Customer Reviews

Panasonic KX-TG5433M 5.8 GHz DSS Cordless Phone with Answering System and Three Handsets

5 star:		(64)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This is the third time I have bought a phone system with one base and multiple handsets, and this is the best one I have used so far. The reasons range from trivial (I like the sounds of the ring tones), to significant (you can use multiple handsets at once).

The two most important features for me before purchase were:

1) 5.8 Ghz spread spectrum. My old phone was a 2.4 Ghz, and it would occasionally interfere with my wireless computer network. It was very annoying. My moving to a phone that uses a different frequency range, the problem is completely avoided.

2) The ability to use multiple handsets at the same time. Another phone I previously had would not let two handsets talk in the same conversation at the same time. This was just miserable. This phone lets you do this without any problems.

After purchase, I found that it had some other amazing features:

1) Each phone has a unique ID, and you can conference between the handsets. With the range this phone has, my wife and I now carry them around outside (we have a 3 acre yard) and use them to talk to each other.

2) The phone has an AMAZING speakerphone capability on each handset! This was not on my radar at all, but it is really useful.

3) When playing back messages it has recorded, it shows you the caller ID entry for the message. Really nice touch.

4) While I don't know much about it yet, I can apparently keep the numbers in the phone's phonebook in sync with those stored in Outlook in my computer. I can also download new ringtones, but that's not so importent to me. More info on this is available at www.openlcr.com.

The ONLY annoying thing about this phone is that when you answer a call on one handset, the other two handsets register it as a 'missed call' in the caller ID list. I considered rating it 4 stars for this, but once you get used to it, the rest of the features more than make up for it.

Save your time, and your money...this is the phone you want. I have tried them all, and Panasonics last for years and never let us down. We use this system on our Voip, Packet 8 service and it works perfectly. It is so loaded with handy and useful features, that we are spoiled by it. We rush to answer the phone as this is such a pleasure to use. Panasonic really outdid themselves with the 5433, we just love it. You enter all your phone numbers in one handset and it will copy them over to the other two handsets for you...one at a time or all at once, truly a neat feature. You set the time on one set, any one you like, and the other two handsets pick it up automatically. Did I mention we are happy?

I've done quite a bit of research to ensure the next phone I buy would work well for my family. I ended up with this Panasonic. This is my first Panasonic phone and time will tell with regards to long term reliability. I've owned the phone for about a month now and thought I would share a few comments.

Its range is fair. I've seen better in a 2.8GHz model. To quantify this: I was hoping to be able to use this at a neighbor's house, approx 75 yards down the street. I've placed the receiver near a window. The phone works fantastic until I get to their front door. Not a big problem, just a small disappointment because I've seen another phone with this capability. There are no issues in my own house or throughout the yard. I guess that's what they make cell phones for...

The "talk" and the "off" buttons are small, and they do not light up with the rest of the keypad. This is not much of an issue once your fingers begin remembering where the buttons are, but can be frustrating when attempting to answer the phone in the dark.

The menu system is pretty good, though I would like to see a feature to be able to copy it's internal phone book to all handsets at one time. You have to select which handset to copy to, copy the phone book, and then do it again for the next handset. Pretty picky issue, but hey.. It would be nice.

I've had several experiences with the caller on the other end of the line asking me to speak up; I've never had this issue in the past, and have used many different phones. This may be because the phone is relatively short, leaving the microphone about an inch or so above the mouth.

The caller ID works well, but will show as a missed call on all handsets except the one that answered the call. This is quite annoying and should be fixed by Panasonic.

This is one of the few phones I've seen that can have two or more handsets talking at the same time. This works very well and is not well advertised on the packaging or even at Panasonics website. THIS IS THE FEATURE THAT MADE ME CHOOSE THIS PHONE. I would think others would like this as well, since other phones that I've seen do not do that.

I've listed several small annoyances, though the good does outweigh the bad. I do like this phone system and would buy again. This is definitely one of the best out there.

I have had 3 different cordless phones in the past - Panasonic, Sony and Bell. Sony - and Bell bought in 1998 and Panasonic in 2000.

Panasonic was without doubt the best of them, so the choice was very clear - it was going to be a panasonic this time and also I was going to buy a phone that had intercom facility to be able to communicate between different floors in my house

I pre-ordered this telephone and using it extensively since them.

