I had been using a Uniden digital 5.8 Ghz phone for a number of years. While that phone provided reasonable service, it was lacking in range. We have a large lot (over 5 acres) and the 5.8 Technology just did not have the reach we needed especially outside. Things got worse when we added a wireless network for our computers. When the batteries started to fail in the handsets, we knew it was time to upgrade.
After looking at a lot of phone specs, it was clear that the new DECT technology might solve some of the problems we had. The offerings are not very extensive in this area yet so the choices really came down to personal preferences. There were very few if any owner reviews to go on (that is why I am writing this one) for any of the products available. What was available about other brands was not generally positive.
So we settled on going with a known brand name. AT&T is a brand name product despite being made outside the US by a third party manufacturer.
So far we are pleased with the phone. It has a lot more range than our old phone (though still not really enough). We have a lot of electrical items, and any signal must go through the 8" think oak log walls of the house to work outside. Even with all of that, the phone works out to about 200 feet from the base unit outside. The old phone would barely reach the front porch, and the driveway was out of range. The driveway is only 75 feet from the base unit. This new phone would probable go further than the 200 to 300 feet we have tested it to, if I was willing to put the base on the upper floor of the house. All of the handsets work anywhere inside the house, no problem. The base in located near the cent of the middle floor of the house, so basically it is in the Middle of the building and the interior walls are all of standard drywall construction.
The sound quality is pretty good, and there is absolutely no background noise or interference of any kind. The handset buttons are larger than most and this helps my large fingers hit the buttons better. Also the numbers are protected UNDER the plastic so they will not wear off. The buttons are lighted with an effective lighting system. The volume is adjustable and is adequate, but for my taste it could be made a little louder. Still the volume is ok. Ring and caller volume can be adjusted separately, and the ring volume is plenty loud, especially with four handsets ringing at once.
For my tastes the handsets are a little too slim and light in weight, but this is just my personal taste, my wife likes them the way they are and I would think others would too.
We also bought two add on hand sets for a total of six. I tested the phone inside our barn, and it works fine so we plan to add one out there. The barn is 75 feet from the house, but this adds another set of walls to penetrate when using the phone. I think for most people the range will be fine, and if the older technologies worked for you or were marginal, the newer DECT 6.0 will be just fine.
The battery life seems to be very good. While we do put these back in the cradle at night, we have not had them go dead yet. Even with a very active day of calls the handset does not seem to require topping off to keep going. I would rate the stand by and talk time to be very good. I would prefer if the charge LED went off when the handset is charged, but no companies have got this idea yet.
All in all I would rate this phone highly. I would have preferred the ability to dial from a hardwired phone located on the base, and maybe more message storage space. AT&T DECT 6.0 Digital Three Handset Answering System (SL82318)
First and foremost, this line of AT&T DECT 6.0 cordless phones works extremely well, no background noise even with a home wireless system, great range, and very good sound quality both with the handset to your ear and on speaker phone. It does all that one should expect from a cordless phone system. Entering names and numbers into your directory is very intuitive, as is using the caller ID and changing the ringer tone and volume. You hardly need the manual. We use the "phone company" voice mail, so I haven't evaluated the "usability" of the answering machine, but it "talks you through" the setup steps, setting the clock, etc., and seems very user friendly to operate. Another nice feature is that directory and CID entries are maintained in the base station, so if, for example, you enter a name/number on handset #1, it is immediately available on all other handsets on your system.
The handset is quite lightweight and compact compared to our previous cordless phone, which took a little getting used to, but my wife and I adapted to it after one or two days. The handsets come with belt clips, which I use, not to clip them on my belt but because they raise the back of the handsets slightly if you lay them down, which I find improves the the speaker phone sound (the speaker is on the back of the handsets).
One minor drawback, compared to my prior cordless phone, which permitted each handset to be identified by location, e.g., "kitchen," "bedroom," etc., is that each AT&T handset has a number (and added handsets are given consecutive numbers as they are registered to the base up to the maximum of 12), so you have to remember the location numbers to call another handset on the intercom or to transfer incoming calls. Not a big deal, but being able to name each handset is a nice feature.
Be aware that the SL82(X)18 models are all the same, with the (X) indicating the number of handsets with that bundle. For example, SL82318 comes with three handsets, SL82418 with four, etc. I mention this because the various bundles appear to be different products, but they are all essentially the same, so keep this in mind when shopping for the best deal. The only exception seems to be that models SL82518 and SL82558 both have five handsets, but I haven't been able to find what the difference between them is, even on the AT&T site. Since my review applies to all bundles of this system, (if they let me) I will post this review under the several different model numbers.
All in all, I am extremely pleased with these purchases, first a four handset bundle, then three additional handsets for a total of seven. Hope this review is helpful in making up your mind about selecting a new cordless phone.'
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