Telephone Reviews

Purchased this phone to use as an additional handset to the Siemens 4215. For those not familar with the Siemens system - up to three of the 4200 series handsets can be used to expand the 4215 base system. You can have phones (4 total)all over the house without the cost of adding wiring and new jacks.

I am able to walk to a neighbors home on the two acres next to mine & make/receieve calls with prefect clarity - even inside!

One more thing - this phone takes two regular AA rechargeable batteries, so no more expensive batteries that sometimes can cost more than the original phone.

If you are shopping for a new phone, this one will exceed ALL your expectations. This phone could be easily sold in [higher monitary]range and still beat any competitors.
For [money]it's a STEAL. PLUS you get Voice Activation and Digital Answering Machine for FREE.
Honestly, to fully utilize the potential of this phone you need to get familiar with rather thick product manual. But most operations are intuitive.
Before I purchased this phone I did quite a bit of a research on top of the line models from Panasonic, Sony, etc.
This Siemens 4215 won with a large gap after all comparisons.
When I received this phone I was OVERWHELMED with all the futures as wel as design and built quality.
I must note that this phone uses AA rechargable batteries which gives you:
Pros: Cheap to replace and easy to find.
Cons: Batteries do not last long on one charge and require often recharging.

Again, I Strongly Recommend this wonderful unit from Siemens.

I purchased the 4215 about a year ago based on a recommendation from my sister who checked out several multi function cordless phones, and thought the Seimen's had the best quality. I was impressed by the product line and the features as well as the compact size. I soon bought a 4200 and am about to purchase a third.
I needed tech support(I rate excellent)because I could not figure out(among many other things) how to "flash". This is NOT an "easy" machine!
About ten months ago, quite unexpectedly the main unit accidently got mixed up in the towels and went through an entire hot laundry cycle. When I found it at the bottom of the tub, I took out the batteries and wrapped the phone in a small towel then put it in an oven of 200 degrees for an hour or so,then I put it on the charger and I got a dial tone! It works perfectly as it did a year ago. The design also hold up to the test of time as they look new with very little effort. Exellent speaker phone, and voice recognition. No headphone jack and a weird caller ID system that is easy to forgive. If you want quality, loaded with features on a cordless multi handset phone this is the one. I have learned to love it.

I have had this unit for over a yr and cannot say anything bad about it.
I have never lost a call. I have walked all over the house and outside and the call never faded. I have moved fr orig area and still in the hills can go outside. Sticking with the 900. I do need a speakphone now, so this baby will go in bedroom and plan on buying a uniden phone with speaker. good buy and dependable.

This was one of the cheaper phones pricewise that I found with Caller ID and answering machine. I first bought a SW Bell phone and immediately returned it because of its poor quality. I already had a Uniden cordless as my bedroom phone and have been pleased with its quality in the 4 years I've owned it so I was pleasantly surprised to find a Uniden with the features I was looking for (caller ID & answering machine) at a price that was affordable. The first time I used I noticed how much better the quality was compared to the ...SW Bell and since owning for a month now I have no complaints and will definitely recommend Unidens to anyone looking for a cordless phone.

I was a little hesitant about buying this because of all the bad reviews I read, well I am very glad that I went with my instinct. It is the best phone by far that I have purchased. The battery life is awesome! And it is so user friendly! I highly recommend this phone!

I have had this unit for over a yr and cannot say anything bad about it.
I have never lost a call. I have walked all over the house and outside and the call never faded. I have moved fr orig area and still in the hills can go outside. Sticking with the 900. I do need a speakphone now, so this baby will go in bedroom and plan on buying a uniden phone with speaker. good buy and dependable.

This was one of the cheaper phones pricewise that I found with Caller ID and answering machine. I first bought a SW Bell phone and immediately returned it because of its poor quality. I already had a Uniden cordless as my bedroom phone and have been pleased with its quality in the 4 years I've owned it so I was pleasantly surprised to find a Uniden with the features I was looking for (caller ID & answering machine) at a price that was affordable. The first time I used I noticed how much better the quality was compared to the ...SW Bell and since owning for a month now I have no complaints and will definitely recommend Unidens to anyone looking for a cordless phone.

I was a little hesitant about buying this because of all the bad reviews I read, well I am very glad that I went with my instinct. It is the best phone by far that I have purchased. The battery life is awesome! And it is so user friendly! I highly recommend this phone!

I bought this for my mom because she needed a new phone, loves big buttons, and caller ID with name. The price is certainly amazing. She is madly in love with this phone; it's like her dream phone - and she is very hard to please.

From the other end - speaking to her - I can hear a slight echo. I know when I've called and this is the phone she's answered. Perhaps the echo is in her kitchen, where the phone is, but I don't think so - I think it's a bit "cheap," or worth it's price. It's not awful, and not even terrible - it's just fine, but I hear that little bit of echo.

