AT&T E5965C 5.8 GHz DSS Expandable Cordless Phone with Answering System

by AT&T

Product Details

Product Manual [9.69mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 4 x 3.7 x 9 inches ; 3.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0001MR13G
• Item model number: ATT E5965C
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 24, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The E5965C from AT&T is a 5.8 GHz cordless phone with an all-digital answering system, dual keypads, and caller ID/call waiting compatibility. It utilizes the 5.8 GHz frequency along with frequency-hopping digital spread spectrum technology to provide clearer reception and less interference than traditional 2.4 GHz or 900 MHz phones. The answering machine provides up to 25 minutes of recording time, while remote operation lets you check messages even when you are away from home.

With just one phone jack, the system supports up to eight extensions throughout your home.

With multi-user expandability to eight handsets (one included), you place additional extensions wherever you need them, while intercom and conferencing functions allow you to communicate between handset locations or with multiple parties at once. A full-color graphical LCD on the handset provides a way to navigate the phone's many functions, including caller ID information. A 50-number caller ID memory and a 50-number internal phone directory help you keep track of important phone numbers.

Additional features include speakerphones in both the base and handset and headset compatibility to provide hands-free communication options. Personalized ringing tones allow you to assign any of the polyphonic musical ring sounds to a phone directory entry, letting you know when a specific party is calling. The E5965C has an 8.5-by-8.7-inch footprint and is wall-mountable, freeing up countertop space completely. It is backed by a one-year warranty.

What's in the Box
Base, wall mounting adapter, cordless handset, two telephone line cords, AC adapter, two AA NiMH batteries, belt clip, user's manual

Product Description

5.8 GHz digital spread spectrum operation * multi-handset operation (add up to 7 optional cordless handsets for a total of 8) * digital answering machine with 25 minutes of recording time * 2-way intercom and paging *

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

127 of 130 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If Quality Counts, January 3, 2005

By 

A. Beagle (Washington, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: AT&T E5965C 5.8 GHz DSS Expandable Cordless Phone with Answering System (Office Product)

I've looked and read many reviews of the phones in this catagory. The negative reviews of this phone almost kept me from purchasing the 5965C (I'm convinced some of the reviews are for different model phone). I didn't purchase through Amazon, because I wanted to see and feel the phones before making a decision. I'm glad I went with my "gut feeling" about this rather than the evaluations. You can't see quality or how the buttons are laid out and function on-line. This phone feels and looks like what I'm use to and has the quality few phones have. The buttons are positioned where I expect them to be and are large enough for reading without my reading glasses. This phone was designed for those in my age bracket (middle age). I found top rated phones that reposition the buttons (VTech) where you wouldn't expect them to be or have buttons so small and pushed together, misdialing is going to happen more frequently. In my book, a phone should FIRST be easy to use, everything else is secondary.

I consider it a plus that it uses easy-to-find-anywhere batteries. The battery backup feature was one of those secondary features that appealed to me, since we loose our power once or twice a year. The inexpensive batteries allow me to have several around for any emergency.

Another positive is the color display on the handheld unit. It is in full color (not a monochrome version of color which is a different model). I find the color enhances the visibilty of the phone icon system and alpha-numeric characters (without my reading glasses).

The ability to transfer calls from one handheld to another will reduce the frustration of running upstairs to see if a family member is around to take a call. You can also call another handheld and carry out a conversation (now my family may never see me :-).

Everything works as expected, though I can't find any information / documentation about how to setup pictures of family and friends to show up with the CID system. Not that I would actually use that feature... You can add Caller ID's into your phone book AND setup whether a "1" is needed or not when redialing that number.

Lastly, the voice quality is as good as any quality corded phone. Unless you want one of the new-purposes-for-a-phone (play music, synchronize phone books, or display images), you would do well to buy this phone. Yes, you could pay less for a phone with equal sound clarity, but you won't find better quality than the 5965C. [I don't work or have any investment in AT&T]

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Close to perfect, September 15, 2004

By 

W. Brian Bouldin (Colorado Springs, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: AT&T E5965C 5.8 GHz DSS Expandable Cordless Phone with Answering System (Office Product)

I researched a lot of phones and have found this one to have the majority of the features I wanted. Let's face it, choosing a phone comes down to personal preference. A defect to one person may be a feature to another.

The good: The sound quality of the base station and the handsets - they're great. The answering machine is fine too - clear as a bell. Talking caller ID a nice feature for those of us too lazy to get up off the couch to look at the CID display. The phones are just overall easy to use - my wife says so too. No interference with my 802.11b Linksys wireless router either.

Wants: 1) I can see that over time with several handsets it will be a challenge to keep up with the stored numbers on each phone. It would be nice to have a central list that the handsets and base station share so updates occur once for all phones. However, as my kids grow up it will probably be nice for them to have their own numbers on the handsets in their room... 2) More ring tones. The ones that are on the phone are kind of cheesy. Not a big deal though, you can find one that's acceptable.

Overall, we're very pleased with this phone.

March 2006 Update: We're still very happy with this phone. No problems at all. Good battery life on the handsets and no interference with my wireless. We'll be adding a third handset this month.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Phone - Great Features, September 26, 2004

By 

Mark Paterno (Vernon, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: AT&T E5965C 5.8 GHz DSS Expandable Cordless Phone with Answering System (Office Product)

This phone has excellent reception. While searching for a new phone, I have tested the higher-end models from Panasonic, Uniden and VTech. The AT&T E5965C "clearly" had better reception and range than any other model tested! Also as previously stated there is no WIFI interference.

Some of the better features as listed in the product description (above) include: AA NIMH batteries (good usage life, no memory issues, easy to replace). 25 minutes of very clear answering machine record time with slow/fast message playback options. The ability to check the answering machine from any of the remote phones is a wonderful convenience and lastly the hands-free speaker phone on any of the headsets is extremely clear and easy to understand, both talking and listening.