Radian Skytone RST101 USB Phone for Skype
By: Radiantec Average Rating: 3.0 Total Reviews: 4
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 On: 2008-03-15
I bought this phone to use primarily as a handset for an Eyebeam soft phone, not for Skype. It was advertised as being compatible with Eyebeam. It is compatible but not as integrated as I would like, at least with the version of Eyebeam I am using. You can use it has a handset but that is really about all. The answer and hangup buttons only show or hide the Eyebeam phone. You can use the number buttons to enter in the number you wish to call but you must use the button on the Eyebeam phone to place the call. Also, it is a bit sketchy using the buttons on the phone as they tend to bounce or miss. The really imporant thing for me was to have the phone ring when I received a call. It does. That way I can be somewhere else in the room or house and still hear the phone ring. I bought it as a headset replacement and it performs well as such. The phone sounds good to both the person I am speaking with and to me.
I am happy with my purchase.
 On: 2007-05-07
I had a bad experience with this phone. Given how cheap it was, I wasnt too surprised.
First, it messes with your Windows sound volume settings... I get what its trying to do, its trying to be clever - but it just doesnt work. Its a pain.
Second, I had all kinds of call quality problems using this phone. Skypes quality is always fine for me, but not with this phone. The range to the base is terrible, and the speaker/mike are of really poor quality. I stopped using this and ordered something different after a week.
 On: 2006-06-23
I purchased Radian Skytone phone for my office use after I bought a wireless Linksys Skype phone kit. Thus, I can compare the quality of both phones. In summary, I find it reasonable good for the value.
The pros are:
- Radians voice quality is good and clear.
- I can use the navigator buttons (up/down/left/right) to control the tabs/caller list of the Skype menu (on my computer).
The cons are:
- there is a slight delay when hearing the voice from the other end (speaker/receiving end) - about 1 sec delay when I test it at home, using the Radian phone to call my home phone
- if the other speaker (receiving end) speaks while I am speaking, our voices collide and we cant hear each others voice simultaneously - Id suspect this phone is half-duplex.
- the LCD screen does not show any caller list. It only shows the current year/date/time. (it could be better to show the caller list/directory).
- Doesnt support USB 2.0 - my laptop has USB 2.0 ports. I connect the Radian handset to the USB 2.0 port, and Windows advises that the current connection is USB 1.1, and will be faster if I use USB 2.0 (a bug?)
In contrast, Linksys does not have the time delay or half-duplex problem. Its LCD shows the caller list, and it works like a normal home wireless handset. If you have a low budget, try Radian. If you prefer a wireless handset with a friendly LCD screen/caller list, you need to pay a bit more for the Linksys kit.
On: 2006-06-03
this phone integrates great with skype. You can just pick it up and dial like a regular phone (make sure to dial +1(###) with the area code for local calls).
The up and down buttons let you pick which person in your contact list to dial, and were able to turn on my monitor from sleep mode so Id see the contact list.
I got great quality calling my cell phone from both my desktop and my laptop running on a sketchy wifi connection and USB1.1
a warning came up that I wasnt running on USB2.0 when I used it on my laptop but it worked fine nevertheless.
I really cant find any faults with this phone, that is; there is nothing that particularly make it bad or comes as a disadvantage compared to a different usb voip phone. The quality is pretty good and I wouldnt doubt this is the same as the US Robotics brand phone also sold on amazon. check the pics yourself.
The only things I could complain about are minor. They are:
1.
I would like it to be a bit heavier. Think what your cell phone would weigh without the battery. extra weight gives it a more quality feel, it just wasnt necessary in the desighn.
2.
I dont like the monotone-same-sound-for-every-key beep the phone makes when dialing, Id much rather hear DMTF style dialing sounds from a normal phone
After having this one for a little while though, the concept is proven to me and it might make more sense for some people to get a USB VOIP to DMTF adapter instead and use an old / yardsale cordless phone with skype, and also get the classic DMTF style dialtones.
This phone proves the concept of voip to me and I dont think Ill really much need land line service anymore with skype.
(although you do have to pay to get a local phone number on skype, but everyone calls me on my cell anyways.) This is a great way to save on cell minutes when im home or near wifi with my laptop.
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