Fully compatible handsets with Gigaset N300A IP or??

I've got a set of Panasonic DECT phones which I expected to use with the Gigaset N300A but a school boy error on Panasonic's part means they don't work properly. You cannot set the date/time correctly when the Panasonic handset is using the N300 Base so call history doesn't work. This renders them useless. Without correct date/time lots of other features don't work either.

Natural choice would be a gigaset branded set but having bought one neither it nor the replacement worked adequately. Battery life is poor and it can show full battery and instantly say it's flat as soon as you touch a button. The panasonics have about a week of standby and use. The Gigasets could barely manage 2 days of standby with no use. I tried a higher capacity battery and it was no better so I can only assume they have some dreadful battery management that has no idea how charged or not a battery is. A few others have reported the same issue.

I either need a brand and model that is FULLY compatible with the N300A ie date time, call history and answerphone access all work from the handsets

OR a full DECT VOIP with included handsets that does the above and is configurable like the N300A IP.

I'm using Andrews and Arnold VOIP which doesn't seem to have a basic 1471 function which is frustrating.

My Gigaset C430 handsets have worked fine. I do have to replace the batteries every few years. I have often used the Panasonic Eneloop batteries. The latest ones are JCB Rechareable.
My N300 gets its time from ntp1.npl.co.uk

I would only expect basic functions such as making calls to work with non Gigaset handsets. Advanced functions such as transferring directory entries likely will not work.

I have SL450H, S850H and C620H on my N300A-IP. The 450 uses a 3.7v Li-Ion battery pack, the 850 AAA and 620 AA cells. I never have an issue with batteries and whilst they don't last a week off the base, they certainly do last days.

In reply to a post by MHC:

I have SL450H, S850H and C620H on my N300A-IP. The 450 uses a 3.7v Li-Ion battery pack, the 850 AAA and 620 AA cells. I never have an issue with batteries and whilst they don't last a week off the base, they certainly do last days.

The one I had came with a 400 in a pair of AAAs. Tried a 550 and a 1600 pair as well and not much difference. The 1600 seemed to last a bit longer. Definitely something amiss. Panasonic standby is quoted as up to 240 hours which is why I chose them initially.

I use my N300A with 5 assorted DECT handsets: C570H, C570HX, and C575HX. They all use Energizer AAA 800 mAh batteries with no problems. I collected the handsets from eBay, between £20 and £30 each, and everything works perfectly. I certainly wouldn't try to mix & match brands.

I suggest you raise it direct with Gigaset - their support are normally excellent.

My SL450H is sitting next to me on te desk and has been out of teh base for over 24 hours and used for a few calls - battery is still showing full.

In reply to a post by MHC:

I suggest you raise it direct with Gigaset - their support are normally excellent.

My SL450H is sitting next to me on te desk and has been out of teh base for over 24 hours and used for a few calls - battery is still showing full.

I did. They sent me a replacement handset which basically did the same but took a bit longer for it to go flat suddenly when still showing a high level of charge.

There's the Family HX handset that is supposedly 320 hours standby and 14 hours talk time so I might try that. Third handset lucky and all that

I'll leave my handset off for another day or so and see when it dies on me ...

From memory there is an "economy/low power setting" of some sort which reduces RF power when idle. Have a dig around the interface.

I had a fair few Gigaset handsets over the years. Had them all over the house but just down to 1 now as moved to VoIP - but that doesn't ever ring either! Still got a pile to get rid on eBay, prices low as so many ditching the landline.

Battery life has generally been great - last ages - but I have had more issues with batteries of late.

The old NiMH seem fine but I have found a few of the newer and even popular brands like energiser to sometimes do what you mention - show full charge then drop like a stone soon. If you take one battery out and pop it back in and charge it it seems better for a bit.

It is almost like they are "stuck" - probably due to me leaving then on the base for weeks at a time. I do wonder if the newer battery technology, despite being NiMH, is slightly different and has a different voltage/discharge curve confusing the battery management. Looking closely at the handset the charge symbol does stop - so I wonder if the batteries are draining whilst sat in the charger for weeks, which may be a software fault.

In reply to a post by adrenalize_:

Looking closely at the handset the charge symbol does stop

If you check the batteries while in this constant charging state (described above) you will find the batteries are overheating because of the constant charging which ultimately destroys the batteries. I've observed a fair few handset do this but they are handsets that are rarely taken off the cradle, tried fully discharging the batteries before putting them back on charge but only way to resolve is to replace the batteries.


PS: This does raise the question what brand of batteries are people using, the ones described above were 'GP ReCyko+'

Edited by PCJM40 (Tue 10-Oct-23 22:44:42)