Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...
 Best DECT 6.0 phone on the market January 28, 2008
J. Scott Mandeville (Atlanta, GA USA)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
I purchased 3 of the S45 handsets and a S450 base approx 2 months ago and every phone has performed flawlessly. Before buying the system I read reviews of numerous phones, went to stores to hold the handsets of many of the phones, and reviewed the literature on the manufacturers' websites. In the end, I bought this phone with the belief that it would probably have issues, but I could always return it to Amazon if it did. Needless to say, the only complaint is from my wife who initially complained that the phones were so robust that it was difficult to figure them out -- while this may seem true, think of these phones as a close relation to a cell phone.
Regarding the complaints I have read; let me address the following ones:
1. ISSUE: It is impossible to switch from 1 call to another with call waiting -- you have to hang up on the existing caller. SOLUTION: Simple, depress the "Flash" button on the lower left corner of the phone and easily switch between 1 caller and another. Additionally, this phone has the ability to take an incoming call and immediately conference it in with your existing call -- a great feature if your usage is SOHO.
2. ISSUE: When using with a DSL line the quality of the call is sub par. SOLUTION: Any phone that is used with a DSL line is suppose to be used in conjunction with a DSL phone line filter -- these should be used with every phone jack which is utilized throughout a home.
3. ISSUE: Cannot mute a caller, rather the mute operation places the person on hold. SOLUTION: This is a true shortcoming of a phone, but not a problem for me. Whenever I need to mute a call it is usually because I am multitasking and when multitasking I always wear a headset, so I just mute the headset and viola, nobody can hear me but I can hear them.
4. ISSUE: A standard headset does not work on the phone. SOLUTION: I do not know what the problem is since I read the manual and a Plantronics headset is approved for use with the phone. While the approved headset is not easily found here, I have 3 different type Plantronics headsets and all work flawlessly. One recommendation, though, the sound quality of this phone is better than anything you have probably ever used (this goes for outgoing voice too), as such, you need to purchase a headset that has a microphone with adjustable volume and use the lowest setting. Otherwise, the person on the other end may complain that your voice is gargled.
5. ISSUE: The phone is light and cheap feeling. SOLUTION: I do not know about you, but I do not want to carry around a 5 lb. metal phone just because it feels substantial. When I am on the move in my home I like to clip the phone to me and the lighter the better. With reference to feeling cheap, the phone is well made, has solid keys and a color screen -- ergo, I do no see anything "cheap" about it.
6. ISSUE: The buttons often miss or skip numbers. SOLUTION: If you are used to a cheap phone, then you will have this problem -- a cheap phone has keys that can be depressed with barely touching the pad. A well made phone, on the other hand, requires you to fully depress the key pad. Does this mean you cannot type numbers as quickly ... the answer is "yes" if you insight on wanting to only brush your hand against the key pad rather than fully depressing the key.
7. ISSUE: "This has to be the most frustrating phone ever when it comes to messages. You are forced to listen to the female voice say the date and time (Which is visible right on the screen, so no need to say it), and then to skip to the next message you HAVE to hear all of it again. It would have been much better to be able to skip the voice over or make it an option to turn it off." SOLUTION: This sounds like a user voicemail issue as the phone does not speak, maybe some other Siemens does. It does, however, allow you to set the "1" key to speed dial your home voicemail -- just like your cell number. And you can program in pauses, so when depressing and holding the "1" key or checking voicemails from the blinking voicemail indicator, you need only press one button.
8. ISSUE: The message light does not work. SOLUTION: The phones have a message light and it works -- I have used the phone in our house and recommended it to a friend in another state who uses another carrier (between the 2 of us we have 7 phones and all work). Make certain your carrier provides the service as some do not and some carrier is some areas offer this as an option.
