Customer Reviews

Motorola Cordless Telephone with Digital Answering System and Call Waiting Caller Id

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I needed to add extra handsets to my 3 yr. old Motorola cordless, but the model had been discontinued and used handsets were commanding a huge premium. A local store had a two-'fer sale on these handsets, so I took the plunge. I love this new Motorola. It's smaller & sleeker than my old MD681. Here are some of the main features that make this an excellent phone:

1. It can connect 12 devices to the base (my old phone maxed out at 5). Not just extensions, but a video camera that you can monitor from a color handset. I wish I had this when my kids were small! In addition, you can buy a bluetooth unit and hook your cell phone in to make and receive calls from your cell phone. That makes conference calls easier. The signal is clear around my house and throughout the yard (about 140' at its furthest point from the base station.

2. Shared public phonebook! Enter up to 49 phone #s on the base unit, and they are available on all extensions! Plus, you can add another 50 #s for each extension that are private to that handset. A tremendously useful feature that my old cordless did not have, and so it was a major hassle programming #s into each one. In addition, they've finally added the ability to assign a ringtone for each incoming call based on the phonebook & caller ID. Now my kids can tell when it's dad calling instead of having to look at the display.

3. Access answering machine from any handset. There are LCD and voice prompts on every handset. No longer is it necessary to run to the base station to check a message you just missed. All options are available from the handset. In addition, you can set messages to be forwarded to another phone #. Smoothly and simply forwards messages to my cell phone whenever I want so I don't miss anything important.

4. Easy intercom system. Instead of generic "handset-01" you can rename each handset, making it a snap to select the correct intercom to ring. The system allows you to select an auto-answer on 1 or 3 rings, so that the set goes live on speakphone mode. Great when mom's cooking in the kitchen & doesn't have an extra hand to answer the intercom.

5. Ultra easy registration of all your devices. My old handsets required entering a long string of #s on the handset to connect. This is literally as simple as selecting the register option on the handset and holding a button on the base station until you hear a beep. Love how simple it is!

6. 5.8GHz frequency means 2.4GHz wireless signals don't experience any interference.

7. You can download ringtones or even wallpapers (color only). It involves setting up an account and PIN online. There are 20 built-in ringtones, with space for 5 custom downloads. I'm not too impressed by the sound quality of the ringtones (which sound like primitive polyphonic single notes), but the basic selection is adequate. I can't see using downloads for the quality of ringtones produced.

8. Day/night control of ringer volume. A nice touch I wouldn't have thought of. You can set night-time hours, and adjust the ringer to off-low-med or high to suit.

9. There's also an alarm that can be set on each handset. Don't need it, but I can see how it'd be useful.

10. Clear LCD text and attractive screen and key backlighting. A soft off-white. The charge light is a pretty, bright blue charge LED that you can leave on or turn off (or just turn off at night). The charge LED control only works for the base station though, not handsets. Left on, it serves as a night light.

Overall, for price, features, build quality and reception, I find this phone an excellent buy. It addressed a variety of things I truly disliked about my previous unit, and had a bunch of features I hadn't thought of but now wouldn't want to do without. I didn't bother researching other phones before this purchase (relying on pricing & Motorola's reputation), but I can't imagine anything else I'd want or need (unless it played mp3 files as ringtones- but I can live with what it's got). Count me a truly happy customer.

I did considerable research on available 5.8 ghz systems. This one seemed to (and does) handle everything I wanted. Especially useful is the bluetooth Cell-dock accessory, which allows us to make and receive cellular calls through any handset (if you have a bluetooth cell phone). We no longer have land-line long distance, and using the handset for cellular calls actually improves the clarity of those calls.
Another nice feature is the intercom between handsets, which replaced an expensive separate system for us which never worked very well.
If you are looking for a new 5.8 ghz home phone "system", I suggest you definitely consider this one.

I bought this phone as a replacement for an 2.4Ghz AT&T cordless that the keypad buttons had worn out. I based my purchase on three main factors:

1. Features that I required.
2. Motorola brand quality.
3. Consumer reviews.

All that I can say is...THE REVIEWS WERE RIGHT!! They were all positive!

