Customer Reviews

Uniden DECT3080-3 Answering System/Combo - 3 handsets

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I have owned GE, Uniden, Panasonic, AT&T, Vtech and a number of other models from the outdated 49Mhz to the 5.8GHz range and now DECT 6.0. I had a set of Uniden TRU8860 5.8GHz which were some of the best I had owned, except they did have range drops and often failed around my Wi-Fi office technology. I thought the review on the Panasonic KX-TG9334T set was persuasive enough to give them a try. I concluded I have a newer Panasonic KY-FPG391 5.8GHz that has performed well and there would be little risk. However, after setup, I knew I had made a poor choice. If you have never owned recent Uniden technology, I suppose Panasonics would be pie in the sky perfect as some reviews have indicated. However, for me as an aficionado of phone technology, I was left sorely frustrated.

I packed the Panasonics back in the box after noting a long list of problems found under that product and returned to Amazon. I proceeded to purchase the back-ordered Uniden 3080-3 DECT 6.0 which from what I read is an immense upgrade over the TRU8860 series. Certainly a visual feast.

I took delivery of the Uniden 3080-3 DECT 6.0 on May 27th, 2008. WOW is all I can say. Nothing on the market compares! Perfect in every way. Sleek design, features, graphics, and sound. Have vision problems? No issue with this phone, BIG easy-to-read display. I do have a little loss of hearing, again no problem, these units have great volume in handset and especially through the 2.5mm headset out jack. The Panasonics had no volume at all with a headset.

The review below who complained about no speed dial does not understand the way phone technology has changed, effecting all manufacturers. The Uniden 3080 can store a 50-station shared phonebook, that once entered in one handset is available on all handsets. Simply hit the first letter of the name and the green button and it dials. This is the ultimate speed dial, works wonderfully. Plus you can assign a number of custom rings to each number, so when a call comes in from a person in your phone book, you know who it is by the ring.

I can understand the complaint about the LCD not lighting up when the Uniden 3080 phone rings. This is the only personal preference I would change, however I simply turned the LCD contrast all the way up and chose the yellow comb wallpaper and can see the caller ID perfectly on the cradle. The thinking behind this design is that a person will pick up the handset to review the caller ID. Once you pick-up the phone off the base, the LCD does light up. I did send a notice to Uniden about changing this feature.

The volume is very good compared to anything Panasonic makes and equal to my previous TRU8860. Unless a person is deaf and requires an assisted hearing amplifier, the volume is exceptional from both the handset and a 2.5mm headset. I use both and I DO have hearing loss and volume is critical feature for my use.

Another review below said this Uniden series is not expandable. Actually, it is expandable, up to 6 handsets which I have functioning just fine. However, if you buy only the 3080, it is not expandable. Only the 3080-2 and 3080-3 are designed to expand. Therefore if you think you want more than 1 handset, make sure you know the facts.

I do not have any hissing, static, or buzzing with this system. There is a rare but occasional hollow echo, but nothing that detracts from its use or otherwise advanced design. If there are any disconnect issues with this series, it is an isolated defect with a problem unit, whereas I have used my set all over my one acre property without one drop or failure.

Take it from a phone perfectionist, carefully consider the Uniden 3080 and its immense offerings first. Yes, they cost a bit more, but you will be very happy and your visitors will marvel at the mere ergonomic site of them.

I have purchased DECT3080-3 thinking it is the top of the line phone Uniden offers. My previous model is Uniden DCT648-3 which I used for 2yrs w/o an issue.

Just using the new phone DECT3080-3 for 15mins today, I have already found couple major Problems:

1) LCD on handset do not lit up when there is a incoming call when the handset is on charging base - MAJOR ISSUE!

2) The call speaker & earpiece volume is pretty low compared to my existing DCT648-3 - - MAJOR ISSUE!

3) I get static (or buzzing) noise before even I dial the call. This is in both ear-piece and speaker on handset -- This doesnot exist on my current DCT648-3, which is super quiet.

Did I actually degrade my existing phone by buying this new one???? To be honest, I do not see any major changes/improvements from upgrading from DCT648-3, except the color LCD and less weight handsets, but its a downgrade since the handsets are much wider than previous models..

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UPDATE 06-04-2008:
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I called Uniden Customer service about the above problems, and they have said it is due to bad base unit. Right away they have shipped a brand new set overnight to me (NO charge to me!!). All the above problems are fixed now. It was infact a bad base unit.

Love the uniden service!!

