This overview is intended to help you understand the basics of the Gigaset system. Please bear in mind that there’s a lot more than I have room for here, but you should get a pretty good understanding of how the systems work and which one would be best for your needs.

We all understand the advantages of cordless technology, but most of us also recognize its weaknesses. Clarity of sound, range, interference and security are usually our yard-sticks of performance. So, with that in mind, let’s explore the Gigaset’s approach to those issues.

Sound clarity is assured through the use of Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation, or ADPCM, voice coding. It’s not important to remember the technology. What is important is to remember that the quality of the cordless handset can be favorably compared to any good quality corded phone.

Interference is a common complaint in cordless telephones world wide. The Gigaset 2420 uses the 2.4 gigahertz frequency spectrum to minimize this interference, but it doesn’t mean there will not be any interference. Other devices exist which use the 2.4 gigahertz frequency. Among these are microwave ovens, wireless surveillance cameras, wireless burglar alarms and wireless audio systems. Some interference factors can be minimized by simply moving the base away from the other devices. Sometimes it can’t be overcome at all. But then, that’s true of any cordless product. Interference from other 2.4 GHz telephones shouldn't be a problem, either. According to an engineer at Siemens, they test between 15 and 30 Gigasets simultaneously in a single lab and that interference has never been a problem there. It stands to reason then, that there's a very small likelihood of having interference from the 2.4GHz phone in the apartment next door.

Privacy is more important than ever, especially if you’re trying to conduct business over the phone. The Gigaset is designed to be the most secure cordless system in existence. It uses a technique known as frequency hopping spread spectrum to protect your conversations from eavesdropping and bleedover. The Gigaset actually changes frequency 100 times per second in a random pattern that only the Gigaset handsets registered to the base can duplicate.

Range is easily the most misunderstood aspect of 2.4 gigahertz cordless phone technology. Let’s state this once, and for the record: The 2.4 gigahertz frequency alone does not enhance range. Range is a result of the implementation of frequency and power output. The 2.4GHz frequency spectrum requires more power than lower frequency ranges (this is a law of science, so to speak). Siemens has considered this factor in its Gigasets, and, because the primary objective is to provide maximum overall performance, Siemens has limited the power output of the handset to optimize talk time and standby time while still providing adequate range for residential and small business applications. The Gigaset should never be thought of as a "range solution" even though the range is well within the acceptable expectations of most people (150 feet indoors; up to 1000 feet outdoors).

The heart and soul of the Gigaset system is its cordless handset. The cordless handset is common to all Gigaset models and there are many features which are common to all models. So, if you can learn to navigate the menus of the most basic Gigaset model, you’re well on the way to using even the most sophisticated Gigaset.

The cordless handset is a hybrid design, taking the best elements of traditional cordless phones and combining them with the best elements of cellular phones.

The antenna is inboard on the handset, so there’s no danger in breaking it off accidentally. A belt clip and headset jack are included for private handsfree operation. Headsets can be purchased for as little as $19.95 at many electronics retailers.

Features are easily accessed using special keys, and you’ll always be able to see what you’re doing because of the graphical LCD display that is common to all handsets.

Gigaset handsets have several convenience features that are important to all of us.

Its backlit display illuminates with a keystroke and shuts itself off after 15 seconds of inactivity to conserve batteries.

A five number redial allows you to choose from any of the last five numbers dialed, saving you time.

A built-in call timer begins as soon as the TALK key is pressed and stops when you end the call.

Calls can be placed on hold, affording you privacy for side comments to others around you.

In addition to the normal keys you’ll find on almost every cordless telephone in existence, Gigaset handsets have some very specialized and powerful keys.

The MENU key is your doorway into the system features. The menu structure is very similar to a PC. Each menu leads to a submenu. The menus are logically placed and easy to use.

Two MULTI-FUNCTION SOFT KEYS are located immediately below the display. Their functions change depending upon the activity. The labels for these keys are on the bottom line of the display directly above them. These are easy to read.

The CONFERENCE key is used to create conference calls with other handsets or outside lines (even without three way calling from the phone company if you have two lines) or to transfer calls to other handsets.

The INTERCOM key is a sure winner. Now, if you have handsets in different rooms you can intercom the room instead of yelling at the top of your lungs!

The handset is lightweight (about 6 oz.) and its size (6.9" L X 2.2" W X 1.2" D) is what I refer to as the "Baby Bear" (Just Right!).

