[asterisk-users] wireless desktop phones

[Dean Collins]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: asterisk-users-bounces at lists.digium.com [mailto:asterisk-users-
> bounces at lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Gordon Henderson
> Sent: Wednesday, 28 March 2007 8:53 AM
> To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion
> Subject: RE: [asterisk-users] wireless desktop phones
> 
> On Wed, 28 Mar 2007, Dean Collins wrote:
> 
> > Yeh Jordan, my suggestion is don't.
> >
> > If you read this list you'll find plenty of people complaining about
> > wireless functionality, the hardware/technology just isn't there
yet.
> > Stick with wired phones and one or two wireless for particular
people
> > for now, maybe in 12-18 month things might change.
> 
> I would add to this by saying the same... (Assuming you're talking
about
> Wi-Fi)
> 
> The technology is there, but I'm not convinced it's robust enough -
yet.
> I'm sure it will get there though.
> 
> Wi-Fi has many issues - including performance - with many subscribers
to a
> single base-station you'll experience drop-outs, packet loss, etc.
> 
> However, if you're looking for wireless, then you might want to look
at
> some of the DECT solutions - either by connecting analuge base
stations to
> a TDM card, or using a SIP compatable base station.
> 
> I've just deployed a pair of Siemens CP460IP's and just ordered a
couple
> more. So-far so good. They aren't perfect - check the WiKi for some
> details though.
> 
>    http://www.voip-info.org/wiki/view/Siemens+Gigaset+C450IP
> 
> And if you need to extend range, there are relay units avalable,
although
> I've found coverage to be better than other DECT systems I've used.
> 
> The down-side is that you can only (I think) have 6 base stations in
any
> one area, so if you're looking to give everyone their own wireless
phone,
> it may prove to be problematic - however I've not got the hard facts
on
> number of DECT basestations, so I could be wrong here.
> 
> On the WiFi side, the only phone I've played iwth is the UT Starcom
> F1000G, and while it works, most of the time, it's a bit too "geeky"
for
> general use - it didn't pass the "wife test"...
> 
> Good luck
> 
> 


Gordon, 
If you need to have high density DECT then it's very easily achievable
but like all things you need to move to a commercial situation rather
than a domestic style gigaset.

I used to sell commercial DECT solutions (eg starting at $40k+ - my
largest individual site was a 250K solution).

I've even seen an ericsson md110 with nothing but high density dect
cards supporting a multi acre military facility.

My point is you can have more than 6 handsets in a single 'zone'.

To answer Jordan's original question - why do you want wifi? Do these
people have desks? Monitors? Pc's connected to cables? Then don't be
silly and try to give them wifi when the technology is too immature.

If you ARE working in a trading situation where people don't have desks
and are totally mobile then you need to use commercial DECT.


 

Regards,

Dean Collins
Cognation Pty Ltd
dean at cognation.net
+1-212-203-4357 Ph
+1-917-207-3420 Mb
+61-2-9016-5642 (Sydney in-dial).