2.4 Cordless phones and 802.11b networks

[Xanager]

We are going to set up a wireless network, but we have a brand new 2.4 GHz phone system. I read in PC Magazine that if you have 802.11b networking products, you can forget about using these phones in the same area. 802.11a is too expensive right now. What do we do? Do the phones really cause that much interference?

 

[ktwebb]

Do you have a link to that article? If that is truely what it said, its an incredible disservice to the 802.11b community. I have heard some people say they have had some issues while others have not. I use/install corporate grade, expensive AP's and have never had any issues myself but from what I ascertain, some have. SOHO AP/Routers may have more problems. Can't speak to it personally cuz I dont have a whole lot of experience with the cheaper Wi-Fi devices. To make a blanket statemant like that is BS and at least partially erroneous..

 

[Hoober]

I use the SMC wireless router and everytime I get near my laptop and turn on the 2.4 cordless I have, the connection to the AP is cut. It picks it back up the minute the phone is turned off, though.

 

[Xanager]

I read it out of the magazine, but I found the link to the article.
The part about the phones is in the sixth paragraph.

PC Magazine: Wireless Networking's Next Big Thing

 

[Xanager]

Talk about raining on my parade. We want a wireless network now, but we need to be able to be on the net and talk on the phones at the same time. What a bummer. I have looked at 802.11a products, but they're too expensive right now.

 

[cipher00]

Yup. But 900 MHz phones don't interfere or (gasp!) wired phones don't interfere, either. Do you have to use a 2.4GHz phone near your setup?

 

[Xanager]

We just got one of the Seiman 2.4 GHz phone systems. It consists of one main base station and two handsets. Yeah, one of the handsets will be near the computer.

 

[cipher00]

Maybe move one of the handsets somewhere else and get a relatively inexpensive 900 MHz cordless? Hoober might verify that the interference is caused when the two are used near each other (distance?). This problem sounds like it has a relatively inexpensive solution, though I admit not being able to completely use the new phone is a bit of a bummer. 🙁