Installing the batteries may be difficult for first time users. The battery compartment has been designed to prevent the cover from accidentally coming off if the unit is dropped. For this reason, it’s a bit more complicated to put the cover on as well; however, once it’s on, you don’t have to worry about it any more.

The handset has been designed to accept standard AA size nickel cadmium or nickel metal hydride batteries. Siemens ships the handset with nickel cadmium batteries which will give you adequate talk time (up to 5 hours); however, power users may opt for the more powerful nickel metal hydride batteries (up to 11 hours talk time) which are widely available. Nickel metal hydride batteries also last longer, because they don’t develop a "memory" problem.

Each handset that is purchased separately comes with its own charging base. The charger can be kept on your desk or wall mounted and is powerful enough to completely charge the batteries overnight (about 8 hours with NiCads; 15 or more for NiMHs). A spare battery compartment is provided to allow users to have an extra set of freshly charged batteries available at all times, although it is a "trickle" charger and takes a very, very long time to charge batteries.

The graphical LCD display of the handset provides easy to read text and graphics. Four lines of sixteen characters each provide users with all the essential information they need. The bottom line on the display is reserved for the multi-function soft-key labels.

The display, being graphical, supports a variety of very useful icons. Two basic types of symbols are used – status indicators and soft key controls.

The chart on the right shows most of the status indicators and all the soft key controls.

The symbols are easy to read and well placed in the display screen.

If you use a personal computer (and you must be or you wouldn’t be seeing this), you’re no doubt familiar with screensavers that pop up when you’re not using the system. PCs do this to protect the monitor CRT from being damaged by unchanging screens. Gigaset systems also use a time out circuit, but for a different reason. The handset uses more power when in its programming modes than it does in its idle state. To conserve the batteries, the system has been engineered to revert to the idle state when no keystroke is made for thirty seconds.

To a new user, this may present an inconvenience, especially if trying to alternately read the instruction manual and manipulate the handset keyboard. This will, of course, become less problematic as you gain experience.

Each Gigaset contains a Call Log, which captures the data for up to 50 incoming calls and retains it for the user’s use at a later time. You can move this information to the directory for permanent use, place a call from the call log or simply retain it for future reference. Of course, call log entries can be deleted at will. The key benefit of the Call Log is the automatic tracking of inbound activity without the need for messy scratch pads that can get lost or thrown out.

The Gigaset system has built in directory capabilities. All entries are displayed alphabetically.The handset directory capacity is up to 120 entries. Individual entries can be edited or removed at any time.

While the directory of a handset can be entirely unique to that handset, the directory can also be sent to any other handset. This provides great time savings in the programming process when new handsets are added to the system.

You won’t have to wonder or worry about how much room is left in the directory, because Siemens also put in a handy "Check Memory" option in the directory menu.

One of the greatest challenges to any home-based worker is the ability to concentrate on one task in one room while watching out for activity in another room. It’s physically impossible to be in two places at once; however, the Gigaset provides a means to accomplish this easily and effectively with the built-in Room Monitor feature. When the room monitor is active, a handset placed in one room will alert another handset in a different room to any change in the noise level. The most common use for this is as a baby monitor, but it can also be used as an audio security measure at an unguarded or unlocked entrance.

When the room monitor is active, the handset in the monitored room will not ring. This will avoid unnecessary disturbances in the room. We wouldn’t want to wake the baby, now would we?

When the monitoring handset detects a change in the noise, it calls the receiving handset. The user simply answers the phone as usual and listens in to the sounds in the other room. The user can then decide whether to act upon what he or she hears or ignore it. Pressing the END key will terminate the alert, but the system will automatically reset itself. This is important to the busy user as it prevents having to reset the system each time the alert is given.

Three elements are required to set up the Room Monitor. Users must activate it, tell it which handset to alert, and select a sensitivity level.

The display on the handset will say MONITORING ROOM and indicate the intercom number. The user can then place the handset in its charging stand and leave the room.

If a noise sets off the monitor, simply pick up the handset and press TALK. You may then listen to the sounds coming from the other room. The monitor will reset itself as soon as the END key is pressed.

For convenience and personalization, each handset can be individually programmed to have its own volume, ringer and other special considerations. These features are affected only on the handset. If, for example, a French foreign exchange student is living in an American household, the handset in the student’s room can be set to French, while all other handsets can be in English. The individual user’s preferences dictate just how the handset is used.

There are no less than five different ways to initiate a call with the Gigaset.

