Nice To Look At, But
The Age
Monday August 7, 1995
THE Telecom Freedom 400 is a beautifully sleek, black cordless phone packed with all the features found in top-shelf models, including a hands-free base unit.
Unfortunately, I found it a disappointing performer when the range got much more than six metres.
The package contains the base unit, handset, a plug-pack power supply, some tiny nickel-cadmium batteries and a manual.
The unit is manufactured is Malaysia.
I immediately set to work plugging the battery in the compartment at the bottom rear of the handset. A small sticker in the battery compartment informs the user that the battery should be charged at least 10 hours before using the handset for the first time.
It's normal for the nicad battery to be completely discharged when you first take delivery of appliances like this.
Next came the line plug, which I pinched from another extension.
Then came the plug pack to supply the base unit.
At that point the handset was charging, according to the light on the front panel of the base unit.
The base unit is beautifully finished in black plastic.
There are four LED indicators showing the charging status of the handset, an external call from the handset, an intercom call between the handset and the base unit, and an external call from the base unit.
The keypad on the base unit is the usual 12-key phone keypad along with six control-type keys and two large speaker phone and page keys.
The handset perches on the left side of the base over the speaker. A microphone is mounted on the front edge.
The handset is one of the prettiest I've seen of all telecommunications devices. It has 22 keys grouped into the usual 12-key pad, a control group of six keys and three call-control keys to talk, hang up, and make an internal call.
There are also two LEDs for low battery and in use. The Freedom 400 is probably one of few cordless phones where the handset keypad lights up, rather like a mobile phone, when there is activity.
Next day I tried to make a call. The Freedom 400 didn't do anything, no lights, no beeps, nothing.
I figured I'd better turn the power switch on before going any further.
I searched for some time before discovering that the tiny main power switch for the handset was hidden on the bottom side.
Flicking the switch and pressing some keys made the unit beep.
In use I found the Freedom 400 was pretty poor when compared with the Panasonic KX-T3916AL. The poorest area of performance was the range.
When A-B testing the two units I found the Freedom 400 would hiss significantly about three to four metres from the base.
Even just moving into the next room produced quite a noticeable hiss. Changing channels with the scan button didn't solve the problem. The Freedom 400 can only scan five channels; the Panasonic can scan 10.
A unique feature found on the Freedom 400 is its call-waiting button. Simply pressing this button performs all the actions required to answer a waiting call when you hear the faint pips.
Usually you'd have to press the recall/flash button followed by a 2. Hovever, this feature effectively puts the first caller on hold and connects you through to the second caller.
Pressing it a second time alternates between the callers.
You just keep pressing the button until both callers are done with.
The Telecom Freedom 400 is certainly one the most attractive- looking cordless telephones on the market. It has all the functions you'd expect to find in a unit of this quality.
However, based on the performance the Freedom 400 displayed, it comes in a long second to the Panasonic KX-T3916AL.
The Freedom 400 has a RRP of $329, so it's in the same price bracket with the Panasonic.
Phillip Bertolus is the principal of Program Development Systems, of Melbourne, which develops and markets MXPascal compilers, Murrumbeena Network cards and network software, and IVR (Interactive Voice Response) systems.
© 1995 The Age
