Phones All Over Your House and a FAX to Boot

We operate a small consulting business and have two teenage daughters. We try to do all this with one telephone line. A key problem has been finding the two cordless telephones we had and getting messages. For the business a FAX is necessary. We bought this Panasonic KX-FPG391 Plain Paper Thermal transfer Fax to solve all those problems well over a year ago. It has done the job well.

Panasonic KX-FPG391 Plain Paper Thermal transfer Fax

Although we bought this as both a FAX machine and a cordless telephone system we use the cordless features far more than the FAX. Both work when we want them to.

What it is

In its basic as bought configuration this telephone/FAX system gives cordless telephone operation. It comes with one telephone handset and a charging cradle. It uses 5.8 GHz extended range technology to communicate from the base to the handset. Three additional handsets can be added to give a total of four. We have all four working on the system.

Telephone Features

The telephone features include caller ID with voice announce of the caller ID, digital 15 minute answering with three caller selectable voice mailboxes, speakerphone capability on the base and the handsets, memory for each handset for dialing, intercom and call transfer between handsets, and call waiting with caller ID displayed.

Messages can be recorded to any of three voice mailboxes selected by the caller. They can be retrieved at the base unit or remotely from any of the handsets. All message functions are remotely available by dialing in from an outside phone and entering the proper codes. You can skip messages, replay messages, or erase messages from any location.

If you receive a call on the base unit (hands free operation only) or any handset you can transfer the call to any other unit. If a call comes in while you are using the handset and you have call waiting, you will receive a noticeable tone in your ear and the caller ID of the second call will be displayed on the 3-line LCD display with backlight. The base unit has a 2-line display.

Caller ID is quite reliable. You can program the handsets to do a voice announce of the caller information. It is useful we guess, but the voice, although clear, pronounces the caller information in a way that is often unrecognizable.

All or any handset can be paged to find it where the teenager buried it last. Each handset has a unique ID to allow selective paging, transfer, and search. The included rechargeable ni-cad batteries will last several days in standby. We have had no problem with them holding a charge so far.

The range allows us to use the handsets at the edges of our 2.5 acres and even in the yard of the neighbor’s houses. The voice quality is very good and the volume adjustable for both ringer and voice. Virtually all of the telephone features are programmable through the handset and can be customized for each handset. There is a bright light on the tip of the antenna that flashes when the phone is ringing or when a new message has been saved.

FAX/Copier

The base unit contains a monochrome thermal transfer ribbon FAX and copying machine. It uses plain paper. You can send a document sized between 5" X 5" and 8 1/2" by up to 28". It will take ten sheets at a time and more sheets can be manually added as the fax progresses. The paper input tray will take either 8 1/2" or A4 paper in regular or legal size and holds up to 30 sheets.

We leave the machine set for automatic FAX reception. When a call is received the handsets are not rung until it is determined that no FAX signal is on the incoming call. It works well for us. On the occasion we try to pick a call that is actually a FAX call the FAX function will still continue.

To save going into the specification details we have copied the specifications from the Panasonic Website.

Multi-Handset Capability Yes, up to 4
Cordless Phone Technology 5.8 GHz GigaRange®
Talking Caller ID Yes
Light-Up Antenna with
Ringer/Message Alert (handset) Yes
Voice Paging
Base Unit to all Handsets) Yes
Digital Duplex Speakerphone Yes, on base and handset
Caller IQ Compatible Yes
Paper Tray Capacity Max 30 Sheets (LTR)
Modem Speed (Kbps) 9.6
Transmission Time (sec./page) 15
TEL/TAD/FAX Switching Yes
LCD Display 2-Lines(16 characters per Line)
3-Line on Handset
LCD Display
(# of characters per line) 16
Navigator Key Yes
Quick Scan Yes
Extension Line Transfer Yes
Telephone Directory Navigator Yes, 50 entries
Out of Paper Reception up to 28 pages
Automatic Document Feeder 10 pages
Electronic Film Indicator Yes
64-Level Halftone Resolution Yes
Resolution photo/super fine/fine/standard
Print Method Thermal Transfer
Broadcasting Yes, 20 Locations
Multi-Copy up to 30
Help Function Yes
Reduction Copy 92%/86%/72%
Enlargement Copy 150%/200%
Collate Yes
Voice/Fax Pager Call 3 No
Electronic Volume Control Yes
Caller ID 4 Yes, with Call Waiting Caller ID
Voice Mailboxes up to 3
Voice Time/Day Stamp Yes
Fax Advantage Program Exchange, 6-Month Warranty
Paper size LTR
Plain Paper Yes
Distinctive Ring Detection 5 Yes
Answering Machine Interface No
2 Way Intercom Yes
Handset Locator Yes
Handset Battery Ni-Cd

In short we have always been able to successfully transmit a FAX and to receive a FAX. This function is only available from the base unit. There is no basket or shelf to catch the sheets that have been scanned for faxing or copying. We seldom use the copy function but the girls find it sometimes useful to make a quick copy for their homework assignments. The quality of the printing is quite acceptable.

Overall Impressions

We have been pleased with the usefulness and quality of the Panasonic KX-FPG391 Plain Paper Thermal transfer Fax. The flexibility does make it necessary to frequently review the manual when you want to change the functionality. Using the basic functions of the messages, the telephone, and the FAX is pretty straightforward. We have been happy with the decision to purchase.