What a Great Phone!!! It was a snap to set up and it has execellent ergononmics, sound quality is crystal clear, and no dead zones that I have found yet in our 2 story house and 1/4 acre lot! I have recieved calls while out from family at home and the voice quality is CRISP!! I could not tell that it was a cordless phone on the other end! Best of all...even my non-tech'y wife loves it!!! I found a WINNER...YES!!

I purchased this phone, but in a slightly different model. My model has a base with digital answering machine, but no speakerphone or CID window on it. It is merely a differnt model of the same phone. Mine also came with an additional handset that you can place anywhere. The phone works great. It has Good quality reception and both handset speakerphones have good volume. The only flaws we have found are the distance you can be away from the handset when in speakerphone mode is limited because the person you are talking with will begin to have trouble hearing you the farther away you are. Also the CID has to be deleted from each handset separately. The phonebook can be shared if you enter the number in the shared as opposed to private log that is in each handset. The backlight is pleasant to read and all the buttons on the handset light up when you press one so you can see everything clearly. Best feature is that the name you program for a given number is what will appear as the CID when that number calls you. Especially usefull when a cell phone calls you. Overall good purchase.

Have had several Panasonics and after reading on-line reviews, decided to try something else. I had several problems with the Panasonics. I own a Motorola cell phone & really like it because it is easy to use. The same goes for the new cordless I bought. Great phone, modern design, clear sound, lighted hand set wit a speakerphone in it, intercom, answering machine and a very cool looking blue light that signals you a message has been left. I am very impressed with this phone and will buy another handset soon. Only thing is I wish it had speed dial, but it works very similarly to a cell phone, so getting to the phonebook is fine.

For the past several years I've sworn by Panasonic, but the last few cordless phones have inexplicably stopped working. I purchased this for my mother as a Christmas present because her other phone was water damaged. She asked me to set it up and I was amazed at how hi-end this phone was. She loves it, so now I;m thnking that I should get one too; a great buy.

I have the SD7561-2 which is the same except it has no keypad on the base station but it comes with 2 handsets. I looked at all the phones at a local superstore including the Panasonics. I bought this one because it appeared to have the best build quality with really nice keys in which the numerals light up for night use. Additionally, I spent a lot of time comparing how intuitive the various interfaces were and this phone came out on top. The interface is extremely intuitive and well thought out. Other than wishing I had got the base station key pad version and the comment at the end of my review, I am totally happy with this phone.

My favorite features are:
1. Incredibly intuitive interface and real clean design.
2. Clear handset speaker phone frees me from telephone ear syndrome when being put on hold or navigating automated phone answering services (don't you hate those!).
3. When you enter phone numbers in the shared memory it programs all the handsets.
4. Total control of the answering machine from each handset.
5. Very high quality build and feel.

One WANT I have would be the ability to program 2 numbers per person, for example their land line and cell line. Don't know if other phones have that or not. But I have not been able to do that without making a separate name entry.

Four Month Update:
Still love the phone. I have dropped it a number of times, and for a while a couple of the keys were difficult to press, but they are OK now. So durability seems good. I have noticed as others that the battery life is fairly short. This is not much problem as I keep them in their bases and when I have a overly talkative friend (30 minutes +) the low battery warning buzzer provides a wellcome opportunity to say goodbye. Have noticed that I need to press the delete key twice on the base station to delete messages. I love the handset speaker phone and only wish the volume could be turned higher and that the phone could be stood up when off the base. All and all the phone has been an incredibly worthwhile upgrade.

I have just purchased this system SD-7561-2 Which is the base without keypad and an additional handset, to replace a siemens multi-handset system. I purchased the system through best buy at 99.00 (It was on sale) and I am purchasing additional handsets and the bluetooth cell phone connectior through amazon (they have not arrived yet)

Build quality
While inferior to my siemens unit fit and finish wise this phone seemed to have the best build quality of all the phones that I handled in best buy. The base unit can sit on a table top or wall mount on a standard telephone wall plate (Although you will need a 6" patch cord to make this look nice and one is not included). Buttons have a nice solid feel and will not double press by accident. Screen text is clear and the both the handset speakers and base speakers have clear crisp sound but I do not believe they are duplex.

