What do the megahertz and gigahertz mean when referring to cordless phones?

Question

My wife and I are looking at getting a new cordless phone. We want a good one, but we're unfamiliar with the meaning behind mega/gigahertz. I know it's a measurement of power, but what does it get you by having more? Is it more range, clearer signal, both, or something else?

Also, what are the advantages of digital cordless phones?

Answer 1

Mega- (1,000,000 Hertz) or giga- (1,000,000,000 Hertz) hertz refers to the frequency at which the signal is transmitted. Generally speaking, the higher the frequency the weaker the signal, however, factors such as what walls the signal would need to travel through and what the wall is made from as well as where the base of your phone unit is located. If you use wireless Internet or similar technologies, there is a greater chance of interference with gigahertz phones. Gigahertz phones can be more useful in a large company or building as they are better suited for cordless phone systems with multi-handsets, which allow for features like call transferring and forwarding, but they are more expensive.

Advantage: Digital lines are more secure than analog lines, which can be picked up by anyone with a scanner. Digital is also quieter because only the conversation is transmitted, not background noise.

Answer 2

Digital phones are now standard by the decree of the FCC. Part of the issue for digital is security, and part of it is the requirement of the systems that are in current use. Frequency is not a function of power. These telephones are operating at less than 1 watt of power anyway. Buy a 5.8 gigahertz phone, it should give you the service that you need.
More range is going to be how much power the device is designed to produce. Range is also going to be determined by what is in the way of the signal. Metal objects tend to interfere with the phones signal. Because these phones use what is known as "frequency hopping", that is, they never use the same frequency each time, within the capability of the phones operation, there is less likelihood of someone hearing your conversation.

Answer 3

Gigahertz (GHz) is higher than Megahertz (MHz), just like in computers. It refers to the frequency the phones operate on, just like a radio.

The higher the frequency, the better the distance, it's better through walls, and it CAN be clearer, depending on whether or not a lot of your neighbors are on the same frequency.

As far as digital is concerned, it is better if you're worried about security. It's virtually impossible for someone to eavesdrop on you, whether accidental or intentional.

Answer 4

it is the radio frequency that the phone uses
the 1st cordless phones were around 40-50 mhz some baby monitors used the same frequencies, and are very easy to listen in on.
900 mhz phones are almost as easy to listen to with almost any radio scanner.
900 mhz with DSS (digital spread spectrum) is encrypted, although the radio scanner can pick up the frequency the phone is on, the signal is scrambled and can not be heard buy the scanner user. (to my knowledge there is no way to break this encryption publicly available)
2.4 ghz phones operate on the same frequency band as wifi, and therefore may recive interfearance from wireless networks, although I have not come across a case of this, it is possible.
5.4 ghz phones operate on the same frequency as the public service wifi network (used by police, etc) these networks are not very common, and you are least likely to recive interfearance, and less likely to be listened in on.

to my knowledge 2.4 and 5.4 phones all have DSS.

Answer 5

'mega' means 100, 'giga' means 1,000 - hertz that is.
The higher the frequency, the clearer the reception.
Usually, the range increases somewhat.
You should ask the sales person (if they know anything) or even open the carton and read the brochure. I have found that to be the best source of information.

Answer 6

not power - its the frequency of the radio waves that
communicate from the phone to the base

I think the higher band is better - ask the salesperson

Answer 7

2.4 use to be the standard but now they make them 5.8 which gives you clearer signal plus less chance of people listening in on portable scanners.

Answer 8

it is the frequency range at which it transmits...some ranges are more busy than others therefore more prone to interference