4-handset 2.4GHz cordless phone now $9.99 AR (free w/coupon)

[allisolm]

I'm not familiar with this manufacturer, but seems like a good deal for 4 phones.

edit: The original deal is in the next paragraph, but 9/28-9/30 the price is $79.99 in-store instead of $89.99. Copy of ad with the $79.99 price down further in thread. If you have a coupon you can get it free after rebate or better, depending on your coupon. I went and got $10 back today as I had purchased at the $89.99 price.

Office Depot has American Telecom 2.4GHz Digital cordless phone with 4 handsets for $19.99 after rebates. Also includes a 1000 minute prepaid long distance phone card. Model 5105B, SKU 142154. Price is $89.99 less $50 and $20 mfr MIRs. Rebates good 9/1-12/31.

Here's about these phones and the prepaid service (which you don't have to use to use the phones).
Here's about this particular model phone.

I got a $10 off $50 coupon in email (title: Shhh Our Anniversary Sale Starts Sunday) which would make this $10. There may be other coupons out there.

OR, if you only want one 2.4GHz cordless phone, Office Depot has the Vtech w/call waiting and caller ID (if you have those features as part of your service) for $2.99 after MIR. SKU 431793.

 

[nsafreak]

Very interested to hear what folks have to say about these phones as I could use a new one. My Uniden just isn't holding a charge anymore and the battery is close to half of the cost of the phone.

 

[allisolm]

I bought one (or 4 however you look at it), but they're charging up, so got to wait 16 hrs.

 

[LurkingInNC]

I've heard that, in general, digital 900Hz phones have better sound quality and less risk of interference than 2.4G phones, although 2.4G phones have further range.

I don't know if all that is true, and even if so, they're generalizations; alot prolly depends on brand & models.

Still, those sound like phenominal deals. Look forward to hearing back w.r.t. your feedback.

 

[nomadh]

Generally speaking my impression is that the higher the freq the more it can be blocked. Think tweeters vs woofers. Subs that use ultra low freq. 802.11a that won't reach outside of a room typically. and my 900 did reach a bit more than my 2.4ghz. Is this all just incidental or is this a pattern?

 

[allisolm]

Got mine set up. The microwave oven doesn't interfere with it the way it did with my other phone. Range is fine for me - works all over my house. Doesn't interfere with the wireless and the speaker sound is better than what I had. Now to figure out how to set the correct time on them all. All handsets can act as speakerphones, which I like. So far, I couldn't be more pleased for $10!

 

[DanT]

First impressions:

Pluses:
Nice feature set. 10# redial memory, 50# phone book (apparently per handset), handset speakerphones, intercom works while other handset(s) are on calls.
Didn't interfere with my wireless. Sat on the laptop surfing while talking on the phone, with no noticeable problems. When I first started surfing I had some noise, so it might have been changing channels, but that's just a guess.
Changeable faceplates. Came with 4 each of green and light blue, in addition to the default dark gray.

Minuses:
Sound quality. Background noise and digital artifacting leads to a somewhat hollow sound. Doesn't come close to my Panasonic phones. Switched to a different phone and the problem went away, so I know it wasn't my new SunRocket account.
Phonebook entries aren't shared, and you can't copy them between handsets. Meaning you'll have to save numbers on each handset (including editing on each) or find the handset with the number you want. Not very convenient.


All in all, not bad for $5.76 total price. I plan on giving away the calling card, otherwise I could probably sell that to cover the sales tax.

I'll keep them, but they won't be the first phone I grab when I want to make a phone call. They'll be more for leaving around the house to grab when a call comes in, instead.

 

[DanT]

One more minus: No 2.5mm headset jack.

 

[aceO07]

The higher the freq, the less it will travel.

Not to crap on this deal, but if you use wireless exclusively, you might want to reconsider. Wireless 802.11b/g is also 2.4ghz. This may cause connection problems.

 

[LurkingInNC]

I'm glad people are listing potential issues, but I see that as info and potential limitations for individuals to take into account, not TCing.

The only way I could see this deal as being other than smoking is if the sound made them almost unusable or the build quality was so poor that they died within the first year or so.

Btw, I have a 2.4G phone (forget brand) & it also sounds a bit 'hollow' compared to my digital 900Mh Panasonic. Then again, panasonic usually seems to come out on top when Consumer Reports does an article on wireless phones....

 

[rondor]

Thanks OP! I bought a set, charged them up, and couldn't be happier. Sound quality is fine -- in fact, better than my Panasonic on speakerphone. Great bonus that all 4 have speaker phones. I will use the 1000 free LD minutes -- my wife has our only cell phone and I usually have to wait til she gets home to make LD calls -- this solves that problem.

 

[aimanzym]

better than buying a new rehargerable battery for the old phone. thx

 

[nomadh]

Any info on the rebate co? ITs a big rebate on this thing compared to the total. Makes me suspicious.

 

[allisolm]

My newspaper today has an OD ad (3-day only prices) showing this phone for $79.99 less $70 MIR = $9.99. I'm going to go back for a $10 price adjustment. The ad's not up online as of yet, but should be later today.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: LurkingInNC
Btw, I have a 2.4G phone (forget brand) & it also sounds a bit 'hollow' compared to my digital 900Mh Panasonic. Then again, panasonic usually seems to come out on top when Consumer Reports does an article on wireless phones....

Yeah, probably more a design/quality issue with the phone than the actual wireless technology used. I've used cordless phones like that, which just didn't sound right.

Originally posted by: nomadh
Generally speaking my impression is that the higher the freq the more it can be blocked. Think tweeters vs woofers. Subs that use ultra low freq. 802.11a that won't reach outside of a room typically. and my 900 did reach a bit more than my 2.4ghz. Is this all just incidental or is this a pattern?

Yup yup. I recall reading about some of those Panasonic Gigarange phones, which used 2.4GHz one way and 900MHz the other (back to base?). I had a 900MHz phone (years ago, can't remember but perhaps a Sanyo) that seriously had a 2 block range - longest range I've ever had and I've had Panasonic Gigarange, and currently have a Panasonic 5.8GHz.

Some of the longest range cordless phones money can buy are 900MHz units made by EnGenius.

 

[allisolm]

Copy of 9/28 ad here with the $79.99 price.

 

[chazzzer]

Originally posted by: nomadh
Generally speaking my impression is that the higher the freq the more it can be blocked. Think tweeters vs woofers. Subs that use ultra low freq. 802.11a that won't reach outside of a room typically. and my 900 did reach a bit more than my 2.4ghz. Is this all just incidental or is this a pattern?

Tweeters vs. woofers is a bad analogy, as speakers work by moving air. At radio frequencies air movement doesn't apply. There are a number of factors that can determine how far a given frequency will travel over a distance, but the differences between 900MHz and 2.4GHz are slight.