Panasonic KXTG6841B Dect_6.0 1-Handset 1-Line Landline Telephone

It echos. It makes weird sounds. The handset locator doesn't work well. Right now, it isn't working at all. I bought it only a few months ago, but its apparently too late to return it. I paid top dollar for it and it was a waste of money. I don't know what else to say. I was ripped off and I'm pissed.

It announces your calls ("Call from Abner Lumpkin") (though you can turn it off), you can block all no-number calls, and you have room to specifically block 250 other numbers, and you can store about 100 numbers in the phone book in one of nine lists (I'm using one for friends/acquaintances, the other for businesses) (When you search for a number, it searches ALL the lists by default; you don't have to pick one), and you can "grab" numbers from caller ID and send them either to the Block list or the phonebook.The handset takes two AAA NIMH rechargeable batteries (included), and it is that which (it has to be in the cradle) powers the base unit during an outage. (You use the speakerphone to make/receive calls during an outage.)The only thing it doesn't appear to do is automatically update the clock (though the power hasn't gone out, so I'm not sure.) I had originally knocked off a star because it appeared the Save function only carried over the phone number, not the area code, BUT that's on the first screen. When you go to the next EDIT step, the entire number is there. You MAY have to check it and key it in (Edit) when saving, but I think it depends upon how the service, Caller ID, passes along the number, not the phone. This feature becomes second-nature, and takes you back, for instance, to your Caller-ID(CID) screen so you can delete that entry from there, leaving it in your do-not-answer list.(Edited/updated 1/18/14):Some seldom-used functions can only be accessed using code numbers found in the book; otherwise, the menu system would be so complicated you'd get lost. No more trouble than learning keyboard shortcuts for areas you choose to access often.**UPDATED (June 27, 2014): After a little over six months, what had been as many as ten calls a day from solicitors has dropped to one or two a week which we hear and answer; all the others are handled by our handy-dandy Panasonic phone!! And when we do answer one of the few unwanted calls, we quickly add that number to the Blocked list, never to hear from them again. And, in case you've wondered, it has never blocked a call from friend, family, or a business with whom we trade.

Our cassette tape based answering machine finally failed after about 20 years, and we decided to explore what was out there for a replacement. At the same time, we were unable to locate a 3rd handset for an existing cordless phone system we have in the house, so this was an opportunity to combine and resolve the problems.This Panasonic system has good range and the unit sounds good at both ends. People can hear us clearly and we can hear with good audio fidelity those who call us.Our older cordless system is a Uniden that operates on 2400 MHz and I have suspected that its range has been reduced by the addition of a household wi-fi system in recent years, and the handful of devices we have that transmit/receive over wi-fi . At first I blamed declining battery strength for noise we picked up in the Uniden handhelds, but replacement cells made no difference in signal dropoff in the backyard where previously we could hold a call. The two units in that system are now located near the base unit with good reception and they will continue to be in use.This new Panasonic uses a different frequency band, 1900 MHz, an area that is reserved for cordless phones, and more removed from potential wi-fi interference. We live in a rural area where this system is not likely to encounter signals from other cordless phone users. This may explain the greater range we are seeing compared to the Uniden, even before we started the wi-fi system.Operating the Panasonic is unremarkable. The controls are straightforward, the menu is simple, and the quality is good on the recordings made on the digital storage and retrieval system located in the master base unit that plugs into the home phone jack.We since have purchased a "like new" 2nd unit from Amazon, and the system easily recognized and registered the additional handset phone. Either handset can be placed in the master console for charging/use.I agree with other reviewers who say the base charging unit for the single cordless phone is too lightweight. It rises up with the phone unless you hold it to the table with your other hand. It then drops off the phone and hits the table, nice. Feels cheap, but it works as it should as a place to park the phone and keep it charged.Suggestion to manufacturers: Put the wall transformer (and its weight) in the base of the phone cradle and use a normal AC power cord to the wall socket! Voila! Not only does it put the weight where it's needed, but it makes room for other plugs in the wall.I picked a brand and model that uses common AAA NiMH cells. These batteries should remain plentiful on the aftermarket long past when this model is out of production. It is interesting to note that the re-charge rate is very long on the base holder and the single-unit holder. It really took all night to bring it up to "Fully Charged" indicator according to the battery status readout on both phones. This is actually a good thing, since it suggests the charger will NOT provide too much juice which would cook the batteries when the phone is parked on the charger for extended periods of time.

Volume on headset at full (four bars) is so quiet as to be useless for my mother who I bought it for. Volume on Speaker is great (you have to turn it down). Why they did not allow for the volume to be loud enough to enjoy conversations is beyond me

This phone works well, but has two issues that truly irritate me. First, making changes to the set up (like changing the outgoing greeting) is unnecessarily complicated. Instead of simply following an intuitive series of commands, you have to refer to the instruction book for programming codes. Once you have the code, it's easy, but having to look up the codes is just a pain. what were they thinking? The other problem is the headset jack. After about a month of use, I found my headset cutting out unless the headset jack was placed just so in the jack outlet. Now I have to hold the jack in place with my finger to use the headset. Without the headset, the phone works well, but if you need to use a headset so you can type or do other things, you might want a different model..

Biggest POS I have every bought of amazon. Very hard to use , can not hear pick up, voice goes up an down . A big pile of crap