Range
RANGE TEST RESULTS
of original EnGenius SN-900
(The current DuraFons are more powerful.)
Wyle Laboratories, one of the nation's largest
independent testing and engineering firms, tested
"line of sight" range for the EnGenius SN-900 cordless
phone at the US Army's Redstone Arsenal test facility
in Huntsville, Alabama.
The maximum range, with the handset and base kept
at ground level (using standard base antenna)
exceeded the limits of the 16,300 ft. test range.
The first noise was noted at over 3124 feet from the
base, and this noise was intermittent, and not present
when the handset was not in motion. Steady noise was
noted at 3758 feet, but the testing company indicated
that the typical user would accept the sound quality at
7603 feet. Conversation was possible, but difficult, at
over 16,300 feet (more than three miles).
Handset-to-handset conversations had greater range
than base-to-handset. For example, steady noise in
handset-to-handset conversations occurred at 8988
feet -- more than twice the distance for
base-to-handset steady noise.
Wyle also conducted maximum range testing above
ground level, with one unit on an open mountainside
and the other on the top of an office building (height
not specified). The testers obtained clear
communications at about 5.5 miles!
These test results indicate the range under optimum
"open field" conditions, and DO NOT indicate the
range for a suburban or urban environment with hills,
houses and other obstructions. If you want the
greatest possible range, mount the base as high as
possible, or install the optional external base antenna.
In AbleComm's own initial testing, we found about 1/2
mile range (with the standard base antenna) in a
typical suburban environment, and excellent ability to
punch through floors, walls and even elevators.
We don't have access to Redstone Arsenal, but did
put the base on a desk in room #404 at the Marriott
Courtyard in Fishkill, NY; near a window facing west.
We drove west on the NY Thruway, holding the
handset outside the car. We still had good signal
strength and audio when the odometer indicated .5
miles from a point on the Thruway approximately
parallel to the Marriott.
In another test, we went north across several large
parking lots, in a direction where the signal had to
pass through several walls of the Marriott. It was not
possible to drive in a straight line, so odometer
readings were not useful; but we estimate we
maintained good communication at about .3 - .4 miles,
and were even able to have a (noisy) conversation
from inside the nearby Wal-Mart store.
of original EnGenius SN-900
(The current DuraFons are more powerful.)
Wyle Laboratories, one of the nation's largest
independent testing and engineering firms, tested
"line of sight" range for the EnGenius SN-900 cordless
phone at the US Army's Redstone Arsenal test facility
in Huntsville, Alabama.
The maximum range, with the handset and base kept
at ground level (using standard base antenna)
exceeded the limits of the 16,300 ft. test range.
The first noise was noted at over 3124 feet from the
base, and this noise was intermittent, and not present
when the handset was not in motion. Steady noise was
noted at 3758 feet, but the testing company indicated
that the typical user would accept the sound quality at
7603 feet. Conversation was possible, but difficult, at
over 16,300 feet (more than three miles).
Handset-to-handset conversations had greater range
than base-to-handset. For example, steady noise in
handset-to-handset conversations occurred at 8988
feet -- more than twice the distance for
base-to-handset steady noise.
Wyle also conducted maximum range testing above
ground level, with one unit on an open mountainside
and the other on the top of an office building (height
not specified). The testers obtained clear
communications at about 5.5 miles!
These test results indicate the range under optimum
"open field" conditions, and DO NOT indicate the
range for a suburban or urban environment with hills,
houses and other obstructions. If you want the
greatest possible range, mount the base as high as
possible, or install the optional external base antenna.
In AbleComm's own initial testing, we found about 1/2
mile range (with the standard base antenna) in a
typical suburban environment, and excellent ability to
punch through floors, walls and even elevators.
We don't have access to Redstone Arsenal, but did
put the base on a desk in room #404 at the Marriott
Courtyard in Fishkill, NY; near a window facing west.
We drove west on the NY Thruway, holding the
handset outside the car. We still had good signal
strength and audio when the odometer indicated .5
miles from a point on the Thruway approximately
parallel to the Marriott.
In another test, we went north across several large
parking lots, in a direction where the signal had to
pass through several walls of the Marriott. It was not
possible to drive in a straight line, so odometer
readings were not useful; but we estimate we
maintained good communication at about .3 - .4 miles,
and were even able to have a (noisy) conversation
from inside the nearby Wal-Mart store.
