5.8 GHz digital spread spectrum operation * multi-handset operation (add up to 2 optional cordless handsets for a total of 4) * includes two handsets * digital answering machine * handset-to-base intercom * handset-to-handset intercom (additional handset required) * Voice Enhancer Technology (adds lost frequencies back to voices)Panasonic's KX-TG5212M utilizes 5.8 GHz DSS signal operation for increased call security and range and less interference. Call waiting/caller ID-ready, the phone offers a 50-call memory and dialer, accessible through the handset's three-line backlit LCD. And, it's expandable, accommodating up to two additional handsets (for a total of four). The built-in answering system features all-digital operation, meaning no moving parts and no tapes to wear out.
You can pre-program frequently called numbers, even chain dialing for automated systems that require a series of numeric inputs. The KX-TG5212M is Caller IQ compatible, a service that allows you to receive updates on weather, sports, horoscopes, and more, that are sent directly to your telephone and displayed on the handset screen (requires optional service).
What's in the Box
Two handsets, one base unit, one remote charging cradle, two AC power adapters, one phone line cord, two belt clips, two NiMH battery packs and battery covers, user guide, warranty information
1 Decent phone
It seems to work like it's supposed to. The only thing I don't like about it is, it just doesn't have the range that I thought it would have. In my case, about 50 ft. Not much farther than that or if I move slightly when I'm talking at that distance, it goes in and out. One other thing, when you call the phone from another phone number, the answering machine voice isn't very loud no matter how close I get to it when I'm recording an outgoing message. It's loud enough to hear a message that someone left, but of all the phones I have had in the past, this one has the lowest answering machine volume when a person calling is listening to the recorded message. All in all, I'm satisfied. I guess I was expecting a bit more.
2 Lasts for about 6 months... horrible
I paid top dollar for this phone as i can't stand how poorly made cordless phones can be. I believed that if I paid more, than somehow I would get a better phone! Whatever...
Please don't buy this phone - the VTech (which I had previously) is far superior. The battery life on both phones is utterly ridiculous. I have owned this phone for 6 months and already I can't talk for more than 15 minutes (which, for my business is a must) without racing to give out my cell as the phone was about to die. One of them is completely worthless and won't hold a charge, the other lasts for 15 minutes. Panasonic should be ashamed - I wasted my money on this.
The features work as they should however, so I can't complain there (thus the 2 stars). What good is it though if the phones don't work?
3 Not worth buying
I have had this phone system with two handsets for over 6 months. The sound quality is horrible. All my callers complain about it. The display on one handset already does not work.
I am very disappointed in this phone system. I have always had a very high opinion of Panasonic products but not anymore.
4 Great Phone
This Phone works great. I have it for two weeks and I'm very happy with it.
5 Best of a bad bunch?
This phone replaced a 2-4 yo 900MHz Panasonic Gigarange phone. The old phone's number pad stopped working after about 2 years of use -- 1 or 2 buttons would enter double digits or required excessive pressure to work.
The old phone did everything I wanted. It did quite a bit more, but I mostly ignored those features. It didn't interfere with my 802.11b network. Like most post 1997 consumer products, it was not made to last. I find that very annoying; I hate the hassle of replacing things that work. When it came time to replace that phone I'd have chosen a non-Panasonic brand -- if a better alternative existed.
Unfortunately, there's no alternative in this market. All the products are cheaply made, everyone's quality control and customer service is poor, everyone produces a dizzying array of minor product variations that make comparison shopping pretty much impossible. So I bought another cheap Panasonic phone. I'd have bought a 900MHz phone if one were available, but the vendors evidently decided those worked too well.
I gave this product 3 stars because it feels like it will last about 18 months and be replaced when the batteries die. However, I don't think there's really anything better on the market.
In our small house the range is adequate. It doesn't interfere with my 802.11b network, I haven't tested it with an 802.11g network (we may see problems there).
One key note: this model's base station doesn't have a speaker phone or keypad. There's another variation of this phone system that DOES have a speaker phone and keypad on the base station. I'd recommend that variant instead of this one. That other model also ships with two handsets. With a speakerphone base station you can always find a phone. There are endless variations on this phone from Panasonic, good luck sorting them all out and figuring which is the most recent.
A good feature: the phone directory list works well and it's easy to copy the list from one handset to another.
My next wireless phone (2007) will presumably be a VOIP handset; so this is probably the last phone I buy that will have such an odd mix of wireless protocols and features. Overall this phone reminds me a bit of the pre-PC dedicated wordprocessors, but they were better made.
Bottom line: Buy the version with the keypad, look for a good price, if it doesn't work don't bother with customer support -- just return it and order another one.
