DIY Network

Buying Cordless Phones Learn what you need to know before purchasing a cordless phone. From "Home Made Easy" episode DHME-129

Guest Carolyn Forte, Good Housekeeping Institute's home care director, joins host Stephanie Lydecker and shares information on buying cordless phones. Carolyn showcases multiple types of cordless phones and points out features that will help you decide which one best suits your needs.

advertisement

	Carolyn shares tips on selecting a cordless phone.
	Figure A
	Figure B

Buying a Cordless Phone

• There are some standards you should always look for in a cordless phone. Look for range. You will want to be able to go sit on the porch or work in the garden while talking and still have a clear reception. Keep in mind that cordless does not mean wireless.

• Caller ID is always good to have, for a land line as well as a cordless, so you don't get caught off guard by whoever is calling.

• Most people need answering machines to takes messages while away from home—or are just "busy." There are many different types of answering machine options with cordless phones.

• Be sure to look for a phone with a long battery life, in case someone leaves a phone off the recharging base overnight.

• You really need to know the difference between digital, analog and DSS before buying a phone. Analog phones take an electronic signal and convert it into electronic pulses. They are the least expensive but there is a disadvantage; the lack of security. If someone has a radio scanner, they may be able to listen to your phone calls. Digital phones break down the voice of one caller into a code, then translates that code back into a voice for the caller on the other end of the line. Digital phones usually have a longer range so you won't drop a call when walking out to the backyard. So, when you are looking for range—go digital. Look for a 900 MHz cordless phone. A good cordless will have outdoor coverage of at least 1,000 to 1,500 feet and sound great indoors. Look carefully at the packaging for the words digital or digital spread spectrum. This will be located right next to the frequency rating of the phone (figure A). The label may say "digital answering machine" or "digital spread spectrum technology," but this does not necessarily mean that they are digital phones. Finally, there is DSS. These are the priciest of the bunch. They are digital phones that distribute a call across a range of frequencies. They continually change channels throughout a call making it harder to people to eavesdrop on your calls.

• When you are looking for a phone with an answering machine, check out the packaging. Some labels say "Voicemail Indicator" or "Message Indicator." This does NOT mean that they have a built-in answering machine. Yes, they may light up when you have a message, but you can't even get a message without setting up a voicemail service with your phone company and this comes with a monthly fee. So, make sure the package says "Answering System" if this is what you are looking for. Some cordless phones have built-in answering machines with three voicemail boxes with separate indicator lights (figure B). So, when Bobby has a call this one lights up, when Susie has a call, this one and so on. This is so you can see if the message is for you or your teens. Also, it will ensure they don't erase any of Mom's messages as they are listening to theirs. The phone will come with easy instructions as to how to set up the system. If you don't need this fancy feature, just have one voicemail box, it will be cheaper.

• When choosing the cordless phone that is best for your family, look for one with a dual handset. This means two phones that share the same line and can be used to page each other. The paging feature is great if you tend to misplace the phone. Also, with a family, you can get separate ring tones so you know who the call is for when the phone rings. Another great feature is speed dial—look for a phone that can hold many phone numbers. It is important to have numbers programmed on speed dial like the doctor, friends and family. It is great to have these numbers readily available at the touch of one button.

• With some models you basically get two phones for the price of one. Some phones have a corded model with it. So, if the power goes out, there is not need to worry. If you don't want to buy this phone, it is recommended that you buy one with the "power-failure protection" feature. This feature makes the phone automatically switch to an internal battery, so you won't miss calls or lose messages on the answering machine. Also, make sure you get a phone with an illuminated keypad. It is great for dialing in the dark. If you have an emergency, you can grab the phone and dial without having to fumble around for a light switch.

• Get a phone with a backup battery. Also, you need to evaluate your "talk time." Are you chatty? You should make sure that whichever cordless phone you buy has a "talk time" of at least one hour. This indicates a long battery life.

• A higher GHZ will cut out the level of interference. If you have electronic gadgets like baby monitors in your home, you will want to stick with a higher GHz so you calls will be clearer.

GUESTS :

Carolyn Forte
Home Care Director
Good Housekeeping Institute
E-mail: cforte@hearst.com
Website: www.goodhousekeeping.com