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Original poster

Cordless telephone/ answerphone recommendations

40 replies

Katherine · 10/03/2004 09:36

I've been looking for a new digital cordless phone for the last 10 days but just can't choose. I want a twin pack really (as we are always loosing one or leaving it upstairs) with an answerphone (with a decent recording time) and a decent size phone book.

I bought a Philips onis vox pack from argos for £120 but when I got it home there were 3 messages on the answerphone from the "previous owners" trying to set it up. Was not impressed at all so took it back. Argos were very apologetic but I'm not paying full price for what might be a second hand phone!

In a way quite releived as paid extra for an SMS phone but realised its a bit of a gimmick anyway so not bothered about that now. The NTL one from Argos looks good as does the new Siemens - but I just get flustered everytime I try to choose.

Anyone recommend one or tell me what to avoid?

OP posts:
lydialemon · 10/03/2004 09:58

Well, never buy a Binatone one as they are cheap and rubbish. We bought a BT Synergy one (but not with the ansaphone) and I think its great - no intereference, lasts ages off the charger, a good range, I can walk out my flat to my car still chatting on it, without losing any signal.

Janh · 10/03/2004 10:24

We have a BT Synergy with an answerphone, it's perfect except that the answerphone kicks in after only 6 rings and you can't extend that, someone will break their neck in this house soon trying to get to it before the woman answers.

Not a v big phone book either but it's an older one - this looks like the latest equivalent of ours only much better! Phone book has 50 numbers.

Kayleigh · 10/03/2004 10:27

We have the BT Diverse cordless phone with answerphone and are very happy with it. Have had it a couple of years.

JanZ · 10/03/2004 10:32

Which? has just done a review of cordless phones. I'll have a look tonight and see which ones it recommends.

Original poster
Katherine · 10/03/2004 10:45

like the look of the BT diverse one but criticism on amazon is that the phonebook is not shared so you have to programme each phone. Is this true Kayleigh?

OP posts:
Kayleigh · 10/03/2004 11:13

Yes katherine, that is correct. Wasn't an issue with us as we bought the phone/answerphone unit for downstairs originally and only added an extension phone upstairs later on which i then programmed numbers into. Didn't occur to me that you could get shared phonebooks !

SueW · 10/03/2004 14:30

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

Kayleigh · 10/03/2004 15:42

We can overhear messages being left on the BT diverse so in effect can screen calls. The sound comes out the speaker in the answerphone unit.

Also when you play back answerphone messages you can hear from the handset and/or base unit so you don't need to hold the handset if there are loads of messages leaving hands free to write or unload shopping etc...

Original poster
Katherine · 16/03/2004 14:28

Just to update we decided on the BT diverse 5350 in the end. Its basically the siemens phone that we liked but with more features (I think). Found the cheapest twin pack here - £99 for one from Amazon or £126 from this place for a pair! Next day delivery arrived as promised and the phones are obviously NEW unlike the argos one. Its a fab phone - can do voice activated dialling, walkie talkie, baby monitor, VIP ring tones - the lot. Very impressed. Off to play with it now. Oh and you enter your directory and then can just press a button to copy it or individual numbers to the other handset. Anyway so far very happy all round. Will be my recommendation to anyone else

OP posts:
Kayleigh · 16/03/2004 14:37

Glad you're sorted. Enjoy

prettycandles · 16/03/2004 15:15

Thanks for starting this, Katherine! We're also in the market for a new cordless phone with answerphone, and, seeing as the digital ones are about twice the price of analogue ones, we're wondering what the advantage is of getting a digital phone. Anyone know?

bundle · 16/03/2004 15:48

haven't done any research, but I'd say the difference is quality. I'm a radio producer and we use digital recording equipment wherever possible, it's better quality than analogue (think LP v CD)

lou33 · 16/03/2004 16:44

You don't live in Covent Garden do you Bundle?

bundle · 16/03/2004 17:05

oooh no, but I work near there.

lou33 · 16/03/2004 17:17

2 kids, radio 4?

lou33 · 16/03/2004 17:17

Just wondering if I went to school with you.

madgirl · 16/03/2004 17:22

does anyone have a BT synergy?? i was also going to go for a BT Diverse, but we want 3 handsets and the Diverse doesn't come in a neat 3-pack so we would have to buy a separate one in addition to the twin-pack which really pushes the cost up. Synergy has 3 pack but not sure if it's as good.
Just out now to buy a new anorak

Janh · 16/03/2004 17:27

Synergy 3505 comes in a 3-pack, madgirl - here - but not as many features as Katherine's?

We have an older Synergy with just 2 phones - see post below - the sound quality and performance are excellent but it's a bit low on exciting features. (We got one free though with a new credit card so not complaining!)

Janh · 16/03/2004 17:28

Sorry, madgirl, braindead (this is happening to me a lot lately!) I saw Synergy and thought Diverse...IYSWIM!

CountessDracula · 16/03/2004 17:30

don't touch binatone with a bargepole, they always break.

I have a philips, don't know model no but it's silver and has round top. Seems fine to me.

madgirl · 16/03/2004 17:37

v glad have read this thread so won't buy binatone. wish diverse came in 3 pack cos i prefer black to silver, call me old-fashioned I know. Ah but will your sink match your sink CD?!

lou33 · 16/03/2004 18:35

Dh has always said only buy binatone if you have a bin at home .

nutcracker · 16/03/2004 19:04

Another anti- binatone person. We had a cordless one but after a while it began to lose it's charge as soon as you soke to anyone

Janh · 16/03/2004 19:07

My brother bought a set of 5 binatones - I don't know how they sound his end but this end they are crap. If I say "you've gone very faint" he'll say "well I can hear you all right"!!!

Janh · 16/03/2004 19:14

madgirl, this one is a Diverse 3-pack - 5210?

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