Cordless Phones or Corded Phones
Buyers’ Guide – Choosing Cordless Phones or Corded Phones
A corded telephone is, of course, the recognisable form of telephone that has existed, in one form or another, since Alexander Graham Bell uttered the immortal words, “Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you.” It features a handset physically connected to a base unit, which, in turn, is physically connected to a telephone line, from which the phone also receives its power.
Cordless phones, on the other hand, and are more recent invention, and feature a separate base unit and handset. Incoming calls are received, as a series of electrical signals, by the base unit, and broadcast, as RF, Radio Frequency, signals, to a handset, or handsets. This means that a separate extension for each individual handset is not required.
Cordless or Corded Phones
Corded phones, by definition, mean that telephone calls can only be made, or received, from a fixed physical location, and obviously that the user is tied to that location for the duration of a call. This can present problems for users with mobility problems, or those who simply do not want the inconvenience of running back and forth to the telephone. Private, or confidential, calls may also prove problematic in home, or office, environments. The other side of the coin, of course, is that having a phone in a fixed position means that you always know where the handset is, and don’t need to hunt under piles of paperwork, or down the back of the sofa, to find it when you want to make or receive a call.
The specific advantages of corded phones lie in the call quality that can be achieved – with minimal interference – and their availability in the absence of electrical power. Not even the latest cordless phones – including those in the 900MHz, 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz frequency bands – can hope to compete with a standard corded phone in terms of call quality. Indeed, many of the quality problems associated with cordless phones can be eliminated by reverting to a corded phone. Cordless phones are susceptible to interference from microwave ovens, WiFi wireless networks, and other electrical devices, whereas corded phones are not.
Furthermore, cordless phones require mains power, so that in the event of power failure, cordless phones – and, indeed, corded phones connected to VoIP – Voice over Internet Protocol – or fibre optic networks – cease to function. In the event of any emergency, a corded phone – which takes its power from the telephone line – may be the only means of communication with the outside world, so at least one such phone should be present in every household or office.
Cheap Phones
Corded phones are also typically cheaper to buy than cordless phones, but may still include features such as a telephone directory, last number redial, caller display – if this feature is activated by your telephone service provider – and hands-free, or speakerphone, operation.
Cordless phones, conversely, allow the user the freedom to roam around his, or her, home or office – within a typical maximum range of 150′ to 300′ from a base unit – whilst holding a conversation on the telephone.
Cordless phones are not without their own specific problems, however; reliance on RF transmissions means that cordless are susceptible to the same kind of reception problems that plague traditional AM, or FM, radio broadcasting. The further a cordless handset is taken from a base unit – that is, from the radio transmitter – the weaker, and more susceptible to interference, the signal becomes. Inevitably, this means that call quality suffers as a result, and is it possible to disconnected, completely, during a call, if the handset is moved beyond its maximum range.
Cordless Phone Frequency Bands
Cordless phones operating in the 900MHz frequency band, for example, may offer a greater maximum range than those operating in other frequency band, but, nevertheless suffer from interference from baby monitors, etc., and signals can be easily intercepted. The 2.4GHz frequency band offers improved clarity and less interference, but microwave ovens and wireless networking devices also transmit signals in this frequency range.
More advanced cordless phones – those that operate in the 5.8GHz frequency band, or via DECT – Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications – in the 1.9GHz frequency band – are designed to provide the ultimate in cordless call quality, with a reduced chance of interference from any source.
Buy Cordless Phones
Cordless Phones are available from the following retailers:
Buy Corded Phones
Corded Phones are available from the following retailers:
More Reviews:
- Home phones – Cordless or Corded?
- Cordless Phones Buying Guide
- BT Paragon Phones
- Panasonic KX-TG 6461
- What Are The Different Types of Headsets
- Conference Phone Buying Guide
- BT Diverse 7460
- What is a Conference Phone ?
- BT Diverse 7410
- Polycom SoundStation2W Wireless vs Wireless Expandable
Buy Cordless Phones
 Gigaset C475 Cordless Phones
£38.99 |
 Sony MDRIF140K IR Cordless Headphones
£30.28 |
 650mAh Rechargeable Battery for DECT...
£5.99 |
 Panasonic RPWF820EBK RF Cordless...
£50.88 |
 Sennheiser RS160 RF Cordless Headphones
£116.32 |
 700mAh AAA Rechargeable Battery for...
£4.99 |
 600mAh Rechargeable Battery for DECT...
£5.99 |
 550mAh Rechargeable Battery for DECT...
£4.49 |
 BT Verve 450 Trio Cordless Phones...
£89.00 |
 BT Verve 450 Twin Cordless Phones...
£69.00 |
