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It’s easier than ever before, a phone, wherever you want. The latest generation of mobile phones you can use a handset in every room of the home court, even if no telephone nearby.

However, manufacturers still offer an impressive array of mobile phones: cheaper models that offer the basics of multi-mobile, complete with an integrated answering machine, a single line and two phone lines, analog and digital phones, and different frequency bands. In many cases, a mobile phone have a family of telephone answering machine. Many telephone answering machines are available in a version by phone only. If you use a wireless phone that is several years old, it’s probably a 900-MHz phone. newer phones higher frequencies, 2.4 or 5.8 GHz. They are not necessarily better than older ones, but they can appeal to more security and offer a wider range of skills and useful functions.

WHAT IS OFFERED

AT & T, Bell South has, GE, Panasonic, Uniden, VTech and more than 70 percent of the market. VTech owns the AT & T Consumer Products Division and now makes phones under the AT & T brand and his own name.

The current trends include phones that support two or more combined with a simple, cheaper by 2.4 and 5.8 GHz analog phones and feature-rich 2.4 and 5.8 GHz digital phones. Some of compatible multi-handset phones now an additional handset with a charger. About a third of mobile phones sold include a digital answering machine.

A major difference between a wireless phone is the way they transmit their signals. Here are some terms that you see when you buy and what they mean for you:

Analog. These phones are the cheapest kind. They tend to have the best voice quality and enough autonomy to allow you chat anywhere in your house and yard, or even a little beyond. They are also likely to lead to interference with other wireless products. But analog transmission is not very secure, someone with an RF scanner or comparable wireless device are in a position to current analog phones and digital phones rather than occasional static and RF interference from other wireless products suffer. Price: 0

Digital. They offer the same range as analog phones, but with more security and less susceptibility to RF interference. And, as analogue, they are hardly cause interference with other wireless products. Price: 0

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Digital Spread Spectrum (DSS). DSS sells a phone call on a range of frequencies and provides an extra measure of security and greater immunity to RF interference. The range can be slightly better than analog or digital phones. Note that some phones DSS – typically 2.4 GHz or multi-handset phones compatible with the skills to talk to the handset – this is to use a broadband spectrum, even in standby mode, it can interfere with the monitors Baby and other wireless products in the same frequency band. Price: 5

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Frequency. Cordless phones use one or two of the three frequency bands:

* 900-MHz. Some manufacturers are still cheap, the 900-MHz phones, similar to the rule. You are responsible for many households in order, and still about a quarter of the market.

* 2.4 GHz. The group most cell phones today use. Sorry, there are many other wireless products – the same band – baby monitors, wireless computer networks, security monitors, wireless speakers, microwaves. A 2.4-GHz analog phone is inherently sensitive to RF interference from other wireless devices and a 2.4-GHz DSS phone can cause interference in other products. However, mobile DSS presented as “802.11-friendly” is unlikely to interfere with wireless computer networks.

* 5.8 GHz. The group using the new phones. Its main advantage is less likely to RF interference, like some other products currently in this band. Some phones are dual-band, but it just means that they pass between the base and handset in a band and get in another, can not make it, or choose a band or another

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IMPORTANT

Standard on most cordless phones, handset volume control headset, ringer, redial, a pager to be looking for the handset, a flash button to answer call waiting, and weak for a battery.

Some phones you can connect two or more handsets with a base, support with no additional phone jacks. Additional handsets, including the magazine are usually sold separately, even if more phones come with an additional handset and charger.

An LCD screen on many mobile phones and on some bases may be a personal phone directory and useful information such as name and / or display the number dialed, caller ID, battery strength, or how long you have already joined. Caller ID displays the name and phone number of a caller, date and time of call, if you use the service from your telephone company the caller ID. If you have Caller ID with Call Waiting, the phone displays the data to a second call while you are on the phone.

A two-line phone support can receive calls for two phone numbers – useful if you, say, a business and a personal line that you want to use a single phone. Some phones have two fingers, each marked with a place to let you know, which line is ringing. The function of the two lines will also facilitate conference two callers in three respects. Some two-line phones have an additional jack data port, a fax, modem, telephone or other device may also be helpful to contact.

Offers a speakerphone to talk hands-free option, or wait on hold and others can also chimes. A spokesman for base allows you to answer a call without dropping out. A speaker of the handset speakerphone, you can chat throughout the house, as long as you a few feet of combined

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A basic keyboard completes the handset keypad. It is very convenient to navigate the menu systems, because you do not pick up the phone to your ear, to pierce the key. Some phones have a backlit keyboard that lights up either in the dark or lights up when you press a key, or when the phone rings. This makes the phone easier to use in low light conditions. All phones have a ringer and many phones have a ringer of the base. Some can enable or disable, adjust volume, change the tone or sound.

