Customer Reviews

Panasonic Dect 6.0 Series 4 Handset Cordless Phone System with Answering System (KX-TG1034S)

5 star:		(218)
4 star:		(106)
3 star:		(21)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(36)

 

 

This is a great telephone. We were looking for a replacement for our older 2.4GHz phone which had two handsets...some of the buttons didn't work very well and it suffered from interference in the kitchen when using the microwave. Was thinking 5.8GHz and hadn't heard of Dect 6.0; check out [...]

This phone is getting close to a cell phone in terms of features...full display (monochrome), multi-segment battery meter, phone book, multiple selectable ring tones, call timer, each handset has a speakerphone, etc. The menus and voice prompt for the answering machine can do english or spanish. One interesting aspect is that many programmable items are done on a per-handset basis, so for example one handset could have its own unique ring tone. Address book entries can be entered into any handset and then kept local to that handset or transferred over to a specific handset or to all handsets. When we got the phone I put in about 15 numbers, and then in a single 5 second operation transferred all those entries to all of the other handsets.

One thing I've always hated about cordless phones is that replacement batteries are typically expensive and use outdated (NiCd) technology. This phone however uses two AAA NiMH rechargeable batteries in each handset. So no more searching for a replacement battery specifically made for this phone.

Only two quibbles. The answering machine does not display how many messages there are, there's just a single light that flashes (on the base unit, as well as on each handset if desired (programmable)) if there are any new messages. If you listen to and keep one message and delete the others, the new message light goes out and there's no way to tell by looking at the unit that any messages are stored. This is an issue in the following situation: When I listen to messages and save one because it's for my wife, then when she comes home she looks and doesn't see any indicator that there's a message waiting. So each of us needs to get into the habit of pressing the message button to check regardless of whether or not the light is flashing. The answering machine CAN be disabled however (and each handset can be set to display a message waiting indicator when using voicemail from the phone company). Total message time capacity is 16 minutes including the outgoing message.

Other minor beef, and this is very minor, is that only two handsets can be used concurrently for a call. So you can't have the whole family on their own handset talking to grandpa. But honestly we've never used more than 2 phones at a time so this isn't really an issue, but it would be nice.

This phone can be purchased with four handsets (base unit plus 3 additional), or with 2, 3, or 5 handsets. Functionally they are identical. Each is expandable up to a total of 6 handsets.

I bought a 5 handset version of this phone at a discount box store. (It only supports 6.) I find it wonderful. I live in an area with lots of radio frequencies (cell tower and AM radio, and police radio tower within 300 ft) have wireless G in the house and so do lots of my neighbors. This is a wonderful wireless phone. Sound is clear and crisp. Handset is light, comfortable, with batteries it's bottom heavy (which I like) and though I wish the screen was a bit bigger, but it's bright and readable.

Uses AAA size NiMh batteries.

Any handset can be used to retrieve voice mail from your phone company (I have voip, and it worked with that voice mail service) or the answering machine. Any handset can be used to edit/review caller id info (and the action is for all phones). All the functions are the same, start with Menu/OK, scroll to the function, Clear to delete or backspace. It's easy to learn.

All settings transfer to the action of each phone, so if you select "Call Screening' all the phones play the calls picked up by the answering machine. This might be a slight disadvantage if you don't want to hear this all over the house. I recently found that you can press the OFF button to silence the playing of the answering machine's message at *that* phone, but unfortunately you have to have to press OFF again to silence any message being recorded. OFF will also, silence the phone's ringing for the call.

If you change one phone to "Message Alert On' all the phones' LED light blink for answering machine or voice mail messages - not for new caller id info. This includes, message viewing, caller id editing, so if you erase it or review it at one phone, it's 'done' at all phones. The LCD will show 'new message' on the display' even if the Message Alert is set to off.

A note on the LED. It's BRIGHT, to me. I find that I have to clear out or /review all messages before going to bed (because I have the Message Alert set to On,), else that phone will be blinking all night. Also, when charging, the LED is always on. I sometimes find myself taking the phone out of the charger to turn it off, since it's on the night table next to my bed. When the phone is out of the charger, and there is a call, it blinks and the LCD screen comes on, so you will find it in the dark.

Intercom, and Transfer require that you know the handset's ID number. It's on the handset display, but now you may need a list at each phone, and if you walk around with them, you must put them back in the assigned room.

Intercom function is nice feature. The kids will answer the phone and you don't have to yell. However, you need to know where the other person is, there is *no* 'call all' function or 'open all phones' speakers' function.

Phone notifies you when a second handset is picked up, Only three handsets can be on the same call.

Transfer function, call's not for you, press the Transfer button and the number of the phone where you think the other person is. No call all, etc. I find however, that I miss my simpler, HOLD button. I also wish that when you have two calls (call waiting) that it would show the caller ID information when switching back and forth with the flash. It DOES show the second call's caller ID when the call comes in.

Phonebook (50 entries) can be shared. However, you need to sit at one phone, put in as many as you use and then when completed, you can cause it to copy ALL entries to each phone but only one phone at a time from the Phonebook's menu. It's easy to use a caller id entry and edit/save it to phone book. Since each phone can have 50, you could have different numbers at each. You can also transfer single phone numbers to other handsets, but again, you have to do it for the number of phones you have if you want it to be all handsets (or know the ID of the phone that you do want to transfer it to).

