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Cordless Phone
Features
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Caller ID: A huge number of
cordless phones have displays to
 show
the name and number of a caller (if you have Caller ID service from
your phone company) so you can decide to answer a call, ignore it,
or let go to voicemail or your answerer. Many phones also have
Caller ID on Call Waiting, so you can see the identity of a second
caller, and decide if you want to switch to the second call. Phones
with Caller ID usually have memory to capture names and numbers of
up to 50 callers so you can call them back later. |
Memory: (Also known as speed
dialing.) By pushing one, two,
or three buttons, you can dial from 10 to 50 pre-programmed
frequently called or emergency numbers. Some phones have buttons
("jog dial" or "navigator key")
that let you scroll through a list of names in memory, and then push
a button to make the call. Some phones have alphanumeric displays to
show names and numbers in memory, some use a special “memory” or
“auto” button in combination with the touch-tone buttons for
speed dialing, and some phones (usually corded, not cordless) have
separate memory buttons to speed-dial police, fire, and ambulance
numbers. |
Headset Jack: A growing number
of cordless phones
have headset jacks on their handsets, so you can walk and talk, or
work and talk, without having to hold the phone. Most cordless
phones with headset jacks also have belt clips; and you can also buy
protective holsters to clip to your belt, waistband or pocket.
Cordless phones are designed to use headsets with 2.5mm
plugs, and
won’t accept headsets with modular plugs that are commonly used
with office phones. |
Multi-line operation: You can
get a cordless phone that works
 on
two or four lines, if you have more than one phone number. There are
also cordlesses designed to work with specific multi-line
phone systems, with up to 12 lines. |
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Multi-handset operation: A
growing number of
cordless phones are actually systems, with one base and up to
eight cordless handsets, and intercom from handset to handset and
handset to base and base to handset. The Panasonic KX-TG2000B and
KX-TG4000B (at left) include automated attendant and
voicemail, with up to nine mailboxes.
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Shock and Splash Resistance:
Cordless phones are
often used in places a normal desktop phone wouldn’t go, and some
models, such as the Panasonic
GigaRange Extreme series, include construction details to make them less susceptible to
damage from being dropped or splashed with water. |
| Redial: Also called LND (last
number dial), this button redials the last string of digits you
dialed. Some models (usually corded, not cordless) automatically
keep trying over and over again if called number is busy. |
Speakerphone: A built-in
microphone and speaker allow
you to dial and have a conversation without picking up the handset.
 They’re also great for monitoring a line if, for example, you are
put on hold while checking on a plane reservation or a furniture
delivery. Speakerphones vary in quality – the best are “digital
duplex.” In cordless phones, the speakerphone feature is usually
part of the base, not the handset, and some bases with speakerphones
do not have touch-tone dialing “pads,” so you’ll have to dial
from the handset, or use the speakerphone just for answering calls.
Some cordless phones, such as the Panasonic Multitalk series,
have speakerphones in both
handset and base. |
| Lighted Keypad: Many cordless
phones have internal lighting to make it easy to see the buttons for
dialing in the dark. Display are often illuminated, too. |
Tiny Size: The Plantronics
900MHz CT10 cordless phone
features an ultra-compact clip-on dialing "pod" that lets you make
calls or answer calls, with a range up to 150 feet. It has a full
telephone keypad with all the standard telephone functions, plus
10-number memory and a mute button that softly "beeps" to remind you
when it's engaged. |
| Mute: Also called a privacy
button, the mute button or switch allows you talk to someone in the
room without being overheard by the person on the phone. It’s very
useful if you’ve been put on hold, but unfortunately this feature
has become very rare on cordless phones. Some headsets, such as the
Plantronics M145 and M175 have their own mute switches, and can be
used with phones that don't have mute features. |
| Hold: On multi-line phones, a
hold button allows you
to switch to another line without losing the first call, or to leave
one phone to resume the call on another phone, or temporarily
suspend a call to answer the door or go to the bathroom. Very few
single-line phones have
hold buttons. |
| Conference: Found on
multi-line phones, the “CONF” button allows you to set up
three-way conversation. Be aware that there is usually a drop in
volume between the two “outside” people. |
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Ringer control: Lets you
adjust ringing volume or turn ringing off completely. You may also
be able to choose from several ringing sounds or a vibrator alert,
as in the EnGenius
SN920.
