Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/04/20/review_netgear_sph200d/
Review The manifest destiny of VoIP phones is surely the ability to use one wireless handset to make and receive calls via either the internet or a regular landline with the very minimum of fuss, bother and, more importantly, without a PC poking its nose into the equation.
The DECT phone group test (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/03/07/group_test_dect_phones/) back in March took a look at some of the major players in the field, but without the perhaps expected representation from Netgear whose then only VoIP handset, the SPH101D, did not have DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) dual mode landline functionality. Now, however, the SPH101D has a big brother, the dual-mode DECT-enabled SPH200D.
Out of the box the various bits of the SPH200D (wireless base station, handset stand/charger and handset) have a modern, clean and functional look, and come in any colour so long as it's white. While not as style conscious as some of the handsets in the group-test, the SPH200D feels well made and robust and sits well in the hand, weighing in at 130g including batteries. The wireless base station and handset stand are also up to Netgear's usual high standards of manufacture.
Netgear has always prided itself on the ease of set up of its kit. In my book "easy to set up" is synonymous with "I don't need the instructions". In this case, they were not required. After letting the handset charge its two AAA batteries - a rather lengthy overnight job, so make sure you leave it in its re-charge cradle between calls - we plugged the wireless station into the mains then plugged an RJ-11 phone cable into it along with an RJ-45 ethernet cable from a Linksys ADSL wireless router, switched the handset on, selected a few initial settings such as country of use and choice of language and...it worked. Coming pre-loaded with Skype it really is as simple as that.
More advanced set up and control information can be accessed via the base station's web browser-based control panel. You can find out what the base station's IP address is from the handset by selecting the DHCP option in the Settings menu, then just point your internet browser at it.
The home page provides basic information about the system while the other four pages allow you to change between three modes of internet access (the default is for a dynamic IP address, but you can set it to PPPoE or enter a static address), carry out basic administration tasks such as changing passwords or restoring defaults, access or create Skype accounts, and update system firmware. All these settings can also be accessed via the handset, but frankly doing it via a PC is easier. Each page comes with a handy "help" column to the right of the screen.
Having entered a number, or chosen a contact from your Skype phone book, the handset prompts you to choose to make your call either via Skype or via your landline. The Skype interface is pretty much the same as you would see on your PC screen, simply shrunk to fit the colour handset screen. Once you have chosen your preferred method of connection, just dial away. If no internet connection is available, the system defaults to the landline.
The handset comes with a useful selection of language settings and 16 ring tones, none of which will win any awards. Incoming VoIP and landline calls can each be assigned different tones, though frankly we were at a loss to see what useful purpose this serves. Netgear quote 12 hours of talk time or 120 hours on standby per full handset charge, which we suspect is a little optimistic. There is no built-in voice mail system so you need SkypeIn voice mail for Skype and a regular answer phone machine connected in-line, or an off-board service like BT Answer for your landline.
To check on call quality we made calls to a mobile phone and a landline both in southern Spain via both Skype (BT being the ISP) and a BT landline and then received calls from the same to my SkypeOut and BT numbers. As you would expect the calls made to and from the landline sounded clearer, but there was little discernible difference between the same calls made via Skype or BT, either outgoing or incoming.
Of late we've heard some folk mutter that Skype ain't what it used to be; getting too big too fast, poor sound quality, poor connectivity, etc. But it all sounded fine, and we had no problems getting a first time connection via SkypeOut. A further SkypeOut call to a friend currently on holiday in Thailand who was using a local SIM in a Motorola F3 also sounded just fine.
It's worth noting that the wireless link between the base unit and the handset operates in the DECT 1.9-GHz band, thereby avoiding interference with nearby Wi-Fi networks, something to keep in mind in light of recent articles on Wi-Fi clutter in urban environments, clutter that can hamper the performance of VoIP-only "Wi-Fi handsets" such as the SPH101D.
The base station supports four handsets in total, which can be used as an intercom system, and has a quoted effective range of 275 metres, which seems more than adequate for most uses. The handsets come with a headphone jack and can also function as speaker phones for hands-free use. The sound quality in the speaker phone mode came as a very pleasant surprise with both the incoming and outgoing audio quality being more than acceptable.
It is very hard to find serious fault with the SPH200. It's well made, decently styled, easy to use, reasonably priced (at between £95 and £110 for the main unit and around £65 each for additional SP150D handset judging by a quick shoofty on Froogle), pretty fool proof to set up, and possessed more than decent call quality via both VoIP and landline - though, of course, to get the best out of it you do need to subscribe to both SkypeOut and SkypeIn or SkypePro.
 |
Netgear SPH200D |
| Summary | Excellent call quality, no need to switch your PC on and so simple to set up your cat could do it |
|---|---|
| Rating | 85% |
| Price | £95-£110, extra handsets £65 |
| More info | Netgear website (http://www.netgear.co.uk/extra/skype_dualmode_cordless_phone.php) |
Review Aztech V500DS-S1 Skype DECT phone (12 September 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/09/12/review_aztech_v500ds_s1/
Review EnGenius SI-680H Wi-Fi VoIP phone (28 August 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/08/28/review_engenius_si-680h_wi-fi_phone/
The Cloud descends over City (23 April 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/23/free-city/
Review Samsung SGH-i600 Ultra Edition smartphone (15 April 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/04/15/review_samsung_i600/
Group Test Hit the DECT: cordless phones on test (7 March 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/03/07/group_test_dect_phones/
iPhone launched... but not by Apple (18 December 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12/18/linksys_launches_iphone/
Review SMC WSKP100 Skype phone (10 November 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/10/review_smc_wskp100_skype_phone/
Review Netgear SPH101 Wi-Fi Skype phone (13 October 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/10/13/review_netgear_sph101/