I've had the older model of this phone (957) for the past two years and I've loved it! I now want another one for my home office so I got this one too. The buttons are great. The caller ID is very clear if the contrast is kept on low and the speaker phone works great too. The only con I found is that the phone itself can be easily knocked off the handset since it doesn't fit in too firmly. Other than that, I liked the fact that the caller ID doesn't need any batteries since most of the phones in the market need separate batteries for the caller ID.

Why people have rated this phone somewhat low is beyond me! Usually I won't endorse anything without the big check in hand but I found myself impelled to tell you about this phone!
Great! Took under 3 minutes to program and have completly set up! Has redial, flash for two lines, hold, mute, volume control not just for the outstandingly clear speakerphone but also the pleasent ringer! I don't know about you but I cringe if the ringer sounds loud and shrill especially after a long night pleasing the masses! I hear enough loud noises on stage! This phone is like from....heaven! Date, Time you name it it's got it and under $25.00? Come on...would I lie to you or waste both our time? Get this you won't go wrong belive me..It's a 5 star phone!

Anyone who says they like it, doesn't use it.

What does work? Yes, the speaker phone works both on the base and handset. You can acutally dial out, that works too.

OK, the hold button works too.

What doesn't work: everything else. I've had this for about two years now. And I _try_ to use the features. I read the manual. BUT:

The screens are too hard to read.

The menu system was done by someone who knows nothing about human-machine interfaces. It's very awkward to use.

The autodialer (directory) is painfully slow. I just timed it. To scroll through the list and pick the third entry takes 7 seconds, and I cheated since I pressed keys before I could see that I should. That may not seem like a lot in print, but how long should it take? I think it should be more like 2 seconds.

Some of the phone programming requires you to use the base station and handset at the same time. For example, if you want to change the numbers of rings before the answering machine picks up. Why would anyone software developer worth his pay develop a system where sometimes you do it all on the handset, sometimes you need both the handset and base? Laziness, pure and simple.

The round toggle button on both the base and hand set frequently do not register presses. The one on the handset is just to small for a multifunction switch.

Even the labels of some buttons are bad. On the handset, one is called 'direct'. What does that mean? Another is labeled 'function/ch'. You tell me.

The connection from handset to base sometimes drops out, usually just as I answer the phone. And I'm only 40 feet from the base!

The answering machine function is buggy. The telemarketers that call and hang up on the machine cause the answering machine to indicate a message is waiting. If you listen to the message, you hear about 5-10 seconds of silence, then a 1/2 second of some previously recorded (and erased) message.

Another reviewer wrote that the handset is small enough for a woman but big enough for a man. Well my hands aren't that big but I have to hold it by me fingertips.

You can't please everybody, especially with something like handset size. I can live with that. If Panasonic hired some decent engineers (especially software), they could probably make this phone decent. But as it stands now, don't buy this phone.

Why do I love it? The handset is small enough for a woman's hand, but big enoug for a guy to use. The speakerphone on the handset works incredibly well and has been immensely helpful with a little one around. This phone is practical and durable. My toddler has abused this phone in every imaginable way and it still works! My husband wants to get a new phone with several handsets and I've been fighting it all the way because I don't want to lose this phone. Other Panasonic phones I've seen have different handsets.

I've owned this model for close to two years now and I absolutely love it! It's small, light weight, wearable, clear and full of features. The one complaint I have about this phone is that I'm having difficulties with some of the buttons on my headset keypad. Since I've used the phone so much the buttons I press the most frequently are wearing out and my LCD display is fading slightly but this is not going to stop me from buying the same model all over again. The other thing I would like to mention is that this phone has taking a beating! I've dropped this phone more times than I would like to count and each time I just picked up the phone and kept on talking.

I purchased it on Ebay for 40 bucks and thought I was getting a good deal. My condo doesn't have a phone jack in the spare room so this was better than running a phone line from one room to the next. Unfortunately I haven't been able to connect any faster than 28.8. Yikes!! My place is only 5 years old. Price was right, quality was wrong. I'll stick with the long phone lines.

I've used the RCA RC930 Wireless Modem Jacks to create a poor man's wireless network in my home. It works! And I love it! I can now sit in any chair of my house, surf the web, and print (across the room) to my wireless HP 995 Bluetooth printer.

My system consists of two sets of RCA Wireless Modem Jacks (a sender and receiver unit in each set) -- one set for the upstairs and one set for the downstairs (which appear to be on separate circuits and are not connected); a 3Com Bluetooth PC card for my laptop; and a HP 995 Bluetooth printer.

I now use my laptop in the following manner: first, I plug the RCA receiving unit into the wall outlet nearest where I want to sit; then I turn on the printer; and finally, I extend the little blue tooth-shaped antenna (how cute!) on the laptop's PC card -- and I'm all set to go!

