Excellent Full-Featured Phone
Written: Dec 08 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Numerous Reliable Features, Attractive
Cons: Somewhat Pricey, Answering Machine Operation For Base/Headset Not Analagous
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| Jason_Sickler's Full Review: Panasonic KX TC1870 900 MHz - Cordless Phone |
I moved to Boston to begin graduate school, and decided to invest in a cordless phone with every feature I thought I would want so it could last me for years. Using Epinions resources, I made an excellent choice - the Panasonic KX-TC1870B.
I ordered a factory refurbished version of this phone for approximately $80 less than retail, and was very pleased with what I received. The phone was visually indistinguishable from a new one, and has performed like new.
The features that I would highlight include:
- digital answering machine (up to 15 minutes worth record time - I have had up to 12 messages saved at once and it was less than 66% full)
- remote answering machine access (very useful when you are in lab 12 hours a day)
- the option of toll-saver answering setting (for remote access - 2 rings with messages, 4 without) or setting your own number of rings before the answering machine answers
- a very clear-sounding speaker-phone and number pad on the base (useful when charging the phone – I had to do this once)
I have yet to use the caller ID feature, but I suspect I will use (and love) it in the future. I have a friend with a similar Panasonic phone (less decked out but apparently has the same caller ID system), and she uses the caller ID religiously.
The phone also has features that allow it to interact with a pager. I have not used this feature, but the options for pager integration seem very extensive and could be very useful to some.
The only negative performance I have run into is the very rare (twice in the two months since I bought it) cutout for a second or two. I suspect that this was due to the environment around me, and not the phone design. (I have studied E&M waves, such as those that the headset uses to communicate with the base.)
I would also note that the buttons on the headset to control the answering machine, etc. are not analogous to the buttons on the base. This can make it difficult to know how to control the answering machine from the base when you are accustomed to accessing the answering machine with the headset, or visa versa.
I live in an apartment complex near the center of Boston (lots of building, factories, etc. nearby), and have taken the phone out into the street. It worked fine and only began to cutout when there were three walls, an apartment, a hallway, and 100 feet of courtyard between me and the base. I think that is very respectable performance.
Given how often I talk on the phone (1-2 hours a day) and the fact that I always leave it off the charger (see next paragraph) until the low battery sound starts beeping, the battery lasts for 4-5 days.
Another thing that I feel is important to note about the battery is that one should let the battery drain before you begin recharging it again. This will extend the life of the battery, and keep its capacity as high as possible so that you will have to recharge it less often in the future.
My final comment would be to go to the Panasonic Website (http://www.panasonic.com/) and search for an online users manual that would come with the product. The manual basically tells you everything about the features that you would want to know, aside from other people's practical experience.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Jason_Sickler
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Location: Somerville, MA
Reviews written: 7
Trusted by: 2 members
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