I don't ask much of a telephone. To me, it's not a fully featured digital auditory communications device; it's just a phone, a way to call out for pizza and find out what a restaurant's hours are. My requirements are simple: it has to be comfortable in my hand, it has to have a Caller ID display, and it has to work.
My old phone failed to meet the last of these requirements. It was good while it lasted, but it had picked up a buzz somewhere along the way. When its battery finally started to fail, I decided it was time to upgrade to a phone with an integrated caller ID display; the separate caller ID box simply consumed too much of my computer table's limited real estate. So it was time to go phone shopping.
The Panasonic KX-TC1703 (see note on model numbers below) is a sleek, compact (base is roughly 5" x 2" x 8"), cordless phone with more than enough features to meet my somewhat simple requirements and exceed them by light years. Operating at 900 MHz, it provides more than enough range for my purposes (between the kitchen and the computer room).
Features:
The most important feature I look for in a telephone, cordless or not, is how it feels in my hand. As I've mentioned in other reviews, I have tendonitis in both wrists which limits my ability to grip, especially small objects for long periods of time. The trend towards tinier telephone handsets has been terrible for me, because I simply can't hang on to the little ones without excruciating pain. The Panasonic's handset feels comfortable in my hand. Its dimensions of roughly 6.5" x 2" x 1" (excluding antenna) make it a nicely substantial size without being too unwieldy. Its antenna is short, fixed, and sturdy.
Next, I not only need a Caller ID display, but I also need to be able to see the display without picking up the handset. I have never quite understood the point of phones whose Caller ID displays are underneath the handset; if I have to pick up the phone, I might as well just finish the job and answer it. This Panasonic phone can rest in the cradle with the display facing out (so you can check the caller ID without having to touch the handset) or down (in case you don't wish others to see the display). Even better, the base is tilted at a gentle angle so the display can be read without having to lean over and look straight down at the phone.
Dialing For Klutzes: I admit that sometimes I'm too fast on the number pad, which leads to dialing wrong numbers more often than I'd like. The Panasonic phone has two modes for dialing: if you're sure you can dial correctly, you can pick up the phone, hit the "phone" key for a dial tone, and dial your number as usual. Or you can use the delayed dialing feature: pick up the handset, dial the number and then, when you're sure it's correct, push the "phone" key to have the phone dial the number you've already entered. If you make mistakes while punching in the number, you can use the "hold/clear" key to erase digits from the right to make corrections.
All of the keys, both number and navigational, are reasonably sized and spaced apart from each other, so I can press one without having my finger flop over and accidentally get the one next to it. They're also marked with large, easy to read symbols. The main navigation key is much like the joystick on a video game; it can be pushed in four different directions to scroll through menus and select options. I like the feel of this key; the sides have larger "bumps" than the top and bottom, so there is tactile feedback as you use it.
The KC-TC1703 provides a directory for storing up to 50 names and telephone numbers. Information can be either entered by hand or saved in memory directly from the Caller ID list. Both phone numbers and alphabetic information can be entered from the keypad; the manual has an easy to read and complete chart describing entry procedures. The directory is searchable; you don't have to scroll through all 50 numbers to find someone whose name starts with Z. (This phone does not have one number speed dial.)
Other features include:
- speaker phone
- works with low voltage PBX systems
- pulse or tone dialing
- headset jack (headset not included)
- wall mountable - comes with wall mount plate and base adaptor, hook in base reverses to clip the handset securely in the cradle
- removable matching belt clip
- pulse/tone switchable
- Voicemail Functions: special tone, message display when there is voicemail available
- backlit display and keypad
- handset volume control
- adjustable ringer volume
- Battery Life: 14 day standby, 6 hour talk time
Security: The KC-TC1703 utilizes over one million security codes; the code is changed every time the handset is replaced on the base.
There are two manuals provided: the first is a Quick Start folder which covers basic operation. The second is the 60 page Operating Instructions booklet, which covers operation of all the telephone's features, including step by step walkthroughs of all the key sequences and example displays. The detail looked initimidating at first, but turned out to be very useful when I was actually adjusting each of the features.
Annoyances:
So far the Panasonic KX-TC1703 has only managed to annoy me twice. First, it needed to charge the battery 15 hours before it can be used. This can be an issue if you'd planned to start making phone calls as soon as you took it home. The batteries come with only enough charge to display the message "No link to base / Place on cradle and try again", urging you to put the handset on the base and let it charge.
The other is that every time the handset is replaced in the cradle it beeps. Yes, it's nice to know that the handset's charge contacts have made contact with the base, but it's annoying me nonetheless. I suppose I'll become accustomed to it like I've learned to ignore many of the other appliances that chirp and beep at me.
Recommendations:
The Panasonic KX-TC1703 is a fine basic phone which meets my straightforward requirements: it has Caller ID and is comfortable for me to hold. It's not quite state of the art telephone technology, but it has a number of features which might make it ideal for a small office. I've found that it more than meets my needs, and I expect to continue to be satisfied with it for years to come.
Note on Model Numbers: the actual model number of the phone is the KX-TC1703. The final letter indicates the color of the phone: B is black, G is green, PW is pearl white, and F is blue. The color of the plastic from which they were molded is the ONLY difference between these models; there is absolutely NO functional difference. The same manual ships with all the models and lists them explicitly on the cover.
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