AbleComm's secret test facility.
Comments about phone range
Numbers are very important to lots of human beings, especially men. The male homo
sapiens likes to know that his car has more horsepower, his stereo has more watts, his PC
has more RAM, his TV has more inches, and his personal equipment is bigger... than the
guy's next door.
With cordless phones, range is the important number, even though it's almost always
unimportant. Most people seldom take a cordless handset more than 20 feet from its base.
100 feet will take you far beyond most homes, and a football field is just 300 feet long... yet
lots of people are asking for phones that can go a mile or more, particularly for business
and government use, and we have them.
It's tough to find a cordless with that kind of CONSISTENT range. The EnGenius cordless
phones have the longest range of any cordless phone that can legally be used in the US,
and their range can be 1/2 mile to 5 miles or even more, depending on conditions.
That brings us to an important point. Sometimes car commercials brag about gas mileage,
and then weasel-out by stating that "your mileage may vary." It's that way with cordless
phones, too. The advertised ranges are seldom equaled in the real world, and the same
phone may behave very differently in two places, or even in the same place on two different
days.
Now we'll give you some general principles:
Numbers are very important to lots of human beings, especially men. The male homo
sapiens likes to know that his car has more horsepower, his stereo has more watts, his PC
has more RAM, his TV has more inches, and his personal equipment is bigger... than the
guy's next door.
With cordless phones, range is the important number, even though it's almost always
unimportant. Most people seldom take a cordless handset more than 20 feet from its base.
100 feet will take you far beyond most homes, and a football field is just 300 feet long... yet
lots of people are asking for phones that can go a mile or more, particularly for business
and government use, and we have them.
It's tough to find a cordless with that kind of CONSISTENT range. The EnGenius cordless
phones have the longest range of any cordless phone that can legally be used in the US,
and their range can be 1/2 mile to 5 miles or even more, depending on conditions.
That brings us to an important point. Sometimes car commercials brag about gas mileage,
and then weasel-out by stating that "your mileage may vary." It's that way with cordless
phones, too. The advertised ranges are seldom equaled in the real world, and the same
phone may behave very differently in two places, or even in the same place on two different
days.
Now we'll give you some general principles:
- Cordless phones are generally able to maintain an existing conversation at a greater
distance than they are able to start a conversation, and can ring at greater distances
than they permit talking. - With EnGenius DuraFons, you may be able to use text messaging in places where
you can't have a verbal conversation. - When you move around while using an analog cordless phone, near the end of its
range, you will probably hear a "fluttering" sh-sh-sh sound. - In the same conditions, while using a digital phone, you will probably hear clicks.
- Near the range limit of any cordless phone, slight movements and changes in
position can make a big difference in performance. If you put your head between the
handset and the base, you may lose the signal, but if you turn to let the handset be
in line-of-sight with the base, it may work just fine. - Vegetation affects range. "Broadleaf" trees (hardwoods such as maple and oak) limit
range more than "conifers" (evergreen softwoods such as pine and fir). - If you can get the base up high, you will probably get more range.
- Range over water is usually better than range over land.
- Most "range-boosting" antennas -- unless designed by the maker of the cordless
phone -- are useless. - With all else being equal, phones that operate on higher frequencies are usually
better able to punch through dense walls, than phones operating on lower
frequencies. HOWEVER, all things are seldom equal, and transmitting power may be
more important than frequency.
| call 1 888 225-3999 email for info or pricelist |
EnGenius DuraFons have more power and more
range than any other phone that's legal to use in
the US and Canada, typically 3,000 acres on a
farm, ranch, car lot or campus (more than 130
million square feet), and in-building penetration in
excess of 12 floors.
range than any other phone that's legal to use in
the US and Canada, typically 3,000 acres on a
farm, ranch, car lot or campus (more than 130
million square feet), and in-building penetration in
excess of 12 floors.
- Straight-line "open field" range has been
tested at over five miles. Typical range is a
mile or two. - You can connect one or even two external
antennas for additional range and coverage
area.
| Your Mileage May Vary |
uploaded 1/21/08
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