Expandable cordless phone system with digital answering machine

Jon Sagara

My dad has the Siemens Gigaset (4215/4200, I believe) and he loves it. The only thing stopping me from getting it is that I have heard it interferes with 802.11b/g wireless operation. Can anyone substantiate that? Can anyone recommend a good 5.8 GHz set? I have looked at Uniden and VTech, but a lot of the reviews I have read say that these two are crap. Siemens doesn't appear to be in this range yet, which is a shame because the most common knock against their phones is that the menu system is too complicated if you haven't read the manual (duh). Does anyone use the Panasonic phones?

Jon Sagara
A bottle a night isn't alcoholism - it's persistence! -- A coworker, jokingly

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Roger Wright

I have a BellSouth phone/answering machine and a GE remote station running on 2.4GHz, and they haven't interfered with my 802.11b Internet connection at all. I haven't tried the newer frequency range, though, nor have I tested the phone systems against an internal 802.11b LAN system. They are supposed to play nice together by design. Can you buy a system and try it with the option to return it if it doesn't work?

"The Lion shall lie down with the Lamb;
but the Lamb will not get much sleep..."
Lazarus Long

Dave S

I and my family have used Panasonic phones in the past, and had nothing but trouble. Battery failures, lousy connection when wandering about the room, other stuff. We use VTech phones. Have had them for years. We still have a 4 yr old 900Mhz Vtech and we just purchased 2 VTech 2.4Gz phones (base station with digital answering machine, and remote unit down in my computer room, which also doubles as an intercom). Never had much trouble with VTech phones, except the first one, which was dropped onto a hardwood floor. Go figure. Tried a Siemens phone, and would have liked it, but it didn't have an intercom feature between the phones (necessary function, good soundproofing in my office :) ). "It takes a minimum of redesign to turn a crucifix into a pogo stick"

Joel Lucsy

I own one of the Uniden models (can't remember which one) that comes with two handsets. This has been the best cordless system I've ever used (and I've had about 4-5 different brands). I'd highly recommend the Uniden's. The only thing I don't like is that its only limited to two handsets. But then, I live in an apartment so it's not a problem. Joel Lucsy

Member 96

We never had a problem. Now the microwave oven..that was a problem when it was sitting on top of the fridge between the wireless hub and a notebook computer. ------------

Gary Wheeler

Dave S wrote: It takes a minimum of redesign to turn a crucifix into a pogo stick Definitely the most bizarre sig I've seen this week. :omg:

Software Zen: delete this;

Kelly Herald

I own an older Siemens 2-line cordless phone. The closest one that Siemens sells today is the Siemens Gigaset 8825[^]. My access point is about 4 feet from the Gigaset base station. I haven't had any problems with it interfering with my 802.11b/g access point. When using the 802.11g connection speed I have excellent signal strength. Kelly Herald Software Developer MPC

Dave S

:laugh: WOOT! Got that line from an old Harlan Ellison story I read one time in an old Sci-fi magazine (popular in the late 70's early 80's) called OMNI Magazine. The story was "Why Dolphins don't bite", I think. The line is basically a summary onn what it takes to turn something wonderful and special into something trivial and meaningless. I hoped someone would notice! Thanx! "It takes a minimum of redesign to turn a crucifix into a pogo stick"

Jon Sagara

I went with the 4215[^], so we'll see how it goes. :)

Jon Sagara
A bottle a night isn't alcoholism - it's persistence! -- A coworker, jokingly