Customer Reviews

Panasonic KX-TG5776S 5.8 GHz FHSS GigaRange Expandable Digital Cordless Phone System

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I bought this phone and two additional handsets to replace a 2.4 GHz AT&T that was causing interference on that popular frequency. Panasonic has a great reputation regarding their phones and this one hasn't disappointed.

Pros:

* Reception is crystal clear - to my ears just about equivalent to a corded unit. Also, I experience no distortion - no buzzing, hissing, line noise or digital artifacts. A Uniden CLX-485 I auditioned would fade in and out for no reason - an example of a phone system which looked awesome did everything beautifully, except for the most important thing.

* Range is quite far for a 5.8Ghz phone, better than an AT&T EP5995 I also tried and the Uniden.

* The handset is wider than this model's predecessor, the KX-TG5576M - important for people with larger hands. Additionally, the tactile feel is good - not as slick-feeling and the buttons have a nice touch. Holding the phone for long periods feels okay; it's not a strain.

* Talk time is excellent. For example, after two hours of both conventional and speaker phone use the battery meter didn't budge. I keep the phones in their chargers so can't speak about standby-time.

* Speakerphones on both handset and base work very well (although I don't believe they're full duplex), and the answering machine works fine. The outgoing message clarity, recorded through the base only, is adequate and incoming message clarity is acceptable.

* The handset menu, which controls many system functions, is easy to use and easy to see, thanks to the bright, nicely colored display.

* "Auto Talk": Can answer the phone by taking the handset out of its base - instead of pressing "talk" - and can hang up by putting it back. Note: Does not have an "Any Key" answer feature, which lets you answer the phone by pressing...any key.

* I like the look: The handset display stays lighted - although dim - while being charged, unlike any other color display unit I've seen. In addition, there's no protruding handset antenna (the base's "goal posts" antennas remain, though), which doesn't seem to affect range. It all looks pretty sleek just sitting there, I gotta say.

* Side tone is good: Some phones produce an echo when you talk; others prevent you from hearing your own voice, like you're deaf in that ear, which is highly uncomfortable (the AT&T was like that). This one's about right.

* Unlike other phones and previous Panasonic models, when you miss a call and view the Caller ID (CID), all handsets acknowledge that fact - no more "Missed Call" on additional handsets. However, the extra handsets continue to say "Missed Call" until the CID is checked - even after answering the phone.

* The handset phonebook can be sent to any other handset, obviating the need to set up each one independently.

* The included software is easy to set up and use (on a Windows PC), and makes available a few more pics, allowing further customization. You can also add your own pictures.

* Handset answering machine functions are good, and remote access is simplified via decent voice prompts.

* Handset sits securely in its base - contact is as good as or better than other phones I've tried.

* The default ringer on "low" is fine; not great, but okay (and I really hate the other choices). You can, though, use your own ring tones or music, instead.

* Also a plus in my book is that when the ringer is turned off on the base, so is the outgoing message. It plays for the caller, of course, but what you hear during a call is a pause after it picks up and then the caller leaving the message. Consequently, you don't have to listen to your own voice (if you're screening calls) or (most of the time) hang ups and dial tones - things that aren't recorded anyway. One caveat: Turning off the ringer on the base or handsets will also defeat talking CID on those componants.

Cons:

* Panasonic still doesn't have a volume control on the side of their handset. To adjust the volume you have to move the center joystick up or down, which is kind of up against your face. That said, it's not a major annoyance, since you can do that without adjusting the phone position too much. But but still...

* The base does not have battery backup, which is used in order to make calls during a power outage. Aside from cost (worth paying for, I think), I don't get it, unless they assume everyone would be using their cell phones during a blackout. The base does have a flash memory, however, which keeps your outgoing and incoming messages intact.

* There seems to be some cost cutting involved. That is, the base feels a bit lighter than the KX-TG5576M, although the features seem to be the same. Also, there's no belt clip included; that's sold separately. Not a big deal to me, but it might be to others. Cost seems to have been driven into the handset, perhaps appropriate given that the handset is theoretically used more often than the base.

* "Talk" and "Off" aren't lighted, I imagine because they're used more than other keys and might, therefore, burn out or malfunction with extended use. Again, not a huge deal to me, and they're easy enough to find in a darkened room.