Some cordless phones have ringing in the base as well as the
handset.
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| Intercom: Allows you talk from
base to handset. Intercom calls can usually be initiated from either piece. Automatic
intercom activates the other unit for hands-free response, or remote
monitoring. |
| Page/handset-locator: A button
on the base activates a BEEP alert at the handset, to request a
pre-arranged function (such as “c’mon in; lunch is ready”) or
to help find a misplaced handset. |
LCD Readout: Many cordless
phones have displays to
 show
the phone number you dialed, elapsed call time, time of day, battery
condition and Caller ID information. Some phones have displays on
both the handset and base, some on just the base or just the
handset. Some displays are illuminated to help you read them in dim
light. |
Voice Mail Indicator Light: If
you have voice mail service from
 your
local phone company, you can get a phone with a light to indicate
that a message is waiting for you in your voice mail box. |
| Flash Button: An
electronically-timed brief disconnect is used to switch between
calls if you have Call Waiting service from your phone company, or
to get a “fresh” dial tone to make a second call. |
 NiMH
battery: Nickel-Metal Hydride
batteries can offer up to three times the capacity of the same size
standard Nickel Cadmium batteries. Due to their increased capacity
and energy density features, users can expect longer talk time and
longer standby time. Manufacturers can use NiMH technology to
increase operational time and/or decrease the size and weight of a
phone. THE BAD NEWS: NiMH batteries often
die after less than a year of use. |
 Second
battery charging: This feature -- on phones such as the EnGenius
SN920 -- allows you to charge
one battery pack while using the other one for talking, so you
always have a fully charged battery available. With some phones, the
second battery is included; with others, it's an extra-cost option.
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| Dialing restriction: Also
called “electronic station lock,” it’s a feature that prevents
people from making a call unless they enter a password with the
touch-tone buttons. Some phones can also be programmed to prevents
outgoing long-distance calls or calls to individuals or groups of
numbers you choose. |
 Two- or Three-piece design:
Most cordless phones
are composed of two parts: a base station that plugs into the phone
line and electrical outlet, and a battery-powered portable handset.
Some are three-piece sets with separate handset, charging cradle,
and a base that can be mounted up high for maximum range, or kept in
a closet or other out-of-the-way location. Some cordless phones
allow multiple handsets and charging cradles.
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Frequency: Cordless phones
use FM radio signals to carry voices and information between base and handset.
They are susceptible to interference from electrical devices, other
radio transmitters, and other cordless phones. In the United States,
the first cordless
phones operated in the 27MHz band and later the FCC allowed use of
frequencies in the 46 to 49 MHz band, the 900MHz band, and the
2.4GHz band. In general, phones operating at higher frequencies cost
more money and have better voice quality, but there are exceptions
to this rule. Don't
believe advertising claims about 2.4GHz phones providing extra long
range. Range depends on frequency, transmitting power, antenna
design and height, environment and other factors.
Phones operate on specific channels
in their designated bands, and better phones can automatically
select a channel to avoid noise, or interference from other nearby
phones.
Digital Transmission: A growing number of cordless phones
use digital, rather than analog radio transmission. This provides
higher security, less interference, and may provide longer range.
Spread Spectrum: This is a method of increasing range and
decreasing interference by spreading the transmitted signal over
several different frequencies ("wide bandwidth").
Spread Spectrum technology
was co-invented by actress
Hedy Lamarr during World War II, to help direct American torpedoes
at Nazi battleships, without them getting jammed and sent
off-course. More recently, Spread Spectrum was combined with digital
technology, for spy-proof and noise-resistant battlefield
communications, and great cordless phones.
Frequency Hopping: This is a
variation of spread spectrum, where the signal rapidly moves from
one frequency to another (usually hundreds of times each second) to
make it extremely difficult for anyone to listen-in on your
conversation with another cordless phone or a scanner.
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Cordless Phone
Range
Numbers are very important to most human beings, especially men.
The male homo sapiens likes to know that his car has more
horsepower, his stereo has more watts, his PC has more RAM, his
satellite receiver has more channels, his TV has more inches... than
the guy's next door.
