Types of Cordless Telephones

Descriptions, Features and Security

Cordless telephones offer you great flexibility in moving about in your home or office. Many offer features like a built in answering machine and/or caller ID.

What you say on your cordless phone is not necessarily "your business." This is particularly true of the older models, which can be monitored by various receivers, including scanning radios (police scanners), which are readily available to the public. Believe it or not, a scanner buff, with a good radio and external antenna, can pick up some cordless phone signals blocks away from the source.

I am convinced that no matter what you transmit over the airwaves, it can be monitored and decoded by somebody - somewehere! I don't care if its digital or spread spectrum, or what.There is always going to be technology to "open it up."

That being said, I'd always advise caution in your conversations.

Here are the most "popular" types of cordless (not cellular) phones. We'll go from lower frequency to higher, OK?

49 MHz Analog
These are the oldest type of cordless phones, and are the least expensive. Your conversation is transmitted between the base and its handset in analog form. They have a very short range and can give you the most static and noise. The 49 MHz band is easily monitored.

900 MHz Analog
Pretty much the same as the above model, but uses a higher frequency. They have better range, as well as less static and noise. Its also easily monitored.

900 MHz Digital
Another high frequency device, but it transmits a signal between the handset and the base in a "digital" format. What this does is increase the conversation's security. Noise and static are basically eliminated, but there can be "pauses" and voice distortion. There is, in my opinion, no greater range, when compared to the analog model.

900 MHZ Digital Spread Spectrum
These phones transmit a digital signal at several frequencies at the same time, increasing the range. Plus adding the security of a digital system.

2.4 GHz Digital Spread Spectrum
Yes, we're going higher in the frequency range. This technology also separates your signal into different frequencies, making it almost interference free. It also uses the channel-scanning of spread spectrum to allow for excellent reception and security.
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