Found this on current special at Harvey Norman and thought the saving warranted a post, normally ~$156, OW obviously matched them.
It has the most features for the price. I needed base-station calling, ans machine, Bluetooth, and at least two handsets, the range extender and backlit keypad is a bonus (to me).
Its only DECT but there's hardly any full digital 2.4/5.8GHz left, and they don't have half the features.
Yep, 1.9Mhz DECT6.0. Doesn't interfere with wireless 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz. And the lower the Mhz, the better the solid object signal penetration.
The only other DECT I have had is a 1yr old Uniden, and the range seems to be half of my old 2.4GHz, which was ~100m and through a single brick wall.
Try a different brand maybe. I had an Audioline which had terrible range. 3 walls away and it drops out like crazy. I tested various other brands (Panasonic, Ericsson, Siemens) and they all had waaaay better range.
The great thing with DECT is you can find GAP-compliant handsets. That means you can use any GAP-compliant base with any GAP-compliant handset, regardless of brand. I've used an Ericsson handset with a Panasonic base, a Panasonic handset with a Siemens base, etc. Bases usually support 5-7 handsets in total.
It doesn't even have to be sold as a spare handset, it can be a whole standalone phone with normal base. The handsets can be programmed to connect to a different base, usually up to 4. That feature is usually used to extend coverage to allow roaming around your house (no handoff though), but it can be set up that way too (auto/manual base selection).
Some handsets like Siemens have an intercom mode where the two handsets can call each other directly without a base in between. Kinda like a walkie-talkie, just full-duplex and digital.
Does this phone have speed dial? Gotta get one for my mums birthday however she wants speed dial. It seems like a real hard feature to find!
LEGEND!
thanks mate
I've been looking for the 3 handset version of this (CLS12852) for a cheap price. It's still $190-200 unfortunately.
Uniden 8055 around same price with 2 handsets and repeater and cash back.Don't know which company makes for Telstra.(china)
Have you seen any hint of a "max range [through air]" spec for -either- phone system?
Eg, would either work (with Renge Extender / Repeater on an external pole) for, eg:
caravan park office to grounds person?
farm house to farmer on tractor, in out building, etc.
remote indigenous community (where folks don't have own phones in homes), e.g., when someone needs to be at a home, with a patient, while speaking with an RFDS doctor? (Cf, eg, "Village Telco" & "MeshPotatoe" - from South Africa - available in AU, but you must supply your own POTS-capable landline phones).
Oh, is Range Ext'r / Repeater -safe- to mount & operate, in weather, on an external pole?
What is the maximum Range, i.e., using Range Expander, eg, through air.
At what -maximum- distance - from base & further handset - must Range Extender be positioned (i.e., to maximize total range)?
Finally, does the separate Range Extender require power (or is it a "passive repeater")?
(If not, what is typical battery life. assuming moderate call frequency & length?)
Not sure of range yet, will keep you posted.
This range extender is mains/transformer powered (6V@350ma), and its not very weatherproof out of the box, but I'm sure a tube of silicon could make it pretty water resistant.
only dect? dect is the best, which is why there's hardly any full digital 2.4/5.8GHz left, and they don't have half the features :)