The RCA Modem Jack is good up to 56k, which is ok since I don't have internet cable or DSL service in my area. But I'll gladly trade-off mobility for speed any day. Here's why.

My desktop computers (old and new) are in my upstairs bedrooms -- where I can't use them when my family is sleeping. They are also far away from where my family spends most of its time -- and that's downstairs by the TV's.

With the RCA wireless modem jacks, I can now access the internet --- while watching TV with my family; and I can surf the net long after everyone has gone to sleep -- when internet speeds are fastest. The connection is fairly clean (free of static); and the transfer speed is nearly as fast as if I had accessed the phone jack directly.

I've gotten very used to sitting in my favorite chair and surfing the net. When cable or DSL eventually come to my neighborhood, I guess I'll have to set up a wireless network in my home (for a lot more money) -- in order to maintain my mobility.

Until then, I'll use the next best thing -- RCA's Wireless Modem Jacks. They're great!

Using it for a DSS system and is very dependable. Works as advertised, beats wiring thru the walls. Just used for a satellite system for pay-per-views etc. Only took 10 minutes to hook up 1 transmitter and 2 receivers (One for each sattelite receiver). Yes it is cheaper to wire phone lines, but this way is A LOT easier and faster by far. Highly recommend for sattelite systems. Like I said I NEVER made a call on a "phone" with these units, I only use for sattelite's.

I am planning to return my system today (base station and 3 wireless including one desk wireless). Like an earlier reviewer I had planned on this being my primary office phone and I like the idea of having access to my fax line. We have 2 primary offices in our home and so my first serious problem was that the desk top unit did not make a good ofice telephone. Access to all email was impossible by design. There was no way to change which phone number appeared on which line.

Also, and maybe this is only me, I wanted a general mail box for each line-much simpler for callers not to have to press any other buttons. Not possible as near as I can tell.

Same with caller ID. You can not go back and see which line a call came in on. If you think about the features on a PCS phone you soom see what is missing.

The ring sounds are nasty and there is no simple ring. There are only 2 ring volume levels plus off.

I found the buttons and display too large and not professional looking.

There was occasional interference with a regular telephone.

The base station battery is Nicad and it has never charged! Worse it is a very poor location for a NiCad which has a charge cycle that requires full discharge and for a back-up system this is not good.

At the CES shouw the Panasonic rep told me there would not be a new version for a year. Too bad.

Also, I would like a computer interface (USB) or whatever, so I could more easily make alterations to the setup.

Bottom line: disappointed.

Alternative solution: Go with AT&T 964 4-line wired systems and a separate wireless system.

Ideas?

This Panasonic system is GREAT! The features are abundant and very useful. I'm not having the same problems as other people, and the "problems" they describe seem to happen because they have not thoroughly read the manual. Let this be a warning that the phone is not necessarily the ideal solution for a home or very small office. This phone is somewhat complicated because of all the ways to configure it, but if you're willing to learn the mailbox system, line selection, and all the little extras that this phone touts, it will be a very useful tool. We happen to use it in a 1200 sq. ft. office with 6 people and multiple rooms, and it works quite well. The only problem we have is there is only 1 mailbox per phone. This is because the phones are bound to the mailbox. For example, if you have 4 people and only 2 phones, you only have 2 mailboxes plus the general delivery mailbox. This is my only real complaint with the phone - I wish it had as many mailboxes as we wanted.

This product works if you RTFM!!!!! Quit complaining about things that would cost you $2500 + if you had to buy a system from a phone installer. Again RTFM, it is not that hard.

I purchased this Panasonic Cordless phone bc I already had another cordless by Panasonic and I absolutely love it, but it did not have caller ID. I generally have great things to say about Panasonic, but this is one of the worst. The problem that we have is that it doesn't hold a charge very long and it takes a good 24 hours to charge again. We also get static on the line. Other than that it is a great phone, but I would discourage anyone wanting to purchase this phone.

After trying a BUNCH of phones, inlcuding several 2.4GHz DSS models from Panasonic, Sony, Uniden, etc, I was about ready to give up when I came across the 1703B on sale for a price I couldn't pass up. This phone has clear reception, good volume and range, nice features, a comfortable handset, good battery life, and an extremely useful speakerphone integrated into the back of the handset. The speakerphone's duplex sound quality is surprisingly good and has come in handy many times, particularly when on hold for a period of time or for 3-way hands-free conversations between my roommate, her son and myself.

My only real compliant? Everything on the handset is black, including all buttons and keys except for a large gray central navigation/volume button, and a small orange speakerphone button. So dialing or locating some buttons in a darkened room can be a real challenge. The printing on the buttons is bright and legible in normal lighting, but doesn't help much in darker conditions. I'd prefer to have either a lighted keypad or at least lighter, more contrasting keypad and on/off buttons. But considering the overall performance and price, I can deal with it. If you're looking for a lighted keypad and willing to pay $20-$30 more, the 1703 series comes in 3 other colors: green, blue, and pearl white, all of which have lighted keypads.

