Siemens 8825 Gigaset 2.4 GHz 2-Line Expandable Cordless Speakerphone with Answering System

Now comes the 8825 and the reception is fantastic. After a couple of months of using the unit I've found a few problems with the system that are again making me think about getting rid of it. The first is the speaker phone on the base, when I'm talking people on the other end can hear me just fine but I can't hear them worth a darn. The sound is choppy and I thought maybe it was because Siemans put the speaker underneath the handset (very strange) but removing the handset and trying the speaker phone without the handset in the way didn't yield any better results. A call to Siemens customer service didn't help, they told me to reset the base. Also the volume on the base speaker phone just isn't enough. My other complaint is when pushing the buttons on the base and the cordless handset their's that dreadful delay. I use the a speakerphone alot and this may be the reason I get rid of the phone. One other strange problem is the absence of a flash button on the cordless handset. Siemens has you using the talk button to switch between the calls which I found not working right a good part of the time. The base however does have a flash button and it works just fine in switching between calls.

On the good side the cordless handset is wonderful, good volume and even better volume using it's speaker phone. Menu is well laid out and the display is easy to read. The corded phone (except for the speaker phone) works well.

I was hoping for the perfect phone from Siemems but I guess I still haven't found it.


Gadget Lover's Dream   January 25, 2002
Alan Zenk (Plymouth, MN USA)
25 out of 28 found this review helpful

Every feature you could possibly want, and then some. Be prepared to spend 2 hours poring over the manual - and if that doesn't sound fun to you, don't buy it. Once you dig in, it's pure pleasure. Voice announced caller ID is coolest feature. You simply tack on your own announcement to a caller ID entry in the log, then whenever that person calls, the main system plays your announcement back (remotes don't, however). Speakerphone on each remote is excellent. You can also use remotes as room monitors, which is great if you have small children ripping up your house. Buttons on main console are soft and glow a warm red when illuminated. You can use it as an intercom, can page any unit or all of them. You can name each phone, too, so it's easier to know which one you're chasing. The 120-name directory can be sent to each remote, so you only have to build it once.

One of the criticisms I read about earlier Siemens model was that menus were foolishly laid out, so that most used features were buried 8 levels below main. They've fixed this, as far as I can see. Only negative is that it causes major interference with our Safety 1st baby monitors, renders them nearly worthless.

I had considered buying an office phone system with several extensions, but this does far more, and you have wireless remotes to boot. Best toy I've ever purchased, worth every cent.


Great on Paper, Horrible in Reality   February 24, 2002
24 out of 26 found this review helpful

After purchasing this phone from Amazon.com, I absolutely could not wait to use the phone system. It read in the description like the 2.4 GHz phone of my dreams with its small size, two lines, hidden antenna, answering machine, advanced caller ID, and directory features that appeared to be similar to my cellular phone.
Yet in reality, it's horrible because Siemens took a phone that could have been easy to use and made it absolutely as hard as possible.
The command and menu system on every phone is arduous and almost nothing can be done at a touch of a button. When you pick up a phone line, it automatically defaults with a preference to one line or another (meaning I can't select to use line one instead of line two without digging through menus). The phone defaults to disallow call barging -- great if you want privacy on the Siemens system, but horrible if you want to have two people talking on one line. The list goes on and on, but can best summarized by saying it will the least simple phone you have ever owned.
I can program my VCR, I can program my ReplayTV, and I have a computer navigation system in my car. I can absolutely tell you that this is the most difficult phone system I have ever seen implemented in a "home / home office" two-line unit.
The speakerphone on the handset works fine, but there's no mute button on the base. That means if you're on hold using the speakerphone your every word (or background noise) is broadcast. Siemens thought out this phone very, very poorly.
So if you read about the phone and you're excited -- you're right -- it's a great phone on paper. After spending nearly a month with it as a highly motivated buyer I can tell you that it's a horrible phone in reality and I'll revert back to 900 MHz before keeping it.


Great system, in service since May of 2002!   October 22, 2003
M. Reed (Parkville, MD United States)
24 out of 26 found this review helpful

I researched what was available at the time and settled on the Siemens 8825 and added 3 handsets for a total of 4.

1) Setup was quite simple after reading the manual, though I would of layed it out differently, but that's just my opinion.
2) I have never had any problems with the base or handsets since I purchased them.
3) The separate voice mailboxes worked great for me. I use it for my business and home phone. It intergrates well with the phone companies features. (mail, etc.)
4) I have not experienced any problems with my wireless network that operates on the same 2.4 GHz.

The only complaint I have is occasionally I will hear a clicking sound in the handset when talking on the phone. This is usually caused by outside interference such as a microwave.

Overall it has done a good job and been very reliable. I would definitely reccommend the Gigaset 8825.


8825 Gigaset, best 2-line cordless   January 26, 2002
gnikoli (Fresno, CA USA)
23 out of 24 found this review helpful

If you don't like to read instruction manuals, don't buy this phone. If you are patient, willing to study the manual and really want a 2-line cordless phone with multiple handsets, this was the best solution I found. Pluses: Good range; good, not great audio; lots of usefull features. Minuses: Can't just put a call on hold and pick it up on another handset, you have to transfer the call and know which handset to transfer to if you don't want to transfer to them all; can't speed-dial from from handsets. I had an old ATT (pre-Lucent) 2-line with digital answering and was used to heavy, high quality hardware with great audio (and 1/100th the features of an 8825). Siemens follows the modern philosophy of offering features and not necessarily going out of their way to make a product that "feels" rock solid or sounds above average. Would love to see a product with old-fasioned quality and 8825 features even if it cost more.