* You can't record the outgoing answering machine message through the handset. While not bad, message quality would no doubt be improved if this function were included. Like nearly all phones these days, the mic is under a gap in the base, instead of on the surface (perhaps to avoid dust and grit getting in?).

* Time is set via CID; that's good. But the phonebook isn't referenced the same way. Although a "1" is preceded by the area code and number when someone calls - just as it's entered into the phonebook - the phone company's CID name will show (and be announced), instead of how it's customized in the phonebook. Saving and redialing the entry, though, is easy.

That's about all I can think of. I haven't transferred calls between handsets, played with the intercom, or really punished or tweaked the system to death; I'll leave that to others. But overall this is a really nice - and nice looking - system. Definitely recommended.

This phone is the bees knees. The clarity and the range are far out. I can take the phone out the front door and down the street two houses and still talk. If you like to use the speaker as I do, the callers on the phone will not even know they are on speaker at all. My sister used to get so mad at me when I used my AT&T speaker phone to talk with her. Now, she doesn't even know that I am using the speaker on my cordless. lol That's how great the sound quality is on this Panasonic phone.

The phone is set up like a cell phone so setting it up is fairly easy. You can download photos, ringtones, and your address book. The color screen is great if you have problems with your eyes as I do.

The software is easy to use. It comes with quite few photos and picture IDs that can be used or you can make your own. You just select your own picture and it converts it.

***CONS***

There is no display that shows the number you are dialing on the base unit.

The Panasonic software requires that your address book be converted to CSV which is easy. However, after you convert your address book to CSV and import it into the software, you will need to do some finessing with some of the names and numbers. It only lets you choose either first or last name and not both. That aggravated me to no end. I spent 30 minutes fixing names and numbers before I downloaded them to the handset. However, the transfer process wasn't bad and it only took seconds. I downloaded my address book to both handset rather than using the handset address copy feature. It's nice that Panasonic has the copy address to handset features tho.

I have Cox Cable Telephone and the CID database used is out of date. The Talking CID says what the phone line displays. However, it would be nice if the CID looked in your address book like your cell phone does.

They didn't included the belt clip. Which is no big deal but for the price one pays for this phone unit, it would be nice if Panasonic included it.

**Update: I saw a report on the news about CID. If your phone company doesn't update its databases you will get a lot of messages that read, out of service, long distance, or out of state readings. The local news reported it doesn't cost much for the phone companies to update these databases. They choose or are too cheap to spend the money to update their CID databases.

**Update 7/2011:

I recently had to replace the original battery that came with this cordless phone and happy with the generic one I got off of Amazon. I decided to cruise around Panasonic's website to see what the new DECT technology was all about. I am deeply sadden to find out after visiting the Panasonic website that they are no longer producing color screen cordless phones. I contacted their CS and was told the same. There is nothing wrong with the unit I have now but was wondering when it fails that I would be able to get another color screen cordless. I have been very pleased with this product and the original battery lasted this long without needing to be replaced until now. This really stinks because the color screen is great for people with bad eye sight especially at night. If you're considering buying this unit, I suggest purchasing the extra handset(s) now before you can no longer get them on Amazon or Ebay.

We bought this phone almost a year ago and I have to say that it is the best phone we have ever owned. The reception is clear as a bell.
The speakerphone is great on both the handset and the base, half the time people do not even know that I have them on speaker.
Some of the people we talk to often are very hard to hear and they come through loud and clear even in the lowest of the volume settings.
The color display lacks luster, but a phone is for talking on not looking at. The nice thing is that you can put a picture of the person with their name and number so that when they call it comes up on the screen. I like this for cell phones especially because they usually just say cellular call on the ID.
The answering machine is perfect. It never records hangups including callers that wait till the end of the greeting and then decide to hang up. It too is loud and clear making it easy to hear the messages whether at home or away. Another thing it does that is nice is when you have it set to screen calls it does not play your greeting out loud. It goes quite until the person begins to record their message. The date and time stamp comes after the message so that you do not even have to listen to it if you do not want to.
There are plenty of ringer options that range from ear busting to soft and barely audible.
The buttons are sturdy and glow when it rings or you press them so they are easy to read in dim lighting.
When you clear the caller ID from one handset it deletes them from all handsets.
And the phonebooks can be both private to that handset and shared among all handsets.
The talking caller ID is more amusing than anything else as it has a hard time with pronunciation, but it does make it somewhat possible to not have to run and look at the phone to see who is calling, nice if you are busy and cannot get to where you can see the phone. Since it only announces twice per call it keeps from being annoying.
This is a great phone and I have recommended it to many people I know who are looking for a good cordless.

