Rating: 
Summary: Generally Good Phone with Some Issues
Review: I chose Panasonic because it was the only 5.8GHz cordless phone that wouldn't interfere with my 802.11 wireless network connection. As other reviewers have stated, phones by AT&T, Vtech, etc. are not true 5.8GHz phones (they receive in 5.8 but transmit in 2.4) as specified in their owner's manuals. Overall I like the phone because of its abundant features, however there are several issues that should be addressed: - The horizontal layout of the phone/answering machine base is not very user-friendly for mounting on a wall (i.e. in the kitchen). The base juts out far enough waiting for someone to walk into it. It also needs to be mounted low enough for children to view the LCD screen and access the buttons. - I have a large head, but when I align the handset speaker to my ear, the microphone is far enough from my mouth that callers have difficulty hearing me. I have to put my ear on top of the LCD screen to get correct mic placement, but then I have difficulty hearing calls. Perhaps it would help if Panasonic slightly angled the handset like a clam-shell mobile phone. - Handset volume could be louder. This phone's highest volume setting is equivalent to medium (or even low) on other phones. Other reviewers have not had problems with this -- maybe parts quality isn't consistant during Panasonic's manufacturing process. - Slight hiss/static can be heard, even across the room with the signal booster turned on. Although signal boosting also drains the battery significantly faster, it would be a nice feature if it could be left on indefinitely rather than manually each time. - Although one can play answering machine messages remotely through the handset, live messages can only be heard at the phone base. Remote call screening would be another great feature next time around.
Rating: 
Summary: Buggy; answering machine fails often
Review: After the warranty period expired I noticed that the device starts "losing" memory -- where you may have started with 15 minutes available for messages it would go down to four minutes, 3 minutes, and now, my machine thinks it is full all the time. I erase all the mailboxes, clear the greeting, all to no avail. I called Panasonic and they give you a reset procedure that simply does not work (hold down mute, hold, and transfer buttons while plugging in then press #3). It has been a horrible experience.
Rating: 
Summary: good for less than a year?!
Review: I like how the phone functions, it was working lovely... I had this phone for half year and problems begun. It often lose signal when I'm not even that far from the base phone. The phone just dies on me time to time, I get cut off right in middle of my calls. I ended up connecting my old 900MHz phone to a phone splitter, so that I can at least use this panasonic phone as caller ID box... What is wrong with this picture?
Rating:
Summary: Oh, those batteries!
Review: Like many, I find the batteries the bane of this phone. For us, the phone works fine and works throughout our house comfortably (over 4000 sq. ft.). So that is not the problem. And it helped clear up interference problems with my 2.4g wireless computer network, so that is good, too.
But over the course of one year I have had to replace two batteries (we have four handsets). The problem is the charging circuit design - not the battery. The instructions tell you NOT to keep the handset in the base as this will reduce battery life. This is simply a design flaw (or if you are highly cynicle, a great way for Panasonic to sell more batteries which, by the way, are FAR more profitable than the phones themselves!). It is quite easy to design a product so that it could be set in the base without causing battery life issues. And what other place is more logical to keep the phone than in the base?! So, we continue to put the phones in their bases so that we always know where they are, knowing that, due to Panasonic's design of the charging circuit, this will shorten the battery life.
It's a simple fix, Panasonic. Wouldn't you rather have more loyal customers than a backdoor way to profit from your battery sales? Perhaps not.
Rating:
Summary: Battery life
Review: I am not very happy with the phone. Worked fine so far and just 6 months later having problems with battery. It stays in the base all the time. If I pick up the hand set, I can talk for 5 min before I hear the beep to recarge battery.
I have the same problem as M.Lewis, the handset seams to be losing connectivity with the bas station. I have to walk the phone back to the base station and put it back into the cradle for it to recognize it again.
Rating:
Summary: One year later, very disapointed
Review: Well, like everybody else, I am having problems with battery life and connectivity to the base station. I bought the system in September 2003 and for the first 8 or so months, everything was great. Then I started having the battery problems. The batteries won't hold a charge for more then 15-20 mins. I do a lot of conference calls and it is becoming a big hassle. I have to run to the other phone and switch before it dies.
Also, the handset seams to be losing connectivity with the bas station. I have to walk the phone back to the base station and put it back into the cradle for it to recognize it again.
Not sure what to do - do I get new batteries, that will result with the same problems or buy another phone? I just want a phone with great features that is reliable. Is that too much to ask for? Come on manufactures, make a product that lasts!
There was a lawsuit filed in NJ for theses phones. Here is the link with more info: http://www.sheller.com/Practice.asp?PracticeID=140
Rating:
Summary: unhappy with this product
Review: My review would sound almost exactly like James Han an unahappy user. We also bought the phone 14 months ago. At the time we paid$180 (base station & 1 extra handset) thinking that we would have this phone for years; givern the higher price. We were wrong & we were past the 1 year warranty. We recently tried to buy another handset to replace the phonethat is troubled and it will not work with the base station. I will seriously think about buying another Panasonic product. I thought their products were supposed to be of higher quality; we were wrong.
Rating:
Summary: Like many others, I'm finding it is an unrealiable product.
Review: My first one was exchanged within 30 days. The first one would record voicemail garbled. The problems I have now are with the replacement unit. The handsets of the replacement unit won't hold a charge anymore. This started to occur almost simultaneously on both handsets after about 6 to 8 months. I'm finding the range to be poor. As soon as I go outside my house and turn a corner away from the base unit, the call drops. The volume is also rather low...people I'm talking to wonder if I'm talking into the phone or not (I guess this is a mic and not volume problem?) and even at max volume, it's not really does not get as loud as one would expect. It look like the first unit I got was a sign of things to come, I just wished I had heed the warning!
Rating:
Summary: short battery life - low volume
Review: Wow. my experience mirrors other reviews i see here. after about 1 year of use, batteries in 2 of these phones have extremely short life - cant talk for more that 15-30 minutes. Note that there is a class action suit pending against panasonic for this series of phones. Also the volume on these phones is very low, you have to use the speakerphone to hear unless the room is extremely quiet. Very disappointing, especially after having a prior panasonic 900mhz answering machine that lasted at least 6 years.
Rating:
Summary: Dead Battery Problem
Review: James Han's review is right on and let me add my own experience. When I bought this phone set, the features, price, handsfree headset, weight and everything seemed ideal. I was very happy. But now, less than 6 months after buying them, both handset batteries are dead and refuse to charge. What use are these features if I can't use them? I wish I could recommend another brand, but the most I can say is AVOID THIS PHONE AT ALL COSTS.
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