Home > Consumer Reviews > AT&T 5830 5.8 GHz Cordless Speakerphone System

BOTTOM LINE: You've probably already discovered the lack of full-featured consumer-level cordless phones out there, especially in the 5.8 GHz category and that you really have to move into the SOHO dual-line systems and spend a good deal more to get a full-featured phone. But the bottom line is if you are looking for a full featured, single line, consumer level cordless phone, this is it - it's not perfect, but you don't have many other options in this price range.

THE ALSO-RANS: Panasonic KX-TG2563F - feature-packed, but 2.4 GHz and bad quality reviews (just released 5.8 GHz expandable system out - probably same quality issues). Siemens 4215 - great form factor, but 2.4 GHz, no headphone jack (pricier 2-line 8800 has jack), no base functionality and lukewarm quality reviews. CIDCO's 2.4 GHz D271's - perfect feature set but not in same price range (only marketed through your local Bell company so you're not going to find a deal). AT&T's 2355 - basically the 2.4 GHz version of the 5830/40. Bought it/returned it due to poor speakerphone (don't believe it's full duplex) and handset call quality (I believe it's being test marketed only through Best Buy (as of 5/03) which indicates they may be trying to work the bugs out of the phone).

FINALISTS: The finalists were the 5830/5840 and the VTech 5831, both 5.8 GHz expandable systems. Both are made by VTech, which explains nearly identical feature sets and form factors (and model numbers). AT&T phones are designed by the VTech subsidiary Advanced American Telephones under a licensing agreement with AT&T (my guess is AAT was a Ma Bell spin-off years back that VTech acquired). As mentioned by another reviewer, it's a matter of preference whether you choose the AT&T or VTech - minor differences in feature sets (VTech 5831 has LCD and phone book on base, AT&T has talking caller ID) but similar quality. Anyway, on to the phone. I purchased the 5830 - if you want a digital answering machine, go with the 5840 but you won't get talking caller ID or a keypad on the base. Key points:

PROS:
- Call quality/construction - can't overemphasize this (base sits right by my computer setup and still have great call quality)
- Full-duplex speakerphone: you can hear and be heard at same time (an uncommon feature on consumer speakerphones)
- Talking Caller ID: comes in handy if you don't want to get off the couch to know who's calling
CONS:
- No Speed dial: No one number/one touch speed dial from either base or handset - they really dropped the ball on this one. However, dialing from phone book takes as few as 3 button pushes.
- No LCD or phone book on base unit: makes phone book dialing a little more difficult.
OTHER ISSUES:
- Message waiting indicator flashes neon blue on both base and handset - a little much as others have mentioned
- Inability to share phone books between handsets is a neutral: small business may want the same phonebook on all handsets; family may want parents/kids to have separate phonebooks
- Wi-Fi: phone transmits at 5.8 GHz base to handset but 2.4 GHz the other way. If you have Wi-Fi this may be an issue as 802.11(b) transmits at 2.4 GHz. Possible future migration of Wi-Fi standard to 802.11(g) at 5.8 GHz is less of an issue because that frequency apparently is less congested than 2.4 GHz. Side note: probably did this to save money - calls sound good to you at 5.8 GHz but not as good to party you are calling at 2.4 GHz (but you'd be oblivious to this).

The top contenders in this category each have something (different) missing. In this price range, go with the AT&T 5830/5840 (or the VTech 5831) and be done with it before you drive yourself crazy as I did.

This phone system is almost perfect. It works so much better than the Siemen's 2400 it replaced. The speakerphone (in both the base unit and the headset) is very handy and the Caller ID voice announce feature is pretty cool. It fits very nicely in your hand and feels like a quality piece of electronics. Very nice display and the buttons are easy to press. And, it has great looks. Battery life also seems very good. As much as this phone has going for it, I can't for the life of me figure out why they would choose to not add some very basic features that other phones have had for years. 1.) You can't share phonebooks between handsets 2.) No speed-dial feature 3.) A rather cumbersome menu system 4.) No way to insert pauses in stored numbers so you can't program the phone to access your phone company-hosted voicemail and automatically enter in your passcode. 5.) No phonebook or number memory on the base (which makes sense since there's also no display).

If the phone had these basic features, it would easily rate a 5. That's the deal with these phone systems - there simply isn't a perfect phone system. I've looked at Uniden, AT&T, Seimens, Panasonic, and VTech. They are all lacking in way or another. It's maddening that these systems are sooo expensive, and yet manufacturers can't seem to find their way to implement feature sets commensurate with the price of the phones. Cell phones can be had for far cheaper with far greater convenience features. There's no reason why these features couldn't be added to home phone systems, especially when you have to pay ... for each handset. The Seimens 2400 series phones had many of the features missing on this phone, but the quality/reliability of at least these 2400 series Seimens phones is pure {junk}. I considered the new Seimens 4200 series, but some brain-dead exec somewhere along the line decided the phone didn't need a headset jack. How moronic is that??? Not too mention that in my experience the Seimens phones are totally unreliable, pure junk.

