Customer Reviews

Uniden DCT648-3 2.4 GHz Digital Expandable Cordless Phone with 3 Handsets and Digital Answering System

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

The sound quality is good on all handsets as well as the base speakerphone. The handset speakerphones are also very good. I had a Panasonic with a base speakerphone only - and it was horrible. It would clip conversations constantly.

Each handset flashes a light when there is a voice message, so even if you don't get to the base, you can see that you have a new message. Not only that - you can listen to messages from any of the handsets through their built-in speakerphones. This means you don't ever have to go to the base to listen to messages. This was a particularly fantastic bonus for me since I have a fax machine at home also, but didn't want to pay for distinctive ringing. My fax machine is set up to cut off the answering machine if it senses a fax tone, but we hated that the answering machine needed to be directly connected to the fax. Now it's not a problem at all. With the 2 additional handsets, I can see from anywhere when I have a message without having to visit the office. A great design.

Only real negative: the handsets are almost too small to cradle between your head and shoulder. By the way, I have tested the headset performance, and it is also very good.

Other things to note: handsets support distinctive ring tones, you can set up one handset and copy the phone books to other handsets, haven't run into any issues with my 802.11g wireless network.

I purchases this model for my parents when I visited them in the last winter, and set it up myself and tested it. They have been using it for the last few months and have no complaints, though they don't use most of the features. From my experience of about two weeks, I could recommend it to anyone. The phone had very flexible and generous features and the clarity was good. The main advantages I can think of right now are:
- good intercom and call transfer features. You can transfer from any handset to any other (the base just acts like another handset for all practicle purposes) at any time during the call.
- good conference call features. Additional handsets can join/leave the conference at any time.
- address book copy feature. You can easily copy address book from one handset to another. Of course, ability to sync with your pda/PC over bluetooth will be great, but I think this itself is a big step up for a multi-handset phone.
- Do Not Disturb feature. With one button you can mute ringer off on all, very useful.
- room monitor feature. This especially came handly for us because we didn't plan to take our baby monitor with us.
- handset speaker phone is of good quality.
- nice compact hadsets with orange backlight. For some people, this might be a -ve, but I liked it.

The only negatives that I can think of is that the range wasn't as good as I thought it would be (for this reason, I would actually take off 1/2 a point, if Amazon permitted it), but it may not be a big issue for many people (including my parents). The direct link feature looks cool and useful, especially that the handsets are small enought to be really used as 2-way radios, but the fact that they don't have much range is severely limiting. Another important fact you should be aware of is that the room monitor mode can be started with out the need to interact with the other handset, and the other handset only makes a small beep when the mode is activated. This feature can be easily misused to violate the privacy of someone (whether it is you eavesdropping on your guest, or the other way).

If you're running 802.11 a/b/g anywhere near these phones you will get nothing but static. Amazon graciously accepted the return and I ordered Panasonic 5.8 ghz phones (through Amazon of course) which work wonderfully and DO NOT pick up any static from the home wireless network/router.

Phone worked fine initially, then one unit went out - could hear, but could not speak. Another phone had inconsistent sound quality and faded in/out.

Use manual did not address the issues. Calls to support revealed complex reset processes not included in the manual. Two hours later we had all phones working well again.

Then they went out again this week with similar problems, plus no dial tone.

Additional call to Uniden and they are sending a replacement set to us.

I am so glad to see that this system is still available. Buy this system NOW as it is getting a little long in the tooth and is bound to disappear before long. At only $69 as of this writing, this is a killer deal.

With one phone jack, you get three cordless lines (four if you buy the DCT648-4 or an additional DCX640 handset). You also get the base answering machine unit, which can serve as a speaker phone, but I never use it. Once you set up the system, the base unit is just a nicety. Every handset can do what the base unit can do, including speakerphone, which works amazingly well. You can also operate the answering machine from any handset.

I have not tried other similar systems, but I can tell you that this one gets my seal of approval and I need not look any further. The price/performance ratio of this system has far exceeded my expectations. So much so, that I just ordered another DCT648-3 for my mom for her birthday (and now it is 30% less than what I paid for it).

I am an engineer and even I do not use all of the features of this system. For example, you can have a phone book like on your cell phone, but why bother? The last 100 calls you received are in your caller ID log. Chances are that you can just scroll through it to find the number of the person you want to call and press TALK... you are connecting!

This product has so many features that could be useful. For example, it can double as a baby monitor, a walkie talkie, and an intercom. The ergonomics are pretty good, and I like the clear and bright display and lighted keys. The amber backlight is pleasant and the styling is sleek. Even my legally blind other half can (though barely) make out what appears on the large display. Did I mention that every handset has the caller ID list?


Of course, there is no such thing as perfect so there are a few things that keep me from rating this system a 5/5. None of the following annoyances, even taken together, prevent me from giving a 5/5 rating (the CONS):

* Cannot hold between chin and shoulder without accidentally cancelling the call. Note that the speakerphone and headset options can be used instead.

* Occasional echoing when using hands-free headset... a small price to pay.

* I have a tendency to hit the TALK button when I am supposed to hit the SELECT button. This is because the select button is not highlighted in any way. This mistake on my part cancels what I was trying to do and gives me a dial tone. Now I am being really picky.

* To remotely access your answering machine (from anywhere in the world with a touch-tone phone), you only have a 2-digit PIN instead of 3 or 4. Now I am being realy, REALLY, picky.

* Annoying voice anounces today's date before you access messages unless you bypass it. Unneccesary and confusing (it then later announces the date and time of the message itself). Keep in mind, I am picky.

* May take some getting used to due to its small size. You have to hold your arm up higher than you are used to if you have been accustomed to a larger phone.

