NETGEAR Dual Mode Cordless Phone with Skype(SPH200D)

by Netgear

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.6 x 5.9 inches ; 12.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000M51AYS
• Item model number: SPH200D
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (126 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 7, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description Your internet connection can easily become a phone line, allowing you to make free, or very cheap, calls worldwide. The Netgear SPH-200D Cordless Phone with Skype takes all the hassle out of the process. You don't need to install any software, or even turn on your PC. All you have to do is plug the

Place Skype handsets all over your home for total wireless freedom, no matter how you choose to connect. View larger.

The SPH-200D lets you make and receive calls in three different ways. Learn more.

The handset comes with a base station that enables traditional land line calling. A charging cradle is included, too.

An easy, user-friendly interface makes calling a snap.

Cordless Base Station into your internet router and start using Skype's worldwide internet phone service to talk to your friends and relations wherever they may roam. And if that's not enough, the SPH-200D also replaces your land line phone. Just plug the base station into any active phone jack and it becomes a traditional cordless phone as well.

Three Phones in One
There are three ways to use the SPH-200D. For no cost at all you can make Skype-to-Skype calls anywhere in the world. Skype software is pre-loaded on the phone, so you can start calling any other Skype users at their computers or at similar Skype phones right out of the box. An intuitive on-screen menu lets you see which Skype friends are online and available to call. Push a button and you're making a free domestic or international call.

Your second option costs only pennies per minute and includes no monthly fees. With SkypeOut you buy phone time in advance, then use the internet to make calls to cell or land line phones all over the world. You can also get a SkypeIn account for a small fee, which gives you an internet phone number, allowing friends to call you from any phone, anywhere, anytime. With the SPH-200D you can do all of this without fooling with software or plugging headsets into your PC. It's all there in the palm of your hand.

And of course the SPH-200D is also a traditional cordless phone. With the latest cordless technology, DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications), the handset delivers incredible range, clear voice quality, and a full menu of digital features. You can even add up to three additional handsets, which allows you to replace all the old-fashioned phones in your home with one that truly belongs in the 21st century.

What's in the Box
Cordless phone with Skype, rechargeable battery, cordless base station, power adapters for the charging cradle and base station, setup guide, and warranty card.

For calls made through Skype and/or the SkypeOut service. Terms and conditions of the Skype services are subject to change at any time in the sole discretion of Skype Limited

Product Description

NETGEAR’s Dual-mode Cordless Phone with Skype (SPH200D) combines your cordless phone and Skype calls, all in one. Just connect the base station to your phone line and router and start making calls---no PC required. Simply plug the Dual-mode Cordless Phone Base Station into your Internet router (Ethernet port) to enjoy making Skype calls. Additionally, you can plug the base station into your phone line (PSTN) wall jack to make land line calls---from the same cordless phone. Up to 3 additional phones can be added---so you can replace your current cordless phones throughout your home with NETGEAR’s Dual-mode Cordless Phone with Skype. The SPH200D delivers crystal clear voice quality and longer range with DECT technology--Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy Installation, Great Voice Quality, January 7, 2007

By 

Thomas Beutel - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: NETGEAR Dual Mode Cordless Phone with Skype(SPH200D) (Personal Computers)

I've been using this phone for little over two months and really like it. Before, I couldn't warm up to using Skype because I didn't want to be tied to my computer. Now with this phone I'm using it now for all of my outgoing (SkypeOut) calls. My long distance bill has fallen to zero and I've reduced the number of cell minutes as well.

There is practically no setup. I just plugged the base unit into my router, and it connected automatically to my network. I did have to punch in my Skype name and password on the numeric keypad, but it turns out that I could have done that easily through a web browser - the base unit has a configuration page similar to other Netgear routers. Once my name and password were in, I could start calling.

The phone displays all of the contacts that you have previously set up with Skype. In fact, I recommend using Skype on your computer to do all of the setup - it's just easier that way. The phone even shows the amount of Skype credits that I have.

