900 MHz Vs 2.4 GHz the battle of the cordless phones
Written: Aug 26 '03 (Updated Aug 26 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Low cost comfortable to hold
Cons: Not 100% secure
The Bottom Line: New and improve is not always an improvement.
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| jckatz's Full Review: Vtech VT-9118 900 MHz 1-Line Cordless Phone |
I am cheap. When I needed to buy a new cordless phone I went to Best Buy and checked out the price tags on all the cordless phones. The one that was the cheapest I purchased (I got it for $10 after rebate). Was my $10 phone the best I could have purchased? No, but on the other hand never once did I say, damn I wish I spent more money and got a better phone.
Some people say you don’t know what you are missing until you try something better, and I agree. For anyone that has not tried a TIVO yet.
http://www.epinions.com/elec-Video-Replay_TV-All-TiVo_Service
This is a perfect example, you truly don’t know what you are missing until you tried it.
That being said, I spent 4 months living in the house of someone that only owned one cordless phone. It was a $200 2.4 GHz Cordless Phone W/ Call Waiting Caller ID & Answering System also by
Vtech.
So I can now write a true review.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!
In the right corner, weighing in at $10 with an operating frequency of 900 MHz the VTECH 9118
In the left corner, weighing in at $190 with an operating frequency of 2.4 GHz the VTECH VT 20-2481. In this tag team match it also has caller ID and an answering machine.
ROUND 1
THE DIGITAL ANSWERING MACHINEThe battle starts out with features. The 20-2481 pummels the 9118 with its built in answering machine. Unfortunately the fact this feature was 100% full and unused by the owners doesn’t bode well for the 8th round. The unit when its memory is full it (rings and rings and rings)³ and then says MEMORY FULL GOOD BYE
ROUND 2
BUILT IN CALLER ID
The caller idea starts taking swings at the 9118. Watch out little guy!
The 9118 is easily able to duck around this problem, it seems if one desires caller ID the telephone company Illinois Bell, I mean Ameritech, I mean SBC Ameritech, nope wrong again Southern Bell Company (the local phone company for us living in the Mid-West), provides a free unit that tell you whom called. This is a useful unit when you answering machine says MEMORY FULL GOOD BYE.
Watch out little guy you are going to get you thumped by the power house GHz as it wallops you into the ground.
ROUND 3
RANGE Vs Useful Range
In the perfect world a 2.4 GHz would get better distance than the 900 MHz unit, but in this arena space is limited. The 2.4 GHz was located in a single story ranch with a small back yard. It had no problem making it too the lawn where the dogs did their business (good job VT 20-2481!)
But lets check in on the 900 MHz, this unit is located on the 4th floor apartment building, it can operate the apartment and make it to the parking lot 4 stories down and two building over. That’s more than enough distance!
Its the walls! 900 MHz transmits right through walls, while 2.4 GHz they act like lead to Superman's super sight.
ROUND 4
Can you hear me now
The problem with a cheap phone is other cheap people own it. The VT 9003 was very popular at $10 and more than one person owned it on my Campus in college. If I was sitting on my toilet and turned my head just right I was always able to hear the girl upstairs talking. I do not know if she ever heard me, and I don’t care. That is the only time I picked up other communications in that one spot with my head titled just right.
The $200 unit never had this problem, maybe it had better privacy technology or maybe less people paid $200 for a telephone
This round goes to the pricey unit
ROUND 5
THE TECHNICAL KNOCK OUTTKO
Turns out certain household items share the 2.4 GHz range (such as Microwave ovens). Since of course the only phone in this house was a 2.4 GHz and in the kitchen cooking and talking did not mix. My $10 suffers no such interference on all of the electronic items in my house. If you want a list I will include it.
1) TV
2) TIVO
3) VCR
4) Surround sound system
5) DVD
6) Digital cable box
7) Microwave
8) Waffle maker
9) Can opener
10) Stereo
11) Computer/monitor
12) Flat bed scanner
13) Printer
14) Halogen lights
15) George Forman Grill
16) Air conditioners (TWO)
In my humble opinion (epinion) if all of the above mentioned items interfered with my ability to talk on the phone, the unit would receive not only a 1 star but a quick trip to the garbage can.
RING SIDE ANNOUNCERS
We Bob (for you dyslexic boB) VT 20-2481 started out strong, will the fancy features, but it seemed to me poor training really hurt it.
I couldn’t agree with you more Dick, the built in caller Answering Machine should have knocked out the little guy in the first round, if only the users used that little DELETE button.
boB, that’s not what I was talking about, a stand alone unit, works just as well as a built in one, plus when one unit fails its easier and cheaper to replace, I am talking about not putting it near a Microwave.
Yet Dick don’t you think privacy is a real concern.
Only when you are talking to your mistress
Laugh
Laugh Very funny Bob you know my wife watches this..
Sorry.
But in all seriousness when security is an issue a phone with a cord is the only way to go.
True, True.
Well that’s all the time we have tonight folks. Tune in next week when we battle a name brand $300 20” TV vs. a $100 20” TV, you don’t want to miss that one.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
jckatz
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 - Top 1000 |
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Member: Joe Katz
Location: chicago
Reviews written: 154
Trusted by: 73 members
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