Cordless Phone Buying Guide

Are you in the market for a house phone and need a cordless phone buyer's guide? Then you have come to the right article. Consumers still purchase cordless phones for dependence from cell phones, reliability, and for convenience. Prices have come down in recent years, so you can find a powerful phone and inexpensive prices.

First, consider where you live. People live in one of three types of areas: Rural, suburban/small town, and metropolitan. Contrary to popular belief, just because a phone operates at a larger frequency (like 5.8 Ghz) does not mean you have a larger range. The frequency allows the phone to minimize interference, which affects clarity and quality of signal. Sure, range might increase slightly, but sometimes you can get more distance from a 900 Mhz phone than a 2.4 Ghz cordless phone.

Consumers in rural areas should either select a 2.4 Ghz or 5.8 Ghz phone because rarely will you need to worry about interference or someone listening to your call. While 900 Mhz phones are outdated like rotary dial phones, they do serve one function. Use those types of phones for single room use. Teenagers and those who have no use for the fancy, high-end units will benefit from the simple operation.

Some phones offer spread spectrum features. If you live in metropolitan areas or close-knit apartment complexes, this might be a feature for you. Basically, the spread spectrum increases the security of the phone to help keep unauthorized listeners off the phone. The signal is bounced to different "stations" on the network.

Recently, a new technology has surfaced called DECT. Digital Enhance Cordless Technology gives you a clear signal, much like using a cable-based Internet phone. Still, there are drawbacks, like range and interference, but for clarity, the DECT phones are unmatched. Some cordless phone buyer's guides may not mention this type of phone because they operate on similar frequencies and the benefits are not enough to spend additional money.

Once you've figured out what type of phone you need for your location, next it's time to determine what features you need. Consider your current phone and what it has and lacks. What do you wish it had? Common features are listed below:

• Caller ID. A display on the handset or the base shows you who's calling and the phone number.
• Answering Machine. It's hard to find a tape answering machine anymore, even one that operates by itself. The digital answering machine is built into the base and is used like the voicemail function on your cell phone.
• Speakerphone. This feature is usually standard on the bases, but more and more handsets are including the speakerphone.
• Multiple Handsets. If you have a large house, consider a cordless phone kit where you get a base that can provide support for anywhere from two to eight phones, sometimes more.
• Battery Charging Capabilities. Some sets let you charge an extra battery in a base pocket so you have a battery read to go no matter when the current battery loses it's charge.
• Two or more lines. Businesses usually go for this feature. This allows two or more calls to occur. These phones require two phone lines to be plugged into it.

Any cordless phone buyer's guide should have a quick section on battery care. The Lithium-Ion batteries are fallible, whether they are in phones or gadgets, but with a little conscious effort, you can easily get two years out of a battery.

• Don't place the handset on the cradle every night. The batteries have a "memory" that thinks it is at maximum capacity each time you place it on the charger and charges to that limit. Let the cordless phone tell you when to charge it. Most phones have a 30-minute grace time when it's time to charge the battery.
• If you feel your battery isn't at its full potential, then let the phone drain the battery (leave the phone on until it dies) and then place it on the charger for a full 18 to 24 hours. This might recondition the battery to like-new status.
• If you need a new battery, take your old batter with you. You must match up the plug exactly (red and black wires or read and white wires), otherwise your phone will malfunction. Of course, make sure the type of battery is the same.

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