Cordless Digital Phones

Digital Cordless Phones Buyers Guide

Introduction

Digital cordless phones (using DECT technology) have an outdoor range of up to 300m and the audio quality is about the equivalent of a normal, wired phone. A digital cordless phone package usually includes a base station and one or more handsets. The conversation is transmitted from the base station to the handset using RF (Radio Frequency). This is also more secure than traditional analogue phones. There is often very little interference with Digital Cordless Phones and they often come with a in-built answering machine.

Digital Cordless Phone Features to look for

Modern Digital Cordless phones for the home are becoming more and more like mobile phones in that they have several features not found in traditional phones. Several of these features are described below

Phone Book

Allows you to store numbers in the phone which can then be dialled quickly. If a number is stored, it can also show the callers name on the screen for incoming calls, assuming that you have Caller Display (see below).

Last number redial

Gives you the facility to dial the last number with just the touch of a button.

Caller Display

When the phone rings, the number of the person calling you is displayed - if you have the caller display feature enabled by your telephone provider - this sometimes requires a small monthly fee.

Multiple handsets

You can now buy phone systems with up to six handsets that can be placed in different rooms. They all have to be powered and all need to be close enough to the base station to connect to it.

Speaker phone

This provides a hands-free facility, usually with a slight loss in audio quality.

Illuminated displays

The LCD display will light up enabling you to see the information in the dark.

Illuminated keys

The phone's keypad will light up so that you can use the unit in the dark.

Mute

With 1 press of the mute key you can mute the phone so that the other party in the conversation will not be able to hear you but you will still be able to hear them.

Speed dialling

This allows you to assign some of your favourite numbers to hotkeys thus allowing you to dial these numbers with just a couple of key presses.

Intercom / multiroom

This feature allows the phone system to act as an internal phone system where you can talk between multiple handsets in the house.

Handset pager

A Very useful feature for a cordless phone. When the kids leave the handset lying around you can press a button on the base station and the handsets will beep so you can find them.

Batteries

Look for phones with NiMh (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries as these last longer than standard Nickel Cadmium (NiCad) rechargeable battery types.