Customer Reviews

Uniden TRU9496 2-Line Corded/Cordless Digital Answering System

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I was looking for a system to replace an aging Siemens 8825.
After trying the Panasonic KX-TG6700B (defective), the
Motorola MD7081 and MD7091 (both have terrible sound quality),
and the AT&T EP5962 (poor button layout and feel and display) I decided to
try a Uniden product. So far, the TRU9496 is getting the job done.

What's good:

1. Good size, feel and layout.
2. Easy to set up.
3. Speaker volume on the base and handset speakerphones
Is excellent.
4. Sound quality on the base and handset is excellent.
5. Phonebook can be searched by first letter of the name.
6. Phonebook allows two phone numbers per name.
7. A handset can communicate with another handset directly,
Like a walkie-talkie.
8. Base display shows how many messages are in the answering
Machine separately for each line.
9. Base and handset displays show date and time.
10. A waterproof handset is available (TWX977).
11. Keypad on the handset is backlit.

What's not so good:

1. Range is ok but could be a little better.
2. Ringer volume control is not great. There are only two settings:
Low is to low, and high is too high.

This phone system should be seriously considered for its sound clarity
And excellent set of features.

The 2-line base station is a very good solution for my home office. Clarity is exceptional. A well-thought out design for recording separate messages for each line. My line has caller ID (Highly recommended) which allows easy phone number recall and move to phone book for permanent storage.

After one week, I had problem with portable handset. Handset would "freeze" ,i.e. would not respond to any key and not light-up. I called Uniden customer service three times -- each time 1/2 hour wait to talk to customer service! After a number of suggested fixes --- pull-out battery and hit * # keys --- to re-set handset, problem continued again after a short time.

Uniden said to send handset to Texas for "possible" replacement. Now I am one phone short for two weeks and who knows what will come back ...plus shipping $$$ on me. Uniden refused to send me a new replacement. This handset is in-use for only one week.

A great phone buy ---if it works ! Good luck.

I replaced a Siemans 2420 desk system with the Uniden TRU9496 and I give this phone 4 stars. It is a good phone for the money and performs well. The only complaints that I have are:

1. No 2.5mm jack in that base for a headset.
2. No speed dial buttons. You have to use the Address Book. Four to six buttons would be nice.
3. Can't use the handset in the charger base.
4. More storage for messages would be nice.
5. Caller ID deletes have to be done on the base and handset separately.

Other than that this phone is great. I have the phone in my basement office and the base unit is about six inches from my foundation wall. I am able to go about 75 feet from my house to my shed in the backyard without a great loss of sound quality. I only get the occasional click here and there. That was a BIG improvement from the Siemans product which would drop calls sometimes.

Replaced a Panasonic 2.4GHZ expandable system (that started failing miserably within 2 years) with this one and so far has been worth every penny. Needed a 2 line system, 1 line for personal use, 2cd line for home office. Originally purchased the base (with 1 included handset) and also purchased the waterproof handset TWX977 (see review), was so impressed I purchased 3 more regular handsets (TCX905) locally.

Since my purchase decision was primarily based on reviews here, I thought I would share my opinions as well.

1. Base phone AND handset clarity is excellent, I have a 2 story house (approx 3,500 sq ft) with the base unit in the lower (sub-basement) level. Reception has not been affected in the least in spite of a wireless home network and several home electronics near base. (extra handset in kitchen not affected by microwave or other appliances) Far superior than any previously owned phone equipment.
2. Handsets have great range, wandered out into back of yard whispering to husband "can u hear me now". approx. 75-100ft from base (with lots of wood decking and cement from basement) No static, no dropped calls
3. LCD lighting is highly visible, caller id shows up throughout phone ringing, ample time (mentioned because of a previous post)
4. Easy set up/phone registrations, easy menu items, phone book with 2 numbers per person great feature. Only drawback is, although you can copy an entire phone book to a new phone, you still have to program in the personal ring tones. Also, you have to erase all previous caller id's off each individual phone.
5. Being able to "name" each handset is handy when someone wanders off with a phone you know which room it belongs. Also, makes calling on intercom easier (unlike other phones we've had that only number the phones, you tend to forget which phone is where)
6. Caution on using the room monitor features, all phones default set to allow room monitoring, however, you can switch off the room monitor within each handset setup. (found this out after teens were eavesdropping in on mom and dad, luckily before any damage was done LOL)
7. As far as previous posts about the ring tone volume, haven't found it a problem. If you find a ring is too low (even on high volume) simply choose a different ring tone (some are WAY louder than others)

All in all, a great value for the price. Highly recommended for someone looking for a home business and personal phone/intercom system solution.

I've had a mish-mosh of wireless phones with various quirks and problems. 2 900Mhzs, 2 2.4 Ghzs, and 3 wireless networks all compete with a microwave and whatever my neighbors have. Keeping it all running wasn't worth the stress. In the past we'd receive a call or heat something up, and boom, Internet goes down.