(Positive) What I like about this telephone:
- Excellent voice quality
- Excellent speaker phone
- Large lighted display - easy to read
- 5.8 GHz Does not interfere with wireless LAN
- Intercom facility
- Different address book for each handset, with feature to transfer
address book from one handset to the other
_ Facility to switch call received on one handset to the other
- Choose different ring tones for different callers
- Choose different color light bands on the handset for different callers
- Voice enhancer - amplifies the voice
- Ergonomics - looks and handles very comfortably
- Either dial the number first and then press talk or
press talk and then dial the number

(Negative) What I do not like
- It is not expandable, if I want to add a new handset later
- Too pricey

(Dream) Wish List
- Current time display
- Alarm facility - would be very useful
- Noice filter - Something like music players which can
filter out high frequency noises
- International caller id standard support - caller ID does not work in India

This phone works quite well. The pros outnumber the cons by a good margin. Our configuration is one phone upstairs in the master bedroom, one in the kitchen, and another in the basement which we use as a kids playroom.

We like being able to pick up the messages from any one of our three phones. We also like the phone book feature that can be initiatied on one phone and then sent to the others so all of the listings can stay synchronized.

We have not used the intercom feature just because we don't have that big of a house and we don't take the phone outside very often. But we have tested it and it works well.

These are some cons

The speaker phone button is too close to the talk button. The talk button has to be pressed to answer incoming calls and sometimes we mistakenly hit the speaker button. Easily corrected during the call but kind of a pain.

Sometimes we encounter static on the line but the people to whom we are speaking tell us they can hear us clearly.

My wife says that the prompts are not clear on playing back messages but it is not a problem for me.

This phone system is pricey (as you may have already noticed)but it has worked out well in our house.

I use this phone in a three story house and have great coverage throughout - main unit on first floor. Since it is an old house, we have very few phonejacks so this is a great solution. Moreover, my husband can take the phone to the garage - about 100 yards away - and I can page him using the other phones or he can answer the phone! We have been nothing but happy with this purchase.

OK, first let me say that I am very particular when it comes to phones. So I did quite a bit of research before choosing the Panasonic.

The most important thing is that I can HEAR on this telephone. The sound is crystal clear, no static. We live in a L shaped brick home and other phones (cheaper varieties) sounded horrible if you walked 30-40 ft away. This one is great all over our property, 1/2 acre. I haven't tried it any further, but no doubt it would work at greater distances.

The answering machine is a great one, too. Also, crystal clear and it saved us $3.95 a month by allowing us to cancel voice mail with our local phone company.

The neatest bell (or whistle, if you prefer) is the intercom system. With the shape of our home, it is hard for my kids to hear me when they are on the other end. But now no problem. I just hit intercom, choose the phone that I want to page and it gives a special ring. My kids know that this ring is one they can answer, and we can maintain a conversation on the phone. There might be a time limit but we have never reached it if there is.

Oh, and I almost forgot the speakerphone option on each handset. The other day I was on hold (BTW, it was the phone company I was waiting on to cancel my voice mail). I was ironing at the time, so I hit the speakerphone button, set the phone down and continued to iron until I heard someone pick up. It also, was clear and loud enough. That little button will get quite some use in this house.

I'm technically challenged, so I can't tell you about all of the wonderful things this phone can do, but suffice to say that this busy mom of 3 is extremely pleased.

Another reviewer mentioned the plastic on the phone. And I would agree it seems to be a lighter, less sturdy plastic than my old v-techs. However, not enough of an issue for us to drop a star. So this one rates a full 5 STARS!!

We purchased a competing phone, but took it back because I was not pleased with the sound quality. This phone is as clear as a bell.

It would be nice if the menu was a little easier. It would be nice if the main base unit was a speaker phone too. It would have been nice too if all of the buttons on the phone lit up. Only the number pad glows. So basically, you can dial the number in the dark, but unless you are not familiar with the phone, you will not be able to do anything else :) These are not enough to lower the ratings though.

Otherwise, the phone has it all plus quality.

First off, it is easy to program all of the nifty features the system has to offer. I've put in a telephone book into the 3 receivers and it was simple to do. Now all you do is look up the name and click"talk" and you're talking to the party.
The melodies and tones are great and easy to hear. I have hearing aids and the telecoils assist without any further adjustments or removals. Switching between callers is no problem and you can conference call as well.
This is well worth the price for a phone system.

I am 64 years old and this has to be the best phone I have had.
The speaker phone is so clear I use it most of the time. I have had speaker phones in the past that were so bad you couldn't understand what was being said. Also people told me I sounded like I was in a barrel talking to them over it.
It has a lot of extras such as caller IQ,caller ID, and you can talk from phone to phone or on a conference call using two of the handsets.
If you are in the market for a 5.8 GHz cordless phone I do not think you will be dissatisfied with this unit.