6 Sound quality is garbled at times
We just purchase this phone over Christmas and the phone has some great features. But it fails at times in the most important feature a phone should have which is sound quality.
At times the sound quality is so garbled that both parties can not understand each other. This occurs when standing within feet of the phone or in another section of the house.
My old 900 DSS phone had better sound then this new phone system.
I expect we will be returning the phone.
7 Great sound, but some really weird features
The sound on this phone is great, but the experience is really marred by some weak features:
1) Missed calls--this is the most annoying feature-- If you pick up a call on one handset, the others will show a missed call. At the end of each day I have to go through each handset and check to see if I actually did miss a call.
2) Message waiting-- this unit has a built in answering machine. The machine has poor quality and only about 12 minutes of record time, so we switched the phone company provided voice mail. Unfortunately the message waiting indicator on the handset (which works with Phone Company FSK on those models without answering machines) does not work with FSK on this model. The result is that we need to listen for a stutter dial tone every time we return home.
All in all, wish I had bought the Uniden
8 Disappointed
Consumer Reports gave this phone system a good rating and based on that we made the purchase. Rarely have I ever experienced such problems with any electronics purchase. We've had the phone company out 3 times to check the line and 3 different service reps have said it's not the line. The reception (intermittently) is terrible. Tried reprogramming the handsets, changing the location of the base and switching the handsets to different chargers. Nothing works effectively. We really thought we were getting a quality phone system and this has just not been the case. My wife and I discussed sending it back to the manufacturer ... but then what do we do for a land line while they take there time in checking it out? It's better just to toss it when the next generation phone (from another manufacturer) proves itself worthy enough to take the loss.
9 It's PERFECT!!!
I must say I was somewhat nervous about purchasing this phone after reading the Amazon reviews. People either loved it (5 Stars) or had nothing but bad things to say. There was (literally) no middle ground. The Amazon price was far below other retailers (yes--even Walmart) so I ordered it.
I don't have any of the problems mentioned by negative reviewers. The sound quality is excellent, all of the features work perfectly and it seems well-made. The menu functions are easy to understand and use, the intercom funcion is handy even though I didn't think I'd use it and the ability to check and delete messages from the handset is also useful. In fact, once set up, the base unit almost isn't necessary except to charge the phone.
It is possible that problems may occur. I've only had the phone for a few days so I can't address longer term issues such as battery life or durability. I'll be sure to update my review if problems occur. Otherwise, especially at the current sale price, it's a "no brainer".
UPDATE: Now that I've had the phone for a while, I can report that it is still perfect!! Battery life is more than adequate and even my wife who hates gizmos can't get along without it. If you knew her you'd know what a "ringing" edorsement that was. It's still a no brainer at Amazon's low cost.
10 An excellent product
I bought two of the base units, each with 2 handsets, plus 2 additional handsets, one with a built in clock radio, for a total of 6 handsets. The system works exactly as I expected. The reception quality is very good, the range is plenty adequate but no greater than the 2.4GHz phones I replaced. I particularly like the built in Intercom feature and the phonebook which can hold 50 entries, each with a descriptive name and a 32 digit phone number with pauses for chain dialing if needed. It is also handy to be able to copy phonebooks between handsets. The system would be particularly good for a large home with several teenage children. The only criticism I have is that I would have preferred more than 4 hand units per base.
11 Lousy
Panasonic used to be one of the best electronics makers bar none. Now everything they make is extremely watered-down using the cheapest parts available and shoddy labor.
I bought two of these phones based on the best buy salesman's recommendation and sure enough it was pure junk.
The reception is terrible! People could not hear me whenever I got within 5 feet of the base. That is not something that should happen for $150 phone that is supposed to be "state of the art." My advice is buy the Uniden and you will be much happier.
12 garbled
Great phone if you are away from the base. If the base is located on a desk for example, your voice will be "underwater" on the handset untill you move at least 3 feet away or more. Panasonic is aware of the problem and they will repair or replace the defective phone...if you send it to them.
13 Easy to Use, No Interference.
I live near the Mexican Border which is also close to a military base. Our older 2.4 GHz phones gave us lots of trouble in this area. It sounded like someone picking up the line and then I would get feedback. I had the phone company check everything on their side with no help. If the military does not interfere with the phones it's the Border Patrol, or Homeland Security, or who knows. I cannot blame them in this day and age for monitoring, but it sure is frustrating.
I bought this phone and found it eliminated our interference problems. It has the newer Dual Spread Spectrum technology, and the newer NiMH batteries rather than the NiCads in other phones. The speaker phones in each handset really work well which was a surprise.
