Uniden TCX905: A Phone for Every Room in the House

Recently I purchased a new phone for my household with the primary goal in mind of having an expandable system. I purchased the Uniden TRU9480 model because I knew it could be expanded to accommodate up to ten handsets and also because it already included three total handsets. Still wanting more, I went in search of additional handsets and the one I selected is the Uniden TCX905, a cordless extension handset from the popular electronic manufacturer.

Features of This Phone:

Uniden TCX905 is sold individually and each package consists of a handset, a small base, a detachable electrical cord, and a belt clip. The frequency of this phone is 5.8 gigahertz and it is designed to be compatible with several different Uniden systems including the T9, VIP, and ELT series.

Each of these handsets is relatively small, making them comfortable for holding. They measure about six inches (15.5cm) in length, two inches (5 cm) in width, and one and one- quarter inches (3 cm) in thickness at the thickest point. The handsets offer touch- tone keys from zero through nine; individual talk and end call keys; a phonebook key to check stored numbers; a key to access a speaker; a caller id key; a hold/intercom key; and a pause/redial key. The upper- right hand corner (when looking at the front) of the phone has a headphone jack for hands- free communication. There is also a belt clip and a built- in two- way radio system that effectively turns the phone into an intercom system. The phone can hold up to 100 numbers in memory and the unit comes with a one- year warranty against defects.

The holder for this handset is rectangular in shape with a small opening where the bottom of the handset rests in place for charging. This base is small, measuring about four inches (10 cm) in length, two and one- half inches (6.5 cm) in width, and two inches (5 cm) in height at the tallest point. The back of the base is sloped upward creating a longer surface for the back side of the handset to rest against, thereby helping to hold it in place. When the unit is resting in the holder, it slants backward slightly- about an 80 degree angle- making it easier to view.

There is no phone cord for the Uniden TCX905. It receives its phone signal from the base of the main phone. The only attachment to this phone is the electrical cord- a thin black cord that plugs into the underside of the base. The end with the plug features a medium- sized rectangular block that contains the electrical prongs that must be plugged into a standard household outlet.

Customer Service/Product Information:

To find more information on this auxiliary handset, the place to check is the company web site, uniden.com. The customer service hotline is available to answer specific questions at 800-297-1023. If parts are needed, the phone number to call is 800-554-3988.

Final Thoughts:

I like buying new phones. Even when I don’t necessarily need a new phone, I find myself looking at phones anyway; seeking out the latest and greatest technology with additional features that my present phone doesn’t have. My quest for a new phone system led me to purchase the Uniden TRU9480 phone system a short time ago. I was influenced in part by the fact that this phone is expandable and I proceeded to purchase some added handsets. The Uniden TCX905 was the one I noticed first. It was compatible with the TRU9480 and it looked exactly the same as the handsets I already had so I made the purchase.

The Uniden TCX905 offers all the same features as the handsets that came with the Uniden TRU9480. The frequency of 5.8 gigahertz is one of this phone’s greatest attractions and I have found that I can stray a good distance from the base and it will still function normally. My yard isn’t huge (about .29 acres) but I still had problems with fading signals with my older phone. I often had to reposition myself if I was outside in order to get my old cordless phone to receive the signal. But with Uniden TCX905, there is no need to reposition myself or the phone. The signal is still clear, even when I am standing in the corner of my property.

The LCD display on the Uniden TCX905 is nice. It isn’t very large, measuring about 1.5 inches by .75 inches but it lights up in an orange color and it shows many bits of information, like the date and time, the phone number and name of a caller (when an incoming call is trying to ring through), a battery charge indicator (it uses a BT-446 rechargeable battery pack that keeps the phone charged continuously as long as it is stored in the holder), an indicator telling you the number of different caller id’s that have come through; and an indicator telling you which handset you are using (you can program each one with its own number). The LCD contrast and the ring volume can be adjusted on each handset, making it customizable per room. You can even change the display to read in English, Spanish, or French.

Uniden TCX905 is compatible with many different Uniden phone systems, like the TRU8860, TRU8865, TRU8866, TRU8880, TRU8885, TRU8888, TRU8896, TRU9460, TRU9465, TRU9466, TRU9480, TRU9485, TRU9488, TRU9496, CLX465, CLX485, ELT560, ELBT580, ELBT595, UIP1868P, and UIP1869V. But in order for this expansion handset to work, it must first be programmed with your main phone. This requires entering specific code numbers into your main phone’s base unit. If you do not program, the phone will not work. Programming is simple (instructions are included for programming into different main phones) and it must be completed or the phone will be worthless.

This auxiliary handset is a very good one with a slim design that feels like a cell phone and with many extra features that place it on the cutting edge of technology. You can monitor another room with this phone, store commonly dialed phone numbers for quick access, hook up a set of headphones (2.5 mm jack), change the ring tone, etc., etc. The sound quality is very clear as long as you avoid talking in nearby vicinity to a microwave oven, florescent lighting, or noisy machinery. And the battery holds its charge for up to five hours of talk time, almost guaranteeing that the phone will not lose its charge in the middle of a conversation.

There are only a few things about the Uniden TCX905 phone that are deserving of criticism. First, it can get a little tedious trying to program new names and numbers and one needs to be careful not to get carried away because it can take a long time to get everything programmed just right (using abbreviations is a good idea, to speed up the process). Second, I don’t like the flashing red light in the upper left hand corner of each handset. This is a charge indicator that lets you know the phone is charged and ready to go. There is nothing wrong with letting consumers know this, but to have a light that continuously flashes can be a tremendous distraction. Third, the base is small and light and it can easily get knocked off the table or desk on which it rests. Fourth, I would prefer a plug that didn’t have a block attached to it. This makes it easy to grip, but it also means the plug has to be inserted a certain way or it will partially cover the electrical outlet directly underneath it.

Overall, in spite of a few inconveniences, I am still satisfied with the purchase of my Uniden TRX905 handset and I may add another one or two handsets like it in the future. They sell for about $27 each and they are compatible with many different Uniden phones. Clear sound, slim design, easy programmability, and countless features make this auxiliary phone a nice addition to any Uniden household in need of extra phone units.