Uniden TRU8885-2 5.8 GHz Digital Cordless Phone with Dual Handsets and Answering System

by Uniden

Product Details

Product Manual [3.51mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 8 x 7.2 x 5.5 inches ; 3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0001F9KLY
• Item model number: TRU8885-2
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (131 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 6, 2006

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description The TRU8885-2 from Uniden is a cordless phone with a built-in answering machine, caller ID compatibility, and expandability to 10 handsets (model TCX800). It comes with two handsets, one that recharges in the base unit and another that recharges in the included remote charging cradle. That latter requires only an AC outlet, so you don't have to worry about additional phone jacks.

By using the less-cluttered 5.8 GHz frequency, the TRU8885-2 is able to offer a clearer, more intelligible signal than older phones operating on lower bands. Caller ID/call waiting compatible (requires subscription through your local phone company), the TRU8885-2 holds up to 200 numbers in its internal caller ID/phone directory (100 on the base, 100 on the handset), while the display-and-dial feature allows you to quickly scroll through the caller ID list and dial the displayed number with the touch of a button. Ten speed-dial presets allow you to easily call the most frequently used outgoing numbers, and an alphabetical search feature provides an easy way to locate numbers stored in the internal memory.

Handset and base speakerphones provide a hands-free communication method, while a direct link mode allows you to use the handsets as walkie-talkies. Four-way conferencing allows several phones to communicate with an outside call. An intercom function enables communication with other phones on the same system, and the call transfer feature lets you transfer calls from the base phone to the handset and vice versa.

The all-digital answering machine has a 12-minute maximum record time and a four-minute maximum message length. A conversation record feature provides a quick and easy way to save important information such as directions, while full remote operation allows you to check your messages even when you are away from home. A page/handset locater feature makes finding a lost handset quick and painless. Handset and ringer controls let you adjust volume levels to your liking, while the redial button automatically calls the last three outgoing numbers. The TRU8885-2 also comes with a one-year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
Base, two handsets, remote charging cradle, two battery packs, two AC adapters, one telephone line cord, two belt clips, user's manual, and warranty information

Product Description

UNIDEN TRU8885-2 -- The next generation of digital expandable cordless telephones is truly a quantum leap. 5.8GHz Digital Spread Spectrum Technology delivers outstanding clarity, vastly reduced interference and increased power. 100 Progammable CID or Memory Locations 3 or 4-Way Conferencing Transfer Memory Locations Between Handsets Intercom or Call Transfer Between Handsets 20 Distinctive Ring Options (10 Melodies / 10 Ring Tones) 10 Speed Dial Locations at Base Headset Compatible (Headset sold separately) Menus selectable in English / Spanish / French Earpiece and Ringer Volume Controls Ringer Off Option Wall Mountable Record Conversation Capability Remote Message Retrieval Belt Clip Included

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

242 of 244 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great phone system. Fixed problems from prior versions, March 22, 2004

By 

Jason Brobeck (Coraopolis, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Uniden TRU8885-2 5.8 GHz Digital Cordless Phone with Dual Handsets and Answering System (Office Product)

I've been wanting to get a 5.8ghz phone system for a while, but all previous models seemed to always have some kind of major shortcoming. Seems Uniden recognized this and came out with a model to beat all previous ones.

The 8885 and 8865 models are newer versions of their old 5860/85 lines. It has pretty much any feature you could want.

Just to highlight some of the strong points:
1. Nice phone design. Perfect size and not as ugly as the previous model.
2. Perfect reception. Anywhere in our house the phone is crystal clear.
3. Speakerphone in the base and from every handset.
4. Intercom/Paging between phones
5. 100 number phonebook (although it shares entries with callerid). You can keep separate phonebooks per phone, or download the phonebook from other phones.
6. DirectLink mode, where you can use the handsets as walkie-talkies. Although in my opinion the phones are a tad too big to carry around with you everywhere, but it might be nice for specific situations. I haven't tested the range though.
7. You can have the base + 2 handsets speaking on the line at the same time. The previous model was limited to 1 handset per conversation.
8. Customizable ringtones - can assign a certain ringtone to a certain caller so you know who they are. Can only use the builtin tones though.
9. Handsets have a plug to use with a headset for handsfree operation
10. Can access the voicemail from any of the handsets, not just from the base.

Those are just some of the major features, there's plenty of other little bells and whistles to configure the phone.

My only 2 complaint is that incoming caller ID gets stored on every phone. There is no way to just delete it from all phones at once. You need to go to each phone individually to delete the callerid list. Fortunately there is a delete all option.

One other potential complaint is that you can't set up separate mailboxes on the answering machine. I know some of the other brands let you do this. No biggee for me as I wouldn't use the feature anyways, but might be important to some.

Those might just be nitpicks though. This system really exceeded my expectations and I give it the highest recommendation possible.

