New 5.8 GHz phones are really 2.4 GHz?

[gvenditto]

Anyone have experience with the new 5.8 GHz cordless phones and an 802.11b network?

I'm getting intermittent interference between the WLAN and a 2.4 GHz Panasonic and was looking for a 900 MHz digital cordless -- but they're not easy to find. I came across the latest hype in cordless phones -- 5.8 GHz -- and thought this was perfect. Except I've seen some comments that these phones are actually running 2.4 part of the time.

Anyone have any experience?

... if you're not familiar with the 2.4 GHz cordless phone proble problem, read through this thread---
http://forums.80211-planet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=400&highlight=cordless+phone

[MJShimek]

I was at K-Mart this past weekend, and they have several 900 Mhz phones. Check Wal-Mart too. With a 2.4 Ghz phone is the interference constant, or just when the phone is in use?

[gvenditto]

Many of the 900 MHz phones on the market are analog. It's a little harder to find a digital 900 MHz phone (which is supposed to be better voice quality).

The interference with 2.4G Hz phones is not constant. It is only when the phone is in use and even then, it's often fine.

The way I understand it, the phones may use the same channel being used by the 802.11 data connection -- or not; it's chance. Some people have had success in selecting 802.11 channels that are less likely to be used by phones. But apparently this is not a guaranteed solution. That thread above covers many of the interference issues better than I can.

What I do know is that we have the problem in my house often enough that it's a nuisance.

[robo45h]

Originally posted by gvenditto
Many of the 900 MHz phones on the market are analog. It's a little harder to find a digital 900 MHz phone (which is supposed to be better voice quality).

The interference with 2.4G Hz phones is not constant. It is only when the phone is in use and even then, it's often fine.
Not always true. Depends upon the brand and model of phone. Panasonic GigaRange extreme 2.4/900 phones act like this and take the whole 802.11b network down. Others, such as ATT (vTech) may seem "fine" but reduce 802.11b throughput, cause computers to regularly and randomly drop off the network for 1 or 2 mins, and cause occasional clicking noises on the phones.

And as for the question about the new 5.8 ghz phones, read the fine print in the FCC notice section of the user guide (which you can often download from the manufacturer's website). They use 5.8 to transmit from the base to the handset, but 2.4ghz to transmit from the handset to the base. :(