Panasonic 2.4 ghz phone @Cosco $100 after MIR

[CLB006]

I was at the Chicago Costco and spotted the Panasonic 2.4GHz phone w/speaker phone, and touch pad on the base unit. The deal seems to only be on the white one. It's $119.99 - a $20 rebate. I already have the silver one, and after pointing it out to one of my buddies, he grabbed it right away. It's the same as the one in the link.

GigaRange® Extreme

 

[MrHappyMonkey]

I have had good experience with Panasonic cordless phones. Mine is only a 900MHz, but it sounds just as clear as a normal land phone.

 

[icantiwont]

My first cordless phone was a Panasonic (45 MHz or something like that). It was great. Kicked Sony's butt.
I have since purchased a Panasonic 900 MHz phone and love it. When it comes to cordless phone you
can't go wrong with Panasonic.

 

[bertrandom]

Actually, when it comes to cordless phones, you CAN go wrong with panasonic. I have three 2.4 ghz Panasonic phones and have had to replace 1 twice, one just doesn't work at all anymore, and the other makes weird noises. And I used to work at the good guys and people would bring these in after like 6 - 12 months of using them. I've heard the 900 mhz panasonics are much more reliable, I think their phones started to go downhill after that model.

 

[Mysterie]

<< Actually, when it comes to cordless phones, you CAN go wrong with panasonic. I have three 2.4 ghz Panasonic phones and have had to replace 1 twice, one just doesn't work at all anymore, and the other makes weird noises. And I used to work at the good guys and people would bring these in after like 6 - 12 months of using them. I've heard the 900 mhz panasonics are much more reliable, I think their phones started to go downhill after that model. >>


I fully agree except some of their 900Mhz phones are crap too. My experience with their phones is that they are very clear and have nice range, but break very easily (unlike my Uniden that had seen hell and survived). They also break down more easily, even with minimum mistreatment. I don't know if it's poor quality but between their phones and most of their electronics (like a certain $500 sound system we had that broke not a few days after warranty, but was very well cared for) my family only trust their microwaves.

 

[dman]

I have a couple of VTECH 900MHz phones. Unfortunately, the two cause interference problems with each other! They only have 10 channels and they auto select, no manual override. However, I only need one plugged in on a regular basis so it's not a big deal.

The thing I like most about the VTECH's is the fact that I have two batteries, one in the base and one in the handset. When the battery gets low I just swap 'em. That way, the battery always gets fully discharged before it's recharged and so far I've had this set over 2yrs w/o having to replace them.

So, my next phone needs to have that same feature OR/and it needs to work with NiMH batteries. I don't know if the panasonic has this feature or not, but, I brought it up since having to change NiCD batteries every 6mo's (to a year) because of the memory effect (from not getting properly charged) can make this not-so-hot of a deal.

 

[Stifko]

I just bought a 2 line panasonic 2.4 gig phone w/digital answerin at costcos for like $180. Hardley a hot deal, but Dad wanted it pronto.

I have a couple of 900mhtz Vtech phones and they work great. This is our 1st panasonic. Ppl say that it has a hollow sound on the other end.

 

[RossMAN]

Panasonic makes excellent cordless phones except for when it comes to 2.4 GHz phones.

I would rather "downgrade" to a 900 MHz Panasonic rather than a 2.4 GHz.

Plus 900 MHz shouldn't interfere with WiFi.

 

[CLB006]

I had their 2 previous 2.4 ghz models. You are right, in that they were not very sturdy. IMO Panasonic has improved the handset design greatly. This model seems much more durable; the handset is trimmed in rubber and is splash resistant. I use a headset with mine, and I walked block from my house with it and still had good reception (5 by 5). This model just may give you a change of heart about panasonic 2.4 Ghz phones. (and I always thought they were considered the stuff when it came to 2.4 Ghz, I did not know they had such a luke warm rep. Maybe you weren't using the "Extreme" models)

I love mine-

 

[theshamu]

If you can wait, Costco is going to have $10 off the Uniden 2.4 GHz phone with digital answer machine for $79.99, 6 weeks from now (valid 2/11-2/17). The phone is not on their website, and it seems to be this one.

