$39.93 AR/AC for Panasonic 2.4 GHz GigaRange® Extreme Spread Spectrum (SST) Cordless Phone with Caller Waiting Caller ID

[exit88]

Panasonic 2.4 GHz GigaRange® Extreme Spread Spectrum (SST) Cordless Phone with Caller Waiting Caller ID, silver color for $39.93 after coupon and rebate at officedepot.com

model KX-TG2553S

79.93- 20 off 75 coupon available at ebates.com - 20 Rebate = $39.93 with free shipping

 

[Hodaddy]

Nice post! Liked it so much, I couldn't resist. Made it a nice b'day gift.

 

[RossMAN]

Does anyone know if these cordless phones interfere with 802.11b WiFi?

 

[exit88]

I have heard, and personally experienced, that 2.4 Ghz phones like this one do interfere, and it does moderately for me, but 900 Mhz phones don't.

Staples has this 900 Mhz phone link for $24.99 and you get back a $25 staples gift certificate. There is also a $5 off $25 purchase coupon code at the usual fat suspect website.

 

[EF9]

panasonic cordless phones are the best

 

[klein297]

Originally posted by: EF9
panasonic cordless phones are the best

 

[treasurehunter]

This phone has only a 2.5 star (out of 5) rating based on over 15 customer reviews at Amazon just FYI. . . .

 

[axskkyline]

I personally have experinecfe with this phone...they are pretty nice. Why such bad of a rating??

 

[hytek369]

i don't get any wireless signals when i use the phone. =(

waiting for a 5.8Ghz deal

 

[ams30gts]

panasonic is the only cordless phone i would buy. too many probs with all the sonys i have owned

 

[zippin44]

I got the Panasonic KX-TG2583 at Target about a month ago when they blew out all of their old phones. Paid $34.88 after rebate. Mine has the answer machine and call waiting. Here's my $.02:

- Excellent range, I can walk outside about 200' from the house.
- Sound quality is much better than my V-tech 2431/61 (Target $16.88 after rebate about two months ago)
- Hand set is more comfortable to hold in my hand than my V-tech 2431/61.
- Hand set is MUCH LESS comfortable against my ear than V-tech 2431 or my similarly shaped Panasonic 900 MHz model. Why? Panasonic tried to "jazz" up this model by recessing the ear speaker. The surround actually begins to rub your freakin' ear off during a long conversation. I end up switching to a different phone during long conversations.
- Speaker phone has good ergonomics, but people say it's a lot more tin can like than my V-tech.
- Speed dial set up is not good. V-tech is much more useful.
- My fiance said it looks like a spaceship - I agree. V-tech 2431/61 looks cool.
- Finally, as with all Panasonic phones, the battery life sucks, and $20 for a high MAh NiMh battery doesn't make it a hole lot better!

The verdict is in, it's worth $40.

 

[zippin44]

Oops, forgot to tell 'ya:

No interference with my microwave or D-link 802.11b and the Panasonic KX-TG2583. V-tech doesn't like the microwave, but is fine with the wireless LAN.

 

[shekondar]

Originally posted by: ams30gts
panasonic is the only cordless phone i would buy. too many probs with all the sonys i have owned

The last Panasonic phone I had died after six months, I sent it back for repair, and the replacement was just as bad! (It also died after about six months)...

 

[nebula]

Originally posted by: EF9
panasonic cordless phones are the best

I usually feel the same, but for free, how could you really go wrong for a second phone. But also note the ATT @ Staples is only a 900Mz whereas this deal is a 2.4GHz.

Question though, since I don't have a Staples B&M near me, can I use the gift card they send for the phone deal online or on phone purchases? Thx

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Does anyone know if these cordless phones interfere with 802.11b WiFi?

RossMan,

I have an 802.11b wireless network at home and I have the predecessor to this phone at home as well. Since both operate at 2.4Ghz, there is a lot of interference when the phone is on. In fact, my wireless connection is totally dropped when I turn the phone on. It is totally restored when I turn the phone off.

 

[Garet Jax]

I just read through the entire thread and it appears that my interference is in the minority. It could be my equipment or it could be that I am unlucky. Either way, it looks like you test your luck with this interference issue.

 

[manly]

Bah I should just buy the Uniden TRU 5885-2 or the new Panasonic KX-TG5100M. I believe these are the only 2-way 5.8 GHz cordless phones on the market, each retailing at $200.

I just picked up the new Uniden DCT5285, and I'm afraid FHSS phones will kill my 802.11b WLAN. :\ I haven't even opened it yet.

 

[RossMAN]

Guess I'll wait another year or so for 5GHz models to drop in price.

 

[manly]

Originally posted by: Garet Jax
I just read through the entire thread and it appears that my interference is in the minority. It could be my equipment or it could be that I am unlucky. Either way, it looks like you test your luck with this interference issue.

I doubt it's in the minority, but it does vary by phone.

The Uniden TRU 3465 I use is not bad. Occasionally, it will interfere, but if I switch channels on the phone, the WLAN quickly restores (the phone itself is DSS so it's always functional). So it's annoying, but not fatal (actually, when the battery is low, it'll apparently "ping" to the base, and this does throw a HUGE wrench into the WLAN).

A Toshiba DSS phone that I know longer use interfered much worse; IIRC it fairly reproducably would interfere on all calls. The WLAN wouldn't restore until after the call was completed. But it's been so long that I can't recall if switching channels on the phone helped or not.

For the record, these are both 2-way 2.4 GHz DSS phones.

One problem I currently see with the Uniden handset is the range/clarity I get in the rear of the house is pathetic. When I first got the phone, I tested the phone's range and it was great; I literally drove around the block and although the connection was hammered, the call did not drop and order was restored when I got back home. I don't know if this phone problem is due to WLAN traffic, or if the phone is worse than I originally though, or what.

 

[nebula]

Freakin' crap. Just called Staples, the gift card is an actual card and can only be used in stores at this time. I kinda wanted a new free cordless phone. Ah well...

 

[manly]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Guess I'll wait another year or so for 5GHz models to drop in price.

Hopefully, they'll drop in price like DVD writers currently are, and we'll have affordable 2nd generation models by winter.

I would have bought the Panasonic GigaRange Extreme phone earlier, but the handsets are FUGLY; like zippin44 said, you can see that it's not the most comfortable phone to use for long calls. The designer apparently had no training in ergonomics design.

 

[treasurehunter]

If you read Consumer Reports' last test from the fall of 2002, they show that 2.4 GHz phones did not have longer range or better quality than 900 MHz versions. Plus, they also were susceptible to more kinds of interference from other electronic devices. Many of the more objective reviews out there point out that 2.4 GHz being "better" is nothing more than manufacturer's hype to get people to upgrade. . . .

 

[DVDBob]

I HAD 3 2.4ghz phones and took them all back due to interference with my both my 802.11 and microwave. 2 were Panasonics and one was a AT&T. Ended up getting 2 Vtech and 1 AT&T 900MHz and haven't had a problem since. The AT&T is ok, but the Vtechs are great.