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Re: GOOD Two-Line Cordless Phones?

To: <shop-talk@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: GOOD Two-Line Cordless Phones?
From: "Karl Vacek" <KVacek@ameritech.net>
Date: Thu, 27 May 2004 08:47:35 -0500
900 MHz phones seem to perform better than the supposedly superior 2.4 GHz
models.  And try to get a phone with NiMH or LiIon batteries rather than
NiCads.  We've had surprisingly good luck with three of the el-cheapo GE
cordless phones (the kids started us off on those -  I always avoid anything
cheap), after three successive failures with far more expensive models from
Panasonic, Sony, and AT&T.


Despite the claims that 2.4 has a far greater range, my experience with
several different 2.4GHz phones and my sister's and also a buddy's similar
experiences has kept me away from any more 2.4 GHz models.  Besides the
microwave interference, they just don't have good range.  Because of that,
I've  never even tried a 5.8 GHZ model.

For over 30 years RC model airplane guys have known that NiCads require
special care, and yet to this day most less-expensive electronic equipment
with rechrageable batteries comes with NiCads.  When you leave a NiCad on
charge (even a small trickle) all the time (like a cordless phone) it loses
its charge capacity.  If you regularly use the (phone, radio, flashlight,
etc.) just a little while and then recharge it, the battery develops a
memory and "thinks" that that's all the capacity it has.  On the other hand,
if you discharge a NiCad battery pack all the way, the first cells to drop
to zero voltage then become charged in reverse (because of the current from
the other cells flowing through them).  A few reverse-charge cycles and
those weaker cells begin to break down.

Therefore, a phone with NiMH or LiIon cells would be far preferable.  No
memory problems, and usually able to stand long-term trickle charging much
better than NiCads.  But most manufacturers still ship NiCads in everything
less-expensive, like cordless phones.

Karl






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