Mobile for Million Year Old Dad - Aspera F28?

CrankyCarrot on 20/11/2018 - 15:53

Need to get a totally old person proof mobile for dear ol' dad.

Already got him an Aldi 365 day/$5 plan as he will mostly use the phone for receiving calls, and mostly calls from me.

He has no need for internet or even SMS really. This is just to be a phone to make and receive calls. He has no major hearing or vision impairments to my knowledge, but his short term memory is waning and he gets frustrated easily in his age.

Therefore the phone has to be easy, easy easy to use. I've seen the Kisa but hate the look of it and think it might be "too basic," if that's possible. Plus I can't just go get one like I can the Aspera F28, which is the current front runner ($99, which is the approximate budget, and available at several outlets).

I feel like if all he has to do to answer/hang up is open/close the shell (it's a flip phone), then it'll suffice nicely.

Things holding me back:

a) I've read a couple of people online's reviews saying the battery life isn't great (this might not be the case with bluetooth off as he doesn't have a hearing aid/need for that).

b) There were one or two others saying the screen was on the fritz within a week or so. That's no good.

Has anyone had good or bad experiences with the Aspera F28 or can you recommend something that meets the needs outlined above?

All useful info appreciated.

Cheers,

CC

Mobile Aspera F28 Mobile Phone

Comments

  • follow on 20/11/2018 - 15:58
    +1

    Nokia 3310

    • dylo on 20/11/2018 - 15:59

      Came here to say the same

  • CrankyCarrot on 20/11/2018 - 16:06

    Ok, checking out best place to get the 3310.

    The other thing that occurs is that 3G may be getting shut down as early as 2020 - according to Google - so a 4G phone that's just a phone might be worth hunting down also. I believe the Aspera F28 is only 3G and I'd say that's true of the 3310 also, but will search now…

  • pjetson on 20/11/2018 - 16:28

    I got my 89yo mum an F28 and she's never liked it much. Nothing specific, she just whinges about it every time I see her. The battery only lasted a year, but at least it was replaceable unlike most phones nowadays. I seem to remember that it was 20 something dollars for a new battery from Aspera.

    I've been considering getting her a real (but cheap) android smart phone and loading one of the "old people" launchers on it. There's some info here:

    https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-best-simple-android-launcher…

    • CrankyCarrot on 20/11/2018 - 16:35

      Thanks. I did search the forums here before posting and I recognise your avatar from one of those.

      Dad's pushing 80 and he's been through a few candy bar phones and one smartphone that he cheaped out on (a Huawei Aldi type job, I believe). I guess I could consider a smartphone with one of those skinned launchers, but I feel like something that just makes/gets calls and resembles the last thing he was comfortable with (a 2g candybar) would fit best.

      Wish your 89yo mum had some specific reason why the F28 is no good for her.

      Some reviews on the 3310 are saying the calls drop out or are hard to heard, but that may just be the 3G version as someone notes they spoke with Telstra and they confirmed 3G ain't what it used to be, call quality-wise.

      That's going off a few of the Harvey Norman reviews seen here:

      https://www.harveynorman.com.au/nokia-3310-3g-charcoal.html

      • Randxyz123 on 20/11/2018 - 19:51

        I could be wrong but the 3310 doesn't have the correct bands for telstra hence people complaining it won't work. If you want to use that, then a Optus Plan would be best.

  • AdamFury on 20/11/2018 - 16:33

    I'm an ex Telstra employee and the Telstra Easy Call was a great phone for those with no prior experience. I think they are up to the Easy Call 4 now.

    • CrankyCarrot on 20/11/2018 - 16:36

      I did check out the Easy Call 4 (latest) and reviews, and it seemed people were saying it had taken steps backwards since the earlier versions, eg the buttons were smaller/too small now.

      • AdamFury on 20/11/2018 - 16:37

        Hmm that's understandable. I left during the reign of the Easy Call 3. Looks like you can still pick them up on eBay for around $80.

        • CrankyCarrot on 20/11/2018 - 16:38

          Prefer to go grab one from a bricks and mortar (it's a tad urgent to get him something), but if nothing can touch the Easy Call 1-3's available on eBay, I'll source one of those and wait as I really want to solve this problem the first time round.

  • AdamFury on 20/11/2018 - 16:51
    +1

    Understandable. Incase you need it this was the one I was looking at and has free express shipping and same day dispatch.

    • CrankyCarrot on 21/11/2018 - 08:56

      Cheers - I may get one of those for him after all.

      Oh, except it's locked to Telstra and I've already sorted out the sim. $5 for a year's validity through Aldi will be tough to beat. As I say, this is mostly just so I can call him. These can be unlocked right? I'm in the Syd city area.

  • try2bhelpful on 20/11/2018 - 18:04

    Choice did a comparison thing. Doesn't give you the ratings but might give you phones to consider. MIght be worth tracking someone down with choice subscription.

    https://www.choice.com.au/compareall/electronics-and-technol…

    • CrankyCarrot on 21/11/2018 - 08:57

      Yeah, I remember this from one of the other threads. In a bit of a hurry though and it's behind a paywall as you say.

  • Ten on 20/11/2018 - 20:23

    Congrats to your dad for being the oldest person to ever live

  • CrankyCarrot on 22/11/2018 - 13:37

    I'm now rethinking the whole non-smartphone thing in favour of a reskinned one (with simple interface) and the capability of tracking via GPS, in case dear ol' dad goes MIA and won't pick up. Yes, I want to lojack my dad.

    Am I right in thinking that all the 3G old-school phones like the 3310, Aspera F28, Konka's etc will have bluetooth but nothing that would allow GPS tracking?

  • CrankyCarrot on 28/11/2018 - 09:39

    I bought the Aspera F28.

    It's junk.

    The reason it's junk is that the menus are all unnecessarily convoluted and counter-intuitive (this is supposed to be a simple phone for seniors and it doesn't seem like it's been product tested at all). Also the sound isn't particularly loud by default and it isn't apparent where to change that in the aforementioned messy menus. And finally it doesn't charge properly in the cradle - you have to wiggle it around to make sure it's sitting "properly," in there, and sometimes the light flicks confusingly between red and green for no apparent reason.

    All up, a total rip off at $99. Not fit for purpose.

    There. Hopefully that'll save someone else a Choice membership fee.

    PS Oh yeah, it's also a mystery how you're supposed to clear missed call notifications. Really annoying.

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