DECT questions

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jff1625

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Geek

# 18063 25-Dec-2007 17:53

Not sure if this is the best place for this, but since I'm only interested in DECT because it won't kill my wi-fi network, I suppose this'll have to do. (mods please move the thread as you see fit)

My questions concern conflicting information I've found at different retailers and even the maunufacturers website about this phone Panasonic KX-TG1811NZS
On the Panasonic site it says Maximum number of handsets is 1.
But over at Leemings they say it can handle up to 6. Of course the salesman I spoke to instore at Leemings said it wasn't a DECT phone, and it doesn't say DECT anywhere on the box. Over at DSE they say it IS DECT even tho it doesn't say so on the box, because it says so in their system and their almighty system is never wrong.

So now I'd like to know, generally...
1) do ALL 1.8Ghz phones use DECT?
2) if not, does it even matter to me, regarding wi-fi interference?
3) can ALL DECT phones handle multiple handsets with one base station / phone plug?
4) does make and model of phone make a difference for this multiple handset deal? Like could I add, say, a Uniden DECT phone to a Panasonic DECT phone and base-station network if I wanted to?

and more specifically...
5) who should I believe regarding the specs of the phone I mentioned above.
6) has anyone tried that phone, is it any good etc?

Basically I want to get a single cordless phone that won't kill my wi-fi, and I quite like the idea of being able to add extra handsets in the future if need be. I don't care about built in answering machines and speed dial and all of that other rubbish, just a phone that my fiancee can use -> dial the number -> talk -> hang up -> easy. The less buttons the better. And cheap!

Please help. It's all so confusing!

cheers,
Jeff

sbiddle

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# 101770 25-Dec-2007 18:25

jff1625: So now I'd like to know, generally...
1) do ALL 1.8Ghz phones use DECT?

I can't for sure that all 1.8GHz phones are DECT but with the exception of DECT phones in the USA market all DECT phones use 1.8Ghz

2) if not, does it even matter to me, regarding wi-fi interference?

Anything running at 2.4Ghz has the potential to cause interference with a WiFi router. All DECT phones run at 1.8GHz (or 1.9GHz in the USA) so won't cause any issues. 1.9GHz DECT phones are not permitted in NZ.

3) can ALL DECT phones handle multiple handsets with one base station / phone plug?
4) does make and model of phone make a difference for this multiple handset deal? Like could I add, say, a Uniden DECT phone to a Panasonic DECT phone and base-station network if I wanted to?

Most DECT handsets feature a profile known as GAP. This allows multiple handsets, even from different vendors, to work together on a single base set. I can't be certain that this Panasonic handset supports GAP as there is no mention of this in the specifications however reading the manual on the Panasonic website details how to pair this phone with a base station so I am assuming the phone will support up to 6 handsets which (which is a standard number). This phone comes as three different packages with 1,2 or 3 handsets so I would be fairly certain that this would be a standard base unit that will support extra Panasonic handsets, I wouldn't necessarily trust it to work with handsets from a different manufacturer however.

and more specifically...
5) who should I believe regarding the specs of the phone I mentioned above.
6) has anyone tried that phone, is it any good etc?

The phone is definately a DECT unit as the Panasonic website says. I haven't tried the phone in particular but have used a lot of Pananasic DECT phones and found them to be good.

jff1625

50 posts

Geek

# 101772 25-Dec-2007 19:00

sbiddle:

Most DECT handsets feature a profile known as GAP. This allows multiple handsets, even from different vendors, to work together on a single base set. I can't be certain that this Panasonic handset supports GAP as there is no mention of this in the specifications however reading the manual on the Panasonic website details how to pair this phone with a base station so I am assuming the phone will support up to 6 handsets which (which is a standard number). This phone comes as three different packages with 1,2 or 3 handsets so I would be fairly certain that this would be a standard base unit that will support extra Panasonic handsets, I wouldn't necessarily trust it to work with handsets from a different manufacturer however.

Sounds reasonable. I'd noticed that you can also get what seems to be the same phone in a 3 pack, and that made it all the more confusing since the Pana website says max handsets = 1. Maybe the 3 pack expects you to plug them all into separate phone jacks?

What about adding Pana handsets of a different model number, in the event that this model is discontinued right when I want to extend my network? Does that seem likely?

I can't really buy it, test it, and return it if it doesn't do the GAP profile, because I don't have access to another DECT phone to try to pair it with, and won't be expanding to 2 or more handsets until at least 3 - 6 months...

thanks,
Jeff

sbiddle

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# 101774 25-Dec-2007 19:20

jff1625:
Sounds reasonable. I'd noticed that you can also get what seems to be the same phone in a 3 pack, and that made it all the more confusing since the Pana website says max handsets = 1. Maybe the 3 pack expects you to plug them all into separate phone jacks?

The 3 pack comes with a single base unit with a phone jack and 2 more that are just charger units. They pair themselves to the base unit. I'm assuming that the 1811 base unit is identical to the base unit that comes with the 1812 and 1813 double and triple packs and therefore can handle multiple handsets paired to it.

What about adding Pana handsets of a different model number, in the event that this model is discontinued right when I want to extend my network? Does that seem likely?

I can't really buy it, test it, and return it if it doesn't do the GAP profile, because I don't have access to another DECT phone to try to pair it with, and won't be expanding to 2 or more handsets until at least 3 - 6 months...

thanks,
Jeff

Buying a 2 or 3 pack now is a far cheaper option, I saw the 3 packs advertised for $99 somewhere a few weeks ago in a mailer and DSE currently list both the 2 and 3 packs as discontinued lines (they have the 3 pack at $99 as well but no stock).

As for pairing the phones with models in the future that's something I can't really answer. If the phone was GAP compatible then you could assume that it would work but if it's not GAP compabible and simply a proprietory format for pairing handsets and bases then the answer could be either no or maybe.

You can't really expect a $40 handset to have the same features as a $100 DECT phone or a $300 business DECT phone.

jff1625

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# 101842 26-Dec-2007 17:35

I got a Pansonic KX-TG1852NZ set, which seems to be the same as this one, but in a pack of 2. $72 in Boxing Day sale, so thats like $36 per phone. The instructions say it uses the GAP profile, and also mentions that if you pair a new handset that's not of the recommended model, that some of the features may not work, like clock, call transfer yada yada.

They're charging now, so I'll post on call quality etc in a few days.

thanks for your help Steve!

cheers,
Jeff

jff1625

50 posts

Geek

# 102265 30-Dec-2007 11:07

After a few days of use I can say I'm very happy with my Panasonic KX-TG1852NZ phones.

Audio quality: just as good as with a corded phone.

Range: We live 1 house away from the street corner. I can get all the way to the corner and beyond before the connection starts to break up. If I go around the corner so that the corner house is between handset and base-station the call will start to break up.

Wi-fi: I've noticed no issues with interference. I even have the base station right next to my laptop, and the 2nd phone is quite close to my wi-fi router. Both phone and ADSL and a corded phone are all plugged into the same phone jack point via a $7 ADSL filter/splitter (there's an extension cord under the house, I think. Cheapo wiring!)

Operation: menus and buttons etc are all very intuitive. Everything I've tried to do has worked first time. I wish I hadn't wasted time reading the manual!

cheers,
Jeff