Many cordless phones have a headphone jack on the handset with a belt clip to carry the phone. This allows hands-free conversation anywhere in the house. Some phones have a headphone jack at the base, the handsfree function allows, without the discharge of the battery of the handset. Helmets are usually sold separately for approx.

Other convenient features include auto talk, you lift the handset from the base station of an incoming call and speak to start without a key, press a button to answer.

Some phones provide a battery holder for battery backup – a tray from the base to a replacement battery, combined charge or Alkaline batteries last for backup power base from which everyone could it the phone to work if you lose household power grid. However, it is advisable to keep a corded phone somewhere in your house.

Some phones allow multi-compatible handset conversation between handsets in intercom mode and facilitate conferencing handsets with a third party. Intercom mode must be using the devices within the range of the base station to handset handset. Others have not this ability to talk handset, and they allow you to transfer calls from handset, but not on the handsets at the conference to use with a foreign correspondent. Still other phones allow direct communication between the handsets, so you can you use it as a walkie-talkie. Some phones can store up to eight handsets, for example, but that does not mean you can use all eight at once. You can use two for handset to handset intercom, while two others conference with a third party.

HOW TO CHOOSE

Decide how much you need equipment. The basic options are a separate phone, phone with voice mail or a phone that supports multiple handsets from a database. A stand-alone phone is best for small families or people in a small apartment with little need for more suitable than a phone. The high-responders, a common choice, adds a significant measure of convenience. A multi-handset phone book is good for active families who need phones in the house, what kind of phone handsets allows you to put in a room without a telephone connection

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Select technology and frequency band. A 900-MHz phone should suit most users, but this kind can be difficult to find, since the models of 2.4 GHz and 5.8 dominate. You are probably the widest range of styles and prices with the 2.4-GHz phones found. But if you want to minimize, to avoid interference with other wireless problems, compared with a 5.8 GHz or 900 MHz phone. Analog phones can be cheaper than digital, are for many people in order. But if privacy is important to choose a DSS-phone or digital.

To ensure that you actually get an SSD or its digital voice phone security, check the packaging carefully. Search for the word “digital phone”, “Digital Spread Spectrum (DSS)” or “Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS).” Phrases such as “phone with digital security code, phone with voice mail, all-digital,” or “spread spectrum technology (non-digital spread spectrum) call all phones that are less secure.

Phones that can use dual-band transmission to a higher frequency in a greater impression on the packaging. If you hear a phone number, that 2.4 or 5.8 GHz, check all the details. If only the frequency is clearly visible on the packaging, it is probably analog.

Sit on the features you want. Generally you can expect, caller ID, a headphone jack and a base that can be wall mounted. But the features were not enough for both stand-alone telephones and answering machines. Select the check box or ask to be a manual sure you get the skills and capabilities that interest you to see. In general, more features over the phone, the higher is its price.

Performance variants. Consumer Reports tests show that most new cordless phones have excellent voice quality together. Some are excellent, approaching the voice quality of the best corded phones. In our latest tests, most fully charged nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) or nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) treated eight hours call before it needs charging. Most manufacturers claim that a fully charged battery should be at least a week in standby mode. If they can not hold a charge, a replacement battery, usually proprietary, costs about, and can be hard to find. Some phones use less expensive AA or AAA batteries. (For a business that batteries be recycled, call 800-822-8837.)

Add the handset for a test drive. In business, you hold the handset to your head to see if she feels comfortable. It must follow the contour of the face. The listeners should have rounded edges and a recessed center that fits perfectly in the middle of the ear. Check the buttons and controls to ensure they are reasonably sized and legible.

Do not throw away phone with string. It’s a good idea to at least keep a corded phone in your house, if only for emergencies. A cordless phone will not work if you lose power, and a cell phone does not work if you can not get a signal or the circuits are full. A corded phone draws its power from the telephone system and can not function without power of households.

Message centers and answering

digital answering machines are stand-alone devices or as part of a telephone / answering machine combination. The main advantage of a combo unit – less clutter – have against the loss of part of the combo to be balanced if the other is wrong. Respondents generally have standard features and functions as a selectable number of rings and one without the answer on / off, listening, remote access from a touch-tone telephone and variety of ways to navigate through your messages. Most have a message for the day / hour, can delete all messages or only some, you can leave the volume of the speaker and can greetings and after a brief power outage.

Other features you answer may determine the number of mailboxes, advanced playback controls, remote access, call recording, a message counter display that the number indicates the received messages, and an indicator light or sound alert notifies you when new messages have.

In Consumer Reports tests, the majority of responders voice quality delivered very good reception for recorded messages and good quality. Phones that let you record your greeting through the handset (ie, with the Remote Access), generally a better sound. Some let you hear your greeting through the handset, instead of listening for the subwoofer that gives you a better indication of how the greeting will sound to the caller. Price: (stand-alone units) to 0 (combos)

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Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.

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