Review: Grandstream Budgetone 101 IP phone

The Budgetone 101, is Grandstream’s entry-level IP phone.

Compared to a basic landline phone the Budgetone 101 has quite an impressive range of extra features: a speakerphone function, hold, transfer and conference buttons and access to a voicemail service.

The phone has a single Ethernet port, but for about £5 extra you can get the Budgetone 102 which has an extra passthrough Ethernet port, allowing you to use a single Ethernet port on your router or ADSL modem.

The matt-black Budgetone 101 is supplied with a 1.2m Ethernet cable and powered by a small auto voltage sensing, digital switching power supply.

However, as with many of these phones, there is no printed user manual and even the text on the outside of the box is no help in setting up the phone. All manuals and installation guides must be downloaded from the Grandstream website.

The LCD status display is relatively small, but with character size between seven and 11mm and a blue backlight, it is clearly visible.

Web configuration is straightforward. Access is through typing either the user or administrator password into the single box when the URL is called up.

Three web pages are available: Status, Basic settings and Advanced settings. These are selected by tabs and the advanced page can’t be viewed by non-admin users.

For the initial setup, you just have to log on as administrator and type the Sip server, Outbound proxy, Sip user ID and Authenticate ID into four boxes at the top of the Advanced settings web page.

Of the six phones reviewed here, this is one of the easiest to set up. The keypad and other buttons are large, clearly laid out and all have a quality feel.

This article is part of a group test of IP phones .
See also
Grandstream GXP-2000
Alternatives to IP phones
The trials of setting up an IP phone
Other reviews can be read via our pdf downloads.
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