Editorial Review:

Item Description:
UNIDEN TRU8885-2 -- The next generation of digital expandable cordless telephones is truly a quantum leap. 5.8GHz Digital Spread Spectrum Technology delivers outstanding clarity, vastly reduced interference and increased power. 100 Progammable CID or Memory Locations 3 or 4-Way Conferencing Transfer Memory Locations Between Handsets Intercom or Call Transfer Between Handsets 20 Distinctive Ring Options (10 Melodies / 10 Ring Tones) 10 Speed Dial Locations at Base Headset Compatible (Headset sold separately) Menus selectable in English / Spanish / French Earpiece and Ringer Volume Controls Ringer Off Option Wall Mountable Record Conversation Capability Remote Message Retrieval Belt Clip Included

Amazon.com Item Description:
The TRU8885-2 from Uniden is a cordless phone with a built-in answering machine, caller ID compatibility, and expandability to 10 handsets (model TCX800). It comes with two handsets, one that recharges in the base unit and another that recharges in the included remote charging cradle. That latter requires only an AC outlet, so you don't have to worry about additional phone jacks.

By using the less-cluttered 5.8 GHz frequency, the TRU8885-2 is able to offer a clearer, more intelligible signal than older phones operating on lower bands. Caller ID/call waiting compatible (requires subscription through your local phone company), the TRU8885-2 holds up to 200 numbers in its internal caller ID/phone directory (100 on the base, 100 on the handset), while the display-and-dial feature allows you to quickly scroll through the caller ID list and dial the displayed number with the touch of a button. Ten speed-dial presets allow you to easily call the most frequently used outgoing numbers, and an alphabetical search feature provides an easy way to locate numbers stored in the internal memory.



Handset and base speakerphones provide a hands-free communication method, while a direct link mode allows you to use the handsets as walkie-talkies. Four-way conferencing allows several phones to communicate with an outside call. An intercom function enables communication with other phones on the same system, and the call transfer feature lets you transfer calls from the base phone to the handset and vice versa.

The all-digital answering machine has a 12-minute maximum record time and a four-minute maximum message length. A conversation record feature provides a quick and easy way to save important information such as directions, while full remote operation allows you to check your messages even when you are away from home. A page/handset locater feature makes finding a lost handset quick and painless. Handset and ringer controls let you adjust volume levels to your liking, while the redial button automatically calls the last three outgoing numbers. The TRU8885-2 also comes with a one-year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
Base, two handsets, remote charging cradle, two battery packs, two AC adapters, one telephone line cord, two belt clips, user's manual, and warranty information



Accessories:
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• Home Phone Tunes HPT001 Ringboxx

