ICASA cracks down: beware the wrong cordless phones

DragonMolester said:
Anybody notice that it only seems to be Panasonic phones that are illegal? :whistle:
Click to expand...

It could be that whoever is doing the grey import is just doing Panasonic phones.

It's amazing that these phones work OK in other parts of the world, but in SA, we are that special snowflake where these phones cause problems. Maybe other parts of the world use different frequencies, or maybe this is reject stock, rejected from Malaysia or Indonesia and now sold in SA.
 
efitol said:
I don't understand this response. Relevance?
Click to expand...

Read it again:
deweyzeph said:
Cordless telephones operate in the 400Mhz spectrum and the Cellphone operators use from 800Mhz upwards so how exactly do these cordless phones cause interference? Smells like horse manure to me.
Click to expand...

The poster stated the article is BS as cordless phones work on 400MHz and GSM kit do not, thus they cannot interfere.

His statement shows a complete lack of understanding how RF works, so I'm interrested in his relevant RF knowledge, experience and qualifications.

But, let's be honest, he's go no knowledge on the subject, yet felt compelled to say ICASA (who actually do employ qualified RF engineers) don't know what they're talking about.
 
Last edited:
Seeing as it's Friday I find this very funny.

Very good thing the news didn't break on a Monday.

Icasa... cordless phones... crackdown....bwahahahaha.
 
And that is exactly why it is interfering with 3G in South Africa and can cause a whole neighbourhood to suffer horrible 3G coverage and dropped calls, despite having a "very good signal"...
Franna said:
Specs for one of the illegal phones:
http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/KX-TG6643B?t=overview

Engineered to work in 1.9GHz frequency, our DECT 6.0 phones won't conflict with common wireless devices such as 2.4GHz routers, wireless keyboards and mice, microwave ovens and other household items.
Click to expand...
 
Many of the knee-jerk responses (other than jannievanzyl and Franna) seem to show complete ignorance of radio spectrum allocation, and the differences between DECT products designed for North America (non-GSM cellular) versus the rest of the world. There is no reason to use the 'wrong' cordless model in SA (except ignorance), and plenty of reasons to avoid interference with GSM sevices (including 3G and LTE).

In this case ICASA is spot on with their mandate, as shown by a brief glance at the relevant pages from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordless_telephone
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DECT
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM_frequency_bands

Edit: Posted at same time as jmak. If anyone is still confused, look at a map or list of country spectrum allocations: http://www.worldtimezone.com/gsm.html
 
Last edited:
deweyzeph said:
Cordless telephones operate in the 400Mhz spectrum and the Cellphone operators use from 800Mhz upwards so how exactly do these cordless phones cause interference? Smells like horse manure to me.
Click to expand...
The 400Mhz phones str not the problem phones, the 1.9Ghz phones are the ones that typically are the problems.
 
In this case ICASA is spot on with their mandate, as shown by a brief glance at the relevant pages from Wikipedia:
Click to expand...

No one is suggesting it needs attention, just that ICASA couldn't find a wall jack by tracing the phone cable without having a 2 year delay .
 
daveza said:
No one is suggesting it needs attention, just that ICASA couldn't find a wall jack by tracing the phone cable without having a 2 year delay .
Click to expand...

Several posts to this thread seemed to indicate that they thought it was not a problem. It would be interesting to see what the major companies (Vodacom, MTN, etc) have to say about this, since it affects them?

ICASA may have a problem passing new regulations, but the rules for spectrum were allocated years ago. Driving around in a van with RF detectors would pick up some culprits, but large penalty fines against offending retailers would be more effective.
 
ICASA may have a problem passing new regulations, but the rules for spectrum were allocated years ago. Driving around in a van with RF detectors would pick up some culprits,
Click to expand...

Do those actually exist here ?

I thought the van with a rotating dish on the roof was the stuff of cartoons and CIA movies.
 
Gordon_R said:
Several posts to this thread seemed to indicate that they thought it was not a problem. It would be interesting to see what the major companies (Vodacom, MTN, etc) have to say about this, since it affects them?

ICASA may have a problem passing new regulations, but the rules for spectrum were allocated years ago. Driving around in a van with RF detectors would pick up some culprits, but large penalty fines against offending retailers would be more effective.
Click to expand...
It's a huge problem for the MNOs. Sea Point is quite a hotspot for this.

And it's not always large retailers that are the culprits, rather smaller operators bringing the phones in.
 
Last edited:
daveza said:
Do those actually exist here ?

I thought the van with a rotating dish on the roof was the stuff of cartoons and CIA movies.
Click to expand...

Have you missed the news, there's a giant SKA radio telescope being built in the Northern Cape! They must have some leftover RF detectors now that the site bid has been awarded...
 
jannievanzyl said:
But, let's be honest, he's go no knowledge on the subject, yet felt compelled to say ICASA (who actually do employ qualified RF engineers) don't know what they're talking about.
Click to expand...

More likely they employ RF technicians or technologists. The term engineer gets abused a lot these days.
 
hmmm Where can I get me one of those 2-line phones?
 
Apologies for digging up an old thread, but this photo was posted today in a weather discusison forum, about strange looking vehicles with detection antennas on the roof: http://www.stormchasing.co.za/images/fbfiles/images/ICASA_DF_LR.jpg

Also one in the stowed position: http://www.stormchasing.co.za/images/fbfiles/images/IMG_20130327_072903.jpg
Perfect for tracking down radio frequency interference...


Duh: These vehicles are quite old. A Google search picks up this photo from 2008, posted on this site by rpm: http://mybroadband.co.za/photos/sho...ctrum-interference-detection-vehicles/cat/500
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X