to find now?

 

[Hammer]

i bought my fiancee one of the 5.8 ghz unidens and she loves it. HUGE difference over 900 mhz.

 

[Slickone]

^

 

[dartworth]

Panasonic 5.8GHz phones are great. Switched over to them about 2 months ago. Very nice.

 

[ElMono]

I had a 2.4 GHz phone once. Hated it. The stupid microwave kept interfering with the reception and we used the microwave a lot. So I returned it a few days later. I'm perfectly fine with a 900 MHz but I haven't tried a 5.8 GHz phone although I have seen them before.

 

[JoeKing]

I've got a cheapy black AT&T 900mhz cordless (think I paid $20) that I 've taken with me across the street into a the back of a neighbors house and still kept perfect reception. Just felt like bragging

 

[dr150]

I've tried EVERY 5.8 ghz phone out there except the Motorola.

My conclusion is that it's all marketing. Every phone had it's quirks. The Vtech/ATT has a crap sounding answering machine. The Uniden sounds inferior (like talking thru a can) but has a good answering machine, but w/ low memory. The Panny has a cheap Nicd battery--unexusable for a $200 phone--sound quality and functionality was among the best, with a full duplex speakerphone (very unique).

As far as co-existing with wireless computing, if the phone is within a body's length of the laptop, it'll knock the signal out.

Distance was unimpressive, but it was the sound quality that really turned me off compared to the 2.4 ghz.

I stayed with my old ATT 2.4ghz. Thus far, it has proved it's worth and co-exists with my wireless 90% of the time--even when right next to the laptop. Good enough for me these days.

...........I would instantly go for the 900 mhz if there was a phone that carried a speakerphone on the handset. Unfortunately this is only reserved for the most expensive 2.4 or 5.8 ghz.

.........I tried the Motorola 2.4 ghz and was the best sounding. The answering machine was total horse crap however. The speakerphone got highest marks for clarity by the receiving party as well as the Vtech.

.........Based on this, try the Motorola 5.8ghz. Seems like the best candidate. If you don't need speakerphone on handset, defintely go for a 900 mhz. And by all means, STAY AWAY of the 5.8ghz units with answering machines....buy a separate answering machine if you don't have one already.

 

[Chiropteran]

I heard that vtechs are nice as far as fuel consumption but the low end torque is lacking.

 

[Slickone]

Originally posted by: dr150
I've tried EVERY 5.8 ghz phone out there except the Motorola.

My conclusion is that it's all marketing. Every phone had it's quirks. The Vtech/ATT has a crap sounding answering machine. The Uniden sounds inferior (like talking thru a can) but has a good answering machine, but w/ low memory. The Panny has a cheap Nicd battery--unexusable for a $200 phone--sound quality and functionality was among the best, with a full duplex speakerphone (very unique).

As far as co-existing with wireless computing, if the phone is within a body's length of the laptop, it'll knock the signal out.

Distance was unimpressive, but it was the sound quality that really turned me off compared to the 2.4 ghz.

I stayed with my old ATT 2.4ghz. Thus far, it has proved it's worth and co-exists with my wireless 90% of the time--even when right next to the laptop. Good enough for me these days.

...........I would instantly go for the 900 mhz if there was a phone that carried a speakerphone on the handset. Unfortunately this is only reserved for the most expensive 2.4 or 5.8 ghz.

.........I tried the Motorola 2.4 ghz and was the best sounding. The answering machine was total horse crap however. The speakerphone got highest marks for clarity by the receiving party as well as the Vtech.

.........Based on this, try the Motorola 5.8ghz. Seems like the best candidate. If you don't need speakerphone on handset, defintely go for a 900 mhz. And by all means, STAY AWAY of the 5.8ghz units with answering machines....buy a separate answering machine if you don't have one already.

Why would the 5.8Ghz units with answering machines be worse than ones without? I do want an all in one phone w/ answering machine.
Too bad you haven't tried the motorola units. Has anyone?

BTW, the $30 Vtech 2.4Ghz set I mentioned says it won't interfere with WLANs.

 

[RossMAN]

My friend just bought the AT&T 5870 and it kicks ass.

He had some BB rewards GC's, there's a $50 rebate and he earned BB rewards by buying this ... after all the discounts it came out to $79 or so.

I haven't heard the answering machine in use but damn this is one awesome badass phone.

 

[dr150]

Originally posted by: Slickone

Originally posted by: dr150
I've tried EVERY 5.8 ghz phone out there except the Motorola.

My conclusion is that it's all marketing. Every phone had it's quirks. The Vtech/ATT has a crap sounding answering machine. The Uniden sounds inferior (like talking thru a can) but has a good answering machine, but w/ low memory. The Panny has a cheap Nicd battery--unexusable for a $200 phone--sound quality and functionality was among the best, with a full duplex speakerphone (very unique).

As far as co-existing with wireless computing, if the phone is within a body's length of the laptop, it'll knock the signal out.

Distance was unimpressive, but it was the sound quality that really turned me off compared to the 2.4 ghz.

I stayed with my old ATT 2.4ghz. Thus far, it has proved it's worth and co-exists with my wireless 90% of the time--even when right next to the laptop. Good enough for me these days.

...........I would instantly go for the 900 mhz if there was a phone that carried a speakerphone on the handset. Unfortunately this is only reserved for the most expensive 2.4 or 5.8 ghz.

.........I tried the Motorola 2.4 ghz and was the best sounding. The answering machine was total horse crap however. The speakerphone got highest marks for clarity by the receiving party as well as the Vtech.

.........Based on this, try the Motorola 5.8ghz. Seems like the best candidate. If you don't need speakerphone on handset, defintely go for a 900 mhz. And by all means, STAY AWAY of the 5.8ghz units with answering machines....buy a separate answering machine if you don't have one already.

Why would the 5.8Ghz units with answering machines be worse than ones without? I do want an all in one phone w/ answering machine.
Too bad you haven't tried the motorola units. Has anyone?

BTW, the $30 Vtech 2.4Ghz set I mentioned says it won't interfere with WLANs.

In my experience, and I DON'T KNOW WHY, the 5.8ghz models with answering machines suck a$$$$.

I don't know why it has been integrated COMPETENTLY!

 

[Slickone]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
My friend just bought the AT&T 5870 and it kicks ass.

He had some BB rewards GC's, there's a $50 rebate and he earned BB rewards by buying this ... after all the discounts it came out to $79 or so.

I haven't heard the answering machine in use but damn this is one awesome badass phone.

Yeah looks like it's got every needed feature. Wonder if the extra handsets would share phonebooks? Also I'd really like a new call indicator light (Motorola and one other brand...the new Unidens maybe, have this).
Please let us/me know how he likes the sound quality/reception of the phone and answering machine.

 

[RU482]

Its not really a 5.8Ghz phone, it's a 900Mhz phone overclocked to 1450Mhz with a quad piped FSB

 

[LuNoTiCK]

Yes I'm also in the market for a 5.8ghz phone. Now with the extra handsets would it be best buying the phone with an extra handset as a combo or buy them separately? What are the recommendations besides the AT&T one?

 

[dolph]

why can't they make 2-line 5.8 ghz?!?