Advise for Home Phone Plus! What Phone to use?

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Advise for Home Phone Plus! What Phone to use?

daviescw

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#196574 4-Jun-2016 22:24

Never posted here - but I need some impartial advise!

We have just moved to 2degrees VDSL after numerous issues with Spark..

I have just requested a Home Phone Plus service and I see that they have a phone but to me its expensive, it notes on there website that you can use an existing standard phone or upgrade to there cordless phone (this imply's to me that you can only use a standard corded phone, or maybe I'm an idiot and missing the point!).

Has anyone else got this service and if so, what cordless phone should I use? I would prefer a phone that will show the caller ID and notify if v/mail etc etc.. Plus preferably cheap.

Sorry if I am a bit naive about all this - just don't want to spend $90 on a house phone.

DarkShadow

1647 posts

Uber Geek

#1565862 4-Jun-2016 22:30

You're reading way too much into this. If you're plugging a phone into the modem, any ordinary house phone will be fine, corded or cordless.

daviescw

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1565889 4-Jun-2016 22:36

Thank you! I've never ever used a VoIP phone before so its all new to me!

Will all the Caller ID functions etc. work with a cordless phone with a screen?

I relise these questions make me sound like an idiot - but its the only way you learn ha!

richms

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#1565892 4-Jun-2016 22:47

If they still sell the fritz fons then that will give a vastly better experiance than any other cordless plugged into the analog port of the fritz, you will have better audio, your callers will have less chance of hearing echo, and you will not have the annoying delay as the phone goes offhook and then dials like an oldenday phone when you make outgoing calls.

Richard rich.ms

Lorenceo

904 posts

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#1565895 4-Jun-2016 22:53

daviescw:

Will all the Caller ID functions etc. work with a cordless phone with a screen?

I relise these questions make me sound like an idiot - but its the only way you learn ha!

Yep. Caller ID works as you'd expect.

Can't comment on how well the Fritz branded phones work. Have the internal wiring at my place hooked up to the Fritzbox, isolated from the lead in from the street. Any phone connected works just as it did back on POTS (and VFX before that).

daviescw

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1565903 4-Jun-2016 23:21

Awesome - Thank you all!

ANglEAUT

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#1565928 5-Jun-2016 02:07

I think Lorenceo gave you the short answer you were looking for.

The longer answer is that the Fritz!box has got two analogue ports in it that you can use to plug in your normal corded / cordless phone. It basically feels like the ADSL splitter is built into the Ftitz!box. You don't need their $90 phone.

In addition

I don't have a 2nd tel jack in the house, so can't verify quality & operability of phone not connect to Fritz!box.
The VoIP configuration is between 2D and the Fritz!box. Nothing you have to stress about.
AVM.de (makers of the Fritz!box) have also release a softphone app for your smart phone, so that you can use your cell / mobile to make landline calls. ( I have not been satisfied with the mobile app and this is not related to 2Degrees.)
The Fritz!box does have a built in answering / voice mail system & call history (specifically mentioning call related features & not any others)

Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.

timmmay

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#1565941 5-Jun-2016 07:17

I use a cheap Panasonic DECT phone which connects directly to the Fritzbox. Sound quality is average, no caller ID. We almost never use it, if we did we might get the fritzphone.

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JayADee

2148 posts

Uber Geek

#1565952 5-Jun-2016 08:37

We use both. Cheapest Panasonic DECT phone you can buy (literally as of a few years ago, but we got ours with flyby, I think they cost something like $19 for two on sale, or the same for one not on sale) is plugged into the fritz in the hall and we have a fritz phone out in the kitchen. Both work fine and caller id does work on our Panasonic screen ( it shows incoming numbers or if I have a phone book entry on the fritz for the number it shows the caller name) but both of us vastly prefer the fritz phone. Like we walk past the hall phone to grab the Fritz. It has a red light that lights up if you miss a call. I have one of my artworks as the picture on the main screen. ;) Ideally it would be nice to have two of them. :) Regular phones you will have to plug into the fritz, fritzphone you can plug into a power socket anywhere in range.

Only disadvantage to the fritzphone is it's so skinny if you're used to an old phone the first couple times you pick it up you might almost drop it.

You can even get your iPad or cell phone to ring on incoming calls at home via an app and use it as a phone (works outgoing as well) but I find that annoying and don't do it except seeing if it worked, lol. Another interesting thing you can do ( if impractical) is dial out your phone via the web page interface of the fritz if I recall correctly.

I also have the settings from 2degrees set up to email us any voicemail that gets left. So between that and the fritzbox phone log and the fritzphone red missed call light and redial menu you're never going to miss a call. :)

I find the whole thing really neat even though I hate talking on the phone in general and prefer email and hardly ever use the phone. :p

timmmay

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#1565953 5-Jun-2016 08:39

Actually even the cheap DECT phones just need power, they pair with the Fritzbox just fine. Well, most do. Mine are the cheapest on flybuys too.

daviescw

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1566023 5-Jun-2016 13:02

Thanks guys!

I had a look at the app so we may use that in the mean time and get the fritz phone later on. The fritz looms pretty neat when I look at different reviews and things so will see how we go :)