Now I have this TRU9496 and 4 expansion TCX905s. The wireless phone that came with the base unit came pre programmed, and setting up the other three was as simple as selecting "Register Handset" from the top-level menu on the base and pressing # on the TCX905. They're nice too; I was a little leary of buying a whole phone system sight unseen, but they each have lots of nice features including 2 line caller ID and a surprisingly loud speakerphone (I usually have to turn the volume down while waiting on hold). If desired, you can even use these as baby monitors or walkie-talkies, though I haven't used either feature. Uniden shares this phone with their single-line models. Line one and two are menu buttons, but it defaults to the appropriate line when receiving a call or the first available line when making one. They're also comfortable in the hand and easy to dial. The clip-on belt clip makes them look a little silly.

The killer capability on this product is that at least 4 people can talk on the wireles handsets simultaneously (It says 5, but they may be counting the base line). I stayed away from systems like this in the past because although they could support 7+ handsets, only one person could use the system at a time, except for intercom. For us, we only need up to three people on the phone at once for those holiday family calls, and I might add that I can finally hear my grandmother clearly.

As far as signal goes, all I know is that it's a lot better than the equipment it replaces (SP-M937, for one), and gets to every room in 2000 sq. ft 2/floor house. In terms of the caller ID issue the other reviewer mentioned, I don't happen to have any information. I'm just happy to have caller ID, and I pick up so quickly I simply haven't noticed whether the caller ID disappears. The phone does have a "Call Screening" mode. It is always a good idea to check out the manual for features you need before buying something like this. I'm submitting it as I conclude this review.

I was fairly happy with my 6 year old Sony 2 line phone but it finally gave up on me. I've found the new Uniden phone to be a huge improvement over what I was used to. I have a home office and use line 2 for my business and line 1 is the main family home line. I also have a separate single-line phone/answering machine in the kitchen for the family for line 1. I need a 2-line phone so I can pick up line 1 calls when I need to without running into the kitchen. What I really like about the system is its flexibility in how you set it up for EACH line and cordless handset. Specifically, when I pick up my phone in my office, I want it to default to line 2 not line 1. It can do that. I also don't want my 2-line system to answer calls on line 1 since I have a separate answering maching for that. It can do that. I also don't want other people to hear line 1 ringing when I'm on a call. It can do that. It also has a nice Do Not Disturb feature that throws calls straight to voice mail without ringing. Of course it has all the usual features like caller ID and call waiting. It also has excellent sound quality on the answering machine, speaker phone and the handpieces. I would say the range on the cordless phone is average. My office is at one end of the house (with lots of electrical stuff in it... computers, wireless devices, etc.) and the cordless phone does great everywhere in the house except in a bathroom at the other end of the house about 80 feet away. It still works there but I can hear some clicking like it's trying to find a good channel. If maximum range is your goal, another phone might be better. For my purposes, I'm extremely happy and can recommend the phone highly.

The unit seems fine. Solid feel, intuitive menus, good speakerphone, clear reception on both corded and cordless handsets. The rub for me was that, like many who work in a home office and make lots of calls, I have a headset (mine is from HelloDirect, with the amp number 6560). When I hooked up the Uniden unit to the amp and headset, other callers couldn't hear me and I heard a high-pitched whine. I called HelloDirect support, who were excellent in walking me through a range of solutions (involving changing the positions of 16 switches on the bottom of the amp), but in the end had to give up. Apparently Unidens are known to be a bit finicky in their compatibility. Also, if you're planning to use a standard headset to plug into the headset port on the handset, my experience is that I can hear others fine but they hear me at greatly reduced volume. Uniden support wasn't helpful; I had to explain what a headset with amp setup was, and still they directed me to buy the Uniden headset that plugs straight into the handset (without an amp) and would, I suspect, have the same volume problems as any other handset (I'd tried a very high quality Plantronics unit, and it didn't work well with the handset).
I'm returning the TRU9496, buying a Motorola 2-line unit, and crossing my fingers.

I've been waiting for a 5.8Ghz 2-line cordless with an answering machine that actually sounds like something. I tried an AT&T about a year ago and the sound quality was horrible. (I'm a musician so I'm sentitive to this stuff). I still own a 900Mhz Uniden that I've been very happy with, (even got warranty repair performed by Uniden at one point). This is a great phone for my purposes. I like the security of having a corded phone both against prying ears and in case of a power outages. I just wish they'd thought to include a battery pack for the base so messages won't get lost during a blackout. Speakerphone in the handset is a nice touch. Sound quality is very good, (at least in our home in the country, can't say how it would do in Brooklyn).

I am always searching for something better. I also work at home as a consultant for a major corportation so I am always on the phone in conference calls all day everyday. Tried many speaker phones, this one -people say it sounds like I'm in the same room. Highly recommended, I dont think at this price point you will be disappointed, if so have your line checked by the phone company :)

Saw reviews here here and bought. Nice feature set. Sound and range fine. Like the look too. Remote units perform well. At one month and a day the answering machine failed for line 1, but worked fine for line two. Spent close to an hour on the phone with Uniden about the problem before they agreed to replace the unit - for $10 fee.

Replacement unit from Uniden arrived quickly, but was a factory serviced unit, which failed in the same manner, line 1 answering machine failure, about two months later.