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155 of 158 people found the following review helpful.
The best available, but not perfect
By J. Jones
After trying AT&T, Siemens, and Uniden, this one is the best. I had been using a Siemens Gigaset 2400 system for the past few years and it quit working so I embarked on a quest to find the perfect new cordless multihandset w/answering machine phone system.
First, I brought home the AT&T 5480 5.8GHz system. I really wanted to like this phone. I liked the 3 mailboxes, something most other phones lack. I loved the simple intuitive design, but it suffers from some drawbacks: it was the most expensive of the three, has separate phonebooks on each handset, the recorded messages are recorded at a very low volume, cannot access messages from handsets only the base, and the Call ID logs must be cleared individually from each handset as well as the base unit. But worst of all, the range was terrible. When using either handset from a back room in the house, the sound would cut in and out making it's use near impossible.
Next I tried the latest 2.4GHz system from Siemens. The answering machine is now included in the handset, not on the base. This made using the phone very confusing and difficult for my wife, also there is no plug for using a headset. Back it went.
Then I brought home the Uniden TRU5885-2. I like the high tech looks of the phone but my wife did not, it is a bit "techy" for her tastes. The good: The range is excellent and sound is very clear from anywhere in the house. Messages can be retrieved from the base or a handset. Distinctive ring tones can be assigned to stored phone numbers, this is a nice feature and usefull at times like dinner when you would rather let the answering machine get the call unless it is from someone important. Can store up to 10 speed dial numbers accessible by pressing and holding a number 0-9 (the other phones do not have this). Areas for improvement: button layout and use is a bit confusing (especially for my wife) but you get used to it after a few days. Uniden could learn a few things in this area by looking at the Siemens or AT&T phone's menu system. Separate phonebooks and Call ID logs on the handsets, why? You should not have to enter stored phone numbers twice, it gets very tedious and time consuming. Should have the option to delete the Call ID logs fromindividual or all handsets. Ringer volume needs more settings, can only choose off, low or high. Needs more and/or better choices for ring tones, some of the included ones are just plain annoying. Would like to see downloadable tones made available, just like on my cell phone. Lastly, I would like to see an indicator on the display showing the amount of charge in the battery.
Overall, this is currently the best of the multihandset answering machine cordless phone systems and the one I am keeping.
90 of 94 people found the following review helpful.
Beauty Is Only Skin-Deep. Don't Waste Your Money.
By A. Murphy
I'm notorious for having bad luck with phones: VTech, Uniden, and now Panasonic are on my "Never Buy Again" List. However, I simply couldn't resist the appeal of the new Uniden 5.8Ghz; so against my better judgment, I bought the Uniden's Latest and Greatest Effort two days ago. It only took about a dozen calls for me to decide that this phone is going back!
First of all, I have to say that this phone is very attractive. With a striking appearance and features such as speakerphones on each handset, and distinctive rings, it's just, plain cool! But...FOR THE PRICE, I strongly feel that the negative outweighs the positive. The range on this phone is SUPPOSED to be more than TWICE that of a 2.4Gz phone. NOT AT ALL! Not only isn't it BETTER than my 2.4Ghz Panasonic, but it's actually MUCH WORSE! I can take my Panasonic to a neighbor's house a few doors down the stret. The Uniden crackles the second I step foot in the backyard! And not only is it static-y, but people I'm talking to actually miss chunks of what I'm saying. My 900Mhz BellSouth LITERALLY has better reception in my yard than this piece of junk!
There's more, too. Something I was willing to overlook to have the best was the fact that you cannot expand this "expandable" system beyond two handsets. I've also discovered that (like Sony's expandable) you cannot use more than one handset (or base unit) at once, so if two people want to talk to Grandma on Christmas, you'd better have a backup phone available. Additionally, (like AT&T's expandable) when you enter information into one handset, it does not automatically transfer to the other one, so you must enter your phonebook in TWICE!
Folks, I know that this is a great looking, and very tempting buy....especially for all you techy, gadget-loving people (like me). However, my recommendation would be to stick with a 2.4Ghz model until the 5.8Ghz technology has been perfected and prices come down. I wanted VERY much to love this phone, but there's simply too many negative points to overlook. I have NO PROBLEM spending [$$$]on a phone that works well. However, this phone is does not deliver on the performance end, and in my opinion, in not worth the money.
PROS:Great, Sleek appearanceUnique, soft-red backlightSpeakerphone in each handset (though of questionable quality)Good sound quality close to base unitOne-touch auto-dialButtons have nice feelEase of operation
CONS:Extremely poor range - especially for what it's SUPPOSED to haveOnly expandable to two handsetsCannot use more than one handset (or base unit) at one timeCheek hits "Talk" button when resting on shoulderHand covers speaker when talking(Speculation, but looks/feels like the paint will wear-off easily)Price
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful.
Severe limitations....
By A Customer
Limitation #1: A maximum of two handsets for the entire system. Limitation #2: only one handset can be in use at a time. If someone calls in and two people want to talk, forget it with the UNIDEN TRU5885-2 system. Poor design compared to others on the market. Limitation #3:The preprogrammed phone numbers have to be programmed into each handset separately and the Caller Id Numbers have to be cleared on each handset individually.
On the positive side it has the best backlight display of any phone available, uses NIMH batteries.
The limitations were to great, so I returned the telephone.
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