The phone has 5 rings and 10 melodies. Rings are tinny and cheap electronic sounds very surprising that they didn't include better sounding rings. Melodies tend to be bizzare, Nutcracker, jingle bells and such, including one that has birds chirping to classical music. Melodies and anything but the standard phone ring also suppress any special ring tones that your phone provider may have (VIP calling, second number/line, etc.)

Answering machine only has 16 minutes recording time. Calls can be limited to 1 minute or 3 minutes. Says 'thank you for your call' when it hangs up.

Base Unit CANNOT be used as a speaker phone, and phones DO NOT work when in chargers, so you can not press the 'speaker phone' button the phone while in the charger or base unit. Phone does stand nicely on it's own, upright, and the speaker phone functions very well.

No accessible battery in master base unit. This has NOT been a disadvantage, as I have had several multi-day outages due to Hurricane Irene and blizzards. The phone's settings and phonebooks are saved during power outages, so you will not have to do any additional setups. (Must have a capacitor in there somewhere feeding the RAM chip.)

I have not touched the master base unit since install, since I can do everything at the phone handset.

Base unit can be mounted to wall, but most kitchens with 5 ft high wall plate will now have this rather ODD shelf-like base station sticking out from the wall. If you have your kitchen wall plate mounted low this won't be such an issue and you will be able to see the blinking light to tell you there is a message (turning on message alert at the handset will eliminate this need).

After several years now, I still have the same batteries in all the units. One unit wouldn't charge, but re-seating the batteries fixed that.

Each handset a headphone jack. Comes with belt clips which are worthless, IMO, since the prongs that hold them on are not long enough.

I have had two other cordless phones before, both Panasonic models, both 2.4ghz models. I was pleased with both previous phones but had to change due to ruined buttons (my kids have "heavy fingers").

This new model builds on the previous versions; better sound quality, non-memory susceptable batteries (still not the norm in this segment and VERY important), new features (mentioned before by other reviews i.e. ring tones for each handset and distributable phonebooks).

Overall I am quite pleased with my purchase. I do have a few negative notes which may help you make a final purchase decision:
1. the new digital system gives great sound BUT does not have increased distance capabilites versus previous 2.4ghz technology. In my house (heavy concrete/rebar construction) the phone performs more poorly than my previous 2.4 phone and will not reach certain rooms. clear line of sight distance seems about the same but beware if you have a the need to drive through walls.
2. no backlit keys, at night on my might table it would be a welcome feature that my previous panasonic had, you dont miss it till its gone.
3. change in interface and how some features are accessed. for those of you coming to panasonic for the first time this wont be an issue, but for those of us who learned to use previous models...why did they change? i.e. how to see missed calls.

Overall, this panasonic phone remains one of the best performing phones out there for the price. I would buy it again and probably will (once my kids kill the buttons again!). great quality construction, great feature set, great performance and those non-memory batteries, its a no-brainer buy.

After countless "out of range" errors, and replacing handset after handset with a comparably-priced 5.8 gHz GE model, we finally broke down and replaced the whole set with the KX-TG1034S. I couldn't be happier! The set works exactly as advertised, although I wish the 5-set package (KX-TG1035S) had been available. We bought a 5th handset separately at what, I'm sure, was a higher cost than the incremental cost of the KX-TG1035S over the KX-TG1034S.

Caller ID scrolling may not be quite as intuitive as other sets, but once you've done it, you don't forget. We also appreciate the separate phonebooks, since we have no interest in our daughter's favorite numbers - and vice versa. I miss the GE's handset naming feature, since handsets tend to wander around the house, and I don't know who to yell at when three of them end up in the kitchen.

The only complaint I have is not about the product itself. Our set shipped from Beach Camera. It shipped fast, and it was nicely packed, but it was sent UPS with signature required. I don't know about most Amazon customers, but there's no one home at my house during UPS's normal business hours. Advice to Beach Camera - let the customer choose to leave a signed door tag!

Speaking as a loyal Panasonic phone owner for years... I'm a bit surprised by the flood of good reviews on this phone, my experience has been the opposite.

When I saw some of the negative reviews, I glanced over and then dismissed them, figuring they were just the exception based on a purchaser getting a lemon or folks that didn't understand the technology very well. The minority seems to have it right in this case.

PROBLEM:
The primary problem was an issue with the sound of my voice cutting in and out when I was on a call (your voice is fed back through the handset speaker normally). Many people may not realize that phones normally feedback your voice into the ear speaker until it ceases to work properly (as with these phones). When it happened, my first reaction was that the line had dropped and I would start saying "are you there, are you there?". When the other person invariably said "yes", I began to realize it was the phone malfunctioning. Another problem is static on the phone occurring randomly on calls. We've never had that problem until these new phones were put in.

I am returning the phones because of these two issues. However, there are some pretty glaring design issues I'd also like to draw your attention to.

