Good Cordless Phone suggestions

We need to replace our cordless phone. The one we have now is an AT&T 2.4 gHrtz model 1256. It was a great phone at first but had some issues. Notably making a beeping noise for the person on the other end of the line and after a couple years the keypads have became unreliable. (I could live with the beeping but not the keypad thingy)
The features it has that i really love is that the phonebook automatically shares. If you put in or delete a number on one then it happens on all the others. it has good sound, speaker phone in the handsets. answering machine. you can dial a number with the phone on or off (if off you turn on the phone after you dial and it dials the number) I think you can use all three handsets at once but I am not sure I have tried that. I was about to buy a 4 handset model when I noticed that it said you could only use two handsets at once. Now, while this is not something we do frequently I could see a time where we might be talking to a grandparent and all want to be on the phone at the same time.
I have seen some online that look good but am a little nervous about getting a dud. So I am hoping that some people here have some experiences to share with me. I want one with at least three handsets and that doesn't mess with my wireless internet. thanks in advance for any help

(Yeah I should have probably posted this on the electronics forum but it looks pretty deserted)

Jazz I am the very most LAST prson to givee advice on a cordless. Every phone I've purchased in the last 10 years are A #! DUDs. But then I had a salesman tellme that they are like dispoablelighters you just throw them away. Sorry I ouldn't be of any help.

Jazz, have you thought about doing a VOIP (voice over IP) system? The features on some of those phone systems are really cool.

If not, what price range are you looking at? You want an expandable system with at least four handsets, all of which can be used at one time, right?

Good info about all phones: http://www.mysimon.com/Consumer-Reports-Cordless-Phones/4002-9375-6308225.html


This message was edited Dec 14, 2006 11:27 AM

This Panasonic system seems pretty comprehensive:
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-KX-TG5776S-GigaRange-Expandable-Answering/dp/B000F8L510
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16876101094
http://tinyurl.com/t5679

This message was edited Dec 14, 2006 11:48 AM

well now that i think about it 3 would be workable handset wise. I am a bit gunshy since it seems these things don't work well over the long haul. We had a panasonic before which I really liked but the battery died quickly.. by dying I mean it got to the point where you had to replace it.. After our thrid battery we gave up. The At&t was a great phone until the buttons began to act up. I see a similar version is still available and am tempted since I can pick one up for about $35 (not counting shipping) but it only has two handsets
SO I really don't want to spend a ton of money on one of these

Before ditching our landlines we used a pair of Uniden cordless phones consisting of a base unit and an extension unit with its own charger. You can transfer calls from one handset to the other. They are basic - don't think they have shared phone book or anything - but my folks now use them and they're still going strong. You can get batteries online a heck of a lot cheaper than you'll find them for in the stores - never buy 'em locally.

OK, I punted.. Just ordered a phone that is just a couple models newer than the one I have with all the same features.. Maybe if I don't leave it out in the garden it will last longer this time :)

I'm no expert but that might help.lol

lol.. ya think? well I can't blame it entirely on the staying out in the garden for a week since reviews I have read report similar problems..but perhaps it made it happen more quickly.

Part of me rebells at getting a product that i know will probably have issues down the road but it seems all cordless phones have issues within a couple years whether you lay out the big bucks or go cheap. I have laid out the big bucks the last couple times.. now I am going cheap

May I submit a "No, don't buy this one" suggestion?

The 3 phone VTech 5.8ghz.

Don't bother.

In the case of cordless phones, it seems so many of them work well at first, but then a few months down the line start crapping out. Maybe in the case of some phones, the extended warranty is a good idea since you can then exchange them for new phones when that happens.

THanks..Vtech makes all the At&t phones from 2000 onwards so that is what made me go back to the oldiemoldie phone

I've had reasonable luck with Radio Shack cordless phones. They die after a couple of years at the restaurant, but are cheap enough that it doesn't matter. Seem to last longer at home - at least through a couple of batteries.

Used to buy "good" phones - $100+ - did not last as long as the cheap ones and could NEVER get them repaired - so gave up. Plus there seems to be a Radio Shack in or near every major shopping center.