Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Portable phone

my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

»	Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE » Community » Film-Yak » Portable phone (Page 1)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2

Author

Topic: Portable phone

Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 06-08-2002 08:12 AM

Any recommendations for a portable phone? I've had a few 900Mhz phones over the years and was always pleased with the Panasonic ones I had, but they are on their death bed. The unit must have a volume control so when I am in a noisy environment, I can still hear the caller. It would also be nice if the frequency response was a little bit better than 1-2Khz, like many phones are out there today. Fortunately the Panasonics had a nice sound, had plenty of earpiece volume boost if I needed it and people could hear me easily as well.

| IP: Logged

Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 06-08-2002 09:13 AM

Hmmmm.... I hear the Panasonics are good. I'd get one of those.

| IP: Logged

Dave Macaulay
Film God

Posts: 2321
From: Toronto, Canada
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 06-08-2002 09:27 AM

I just got a "factory reconditioned" panasonic 900MHz "digital" (we all know that digital = better) portable. I looked at the new ones with more features but got the basic one with no display, I don't feel like paying the telco for caller ID so whats the point of a display? Plus it was fairly cheap. And my theory is fewer features = fewer problems.
I asked about the newer 1.xGHz (1.2? 1.4??) band and basically there is no advantage unless you're in a high density area where a lot of people have the 900MHz ones and the channels are congested. Same range and ability to penetrate concrete.
I've had friends recommend Sony and Panasonic.
The newest models follow cell phone deesign philosophy - smaller is always better. I disagree!! I want something I can hang on to, read the buttons without a magnifier, and use adult size fingers to dial. (It's OK when I want something "obsolete" that costs 1/4 what the fashionable new one does)

| IP: Logged

Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 06-08-2002 09:39 AM

I don't like the Sony cordless phones. They have a very high noise level, both on the receive and send ends. When the phone rings and my Sony cordless (very high end model, BTW) is nearest to me and I answer it, I always travel to get the Panasonic. Once I switch phones the sound is SOOOOO much better. The caller is far more intelligible and they also hear me better as well. When Brad calls and I use the Sony phone, he becomes irate and begins to threaten me because the quality is so bad. Then he sends me a BILL for having to listen to such a high noise level! But then I send him a bill for having his Sprint cellular phone cut out every couple of minutes so it evens out.

| IP: Logged

Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 06-08-2002 09:51 AM

Hey Joe, at least I am getting rid of this Sprint piece of

, you should get rid of that Sony phone! A friend of mine has a Sony 900Mhz phone and it is plagued with hiss. I am not fond of the idea of cramming the phone halfway into my ear to hear anything over all of that HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. It also has such a limited frequency range that it sounds like the person I am talking to is talking through a poster tube. Then again, I can say the same thing about a Bell 900Mhz phone I have used as well.

I wish some company would make a headset phone, kind of like those radio headsets that joggers wear, but with the Time Life Operator microphone that sticks around the side of your face. All of the "headset phones" I've seen are nothing more than a plug-in headset/mic to a regular phone.

| IP: Logged

Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 06-08-2002 10:44 AM

They do make cordless phones (not just cellular) with headsets. My friend Bill has one and it sounds great. I don't know what brand it is, I'll have to ask. He is very pleased with it. It is a plug in type but the phone can clip to your belt or whatever. Good luck finding a self contained headset phone. That would be too convenient.

| IP: Logged

Jerry Chase
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1068
From: Margate, FL, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 06-08-2002 10:52 AM

I think you would have to use voice technology to dial out on an all-in-one headset phone, unless you punched in numbers blind, or wanted to remove the headset whenever you dialed a number.

Office Depot and Office Max have cordless headset phones for about $100. Made by GE, 900mHz, spare battery in charger cradle, volume control (but it doesn't really boost too much). I use one all the time. My main complaint is the belt clip doesn't work and unless I stick the phone part in a pocket, it'll invariably fall off my belt and pull on the headset.

| IP: Logged

Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 06-08-2002 11:07 AM

We have a Panasonic cordless at home. It works really well but there are two things I don't like about it:

1. The shape of the handset is not very comfortable on the ear. If you're the type who likes to keep hands free and prop the phone between your head and shoulder, it's pretty hard to do with this phone.

