Replacing cordless phone system - help!!

Charlton_King

I am trying to help my elderly father who has inherited a three phone system in his house... this consists of a 'base phone' in his hall which seems to be corded and is still working well, plus two 'satellite' phones which sit in recharging units in other rooms. These latter are now on the blink big time, with faulty buttons and not holding charge.

Is it possible to keep the base phone and simply buy a couple of off-the-shelf units to replace the two outliers... or would these automatically not 'speak' to the base unit? Must I replace the whole shebang?

I am totally at sea with this and would appreciate any help.

Crinkmeister

If your base unit uses the DECT standard, then any cordless handset should connect.

Charlton_King

Crinkmeister wrote: »

If your base unit uses the DECT standard, then any cordless handset should connect.

Wish I knew what it meant! Are there ones which don't use this 'standard', then?

elsien

How faulty are the buttons? If not holding the charge is the bigger problem have you tried putting new rechargeables into the handsets?
(Might not be worthwhile if they're going to need replacing anyway.)

PasturesNew

I'd try replacing the batteries first.

I've not much experience of these phones, but I do know that the two "random" phones I've bought like this just plugged in and worked.... but they can only work when the batteries are working right.

Crinkmeister

I think most new cordless phones use the DECT standard. You could try replacing batteries first assuming they are AAA size, it will be easy.

Charlton_King

It's a 'Binatone Speakeasy 3410' system... and the phone buttons are truly shot... sometimes you have to press four or five times on certain buttons to get them to register.

It can't continue like that.

Lifeforms

If the batteries are going in them, potentially it could be that is why it doesn't register key presses. Depending on the phone, if they are old they may just use standard rechargeable batteries, bought not off the shelf in homebase because they're a rip off price, but can be found online cheaper.

Check what kind of batteries they are.

As the first instance try the batteries from the known working handset in one of the extra phones and call in/call out to see if that makes any difference.

To be honest it might be cheaper to buy a whole new set up, than just buy handsets, single handsets are extras and cost that way, set of twos are usually the base and an extra one, same as a set of three, base + two extra ones. Find out what he uses most on them, and if he has any issues with hearing with them/hearing ringtones and then look for suitable ones. Any place at any time usually has them on special offer, so half price, money off etc.

If they do need replacing, look on ebay for the same model (then check instructions on how to connect them) and cost up how much it would cost for two single handsets, and balance it out on a new set.

Assuming they're not ancient, as has been said with DECT phones you will be able to add in the same handsets, but if you get different handsets some features might not carry over, like if you have a set that carries the phone book over all phones, rather than having to type in each phone.

In short
Try the good batteries in the other handsets and see if that makes them work better with keypresses, if so might be cheaper to replace batteries. If not then go check out the same handsets on ebay and cost up with buying a new set of three.

Places to buy online can be ebay itself with the likes of argos, currys, etc for older/refurb models with warranty of course, or places like Tescos online/in store trying to shift older models, or have half price sales.

Charlton_King

Your detailed comments greatly appreciated.