They have a very large call ID display and the tip of the antenna lights up and flashes when ringing or when you have a message that has been left on the answering system.
With this system, you only enter the phone numbers one time. Then you can send the entire phone book, without wires, to the extensions you have on the system. That is a real bonus in my book. It comes with two handsets, you can add two more. And one last thing, in the past, with two phones in the house, my wife had a lot of trouble getting on the extension with me. We had lots of noise and it just did not work well. With this phone, that problem is gone and all callers can hear each other without a problem.
It's pretty simple to use compared to other brands that I have had in the past. It seems once you use it a few times that the controls are both simple and natural.
14 Fantastic Phone, Transfer phonebooks between handsets!
I bought the phone based on some reviews and that you can transfer the phonebook from phone to phone. It allows you to transfer one listing at a time or the entire phonebook to each handset.
I have had the phone for two weeks and have not had any problems with the phone going digital. No range issues. Sound quality is good, just play with the "VE" option if it sounds funny.
Highly recommend it to anyone.
15 Some Good Things, but Too Many Bad Things
I got this set and 1 extra handset for a total of 3 phones. For the price, the voice quality just isn't there. It's not that it's terrible - just not as clear as my old 900 MHz phone. It also doesn't have the range that my old one did.
There is also a "Feature" on this phone that will be the reason I send it back. When you have multiple handsets the phones only recognize that you answer a call on the handset you use. In other words, if you answer a call on one handset all the other handsets display that you missed the call. It doesn't know that you answered the call on the other handset. If you don't use a handset for a couple of days, you go to pick it up and it says you missed 15 calls... What? Oh... I just missed them on this handset. I called Panasonic and was told that this is a "Feature", and they could not change it.
There are some nice things about the phone, but there are also some "Features" I can do without.
16 Digital Breakup Problems
I am very happy with the features of these phones. I purchased an additional handset. Unfortunately the phones go digital on ordinary conversations every 5-10 seconds for the party calling me. I have had them for a week and am getting constant complaints from callers who cannot understand me over the chop.
I really wanted these to work and like everything else about them.
17 Great Phone - Only Drawback is Limit of Mere 3 Extensions
This is a great 5.8Ghz phone system. I got it to avoid interference with my Wireless Network (that runs on 2.4Ghz). It's much better reception and sound quality than the new Uniden sets that I returned, but not quite as feature rich as they were. Overall, I'm very happy. The only drawback is that they only allow a total of 4 phones (base + 3 extensions). If they came out with a model with more extensions, I'd buy it right away!
18 This phone does everything!
I've been looking at expandable systems for a while and they all have what I consider to be major drawbacks like NiCd batteries, limited to 1 handset at a time (what's the point of multiple handsets?), marginal sound quality, dual band (using 5.8GHZ and 2.4GHz), no speaker phone, etc.
The first reviewer was right - Panasonic seems to have listened to customers on this model. I can't think of a single drawback. After the initial charge, it's ready to go and easy to use. If you have caller ID, even the date/time is set automatically when you receive a call. That's great if you lose power a lot. My wife was able to save a number from caller ID to memory and copy it to the other handset without reading the manual.
I get no interference from the microwave or wireless LAN like with my old 2.4GHz phone. Sound quality is good on the handset and on the speakerphone. I haven't had it long enough to test battery life or range yet.
There's a lot of features I'll probably never use like making a call private from other handsets (a teenager must've asked for that), callerIQ, multiple mailboxes, and probably others I'll find after reading the manual.
19 Great phone
We've had this phone for only a few days now, but it seems like Panasonic has really paid attention to all the criticisms of its past phones, and addressed them.
I have always liked Panasonic cordless phones, but it always seemed like one or two things on the phone could have been improved, or, worse, were intentionally left out to save money. These phones have all the right features -- slim profile, digital spread spectrum, handset speakerphones, NiMH batteries, mute function, intercom -- and their ease of use is really great.
Previous Panasonic phones I've had did not allow you to turn the ringer off completely (only lowered the volume), and the phone memory took so long to scroll through that it wasn't worth the trouble to use the phone book dialer if you knew the number. These phones scroll as quickly as you can press the buttons. You can even send phone book numbers from one handset to the others, so you don't have to program each handset's phone book separately. Oh, and you can listen to your answering machine messages on the handset speakerphone (previous Panasonic models only allowed message playback through the handset earpiece, not on the speakerphone).
The only limitations I see so far are that this system only expands to four handsets, while the previous 5.8 GHz models expanded to eight, and you can only conference up to three handsets on a call, not the full four that the system supports. All in all though, we are very pleased with this phone system. It is a keeper.
