NTL DECT Phones where?

[Mad Ad]

I had a discussion with a telephone guy that said that buying a DECT phone is not enough and it has to be NTL compatable or things like CLID wont work.

I take it he was right- how can I find out what phones that I might find randomly on the highstreet are compatable? I remember seeing some phones in currys with an ugly great ntl logo on them, I guess that must be them?

Is there a list or anything where I can choose or is it just odd traders that sell them? If so which ones please?

What is it actually that makes things break anyway? Have bt and ntl got different standards or is it a hardware issue implimented at the exchange end or what?

Anyway, just knowing how to find a good range to buy one is most important atm

thanks for any help

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[Chris W]

any help?

http://search.ebay.co.uk/ntl-dect_W0QQsoloctogZ9

btw welcome to the site

i thought any DECT phone was ok but i might be wrong. My NTL DECT phone doesnt work with CLID as its not available in my area

[quadplay]

The Caller ID standard used in some areas is different to the BT standard (it's the US standard, IIRC). Most modern Caller ID aware phones should be able to handle both types - this includes the ntl DECT phones, of which I have a set. They're pretty good, actually; I got mine from Tesco's.

[Doofy]

Got mine from Kwik Save not ntl dect but still works fine even caller id

[Mad Ad]

Thanks for the replies, ive looked at some of the ebay ads, some look cheap enough and I may return there but im still at the stage where I dont even know what spec I want yet ... the v2001 looks close, CLID, speakerphone (for those long hours waiting for ntl customer service to pick up), a/phone, 2 handsets ... what kind of quality are they? has anyone got one please?

Ive noticed that some of this V range take normal rechargables but do they actually recharge in the cradle or do you have to take the batteries out and recharge seperatly?

Is there anywhere that has a complete list of all the DECT models for NTL? What ones do tesco sell, the V range?

Thanks a lot everyone and thanks for the welcome

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[SLM]

any phone should work but you may find some features will not work etc....

Before you go too far with CLID, make SURE it is available in your area. The best way is probably to post the first part of your post-code here and hope some kind NTL passerby can help, as the post-code checker on the NTL web side will, AFAIK, ALWAYS tell you it's available, whether it is or not!
Apart from CLID (which is NOT available in the North West, where I am), the NTL VS2000 range seem OK to me - I got ours from Argos. (They DO support CLID, 'where available').
The batteries do recharge in the cradle.

[Mad Ad]

They do - ok excellent, would seem stupid if they did not, thanks John

No worries about CLID, i have it working already on a wired phone.

Argos, good idea too, I just found the v2000 on the Tesco site, 40 quid. I guess the mental questions are wether its cheap and plastic, does the speakerphone come over loud enough, can you switch the ringer off, any niggles? etc

[zoombini]

I have the NTL VS2000 range too.
I got the quad pack for 89.99 from Argos, most impressed for my 1st DECT phones.
They are loud enough, speaker phone is well loud, you can switch the ringer off on the base, the handsets etc.

Each phone has a 40 number memory, so if you want the same you have to put them on each phone but it gives you lots of numbers.

For the bedroom one I intend to put some tape over the base LED as it's quite bright.

[mrm1]

Ive had my VS2000 for over a year and can honestly say the best DECT iv'e owned. Mad Ad they do take standard AAA rechargables and charges from the cradle. In the time ive owned it ive never had to change a set yet. The talk times pretty good too. My wife can spend 2 hours + in the evening talking to her sister and the batteries have never run flat.

[Mad Ad]

Thank you all for all your help. It sounds like the 2000 is a good all around phone then.

I guess ill toddle off and get one from tescos for 40 quid. I can only shave a quid or two looking around but thats having it delivered. Since theres 2 tescos within 3 miles of me it makes sense

Cheers all

[Theodoric]

Originally Posted by zoombini

I have the NTL VS2000 range too.
I got the quad pack for 89.99 from Argos, most impressed for my 1st DECT phones.
They are loud enough, speaker phone is well loud, you can switch the ringer off on the base, the handsets etc.

Each phone has a 40 number memory, so if you want the same you have to put them on each phone but it gives you lots of numbers.

For the bedroom one I intend to put some tape over the base LED as it's quite bright.

Snap! So have I. It's adequate but it does have some shortcomings compared to previous phones I have had. Namely:

1) The display quality is fairly basic, not quite the old 7 element display, but not much better.

2) For the phone book, there are only capitals and 2 symbols, a space and a bar. Also, you're limited to 8 characters, so you need to be fairly inventive with the names.

3) You have to enter the names individually on each receiver's phone book. With my old phone, you only had to do it once.

4) There isn't a flashing light when you receive a message, you have to look closely at the display.

5) The numbers on the keypads are a bit indistinct.

6) As you say, the yellow light on the base unit and each charging unit is extremely bright. You really do need to turn the bedroom one away from you at night.

Oh, yes, and any discussion of caller display is pretty pointless because, as far as I can see, many, if not most of us are never going to get it from ntl. And if you think that that's a harsh judgement, then the fact that ntl refuse point blank to tell you what is going on says it all to me.

However, let's finish on a positive note. 4 phones for £90 isn't a bad deal. (Of course, I'd have been happy with 2, but my wife decided otherwise. )

[HD462]

I've had various phones over the years, a few different DECT ones too, never had a problem with any of them. I've never gone for ntl branded phones (argos sell them), as they've always seemed quite basic in functions compared to others, and not very nice looking either (the ntl, logo plastered on the front doesn't help.

The best make of phones I've found for function and value for money are Binatone and Betacom. Had lots by them over the years (I'm a bit of a gadget freak), and they're always innovative, and good value.

I've had caller display since going on ntl 8 yrs ago (also had it originally on BT), when you could only get stand alone caller display units, and it's always worked fine with whatever type of display I've had.

[zoombini]

4) There isn't a flashing light when you receive a message, you have to look closely at the display.

There is on the base unit Grrrr, time to get that out of the bedroom.