Customer Reviews

Panasonic KX-TGA641T Extra Handset for the KX-TG64xx Series, Metallic Black

5 star:		(80)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Our old phone system was giving up the ghost so I looked for a phone system that would get good reception throughout our house and not interfere with other wireless set ups. I have had no problems with the wireless internet and the phone system to date. I even get reception at the bottom of my 3 story house. I ordered the extra handset and now there is a better chance that you will find a reciever on the house level your on when the phone rings too. I can even walk anywhere on my 1/2 acre and get reception.

This review covers the KX-TGA641 handset used by the KX-TG6431, KX-TG6432, KX-TG6433, KX-TG6434, KX-TG6441, KX-TG6442, KX-TG6443, KX-TG6444 and KX-TG6445 cordless phone sets. The KX-TG644x "keypad/speaker phone" base is not discussed here.

DECT Security Breach: as of this June 6, 2009 writing, it remains unclear how secure is the Panasonic KX-TG64xx series - specifically the KX-TGA641 handset. Poorly designed DECT hardware is at risk of being eavesdropped . An updated DECT standard uses CAT-iq which may enhance security. On May 8, I emailed Panasonic support asking if this product set is subject to the "DECT hack" discussed throughout Internet forums and if CAT-iq is implemented. On the 18th I sent another and this time I received a case number: 26512122. On June 1st I inquired as to when I might expect an answer. The silence is deafening. (June 9 UPDATE: this is their reply... "The KX-TG6433 is using Panasonic unique DECT protocol for the communication between the base unit and the handset. This unit has higher protection against eavesdropping than standard DECT even without CAT-iq protocol.") And this is Panasonic's "Security Code Statement" on the FCC Web site: "This cordless telephone system has more than 1,000 billion combinations that are provided by the following means: Provided with 128 bits for security codes. When shipped from the factory, the security code is decided by the manufacture. It is memorized in a memory IC. Base and Handset knows each other's security code information." The "DECT hack" requires a modified VOIP card and a laptop running Linux and in some cases the use of a back-end PBX server - most of which is beyond the means and reach of your usual wannabe snoop. I conclude this phone is quite secure enough for average personal and business use. Regardless of the make, model and technology of the cordless phone(s) you own, privacy critical conversations should be done on a hard wired set.

The Review: To begin, the manual is awful. Useful feature information is buried in verbose paragraphs instead of outlined bullet points. A highlighter pen is required! The most egregious instructions are for Programmable Settings which are done via either of two methods, the nice scrolling menus or "Direct Commands." The latter is keyed in at the main menu as a pound followed by three digits, such as #302 to record a greeting. Quoting page 20: "Direct command is the main method used in these operating instructions." So, twenty seven pages of instructions for direct commands and two pages for the menus. Now, where are the scrolling menus? On the handset. In your hand. All the time. From now on. Where is the manual with the three page chart of direct commands? Hmmmm. I cannot fathom this idiotic bass-ackwards scheme. On the bright side, once you've scrolled through the 35 or so menu screens enough times, you'll be more than well versed in their usage. Note: the "Initial Settings" menu contains sub-menus for much more than settings that are, well, initial.

One of the big selling points for me is the use of regular old AAA NiMH batteries. My triple handset KX-TG6433 replaces three stand-alone sets that used different, proprietary and expensive battery "packs." No more! However, one caveat... discussed further on.

The LCD screen is informative, big and bright with large, easy to read fonts. The keypad is quite nicely illuminated although lighting of the three soft keys is absent. You can choose any color back light for the screen as long as it's blue.

The handset ear piece audio is crisp and clean, free of digital artifacts while listeners on the other end can hear me well. The speaker audio for the handsets and base is dinky but usable in a quiet environment. For extended hands-free conversations I use the KX-TCA60 headset. (Update: that broke after about a dozen uses. I now use a Plantronics.) This is also one of the few phones I've ever used that I can cram between my neck and ear without jamming any buttons.

The KX-TG64xx series is loaded with all the usual bells and whistles and lacks for nothing in my experience. Most everything I became used to in all the phones I've had over the ages is here, and then some, all fully integrated. (If I had to quibble, I would want a flashing LED on the base to indicate the presence of messages listened to but not deleted.) All the fancy schmancy services you pay extra for at the phone company are recognized and operate well. Answering System messages can be accessed and manipulated from any handset and from outside phones using a three digit remote access code. Most settings migrate across all handsets meaning that if you change/add/delete something on one, it's done on all. Others, like rings tones and volume, affect only the individual ones. Now that I'm past the "return for exchange" period, I decided to buy a fourth handset.

Finally, this phone talks. My favorite is Talking Caller ID. When the phone rings, I don't even have to raise my head from my recliner pillow to look at it. Now that's living! On the down side, the KX-TGA641 handset strongly resembles my Logitech Harmony 550 universal remote. I often find myself shouting "Hello" into the remote. Or trying to change channels with the phone. When did life get sooooo complicated??

From the "Why on Earth did they do that?" department: the charger does not recognize fully charged batteries. When I first unboxed my KX-TG6433, I took the six 650 mAh AAA batteries and ran them through my MAHA C401FS charger. This would not only save time and effect a nice conditioned charge, but the MAHA diagnostics would warn of defects. Imagine my surprise when all three handsets alerted with a flashing battery icon and a "charge for 7 hours" message. With fully charged batteries! Similarly, if at some point you remove the batteries in a handset to read the label in there (serial number, FCC ID number, etc.) or for whatever reason, you are greeted by the same scenario. And even though fully charged, the batteries will be COOKED for several hours to the degree the handset becomes... too hot to hold! So, here's a hot tip (heh heh) - don't pre-charge the AAAs and don't remove them unless they need to be replaced.

