Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
103 of 107 people found the following review helpful.
Outstanding phone (Panasonic 1743)
By Dave
After checking out many other phones (Vtech, Uniden, Sony, Memorex) and returning them all for various reasons, I found this gem of a phone... Everything about this phone is first class. Handset feels great, solid construction, fun to use, adequate volume, clear speakerphones (base and handset).
Unlike many of the other phones I tried this one has adequate volume on the handset. It also has clear reception which is free from echo and interference. The speakersphones are simply the best for this price...they are quite clear and have plenty of volume. The phone feels solid and is one of the more comfortable phones to talk on. Battery power is also top notch (6 hrs continuous talk time and 14 day standby). Battery power bar is displayed on the handset which tells you when is the best time to replace the handset on the base unit for charging. This phone also has a very good answering machine, unlike many of the other digital answering systems which in many cases made the incoming messages and your own personal greeting impossible to discern.
This phone seems to have all the features. For instance, a seperate caller ID button on the base flashes when you have any new calls, even calls that did not leave a message on the answering machine. After you have checked the Caller ID list it places a check mark next to each number indicating that you, or someone else, has checked the incoming call after which the blinking CID light on the base unit turns off. Handset and base units can have their ringers shut down or put on low. Another thing I like about this phone is that the handset lies down on an angle in the base unit. Alot of the newer phones only allow for an upright placement of the handset in the base unit. This becomes a problem if you have small inquisitive children who seem attracted to the upright standing phones. Additionally, a small bump to the table causes the handet to tumble off the base unit. The Panasonic 1743 keep the phone where it belongs, on a slight incline lying securely down in the base unit.
The only minor knock I have on this phone is that the Caller ID lists incoming calls from the same area code as having a 1-### before the number requiring editing of the number before calling it back directly from the listing. However, Panasonic makes editing this a simple matter by two quick presses of the handset curser.
One important thing about this 900 MHz phone is that it is digital. Many people don't realize that most of the 900 Mhz phones on the market today are analog phones. The primary benefit of digital is that it reduces or eliminates interference while also keeping your conversations difficult or impossible to monitor by your nosy neighbors who just might have a scanner at their disposal. (Note: You might be surprised how many of these scanners are out there because those who own them usually don't divulge this information in fear that they may be branded an eavesdropper). Digital processing of your conversation makes tracking your call very difficult. Plus, this phone automatically scans the entire 900 MHz bandwith constantly changing frequencies, which makes listening in on scanners virtually impossible. You never know who is listening to your conversations. I have heard that thieves or other criminals often use scanners to figure out when people may be leaving their houses so that they can break in while you're out, or worse yet determine when a vulnerable loved one is at home alone. For this reason alone you should never consider an analog phone.
If you are considering a more expensive 2.4 Ghz unit, think again. This phone has more than adequate range for any size house and it performs as well or better than most 2.4 GHz phones out there today, particualrly the analog ones. Although it doesn't have SST (spread spectrum technolgy) found on some 900 Mhz and many 2.4 Ghz units it is digital and thus quite secure. Unless you plan on talking 1/4 mile or more from your base unit there is no real need for SST anyway.
All in all this phone has it all. Performance, quality, features, ergonomics, and affordability. Plus the customer service (1-800-211-PANA) is outstanding as well. Sounds like a winner to me. Do yourself a favor and try out this phone.
52 of 53 people found the following review helpful.
So close to perfect 4.5 Stars
By A Customer
I have looked and looked for the perfect cordless phone and this is the best I have found. One of my criteria is a speakerphone in the handset. So useful for being on hold and listening to voicemail. This phone has: No hiss, speakerphone is one of the best (I've tried them all, Vtech, AT&T, etc.), callerid, digital answering machine that sounds very clear. Size is nice, much better then the smaller Vtech, Panasonics, etc. Sound is much better and speakerphone is much much better. Only drawback is they didn't put caller id on base, only handset. Would have gotten 5 stars if on base also.
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful.
A decent phone/answering machine
By Erik Engquist
On the whole, I'm happy with this phone, especially given the very mixed reviews of all cordless phone/answering machine combinations. (They all seem to be hit-and-miss, which argues for buying a standalone answering machine.) But I've had good luck with this one. I've had the phone for several months without significant problems. Once in a great while the handset doesn't connect to the base when you press "talk" to receive an incoming call, in which case the answering machine picks up. Once in a great while there are clicks while you're talking, obliterating small portions of your conversation. But it has never disconnected my call or had its battery die. Voice quality on the digital answering machine is not crystal clear, but it's acceptably audible. And contrary to another review here, this phone can be hung on a wall plate. Mine is. It sticks out a bit, but doesn't fall.
Things I like about this unit:
1) When you pick up the handset from the base, you don't have to press a button to answer the call.
2) You can precisely set the volume and the number of rings before the answering machine picks up.
3) If the answering machine picks up before you do, you can interrupt it simply by pressing "talk" or picking up the handset from the base.
4) It tells you exactly how many messages have been left, and blinks if you haven't listened to them yet. And there's a time-date stamp.
5) You can dial a number "off-line," read the number on the display to make sure it's right, and THEN press talk to speed-dial it, or do it the traditional way (get your dial tone first, then dial).
6) The speakerphone on the handset works very well. My 2-year-old twins can talk on it simultaneously.
7) There's a plastic belt clip for the handset. Handy if you have infants.
See all 59 customer reviews... 
Based failed and no replacement after 14 months
Still looking for a decent 2 line phone & answerer!