Block Dialing allows users to edit the number before the call is placed. The block dialing technique is usually the best, because it minimizes wrong numbers and incomplete numbers.

Block Dialing with Pause allows the insertion of a two second pause between numbers in a predialed number. This can be helpful for alternate long distance services and electronic banking.

Calls can be placed from the Directory.

For users who are comforted by hearing the dial tone, Direct Access Dialing is available.

Last, any call in the Call Log can be returned without redialing the number.

One of the most beneficial features to users is the Intercom that is built into every Gigaset system. This allows two handsets to communicate without tying up the external phone line. It’s as simple as pressing the INTERCOM key and the intercom number you want to reach.

The Gigaset is a true multi-user system. All models except the 2420 allow up to four parties to talk on the system at one time. The 2420 allows up to five simultaneous parties.

New for this year are the 2410 and 2415. Both can accommodate up to four handsets. Both are available in two colors – dark gray and white. The only difference between them is the 2415’s answering machine.

The Gigaset 2415’s answering machine is power packed with features that every user can appreciate.

The user can choose from any of four different greetings: The default announcement which cannot be changed, two general use announcements of up to thirty seconds each in length and one announce only greeting of up to two minutes which can be used when the user wants to inform callers without accepting messages.

Up to twenty two minutes of incoming messages can be retained in the answering system’s digital, tapeless memory. Each message can be date and time stamped so the user knows exactly when the call came in. The date and time are automatically taken from Caller ID information; or, if the user does not subscribe to Caller ID, the date and time can be keyed in by the user for this purpose.

The ability to record memos and check messages remotely is standard, and a toll-saver option saves users from unnecessary long-distance charges when no new messages are present.

The cordless handset can access the answering machine by pressing Intercom 9. This will bring all the necessary information to the display to see how many new messages have been received, how many total messages are in memory, which announcement is in use and how much recording time is available for additional messages.

The features of the answering machine are accessed by pressing the right soft key, labeled OTHER. This leads the user to a menu which allows the recording of memos & announcements, the selection of announcements and message checking.

While all the features of the answering machine can be manipulated at the handset, the base unit itself also has the necessary navigational tools to perform all the functions except recording announcements (the base has no microphone).

Both the 2410 and 2415 are priced within the means of the average residential user and should fill those needs quite well.

Siemens has two systems in its lineup that support two external lines – the 2402 and the first Gigaset to be introduced, the 2420.

Both the 2402 and the 2420 utilize business architecture. In other words, they function very much like a PBX that can be found in most large businesses. In fact, a user can think of these as miniature PBX systems.

Both are expandable to a total of eight cordless handsets, both have a PRIVACY option which prohibits unauthorized people from barging in on a call without the user’s knowledge and consent, and both support visual message waiting services from the telephone company.

These products are targeted primarily at small business and home office users; however, they have been very successfully used in residences as well.

The 2420 is considered the flagship of the Gigasets. It differs from the 2402 in that it has a full-featured desk station with its own wired handset, display, directory, speakerphone and answering machine. It even has an auxiliary port for those users who wish to attach a FAX or PC modem to the system.

As one look at the desk station’s layout will demonstrate, the desk station is loaded with all the features normally only found in systems costing thousands of dollars. Yet, it can be installed in any office or home which uses standard residential connections, and it takes up no more desk space than most traditional corded multi-line phones.

This diagram shows just how simple it is to install the desk station and a fax machine using the auxiliary port. The port can control incoming and outgoing fax or pc modem activity for either or both lines automatically. It does require subscription to "DISTINCTIVE RING" service from the telephone company. This service is widely available for a nominal monthly charge, usually three dollars or so per line. Of course, with this level of sophistication and power, the system does require some setup through the built-in software, but setup is easy and well detailed in the user guide.

The 2420’s answering machine has all the same capabilities as the 2415 with some notable additions:

First, there are five announcement options, the fifth one being one specifically for callers who attempt to block the caller ID information.

Next, the recording time totals 26 minutes. This is combined time for both lines; e.g., line 1 might have 19 minutes & line 2 may have 7 minutes. There is no set time limit per line).

Messages can be checked remotely for either line individually.

Finally, because the desk station has a microphone and wired handset, the answering machine’s memory can be used to record live conversations at the desk station. This is handy for note taking.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this little overview. I’m working now to put an illustrated help guide on this site, but it will take some time. I’m also going to make the user guides available for download (for as long as Siemens doesn’t object, at least).

Please feel free to send email with suggestions, comments or questions.