I bought this phone and two additional handsets in August, 2006. I was immediately unimpressed with the signal quality--crackling static on the line, and an intermittent odd clicking noise on two of the handsets. After putting in a line filter, and exchanging one of the handsets, the problem is still only partially resolved--line crackling is still always present, but reduced. The clicking noise remains on only one handset.

Worse, after a few weeks, the phones began treating each incoming call as a "missed call" whether the call was picked up or not. Doesn't sound like a big deal, but the phone is in your face regarding the "missed call" and requires you to acknowledge it by pressing at least two buttons to clear the screen. This is a part of the caller ID feature set and apparently can't be turned off. Customer assistance is worse than useless. I spent maybe 6-8 hours total on multiple occasions on the phone with them. No resolution. Now they want me to send the base unit and the three handsets with the original boxes and receipts back to them, while they look it over for "7 to 10 days". Gimme a break.

My experience with the phone--adequate, but many bugs. All bets off if you need customer service.

I bought the base unit and 2 additional handsets. Setup went fine except phones are very slow to charge. Used as a basic phone it's fine and Panasonic has 80% of a really great phone system here, but they failed to clean up the utility software and firmware needed to have a good user interface.

Biggest offender ... the "GIGARANGE USB" utility needed to load up a phonebook or load an link images and ring tones is a pain. It's marked "Version 1.0" and feels like it was written for Windows 3.0 and never updated. I tried it under Windows 98SE, ME and XP and it failed to install first time on every try. What makes it worse is that the Uninstall leaves stuff in the registry which prevent reinstalls. To fix it you have to use RegEdit and clean out every reference to Gigarange in the Registry. To get it installed make sure you NEVER connect the phone to computer before Gigarange is installed. Also note the USB driver gets loaded when Gigarange is installed, but not activated. To make things work, follow these steps:
1. Run Gigarange install utility. Uncheck "Autorun" when the option apprears.
2. Turn off computer and restart.
3. Start the Gigarange program FIRST. Only then connect the phone.

Minor gripes:
a] Display stays on while phone is in the charging cradle and is too bright for bedside nightstand use.
b] Batteries are slow to charge and quick to discharge.
c] Talking Caller-ID does not link to phone book, but uses info the telecom sends. So if, as mine does, it sends names in Last_Name, First_Name format that is what you hear.
d] Gigarange program freezes the computer with a blue screen every time you exit from it.

Best plus is the fact you can transmit phone book entries among headsets with little effort, so you don't have to fire up the cumberson phonebook software to just add a name or two. Minus is it only hold 50 entries.

This is by far the best phone I have ever owned. Extremely clear wireless sound, good battery life, compact design. Handset is a speaker phone, so you can roam about when waiting online for customer service. You can also intercom the base, to talk with someone in that room.
I bought 3 phones this year, the first 2 did not work out; in rooms where they had interference, this Panasonic does not. Finally I have a phone w/ all the features I want and NO STATIC!

I bought this phone, after a fair amount of research, for the following reasons:

1. i owned an old sony 2.4 GHz cordless phone which was great, but was suddenly getting static interferance in certain key areas of my new apartment

2. i was tired of not knowing who was calling before i ran to answer the phone. it would be nice to know who called when i was out (that didn't leave a message)

3. i was seeking a way to create a flexible doorbell/intercom security system so i could see who was at the door from anywhere.

4. customizable ring/pictures/etc were a potentially fun bonus

i received the base unit and cameras quickly thru panasonic direct order, the handsets did not arrive until a month later (today). i would have paid more to have better capabilities and i know it is not technology that is lacking. my impression so far addressing the issues above are as follows....