I ordered my combo set from Sam's Club online and got them for much cheaper than the lowest price on Amazon.com. I charged them fully and began using them. I had researched and checked reviews online regarding the phone's performance and was well aware of many complaints about "out of range" and "dropped calls". I liked the phones so much that I decided to give them a try, hoping to have the same experience as some of the 5-star reviews that I have seen about them. Well, I had the same "out of range" and "dropped calls" problem. I phoned customer service and the rep. told me to de-register the phones and then re-register them again. I did just that but still experienced the same problem. The next day I phoned customer service again, telling a different rep. about my problem and about the suggested solution from a different rep. She immediately connected me to a supervisor who advised me to keep the phones until they ship me a new combo set along with a return ship label for the ones that I had. Apparently there was a glitch in the phones that I had that Uniden has since rectified. When I got the new set I used them for a week before submitting this review. I have had abosolutely no problems with the new phones. I LOVE them. They are ergonomically friendly, beautiful, and have very neat features. It did not take long to get through to customer service on either occasion and my problem was timely resolved. Thanks, Uniden!!!

This is the 6.0 phone to get. Have not had one problem yet. Looks great. Nice, easy to read screen. Voice quality is loud and clear, including using the headphone jack.

Can pickup messages from any handset. Multiple ringers, screens. Keypad lights up in a nice blue color. Intercom between handsets, call transfer to another handset. 3 way conference calling between incoming call and two handsets. Speaker phone is loud and clear and can use it to check messages.

This is one great phone. I have been using it with Vonage VOIP and it works great and looks great. Works much like a cell phone does where you can enter phone number and then hit the call button, or you can turn on phone and enter phone number.

Very comfortable, ergonomic, intuitive and simple to use. 11 hour talk time too!

Just get it, you wont regret it. Cant think of one thing I wish it did.

Decided to replace an old 2 set Uniden system I had with this. Have had this for over a month and so far am very happy with the unit.

I think someone got it wrong, the 3080 system is expandable, I bought the 3 set system advertised here, and ordered the extra handset dcx300 through beech audio - adding the 4th handset was a cinch, just put it on my base station and register. http://www.amazon.com/Uniden-DCX300-Accessory-Charging-DECT2000/dp/B0012ZBNGC

These phones have some awesome features.
intercom for the house - I have the 4 phones with 2 assigned to the kids - I can page them just about anywhere in the house.
the unit has a privacy option - lock out listening ears or share a call - both good
the customized ringtones and wallpapers give each set a unique touch
and the kids have their own banner name - we have fun changing these - to Daddy sux ... Queen bee, lil Princess etc
the ability to get the messages on any phone is a huge plus - also you can do the answering setup from any of the handsets.

not having speed dial is not an issue as you can store contact names on any phone - and upload/share with all the other handsets - very cool

So far no issues with sound quality, dropped calls etc.

All in all, a very feature rich set - I am very happy with my purchase.

I could not be happier with these Uniden phones -- Volume is loud. Features are excellent, and the speakerphone is very usable (and loud)

The link quality is excellent, and call quality is similarly good. I compare each of these qualities to the phones we just threw out (our first DECT purchase from GE). Comparatively speaking these phones are absolutely wonderful, clear, loud, and functional. I even like the style.

I can recommend these to anyone looking for a good, clear, cordless phone system.

I just deleted the first review I did on this phone. We had 'out of range' errors, lost signals and dropped calls daily! That was getting old. After talking with customer service I decided to move my wireless router about 6' away from the phone's main base. That solved my problem; we haven't lost a phone call since!

We like the customizable features for each handset, and have given each one their own name, color and ringer tone. The colors can be softened or made bright for the viewing that you like best. There are at least 3 wallpapers to choose from, too.

Each handset comes with its own belt clip. I attach the clip to my shirt, turn on the speakerphone and my hands are free to crochet, type or leave my pets in/out, well, you get the idea.

I wish I could turn the volume up a little, but I don't have any problems hearing the conversations. Other than that, we love these phones now that we don't lose any of our phone calls.

*The handsets need to be charged 15-20 hours before you can use them.

(SEE UPDATE BELOW REVIEW)

I have used mostly Panasonic telephone systems in the past. This is my first Uniden product. I have used this telephone system for over 2 months. I have not had ANY drop-outs or "Out-Of-Range" errors that others have reported. I would assume that there may have been an early production line issue. I would be curious to see how others would have rated the phone if that issue were taken out of the equation. I have categorized my review features into Good, Bad and Ugly.

The GOOD:
-Terrific sound quality
-Stylish design
-Lightweight handsets
-Speakerphone feature on each handset
-Ability to add 3 extra handsets (6 total) simply by dropping them in the base for 5-10 seconds.
-Ability to customize the name of each handset for intercom ease-of-use
-Ability to page all handsets via intercom at once or one at a time
-Multiple ringers
-Organized menu interface and button icons
-Message indicator light on each handset
-Ability to check your messages from any handset
-Ability to send your address book entries to each of your handsets without re-entering them.