This is one of the best cordless phones around. You can't go wrong with this one. It is very comfortable to use, has a pleasant ringing tone, and has some cool features. The best feature that I use all the time is the speaker phone which is in the handset. I can hear very well, and the caller can hear me just as well. Plus, I can roam about the house while using the speaker phone in the handset. It has a lot of other features that are extremely easy to use. For the price, it's a great deal. The base is small, so it doesn't take up a lot of table space. The battery charges quick, and I have not had a problem with it running down fast (as others have eluded to in their reviews). I can't say enough good things about this phone.

The sounds quality on this answering machine is horrible. My wife yells at me at least once a week for picking an answering machine where she can't understand the messages. What good are all the fancy features in the world if you can't hear the darn message!

I've looked around and it looks like ALL the major digital answering machines have sound quality problems. I plan to keep looking but my just end up buying an old cassette tape answering machine - at least I can hear the message.

Not many of these separate answering machines around. After reading the various reviews, decided to purchase this machine. The features are great. It was easy to program, and loved the four separate mailboxes. Outgoing message (you can program two different ones) was clear when calling in, and incoming messages also quite easy to understand. Good volume control. Very easy to set up for use. One unusual feature is the line cord to the wall jack; it's fixed to the machine, and it's pretty short. Would prefer a removable cord. Anyway, seems great, huh? Well, after only a couple of weeks, it's broken! Calls come in, and machine picks up, but caller can't hear the outgoing message, nor can leave a message. Tried all the fixes in "troubleshooting," none worked; tried all new cords, everything we could think of. Look somewhere else - poor quality control/reliablity, and it doesn't even have any moving parts! Have an older GE with tape (switched for the extra mailboxes), about 7 years old, still works great! Progress??

I literally got a headache shopping for a digital answering machine (. . .)I quickly found out that it is really hard to find a digital answering machine with more than 5 to 20 minutes total record time (this is for both stand alone machines and for ones that are phone combos). Another problem is a lot of machines only give callers less than a minute to leave a message. I also saw review after review of terrible sound quality for outgoing and incoming messages.

My husband cured my headache by finding this GE digital answering machine. I love that it has forty minutes of total record time, has a time/day stamp and remote access so I can check my messages when I'm away from home. I can also set this machine to give my callers from a minute to four minutes to leave a message. This machine is easy to use (I only needed to read the manual once). The sound quality for outgoing and incoming messages is really good. It is clear and understandable. I only detected very light background static that doesn't interfere with the messages. The machine's voice that gives instructions on use and time/day of messages is mechanical, but most of the time is easy to understand. This machine is loaded with features that work and are easy to use (I read reviews on other answering machines where the features did not work or were difficult to use).

Here are some tips of use. Make sure to use a 9-volt battery (not included) for backup during power outages. I saw another reviewer state that this doesn't work. I had no problems with it. All my settings and messages were kept when I unplugged the ac adapter from the wall outlet (I left it unplugged for 15 minutes). Whatever you do don't unplug the ac adapter from the answering machine base. If you do you will loose all your messages and most of your settings.

how will the cybergenie work for 2lines with a 1 line modem

I bought the cybergenie system at a local computer store with the understanding that the manufacturer (cygnion) had gone out of business. So, mainly thinking it was going to be a fun toy to play with, I was amazed by it's full business functionality. I have since moved the system into my retail store and purchased additional handsets for all of my employees (works with 10 at once). WE NO LONGER MISS ANY PHONE CALLS! It's like supplying all of my employees with cell phones except without any ongoing expense. We can page each other and transfer calls to each other and all of us can answer any call coming in on our two lines.

since cygnion appears to be out of business, I actually bought another system as a backup (actually I'm using it at home again) and I got a deal on some more handsets on ebay.

Hopefully other companies will pick up where cygnion left off -- I have to assume that they were just a premature victim of the DOT COM fall-out which is too bad.

If you are at all computer savy, this is definitely the phone system for you

Have been using this system since 2000 and with the exception of a few dead handsets the cybergenie is still kicking along. I'm very thankfull about the 3.0 software upgrade and drivers for windows XP. Without that it would have been in the trash by now. As for features, the phones speak for themselves, literally. Voicemail is a big reason I got the system in the first place and to have unlimited space on the hard drive to store voicemail makes it a logical soho solution. For the small/home office just starting out, cybergenie has got to be one of the best phone systems you will ever get for the features and for the price.

There is a support website now where you can download the newest software and even upgrade your phones to the newest firmware. The address is www.cygnion.org