1. resolved - there is no more static, sound quality is very good. nice to finally have a speakerphone (and it sounds good). i was worried that these modern small phones would be uncomfortable to hold (unergonomically) between shoulder and ear but it is fine (and when it is not you have speakerphone options)

2. limited - * the talking caller i.d. ONLY will announce what the phone company lists. i have never had caller i.d. before, but i got the idea that it was so you would know who is calling. most calls so far come through as a location only (such as "new york ny" or "kent wa"), "cellphone ny", or "out of area". this is not panasonic's fault, of course, however i had expected that the phone book would overrule the caller i.d. it doesn't. so i can enter someone in my phone book, and i can assign a customized ring for them or a picture of them to show up when they call (if i have a pc that takes their software). but the announcement of the name and display of the name is still based on the phone company info (often deeply out of date or lacking), so unless you are gung-ho about setting up customized ring for everyone you know, you will still be running to the phone to see who is really calling. the flashing color i.d.s are a bit silly since there are only 3 (or "multicolor") and one is the default, yellow is the charging color, and green is the "charged" color - that leaves blue or multicolor to make an incoming call quite distinguishable. you would think if my cellphone can handle telling me that "fred" is calling before i answer, that a pricey and supposedly sophisticated home phone could do more.....
* in addition i have never been able to get my phone to recognize the difference when i have had a received or missed call. ANYTIME i answer a call on the base (or now the extensions), with or without extensions plugged in or turned on, it registers "Missed Call" when you hang up. this is just extremely stupid and annoying. First of all, it should be able to know the difference. Additionally it should be an option if you want the extensions to read "missed call" when you answered on another handset (why do i have to reset every phone in my house after taking 1 call??). customer service told me at the time i had only the base station phone (after 2 calls) that if resetting it didn't work (unplugging and pulling out the battery) i needed to get it serviced or return it for replacement. resetting did not work, and i waited for the other hand sets to arrive to see if they did differently...nope.... same exact thing no matter which i answer on or which is registered to where or which ones are on. customer service does NOTHING but read scripts to you. i am a computer service and repair technician so i do have a clue about how the phone works and how to provide customer service and take troubleshooting steps. i have called three times and spoken to 3 different reps. they will ONLY read you default information even if it has NOTHING to do with your situation. they might as well be an automated phone service. i takes alot to get me frustrated and i know the kinds of dimwits these reps must have to deal with on a daily basis so i sympathize that they are surely greatly burdened. but to have a supposed customer support rep read back to me the same info over and over even after i have explained to them that (for example) there IS no other phone in the house, or the answering machine has NOT picked up nor is it even ON is really irritating. the last lady was so into her script she even called me "sir or ma'am" halfway thru our conversation!!!! i don't call phone support unless i have tried every other support resource or troubleshooting step already and i would expect them to know MORE than i do about how their product works.

3. limited - these cameras are HUGE. the "call" buttons are massive. i had no clue from looking at the website and when i looked at the phone in a store there was no camera to check out. of course i'm sure the camera specs were listed somewhere but i still didn't expect it. there is no way to make the camera surreptitious. there is no way to mount it outdoors or have it work away from access to a nearby power outlet. the ac adapter is chunky and on a relatively short leash for something that might need to be placed out of the way. ideally it should have a doorbell/box adapter to protect it from theft or wire-snipping. i have no idea why they would make the call button so massive and so very non-wall(or anything)-mountable. all i can think is that it must be designed for visually impaired people with no motor skills (perhaps the very sick and very old/very young). of course it is just a button so i quickly determined that i could wire any button (doorbell, whatever) to any phone cable (short the connection from wire one to wire two) and make my own pager, but it is rather silly to have to do that. how hard or expensive would it be to include a "doorbell" option rather than forcing normal folks to do their own rewiring and seek their own supplies for an advertised application. SOME sort of low light function and weather protection, and a longer ac cable would have helped as well. it won't register any useful image thru the front window, yet there is no way to put it out front either. hmmph.

4. limited - the phone comes with software for Windows ONLY. i bought the phone through an apple employee purchase program. silly, eh? there are only 6 tones on the phone and only one of them is not extraordinarily annoying. there are 3 "sample" wallpapers. yippee.

