5.8 Ghz Cordless Telephone

[hdblair]

I need to get a new wireless phone. Are the 5.8Ghz phones better than the 2.4Ghz? Specifically will the provide as good (or better) range than the 2.4? Thanks.

[glt]

HD,

I have the newer Uniden's and I don't think they get any greater range than the 2.4's. They are quite clear, and since they are newer, they have many more features than other phones.

I have read that the higher the frequency, the lower the range and the ability to transmit through objects is also decreased.

The Uniden's use 5.8 BOTH ways - other models use 5.8 one way and 2.4 the other. Since I was trying to stop interference w/ other 2.4 devices, the others wouldn't work for me.

They are going the way of cell phones as far as features go. Just saw a V-tech @ RS that had a color screen that could pop up a picture of the caller based on caller id. You could also download ring tones to the unit. But, last I heard, V-techs didn't use true 5.8.

I think any claims of increased range is marketing hype. Again, mine are very clear though. Always look for DIGITAL spread spectrum.

GLT

[jrfuda]

You know, my wife and I shopped around for good pure DSS 5.8ghz multi-handset cordless phones for a couple of months (to avoid interference with wifi and wireless cams). They were all very expensive. We finally ended up getting a dual handset 900mhz system that works great, and it was only $39.95 at Wal-Mart. It sounds great, has range out the Ying-Yang and doesn't interfere with anything. Sometimes a step back is really a step forward

[Stevech]

It cracks me up to hear salesmen say "2.4GHz is higher and thus more powerful than 900MHz" and so on for 5.8GHz.

Laws of physics are that the higher the frequency, the more the signal is attenuated in line of sight (free space) transmission/propagation. Moreover, the higher freqs do NOT penetrate walls nearly as well as lower freqs. The only offset is higher transmit power - which the FCC won't permit for unlicensed gizmos.

The impetus for the higher frequencies may be less congestion and interference. But I've never had a problem with my 900 or 2.4GHz phones coexisting with my WiFi and my neighbors' (several) phones and WiFi.

So, IHMO, it's marketing baloney.

[hdblair]

Thanks guys, your info corresponds to what little I know about RF. I do not have any neighbors w/cordless so do not have to worry about interference.

[rmasonjr]

I bought a 2.4 Ghz Uniden from Wal-Mart and took it back when it interfered with just about everything - wireless network, X10 cams, X10 video sender, etc.

I ended-up ordering a 5.8 Ghz Uniden from Amazon and so far it has been working fine. The range is not quite as far as I would like, but I'm going to experiment with different base locations.