DESIGN DISAPPOINTMENTS (design points that make me wonder, with lots of frustration, what Panasonic engineers were thinking):
-- Unlit keypad (I knew about this from other reviews, but seriously, previous Panasonic phones had lit keyboards, what genius decides to go backwards on a key feature like this)
-- Non-dedicated key for voicemail (yes, this phone has an answering machine, but I can't buy a non-answering machine phone anymore, thank you Panasonic... they could at least recognize that a fair amount of people will use voicemail and design with that in mind, their previous phones had that)
-- Cheap feel to the phone itself (felt and looked like a cheap plastic kids toy)
-- Clunky menus. The menus on the handset were not natural to flow through. It is not that hard to take the time to make use and flow of menus an easy and non-confusing thing. These felt like an after-thought.


The sad thing? I am going to stay with Panasonic since they still have the best quality phone in my mind, it just happens to be a phone they no longer produce and sell, the KX-TGA520M series phone. Looks like I'll be shopping eBay and Amazon marketplace.

Really disappointed with the direction Panasonic is going in with their phones.

I was very excited to get this phone when I switched to VOIP (Vonage). Since VOIP only gives you one jack, I wanted a phone with long range that wouldn't interfere with my wireless network. I've had this phone for three months and am very disappointed. The phone works great within 50' of the base, but has big problems beyond that. I installed the base in my home office, but had no reception in my BR at the other end of the house. My house is a 2000 square feet ranch with the kitchen in the middle. I ran a phone wire from my VOIP modem to my kitchen to have the base in a central location. Even from here I cannot get good reception in my BR which is now only 52 feet away. There are two rooms in between, one bedroom and one bathroom. I made sure that no appliances are obstructing the signal. I wish the base had an external antenna to extend the range.

Panasonic did their research and finally made a phone that works great and is made for the everyday consumer.
No tiny buttons. Great sound and easy to use. I suspect this cordless will be the largest selling phone on the market shortly. I got this phone one day after it came out and it was so good, I bought 2 more extention phones directly from Pansonic, Amazon didn't have them yet. The price for this phone is also the best for all the features.
Forget the other brands, I tried Uniden and GE and returned them both for various reasons. The GE 6.0 had a very poor ring sound and a button that turned the phone off was next to your cheek, which turned off the phone all the time. Buy the Pansonic 6.0

I recently bought these cordless phones and could not be more delighted. Their range and audio quality are in a class by themselves. At the price, they are the best value in an electronics product I have seen in some time.

Most configuration settings are automatically transferred to the other phones when entered into the first. Handy. The Phonebook can be transferred, in whole or in part, to any one or more of the other phones. Also handy. The system can accommodate up to six phones. In short, there is a lot to like and little or nothing to dislike about the Panasonic KX-TG1034S Dect 6.0 Cordless Telephone.

I bought these phones to replace Panasonic landline phones, which I bought in the `80s, but which still work perfectly. If this current group of Panasonic phones are half as satisfactory and last half as long as my old `80s model landline phones have, I will be a happy camper.

I very satisfied with this phone! I replaced my older Motorola cordless 2.4GHz set with these. The only feature I miss from the Motorola's are the ability to set a unique ringtone for numbers listed in the phonebook (The Motorola could ring a unique ringtone for entries found in the phonebook - a nice feature to know that someone you know is calling without having to look at the handset).

This phone uses newer (and readily available) NiMH AAA batteries - no more hunting for proprietary battery replacements down the road. As advertised, the phones get great battery life out of each charge.

Talking on the phone is like being directly connected to a landline - very clear, no static or other annoying issues with other wireless electronic devices in the house.

The phonebook is easy to setup and use. The answering machine is very simple to operate, and you don't have to setup a greeting if you don't want to, as it comes with a preprogrammed greeting out of the box. Transferring phonebook entries to the other handsets is simple, so you don't have to set them up on each handset. Set a phonebook entry on one and transfer it and others to the other handsets easily - nice feature.

I also like the answering machines call screening feature - the call will be answered and you can listen to the message and caller response LIVE from any handset. Pretty cool. You can also retrieve messages from any handset. The caller ID feature works great, displaying the full caller ID name and number.

Last but not least, the handset has large number buttons - the keypad is easy to read! Most sets have tiny buttons that are hard to read, like most cell phones. These are the perfect size.

I have had this phone for about a month now and I am very pleased with some of the great features, e.g. transfer, ringtones, copying names to selected handsets, range, no interference with appliences or wireless network, etc.) But there are a couple things that can be improved upon. The "irritations" include showing the # of missed calls even though the call(S) was (were) answered, and also, there is no backlight.

I find the range to be very good on this model because I live in a good size house (2 levels) and I am able to use the phone in every room (except the garage and a particular spot on the upper level). The reason this is good is because no other phone was able to do this (900 mhz, 5.8ghz, 2.4ghz) because my home has steel bar joists which apparently interefere with the radio frequencies, so I was very pleased with the range of this phone. The large, well spaced keys are also a plus, but backlight would have been nice

One more thing, when it comes to range try moving the base around and keep it away from appliences (as is suggested in the manuals), this is what I did to get the optimum results.

I hope this helped.