Frequently Asked Questions on Telephone Features

Question: What is the Paging/Two-Way Intercom feature?

Answer: This feature lets you send a signal from the base to the handset (or from the handset to the base) so that you can page someone or easily locate the handset when it is away from the base. If someone answers, you can use the telephone as a two-way intercom.

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Question: What are the ranges for the different types of cordless telephones?

Answer: While the actual range of any telephone depends on its construction, ambient RFI (radio frequency interference) and physical obstructions between the telephone and base, the following ranges illustrate the differences between 900 MHz Analog telephones, 900 MHz Digital and Digital Spread Spectrum telephones and 2.4 GHz DSS telephones. Because of the factors mentioned, the ranges provided are approximate and based on an open-air best-case comparison, assuming no RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) and a line-of -sight between telephone and base with no obstructions.

Frequency	Type	Max Range
900 MHz	Analog	200 feet
900 MHz	Digital	3/4 mile
900 MHz	DSS	3/4 mile
2.4 GHz	DSS	1 mile

As you go from analog to digital to digital spread spectrum, the technologies increase in security and clarity. Analog telephones broadcast a continuous signal like a traditional FM radio broadcast; because of this, conversation privacy is not ensured. Digital telephones convert the voice signal into digital form; this makes the conversation more secure and helps keep conversation private from scanner radios. Digital spread spectrum telephones convert the voice signal to digital form and transmits on constantly changing frequencies (hence the phrase "spread spectrum" ... the transmission is spread across the spectrum of available frequencies). This makes calls virtually impossible to monitor on scanners.

Clarity increases with both the change in frequency (the 2.4 GHz band is significantly less crowded) and the increase in format (from analog to digital to digital spread spectrum). The mechanisms used in digital increase clarity and decrease interference over standard analog; and the mechanisms used in digital spread spectrum increase the clarity and decrease interference even further. With 2.4 GHz DSS telephones, virtually all interference is eliminated.

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Question: What is the Voice Security feature?

Answer: When activated, this feature reduces the chance of your conversation being overheard on a neighbor's cordless telephone or other radio receiving equipment within range of your telephone. To activate Voice Security at any time, press SECURE. SECURE appears and the SECURE light turns on. Voice Security remains active until you press SECURE again.

Note: Activating this feature may reduce the sound quality of your calls.

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Question: What is the CPC switch used for?

Answer: The CPC switch is for Calling Party Control. Many local telephone companies use calling party control (CPC) to signal that the caller has hung up. The CPC setting determines whether your device recognizes a CPC signal and releases the line. For example, if an answering machine records telephone company messages or dial tones and the CPC switch is set to on, then your local telephone company probably does not use CPC.

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Question: How secure is my cordless telephone conversation from interception and eavesdropping?

Answer: The amount of security depends on the technology used in the telephone. Briefly, digital telephones using spread spectrum technology are the most secure of wireless telephones; however, you should be aware that no wireless transmission should be considered 100% secure. The only way to ensure that a conversation can not be picked up by a radio scanner is to use a wired telephone.

Conversations on analog cordless telephones without voice security could be intercepted and listened to by anyone listening to that frequency. As explained previously, the Voice Security feature reduces this possibility.

Conversations on digital telephones are more secure, as these telephones convert the voice signal into digital form for transmission. Anyone using an analog scanner would hear the digital signal (beeps). However, even a digital signal could theoretically be intercepted by someone who is deliberately trying to intercept and decode the digital signal.

Digital Spread Spectrum telephones overcome this threat by constantly changing the transmission across the 900 MHz band, making the call virtually impossible to monitor.

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