AT&T EL51209 information from Consumer Reports

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AT&T EL51209

Price range:

$31.84 - $42.29

Summary: A 1.9 GHz DECT 6.0 multiple-handset-capable cordless phone. Comes with 2 cordless handsets.

13 people have reviewed this model.

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Type: Cordless phones

About - AT&T EL51209
The AT&T EL51209 is part of the cordless phone test program at Consumer Reports. In our lab tests, cordless phone models like the EL51209 are rated on multiple criteria, such as those listed below. Voice quality: Voice quality considers listening quality which reflects what you hear and talking, what's heard by other phones. Tests were conducted in a quiet environment. Phone ease of use: This score mainly covers handset weight and comfort, talk time, ease of phone setup and use, readability of labels; accessibility, location, and size of controls and buttons; and other convenience factors, such as auto talk, any key answer, lighted keypad, one-touch dial, and others. Talk time (hrs.): Talk time, measured to the nearest hour, is how long you can converse on the handset when it is fully charged.

About - AT&T EL51209

The AT&T EL51209 is part of the cordless phone test program at Consumer Reports. In our lab tests, cordless phone models like the EL51209 are rated on multiple criteria, such as those listed below.

Voice quality:: Voice quality considers listening quality which reflects what you hear and talking, what's heard by other phones. Tests were conducted in a quiet environment.
Phone ease of use:: This score mainly covers handset weight and comfort, talk time, ease of phone setup and use, readability of labels; accessibility, location, and size of controls and buttons; and other convenience factors, such as auto talk, any key answer, lighted keypad, one-touch dial, and others.
Talk time (hrs.):: Talk time, measured to the nearest hour, is how long you can converse on the handset when it is fully charged.

About This Brand
This well-known cordless phone brand is actually owned by VTech. It offers a wide range of phones, with and without answering machines, for consumers and small business. Form factors include single- and multi-handset models, cordless-corded combos, Bluetooth, and multiline phones. AT&T still offers stand-alone corded phones. The company has made a serious effort to go green with its packaging.

About This Brand

This well-known cordless phone brand is actually owned by VTech. It offers a wide range of phones, with and without answering machines, for consumers and small business. Form factors include single- and multi-handset models, cordless-corded combos, Bluetooth, and multiline phones. AT&T still offers stand-alone corded phones. The company has made a serious effort to go green with its packaging.

Features & Specs - AT&T EL51209
Number of cordless handsets included The number of cordless handset(s) with a charging cradle included with the product. Number of cordless handsets included	2
Maximum no. of cordless handsets The manufacturer stated maximum number of cordless handsets that can be registered to a multiple handset capable phone. A phone that can support up to eight handsets, for example, can have eight handsets registered to the base, but you may only be able to use four at once, say two using handset to handset intercom, while two others conference with an outside party. Others may just allow one handset to be used at a time, so can't be used like an additional (extension) phone you have connected to the same phone line. NA represents not applicable. See Buying Advice for more information. Maximum no. of cordless handsets	2
Handset conferencing Also referred to as handset-to-handset intercom, and other terms. Many multiple handset capable phones allow conversation handset to handset, or among handsets for conferencing. For some phones the handsets have to be within range of the base, while others also allow a direct link between two handsets so you can take them with you to use like walkie-talkies. Multiple handset phones without this capability can't be used to conference. Handset conferencing	Yes
Caller ID Caller ID with a three-line display shows the name and phone number of a caller and the date and time of the call, provided you subscribe to caller ID services. Some phones have an additional display line that shows which line, say line 1 or line 2, the call came in on, or indicators such as a battery strength or voice mail. If you have Caller ID with Call Waiting, the phone displays the name and number of the second caller if you're already on the phone. The display is usually on the handset; some phones also have one on the base. Phones with Call Waiting Deluxe provide you with more choices on how to handle a second call when you are already on the phone assuming you subscribe to the service, but not all features may be available in all areas. Some of the choices that the service supports; facilitates conferencing with two outside parties, or a prerecorded message states that you will be available shortly, and the caller is put on hold, or prerecorded message indicates you are busy, and the waiting call is disconnected, or the caller is sent to your voice mail. Caller ID	Yes
Talking caller ID Talking Caller ID, also referred to as Caller ID announce, speak the name of the caller, which is useful because you don't have to view the display to know who's calling. Talking caller ID	No
Voice-mail indicator (Telco) A visual indicator on the handset or base to notify you that you have new messages awaiting from your telephone company message waiting service, such as an LED, or an envelope icon on the display. That means you don't have to pick up the handset to respond to a message waiting signal. Voice-mail indicator (Telco)	Yes
Corded phone on base In addition to an extra handset extension, a corded handset can enable the phone to work if you lose household AC power, provided you're on a traditional landline service, or one with backup power. Corded phone on base	No
Base speakerphone A base speakerphone offers a hands-free way to converse or wait on hold and lets others chime in as well, and allows you to answer a call without the handset. When used with a base keypad, you can make a call from the base and have a hands-free conversation. Base speakerphone	No
Base keypad Also referred to as Dual or Second Keypad. A keypad on the base supplements the keypad on the handset. It can be handy for navigating menu-driven systems, because you don't have to take the phone away from your ear to punch the keys. When used with a base speakerphone, you can make a call from the base and have a hands-free conversation. Base keypad	No
Base ringer All phones have a handset ringer, and many phones have a base ringer, but not all allow you to set them on or off, adjust the volume, or change the auditory tone. Base ringer	No
Handset speakerphone A handset speakerphone offers a hands-free way to converse or wait on hold and lets others chime in as well conveniently anywhere in the house as long as you stay within a few feet of the handset. Handset speakerphone	Yes
Lighted keypad Also referred to as backlit keypad. A keypad that either glows in the dark or lights up when you press a key, and when the phone rings; makes the phone easier to use in low light conditions. Lighted keypad	Yes
More features and specs

