AT&T 5870 5.8 GHz DSS Cordless Phone with Answering System and Talking Caller ID

by VTech

Product Details

Product Manual [2.48mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 4.5 x 12.5 x 9 inches ; 3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0000B005M
• Item model number: 5870
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 29, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Note: The AT&T 5870 is no longer being manufactured. You may want to consider purchasing the newer AT&T E5865 instead.

The AT&T 5870 expandable cordless phone system offers top-of-the line 5.8 GHz digital spread spectrum technology for increased call clarity and security. It also offers an integrated answering system with three individual voicemail boxes, speakerphone capability from both base and handset unit, dual keypads, and three-way conferencing. Plus, the system is expandable to five handsets (AT&T model 5800, one handset included), so it offers plenty of room to grow.

The AT&T 5870 has audible caller ID and call waiting to announce incoming calls, as well as a 50 name-and-number programmable directory. The handset features a three-line backlit LCD, any-key answer, adjustable volume control, programmable ring tones, even a vibrating ringer setting. The integrated digital answering system offers three individual mailboxes for message privacy, plus 15 minutes of message recording time and remote operation.

What's in the Box
AT&T 5870 base unit, one cordless handset, rechargeable battery, spare battery charger, AC power adapter, phone line cord, belt clip, user guide, warranty information

Product Description

ATT 5.8GHz Dual Keypad ITAD - 5.8GHz Expandable cordless telephone system with digital answering machine- Expandable up to 6 handsets total- Only one phone jack needed for system- Caller ID, call waiting caller ID- Talking caller ID (50 personalized announcements/telephone number announce)- 50# name and number Caller ID log- Lighted LCD display in handset- 15 Minutes of digital record time- 3 Voice mailboxes- Call screening/intercept- Remote access- 2-Digit message counter in base- Last 10# redial- 50# Name and number directory- Trilingual setup menu- Headset jack- Analog and digital clock displays in handset LCD - Hold/mute- Dual keypad- Intercom- Conferencing- 2-Way page/intercom (between base and handset or 2 handsets)- Visual ringing indication- Call transfer- Line in use indicator- Sound select- Spare battery charger- Power failure operation- Speakerphone (handset and base)- Handset vibrating ringer- Intercom between handsets- Frequency hopping digital spread spectrum- Wall mountable- Silver and blackADDITIONAL HANDSETS: ATT5800BATTERY: BATT-2431, GE-TL96155, GE-TL96145, HHR-P546, ATTBATT-2401

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, but not quite perfect, December 14, 2003

By 

Chad Myers (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: AT&T 5870 5.8 GHz DSS Cordless Phone with Answering System and Talking Caller ID (Office Product)

After a friend of mine purchased the 5830 several months ago, I've been debating between the 5830 and 5840. After finding that the 5870 was released, I thought I had found my perfect phone.

Positives are pretty much what everyone as said:
- Solid feel
- Nifty blue lighting
- The clock in the display
- Sound quality is excellent while listening to the other end
- Speakerphone on the handset works very well. Used it on a few calls so far without any complaints. Makes those long conference calls less painful.
- Even though the 5870 is 5.8GHz / 2.4GHz, it doesn't appear to be interfering with the wireless network (802.11b). My old Panasonic Gigarange Extreme is 2.4GHz/900MHz, and it will occasionally knock me offline.
- Registering a second handset was very easy; just punch in the code from the bottom of the base unit on the new handset.
- Battery life appears good. Was on a 3.5-4 hour conference call and the handset still showed at least a half charge.

Negatives:
- while the handsets will set their clock from caller id, the base unit / answering machine requires manual setting
- there is no time display on the base unit, so setting the time must be done audibly. Not a bad process, but tedious. You must hit the "Change" button to iterate through the options instead of just punching in the numbers. For example, to set the time as 7:25 pm, you have to press the set time button, then press it again to go into set mode. First up is the day; hit Change and it will announce Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc. for every press. Get to the correct day, then hit the set time button to go into hours. Change button again, starting from 12 am. Every press of Change will increment one hour. Get the proper hour (make sure AM/PM is right), then set time again to get to minutes. The Change button is then used to increment minute by minute. On the plus side, you can hit the button rapidly instead of listening to the voice announce every minute.
- Handsets will display the time in the idle screen, but not the date. The caller ID log does display the date.
- While on a call, you have no access to the clock on that handset. You just get options of Hold, Xfer, and Mute. If you place the call on hold and wait a few seconds, you'll get the time display though.
- There seems to be a very faint echo when I speak. Not obnoxious, but it's on both handsets and noticeable when compared to my other phones (Panasonic Gigarange Extreme and an old Nortel Meridian) which don't echo.
- No button available to change the channel. My Panasonic has it, and it's how I get the network functional again when the phone collides with the network.
-There is no call timer.
- Remote access code is only 2 digits. Yes, 2 digits. Seems rather poor security in my opinion.

Mixed feelings:
- A saved name / number in the phone's memory doesn't override the incoming caller id info. In other words, if you save a name, when the call comes in, only the caller id name shows, not the saved name. I think this has been touched on before.
- Each handset's memory (caller id log and stored phone book) is fully independent. That means no sharing of phone books between handsets, and clearing the log on one handset does nothing to the others.
- As said by others, caller id announce is only from base.
- If you screen calls, you have to be near the base to hear the caller leaving the message. There is no way to screen calls using only the handset.
- Caller id display seems somewhat slow to appear on the handset when a call comes in. It shows up line by line (name, number, time), unlike my other phones where all the information appears immediately.
- For some reason, if you have a headset plugged in, the handset will not allow you to switch to speaker phone. You have to unplug the headset, then hit the speaker phone button.
- You can only pickup messages on the answering machine from the base unit.

