Customer Reviews

Panasonic KX-TG2730S 2.4 GHz DSS Expandable Cordless Phone with Answering System

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(20)
1 star:		(44)

 

 

I've had a cordless phone in one incarnation or another since the late 70's/early 80's, and this phone is by far the most superior in almost every way. Let's get down to the important features:
1. Range---I just returned 2 V-Tech 2.4Ghz phones for their incredible lack of range. My new Panasonic has a good signal over 300 feet away from the base. My V-tech, a dismal 50 feet.

2. Sound quality---this phone has no static, and the sound quality of the receiver and the digital answering machine are great.

3. Ease of Use---all the buttons look intimidating at first, but this phone helps walk you through the more daunting tasks, and was easy to set up the directory on the handset. Speaking of which, a feature you'll absolutely love if you add additional handsets---the ability to transfer your directory from one phone to the next in seconds! Way cool!

4. Expandability--this system allows you to add up to 8 phones. And each phone can be programmed to be a room monitor, a great feature if you can't figure out why no one answers from the family room (because the tv is too loud), or to listen in on the baby's room.

5. Customizable--the phones can be customized by color (you can buy 3 different colors of handsets), and each handset has 6 different ringer styles (one very cool two tone ring that is very quiet and nice for a bedroom).

Bottom line, this is the best phone system I've ever had. Comparable in price to the V-Tech line, but with much better quality throughout! Only gripe---it needs battery backup on the main unit during a power outage. Otherwise, great job Panasonic!

We love this phone (2730 model) but we have now had to return two base units/main handsets and may have to give up on it. All of the excellent features are as described by others below -- clear menus, easy to use, good sound and range, easy speakerphone mute, excellent intercom feature between handsets. First rate phone with typical Panasonic thoughtfulness in several areas.

However, the Caller ID feature, which is essential for our family, only worked intermittently on both units -- typically on only 1/2 to 2/3 of the calls (even from the same outside number). When CID is not working the handset display just says "Incoming Call". It wasn't line noise or a particular jack -- what made this most frustrating for us is that we have several other phones (including other Panansonic corded and cordless phones) on which the Caller ID always works just fine. Nothing has fixed the problem with the 2730, from changing units, to changing jacks, to disconnecting all the old phones, etc. If this apparent problem was licked, this would be an ideal high end cordless phone.

I have been using Panasonic phones for a long time. They are very good quality both in voice and build. I recently moved to a 4-bedroom house from an apartment. Getting phones in different places in the house was really tough especially when there are no phone outlets in all the places that I want a phone. Another problem is that they can't share the same phone directory. I was going to get other multi-handset systems like Siemens, Vtech, or the old Panasonic system. However, they only allow up to 4 phones. When I first saw that this can expand up to 8 phones, it just fits my bill! The price is right and the quality is again superb. I only got the base for now and can't wait to get the other supplement phones. Unlike competitors, the supplement phones have different varieties to choose from.

The only complain (minor) is that the base does not have a headset jack. Other than that, this is a great phone! It might not be as sytlish as the Siemens system. But for the price and expandability, this is the way to go. Highly recommended.

This is a great phone. Even if you don't plan on buying additional handsets, the multitude of features in this Panasonic make it a great buy. It has great batterylife and range (a "Booster" feature is included that will extend the range and improve clarity even further at the expense of using a little extra battery power). Sound quality is also very good, and speakerphone on the base and handset are very useful.

Another great feature is the room monitor, which allows the user to listen to what is going on in a room in which a headset or base is located from another headset or the base.

The answering machine mailboxes can be checked from each handset and not just the base (in fact, pretty much everything can be done from headsets since the phone was made to operate with up to 8 handsets). Additionally, if you have 2 or more handsets you can use them as 2-way radios even if the base is out of range. All in all, a great phone in which I have not yet found any flaws (I have been using it for 3 weeks).

P.S.: This phone is much much better than the AT&T 2255, which went back to the store for its dismal range and lack of features.

This phone is great (and NOTE: "THERE IS A MUTE BUTTON, IT'S A DIGITAL FUNCTION ON THE HANDSET" contrary to and earlier report)

It intergrates 2.4 GHz cordless phone technology with some of the convenient features of the cellular phone. With a 50 number directory and cell phone-like menu options, Panasonic has outdone this former Uniden customer.

There are 8 different types of handsets that can be registered with the main base with functions ranging from intercoms to alarm clocks Caller ID w/Call Waiting. It's redial memory exceeds the traditional 3 number memory. The previously mentioned 50 number directory stores phone numbers plus whatever extensions and add-on numbers you could ever have to dial (ie. codes, extension numbers, etc. I personally have nine digits to dial after having dialed 10 already). It has saved me soo much time.

It also comes in the savvy colors of silver and blue (two of my personal favorites). The phone not only looks good, it actually performs! Way better than the transparent promises of the Siemen's 4215 2.4 GHz model which I almost threw out of the window for the aggrevating clicking noises and non-functional handset capabilities!

