Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Due to the mixed reviews, I purchased this from Best Buy so returning it would not be a hassle. After several months, I have never had a dropped call or disconnected handset, so I've kept it and ordered 4 additional handsets.
As far as I know, the only handsets that work are the ones that are exactly the same as it comes with -- the KX-TGA930T, and the splash/drop resistant KX-TGA935B. I got one of the 935's so my wife can take it outside/gardening/etc. It is noticeably bulkier and heavier and so I only ordered the one, and it lives on the kitchen counter when it isn't travelling outdoors.
With the base unit on the ground floor and not really near any windows, in fact it's right next to the fridge, I can go about 2 to 3 houses away before it cuts out. There is a jogging track across the next street over, so through two yards and a street, in the direction that the fridge doesn't block, and it does go further in that direction. Place the base station with windows and desired distant coverage in mind and you should be pleased with the results.
A big Pro for me is the batteries are rechargeable AAA's, 2 per handset. You'll never have to buy an expensive proprietary battery. And, when you do replace the AAA's it comes with, you can use your choice of higher mAh ones like Eneloop or Duracell. I like the shared phonebook, as opposed to having to program numbers on each handset. If you prefer the latter, then this system may not be for you. You can set Night Ring mode for different times on different handsets, but you can't name the handset. We just have to remember that the "Bedroom" phone is #1 and that's the one that doesn't ring after 10pm. It's a handy feature.
I have a Blackberry Storm and my wife has an LG Chocolate 2. As soon as I turn OFF my Jawbone Prime, the base can connect to it. After I drive away from the house, I can turn on the Jawbone and it can find the Storm. The Storm seems to only talk to one BT device at once. I don't know if any of the negative reviewers are contributing some difficulties to concurrent BT headset use. The BlueTooth range is MUCH farther with the base than my headset. I was shocked that it works just fine without any BT static when I take my phone clear upstairs into the bedroom where my charging cradle lets the Storm double as a bedside clock. I have been so used BT headset range being limited even to where I keep my phone on the same side of my body as the earpiece. Occasionally, perhaps once a month, the base doesn't connect back up to one of our cell phones after a call. After unplugging the base station power for a couple seconds it comes back up just fine. We have NOT had any dropped calls using cell or landline (well, technically it's VOIP but same thing to the base).
Being used to the ability to pass calls to and from the BT headset, I found that the Panasonic cannot do this exactly. Of course, I can "steal" a call-in-progress from the Panasonic to talk on the cell, but I can't send a call to the Panasonic the way I can by turning on my Jawbone and having the call-in-progress transfer to the headset from the cell. I tried everything, but the Panasonic only knows how to answer a ringing Cell call or dial out an outgoing Cell call. Fortunately, my wife's Chocolate is more user-friendly than the Storm, in that if she picks up the Chocolate and answers it, the Chocolate doesn't default to BT like the Storm does. If I have to answer my Storm, I have to hit Answer, then Menu, Activate Handset, while the caller is inevitably saying, "Hello? Hello???" Be aware of this, and be prepared to teach your wife/parents/whoever how to answer their own cell when it's paired to the Panasonic's BlueTooth, if needed.
The biggest con I have with this system is that it can ONLY do ONE thing at a time, with the exception of a two-handset phone call. ONE phone can be using the phonebook at a time. About all it does in tandem is that you can intercom two handsets at the same time as other handsets make a phone call (we use it as an ad-hoc baby monitor sometimes). You can talk on ONE line, either cell 1 or cell 2 or landline, but you can't use more than one line at once and certainly not conference them. However, the convenience of walking to any of the 6 handsets to answer a call rather than dash around the house trying to find where the cell phone got set down, or trip up or down the stairs because it's always sitting on the kitchen counter, far outweighs the occasional times we get two calls at once and someone has to use their cell phone. You can't look up phone book or caller-id logs while any other phone is doing so or is on a phone call.
I wish you could change the backlight time, cradle-backlight settings, and have a large screensaver "clock" option, but you can't.
Overall the system is a keeper for us. The only reason I might be disappointed is if the VTech LS6245 that finally seems to have come out recently, or another BlueTooth enabled system, turns out to be a killer system and overcome some of the limitations such as one line or intercom at once. My wife loves it and doesn't care that it only does one thing at once.
4 stars instead of 5 because I think that by supporting up to 6 handsets, it should allow at minimum one handset to be on one call while another handset is on another, and intercom from handset can only ring one other handset (by number since it doesn't "name" phones) -- if you want to "ring all" you have to go poke the "handset locator" button on the base.
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Panasonic Link-to-Cell Expandable Bluetooth-Enabled DECT 6.0 Phone System with 2 HandsetsProduct Description: The Panasonic KX-TH1212B DECT 6.0 Expandable Bluetooth Cell Link Coverage Telephone System is a wireless cell phone accessory that allows you to make and receive cell phone calls at home, with a stronger signal and a more comfortable handset--without draining your cell battery. By using Bluetooth technology to link your cell phone to cordless handsets around your home, you can make and receive cell phone calls anywhere in your house with comfort and clarity. Best of all, no land line is required.
Panasonic Link to Cell allows you to make and receive cell phone calls at home, with a stronger signal and a more comfortable handset, without draining your cell battery. View larger. Your cell phone is your lifeline. Now, it's your home line, too!
Easy to Use Link to Cell uses technology to connect your cell phone calls to your home handset extensions. No more running for your cell phone, walking around for good reception, or cradling that little phone on your shoulder. Better yet, you get to tap into your free cell phone minutes for talk time, and you can charge your cell phone while using the home handsets. Now, that's convenient!
How it Works Just link any Bluetooth-enabled cell phone to your Link to Cell base unit, and you're good to go. It's that easy. Set up takes seconds--and you can link up to 2 Bluetooth-enabled cell phones at once. Talking Caller ID lets you know who's calling, and custom ring tones tell you which cell phone is ringing.
Note: This set includes two handsets. A Cell Link Coverage Telephone System with one handset is also available.
What's in the Box The Panasonic KX-TH1212B DECT 6.0 Expandable Bluetooth Cell Link Coverage Telephone System, two handsets, AC adaptor, base unit stand, telephone line cord, handset cover, belt clip, four rechargeable batteries, and operating instructions.
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