 |
Geemarc Amplipower 50
by northernlovely
The Geemarc Amplipower 50 looks like your average big button phone for the poor sighted, but it is actually an amplified telephone designed for use by the partially deaf / hard of hearing. It can amplify both the call itself and the ring tones to 60 decibels and is actually recognised by the RNID as an aid to those registered with a ... hearing disability.
I bought one only recently for my Grandpa who is 92, he is near blind and extremely hard of hearing, so obviously we need to get him all the aids we can. I use it regularly as it is his only phone and I am his registered carer and I chose it based on a) the fact it has large buttons so he can see who he is calling and b) the amplification is by far the best I have heard on an amplified phone.
It doesn't just amplify the sounds however it also has a flashing strobe light to indicate of an incoming call as well as a vibrate function with an optional pad to put on the bed to warn / wake you of a call in the night (we don't use this as the phone is situated in the lounge).
The phone itself is very bulky which is good, it feels very well made and certainly I do feel it will last. The handset is corded which again for such a phone is a good idea - it wouldn't be good to lose a cordless phone on such a unit for safety reasons.
The phone has an inbuilt memory speed dial of 10 numbers so great for all the frequently used and hard to remember mobile numbers. It does have a handy pull out 'drawer' on the side to remind you of which number is which but in practice I find this a bit small compared to the buttons and is too small for anyone with anything other than decent sight to read properly. But it is good as a guide even if you might need a magnifying glass. Generally you would remember which number to press I think if they are frequently dialled.
I am very impressed with the sound quality because usually when you amplify a signal on a small unit it can be tinny, or distorted. Even at it's highest setting on the boost of 60 decibels the sound was still clear and easy to understand, which is great. The unit also has a built in induction loop (like you see in some shops and cinemas) and if you wear a hearing aid you can set it to the 't' position and this phone will send a clear audio with no crackle or interference.
The phone is available online from the RNID website, the Boots hearing website, on various Ebay shops and also on Amazon. It costs around £80, though for approx £40 - 50 you can get the model down, the Geemarc Amplipower 40 which I believe is 10 decibels quieter. For the more hard of hearing I would absolutely recommend this phone, it has been an absolute gift to us, I can use it at normal level and then pass it to my Grandpa and 'boost' the sound so he can hear the caller too. It's also very easy for him to use on his own and it gives me peace of mind that when I am out shopping for him or when he is at home at night that he has a way of communicating in an emergency.
The phone comes boxed with the handset, ear reciever, curly cord, wall cord and instructional manual. It has a three year manufacturer warranty.
All in all I have to give this phone 5/5 as it's by far the best amplified phone on the market - in fact I would and will buy Geemarc products again due to my satisfaction with this unit.
Read the complete review |
 |
Geemarc AMPLIDECT 230
by birdcharlotte
After a product recall from Geemarc, the Amplidect230 has now been renamed the Amplidect285. Despite this, all of the features remain the same, as does the price.
The base of the telephone not only charges the handset, but has a built in answering machine.
*Price*
The phone usually retails around £89.99, I work in a ... hearing aid centre and have been told that we are one of the only places where you can purchase Geemarc products. However, I have seen a few advertised through Dooyoo so you may find a better deal.
Also, you can buy extra handsets for the Amplidect230/285 at around £49.99 per phone.
*Calling/Talking*
The Amplidect230 has an adjustable receiving volume, for incoming speech, of up to 30db. It also has adjustable tone control (treble, standard, bass). Both of these will allow the user to have a clearer telephone conversation without having to ask the dredded question: 'can you repeat that please?'.
The phone also has a speakerphone. I was recently told that speakerphone is a great feature for people who have difficulty with their hearing as you can hear the speech through both ears, not just the ear you hold the phone up to. They say you learn something new everyday!
The phone has 4 direct memories to allow quick calling and a phonebook which can hold up to 50 phone numbers. These numbers can be accessed by scrolling through the phonebook on the handset itself and are a great feature for anyone who has difficult remembering phone numbers or where they have allocated someone on the speeddial list.
*Ringer*
The phone has an option of 10 different melodies for ringing alert, this may help if you choose one that is very distinctive which you are more likely to notice. You can also allocate a special ringing tone for 10 different numbers, this may help if you have difficulty speaking to people and only want to answer the phone to specific numbers.
There is an adjustable ringing volume to allow you to set the ringing volume as high as you feel you need it and, if you feel you need more of an alert, you can set the shaker option. This makes the phone vibrate whilst ringing.
The phone has several other features which are listed below.
Handset LCD Display:
Navigational menu, white backlight, backlight on keys, clock, alarm, key lock and message waiting icon.
Caller ID and caller ID for call waiting.
Multi Handset:
3-way conference with privacy protection, up to 4 bases and 5 handsets, call transfer of external calls.
Technicaal Specifications:
3 batteries ni-Mh 1.2V 6000mA
Standy time = 5 days
Continuous talk time = 6 hours
GAP compliant
Outdoor range = 300 meters
Indoor range = 50 meters
All of Geemarc's phones are hearing aid compatible. This means you do not have to take your hearing aid out whilst talking on the phone, and you don't run the risk of forgetting where you have put your hearing aid!
The Amplidect230 is an amazing telephone, it looks like any other phone but hides many amazing features.
Read the complete review |
