I have a V3, and I've never had a minute's trouble with it in about a year. I could even use it in Vermont where I never had service with my old phones. And, even if there's only one blip on the signal, I can still hear and be heard just fine.

I'm not sure but I thought I saw where my V3 had a setting for analog/digital or automatic. I can't remember when I got mine, maybe a year ago...but I feel like people who have had one for a long time, since they were out, have more trouble with batteries, etc. Mine may be second generation or something.

Karen