[XCSSA] Home Cordless Phone Comparisons

[X-otic Computer Systems of San Antonio]

In case anyone is interested.. I'm in need of buying a new cordless phone 
system for the house.. and did a bit of (somewhat) exhaustive research on the 
latest stuff.  Figured others might be able to use this info.

My basic requirements are that it needs to replace my current (1/2 broken) 
vtech 5.8Ghz system, give a similar feature set, not interfere with our 
2.4GHz network, have at least 4 handsets (5 is better in case kids break 
one), must have a shared phonebook, good speaker phone, caller ID, 
paging/intercom, etc.

Two phones made the cut.. But I included info on all of them in case anyone 
else needed the info too:




Home Cordless Phone Comparisons & Pricing:
==============================================

Make It List:
===================
Vtec DECT 6.0 #DS6222-5 (5 phones): Sams/$100 Amazon/$125
http://www.amazon.com/DS6222-5-Expandable-Handset-Cordless-Answering/dp/B00287MEZW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1262063762&sr=8-1-spell
NOTES: 4.5
High rating, 6 reviews
	PROS:
	-Centralized phone book
	-Intercom/paging handset to handset
	-Up to 12 handsets (DS6201 accessory handset)
	-Headphone jack
	-1.9GHz (I think)
	-Most like my current system
	-Loud speaker phone (from handsets)
	-Bought from SAMS so I can take it back locally
	CONS: 
	-Needs an UPS (no base battery??)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
	Buying this one from SAMS tomorrow


Panasonic KX-TG6445T (5 phones): Amazon/$94 target+office-depot/$159
Panasonic KX-TG6444 (4 phones): Sams/$110 Amazon/$144
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Titanium-Cordless-Answering-KX-TG6445T/dp/B001P80EQG/ref=pd_cp_e_1
NOTES: 4.5
High rating by 112 people
	PROS:
	-Centralized phonebook
	-Extra handsets avail.
	-Talking callerID (kinda cool)
	-Integrated message indicator (in handsets)
	-Standard AA rech. batts
	-Headphone jack
	-Intercom to handset#
	-1.9GHz
	-??? built in base battery???
	CONS:
	-No message count indicator
	-No dedicated caller id button
	-No phone finder button
	-Speaker phone volume is too low even on highest volume.
	-Handset use locks base to that handset (can't access features from others)




No-Make It List:
====================
Panasonic KX-TG1033S (3 phones): $67.29 
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-3-Handset-Cordless-Answering-KX-TG1033S/dp/B000LYAX1G/ref=cm_lmf_tit_1_rsrssi0
NOTES: 4.0
Highest rated by 811 people (or 6 people for the black unit)
	PROS:
	-1.9GHz
	CONS:
	-Keys not backlit
	-Volume not very loud

Vtec DECT 6.0 #CS6229-4 (4 phones): O.Depot/$80 Amazon/$70
Vtec DECT 6.0 #CS6229-5 (5 phones): O.Depot/$100 
http://www.amazon.com/Expandable-4-Handset-Cordless-Answering-CS6229-4/dp/B001S2PKHC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=office-products&qid=1262065337&sr=1-1
NOTES: 4.5
Vtech Pros:
* Choice of many ring sounds
* Shared phone-book (store a number on one handset and all other handsets have 
it as well)
* Answering system displays number of calls
* Good talk time

Vtech Cons:
* Ridiculous inability to locate a muted phone!!
* No battery backup - even a momentary power outage will lose time/date
* No unique ringtone for intercom calls
* Proprietary (expensive) battery
* Ni-Cad battery (most phones have at least Ni-Mh)
* Upper buttons (speaker phone, talk, hang up, flash) are not backlit
* Backlight is not very bright. Funky domed number buttons are hard to read 
because domes act as magnifying lens. 

Uniden DECT1580-4 (4 phones): $94
http://www.amazon.com/Uniden-Cordless-Answering-Handsets-DECT1580-4/dp/B001EUG76Q/ref=pd_sim_e_4
NOTES:
High rating by 18 people

Panasonic KX TG9344PK (4 phones): $110
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-KX-TG9344PK-answering-additional/dp/B0018SW9F2/
NOTES:
High rating by only 2 people

Panasonic KX-TG6434B (4 phones): O.Depot/$120 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXx
Panasonic KX-TG6434T (4 phones): O.Max/$? Amazon/$94 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Panasonic KX-TGA61T (4 phones): O.Max/$120 ?????????????????????


AT&T DECT 6.0 #CL82409 (4 phones): Best Buy/$90  O.Depot/$100
AT&T DECT 6.0 #CL82509 (5 phones): Best Buy+O.Depot/$120