9. ISSUE: The built in clock is inaccurate. SOLTUION: I have none as this is true. For some unknown reason Siemens decided not to allow the phone to obtain time stamp information from the incoming calls, so the phone loses time -- about 1 minute every 5 to 7 days. Does this annoy me enough to not buy the phone: "No"? My $3,000 computer system does not automatically update its clock from the internet, though it is more accurate. Needless to say, I would not junk my computer; besides, when was the last time you relied solely on your home phone to tell time???
In short, this phone has more capabilities than I can list here. It does take some time to figure it all out, but once you have you will wonder how you ever lived with another phone. Lastly, the audio quality of the phone rivals anything you have every used before.
Best phone system we have owned to date April 14, 2007
Clairemont Chieftain
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
When our Uniden phone broke down after many years of faithful service, I chose the Siemens Gigaset S450 DECT 6.0 system with two extra S45 handsets. The system works flawlessly. I mounted the S450 base in the attic so I would get the widest area coverage. It's amazing! We can be inside our neighbor's home and still receive our phone calls. But this also means I can not use the base to charge a handset unless I open up the attic and climb on a ladder to reach the base. Not a problem since I have two extra handsets each with a charger. No interference with or from our Wi-Fi system, or wireless intercom, or wireless burglar alarm system, or microwaves. I tried the GE DECT system from Wal-Mart and didn't like it. I also tried the Philips DECT system from the BX, and didn't care for that system at all. The Uniden DECT system had an unappealing orange glow backlighting, whereas the Siemens has a color screen which acts as a pretty nightlight using the Sunflower picture (or the other included pictures). The kids love it, and so does the wife. I have nothing bad to say about this system. Plan on spending a lot of money if you choose to buy it. You get what you pay for.
 Disappointed across the board April 13, 2007
HR (Portland, OR)
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
This phone replaces a Siemens 2.4 Ghz system that had served us well for 6 years. We have been using this phone for about 45 days. The phones randomly lose their programming and you have to sync everything back up and re-record your outgoing message for VM. While talking the volume sometimes cycles from regular to loud and back again. The people on the other line don't seem to detect the difference, but it is annoying. The headset jack is a joke. In the manual it says that while it is only tested and approved with 2 headsets, it may work with others. I have tried 3 others and none work. I haven't bought the "approved" headset yet, so can't tell if that will even work. The buttons are in contiguous bars horizontally and if typing in larger quantities of numbers, often one doesn't take on the first press. Plus, there seems to be a delay in the pressing of numbers, so you can't even dial quickly. A few of the menus are good, but others it seems like they lost interest in usability. Although there are a lot of features, the ones I need, like mute and a universal headset aren't there.
Now I have to decide if I will ship them back or not. I like that there is no interference with the microwave and the color display is nice, but those items don't seem to be good justification for the price of 3 handsets and a base with answering machine.
Great new technology March 21, 2007
K. Snow (Dallas, TX)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I first bought the Philips system--very inexpensive and very cheap. Could not hear anything. I've owned Siemens phones in the past and they are expensive. Broke down and paid the price and it is well worth it. Feature rich, easily programmed and the handset can do everything. You only need the base for charging. Very well thought out and looks good too!
Best reception I've got from a phone while using my router June 19, 2007
Charlie Brown (Miami, FL)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I bought two of these headsets to worked with the Siemens S455 DECT 6.0 Digital Cordless Phone System with Answering Machine. So far they have work perfectly, and even if the auto-recognition from the base didn't work, linking them up manually to the base was very easy. I like the fact they're very light, maybe lighter than a cell phone, so you can throw the handset in your pocket without feeling you have a rock, and no need for a hook, although you can use it as it come with one
The interface is a bit slow, and raising the volume during a call needs to get into a submenu so it is not as easy as pushing a key, and learn to use the interface can get some time as it is not as intuitive, but overall the reception is perfect and it doesn't interfere with wireless networks. German minimalism certainly took a toll on accessing some basic functions with one key stroke (as said above, raising the volume), but this is a great phone
|
