Uniden DCT5285 2.4 GHz DSS Expandable Cordless Speakerphone with Answering System

Rating:
Summary: Great Phone
Review: I really like this phone, the memory is great, it holds 100 names and numbers and the direct link is really a nice feature. You can talk between two handsets even though the phone isn't even plugged in. Neat feature if you are going through a store and get lost and if each person has a phone with them (unlikely) they could actually use the directlink and find eachother. Just an idea.

Rating:
Summary: Super Great Phone
Review: Pros: Great phone with Cell Phone like features on the headset.
Cons: No redial button on the headset or the cradle, to redial one has to go through options menu similar to the cell Phone.

Rating:
Summary: Good phone, very bad for wireless lans
Review: The phone looks and feels good, has good features, and no sound problems. The downside is that it uses the same frequency (2.4 GHz) as 802.11b/g wireless lan cards. Because it is a spread-spectrum phone, meaning its signal hops around the full range of the 2.4 GHz band, it isn't possible to set your lan to a specific channel to avoid interference (although in my case channel 1 seemed to get slightly less interference). During a phone call the lan throughput drops to zero; the interference is so bad that my combo wireless dsl modem/router actually pauses and my cat-5 connection briefly dies too. This interference occurs regardless of where the phone is, although in a house (this is a one bedroom apartment) the interference might be attenuated by distance. You definitely will not sit at your laptop and talk on this phone. Any attempt to use your wireless lan will also cause clicks and pops in the phone's sound, although this aspect of the interference isn't too bad. There is of course no phone noise if you're not actively using the network at the same time (e.g., browsing or downloading).

In summary, definitely do not get this phone if interference with your wireless lan will bother you. On the other hand if your lan is 802.11a (5 GHz) you'll be fine, and even with 802.11b/g if you use the phone lightly or don't mind brief network interruptions, the $55 price of this phone is a good deal.



Rating:
Summary: Great features, poor sound quality
Review: The Uniden DCT-5285 has great features:
caller id,
answering machine,
speaker-phone on handset & base,
speed dial,
distinctive ring tones which vary based on who is calling,
expandable to 4 handsets.

The problem is the sound quality. If I pick up the phone, get a dial tone, then press the 1 key, I hear noticeable static. When placing a call with the phone, there is an echo when I speak. When I'm at work and receive a call made from the Uniden phone, the echo is also present, and the person speaking on the Uniden phone sometimes sounds muffled, as if the phone is in a paper bag.

Features can only take a phone so far. In the end, sound quality is what makes or breaks a phone. I'd gladly have given up some features to get better sound quality. I returned the phone.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent phone at a great price
Review: This is a great cordless phone and answering system. I had to replace a GE model and looked for weeks to find features I wanted at the price I needed. There are many useful features on this phone you would usually only find on much more expensive higher end models. Lighted keypad, speakerphone, speaker on the receiver, 16 ringtones, 2.4 GH DSS, and many more features. Sound quality and range are good and the style of the phone is very attractive. If you are looking for a quality phone at a very reasonable price, this is it.

Rating:
Summary: Good Phone because of the batteries
Review: This is my third phone. My two others have been panasonics, both duds because of the NiCD batteries. This phone is great, it comes with 2 aa NiMH battries which have no memory. Good features too, but the negative thing is that the headset is a little cheap feeling. I like the panasonics which if you accidently drop, it's ok. This one I'm hoping I don't drop.

Rating:
Summary: Nice for the Price
Review: This phone system works very well in all catagories. It is a bit on the noisy side, but the range and voice quality are excellent. The answering machine is great and I like the keypad/speakerphone in the base, though I wish it included a caller ID display. I have it maxed out with 4 phones, each with its own speaker. Every one can be programmed to identify the phone's base location and each phone can operate the answering machine remotely. You can even use them as 2-way radios. This is a sleek, feature-packed system at a reasonable price.

Rating:
Summary: Hello... where is the pager button?
Review: With all the features of this phone, you would think one of them would be a pager button, but no. What a mistake I've made in purchasing this phone. In addition, you cannot see who is calling you from the base when you don't know where the handset is (because you don't have a pager button - did I mention that?)