Siemens Gigaset Sl78H Cordless Phone Dead Except Occasionally Flashing ...

[ladybirder]

'No Base'. Can anyone help me to fix it please? Do I need to buy a new base, if that is possible? Annoyingly I noticed the red message light flashing and want to check if it is important. Thanks.

[Chinajan]

Have you changed the batteries in the handset?

[ladybirder]

Yes Jan, earlier this year, the first time since I bought the phone in 2009.

[Chinajan]

They might need changing again. I had the same issue and changed the batteries for the first time since new - only to have to change again quite soon after.

Used some more expensive batteries the second time and it's been fine since.

[douglas9401]

When you changed the batteries did you use rechargeable ones?
I know my mother-in-law didn't and had a similar experience.

[ladybirder]

Ah, thank you both, you may have hit the nail on the head. Could either of you tell me where you got the good second battery from please. And were they Siemens or copies?

[ladybirder]

Sorry Douglas, No, not rechargeable.

[Chinajan]

The black ones with the copper coloured top. And a bunny. ;0)

[douglas9401]

They need to be rechargeable and of the same capacity as the ones removed to work properly.

[ladybirder]

This is a pain. I don't have the original to check.

[bhg481]

Don't worry about the capacity, so long as they're rechargeable and the right physical size they'll be OK.

[Chinajan]

I haven't used rechargeables. The original ones supplied were not rechargeable.

[ladybirder]

I've ordered a replacement of the original from Siemens so I would hope I can't go wrong. But knowing me ...
Thank you everybody, I hope this fixes the problem.

[ladybirder]

So mine won't be either then. Oh I'm going back to bed:-(

[gingejbee]

chinajan...it's a very strange cordless phone that doesn't use rechargeable batteries. That's what the base station is for...to recharge the handset batteries.

[mjwman]

I would take the opportunity to ask myself..do I actually NEED a land line phone these days?
We scrapped ours 3 years ago or more as everyone uses mobiles now.
No regrets. We have never missed it and no more nuisance calls either.

[gingejbee]

^on the other hand, we use our landline a great deal and our mobiles very little (they are simple and non-smart) and would never get rid of the landline.

[emmie]

don't you need a landline to run the internet?

[Chinajan]

Of course you're right, douglas and gingejbee - a base station must be there for charging the batteries. I'm being unusually thick today obvs. ;0)

I've just checked my own phone; it's a different Gigaset model and the batteries supplied with mine weren't rechargeable, just two bog standard far east branded AAAs [which failed after a number of years]. Which begs the question why do I have a base station? The phone is working fine now with some 'normal' batteries.

Anyway, OP is sorted now so all good.

[ladybirder]

mjwman, thanks but no definitely not, the signal's not good in my flat and I much prefer my Siemens.

[Electrochem]

You will probably find that the batteries are the AAA rechargeable type. They don't have to be a specific make.

I have kept our landline, as in the event of a power cut or mobile outage, I can still make calls. For that reason, I have also kept a plug in 'phone, as these receive power from the 'phone line (70V DC I think).