Just got a 2.4 ghz phone and my wireless connection goes down hill

[brianosmi]

I just upgraded my phone from 900 mhz (I know, the stone age) to a 2.4 ghz phone.

Now all of a sudden I'm dropping my wireless connection on my laptop and my network speed has even dropped. Seems like it has to be the phone operating on the same frequency as my router.

Does anyone know if it may help if I switch to a different channel on my router, or is this a regular problem with the 2.4 ghz phones. Anyone else experience this same problem?

Thanks for any insight and wisdom.

[cyberskye]

I had 900Mhtz, upgraded to 2.4, then traded it in for another 900 Mhtz for this reason.

You can try different channels - but both devices use the exact same spectrum/frequency. Degredation can be minimized, but it'll always be there.

EDIT: you should also now pay very close attention to physical locations. Never have your phone (handset or basestation) between the AP and your PC's. Place the AP as high as possible and try to keep right angles through walls - so the signal goes straight through as opposed to entering the wall at an angle.

All the tricks above help, but you'll still proabably notice the difference.

[brianosmi]

Thanks for the advice. Anyone have any better experiences with the 5.8 ghz phones?

[fcorneli]

Hello,

It really amazes me that the engineers and companies didn't see the 2.4ghz issue coming. I suspect they did and sold the crap anyway. Last night I was at a client's house working on a wireless "problem." Sure enough, they had a 2.4gHz DDS phone with 4 bases in the basement with the wireless router. It was trashing the signal every time it transmitted to the bases, even while the phones were not in use, and turning off the base recovered the signal. They would get no signal then good signal, no signal then good, etc. while the base was on, so it made me think it was the DDS function.

I don't see any way around this other than a new phone since it appears that we cannot get routers in any other frequency other than 2.4gHz, right? Today I've been looking around and can't find one. Am I going to have to tell the client to switch phones? They just bought it and spent more money on it than it would cost to replace a PCI wireless, PC Card wireless, and the wireless router. I'm looking for a solution basically, and hard-wiring it is not an option since it is in a finished basement. I don't want to use the phone line networking trick or power outlet trick either if I can help it.

Thanks,

Agathon

[cyberskye]

It really amazes me that the engineers and companies didn't see the 2.4ghz issue coming

FCC regulates radio bands in the US. Most are licensed (FM radio. TV, etc). The 2.4G band is not licensed, so anyone can use it. Elsewise you'd need to get an operators license from the FCC to have a wireless network...

Imperfect, but there are only so many bands that are free. Some walkie talkie you can buy at radaioshack require a licenses!

BTW - 2.4 G is the only range for 802.11b/g - 802.11a uses a 5Ghtz band. Shorter range and more expensive hw - and I believe on the way out anyway...

[brianosmi]

I took back my 2.4 ghz phone and got the Panasonic 5.8 ghz. Spent probably too much money for the phone, but the phone is great (great reception, long range, etc.) and it does not interfere with my Linksys wireless router. Problem solved.

There were also phones in the 2.4 ghz range just coming out that are supposedly "802.11 friendly", but I could not find anyone who has tried one.

[cyberskye]

There were also phones in the 2.4 ghz range just coming out that are supposedly "802.11 friendly", but I could not find anyone who has tried one.

Yeah - I'd be interested yet skeptical.

[cyberskye]

Got a link for your phone?

Thanks,

Skye

[brianosmi]

Here it is: Panasonic KX-TG5100M

Brian

[cyberskye]

Nice - how's the speaker phone?

[brianosmi]

Both of the speaker phones work great. I actually use the speaker phone on the handset quite often, especially checking my voicemail.

I work out of a home office half the week so it is especially a nice phone for me... a bit on the pricey side, but nice.

One of my favorite features is the phonebook (which you can transfer between handsets and the base). I have complex phone numbers programmed in that require pauses in between voicemail numbers, etc., and all I have to do is put the handset on speakerphone, hit a couple of buttons and the phone will dial all the way into my voicemail inbox at work.

Brian

[fcorneli]

Maybe I missed something, but that link directs us to a 5.8gHz phone. With the client I have, I think they are going to stick with the 2.4gHz router and other hardware. The current idea now is to use a power outlet LAN extender. It is only $99 dollars, and it will allow the remote PC in the basement to work as it is (right next to the 2.4gHz phone base).

Has anyone seen an expandable 5.8gHz phone system WITH TWO LINES yet? All I have found is one line models, and this particular client needs a two line model. I'd love to gte a two line model myself.

[cyberskye]

Maybe I missed something, but that link directs us to a 5.8gHz phone.

You're right. A 5.8Ghtz phone will not interfere with a 2.4 Ghtz wlan - that would be the point.

[fcorneli]

The person was refering to 2.4gHz phones coming out that are supposedly 2.4gHz router friendly (Why I was puzzled by the link being 5.8gHz instead of 2.4gHz, but I misunderstood your request for a link.)

Thanks

Agathon