Goes The Distance, & That's About It.
Written: Nov 28 '00 (Updated Dec 19 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Travels Far Distance, Economical
Cons: Not Digital, Not Very Good Looking, My Defective "Flash" Button
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| da177ATRIX's Full Review: Panasonic KX TG2400 2.4 GHz 1-Line Cordless Phone |
I am really interested in technology and was very excited when Panasonic first came out with their new cordless phone that incorporated the newest technology that completely stretched the distance conventional cordless phones could only dream of.
This newer technology (now available in many other brands) uses the 2.4 Ghz frequency and is an upgrade from the 900 Mhz cordless phones. I went to the electronic stores wondering why anyone on Earth would ever buy a phone less than 2.4 Ghz again when they are practically the same price as 900 Mhz Digital Spread Spectrum (DSS) phones! I was even more appalled to find that there are still cordless phones that uses frequencies less than 900 Mhz! I believe it is just another corporate attempt to get the most buck out of anyone because some people still have no idea what all this "Mhz business" is about. Here's the scoop.
The old cordless phones used before (like in the early 90's) had used something like the 44 Mhz frequency (I'm not sure if it's exactly 44, but we'll just use it as an example). This was the type of phone that you couldn't step 10 feet away from the main base without getting static so bad, voice comprehension was nearly impossible. Not to mention stepping another 5 feet away (totaling about 15 feet) would cut the connection altogether! Surprisingly, some of those old dinosaurs are still around. For those who still have it, toss it or save it as an antique, and get a 2.4 GHz phone. :)
A quick description (at the store) shows that 44 Mhz goes about 10 feet away, then you have 900 Mhz analog that goes much farther, then 900 Mhz Digital Spread Spectrum (DSS) goes considerably farther than the 900 Mhz analog, and then the latest is the 2.4 Ghz which really goes farther. To show you how far it actually goes, I'll tell you about my experience. When I was living in an apartment with a grocery store across the street, I could actually take the phone into the market and still talk to my friends while shopping in the aisles!!! No kidding. The market was a big Albertsons in a plaza and I could even take the phone to Starbucks and Del Taco. People thought I was just using an oversized cell phone or something! It's really cool, technology wise.
Now about the actual Panasonic phone itself. I don't really think I would get this again because there are many more choices out there right now that are way nicer. I mean, this phone isn't that great looking to be honest. As for the features, I haven't really tried any of them because I don't use "phone number memory" and stuff like that. I just think it's easier to call someone by dialing their phone number manually (I'm lazy enough as it is...I don't need my phone to dial numbers for me).
The only real complaint I have with this phone (besides its looks) is its inability to retrieve "call waiting." I have NO idea if it's just my phone that's defective or if all Panasonic 2.4 Ghz phones are like this. When I press the "flash" button to click over to the other line for call waiting, it hangs up on the original person I was talking to. This really ticks me off. Another bad thing about this phone I read from another review is that this cordless phone may be "analog" and is possibly not "digital". This basically means that if it is analog, it's going to be easier for someone to intercept your phone conversations (intentionally or not). If you live in an apartment, other people with cordless phones could accidentally tap into your conversations and you'd never know. I looked on the base of my phone and it only says "Spread Spectrum" and not "Digital Spread Spectrum" like the real digital phones out there. This led me to believe in the review I read. After all, that is what this Epinions.com community is all about: learning new information about products. So that's another thing to think about (if you're the paranoid type). But definitely check with the sales-rep to make 100% sure it is digital and not analog.
More on the looks, if you're like me and you like "nice" things, then there are other 2.4 Ghz cordless phones out there that are much nicer looking. "Siemens" and "Bang & Olufsen" are my favorites. Siemens is about $200 and Bang & Olufsen is about $500 (if I remember correctly). They're a bit more pricey, but if you are crazy like me, you just might consider getting one of them! You definitely should check them out.
In conclusion, the Panasonic 2.4 Ghz cordless phone does go the distance it advertises. That in itself might be worth it for some. Another good thing is it's pretty cheap for the technology it has. It's not $150 like how Epinions.com marks it. It's more like $130 (without tax) and that price will probably drop with time. But if you're worried about eavesdroppers listening in on your 900# calls ("OH YEAH! BA-BY" -ahem), don't get this because I have reason to believe that the phone may be analog! It's probably not digital and your calls can then be intercepted a lot easier (ask the salesperson to make absolute sure). And there's also the defective "flash" button that I have...who knows if it's just mine, right? Plus this thing isn't great looking (for me, it's 50% quality, 50% looks). There you have it. Use your money wisely and I hope this review helped!
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
da177ATRIX
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Location: Los Angeles
Reviews written: 10
Trusted by: 13 members
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