The Convenience and Affordability of a Cordless Wall Phone
Of course being tethered to a corded landline phone isn't very convenient. The best compromise within your home therefore is a cordless phone. A device that provides a bit of mobility and yet landline reliability and quality. Cordless wall phones are often preferred by those who have limited space to work with in their home. Learn more about how to choose these devices and shop for the one you want on this page.
Choosing a Cordless Wall Phone
A cordless phone offers a number of convenient features. They provide the reliability of a landline, with more mobility than a corded phone. They're also quite affordable in most cases. Desk top models offer the ability to easily change the location of the base station and primary handset, but cordless wall phone models can save desk space and reduce the risk of being knocked off onto the floor.Once you've decided whether or not you want a cordless wall phone or a desktop model, there are other things to consider.
Analog phones can still be found on the market and are often the least expensive models available. They tend to have good voice quality but often don't allow the user to wander as far from the base station as a digital phone. Analog phones also don't offer the same security to assure others can't listen into your calls. Digital phones are more common now. They tend to offer greater range of operation and give users the option of adding more handsets to the system.
These phones can operate at 900MHz (not very common anymore), 2.4GHz, 5.8GHz, and 1.9 GHz. Problems with interference tend to be less prominent with those operating at 5.8 or 1.9 GHz.
For some, the only need is to add a line to a spare room or the kitchen, and one handset is all they want. For others, having one base station and handset in a central location is desired but they want additional handsets elsewhere in their home. Some systems can accomodate 4 or more handsets.
If you want a separate line for the kids or a separate line for your home office, you'll need a phone that can accomodate more than one line.
If someone with a hearing loss will be using the phone, then features like a good ear seal, a light indicator to alert them to calls, hearing aid compatibility, or convenient volume control on the handset will be important.
The only way to really assess call quality is to go to the store and try out the phone.
Individual users have to identify which features are critical for their situation. Some phones have caller ID, call waiting, and voice mail capabilities. However, users who want these amenities will also need to sign up for such services through their phone service provider. Some cordless wall phones even offer multiple mailboxes so that each family member can have their own mailbox. Other phones may offer an answering machine function that eliminates the need to sign up for voicemail services.
Some phones offer a larger phonebook than others to store numbers. Others provide one touch re-dial or perhaps the ability to store caller ID information for up to 45 or more calls. Speakerphone function is convenient for those who want to be able to talk while performing other tasks, while large button phones are easier to operate in general. Some phones offer 3-way conferencing capability, but many do not. If a user wants to be able to use a headset, then a jack is needed.
It's good to at least consider the operating range or the distance from the base station at which you'll still be able to use the phone. How far is far enough, is dependent upon your individual needs. Battery life can also be important as you'll want to know how long the phone can go between charges. Generally speaking, a NiMH battery tends to offer the most use between charges.
Many cordless wall phones are also desk top models. This means that they may stick out from the wall several inches. Other models may be made specifically for wall mounted use and lay closer to the wall. If you know where you'll be mounting the phone, then you'll know your space requirements. In any case, you will need a wall mount or adapter at a minimum.
Terms to Know When Shopping for a Cordless Wall Phone
There are just a couple of terms and acronyms that you may encounter while shopping for a cordless wall phone that aren't familiar.DECT stands for Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunication. DECT phones are digital phones that generally offer a greater operating distance than traditional cordless phones. They also tend to offer superior sound quality. They tend to also be more expensive. If you want more technical information about DECT, you can review this Wikipedia article.
FHSS stands for "frequency hopping spread spectrum". The frequencies used by many cordless phones can interfere with other devices using the same frequency. The 900MHz and 2.4GHz frequencies tend to experience this more. FHSS allows a device to hop frequencies to avoid this interference. Thus, a cordless phone with FHSS technology can also help reduce problems with interference from microwave ovens, baby monitors, wireless devices, and other equipment. If you want to learn more of the specifics about FHSS, you can read this article.
Need an Amplified Phone?
If you need an amplified phone, corded or cordless, be sure to check out our page on Amplified Phones.
Find a Cordless Wall Phone
GE - Lifestyles Series - Big Button Cordless phone
This GE phone can be used as a desk top or wall mount model. It's perfect for anyone with a mild hearing loss, the elderly, and anyone who wants a phone that's easier to handle. It offers large buttons, and oversized ear seal, a backlit keypad, and a flashing light to alert users to calls. It also features call waiting, caller ID, one button on/off, and one touch re-dial. This is a DECT 6.0 cordless wall phone using the 2.4GHz frequency.
GE - DECT 6.0 - Stainless Steel Finish
This is another of General Electric's DECT 6.0 phones. It mounts flush with the wall to save space and offers a speakerphone and answering machine functions. This phone is expandable up to 4 handsets while still requiring the use of only one phone jack. It also offers call waiting and caller ID.
V-Tech CS5111 5.8GHz Cordless Phone with Caller ID (Silver/Black)
This cordless wall phone is offered by V-Tech. It operates on the 5.8GHz frequency and offers users caller ID and the ability to retrieve such information from the last 45 calls. It has a 20 entry phonebook capacity, 9 speed dial presets, voicemail functions, and comes with wall mount brackets.
Panasonic KX-TG2480S 2.4 GHz 2.4GHz FHSS GigaRange Digital Cordless Telephone
This Panasonic phone can be used as a desk top model or mounted on the wall. It operates on the 2.4GHz frequency and uses FHSS technology to help eliminate any interference. Users can opt to turn the ringer off and use the light indicator only, to alert them to call or voicemail messages. It offers a phonebook capable of storing 50 numbers, caller ID, speaker phone, call waiting, and 2 line operation to allow you to have 3 way converstions, put calls on hold and so forth.
GE 2.4 GHZ Cordless Phone
This is another option for those seeking a cordless wall phone. This GE is another DECT 6.0 phone operating at 2.4GHz. It includes a visual ringer, handset volume control, and 10 number caller ID memory. It also features one touch re-dial and is hearing aid compatible.
Panasonic KX-TG6022B 5.8 GHz Expandable Digital Cordless Phone with 2 Handsets
This Panasonic cordless phone is typically a desk model but comes with a wall mount adaptor for those who prefer to save desk space. It operates on the 5.8GHz frequency and uses FHSS technology to assure good quality sound. It comes with two handsets but is expandable up to 4. It features a speaker phone, call waiting, caller ID, and voicemail capabilities. Users can turn the ringer off and use the light indicator to notify them of calls and messages or conduct 3-way calls. This phone also features a backlit English/Spanish display, headset jack, 50 number phonebook, and built-in clock with alarm.
Panasonic KX-TG6021M 5.8 GHz Expandable Digital Cordless Phone
Offering basically the same features as the above Panasonic phone, this potential wall mounted cordless phone comes with only one handset for those who don't need multiples.
Let Us Know You Stopped By!
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- JaguarJulie JaguarJulie Nov 6, 2009 @ 9:13 am
- You know, I am in heaven with our cordless wall phone. Heaven, I say!
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- sukkran sukkran Jun 11, 2009 @ 8:42 pm
- it is really an useful page. great lens.
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- TheWhistler TheWhistler May 27, 2009 @ 11:55 am
- How do you know all this tech stuff? Thanks for the lens.
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- Irenemaria Irenemaria May 27, 2009 @ 10:31 am
- You present an endless stream of useful lenses. When do you sleep and eat? Thank you for this really good information.
Introduction: sheldonschwartz
Choosing a Cordless Wall Phone: SeRVe61.
Terms to Know: The_Ladd.
This lens is also listed at LensMasterWorld.