2. The battery is a goofy Panasonic proprietary one, rather than one of the more generic styles. We haven't replaced it yet but I'll bet it's espenive.

| IP: Logged

David Stambaugh
Film God

Posts: 4021
From: Eugene, Oregon
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 06-08-2002 11:44 AM

Wireless 900MHz headsets are awesome in a work environment. At Dynamix, sometimes I would be waiting for a return call from a support rep, and didn't want to wait indefinitely in the server room, so I gave them my office phone number. When they called, I could put on the headset, walk to the server room (about 75 feet away, signal passing through 4 metal-studded walls) and talk hands-free. Very convenient. Decent reception, though not as good as a regular 900MHz phone. Not the greatest audio fidelity but adequate. I forget who the mfr. was though. It did have a spare battery in the headset cradle.

| IP: Logged

Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 06-08-2002 01:05 PM

There's at least one Panasonic phone model (which, of course, I don't remember at the moment) that will interfere with 802.11b wireless network traffic under some circumstances. I don't know how many people actually care about this, but it's probably worth making sure that the phone can be returned to the dealer if it causes problems.

And, yes, Brad, you really do need to get rid of that Sprint POS!

| IP: Logged

Chad Souder
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 962
From: Waterloo, IA, USA
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 06-08-2002 04:30 PM

I got an IBM 2.4 gz digital phone thinking it would end our problem with static when you get on the other side of the booth. Nope. The base is in my office, and it sounds great until you get upstairs on the far ends of the booth. I'm thinking too much electric interference maybe? On a similar topic, does anyone know of a good intercom system (cordless would be easier to set up of course) that doesn't have interference problems? Looking for 6 units to spread throughout the theatre.

| IP: Logged

Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 06-08-2002 05:08 PM

David, I assume that headset was a headset plugged into a portable phone?

(Must go call Scott now to annoy him with the fabulous Sprint "all digital" PCS service! )

| IP: Logged

David Stambaugh
Film God

Posts: 4021
From: Eugene, Oregon
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 06-08-2002 09:43 PM

Brad, the headset was totally cordless. It sits in a cradle on the desk. Phone rings, you put on the headset and can walk around anywhere in its range, unencumbered. There are transmitters in the cradle & the headset itself. No wires, nothing on your belt or anything like that. You could mute the microphone by simply flipping it partially up until the headset beeped. Shut off the headset (disconnect) by flipping the mic all the way up. Let me see if I can find it online...

OK, the vendor was Hello-Direct. The system I had was H-D brand but obviously mfgd. by someone else. Looking on their web site I don't see one exactly like mine, but some others are at:
Cordless Headsets H-D's support was very good too -- I had some trouble getting the headset working with the company's phone system but they helped me solve it.

-dave

| IP: Logged

Adam Wilbert
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 590
From: Bellingham, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2002

posted 06-08-2002 10:22 PM

I've got a V-Tech 2.4 GHz phone at home and love it. It came with an additional charging base & handset, so that you can put a phone anywhere there is an electrical outlet but no phone jack. The handsets also work as intercoms to eachother and they have a phonebook feature just like the ones on cell phones, and a speaker phone in the handset (which i use all the time while on hold!)

We have two GE cordless phones at work, both are a POS, but for $15 at Wal*Mart, what would you expect. One picks up noise from someone clangning around in the ice bins at the concession stand (where the base is) and transmits it.

As far as wireless intercoms, we use a RadioShack set (don't know how much they cost, but they work really well, couldn't be very expensive) and there is sufficient volume, even when sandwiched between two running projectors.

| IP: Logged

John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 06-09-2002 07:32 AM

Adam said: "I've got a V-Tech 2.4 GHz phone at home and love it. It came with an additional charging base & handset, so that you can put a phone anywhere there is an electrical outlet but no phone jack. The handsets also work as intercoms to eachother and they have a phonebook feature just like the ones on cell phones, and a speaker phone in the handset (which i use all the time while on hold!)"

I'll second that! I have the V-Tech 8L55, 2.4GHz. Good range, clear signal with no interference, and excellent speakerphone (handsfree) quality and volume. Ample programmable memory for names and numbers. Has a headset plug. It's also smaller and lighter than many other phones on the market.

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

| IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2

Printer-friendly view of this topic

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.