| Cordless phones are common sights in households | | | | usage of battery life on the handset as high frequency |
| and offices as they rid us of meddlesome cables and | | | | transmission requires more power. Both 2.4 and |
| distance constraints. Absence of cords is replaced | | | | 5.8GHz frequency ranges are shared with wireless |
| with radio frequencies to enable the base to | | | | networks. |
| communicate with the handset. Cordless telephone | | | | A probable question raised is why the difference in |
| frequencies are assigned by the nation's | | | | frequency ranges. Since wireless devices abound in |
| communications authority to ensure proper standards | | | | our homes and offices, there is a lot of traffic |
| are practiced and enforced across the region. Initial | | | | generated by all their wireless signals bouncing right, |
| ranges started at a low frequency of 46MHz for | | | | left and center. Various ranges of cordless telephone |
| bases and 49MHz for handsets. Channel pairs were | | | | frequencies serve to avoid interference caused by this |
| then allocated to phones within these ranges. As | | | | traffic. It's worth mentioning that baby monitors and |
| popularity for cordless phones increased, channel pairs | | | | walkie-talkies run on the same low frequency range as |
| ran out causing congestion within these range | | | | earlier generation of cordless phones. If you live in |
| allocations. | | | | close proximity with your neighbors such as in |
| Second generation phones were allocated a high | | | | apartment buildings, it's quite common to hear phone |
| frequency range between 902 and 928MHz. Each | | | | conversations drifting out of your baby monitor. |
| manufacturer had its own specifications in channel | | | | Physical obstacles obstruct efficient transmission of |
| pairs for base and handsets. Once again, a similar | | | | low frequency signals which lose their strength more |
| dilemma struck and another new set of frequency | | | | easily than higher ones. Hence cordless phone of high |
| range was called for. | | | | frequency range may make a better investment. |
| Third generation phones ran on a frequency range of | | | | Higher frequencies require more power for |
| 2.4GHz. Fourth generation phones were released with | | | | transmission and provide clearer calls with increased |
| a 5.8GHz frequency range. It is noteworthy that this | | | | coverage of distance. However, it eats up battery life |
| latest frequency is used for transmissions from base | | | | of the hand set. Manufacturers split their phone's |
| to handset whereas the lower 2.4GHz frequency is | | | | frequencies so that handset to base transmission uses |
| from handset to base. This is to allow more efficient | | | | the lower range. |