Reception and Voice Quality
When I made my first test call to my Mother in Law she told me immediately (without prompting) that I sounded clearer and louder (while I never received complaints with my old system) I also had no issues with reception it worked everywhere in the house without degredation even out in the backyard 300 feet from the base. The phone has 4 volume levels controlled by two rubber buttons on upper right hand side of the phone more would be nice but they seem to be sufficient. There is a handset jack but I did not test it. Two soft coded buttons change functions and one allows you to place a call on hold or connect to another handset.

Menu and Phone Book
The base can store up to 48 numbers they can be manually added or added from your caller ID log which is an excellent feature. The caller ID log allows you to choose the number format (with area code without area code and with area code plus 1 before it.) When you save to the phone book from caller ID you can edit both the number and the name before finishing. The Menus are layed out logically and are easy to navigate with the up down rocker and the two soft keys. The 48 entries can hold one number each which is a step down as my old phone held 50 with up to 3 numbers on each entry. Each handset can hold 50 private entries which has no use for me but could be useful for roomates/housemates. Each phone can be named so you can easily tell which handet is which. The answering machine is easily set up and accessed from every handeset and you are prompted every time you listen to messages to remind you what key does what, the time of the message is announced prior to the message which is nice. Caller ID logs need to be cleared manually from each phone but there is a clear all so it takes about 2 secounds to do it.

Other Features

Losing handsets much harder. The base unit has a page button (on top easy to find) that will page each handset not in a charging unit (which is nice as if it is in a charger you already know where it is.) The units will flash and emit a tone you can also page one handset from another actually chosing the hanset you are looking for this alerts others to pick up the handset and you can use the intercom. When accessing the messages from a handset it automatically defaults to speaker. Each phone comes with a belt clip that snaps on and off. Soft blue lights on the bases indicate the phone is in the base the base prongs are nice and high and provide a solid connection no wiggling necessary to make sure it is charging. A battery symbol appears when the phone charges as well on the handset. The handsets will flash with a blue light on top while being paged or if there is a message waiting. There are 10 ringers in the phone each handset can be set to a seperate ringer but the stock ringer is the best.

Transfer calls

It is fairly easy to transfer calls from handset to handset a user can simply pick up another handset or you can connect to another handset which will page that other handset prompting someone else to pickup this places the caller automatically on hold. When the additional handset is picked up you can talk to the other user (to see if they want the call) and then take the call off hold. You can then stay on the call 3-way or hang up one handset and the other will stay connected.
Setup.

Both phones had the proper time and date and were either pre registered or registered with the base as soon as I inserted the batteries. I havent figured how to turn a handset off but you can lower the ringer either manually or through a nighttime mode which does it automatically at a special time.

What I would like to see
Some improvements could be made like the ability to shut a handset off or a battery indicator that was on all the time. Expanding the base phone book to either more entries or allowing multiple numbers per entry would be great.

Overall
The system is great and the best thing is if we destroy a handset (we melted one to the stove top a few years ago) replacements are only 40.00 or so on Amazon. I am thoroughly satisified with the system. I will enter a review of the Bluetooth adaptor at another time.

We originally had a Motorola cordless phone and the battery died on it. We thought we'd switch to another brand. Bad move. We tried 3 other brands of cordless phones. All were horrible. Then we came across this phone. The features are great, looks good, and feels good. You can talk for over an hour on it and not feel like the battery is going to die any minute. The phone book could have some better features in it, but other than that we love it. The speaker phone comes in handy.

I received my phone on the shipping date that was specified. I love the phone. The caller ID windows are nice size on both the handset and the base. The buttons are big enough for me to see. I like having the plastic smooth buttons. When I am using the phone the persons voice on the other end is clear and crisp. I have used the handset outside and I had no static, just crisp and clear sound. I like having the different ring tones for people in my phone book. The base is compact and it does not take up much room on my desk. I did not buy the expandable handsets, but I like the idea in case later on I would need to. I have had the phone a little over a month now and I have no complaints.

I do know that any cordless phone that I buy in the future will be a Motorola phone as I have had good experience with Motorola products.