Home > Consumer Reviews > AT&T 2256 2.4 GHz DSS Cordless Phone with Extra Handset and Answering Machine

Waste of money. This is the first time I've bought an AT&T product; and will never do so again. All the other reviews summed up every reason why not to buy this piece of junk.

I'm sticking with Panasonic. Over 20 years of reliable good phones from them; it was a mistake for me to try this set. (Yes, it was on sale...lol!)

The buttons on this phone are very hard to use. Sometimes you have to push them down really hard and press squarely in the middle. With other buttons if you do this you will dial the same number twice. This thing can be very frustrating. Does anyone have a key pad that works well?

Paul

My husband and I have had this phone for about a year. When we first got it, we discovered that it clashes with our Vonage voicemail. We cannot check our messages on the actual answering machine which means we never know about missed calls until we get around to checking our E-mail. Our problem now is that one handset you can barely dial with now, you have to mash the buttons repeatedly and sometimes they get stuck! The spare charger is now on the fritz as well. We only began to use it and the spare phone because of our problems with the original handset. Looks like we're going to fork over the money for a new phone soon and it will NOT be this one again.

Excellent range on this phone. No problems using near wireless router with same frequency.

I agree, 1 star is too generous. I have the same problem with the beeping and the hard to press keypad. DONT BUY THIS PHONE. However, if you already have it I have discovered that it only beeps or mutes, on our system, when you say a word with an 'ssss' sound. So, you simply dont say this sound, sorry 'ound' (remember, no ssss). Oh I did it again. orry, no ound. So if you decide to read this review to someone on this phone, remember to remove the s's. I realize this makes no sense. There must be a 'no s's allowed' circuit in there somewhere.
Now, even stranger. I have been able to cure the hard to press keypad. But, you have to take the phone apart. When you do you will discover that there is an oily film on the back of the rubber keypad and front of circuit board thus preventing the push buttons to close contacts on the printed circuit board. Now all you have to do is get some rubbing alcohol, (if you can use the 90+% isopropyl alcohol, the less water the better), and a cotton swab/cotton ball and wipe the oil away. Clean the rubber keypad and the circuit board. Put the phone back together and the buttons will work just fine. For a while.
This seems to work for about a month and the oil film amazingly appears again. The oil film accumulates on the middle of both of our handset keypads. Can anyone explain where this oil comes from?
So remember, check the oil in your car. Add as needed. AND check the oil in your phone. Remove as needed.