Customer Reviews

AT&T EP5995 - 5.8GHz Expandable Cordless Answering System with Dial-In-Base Speakerphone

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

After reviewing cordless phones and looking at them, We picked this one based on consumer report and buyer reviews in addition to features and looks of course. We also needed a multi handset system and this one can support up to 8 handsets. We also needed a system that would not interfere in our wireless computer network. We had a multi handset system which was 2 years old but did interfere and would often cause problems. This was super easy to install and set up. It is similar to using a cell phone and has many of the same features. We love the ability to display pictures and animations along with being able to name each handset which we named for each room they belong in. We have always had problems with knowing where our old handsets belonged and would have to find the empty base from which it had been taken. Another cool feature is that you can record your own music or sounds for your ringer if you want. We also love the intercom capability which our old system had but this is much better. We have had these for almost a month and have had no problems with them or any of the functions or features. We have not set up our directory yet so don't know how that part works yet. The handsets are a little larger than our old ones but still very nice looking and the small bases are very stable which is much better than our old ones. The base unit is excellent in that it is really easy to use all the features on it, it has buttons so you can use the base without the handset which is always nice to be able to answer your phone when someone forgot to replace the handset! It also has a battery storage place which takes the same battery as the system and will allow your base unit to work in case of a power outage. We didn't realize this when we purchased this but would have bought the extra battery at the same time had we known.

We purchased this because it expands up to 8 handsets, which is fantastic. Some people have had sound issues. We don't. It's very clear, no static of any kind. It's great that it's got the volume button on the side of the handset. The speaker is also clear, no static and loud enough (volume is adjustable).

We're not into ringtones, but I wish it had a simple, regular ringtone. I hate the musical ones.
We do like that you can set up a different ring tone for different people. That way you know who's calling without looking at the phone. You can also record your own sound.

We like that you can check your messages from the handset or remotely.

The base itself takes 50 entries into the directory; however, the handsets take 100 (that's strange). It keeps up to 10 redial numbers.
The bad thing about the phone is that you cannot enter the directory into one handset and then send it to the others. If you have a lot of entries, like we do, this is a real pain.

Another drawback is when you get a call, and you answer it, the rest of the handsets don't recognize that you answered that call. They will still show it as a missed call. This is annoying.

Other than the little quirks (which we can live with), we love it. It's a sturdy phone, color screen, you can change the screensavers, adjust the screen contrast and it's got a mute button, which is great.

After using the AT&T EP5995 and an extra EP590-3 handset for 3-months, my overall impression is very positive. I like it well enough that I recently bought that same combination for my dear (but technophobic) mother.

Neither my wife nor I use the native base unit very often. We almost always use a handset. Although my wife likes to use the handset as a typical phone, I almost always use its speakerphone capability. I love walking around the house doing other things while I talk. The handset is portable enough that I usually talk within 2-feet of it. Whenever I mention that I am using a speakerphone, the person on the other end almost always expresses surprise. The clarity is that good.

PROS:
* Handset's speakerphone has excellent clarity on both ends.
* Handset display is in color with selectable background pictures.
* Good features (selectable caller tones, etc.).
* Good battery life (I recently used it for a 3.5-hour teleconference -- all with speakerphone -- and I had not depleted the battery).

CONS:
* Cannot share directories. Each base, base handset and extra handset(s) have their own directories that must be entered separately.
* Mute button is next to the hang-up button. On teleconferences, I sometimes hang-up when I mean to mute myself.
* Lacks a dedicated find button to locate (i.e., ring) the handset. This function is buried in the base unit's menu (which is not in color).
* Intercom functionality, although a nice feature, is inconveniently buried in the menu. A dedicated button would be much more convenient.

I like phones to be easy to use and in my experience AT&T cordless phones / answering systems have been very easy to use. this is a good example of simple smart design. Good volume, the speaker could be a little clearer but not bad.

One cool feature--the base station can hold an extra battery. The batteries are only $15 at Radio Shack and a fully charged spare battery in the base station will let you use the phone/answering system during a power outage. Great idea!

The answering system is not as simple as my older stand alone AT&T answering machine. It distinguishes between old and new messages in such a way that you may end up not hearing your old messages if someone has already played them...i would prefer to just hear my messages straight through even if they are old. also when the machine is done playing your messages you have ot hit delete + another button under the LCD to delete all of your messages. this isn't clear and the first time you try to delete all your messages you will just be staring at it wondering why it isn't deleting them.

PRO: works well, good distance, sound clarity, large display, phone number memory. Has most of the standard features of a cordless phone in its price range. Not to wide, good color scheme, cordless hand unit looks very much like and works like wireless phone with a color display. Voice mail red light blinks on base unit and cordless unit. Phone base unit has a answering unit which I don't use.

CON: dialing a number that is displayed in the base unit caller ID window doesn't work, due to a missing prefix 1 not being added to the beginning of the NPA area code; Same problem with Cordless hand unit. Starting speaker phone to dial caller ID number also fails due to missing digit 1.