With cordless phones, range is the important number, even though
it's almost always unimportant. Most people
seldom take a cordless handset more than 20 feet from its base.
100 feet will take you far beyond most homes, and a football field
is just 300 feet long... yet lots of people are asking for phones
that can go a mile.
It's tough to find a cordless with that kind of CONSISTENT range.
The EnGenius SN920
has the longest range of any cordless phone that
can legally be used in the US, and its range can be 1/2 mile to 8
miles or even more, depending on conditions. CLICK
for one comparison test.
That brings us to an important point. Back when gasoline was
scarce, lots of car commercials bragged about gas mileage, and then
weaseled-out by stating that "your mileage may vary." It's
that way with cordless phones, too. The advertised ranges are seldom
equaled in the real world; and the same phone may behave very
differently in two places, or even in the same place on two
different days. You may hear about cordless phones that can
reach 30 miles or more. They are illegal to use in the United
States.
 SOME
BASIC SCIENCE: With
all else being equal, radio transmissions with higher frequencies,
have shorter range than lower frequencies.
That's why UHF (ultra high
frequency) TV stations don't reach as far as VHF (very high
frequency) TV stations; and why FM stations (transmitting in the 88
- 108 megahertz band) don't reach as far as AM stations using the
540 - 1600 kilohertz band. Don't
believe advertising claims about 2.4GHz phones providing extra long
range. However,
2.4GHz cordlesses may be better able to penetrate dense walls than
900MHz phones.
- Almost any modern cordless phone, except for obvious junk, can
provide decent voice quality a hundred feet from the base --
more than enough for most users.
- Cordless phones are generally able to maintain an existing
conversation at a greater distance than they are able to start a
conversation, and can ring at greater distances than they permit
talking.
- When you move around while using an analog cordless phone,
near the end of its range, you will probably hear a
"fluttering" sh-sh-sh sound.
- In the same conditions, while using a digital phone, you will
probably hear clicks.
- Near the range limit of any cordless phone, slight movements
and changes in position can make a big difference in
performance. If you put your head between the handset and the
base, you may lose the signal, but if you turn to let the
handset be in line-of-sight with the base, it may work just
fine.
- Dense vegetation limits range, and wet leaves are worse than
dry leaves.
- Broadleaf trees (hardwoods such as oak, maple and birch) limit
range more than conifers (softwoods such as pine, fir and
cedar).
- If you can get the base up high, you will probably get more
range.
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Digital
Answering: Answering machines
are no longer
 machines,
and they don’t use cassette tapes anymore.
Today, answering is just one more
feature built into a phone, and adds a fraction of the price that a
separate answerer used to cost.
Performance is better, too, with no
belts or tapes to stretch or break, and no motor noise.
There are new features, too, like the
ability to selectively erase and delete messages. You can usually
change your outgoing message (“OGM”) and retrieve your incoming
messages (“ICM”) from
the phone’s base or handset, or remotely
from any phone in the world.
Recording time for digital answerers
is typically 15 minutes. While this is less than older tape-based
answering machines provided, it is usually enough, because the
average incoming message is just 20 seconds long.
Page Alert: This feature allows your cordless
phone/answerer combo to activate your “beeper” after a message
has been recorded. Some phones can also transfer Caller ID
information to your beeper.
Time/date stamp: Many phones with answerers can
tell you when a call came in, with a synthesized voice chip.
Two-line models may also tell you which line the call cam in on,
useful if you have separate home and business lines, for example.
Announce only: Many answerers can be set to play
an outgoing announcement only, such as office hours or event
schedules, but not record incoming messages.
Toll saver: You can set many answerers to pick up
on the fourth ring for the first call and on the second ring for
later calls. When you call your answerer for messages, and it
doesn't answer by the third ring, you can hang up, knowing that
there are no new messages, and you won’t pay for the call.
Skip/repeat: These buttons allow you to advance to
the next message or repeat the one you just heard.
Erase: Pressing this button deletes the message
you are listening to, without affecting other messages. |
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Today,
cordless phones are much better, much smaller, much less expensive, and all over
the place.
Each year, there are more cordless phones sold than corded models.
Cordless is now normal.