10. Plantronics CS70N Wireless Office Headset System

by Barry Gerber

Though they might make us seem just a bit crazy, talking to invisible friends, relations and clients, most of us are content using Bluetooth shrimp headsets with our mobile phones. However, when your dad or grad is working in a large, busy office with large numbers of co-workers also wirelessly on their phones, Bluetooth and a cell phone may not be enough. Bluetooth's 32 foot (10 meter range) and relatively limited channels can be a serious problem, as can a cell phone's limited battery power. That's why serious office pros use devices such as Plantronics' CS70N Wireless Office Headset System. See the Features Table below.

This photo shows the basic system, which consists of a wireless headset and wireless transmitter receiver. The two operate at 1.9 GHz, using technology Plantronics calls

Digitally Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications or

DECT. DECT encrypts signals and blocks interference from other devices in the 1.9 GHz range and provides very clear communications. I can vouch for that claim. No matter where I moved in my house or even outside, as long as I respected the system's maximum distance of 300 feet (91.4 meters) and allowed for barriers like walls, talking on the CS70N was no different than talking on the phone the CS70N was connected to.

To the left is the wireless headset and to the right is the wireless transmitter/receiver.

Speaking of attaching the CS70N to a phone, here's a photo of the wireless headset system attached to a phone. Connection to a phone is quite simple. You:

unplug the office phone's wired handset plug the CS70N's wireless transmitter/receiver into the office phone's empty wired handset jack plug the wired handset into the jack on the wireless transmitter/receiver plug the wireless transmitter/receiver's AC power pack into an AC power receptacle plug the AC power pack's DC power plug into the wireless transmitter/receiver finally if you have an optional mechanical handset lifter (shown in the photo above and in detail in photo below), you place the lifter under the wired handset and plug the handset lifter into the wireless transmitter/receiver

With the optional HL10 mechanical Handset Lifter you get remote ring notification and one-touch answering and ending of calls while away from your desk. It lifts your desk phone's handset when a call comes in and hangs up the handset when the call ends.

I've used a lot of Plantronics products. I have never encountered a device that didn't do what the company promised and kept on going long after other companies' products dissolved into uselessness. The CS70N might be a bit pricey, but it provides solid value for those who spend long hours on the phone in the office or even at home.

Features Table

Radio Frequency Technology	1.9 GHz DECT
Wearing Style	Behind ear
Recommended Environment	All environments, even those with average-to-loud ambient noise
Digital Encryption	64-bit
Roaming Range	Up to 300 ft.
Headset Weight	0.75 oz
Headset Controls	Volume, mute, call answer/end
Battery Recharge Time	1.5 hours for 80% charge, 3 hours for 100% charge
In-Use Battery Life	6 hours
Microphone Style	Noise-Canceling
Remote Ring Notification	Yes (with Optional HL10 Handset Lifter Accessory)
Single Button Call Control	Yes
Integrated Base/Charging Cradle	Yes