200 of 207 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The One to buy, June 23, 2004

By 

kgmnyc "kgmnyc" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Uniden TRU8885-2 5.8 GHz Digital Cordless Phone with Dual Handsets and Answering System (Office Product)

After years of living with my Siemens 2415, I had to replace them with a 5.8ghz due to interference from a neighbor's wireless network (so annoying). I was disappointed with the 5.8 ghz models on the market (big antennas and poor design) and was waiting for something upto the level of Siemen's, but tried the Uniden based on the rave reviews here. After a few weeks, I would say they are quite good with flaws. Good reception. Good design. They have all the features you could want. A big plus not mentioned elsewhere is the "do not disturb" button on the base which will shut off all ringers and call screening, perfect for napping. Plus all phones clearly say Do Not Disturb so you won't forget about it later.
Orange LCD is very bright and readable (not my favorite color but you get used to it). Handsets are attractive. The Base is another story, not as attractive and buttons are really small and hard to decipher.
Handsets are comfortable to use and you can easily adjust volume when on the phone. Caller ID on Call waiting is a pleasure as the name doesn't disappear as soon as you take the receiver away from your ear, it gives you a chance to see it.
Also a nice bonus is being able to call screen on any handset even though it is done through the speaker phone.
Retrieving messages on the Handset is also a good feature.
Many Minor Flaws, the first is Caller ID. Caller ID must be reset on each phone and base separately. It will tell you how many times a number has called but then that info disappears after you read it once on that handset. Most odd. Keep that info and put a star next to the new Caller ID's instead.
Time and Date must be set manually for answering machine and not taken from caller id. Answering machine annoyingly tells you what time it is when you call in first. Then tells you how many new and old messages you have, then repeats that info when you press the button to actually play the messages. Beyond redundant.
Most bizarre is that when you retrieve message from the handset you press single digits, but when calling in from outside, you must press 2 digits, you must press a preceding 0. Ridiculous.
You pick your security code but it is only 2 digits long. Again ridiculous especially in this day and age.
Answering machine doesn't correlate to Caller ID so you can't easily see number of hangup or person leaving message. You must go into Caller ID and correlate the time and number yourself.
There is no way to delete the entire phone book in a handset, you must delete each entry separately. Kind of dumb.
The alphabetizing of names in the directory is also dumb, as non letters are placed in priority after letters. There is no easy way to force someone at the front of for example the B's with B1: Name B2: Name as I used to do. The only way now is by BA1: BA2: etc. Too cumbersome. And any symbol used is also placed after z for alphabetizing, so preceding symbols don't work either.
Caps are the default when typing in names. So you must press button 4-6 times just to get lower case. Very annoying unless you like all your names in all Caps.
You can't edit phone numbers without deleting numbers first, text however is fully editable.
The ringers are acceptable but on par with the cell phones of 2 generations ago. Where are downloadable ringers or more normal ringers. And why do we have only low and high and off settings? Where is a midground of medium?
The delay when distinctive ring is on is way too long. Phones light up and you wait and wait for it to ring. I had to turn this feature off to get phone to ring when it lights up.
I would prefer a base with no buttons at all more like Siemens and everything in the soft menus.
Also a higher price with more memory would be better. More minutes for messages and give me 100 memories for both Caller ID and Directory. I need 100 just for the phone book alone.
Even with all these minor/major annoyances and flaws, the phones seem to offer much more than the competition at a fair price and in my opinion clearly the only game in town so far...

51 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a good product, but not without design flaws, June 1, 2004

By 

Jeff Bishop (Winston-Salem, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Uniden TRU8885-2 5.8 GHz Digital Cordless Phone with Dual Handsets and Answering System (Office Product)

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I've had no problem with the range, sound quality, etc. There are four design problems, however.

1. Limited handset capability. You can expand it to 10 units, which is great, but you can only use 2 handsets at any given time, which is not so great. You should be able to use as many units as the system can support.

2. No battery backup. The handsets all have batteries but the base doesn't. That means that in the event of power failure, nothing will work, and the time and outgoing message on the answering machine will be lost.

3. Phone book transfer. It's nice to be able to transfer phone entries unit to unit, but it would be better to have a separate phone book stored in a single location, e.g., the base, that is viewable by all. Then people would have no need to program anything into an individual handset, except in the unlikely event that they actually wanted certain phone numbers to be accessible from that handset only.

4. Long distance dialing. To store a number in the phonebook, the user manual tells you to input a 10 digit number. Actually doing so, however, will result in an error message from the phone company informing you that area codes must be preceded by a 1. Having to store an initial 1 is annoying enough when you input the number manually, but it's worse when you try saving numbers from Caller ID, which do not include the initial 1. Worse, you can't even edit the number manually to include the initial 1, without first erasing the entire number and then having to re-input it from scratch. A better design would be to add a setting that causes the phone to dial 1 automatically before any long distance numbers (i.e., before any area code not expressly programmed NOT to be preceded by 1).