Overall, a good, solid phone, but it isn't quite perfect. I'm not sure yet if I'm going to keep it or return it and continue waiting for the perfect phone.

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Standout in the field, November 16, 2003

By 

Cruz - See all my reviews

This review is from: AT&T 5870 5.8 GHz DSS Cordless Phone with Answering System and Talking Caller ID (Office Product)

I am very pleased with the ease of use and functions of the 5870 phone. I was trying to decide if I wanted to get an AT&T 5840 or 5830 when I found out this phone was soon to be released and it would integrate the best of the 5830 and 5840 into one phone. I'm glad I waited.
I have tested all of the best features. Here's a short rundown:

1. Phoning from the base: Nice to have but I would rarely use this feature. It is accomplished by using the speakerphone on the base. Person on the other line said my voice sounded tinny.
2. Speakerphone on handset: A very useful feature and simple to use. Actually sounds better on both sides of the conversation than using the speakerphone from the base.
3. Talking Caller ID: My favorite feature on this phone. After programming the phone with known phone numbers you can record their name (or any 3 second message) and it will be spoken by the phone when that number calls you. Only problem is that local phone numbers need to be programmed with the area code because they are received by the phone this way (at least with my service provider). If you then use the stored number to call that local number it doesn't work because local numbers aren't dialed with the area code. So I'm still trying to optimize this issue. One idea is to store the persons number twice, once with the area code and once without. The one with the area code would ensure the talking caller ID works and the other one would be used to dial the number. Another idea is to use the area code on the base handset and use the non-area code on an extra handset. Then always dial out on the extra handset. Must be a better solution than this though. I will check back to see if someone else solves this annoyance.
4. Voice Quality: Very good. Not a big factor for me because I use a handsfree headset for most calls. The phone is light and has a belt clip so hands free is really the way to go. Makes conversations a pleasure. By the way, Plantronix $29.00 headset works great with this phone. VERY good voice quality.
5. Answering Machine: Works great and easy to use. I received a message that sounded very weak (low voice) so I did a lot of testing on this feature. People that leave messages should not whisper, that was the reason for the low volume from that message.
6. Wall Mount: A must for me. Very easy to mount and looks sleek and professional.
7. Expandability: Very important for me. My last phone lasted 7 years. I expect to keep this one as long. The ability to add extra handsets and have 3 mailboxes provides the upgrade capability I would need.

The rest of the features on this phone are gravy. Things like vibrate control, ringer tone, ringer volume (independent on handsets and base), conference call, intercom, etc.

Some features some people may not like:
1. Phone books are independent of one another on different phones. Storing different phone books on different handsets is an advantage for me; I don't want all phone numbers on all phones.
2. Blue LED on incoming messages. I love this feature. Very high tech and sleek. Blue is the new "in" color.

In summary, I love this phone and now find myself using the phone much more than I used to.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great phone!, February 8, 2004

By 

cmp (Merrimack, NH USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: AT&T 5870 5.8 GHz DSS Cordless Phone with Answering System and Talking Caller ID (Office Product)

My husband bought me this phone for Christmas to replace a V-tech model that had just wasn't working quite right for us.

I love this phone - the only reason that I'm not giving it 5 stars is because there is one feature that I'd really like that seems to be missing, which is that the memory and caller-ID still don't communicate quite as much as I'd like.

The talking caller-ID function is great - no running around the house trying to find the phone just to figure out if I even want to answer. You can program in the names for your most frequent callers (which are recognized via caller-ID, even if they're not programmed the exact same way as your memory), and it can also be set up to announce full numbers of those who aren't in your memory, so you might still recognize the number without having to get to the actual phone.

The 5.8 GHz works great in our house. The 2.4 that we replaced had major interference with the microwave, but this one is terrific - no static at all, ever.

The piece that's still missing is the actual caller ID/memory interface. Even though you can program the talking bit, the caller ID always comes up as the official listing and not "mom", for example. This isn't bad, except that so many of my calls come in from "wireless caller", so I have to actually recognize the number. Again, the voice announce caller ID works, but if you happen to miss that (you're not close enough to the base when the phone rings, for example) then you're stuck with going, "Hmmm, I think that's my mother-in-law's cell number..." Back a few years and two phones ago, we had an AT&T model that DID include this feature, as do most cell phones. Also, that old phone had a feature that would allow you to customize outgoing messages to 10 numbers in caller ID, so that you could tell your buddy "Hey, meet me at 4:00 at the bar," but not let the whole world know where you were. That was cool, and I wish it was still a feature.

The speaker phone options work well, both from the base and from the handset. The base speaker could use a few more ticks on the volume - or maybe my house is just loud - but it does work great if you stay close. It's also nice because you can answer the phone from the base if you can't immediately find a handset - a typical problem in my house!

The digital answering machine function is also typically fine. There are 3 mailboxes, though we only use one. There are several ring tone options, and you can even have the handset vibrate.

All in all, this is a great phone. If you've had some issues with interference on a 2.4, this is a great upgrade.