Bottom line - though missing some really basic and *very* useful features, this new AT&T 5800 system has so far been of top notch performance, and it does have some useful advanced features of it's own (which makes them ommitting the more basic features even more bizzarre). The performance of the phone has been so good that I guess I'll learn to live without the features I liked about the Seimens. I'd rate this new 5800 Series phone system the best out there right now, even with it's shortcomings. Once someone builds a system with the quality of this phone and the feature set of the better cell phones, you'd have prefection.

BTW, through my research, I suspect the new VTech 5800 series phone is pretty much the same phone in different clothing. They share much of the same feature set and even appear to have identical menu systems/keypads/displays. The Vtech doesn't have the talking Caller ID, and the AT&T doesn't have the LCD display or phonebook on the base, but other than that, the differences appear superficial. I'm currently trying both phones out. It's really a toss up. The Vtech is little less $$$. I like the talking CID, but also like the number memory and LCD display on the base unit of Vtech.

If you have been looking for a 5.8 GHz phone, the AT&T 5800 series is the best on the market, period. I have been doing extensive research for a new 5.8 GHz phone for about 6 months and have read almost every single review for 5.8 GHz phones.

There are currently six 5.8 GHz cordless phones on the market right now.

1. AT&T 5.8 GHz
2. GE 5.8 GHz
3. Motorola 5.8 GHz
4. Panasonic 5.8 GHz
5. Uniden 5.8 GHz
6. V-Tech 5.8 GHz

Of these 6 phones, I have found that the AT&T is the best all-around. The AT&T offers the best sound quality, ease of use, design, and displays. One thing that must be noted is that the AT&T 5800 series is not a true 5.8 GHz system. It is a full-duplex 5.8/2.4 GHz phone system. Phones that use a dual system 5.8/2.4 GHz still have great clearity and security, but better battery life than true 5.8 GHz systems because of lower power output and lower energy consumption at the 2.4 GHz frequency.

PROS:

1. Excellent build quality
2. Superb clearity
3. Easy to use and setup
4. Great caller-ID functions
5. Great battery life
6. Nice lighting and displays
7. Good working speakerphone
8. Good looking high-tech design

CONS:

1. The only thing I would change about this phone is the antenna. On the next redesign of this phone, AT&T (Advanced American Telephones) should make the antenna smaller and not integrate it into the plastic body of the phone. Or, they should get rid of it completely like Uniden has done.

If you are looking for the right 5.8 GHz phone, this is it. I have the 5830 model and couldn't be any happier. The talking caller ID is such a nice feature to have. I don't even have to get up or pick up the phone to know who is calling. I have a 802.11b wi-fi network in my house and this phone doesn't cause any problems at all. All of the reviews I have had read on the internet were correct. This is pretty much the best cordless phone to come out on the market for a long while now.

I've been a cordless phone fan since the days of sub-50 mhz frequencies, and I've been using 2.4 Ghz phones around the house now for more than 2 years. They were really only a bit clearer than the 900 mhz phones they replaced, and their range was about the same. However, this high frequency seems to find itself isolated enough from household interference (lights, cell phones, etc.) to achieve real quiet! I would say the quality of the connection is almost identical to that of a corded phone.

The 5830 setup was simple: Plug it in to the phone line and power plug (the fairly small transformer is nice too), enter the base ID # from the sticker under the phone, and you're ready to use the phone.
The menus are just okay; they may be a bit less than perfect but they're usable without instructions. Anyway, from the menu, you may (but do not have to) select ring style, ring volume, vibrate or no, and enter the time digitally.
I've added 2 extensions (5800) and these are set up just as the base is, but the number you register on each handset is that of the base unit. Range and intercom on the handsets are great, and the voice quality again is comparable to corded phones.
In both cases, the called ID display is very nicely done. It is lit in a very attractive and functional blue with a large enough display to read both the name and number without (my) glasses.
Lastly, the message waiting light (I use the phone company's voice mail svc) is easy to see from across the room, it too a cool neon blue that illuminates an "O" around the ear piece. The effect is quite techno-hip, as well as being highly functional.
In short, the 5800 series is a very nice execution of a very good new technology.

Good phone. Vtech makes this model.

I recommend the Vtech 5.8ghz over this phone because it's cheaper, you get the same voice quality and features, plus you get an answering machine with the base dial pad which this ATT model doesn't have. For this model, you're just paying for the name and the different looks.

The ATT/Vtech 5.8ghz are the only 5.8ghz phones where the base unit will not knock the standard 2.4ghz laptop wireless connection out of whack if the base is 3 feet away from the lappy. The Uniden and Panny 5.8ghz units annoyingly had this terrible problem. A definite deal breaker in my book.