Cingular Go Phone: Panasonic KX-TG5631S 5.8 GHz FHSS GigaRange Digital Cordless Answering System Review

My work phone started to short out and so I was "allowed" to buy another phone to take its place. I settled upon this Panasonic phone for two reasons: I wanted an answering machine built into the phone and I wanted a 5.8 GHz phone so that I did not interfer with anyone's wireless connections. After three weeks, I am pleased that I selected this phone. The answering machine works well and there have been no reports of interference.

The range on the phone is more than adequate. My office is one of many off a hallway constructed of cinderblock. The phone has a range of about 200 feet or so going through the cinderblock wall and two solid wood doors. I expect that the range in a home should easily exceed 200 feet and likely be more than adequate.

The phone also has a "voice enhancer technology," designed to clarify voices. Frankly, I was skeptical of this feature but after using it I am convinced it is worthwhile. It indeed does seem to make voices easier to understand.

One aspect of seting up the phone initially confused me. I expected that I would set up the time and date on the unit's base. I search all over the base for the "menu" button I was told to push by the instructions. I quickly found a menu button on the phone but initially I didn't believe this was the correct button. I shouuld have believed--the time and date are set up on the phone using the phone's menu button (there is no such button on the base) and then the base apparently receives this information (for date-stamping messages) from the phone. For what it's worth, the instruction booklet is not great. It covers way too many models and so I was constantly checking to make sure that my model either had or did not have a specific feature.

The battery life seems fine. Making only two or three phone calls per day, the battery lasted for about 6 days before it needed to be recharged.

My bottom line assessment is that this item is a fine phone. Indeed, I thinking about buying another for home use.

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Product Description:
5.8GHz Cordless w/ Answering System - Panasonic 5.8GHz Cordless telephone with digital answering system- Caller ID, call waiting caller ID- 50# Caller ID history- 50# Phonebook- 3-Line backlit LCD- Ringer ID- 3 Color light up ID with ringer and message alert (flashes quickly for ringer, flashes slowly for message waiting)- Frequency hopping spread spectrum technology- Caller IQ compatible- Ringer melody download on handset (2 max)- Voice enhancer technology- Selectable ringtones (3 tones, 4 melodies)- Handset speakerphone- Intercom- Handset page/locator on base- Volume control on handset and base- Charge indicator on base- Chain dial- 2.5mm Headset jack- Wireless network friendly- Keypad on handset only- Flash/redial/pause/mute/hold- 5 Hour talk time- 11 Day standby time- Wall mountable- Digital answering system- 15 Minutes of record time- Voice menu - Time/day stamp- 2 Digit LCD call counter on base- Remote access from handset and outside line- 1 Year manufacturer's warranty- SilverREPLACEMENT BATTERY: HHR-P104KXTG5631S