Uniden DECT 6.0 Black Cordless Telephone System with Interference Free Digital Technology (DECT3080-3)

by Uniden

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 7.6 x 4.6 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0015AB6OI
• Item model number: DECT3080-3
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,054 in Office Products (See Top 100 in Office Products)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

Keep in touch with family and friends with the Uniden DECT3080-3 Cordless Phone/Answering System. Packed with advanced features, this easy-to-use system comes with two extra handsets/cradles and chargers. Interference-Free Reception Utilizing the latest DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) 6.0 1.9 GHz frequency band, the DECT3080-3 provides the clearest voice reception available and can easily be used with Wireless Home Networking (WLAN) systems without any negative impact. In addition, this phone offers state-of-the-art technology that provides brilliant sound and maximum voice security without interference from other wireless devices. Digital Technology for Message Management The DECT3080-3 includes a digital answering machine, so you'll never miss an important message. This system also uses microchip technology for clearer recordings and longer life. And you'll never have to worry about replacing broken moving parts! Advanced Features for Easy Operation With its ultra-thin form, the DECT3080-3 is a pleasure to hold and use. And it's packed with time-saving, efficient features that help you better manage calls. First, the large color display is clear and easy to read, and you can even personalize displays for each handset. The blue backlit keypad makes it a snap to dial the correct number or access features, even in low-light conditions, while the phonebook feature stores up to 70 names and offers an alphabetical search, unique ringers/colors you can assign to specific calling parties and an option to transfer either a single listing or the entire phonebook. And bilingual menus in both English and Spanish guide you through every step so you can take full advantage of the 10 full hours of talk time per battery charge. The DECT3080-3 is backed by a one-year limited warranty.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great phone system, August 31, 2008

By 

AaronR (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Uniden DECT 6.0 Black Cordless Telephone System with Interference Free Digital Technology (DECT3080-3) (Office Product)

(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 3 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!

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Too many issues, May 30, 2008

By 

Prashanth Mendu "Prash" (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Uniden DECT 6.0 Black Cordless Telephone System with Interference Free Digital Technology (DECT3080-3) (Office Product)

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.

4) Last night got message "Too far from base unit" .. I was talking for 45mins upstairs and recieved the above msg. Base unit was downstairs in Kitchen.. I never ever had this problem since 6yrs w/900Mhz phones.

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..

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the best in its class, except for the speakers' low volume, February 19, 2009

By 

A. Dent "Aragorn" (Minas Anor, GD) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Uniden DECT 6.0 Black Cordless Telephone System with Interference Free Digital Technology (DECT3080-3) (Office Product)

I've been using the Uniden DECT 6.0 Black Cordless Telephone System with Interference Free Digital Technology (DECT3080-3) system which comes with an extra handset for a total of three. I hope that my experience with product may help others decide whether this is the set worth buying or they should be looking elsewhere.

I see that some have experienced problems with dropped calls and 'out of range' issues. This is not my experience but my review is only based on the set I purchased (as 'new' from a third-party Amazon seller).
______________________________________________________

It is expandable to 6 handsets per base (that would be the answering machine) but each handset could, in fact, be registered to up to 4 different bases which would make everything extremely complicated if it was actually done.

I ended up with the Uniden DECT set after a sad experience with 'brand X' or, shall we call it 'brand V'? :) Their (more expensive) offering was so bad, I had no choice but to return it so, I'm using the Uniden now.

For efficiency sake, I will start with the negatives so that anyone who cares about these (lack of) features can quickly decide that this set is not for you. Here they are, the negatives:

- The speaker volume is low. This probably has some advantages when it comes to battery life (see below) but anyone who must have a loud speaker should be warned that these phones' speakers are anything BUT loud.
- The ring volume is also low. Seriously, anyone who has a hearing problem should NOT buy this set. I do not mind the low ring volume because too loud rings bother me but I am listing this as a negative because some could mind.
- The intercom can NOT use the speaker. It's the earpiece only for the intercom.

The features that made me decide that this is the set for me include:

+ Long battery life. Possibly because of the low-volume, these phones seem to last forever on a charge. The manufacturer claims up to 10 hours of talk time. I'm not sure if that's the case but, so far, I haven't seen the 'low battery' warning yet and I am spending many hours, almost every day, on conference calls.
+ Good reception. With the base in the basement, I was able to use the phone, outside, some 30 feet away from the house which I can not do with my great Motorola 5.8 MHz sets.
+ Great design. These phones and the base are actually pretty in an unobtrusive, minimalistic way. They are a little bit on the small and light side but they can hold their own in a room full of gadgets.
+ Easy access to voice mail from the handsets. The handset keys actually have the remote-like symbols for play/stop/fast-forward, etc. so, if anyone does not feel like reading the menu options from the phone's display, you can simply use it as if you were using a remote. Very nice.
+ Belt clip - my wife loves this more than I do because I tend to be at my desk when I talk on the phone.
+ Headset jacks on all handsets - another feature that my wife loves.
+ 50 page, VERY thorough manual that was written by an English-speaker. This may sound like a trivial thing but I was actually impressed by how easy to use and how comprehensive the manual was. Every feature appears to be covered.
+ Easy to navigate, simple menus
+ Privacy mode - once on a call, you can block all other registered sets to listen on your conversation.

Other features, which I expect in any phone in this class and are well implemented include:

= Caller ID
= Call waiting
= 3-way calling
= 70 phonebook entries per set with the ability to copy individual entries or the entire phonebook from one set to another (I tried it and it was very easy)
= The ability to personalize each phonebook entry to show name (can keep the caller ID name if you don't want to complicate your life), wallpaper, ring style and display style (can't see myself doing that a lot)
= 30 caller ID number per set, in addition to the phonebook entries
= 5 'last dialed' numbers availalble to redial
= 10 ring tones (in fact 5 rings and 5 melodic tones)
= 10 display styles
= 5 wallpaper styles
= English/Spanish menus
= Independent volume controls for headset, speaker and ringer.
= The ability to set the time/date on all sets and base from one handset.
= The ability to control the answering machine, including turning it off from any handset.
= Intercom.
= Paging a lost handset from the base.

I am overall happy with these phones but I must take off one star, mostly for the 'low volume' issue. Other than that, they come as close to 'perfect' as anything.
___________________________________________

Just in case anyone cares to know what DECT is about.

DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) is a relatively new (2005) standard for cordless phones, initially developed in Europe.

Some of the advantages of DECT 6.0 include:

- easier to implement multiple handsets sharing one phone jack connection via one common base (have it on a 5.8 GHz set as well)
- easier to implement intercom features between individual handsets (have it on a 5.8 GHz set as well)
- extended range, up to 300 feet
- low power consumption and, therefore, extended battery life
- better performance in areas experiencing heavy radio traffic
- not affected by Wi-Fi or Bluetooh signals (neither are the 5.8 MHz)