That and the manual aside, this is a good looking, feature rich, convenient and affordable cordless phone system. Now that I'm beyond the menu system learning curve, I'm expecting years of comfortable and easy use.

First, let me express my joy:
I have owned many cordless phones since they first came out. Remember the first Panasonics that had that three foot long antenna that probably put out more than a few eyes of unsuspecting folks that stood too close? Yeah. Had that one. Then they came out with a newer one that had a retractable antenna like the big long one but was a short, fat one that clicked two or three times to retract and extract (didn't make much difference in call reception but was way cooler looking than that other one that should have reached Liberia in reception with that 3 foot long metal radio antenna)... Then came the "antenna-less" phone. Lousy reception on most of them, but when the 900 MhZ one hit the market (bring on the angelic choir here) Hallelujah! Hallelujah! a person could be a half a city block away and still talk--and hear the other person (albeit with some static). I hated the 5.1 GhZ models--to me they were a big step down. Staticky, even at close range, echoey, you name it. Went back to the 900 MhZ model. BUT I recently read about the DECT technology. We live on a 20 acre farm, and I need to keep a phone with me at all times because my husband and I take care of his dad who is in late stage Alzheimer's disease...if one of us goes for a walk, it's imperative that we be in contact somehow. Until now, we've used cell phones, which gets stupidly expensive. BUT again now, the angels are singing because no matter how far I've gotten on our property (at this point probably only about a hundred yards or so), this phone, being lightweight, antenna-less and with really COOL ringtones, I might add, still rings and the voice is clear!

Now let me tell you about the non-need for multiple phone programming:
I thought I'd have to enter all my phonebook numbers in EACH handset. NOT SO! If you enter it in one, it's in them all. Yay!! What a BOON! You can have each phone use its own ring tone (they don't have to all be the same) you can turn one (or two, three, four, or all) the ringers off, you can turn off the really cool voice telling you audibly who is calling, etc. I love easy technology, and Panasonic has really hit the mark this time. Great job!

Overall, I am very pleased with this phone. My husband has a hard time with small, tightly-packed buttons on phones--he is a big man (6' 5" tall, with his wedding finger a size 15 ring) with huge hands. Little buttons (like cell phone buttons) are a real challenge for him to not mash two or three buttons at the same time by accident. This phone's buttons are well spaced, well lighted, and have big numbers on them, so he doesn't even have to put on his reading glasses to see them. Another kudos there.

My score for this is definitely a 5 star. If I could give it a 10, I would, it's that good, in my opinion. Those whom I am speaking to have no problems hearing me at all, nor I, them. I can turn the volume up or down. If other folks have problems with that (my dad would, he has hearing aids, and unless the phone he's using has a megaphone attached, he basically can't make out a word his caller is saying), a headset is always an option. Panasonic has always been gracious enough to include a belt clip with their phones as well as a jack with a protective rubber cover that a standard mini-plug will fit. And headsets (Plantronics or Jabra are both good) are dirt cheap on here. I bought a Jabra for under $3.00.

I would recommend this phone very highly to anyone who has a larger home and needs several phones so that they don't have to run to answer--just to find that by the time they arrive, the caller has hung up. Oh, and another thing...these extra handsets (the four besides the main base) only require an electrical outlet and not a telephone jack. They all connect wirelessly to the main base, which does need a regular phone jack.

Bless whomever it was that made this phone set so easy to use and so comfortable on my shoulder. I just love it. It's my favorite purchase I've made in a very long while.

We returned these phones because the earpiece and headset volume is just too low even at the highest setting. We could hardly hear the person on the other end of the phone, even when the room was totally quiet. The call block feature is very cool however. Just wish we could block more than 30 numbers. Also, the menus are somewhat hard to navigate---the menu structure is not very intuitive.

I called Panasonic Customer Service about the volume issue. After being hung up on about 5 times by their automated system, the customer service rep I reached said they did not have any reports on the volume issue and could not offer any help. Guess they should read the reviews here at Amazon and [...] about the volume issues.

I ordered this extra receiver to join our Panasonic system. I couldn't have been easier to set up and pair with the existing system. Press one button on base unit and one on the receiver and you are set. It all works perfect. I really like the fact that Panasonic used reg AAA rechargeable batteries so when they need replacing you don't have to get an overpriced proprietary battery pack.

Needed one more extension for the third floor as the base was on the first floor. Read some reviews on the product and bought it. The sound is clear no buzz or static and the base is 2 flights away! Easy to sync with the base just hold locater button down for 4 seconds...done.Very happy with this purchase.

Got this add-on handset to complete my new Panasonic DECT phone system. I wanted as many handsets as I could get (really wish I could have 8 handsets...hope Panasonic is listening)!. It only took a few seconds to associate the new handset with the base station. Works like a champ.

This model is an exact match for the Panasonic KXTG63xxT/64xxT phone set. Very happy with purchase. Is the new 2009 model. Range long, uses AA Ni-MH batteries and is easy on battery life

I replaced my old Panasonic system of four handsets by this Dect 6.0.
Pro: the new technology reachs every corner at my (big) house, even those where my old system has no signal at all. To set the system up is extremely simply, including the additional 6th handset I bought for a new area. The qty. of total hansets (six, plus the base they are seven locations)covers perfectly any big house.
Con: to make internal calls was easier with the old system, just pushing two buttons. This model forces to go to "Menu", look for "Intercom" and then you'll see the list of all the available handsets to call to.

Literally connects to the system in less than 30 secs. The extra remote comes in very handy around the house.