In these days of multi-tasking, we seem to do everything on the move and that includes talking on the phone. Cordless phones, either in the home or office, are a natural extension of this giving us the freedom to move from room to room while on the phone without the constraint of wires. The newest models can offer all the benefits that we’ve become used to from mobile phone technology, (like SMS/text messaging), for the more affordable price of a land line connection. Cordless phones are radio transmitters and receivers that have a base station and up to eight handsets. Bear in mind, though, that they will not work in the event of a power failure so you need to keep a regular phone plugged in somewhere for emergencies. They have been around for many years in analogue form and the sales of more recent digital models are proving our love of all things mobile! The first choice to think about it analogue -v- digital.
Analogue Phones
These are the most affordable of the cordless models and transmit on a frequency range of either 2.4 GHz or sometimes 5.8 GHz for the more expensive ones. A basic model will be a base station and two handsets. Most will transmit on the 2.4 GHz range and phones that use this are cheaper to buy but it’s also a frequency band that’s used for many baby monitors and so could be somewhat crowded! Phones using the 5.8 GHz band will give less interference, as there is less “traffic” transmitting at this frequency, but will be more expensive to buy because they cost more to manufacture. All analogue transmission are prone to interference so some degree and their working range (how far you can travel from the base station and still use the phone) will be less than on a digital model. If security is a concern to you should know that it it’s easy for someone with a scanner to “listen in” on analogue transmissions of this sort.
Digital Phones
Transmit on the same frequencies but the signal is digitally encoded before being transmitted. The resulting stream of encoded “bleeps” is also less likely to be listened in to by an eavesdropper. A digital signal gives clearer, crackle-free conversations and their working range is likely to be wider. These phones can incorporate many added features that we have come to expect from digital technology (see EXTRA FEATURES).
DSS
This means DIGITAL SPREAD SPECTRUM. The signal from the phone is digitised and then spread across several frequencies giving you a far better range and clarity than with regular digital cordless phones. The added benefit is that it also makes it far harder for anyone to listen in. Some manufacturers use a technology called FREQUENCY HOPPING SPREAD SPECTRUM (FHSS) which effectively does the same thing. Cordless digital phones using either of these methods are likely to work over a longer range and give a clearer signal.
Range
All manufacturers will quote optimum working ranges, typically between 300-2000metres, for their phones. Many factors affect the working range of any cordless phone, including radio interference, obstacles (such as walls) and even the weather so bear this in mind when comparing different models.
EXTRA FEATURES
Once you’ve chosen between analogue and digital, the frequency and working range that you want from a cordless phone, the next thing is to look at all the extras on offer. The more extras you have, the more you will pay, so consider what’s really useful for you when deciding. Here are some of the additional features to think about:
- Talk Time/Standby Time - Means the amount of hours that the phone can be used for calls, or on standby, without having to change the battery. The phones with the longest times are usually the most expensive, but perhaps more convenient.
- Extra Battery Charger - Allows you to have one battery on charge at all times while using the other so that when you need to you can swap without loosing any calls. This seems like a really good idea.
- Low Battery/Out of Range Indicator - Let’s you know, by an audible or visual signal, that you battery is low or that you are out of range of the base station so that you can remedy the situation before loosing your call.
- Answering Machine - Most, even basic machines, will have this built in and will record up to 20 minutes of messages, depending on the model.
- Caller ID - Let’s you see who’s calling before you answer (or don’t!) if you subscribe to this service from your land-line provider.
- Speaker Phones - have a built in microphone either on the handset or base station allowing you hands-free conversations. This could be useful for conference calls.
- Handset Locater/Pager - Models with this have a locater button that sends a signal to the handset or base station that beeps so that you can find the missing part. In doing this you can also use it as a pager to alert any person with the other handset so that you can speak to them.
- Handsets - Some cordless phones come with as many a eight handsets. This may be useful in a large house/office so that handsets can be left in convenience locations.
- Programmable - With these you can programme in all your frequently used numbers and then redial usually using a one or two digit code.
- SMS/Text Messaging - The latest digital cordless phones offer this feature, the same as is used on mobile phones. You can even download different ring tones so that you could have crazy frogs going off all over the house!
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