Home > Consumer Reviews > Panasonic DECT 6.0-Series Dual-Handset Cordless Phone System with Answering System (KX-TG1032S)

Pros: the clarity is excellent and when on speaker phone, the person to whom you are talking isn't aware of it because it's doesn't echo like other phones. I like the size and weight and the musical choices for ring tones. I got the model with the extra handset and that is nice. You can page the other phone to alert a person outside that they have a call instead of yelling out the window! I like the answering machine.. but .. a voice says "thank you for calling" after the call has ended and the caller has already hung up. What's up with that?

Cons: The keypad has no back light so it's hard to make calls in the dark unless you memorize the keypad. The wall adapter is a laugh. It snapped when I attempted to hang the phone. I called Panasonic and they only wanted 1.89 to replace it.. BUT .. with shipping it was 7.00 and change. That is laughable since the adapter is cheap plastic. I faxed proof of purchase and they agreed to send at no charge.. BUT .. the item is back ordered. I WONDER WHY!! I would imagine that everyone who has purchased this has had the same problem with the 'hanger'.

Having said all of that, I still rate this product a 4 because I would buy it again. They really do need to add a lighted keypad though. Even the cheapest of cheap phones offer that as a feature.

Bought this phone about 2 months ago. I work from home and am constantly on the phone with clients and on conference calls.

Pros:
--I bought it for the speakerphone, the headset plug, the cordless feature, and muting. I've been on 2 simultaneous conference calls where I've got this phone muted and I'm on a headset while talking on my cell phone on the other ear.
--It's also great to have an intercom feature on it. I can call my wife downstairs.
--Came with 2 handsets and an answering machine, which I don't use.
--No big ugly base with it, just a nice compact charging station, saving me desk space.
--I charge it at night and it's enough for 12+ hours of use.
--Phonebook syncing between handsets takes 5 seconds, wirelessly.
--DECT 6.0 keeps it from having interference even though it's sitting right above my wireless Netgear router, which is transmitting at 2.9Ghz. I know someone who has that problem.

Cons:
--Maybe 2-5 times in a week, I'll call someone and they can't hear me on the other side. I hang-up, call back, and it's fine. It could be my provider (Comcast) but there's no way for me to diagnose without buying another set. I may have to exchange the set.
-- Number of missed calls is constantly displayed and there is no way (from the manual or their website) to clear it from the display. It's supposed to display time and date, but I can't ever see it since I can't clear the calls-missed. It makes the display useless.
--When I'm on a phone call, the number I dialed or the caller's number is not displayed. I'm constantly multi-tasking that I forget who I dialed while it's still ringing. I also can't see a caller's number when I'm on the call (it does before I pick it up) so I have to ask them the number if I have to call them back. Again, I don't know if that's a Comcast feature or the phone's, but it's annoying.
--I guess I'm used to cell phones displaying recent callers' or dialed numbers, so I can save it from the list. No features like that on here, but it would be nice to have. I have to enter it again to save it.
--Menu and controls are non-intuitive, though it's not rocket science.
--I always wrestle with the rubber plug cover to connect my headset.

Otherwise, the phone is phenomenal. I still definitely recommend it, with minor annoyances. And it's very nice looking.

Update: March 2009
The phone is still my favorite phone in the house. However, there have been a few times when the phone just stops working. I have it connected to the line along with other sets (different makes) and this pair would not pick up the caller ID and also, when I pick it up to make calls, not have dial tone or work at times. It's shown this flaky behavior before as well with regards to my being heard by the person I just called. Then, it just somehow heals after a few days. I don't know what triggers the problems and I don't know how it heals. The call quality is still excellent and the speaker phone feature is still my favorite.

I was a little skeptical that DECT was going to superior to my previous 5.8Ghz phone. Could the talk time really be 17 hours?

The answer is likely. I haven't even been able to get 1 less bar on the battery indicator.

I work from home and am on conference calls nearly all day. This can be more than 10 hours (my work day is all the time). My old phone got about 4 hours of talk time before I had to switch to VOIP or cell.

With the DECT, I have no complaints. Sound quality is comparable to 5.8Ghz phones. Battery time is much, much better.

The only suggestion I would have is to include additional features on the base unit such as speakerphone for convenience.

I have used many cordless phones before, but this is the best. The range is great, remember, without any interference. Very ergonomic, and ofcourse its a Panasonic.
I have not tested the battery life (they claim 15-17 hours) but its cool.

~Rishi

There has been lots of praise for this phone. And it's all true. However I'm going to mention two gripes I have. First, do you know how many keystrokes it takes to turn the ringer on the handset to OFF? TEN! Yes that's right. If your phone is in your bedroom, and you want to turn the ringer off at night so as not to get a wrong number call in the middle of the night, you need to turn the ringer off. The stupid process is:
1. Down Arrow
2. Down Arrow
3. Down Arrow
4. Down Arrow
5. Down Arrow
6. OK Button
7. OK Button
8. OK Button
9. Up Arrow
10. OK Button

Now the ringer is off, and you can have peace of mind that you will not get disturbed at night. Now the next morning, if you want to turn the ringer on again, you need to press TEN more keystrokes to turn the unit on again. Now do this over and over, every day for the rest of your life. Whatever happened to the ringer on and off switch that phones used to have?

Next, if that same phone is in your room and sitting on the base unit, you will have a nice night light in your room, because the indicator light NEVER turns off as long as the unit is on the base. This can be covered up though with tape.

OK, aside from these two points, there are too many pro's about this phone not to keep it, especially when compared to the competition.