Great Value in a 2.4GHz Expandable Multi-Phone System
Written: Feb 24 '02 (Updated Feb 25 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Clear reception, no phone jack required, handsfree feature, stylish
Cons: Caller ID is text-display only
The Bottom Line: Best combination of multi-phone features at a good price. Addresses the minor shortcomings of previous VTech models.
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| erazo's Full Review: Vtech VT 2461 2.4 GHz 1-Line Cordless Phone |
This is the 2002 model of the highly-rated VTech 2.4GHz Digital Spread Spectrum ("Gigaphone") expandable cordless series. It replaces both the VT2431 (reviewed extensively at epinions), incorporating some design improvements, and the stand-alone VT2464 Digital Answering Machine. It is now available bundled with the VT2420 Accessory Handset, which most purchasers are prepared to buy anyhow. (The bundled VT2461/VT2420 is called the VT2460, adding to model number confusion).
We bought this system in February 2002 at Costco for $150. Separately, the suggested retail price for the VT2461 is $160 and the VT2420 is $70. The street prices are probably less, but the bundled two-phone VT2460 system is a steal.
Multi-phone systems are categorized under cordless phones but really should be in a category all their own. I was looking for a multi-phone system to replace a failed Sony system which I returned (details at my Sony SPP-S2730 review) but conducting research in the vast sea of stand-alone cordless phones is not easy.
The whole idea behind a cordless multi-phone system is the ability to use multiple phones in a household or home office with only the base unit plugged into the wall jack. It eliminates the need for extension phones, as the remote handsets can be placed anywhere near a wall outlet (to supply power to the recharging cradle). The concept of extension phones or parallel cordless phones with separate or no Caller ID or answering machine functions is finally obsolete.
Base units can operate as stand-alone phones, of course, so there is no need to buy the accessory handsets if you have no need for them, even though the newest models of cordless phones are expandable to a multi-phone capability. But more consumers are also looking for the companion remotes as well, so some manufacturers are finally beginning to package one accessory remote handset with their base units as a starter kit.
The advantages of multi-phone systems are obvious, but there are some disadvantages to be aware of. Since the handsets all share the same base unit, they must be within range of the base unit to work properly. There are a number of factors besides distance that affect range, but the wine cellar in the southwest corner of basement may not be the best location for your base unit if you want to put one remote handset in the northeast conservatory tower and another in the groom's quarters above the stable. But if your house is a hovel like ours, and not constructed of steel-reinforced concrete, location of the base unit is not an issue.
Another disadvantage of many multi-phone systems is the inability to conference call. This shortcoming does NOT apply to the VTech Gigaphones, however. Not only can up to three persons conference on a call on the same system, but two people can conference while two more (if you have the maximum of four handsets) can be conversing in intercom mode! Most other systems, such as the Sony SPP-S2730, lock out all handsets except the one in use during a call (except in intercom mode). So when shopping for a multi-phone system, be sure to look for conference call capability. If they don't boast about having it, they don't have it.
Finally, if power is lost to the base unit, all phones are disabled. The VTech Gigaphone, however, does offer an optional battery backup ($20) which keeps the phone up for up to five hours, much longer than a typical California rolling blackout (but we still keep a fixed line extension and our cell phones handy). The backup battery can also be used to relieve a handset's battery in heavy use environments. (I haven't yet encountered a low battery situation.)
The 2.4GHz systems are pricier than the 900MHz phones because they employ digital spread spectrum (DSS) technology which makes them less vulnerable to interference and invulnerable to eavesdropping. However, this technology does not guarantee improved clarity or range, which are functions of the quality of the phone and your environment. We are quite satisfied with the both the clarity and range of our VTech phones. (VTech is planning the release of 5.8GHz phones in the summer of 2002.)
I could go on and on about the features of this phone but will first summarize by saying that most of the complaints about earlier models (such as the VT2431) have been addressed, particularly with regard to the menu functions. The answering machine in particular is feature-rich and can be operated remotely. Each handset operates independently, keeping its own Caller ID list and phonebook, and once you get used to the soft keys, navigating through the menu and editing phonebook entries is easy. And a simple press of the ON button dials the number in the display. You still have to register new handsets by entering a 15-character code, a minor one-time inconvenience.
The features are common among the latest expandable cordless systems and rather than repeat them I'll refer you to the VTech web site:
http://www.vtechphones.com/vtechui/telephonesindex.cfm
For brevity, I'll point out one important outstanding feature and one missing feature.
The outstanding feature is the Handsfree function, which allows any of the handsets to operate as a speakerphone. I used this feature on the second day I owned this phone, as I helped my son on the other coast wire his home theater system. You can even hook a headset (2.5mm) to it, if privacy is important.
The only missing feature is the Caller ID distinctive ring or announce. This Gigaphone has the basic text-only Caller ID, while other Caller ID sets allow you to assign distinctive rings or announce when someone you know is calling. This is an important feature for peaceful dinner times, and is not technologically challenging. A sophisticated phone like the VTech Gigaphone should already have incorporated this feature.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
erazo
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Member: Rick Erazo
Location: San Diego, CA
Reviews written: 17
Trusted by: 9 members
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