Customer Reviews

PLANTRONICS Walker Ameriphone Clarity C435 Cordless Telephone

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I purchased this for my 86 year old father to assist him with his hearing and low vision problems. The features offered on it (volume enhancements, large backlit numbers, phone lights up when calls come in, etc,) are excellent and I thought the price was very reasonable. The only problem he had with it is that there is a very tiny adapter that has to be plugged into the battery compartment. With his low vision, he could not accomplish this feat on his own and had wait 4 days for someone to come over and plug it in. Other than that, it is a great phone. The volume goes up so high that if you have normal hearing you have to actually turn it down in order to be able to hear. This is not a bad attribute, it is a very good one.

I bought this for my 96 year old hard-of-hearing grandmother. She has a hard time understanding how cordless phones work, but she did well with this one. The only problem was I had to turn it way down because it actually amplifies YOUR voice as you talk into it - even more than the incoming voice. There doesn't appear to be a separate way you can turn down the volume of your own voice vs. those of your callers. Now when she talks into the phone she speaks very low and it's hard to hear HER, but she doesn't want to hurt her own ears by talking loudly into it. Strange.

This is a good product if you are an old goat like me and can't hear very good. It also rings loud and lights flash if you at the point where you need that. Buy it, you'll like it.

The phone is great..now that dsl filters have been installed.

I think that is important to include in the installation instructions, as the static is increased because of the amphification. My husband is again able to hear over the phone. Thank you. Bobby Jean Gaddy

UPDATE AFTER 8 MONTHS: The telephone has continued to function correctly. The users try to remember to leave it on the charger every third night (see comments, below, about this), and so far the batteries are alive and well. We are pleased with this telephone.

The Clarity C435 cordless telephone has been in use by elderly family members for only a week. It does let them hear better, and we notice that they ask for fewer "repeats." At higher volumes, the phone introduces a buzz or humming sound, and the users have complained about that.

The telephone could be greatly improved by two fairly simple upgrades, neither of which should add significantly to the price: 1. Provide lithium-ion batteries, and 2. Provide internal battery backup to the memory. Another improvement, perhaps more expensive, would be to provide a battery status indicator; as it is, the user has no idea how low the battery charge is, until it gets down to about 2 minutes of use remaining.

The rechargable batteries in the handset are not li-ion type, and their life will be significantly shortened by leaving the handset in the charging base; with li-ions, this particular problem would be eliminated, and by letting the user just keep the phone on the charger base might reduce the need for an "amount of charge" indicator.

Also, the base unit (where, apparently, the memory is stored) will retain its memory for only about 6 hours in event of a power outage. This could be fixed by installing a 9-volt battery for backup. This could not add much to the manufacturing cost, as $5 electric alarm clocks have such a provision.

Overall, the telephone DOES improve communications for the hard-of-hearing, but it could use improvement in other areas.

I bought this for my parents who have difficulty using "complicated cordless phones". They had no problem with this, and they loved the volume control and the fact that it's hearing aid compatible. (Although, I had to show my mom the "T" switch on her hearing aid for when she talks on the phone.) Now it's available at an even better price than when I purchased it. Definitely a great value now.

My mother-in-law is extremely hard of hearing. For the first time, I and others, can have a telephone conversation with her without shouting. This was a great buy!

My grandfather is very hard of hearing and he finally can hear us on the phone! This is a great product!

The telephone was exactly as described. It was sent very promptly and arrived in perfect condition. The price was the best of anyone.
Would recommend supplier to purchase any product offered.

Fast delivery, quality product. It worked just as advertised!