ADDITIONAL:

* if you want a phone system with a camera/intercom option, at the moment it is this or the motorola c51. motorola doesn't have talking caller i.d., panasonic doesn't have the bluetooth/cellphone connector or low-light options on the camera. obviously there are better video intercom systems in general, but for a rental apartment (wiring) or for ease of access (can you see who is at the door when you are out in the back yard or from anywhere you have a phone) the phone option is probably the most flexible if not the best quality. be aware there is a delay when you answer a page from the camera - the screen will refresh for a full second or two before you can hear, speak or see after you answer. the light on the front of the camera will always blink when you are watching it. you have to hit "mute" quickly if you page the camera if you don't want audible obviousness signaling that you are watching as well.

* the phone could be massively improved via a software update. certain options just should be, and are not, available. preference settings are extraordinarily limited and difficult to use. for example there is no way to adjust the phone backlight when it is in the charger. these things are friggin nightlights.... from across the room or next to your bed you will have a bright light shining in you face while you try to sleep. unless you plan to take the phone off the hook every night you'd better get used to it or turn the phone away from you (defeating you ability to look at who is calling when those early morning telemarketers try to get you - since the caller i.d. is unlikely to tell you). these are easy sorts of things to control but panasonic has chosen to make them uncontrollable. not sure why.

* the phones do not operate in the charger. seems minor, but just wait until you keep having to take the phone out of the cradle everytime you want to check or remove one of those "missed calls" (in other words, ever single call that comes into your house). and don't stick that handset in to charge while you are on speakerphone - it will hang up your call. what?! so you are on a long conference call and you can't leave the phone in the charger? or you want to see what call you missed as you pass by or you want to change a setting (ringer volume, etc) on the phone and you have to take the phone out of the cradle? some groggy morning you want to just hit "speakerphone" to answer but you have to grab the phone and pull it out (especially since you had to move it away to keep it from shining in your face all night)? why?

* there is NO SPEED DIAL except from the base. make sense to you? doesn't to me. never had it on my old phone but when you bother to invest in a new one it seems like certain things should be a given.

* preferences aren't easy to find. i've never needed a manual for a computer, palm, cell phone, or anything else just to understand its quirks, options or limitations. but several times on this phone i have had to check the manual to figure out some backwards way to do something that you know must be possible but you cannot find anywhere in the menus.

If i were to do it all again i might have sought another option or waited - but in my own circumstances i needed the security and i.d options right away and i am glad for what new features it has availed me. since you really only have two choices for a camera intercom phone system it is mostly going to be about which most closely fills your need.

I've been through three other multi-handset cordless phone systems within the last couple of years, searching for one that everyone in my family likes. I think I finally found one in this Panasonic model. My kids like that you can use the included computer software to download images into the handsets for display on the color screen using the supplied USB cable. The program is really easy to use and we were able to get some family pics loaded up within a few minutes. You can also use the computer to download different ringtones or songs into the handsets, which is a nice feature since I think that most standard ringtones are annoying. My son has the handsets configured so that when he calls on his cell phone, his picture will appear on the screen. We also appreciate the lighted keypad on the handsets. As others have said, sound quality is excellent and I have not found any dead spots anywhere in my house. There is no buzzing or distortion, and voice quality sounds like a corded phone. I am very pleased with this phone and will be purchasing an additional handset in the near future.

I have had several generations of Panasonic's caller ID telephones. This is by far the best. I have a large house and prior versions just didn't have enough range. This works throughout the house, the sound is very clear and, best of all, it doesn't interfere with our wireless network which uses 2.4 GHz. It's also nice not to have an antenna extending from the handset (although it's now so small that we confuse it with the television remote control!).

1) It will frequently give me a message saying I missed a call when I hadn't.
2) DOES NOT WORK WITH A MAC - rather than being a device you could simply connect to your computer, have it show up as a hard drive, and then drag and drop photos, music, etc, you NEED to do all of this via the custom software that comes with it. The software only works for, you guessed it, Windows. Even with Windows, it would be nice to know what the pixel size for wallpapers and photo ids and for more details concerning music file requirements were.