EnGenius Long Range Cordless Phone
Frequently Asked Questions

Does it really get 5 miles range?

We asked ourselves that same question. We tried an EnGenius SN-920 Ultra here in the office. This is an older model that has been replaced by the DuraFon 1X, but the DuraFon's better than the SN-920 so this test is still valid.

The area around our office is urban with lots of concrete and steel and not many open spaces - your basic crowded city. Our office also has a lot of computers and other electronic equipment which might cause trouble. But even under these conditions, we still managed to get half a mile, or about 2500 feet. Compare that to your standard 900Mhz range of 100-150 feet and the EnGenius SN-920 Ultra is still an awesome phone.

Why do EnGenius long range cordless telephones transmit further than other cordless phones?

The simple answer is that EnGenius cordless phones transmit more power. Cellular phones transmit at 600 milliwatts. Most cordless phones transmit between 80 milliwatts and 100 milliwatts. The EnGenius Industrial Cordless Phone System transmits at 800 milliwatts.

Has the Engenius Industrial Cordless Phone System passed all of the regulatory and safety testing?

Yes. The EnGenius Industrial Cordless Phone System passed all safety and regulatory requirements for the USA and Canada.

What's so great about full duplex technology?

Full duplex capability lets you talk and listen at the same time. The EnGenius long range cordless phones makes use of this technology.

Can I expand my EnGenius cordless phone system?

One of the other benefits of EnGenius cordless phone systems is their flexibility. The DuraFon 1X and DuraFon PRO systems, each base unit can support up to 9 handsets and 4 base units at different locations. Additional handsets are available separately.

Are the phones secure?

Yes. There are three levels of security. First, when you register a handset to a base unit, it assigns one of 65000 unique security codes to the handset. Second, the phone conversation is digital and cannot be picked up by other analog phones or baby monitors. Third, we utilize a military level frequency hopping scheme in which the phone automatically changes channels over 200 times per second.

Can I attach the EnGenius Industrial Cordless Phone System to an existing PBX?

Yes. All you need is an analog port off of the PBX. Additionally, try to place the base unit and antenna at least 10 feet away from other electronic equipment and as high as possible in an open area for best results. There are also digital to analog converters which allow you to plug any analog equipment (such as an EnGenius long range cordless phone) into a digital phone outlet.

If you transmit at 800 milliwatts, how do you get your battery to last up to 4 hours?

Each handset has a receive signal strength indicator. It constantly measures the signal strength and only transmit as much power as is required to maintain a good signal. The handset transmits anywhere from 80 milliwatts to 800 milliwatts on one-fifteenth increments.

Will I get better range with the EnGenius optional outdoor external antenna and 60 feet (20m) of cable?

Think about connecting your television in your living room with rabbit ears and then connecting that television to an antenna on the roof. The signal is better because it has to travel through fewer obstructions to reach your television. The Engenius optional outdoor antenna is very similar. Instead of the signal traveling through several walls and obstructions to get outside, which reduces the signal strength, the antenna is already outside. Also, by having the antenna up higher, the signal will provide a better area of coverage. The Engenius optional external antenna is a 6db gain antenna. The 60 feet (20M) cable has a 7db loss. Therefore, the antenna and cable have been matched to provide the optimum cable length without sacrificing range.

Does the EnGenius Industrial Cordless Phone System use the base unit to connect two handsets in a two-way radio conversation?

No. The handsets work completely independent of the base unit. As an example, you can have 4 pairs of two-way radio call going on simultaneously and the 9th person can use the remote location (construction site, beach, farm, mountains, lake) and use them as two-way radios. When used as two-ways radios, the conversations are full duplex (just like a phone call), digital and private. There is no group chatter. You are talking to the specific handset to which you initiated the two-way radio call.

With each EnGenius handset, you have included a long and a short antenna. Why do you include both?

Some people prefer the convenience of the shorter antenna. In their application, they may not need the full range of the EnGenius System. The longer range antenna is designed to maximize range and will give you the approximately 20% more range in an open area.

How many handsets can you have in one area without incurring interference?

We conducted three tests in rooms varying in size:

• Test A: In a room which was 25 feet by 15 feet, we first saw interference when the 14th phone or 7 simultaneous radio frequency links were established using the two-way radio mode.
• Test B: In a room which was 30 feet by 30 feet, we first saw interference when the 26th phone or 13 simultaneous radio frequency links were established using the two-way radio mode.
• Test C: This test was to determine how far the base units need to be separated from each other or from electrical equipment. The result was that a minimum of 10 feet (3M) was required to minimize noise and other interference. A recommendation of 20 feet is suggested.

How many lines can I have?

Each EnGenius DuraFon 1X base unit can support 1 analog phone line. An EnGenius handset can be registered to as many as 4 base units or 4 separate lines. Each Engenius DuraFon PRO base unit and handset can support 4 analog phone lines.

What does Industrial Cordless mean?

Industrial Cordless Phone Systems are designed for demanding business environments. Industrial Cordless Phone Systems offer:

• Long-range cordless and two-way capabilities
• Secure, private communication utilizing digital spread spectrum with frequency hopping technology of over 200 channels per second
• Digital, full duplex Two-Way Radio communications independent of the base unit
• Expandability
• External antenna capability
• Multiple line capacity
• Multi-user capability
• Call hold and call transfer capabilities

Is special wiring required for the EnGenius Industrial Cordless Phone System?

No, the EnGenius System will work with any standard electrical 120-volt AC wall outlets and any standard analog telephone line port.

Will I have to program my handsets in order to use them?

No, the EnGenius Phone System's handsets come pre-programmed at the factory to operate immediately with the included base unit.

What accessories come with the EnGenius Cordless Phone System?

Accessories included with the EnGenius Cordless Phone Systems are:

• One battery pack per handset
• Long Antenna
• Short Antenna
• Rapid / trickle desktop charger separated handset

What is the battery time of the EnGenius Phone System handsets?

The average talk-time is up to four hours on a fully charged battery. The average stand-by time is up to 36 hours on a fully charged battery. With the EnGenius Phone System you can even change the battery while a caller is on hold.

What is the manufacturer's warranty?

One-year limited warranty.

What can be done to maximize the range performance?

By removing as many obstacles as possible and placing the base and/or antenna as high as possible will enhance the range. Maintain as much line-of-sight transmission as possible.

If my base has multiple handsets, can I make two-way radio transmissions while someone is making a cordless phone call?

Yes, the two-way radio transmissions are completely independent of the base. So, in fact you could take several handsets to a remote area away from the base and have two-way radio conversations between the handsets.