Gigaset C620A Nuisance Call Blocking Cordless Phone with Answering Machine (Pack of 2)

In many respects this is the best cordless telephone system I have used. In a variety of ways it is very useful for me now that I have started to go a bit deaf in my old age as the volume can be turned well up and speech is noticeably clearer, both at my end and for the person listening to me at the other end of the line. I explored all the ringtones until I found a proper ring, and with this also well turned up I am unlikely to miss any calls now, especially as the base unit rings in addition. I was also able to register my two existing Panasonic handsets to this base unit, which now provides me with additional telephones in the kitchen and on the landing. Both of these also now ring loud and clear and work normally, except that they no longer display the callers number or identity, as they used too. The nuisance call features on the Gigaset are are also useful and work well, but they have to be activated. Of course it is not perfect, which is why I have given it 4 stars. The handset for the answer machine/base unit rests on the base unit at an angle of 45 degrees, which means that you have to locate the contact pins in the bottom of the handset precisely in to the base unit or it slides off on to the floor. because there is nothing else to retain it! On three occasions the handset colour screens have behaved like an old out of tune TV set, all zigzag lines. Many of the controls can only be operated with a fingernail if you have big fingers. To access the phonebook directory requires at least three operations, or four if the handset is off its base and it has gone in to standby. This compares with merely one press on a dedicated button on my Panasonic handsets, which is more sensible for a frequently used facility. Both my Gigaset handsets are switched to 'auto answer' when lifted in response to a call, but this does not always work. To sum up, you need to consider what might be important to you personally with this telephone. It works well for me, but if you have hard floors make sure it has a piece of carpet to land on!

I have to declare an interest. I have used Gigaset cordless phones for longer than I care to remember and I've never been disappointed. So you'd expect a glowing review and that, with one minor quibble, is what you're going to get.The C620A has all the Gigaset quality hallmarks – superb call quality, intuitive layout and design, a large contact list in vcard format (so it's easy to transfer from other databases – more on that later), excellent eco credentials and satisfying ergonomics. So why did I need another one when all my other Gigaset handsets have these characteristics? Well, this one has a blacklist feature. I've been inundated with spam phone calls lately, but with this you can copy any number that's called you to the blacklist, set the blacklist option to 'block calls' and you'll never hear from them again. Bliss!The C620 doesn't have Bluetooth or a usb connector, so if you want to transfer your contact list to it, you've got to do so from another Gigaset handset. Luckily, I have an SL78H handset which has both. So I can download my Gmail contact list to the latter and then copy over to the C620. So be careful here! If you only have the C620 series, you won't be able to do this. But this isn't a gripe; the advertised details of the phone don't suggest you can do this, so I can't complain that it doesn't.Now to the quibble: the blacklist can accommodate just 15 numbers. I commonly receive calls from double that number of spammers. And some of them use several numbers, presumably specifically to defeat call blocking. I can't see why this number couldn't have been increased to, say, 50, even if that meant reducing the phone book to 200 instead of 250.However, I've had the phone installed for several weeks now and have only blocked 5 numbers. And I've received very few spam calls beyond those. It makes me wonder if the spammers swap information about numbers that block them. It would be rather nice if they kept their own blacklist! Anyway, maybe the 15 number limit isn't as restrictive as it first appears. I'll update this review when I've had 6 months' experience and let you know.

Manufacturers of cordless phones seem to have decided that customers are most concerned about nuisance calls so most of their promotional drive tends to focus on call blocking features.Not true in my case. Number one priority for me is the quality of sound when making and receiving a call. This phone has excellent clear sound with little of the scratchy mechanical quality of other cordless phones I have used. It must be a feature of Siemens technology because my previous Gigaset phones (415a twin) were equally good.There are a large range of features and settings which I have not had time to explore yet.On the down side – the buttons are quite small and fiddly to use. The base of the main unit is a compromise between wall fitting and table stand. As a result it holds its handset at a rather odd angle (looks as though it might fall over but is actually secure).There is a quite attractive display when the phone is not in use: a functioning analogue clockface complete with ticking second hand. Makes a useful desk clock!