Basic questions about cordless (answer)phones

Savvy_Sue

Sorry if I appear a really daft eejit, I've mastered the basics of mobile telephony but have never got to grips with cordless phones.

However, at work we are expanding into the building next door, mostly for storage initially, and I'm thinking that the quickest and easiest way of putting a phone in there for the odd occasion when we need it will be to buy a cordless and plug the base station into one of our current lines (we have 4).

Also want an answerphone where I can listen to the message while it's being left so that I can (at least sometimes) decide whether I'm there or not!

Have found several where you get two cordless phones in one package, one of which is an answerphone. What I need to know is, can I plug these two phones into separate extensions, or are they designed only to work together?

thank you!

aliasojo

S.S: IF I've read all that right (and bear in mind it's late and I'm tired), then you only need to have the main phone plugged into the phone line as the other handset will just plug into a normal electric socket.

As long as the two are in range then that's all you need.

Of course if I didn't understand your query properly then just ignore all the above, I really do need to go to bed. ;D

Savvy_Sue

Well you get off to bed Aliasojo, and thanks for your response, and let's hope if I clarify you or someone else can give me the answer in the morning. I think you've left me thinking I can't do what I'd hoped.

I'm talking four separate phone lines in the office: xxx1, xxx2, xxx3 and xxx4. Ideally I'd like to 'attach' the answerphone cordless to xxx1, and another cordless to xxx2. But if I buy a multipack of cordless phones, will they only work on the same extension line as the 'main' phone is plugged into? You seem to suggest they will, so that I need to buy two separate base stations to use them on two separate lines.

So here's a supplementary (and maybe it's time I was in bed too!):

If I buy separate cordless phones for different phone lines which are close together, will they interfere with each other?

It's just that some of my colleagues would appreciate being able to wander away from their desks to make calls, but I don't want them clogging up the main phone line with the answerphone attached while they do it!

aliasojo

Each handset is 'registered' to each base station.

So if you have a base station plugged into phone line 1, then the handset which is registered to that base station will pick up calls coming in on line 1. You can have several handsets registered to 1 base station (all picking up calls from line 1), but not 1 handset registered to several base stations on different lines.

(Remember the extra handsets are only plugged into the electric sockets, not the phone line itself)

I think you would need separate base stations for separate lines. As for interfering, I'm sorry I've got no idea. :-/

Savvy_Sue

Thank you Aliasojo, I think I'm getting clearer about that now. Will make sure I buy either from somewhere with a good returns policy or where they will answer my questions intelligently!

Have just thought, it may be worth my while to ask on the Small Biz board, because I'm sure some of them will have a home and a biz line in close proximity, and maybe even a cordless phone on each!