Another bonus of the Panasonic is it's speaker phone capabilities on the base as well as the handset. The base also features 3 mailboxes and a fully functional keypad. This phone is too smart for it's good. I'll be checking out the comprable Uniden TRU-4485 soon. But for now, I'm in love with the Panasonic KX-TG2730S.

But don't take my word, go to Circuit City and LOOK at the phone. You'll never know fo you like a phone until you try it out and see if it has the features that will complement YOUR lifestyle. This one surely complements my busy lifestyle!

So many people have complained about short battery life, I felt it was necessary to post some basic information about the Ni-Cad batteries used by this phone:

"Ni-Cad has a chemistry-related problem known as "Memory Effect", which limits the discharge capacity of the cell if it is not completely discharged during each use."

This means that in order to maximize the battery life, you need to:

1) fully charge the battery for at least 15 hours before using handset for the first time (you only have to do this once)
2) do NOT put the handset back in the cradle unless the battery is almost dead. This means putting the handset in the cradle ONLY WHEN NECESSARY for charging. The longer you can wait before recharging the batteries, the longer they will last.

It really is a shame that panasonic didn't use another (better) battery type, but that doesn't mean that you can't enjoy acceptable battery life... it just means you have to follow the two steps above. Once I got used to leaving the handset off the cradle, I realized it was much handier not feeling that I had to put the phone in the cradle all the time to "top off" the battery.

For $30 (shipped, after $40 panasonic rebate), if you need a new cordless phone/answering system/caller ID box, this is a great deal and can't be beat!

Edit: I've had the phone for 2 months now, and I still go over a week between charging the battery...(and that's using the phone daily!)

Just got this phone over the weekend. I was ready to buy the Siemens, but after reading the reviews I decided to go with this Panasonic instead. It has everything I need and (so far) works very well with excellent range. I bought the base plus two extra handsets, including the alarm clock version.

Likes:

1. Very easy to use. I was surprised by the LCD prompts, which are very useful. My ten year old already can transfer calls and use the voicemail.
2. Three voicemail boxes.
3. Ability to transfer a caller into voicemail. If you have trouble getting messages from family members this is the phone for you.
4. Intercom and room monitor features.
5. Program your fifty number memory and then transfer them to each of your handsets automatically.
6. Speakerphone on each handset.

Dislikes:

1. The ringers could be a little louder.
2. While I like silver, white and neon blue as much as the next person, I would like a more subdued color choice in my phones.

Regards.

I read many of the reviews here and at several other locations regarding the VTech VT2461 and the Panasonic KX-TG2730S and the camps seemed to be very divided. You loved one and hated the other. So I took a chance, and bought them both! My plan was to figure out which one was better and return the other. For me, the VTech is on it's way back. It is not that I didn't like the phone, I just think in my side-by-side one week test, the Panasonic is better.

The VTech is less substancial than the Panasonic and just seemed less well built and the answering machine was harder to understand than the Panasonic. However, I did not have any of the "white noise" issues I read about but that could be because I live in a pretty rural area with little interference. The hand unit is much smaller than the Panasonic, which I found with 2 kids made it easier to lose, also the speaker was in a funny location and I had to position it on my ear in an uncomfortable location. The phone is very modern looking and seemed more at home in a contemporary, chrome New York apartment than my country kitchen. I will admit that it is very easy to set up but not quite what this red-neck was looking for in features, feel and functionality.

Which leads me to the Panasonic KX-TG2730S. Very nice phone! The set up was a little more time consuming but worth the investment. The reception and sound is great and after 2 weeks, I still have not had to recharge the phone. What battery problem? The first time I lost a bar on the battery indicator was when I programmed 50 telephone numbers into the handset after using it for 3 days. Now don't think I took it easy on this phone, I alternated between it and the VTech for incoming and outgoing calls and we make and receive lots of calls at my house.

So to recap, the VTech is a good phone but not what I would call a family phone it is less rugged, easier to lose, and the sound on the answering machine too digital and harder to understand, and the look is too modern. I did not notice the "white noise" problem on this phone.

The Panasonic was the full featured phone I was looking for that met my needs and my families needs. So if you are considering these two phones, I hope this helps

but also a waste of your energy. After spending on this seemingly high-tech phone we anxiously waited 17 hours before removing it from the base... Then we were really excited about the sound quality--- it is nice, indeed.

However, very quickly we found that what others had been complaining was true--- the caller id display says 'incoming call' even after the third ring. My 20 dollar caller id box says it is from my cell phone but this POJ doesn't.

I still like my big old 900MHz Panasonic but not this NEW breed.

I chose to ignore all the reviews about the lousy battery life. I wish I hadn't. I've had the phone a couple months and the battery is so run down, I can't have a single 3-minute conversation. It's just awful. I'm today shopping for a new phone and will never buy Panasonic again.