I, also have a Panasonic cordless phone and it adds the prefix 1

I just picked up this phone and one expansion phone as our home isn't big enough to warrant more than that. I was slightly apprehensive based on a few reviews I read here but this phone is of very high quality and is working and sounding great. Tried the speaker phone out, and like someone else said the person I was speaking to didn't know they were on speaker until I told them. I had no problems setting this phone up either. To expand to an extra phone, you just push the button to do so (once the extra phone is charged) and the main base and new phone talk to one another and take care of the rest. If you can navigate and make use of the features on your cell phone you fill find the menu and features on this phone to be very intuitive. I don't know what others were talking about when they said they wished this phone had a plain ringtone rather than the musical ones- there are at least 8 "normal" ring sounds before you get to the musical tones in the menu. Another piece of information I wasn't able to find prior to purchase was whether or not this phone was headset compatible- I can confirm that it has a jack for a 2.5 mm headset. This is a nice landline phone and I think we'll be enjoying it for years to come!

After five years my old Panasonic phone was reaching its end; it started to drop calls, the battery wasn't keeping a charge anymore (even after being on the charger all night), and I couldn't even walk out back behind my apartment without it disconnecting from the base. It was time to retire it so I started doing some major research, keeping in mind the features and performance that I wanted.

The Panasonic was an aging 900MHz and so I focused on phones in the 5.8GHz range. There was a lot to choose from so it took me a while, but I finally decided on the AT&T EP5995. I based my decision on two things - 1) the brand name AT&T because they may be a terrible phone company but they do make excellent phones, and 2) the plethora of excellent features. Having used this phone now for almost a year I can truthfully say it is the best phone I've ever owned.

The phone is very easy to setup as long as you read the manual, which is quite thick and impressively detailed. The base has a digital answering machine that holds up to fifteen minutes of messages and you can also place calls from the base because it has its own set of number keys. There base also has a very large display screen which shows the caller ID information (although the base screen is not in color it is large enough to see everything clearly and it does light up when someone calls you). One very interesting feature on the base is the optional spare battery compartment, which can hold a battery similar to the one that's in the handset. This spare battery can be kept charged in the telephone base for quick replacement when the handset battery pack is depleted. In the event of a power failure, the charged battery pack in the base will allow you to make and receive calls from the cordless handset for up to three hours.

The EP5995 can accommodate up to eight cordless handsets, although why anyone would need this many is beyond me. You can add new handsets anytime, but each must be registered with the telephone base before use. Again, this is a pretty painless process, as long as you follow the manual. I've never been much on pictures, ring tones, or any of that extra garbage, but that stuff is there if you want it. The full color LCD screen is beautiful and there are even display settings so you can adjust it to your liking.

The battery life is exactly as the manual states: 5 hours (of straight talk time) or 3 days off the cradle. I have had the handset off the cradle for three days and in that time I talked on the phone for about three hours so I know it's true. As for the sound quality I find it excellent, and AT&T was thoughtful enough to include a volume control on the handset (located right next to where you place your thumb when talking). The best solution I have found for keeping the line clear on the phone while talking comes straight from the manual itself...

"Other electronic products can cause interference to your cordless telephone. Try installing your telephone as far away as possible from the following electronic devices: wireless routers, radios, radio towers, pager towers, cellular telephones, digital telephones, intercoms, room monitors, televisions, VCRs, personal computers, kitchen appliances, and other cordless telephones."

I placed my phone on the opposite side of the room away from all my electronic devices (TV, computer, etc.) and I have not had any connection issues yet. Occasionally there has been some noise on the line, but this is very brief and is usually the result of me moving too far away from the base.

These are just a few of the features that I prefer and which are very impressive and easy to use on this phone. All in all I am completely satisfied with this purchase. I would recommend getting the spare battery (AT&T model #00249) because this is an extremely handy feature to have if the power goes out and I haven't seen it on any other phone but this one. Extra handsets (AT&T EP590-3) and the spare battery can be purchased on the AT&T web site for a pretty decent price.

We had a panasonic 5.8 Ghz cordless phone that we liked for 3 years. Suddenly people complained that they could not hear me that well. We are pretty certain that the "Wireless Extenders Cell Phone Signal Booster - Dual Band YX510 PCS/CEL" we bought was interfering with our panasonic cordless phone. But even w/ the cell phone booster turned off, people complained that they could not hear me well from one of the panasonic cordless phones. Without much science I decided to buy this AT&T unit to see if it would solve the problem and to my delight it did. People here me fine from this phone and I can keep my cell phone booster plugged in. The minor dislike is that my panasonic had one button to press to find missing handsets, on this phone you have to hit 2 or 3 buttons for this. And like most cordless phones the directories on the different handsets are not synchronized (i bought another handset). But overall I like the phone a lot, the speakerphone is great, buttons are clear, has mute button, and automatically back light so u can easily dial at night.

I think this has to be one of the best phones that I have ever purchased. The color screen is incredible, the features are endless, and the clarity is second to none. Works perfectly with my vonage connection,and it adds class to my home. Learning the phone and its many features is quite challenging, but once you get the hang of it, it is very useful. I would recommend this to anyone looking to add today's latest technology to their home.

This phone works exactly as advertised, no problems with volume or clarity. Lots of excellent features and easy to use. And if you bother to read the instruction booklet, it tells you exactly how to add a 1 to numbers in caller id if necessary.