I have no experience with Uniden product, so don't know the quality.

 

[alphansx]

i had my Pana 2.4 gigarange from value american deal. it starts to makes noise after i talk pass abt 5 mins on the phone.
i just bought myself a GE 2.4mhz phone (27920) for for 20.00

no problem with my 4 years old 900mhz panasonic for now

 

[Siamskunk]

Pana phones are great only those older models.

I still use 54mhz (the one that came with 2 mailboxes) bought 6 yrs ago. It still works great.

Sadly, their new models seem to get more bad reviews than before.

 

[sp33dracer]

I own alot of panasonic stuff, most of it rocks

I have this phone and it sucks @$$

The repair service isn't so good either, sent mine back for service
(while still under warrantee) and when I got it back it was still busted.

Just an FYI - I've had bad experience with this phone.

 

[dealonfire]

I bought mine Panasonic 900mhz phone for $180+ about three years ago. works great. but the battery need replacement. do the 2.4ghz phones use NiMH battery? my 900mhz uses NiCd. Isn't it true if I charge NiCd battery before it's fully discharged would shorten the battery capacity? or life?

 

[wolfnap]

for whatever it's worth, consumer reports says that 2.4 gigahertz phones aren't worth the extra money cuz their reception is generally not noticably better than 900 megahertz phones. i think you're better off getting a good quality 900 and saving about $60.

besides, 2.4 phones are likely to interfere with 802.11b airwaves cuz they share the same spectrum.

 

[welshman]

Quick question from a foreigner, I live in an apartment - how secure are the 900 vs 2.4 cordless phones against someone making calls using my line?

 

[Mysterie]

<< Quick question from a foreigner, I live in an apartment - how secure are the 900 vs 2.4 cordless phones against someone making calls using my line? >>


Not very good. If there are several people with 900MHz phones (worse if they are the same brand) you'll get mjor interference. My Grandparents live at some apartments but due to their lost, interfered, and dropped calls they gave up using them. I don't know about the 2.4s, maybe they are better.

 

[danziru]

A couple of notes...

1. Something noticably missing from this thread is any talk about Spread Spectrum. I've lived in NYC and have no problems with my 900Mhz SS phone, and have no problems (no lost, interfered, or dropped calls. Zero. Zilch). I had some issues with a non-SS 900Mhz prior to that. The SS also provides significantly better security.

2. One of the things that steared me away from the 2.4 Panasonics was the fact that they were 2.4 from the base to the headset, but 900mhz ANALOG from the headset to base. This is totally unsecure. It always baffled me that they could push their phones as 2.4.

3. While it is true that 2.4 is generally a less crowded range than 900Mhz, if you remember back to your basic high school physics class, lower frequencies travel further. I haven't owned a 2.4 phone, but I would guess that while it may go through walls better, it probably won't have quite the range.

4. Having a cordless phone with a speakerphone in it is the ONLY way to fly. Once you have it you can't go back.

4. A last note on Panasonic cordless phones. They used to be great, but now they generally suck. Until someone proves otherwise, I will not buy another Panasonic phone. The phone I bought in 1987 still works (it's in my parents house hooked up to a 2nd phone line) after almost 10 years of constant use and the last 5 years of not so constant use. This phone survived college when I lived in a house with 5 guys who would throw the phone to each other like a football. Needless to say the phone took a lot of knocks and still keeps on going. I bought the same phone (at the same time) for a video store I worked in back in the day and it, too, got the crap knocked out of it but kept on chugging. The last few Panasonic I bought all died in less than a year. I went through 3 of them before I finally decided not to give them any more of my money. Someone at Panasonic really dropped the ball here.

Of course, your milage may vary.