The voice quality is great, but there is a slight delay - similar to what you get when your overseas call is routed through a satellite. I like the fact that the phone comes with a standard 1/8-inch headset jack - I use a headset for most of my calls.

As far as wireless range, I've been able to range throughout my house with no discernable dropouts. It's seems to get better range than my 2.4GHz cordless phone and my WIFI.

So the bottom line is: I'm happy with this phone, happy that it's Skype, and I plan to keep using it.

57 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice screen, very configurable., February 9, 2007

By 

Ray (Ashland, Vatican City State (Holy See)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: NETGEAR Dual Mode Cordless Phone with Skype(SPH200D) (Personal Computers)

I've had this for a couple of weeks now, it has performed flawlessly. I did a lot of research, this one fits my needs best.
I use skype-in and forward my cell phone to it because at home my cell phone coverage is spotty at the house. Skype out calls have been as good as regular phone service. I've been told when using the PC skype headset calls sounds better than the phone but the sound is still ok, I have a very good headset it should sound better. You can set it to skype out always, landline always with an option to choose or have it ask for prior to calling, so you can choose which is best for you. I have it set to skypeout always, I haven't figured out how to get the caller ID other than Skype's 000-012-3456, so people you call may be a little curious why such a unusual Caller ID.
Netgear has many options for configuring it to for your network, if you have a tricky network setup this is your phone. For me pluging the base unit in the router did the entire setup in minutes. The instructions where a little on the lite side you should go to Netgear website and download the latest manuals you can configure the phone on your network from web page, configuring the phone from the on-screen menu was straight forward enough. I do like the screen it's similar to most cell phones today. The screen and buttons light up when you start dialing.
I installed the base unit next to router, and charging base at my desk, the range in the house is great, outside I get about 150ft before it starts breaking up.
The speaker phone works well, people will know on the other end they are on speaker. It has a headset jack, I've not used it yet. The batteries are rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride AAA 750mAh, so you could purchase rechargeable AAA NiHm batteries when needed quite easily. I tend to leave it in the charger when not in use so I'm not sure how long the batteries will last, I'd assume a couple days easy.
The construction is of a light plastic, so it feels light in your hand, it's not a heavy solid phone.
I like the DECT using a frequency other than my wireless internet. Overall no complaints, it's not cheap, does everything asked of it.

60 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Can be Problematic for Some People, June 4, 2007

By 

TT (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: NETGEAR Dual Mode Cordless Phone with Skype(SPH200D) (Personal Computers)

Overall I think this is a pretty good Skype phone but there is one key technical flaw that you must fix if you have this device: You must set the device to AUTO for the network speed because it is set to 10Mbps from the factory or will tend to negotiate 10Mbps with your 100Mbps switch. 10Mbps will lead to packet collisions on your Ethernet switch and dropped packets and thus poorer voice quality. Most people will have a 100Mbps switch or better, so you definitely should change this setting. To change this setting, refer to the manual or type in the IP address of the phone in a web browser and log in with username "admin" and password "password". Then change the setting under the Network page.

Another key problem that I've found is that when you put this phone on MUTE, the remote party often hears a clicking noise that sounds like a machine gun. This is especially problematic if you intend to use this phone to join conference calls where you prefer to put yourself on MUTE when you're not speaking. The clicking noise is totally obnoxious and the other people on the conference call will be very annoyed at you. You will probably be asked to dial in on a regular landline or drop the call.

One other problem that I've noticed is that sometimes the Skype phone or service will not properly send the touch tones to the remote party. So if you are calling an automated prompt system and need to press touch tones, then they might not be recognized properly by the remote system. One specific service is Global Crossing (audio conferencing provider) that does not always recognize the touch tones sent by this Skype phone. To be fair, it tends to happen no matter what Skype phone you're using, e.g. softphone or hardware based phone. This is a Skype problem, not a Netgear problem.

If you can live with these problems, then this is a great way to save some dollars if you make a lot of long distance calls. It gives you the feel of a real phone and the quality is on par with most other traditional cordless phone systems.