Static problem with Uniden 5.8 Ghz handsets

[lizch]

My TRU 8885 Uniden cordless system with 5 handsets has been working
well since I bought it about 8 months ago. In the last few weeks, the
two handsets that are located upstairs and are furthest away from the
base have developed horrible static. The problem is so bad that I can
no longer conduct conversations using these two handsets.

I would appreciate any ideas for solving this problem.

Thanks,
Liz

 

[Gerard Bok]

My TRU 8885 Uniden cordless system with 5 handsets has been working
well since I bought it about 8 months ago. In the last few weeks, the
two handsets that are located upstairs and are furthest away from the
base have developed horrible static. The problem is so bad that I can
no longer conduct conversations using these two handsets.

Need not be a problem with your system.
5.8 GHz is a free band in your area, I guess.

If someone else in your neighbourhood bought some gear, you are
just experiencing the greatness of 'free band' radio.

Can you select another channel ?

 

[JR North]

I have had 2 8885 systems with 3 handsets each for about a year.
Excellent hardware. No problems at all. My systems are in different
geographic locations and both are virtually bullet proof from
interference. Sounds (soory) like a local interference issue; not the
equipment. Also, check that the affected handsets are fully charged.
Does the link break down when the handset is near the base, or only when
upstairs?
JR

 

[Jim Land]

My TRU 8885 Uniden cordless system with 5 handsets has been working
well since I bought it about 8 months ago. In the last few weeks, the
two handsets that are located upstairs and are furthest away from the
base have developed horrible static. The problem is so bad that I can
no longer conduct conversations using these two handsets.

I would appreciate any ideas for solving this problem.

Time for a little detective work to isolate the problem. Since you have
5 handsets, bring two of the ones without static upstairs and see if they
have static too. If they don't, then the problem lies in the handsets
with static. If they do, then the problem is either poor signal from the
base station or interference.

Temporarily move the base station upstairs to one of the static
locations. Does the static go away? If so, take a handset downstairs to
the former location of the base station. Is there static? If so, it's a
problem of the signal being blocked between upstairs and down. The
question then is why did it work OK in the past. Changed location of
base station? Antenna blocked by a metal object?

If the static doesn't go away, there is some kind of radio-frequency
interference upstairs. Try unplugging everything electric upstairs, one
at a time, and turning off anything battery-powered (smoke or CO2
alarms). If there's still static, it's time to turn off the house
circuit breakers, one by one, to see if it's coming from the house wiring
itself. (Of course, keeping the base station powered up.)

Have fun!

 

[lizch]

Many thanks to all for good suggestions. I will perform detective work
over the weekend and report back.

Liz