Xlink BT Bluetooth Gateway - Black

Update 10/28/13: We still use this as a home phone connection for our cell phones. Still works great. But if I am using the cell phone and walk in the house, the blue tooth will pick up and I no longer hear caller until I hit speaker on cell phone. This isn't an issue with the device, just something I keep forgetting about :)********************************************************************************************************************************************Purchased this to replace Panasonic DECT 6.0 Plus that didn't work as expected. Purchased directly from Amazon, with free shipping. Ordered on 8/31 received it on 9/3.Installation was easy - plugged it in, pushed 1st blue button until it flashed, set up cell to find device and entered code (0000). Connected landline phone line and plugged into outlet. (we had previously discontinued our phone service and disconnected wiring in outside box in anticipation of this device.)When we checked both the cordless and corded handsets, everything worked great. Had husband call my cell to see if answering machine would pick up and it did. Only downside to that was after the message it left a dialtone as well. Not a big deal.Tried to update software on my computer which is running windows 7, 64 bit. Wouldn't work. Program downloaded fine and usb port recognized the device, but program wouldn't open. Installed program on another computer that uses Windows Xp, 32 bit and it worked great. (product does not come with usb cable).Haven't noticed a difference yet after software update.Our cell phones have bluetooth 2.0. We get clear reception, haven't lost a call yet, and we only have 1 bar in the house where it is located. Incoming calls pick up on handsets on 2nd ring from cell phone and answering machine picks up on 4th ring. We have 1 corded handset, and 2 cordless handsets connected to house wiring. One of the cordless handsets is the panasonic DEC 6.0 that also operates additional handsets wirelessly (we did turn off the bluetooth and disconnect this device from the cell phone before connecting the xlink). All phones ring, answer calls and make outgoing calls with no issues. There is a slight delay when receiving and making calls, but that is to be expected with bluetooth.Does not work with Dish Network satellite receiver or TV caller ID (already read that it wouldn't, but was still hoping otherwise).Haven't had it long enough to know what durability is, but so far, performance is outstanding and I'm glad I chose this over the other 2 products I was considering.One last comment: I have read other reviewers that state you cannot press number key on automated menus. You can, just press the # key after each number selection. Did that this morning on an automated menu and it worked fine.Update: We've had this for over two years now and it still works great! Udpated to smart phones with better blue tooth and no issues still. This adapter has saved us $1,440 to date, by not having to have a house phone and just being able to connect our cell phones. I love the convenience of being able to leave and return and the phone automatically being picked up by the xlink where we can use the house phones. We added additional handsets, no issues there. Have asked many people if we sound less clear using this, and they all reply it sounds like any other house phone. Don't miss AT&T at all :) (except of course for dsl, but that's another matter - can't get it here anyhow)............ I do sometimes miss being able to send a fax, but that has nothing to do with the xlink, just cell phones. For the money this has saved us, and the convenience it has provided, even if it did go out now, I'd purchase another.

I got rid of my VOIP system a few months ago as my wife and I each have cell phones with unlimited minutes. We rarely used the VOIP so thought we could save some money just using cell phones. We have two homes, one in Florida and the other in Arizona and at times my wife and I are not at the same residence at the same time. In our home in Arizona, we have a Uniden 5.8 GHz phone system with seven wireless phones which I turned off. The Uniden system laid dormant a few months.Using just the cell phone for all your voice application requirements is good in theory but it requires you to keep the phone with you constantly. Can't leave it in the kitchen and go upstairs. You might miss a call. Especially from my wife. Not a good idea!I knew cell phones could connect to other devices using Bluetooth as we use such a connection in one of our vehicles. You can receive and make calls through the vehicle console and speakerphone. Works pretty well and thought I could find something similar for my home and possibly reuse the old wireless Uniden system. So, I searched for a Bluetooth gateway and found the Xtreme Technologies Xlink BT Bluetooth Gateway.Ordered the Xlink BT, received it, followed the simple instructions (pretty idiot proof), connected the legacy Uniden wireless phone system, then paired and connected my T-Mobile myTouch 4G cellphone. Made a call and it worked! My wife then called me, and it worked! The old Uniden works perfectly with this Gateway.Next, I set up my cellphone to use our WiFi internet connection as the primary mobile infrastructure for incoming and outgoing calls. It worked! Now I use my internet to make cell calls!Next, I checked to see if the system links seamlessly when I move out of and back into the Bluetooth connection range. It connects quickly and has not failed me yet. Bear in mind, it's still early and I haven't found any real quirks. I have not tested the range and have not tried to pair and connect two distinct cell phones yet. I will update this review once I have done so.Our legacy Uniden phone system seems to work seamlessly with the Xlink. All the remote phones throughout the house works and the caller ID (passed along from my cellphone phone book) show up on the phone screen. The audio is crisp and clear. No static, no voice lag. So far, so good.By pressing ## you can access the cell phone voice recognition system through your legacy phone and make calls hands free. It works as well. Most impressive.I will continue to update this review as I learn more. So far, it's a five star review.----------------------------Quick update on 3/22/2013. Still works well, but have found some minor issues I want to report.1. If you have two of these devices (1 in each home), the Xlink doesn't seem to "pair" as a distinct device from the other Xlink. So, going from one house to the other with two different Xlink's confuses the device and it won't sync and pair. You have to remove the device setup on the phone, then re-sync, then pair. It's inconvenient and my guess is there is a way to solve this, but it's not apparent and not in the manual.2. If the device is too far from the cell phone, there will be static. You really need to keep your cell phone close to the Xlink.3. When the phone rings, use the home phone system (not the cell phone). If you walk too far away from the Xlink with your cell phone in hand, the cell phone pairing starts to fail and all kinds of problems start to occur.Thanks.