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Rating: - * Reliable as a car with three of four wheels working and one threatening to blow ... This system was our solution to having a peaceful co-existence between our phone needs and our wireless requirements. The 5.8 phones don't interfere with wireless internet connections and the Uniden seemed to have a fairly good track record. We purchased our set from Costco in 2004. However, tomorrow afternoon, it's going back. It was easy to set up, associate preset tunes with programmed phone numbers and input the information into the phone book. Even if we added a new number to one handset, all four phones (the base also serves as a phone, albeit a speaker phone)could be updated with the new addition to the phone book. However, while you can associate a speed dial slot for up to, I believe, 10 numbers, there are no instructions on how to actually use the speed dial. For that matter, the instructions were severely lacking and many of the features the phone appears to have, we never did figure out. I don't consider myself a stupid person, but using this phone left me to sometimes wonder if I might be suffering some sort of degenerative brain problem. The upside of this system is: > room monitor - a few button pushes and you can effectively "monitor" a the room where the handset or base are located > intercom > long term retention of digitally recorded messages even when power is disconnected for several hours > interchange of phone book with all units with just a few pushes of buttons The downsides have been: > room monitor - both units will beep loudly when the connection is being made (so much for stealth mode or monitoring the room where there's a sleeping baby) and dramatically shortens the life of the battery (I could get about 10-15 minutes and then one of the phones would die.) > faulty display panel on one unit which would fade away intermittently but enough to make it maddening to use it for anything other than receiving calls; > severe power loss to units. The batteries were tested and it turned out they were not at fault, it is something in the handset. Initially it was the faulty display handset alone that gave us problems, but then a second one started to go. The phone will show a full charge but when a call came in, it would reset and show a welcome screen, clear out to 12:00 and then chirp because it claimed it had "low battery." Others are reporting the same problems, I'm finding. > erratic static and "out of range" displays even when within feet of the base unit and frequent dropped calls (even when all units were working fine). We're returning this system and looking for another. There is no godly reason a system should need to be replaced this soon. Our previous system, also a digital, worked for over 10 years. We only elected to replace it so that we could expand our sets (we moved to a larger home) and wanted a system that worked well with our wireless Internet needs. This was a costly system comparative to others on the market and given the lack of adequate instructions, support and the overall poor performance of this system, we'll be looking towards a different 5.8 GHz manufacturer altogether. Rating: - * Cannot edit Caller ID strings ... Uniden phones let you store phone numbers that come through on Caller ID in a phonebook. You can then edit the name and number, only the edit function works differently for each entry. For names, you can move the cursor freely and insert/modify characters. For numbers, the only way to move backwards is to use the "clear" function, which erases the numerals. This lack of one of the MOST BASIC requirements for "editing"--moving the cursor WITHOUT deleting--makes the Caller ID and Phone Book features nearly useless, and here's why: 1. Caller ID displays the area code, prefix, and line digits, 10 total. To call a long distance number listed in the Caller ID list, you need to enter a 1, BUT since you cannot move the cursor to the beginning of the phone number, you can't enter the required 1. Same goes for storing long distance numbers from the Caller ID list in the phone book; to make them work when dialed, they need a 1, which cannot be entered during the edit process. Therefore, you have to completely erase the 10 digits that come through on Caller ID, press 1, and then recall the 10 digits from memory. 2. Once you edit a long distance number to have the required 1, the revised stored data no longer matches the string of digits that comes through on Caller ID. In other words, adding the 1 for phone book purposes prevents the phone from matching a future incoming call from the same number to the name in your phone book. For example, my mom called me from her cell. I edited the phone number, which comes up in my father's name, to use her name and include the 1 so I could actually call her from the phone book. Then she called back, and the 10-digit number (without a 1) showed up with my dad's name again. Rating: - * Uniden TRU8885-2 ... We're ready to throw this system into the trash. When someone calls us, if one of us picks up the phone, we cannot call the other to pick up their receiver. It just says "line-in-use" On some occasions it works and can we both talk, but more often it won't let other handsets join the conversation. I certainly hope there is a way to bypass this feature, because if there isn't, we'll have to just junk the whole system which has six handsets. I have tried the instructions on "call transfer" and that is a complete joke. All the other handsets then say "out of range" even if they are lined up right by the base unit. If two people want to get on the line at once to chat, it seldom works, short of going through the trouble of setting up a conference call. Our old system didn't have this problem. Kenneth Potter, Valley Cottage, NY Rating: - * Nice Phone ... Good phone. Only complaint is phone book doesn't auto sync with all phones in the network. Only a problem if you use multiple phones like me. I love distinctive ring tones based on caller ID. You can set certain ring tones to different numbers. Major upgrade from my old Panasonic phone. Rating: - * Great, when it's working. ... The Uniden 8885-2 (two handset configuration) is one in a series of phone sets we've had over the years. This one is loaded with features and has a great range from the base compared to others we've had. Fact is, we were completely satisfied until we had owned it about a year and a half. Since that time first one then the other of the handsets has intermittently failed to respond to any of the buttons on the handset. It will be a paperweight like that for a time, maybe a day, then next time you try it it's working again. Naturally, that's not OK if you find out it won't work when it's ringing. We've replaced it now with a Panasonic. Before we gave up I contacted tech support 3 times trying to see if there was a fix. There wasn't. And they thought it about right that the phone lasted less than 2 years. Not much pride in those folks.