Customer Reviews

Voip Skype Phone Kit Clearsky W Bluetooth Adapter Msn Yahoo

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

 

 

TRENDNET TVP-SP1BK ClearSky Bluetooth VoIP Phone Kit (for Skype)

I already have a Cordless Internet Telephone Kit from another vendor and bought this as it does not need a power adapter and I can charge it right out of my Laptop.

I have a COMPAQ Presario 2700 and the Bluetooth adapter could not connect physically with the USB port.

Then I tried it with my COMPAQ Evo N600c as that Laptop has a USB port on the left side so the Bluetooth adapter could connect.

The printed user guide is translated in many languages but useless to all readers as it describes only how to setup and install the drivers which most of us know anyway. The features of the phone are not described in the printed user manual.

I copied the driver and bluetooth adapter utility from the CD but it did not connect with the handset. After uninstalling it re-installing same problem.

Then I called up the TRENDNET 24/7 customer service where a representative took my Phone number and Name and model number of the hardware and said that someone would call on Monday (I called them on saturday). I was very certain that if I could not get this device to work in another one hour I would surely send it back first thing Monday morning.

I downloaded the driver from the TRENDNET website and decided to give it another shot. This time it worked.

The handset is very basic with 4 ringtones and no way to add more.

Can't do anything with the display either.

It does not have a phonebook or any other utilites which one would except from a phone. Like one touch dialling, Alarm, Timer, Stopwatch, Auto Answer etc.

When using Skypeout I can't disconnect the phone by pressing the red disconnect button on the handset, I have to open the skype application and the disconnect it. So one needs to be near the computer to do this.

On the whole a dissapointment not worth the price.

Niloufer Tamboly, CISSP

I agree with the other review that setup is a little confusing. But the phone works great with Skype once it's setup properly. The range is incredible! I have a three story house and my computer is all the way upstairs jammed in the far corner of the house. The signal is excellent all the way down to the bottom level of my home, and to the other end. I may save some a little confusion by letting you know that the phone takes over as your pc speaker while the phone is in use. So if you end a call, and then sign onto AOL or start playing a song, the audio plays in the phone, and not on the PC speakers. I finally figured out that the phone goes into "sleep" mode 3 minutes after you stop using it, and the audio is restored to the PC speakers. For those who want to fidget with the audio settings, there are settings in both Windows XP as well as the Skype settings. I just left my settings "as is". Seems to get the job done! I also might mention that I have Linksys Wireless SRX Router downstairs in my office. When I'm very close to the router, it does cause a little static/hiss with the phone reception. But otherwise, the phone reception is CRYSTAL CLEAR! I give it two thumbs up !!

Overall, this phone works very well. The voice quality is clear, the range is fantastic for a bluetooth device, it syncs pretty well with Skype, and it's relatively easy to use. The only complaints that I have for the phone are as follows:
1) The phone sometimes requires more than one attempt to sync up with Skype when you first turn it on, and
2) Whenever you turn the phone on, the device automatically becomes your default audio device for the computer, which means that you'll hear all the rest of you computer's sounds when you are in the middle of your conversation, and in order to change the default audio device back to your regular speakers, you frequently have to do so manually, or wait for the phone to go into sleep mode after a few minutes of inactivity.

The range on the phone is less than I had expected it might be. Also, I have had a number of problems with the phone's drivers. I have a new Windows XP setup and more often than not the phone will not respond when I have incoming skype calls. I frequently have to restart my computer to make a call. This is one of those first generation products that probably will get better. One hopes, at least, since it's a good idea.

This is a good product that enables you to utilize even better the oustanding service of Skype Out, which is outstanding both in ease of use and sound quality. However, the glossy Quick Installation printed guide and the shoddy .pdf user's guide on CD are not user-friendly; they are not only confusing but also do not provide all the information one needs to install and operate the phone with ease. For instance, unlike most electronics products that include a printed picture of the product with captions of buttons and function icons so that you can understand what you are doing, here one needs first to print on his own the .pdf User's Guide in order to find out what the phone buttons and icons mean and complete the installation, let alone use the phone.

I purchased this phone because it is more convenient to take when travelling than the Skype Dual Phone that I normally use. The really disappointing thing about the phone is that it displays the Skype contacts in a completely random order and Trendnet say that there is no way to get them to display in a logical order. Other Skype phones (Dual Phone and SMC WiFi Phone) display the contacts in a logical order, so why not this one?

Had to fight with the phone just to make calls.
The phone felt like a remote control, not like a phone.
The ringer was NOT loud enough at all.
The USB adapter is so fat that it takes up the USB slot it goes in and the ones on either side of it.
Already took it back to the store and bought another brand.

This TrendNET TVP-SP1BK Skype Wireless phone has really excellent Sound Quality! If you follow instructions it is easy to install. If you are using Vista you must go to TrendNET site for up to date drivers! Only thing I don't like is you have to reset the drivers for the phone in skype each time you restart the computer, but no big deal!

sound is great -- range is awesome.

One problem -- if you enter a phone # that isn't "valid" (the # pad isn't like a phone, you need to press (and sometimes hold) a button down until it registers) ... If you enter an invalid # skype reports it as invalid.
At this point, you must shut down the utility applet to "reset" the phone. Clicking on skype or turning the phone off/on won't help. So you have to be right at your computer.

I couldn't find any other major issues with it -- but when it burped; you had to almost reboot to 'fix it' -- it lost "sync" frequently while working which, required resetting the utilities.

My sub $10 (wired) phone performs flawlessly and has never burped... I'm sticking with that.

After struggling to install the phone all day, I finally called the customer service number on the back of the installation guide. They said that even though they have a Vista driver for this device on their website, they are experiencing so many problems that they now consider this device not to be compatible with Vista. This was straight from the mouth of the tech on the help line. Now I need to send it back.