Gigaset A120 DUO - Basic Cordless Home Phone with 2 Handsets and Energy-Saving ECO DECT Technology - Black

As of today: 26th Sept 2016, still going strong. No loose buttons or disappearing characters on the display and still got the same set of batteries I put in them, instead of the puny 450mA ones supplied.Good purchase.I ordered this to replace a BT Studio 100, that had died after 7 years.Rather than risk a no name own brand for slightly less cost from a major supermarket,I thought I'd try this.I didn't really need the instruction manual. Easy to change ringer volume and melody and add entries to the 'phone book.I like the illuminated display very much.If the ringer volume is too low, then this display flashes when a call is received, so will help alert you.Plug into the mains and connect the telephone line cable, insert the batteries and the battery cover, then place on the base to charge.Simple.I'd recommend you download a copy of the instruction manual from the company's www site.Useful if you lose the supplied one.The handset itself seems well made and the buttons are good quality, a firm press always works.Nice, clear display.As for the supplied batteries, I don't think I've ever seen 450mA AAA's on sale. You can always reuse the old handset batteries from whatever you are replacing, as they are probably still good. If you have a battery charger (that is 'smart') that has a 'discharge' function, then that might be worth doing beforehand.I simply used the 2 1,000 mA AAA's that were in my old handset, which work fine.The main selling point for me is that this model doesn't use a 'battery pack'. These are 2 or 3 batteries, wrapped in plastic, with an inch or two of twin core cable and a plastic plug. A replacement goes for around 10 pounds, assuming the type needed for your handset isn't 'discontinued' or needs ordering. AAA batteries cost around £1-1.50 each and are available on any high street.You also have to allow a battery pack to recharge if flat. A trickle charge can take 12 hours or more for a full charge.If AAA batteries go flat and I need to make urgent calls, I simply remove the handset batteries and replace them with freshly charged replacements in seconds or use a 15 minute charger.The instructions state 6.5 hours to charge the supplied batteries from flat, which is not too bad, although they are low capacity.As with all items that use rechargable batteries, don't leave the handset 'on charge' all the time.I'd remove it from the base unit during the day at the very least. Leaving it on the base reduces the battery capacity over time quicker than using it. If you use the supplied AAA batteries or other, higher capacity ones, it may take a few charge/discharge cycles to get the claimed battery standby/talktime from them.Charging and discharging gets the internal chemical reaction working properly.A short standby/talk time when new is normal until this is completed.The very few high street shops that sell this model, are twice as expensive. At £12.99 (including free delivery and only 2 days after ordering!), this is a steal.Unusually, this is not only designed, but also MADE in Germany, not some sweatshop factory in South East Asia.Recommended as an alternative to a BT made 'phone, that seem to go wrong bit by bit. First the buttons feel 'spongy', then the display goes etc etc.

Have actually had this make of fone before - not particularly pretty but brilliant fones, enduring, tough, efficient, work well.Original set was x2 - broke one of them fones the other day (my fault not fone) and needed to replace them so at least one fone was charging while the other was in use. Most 2x sets now cost the earth and 3x prohibitive....found this 3x set by chance when surfing Amazon one night - amazing value - would normally pay 60-80.00 now for a x3 set so snapped their hand off....came nearly overnight - well packaged, good instructions (in ENGLISH - German maker though) - only take 6.5hrs to charge - most take 12+ - charged overnight and worked perfectly Am - v sharp and clear and apart from look which I find rather ugly, they're first class and at this price, unbelieveable. Would have loved them in red or pink though - black is so depressing and just looks too functional. This model beta than previous, more features etc but would continue buying this brand forever if I could and had to...no problems/arguments with them - and a v happy Bunny me....disabled, so now got fones in every room to make life easier and 2 charged and awaiting use when one if down - thanks - brill!! Squirrel 59 - Thur 27.6.13

I am really happy with this phone having bought the 2-pack. I bought this phone set because of the ECO technology and because of its positive reviews, and despite the many less positive reviews that say the phone is very quiet (because I didn't see how this be likely).I am glad I went ahead because this is all the home phone I will ever need. The build quality is very good, and whilst the plastic is hard and thin, it is textured and comfortable and feels like it will last. No rubbery bits that eventually peel off, or silver coating that eventually wears through. The sound quality is top notch - I can only think that some other reviewers do not realise that they can turn the earpiece volume up. I have normal hearing and the loudest setting is too loud. The ringer volume is also absolutely fine. We live in a relatively large house (3,000 sq ft) with many walls, and I can hear at least one of these phones from anywhere when they ring. I have them on setting 5 (max). Some of the ring tones are 'interesting' but they will be on a £150 phone too. Also, there are also some unexpected features. The time and date are displayed, there is caller display, it stores 50 numbers if you can be bothered, and it makes life easier by automatically transferring them to the other phones in the set. You can make an internal call, page the base station, and forward calls to another set too. I didn't have these on the £100 set this replaces.Finally, battery life is immense. I have taken other reviewers' advice and heeded the instructions regarding extending battery life by letting them run down completely after the first charge. Eight days later and both phones have battery life left having had no recharge!As you can see I am a fan. It's all you need from a phone at a cracking price. Well done Gigaset.