The BAD:
-The handset will not turn on the back light of the display until it is taken off the charger. This makes it difficult to see who is calling until the handset is lifted off the charger and activates the back light
-Only a 2 digit code for answering machine message retrieval...not that secure
-Price
-The handset volume and speaker phone volume are very audible; however, I do tend to use the highest setting on both. It would be nice if there were a louder setting but I doubt anyone would complain the volume is not high enough.
-No talking Calling ID (though I have usually turned that feature off on my Panasonic phones because it gets annoying).
-No use of speaker phone with intercom. I'm not sure if there is a phone system that does this, but it would be a great feature (like a quick & easy baby monitor)

The UGLY:
-I have two least favorite attributes of this phone system:

-There is the "extra" bottom row of buttons on the handset that have the same look and feel as the number buttons (This is the reason for the 4 star rating). Every other phone I have owned has the * key, 0 button and # key on the bottom. Or, if there are other buttons beneath this row, they look or feel very different or are spaced further down on the phone. This phone has another row of buttons directly beneath * key, 0 button and # key. This extra row of buttons is for redial, mute and speaker phone. Uniden should have made this row a different size or spaced it further down on the handset. When a telephone number has contains a zero (which is usually the button found on bottom center of a handset), it is too easy to hit the MUTE button instead since this is the bottom center button on this handset. This takes some acclimation.

-The answering machine recorder does not cut off when you pick up a phone that is not part of the Uniden system. For example, if someone is calling and you pick up another phone after several rings (a Panasonic phone on the same line for example) after the answering machine has already picked up, it will not cut off the answering machine recorder. You then need to manually delete a "message" of you talking to the person on the answering machine.

SUMMARY:
-I have not had ANY drop out issues reported by others
-If you can live with the "extra" row of buttons at the bottom of the handset and frequent need to delete "messages" of you talking to someone else on the answering machine, this is really a great looking and great performing telephone system. Overall, I would recommend it without hesitation.

UPDATE MARCH 2009:
For about a month, the handsets have developed an annoying problem. All 6 (the 3 original handsets from 3 expansion handsets) have randomly started resetting the time. After a while, one by one (never all at once), the handsets will reset the time to 12:00. I have tried resetting the time manually, unplugging and re-plugging in the battery and placing different handsets on different chargers. I have not lost power in the house and this problem occurs regardless of whether the handset is on the charger. There is no other power related issue. That is, the battery holds a charge fine for conversations. I am starting to think that there is some production run issue with my phones. I doubt it is a battery problem but that is where Uniden Customer Service wants to start. Uniden Customer Service is responsive, though their number was difficult to find: 800 297-1023. I would be interested if anyone else is having this issue with the handsets losing the correct time and randomly resetting to 12:00, especially those that have expanded the number of handsets.

UPDATE JULY 2009:
Uniden Customer Service came through and replaced the entire system with a new set free after we collectively could not figure out why the handsets were acting possessed. The replacement set has not exhibited the problem. I have really grown to like this phone and I even got another set. It seems Radio Shack had a unique version of this phone that came with 4 handsets. I got it on clearance for about $85. This new set has not exhibited the random time reset issue either. If anyone is experiencing this, I would recommend that you unpair and re-pair each handset to the base. I never tried this and it was not suggested by Uniden but, in retrospect, I bet it would have worked.

Kudos to Uniden for standing behind their products too!

I have had this phone system for only 3 days. It's absolutely fabulous in all aspects except one: The caller ID does NOT display numbers as you have programmed them into your phone book. This becomes an issue for me when dealing with cell phone numbers. The caller ID registers "Cellular Call" instead of "Bob's Cell" as I have it in my phone book.

According to a Uniden support rep, none of their phones have that capability. My old Sony phone, which is 10 years old, does that! This is so important to me that I am going to return this phone system.

I did not have any out of range, wi-fi or clarity issues. The phones are feature-packed, and I love the fact that you can name each phone. The design is pretty slick, too.

I order this product because it said it would not interfere with wireless signals. I liked the looks and feel of the product, but once I tried to use it the people on the other end could not hear what I was saying as it was dropping words and lots of static. I also had a lot of "Out of Range" errors even within inches of the base within the first minute of calling. I've never had a more frustrating experience with a phone.
I tried contacting Uniden support and had to enter my issue on their website as I could not find a phone number. After 2 days I received an email asking for additional information. I replied and never got a response back even after a couple follow-up emails asking why.
I used this phone on Vonage on a very high speed connection.
I have since purchased a GE model 28811FE2-A at Wal-Mart. The one with Google 411. It is also a DECT 6.0 and I have had no problems.
I will never buy a Uniden product again. I expect support when I have questions or problems and I did not receive it from them.