Easy to set up and bring on line, would have been 5 stars but Panasonic have changed the phone book storage location. It is now in the base unit and not the individual hand sets. If, like me, you want to download your phone book from an older Panasonic DECT phone, forget it. You have to sit down and hand crank all your phone book numbers into your new phone.

 

We’ve had a Trio set of Panasonic ‘phones for more than 20 years, but recently they’ve been getting increasingly problematic (one handset discharges its batteries – even *new* rechargeables) in about 20 mins of talk-time, for example). So decided to replace them, even if most calls now are via mobiles, and opted to stay with Panasonic as the previous set has been durable.

PROS

* Does what it says on the box – allows you to make / receive calls.
* Handsets follow a familiar styling such that anyone using older Panasonic handset should find them familiar.
* Speakerphone, intercom and call another handset functions (the latter handy if a handset is put down somewhere rather than returned to its stand).
* Reasonable call quality sound.
* Ability to record own outgoing message on answer system.

CONS

* No choice of ring tone by handset.
* Manual not the clearest in places.
* Finicky in set-up – “hashcodes” (e.g. “#101” or “#302”, etc.) are required in order to carry out some set-up operations, so you need to keep the manual around if you want to change things for whatever reason).
* Handset screen very dark when resting in cradles (obviously illuminate when in use, but does make it hard when using the to check the time as a simple desktop clock, as I used to with the older set).

CONCLUSIONS

The “cons” above are not enough to make this set unusable; they are just niggling irritations. As a low-cost replacement, they do the job for us when home handsets are required & will hopefully prove as durable as the old units. Assuming we’re even using a landline after 2025!