Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)There are very few expandable phone systems that work as well as the Panasonic KXTG5100. I was looking for a 5.8Ghz system to get around the static I experienced with 2.4ghz phones and my Wi-Fi (802.11b) home network.
In no particular order, here are my pros and cons about this system:
PROS:
1) Excellent speakerphone on the base
2) Ability to pickup voicemail from any handset (don't have to walk to the base-station to see if you have voicemail). Handset visually tells you which buttons to push to skip or repeat the message. It also shows the message # while the message is being played back.
3) Handsets have Privacy features to prevent other family members from accidentally picking up the line while you're on it (handy if you run a business out of your home .. or you are a teenager and don't appreciate your parents listening in)
4) Speakerphone on each handset means mobility and hands free talking
5) Each handset shows if the line is in use before you reach for it
6) Ability to copy the phonebook from any handset to any other handset. This is a huge timesaver! I have all my phone number/contacts programmed on one handset. From there I can transfer the phonebook to each of the other 3 handsets in the house with a few key strokes. Amazing!
7) Bi-directional 5.8Ghz means that no interference with home networks, microwaves, etc. The base-station sits two feet away from the wifi router. No static anywhere in the house.
8) Easy to transfer calls from handset to handset (say you pick up the call and realize it's for your spouse. No need to walk around looking for him/her. Just page the other handsets from your handset and hand-off the call. All we need now is some hold music! (which, incidentally, is not supported)
9) Handset has a "booster" feature that can be turned on to get rid of static if you have walked more than 3 floors away from the base-station. Works nicely too. Too bad it can't be left on all the time.
10) Room monitor system allows you to listen in on what's going on in the room that the handset is in from a different handset. I suppose that parents with small children might find this a nice feature. Fortunately, it's turned off by default.
11) When playing back a voicemail, the handset shows the phone number of the person who left that voicemail (if you have caller id). You can then call that person back immediately, by pressing Dial. Very handy
12) If you transfer a call to another handset and nobody picks up that handset, the base-station will conveniently transfer the call back to you
CONS:
1) Handset distance from the base-station could be better. I picked up a little static when I was three floors away from the base-station. The static is easily removed by engaging the booster mode on the handset. Unfortunately, there is no way to leave this permanently set to on.
2) Handsets may be a bit larger than what home users may be used to
3) Handsets don't show current date or time (odd, since the base-station shows both)
4) Handset volume could be a bit louder. It has a nice volume range that you can change but the max volume is still a bit lower than what you need for noisy homes (either that or I'm losing my hearing)
5) The base-station can page all handsets simultaneously. This is useful if you need to page your spouse/kids and don't know which floor of the house they are on. Mysteriously, this feature is not available with the handsets. When using a handset, you have to page other handsets individually -- no way to page them all together. I have 4 handsets in the house ... this is getting old very fast. Fortunately, the base-station sits near my work area.
6) No way to give each handset a meaningful name ("bedroom phone"). Instead, each handset has a unique registration number (1 through 7). When I need to page my wife on the third floor, I have to remember that the handset on the third floor is registered with the base-station as handset #4. Not very intuitive.
Lastly, no phone with this many features would be useable without a good manual. This phone comes with a manual that is well indexed. You can download the manual in a PDF format from panasonic's website if you want to go over the features yourself.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic KX-TG5100M 5.8 GHz DSS Expandable Cordless Phone with Answering System
Note: Panasonic is discontinuing its popular 5100 series. Check out the newer 5200 series instead, like the Panasonic KX-TG5240M GigaRange Supreme 5.8 GHz DSS Expandable Cordless Phone with Answering System.
A 5.8 GHz DSS cordless phone from Panasonic, the KX-TG5100M provides both excellent quality and a number of useful features, including an integrated digital answering system and caller ID with call waiting compatibility. By utilizing the less congested 5.8 GHz frequency and digital spread spectrum technology, the KX-TG5100M offers clear, intelligible reception even at a distance. Multiuser expandable, the KX-TG5100M supports up to seven optional handsets (plus one included, for a total of eight) and features handset-to-handset call transfer, as well as two-way intercom between the base and any of the handsets. A call privacy feature lets you determine if other handsets can join in on the conversation, while the page feature makes locating a lost handset into a snap. The KX-TG5100M features 50 caller ID memory locations and a built-in speakerphone for hands-free operation.
Wall-mountable, freeing up valuable desktop space, the KX-TG5100M is also headset compatible (a belt-clip is provided) saving your neck from the strain of cradling the phone. The integrated three-mailbox digital answering system has a record time of up to 15 minutes, while remote message check lets you stay in touch even while you are away. The NiCad battery provides about 4.5 hours of talk time and 11 days of standby, while a low battery indicator lets you know when the phone needs recharging. A time/date stamp lets you know when each message was received, and a 50 number phone directory lets you easily find and dial the most frequently used phone numbers. The KX-TG5100M also comes backed with a one-year limited warranty.
What's in the BoxMain base station, handset, AC power supply, battery, telephone line cord, belt clip, instructions, warranty
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