Combined with the above, I have to subtract one point because the Intercom feature is not very useful. I know I should be glad that it just has one, but it is not useful to me as it is. The phone system where I work has spoiled me in this regard, I just hit SPEAKER and the extension I want to talk to, and we have a full-duplex speakerphone right there and then.

The DCT requires that you pick a handset to dial, then the other handset rings. The other party must pick up as if answering a phone call from an outside line. So it is not really an intercom, but a handset to handset telephone call. Now for the final kicker: speakerphone does not work in this mode! If it did, this would result in a 5/5 rating.

Still, I would be happy even if the intercom feature was not available. The PROS of this unit are uncanny and will not list all of them, though I have mentioned many above. It should be noted though:

* It has Features, Features, Features.
* Very well thought out, good documentation, EASY to set up.
* Standard headset jack and belt clip for hands-free operation.
* Audio quality is very good, even on speakerphone. Not stellar, but I have no complaints.
* I have had no problems with wireless 802.11 network operating on same 2.4 GHz frequency at the same time.
* No range issues... tested to 70 feet with brick in between.
* No reliability problems, over 2 and 1/2 years in operation (see history below).
* Battery life has not been an issue in that time. I've been on the line over 2 hours and never had to switch handsets.
* One phone jack buys you up to 4, cuts the wiring clutter.
* Trust me, if I am raving about it and have bought another for Mom, it must really be good (and I am REALLY picky).
* Just look at the others on Amazon who rated it before me.

Have I said enough? It is astonishing that with today's technology changing so fast that such a product has not already been discontinued after nearly 3 years. There may be something better out there, but I doubt there is better bang for the buck than can be had with this product.

It has a proven track record for utility and reliability and I have noticed no software bugs or lockups. I highly reccommend it. Get it while you still can.


History:

I bought the DCT648-3 at Costco in March of 2004 for $99, it came with a bonus hands-free headset that sadly does not appear to be a standard part of the package available through Amazon at this time. Still, it will work with virtually any headset with a 2.5mm 3 conductor type hands-free set (which can be had for as little as 99 cents).

I ordered the DCX640 (the 4th extension unit) from Amazon a couple of months later and have been totally satisfied with this system.

Over 2 and 1/2 years later, I am still on the same batteries and nothing has failed. Note that I have a couple of times rotated the battery packs between the set that gets the most use and the ones that get lesser use... I think it really helps extend their useful life.

I love my new phones!! I was looking for whole house coverage plus small in size phones and am really pleased with this these. Uniden doesn't offer too many options but just the ones that I wanted. They are nice looking but not intrusive. And, the availability of the great options means that we can rid ourselves of a phone ID machine, a separate answering phone, plus our walkie talkies. Superb! This purchase represents my third Uniden purchase in 25 years and I have always been satisfied with their products and their service.

PROS: Just received. Price. I had a 3 different cheap 2.4 GHZ cordless phones, all different manufacturers, one of which was also an answering machine. In my single story ranch style "L" shaped 2100 s.f. home all had a functional range of less than 60 feet. I was tired of having to switch to different phones as I moved a few rooms away from a phone's home base it was a relay race using different handsets. Did much research here, epinions,etc. on this Uniden system. So far I agree with all the positives. The set up was very easy. I have: entered 40+ numbers/names in phone book. Transferred the phone books to the other handsets, adjusted base and handset ringer volumes, selected our ringer tune, set to autoanswer (just pick up handset to answer a call), recorded outgoing message and set the date/time. The range of each handset is the complete house and 80+ feet outside. The clarity is great, at least compared to the garbage I had owned. The "little" buttons have been a non-issue for me. The "speaker" feature appears to be sensitive enough that I won't need a hands free head set, I have used the belt clip and just listened and talked. The audio transmission/reception seemed fine.

There is a subtle occasional drumbeat of static during the dialtone and dialing but that disappears once the call actually connects.

I love the Uniden DCT648-3. IT has 3 headsets that are small like a cell phone. I have a small hearing problem and I can hear extremely well on these phones and that was one very important thing to me. Anyone with kids or noisy spouses, will love this phone. You can hear in spite of them. I live on 3 acres and have not tried taking it too far but inside the metal barn and I still have no problem. I love it has a battery meter on the handset and you can change ringtones per phone or person in your phonebook. You can transfer your phonebook to all phones and only enter into one phone. Also being able to check your messages from any of the phones is a great help. Answering machine is very clear to the caller and the recordings are very clear. I just love the phone(s)

I love these phones. For all of the features and the quality I think that these phones are ridiculously underpriced. But, don't tell UNIDEN that. :) This is the second set I have bought. The first set didn't break or anything. I had it for about three years, then I moved, let my roomates keep them and hunted down some new ones for myself. The only thing I cahnged was that I got a set with an ansewering machine. These are just awesome phones. They have a ton of features, but all of them are easy to use. The range is great. When I lived in town, I could walk two blocks from my house. Anyways, I love these phones. Enough that I would buy another set, if I found myself shopping for phones again.

We ordered this phone system so that we could have one phone for each of our two teenagers and one in the kitchen. The handsets sit solidly in the charger. The are also a comfortable shape to hold in your hand. You can change the banners on the display to read "kitchen" or a person's name so the handsets don't get mixed up. I love the intercom feature. I no longer have to yell for the kids to come to supper. I can just pick up the phone and intercom them! Kids always answer the phone right? I love this feature! This phone's features work a lot like a cell phone. You can change ringers for each handset, use it as a speaker phone, store phone numbers, retrieve messages from any handset or remotely, tranfer calls from one handset to another. It has all the bells and whistles. The only thing missing: separate mailboxes on the answering machine.