Additional Information (The information below has been supplied by an external source.)

General Information
Manufacturer	AT&T Corp
Manufacturer Website Address	www.att.com
Product Model	EL51209
Product Name	EL51209 Dual Handset Cordless Phone
Product Type	Cordless Phone

User Reviews - AT&T EL51209

Consumer Reports User Reviews

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Anonymous

from

Northern Ohio

1.0

short life

12/28/2011

Pros

Cons

Excessive steps to 's

Features unavailable

Interferance

Phone clip comes off

Short life span

Best Uses

Comment:

From day one there has been interferance on the line. Had AT&T check line without results. Features on phone are not available while talking to someone. Too many steps to get to frequently called numbers. Phone clip will not stay on phone. Only positive is the initial cost. Caller ID worked but occasionally mislead to regular caller.

from

Pros

Cons

Best Uses

Comment:

Anonymous

from

Madison, WI

(10 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Unacceptable in so many different ways

2/2/2011

Pros

Cannot think of any

Cons

Always refering to manual

Awkward to position

Complicated feature set

Confusing buttons

Total slip surface

Best Uses

Cannot think of any

Comment:

Bought based on CR's glowing recommendation. CR needs to respond when user reviews diverge so greatly and uniformly. Intended to replace a Panasonic whose buttons no longer work well but just hooked the old one back up until my new Panasonic arrives--the AT&T is THAT BAD. It's an absolute necessity to have the user manual with you at all times: because the buttons are so badly labeled as to function and menu structure is so complicated that I would save numbers from the call log that I wanted to delete and delete numbers I wanted to save! I honestly don't think I would ever have learned how to use it without the manual. I experienced the same sound quality problems noted by others from the first phone call--volume has to be set to max to even hear the other party. And I had to continually move the phone when listening and then move it again when speaking: don't know if it's the position of the mic or the length of the handset: I don't care enough to unpack it again and compare with my old phone. Much of the information on the display is incredibly tiny. The handset is totally smooth: including the sides so it's a very delicate process just to pick it up without it flying through your hand like the proverbial greased pig--including when it's in the charging cradle. Further, this might be only a personal thing but I find the ORANGE backlight color to be very distracting and not an aid to reading the information on the screen. Finally, it has a cheap feel to it: the numberpad buttons especially. And, I honestly cannot find a single positive to say about it. Bottom-line: CR please re-evaluate this phone and tell us how it could possibly merit the 77 rating you gave it the first time.

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