Smart Hub 2 DECT cordless phone set to Eco Mode?

[Elms]

Would anyone know if the cordless phone DECT unit inside the BT Smart Hub 2 transmits radio waves continuously, 24 hours a day? I believe most DECT cordless phones operate using such continuous transmission, even when you are not on the phone.

But some cordless phones like the Gigaset have a setting (the ECO Mode Plus) which disables the continuous transmission of radio waves, such that it then only transmits during phone calls.  

So I am wondering if the DECT cordless phones that operate with the Smart Hub 2 (such as the BT Essential Digital Home Phone) have something similar to the Eco Mode Plus, to disable continuous transmission of the DECT radio waves. Would anyone know?

Also, can the DECT unit within the Smart Hub 2 router be turned off completely, via the router settings webpage, in the same way that a router's WiFi can be turned off?

From the health perspective, if possible I would prefer not to be bathed in wireless transmissions all day and night (my router is located in my bedroom, a room which also doubles as an office that I use during the day). I am not unduly worried about this, but as someone with a chronic inflammatory illness, I think it might be a good idea to minimise radio wave exposure.

[Keith_Beddoe · Accepted solution]

DECT does transmit 24/7 to poll the handsets, otherwise they would show no connection to base.

Its only very short pulses, but that changes to continuous transmission during a call.

Its very similar to the way a mobile phone works.

DECT cannot be disabled on the Smart Hub 2.

You are talking about quite a low power level, much less than a mobile phone.

[Elms]

Thanks very much for that info, Keith.

If DECT only broadcasts very short pulses, say once every minute, in standby mode, then I guess that would not be an issue in terms of radio wave exposure. 

But then if the exposure is so minimal in standby mode, why would Gigaset phones offer an Eco Mode Plus setting, which switches off all radio wave radiation during standby?

Gigaset phones have the Eco Mode option, which cuts radio wave transmission power by 80% during calls. And they also have Eco Mode Plus which cuts out all radiation completely when the phone is on standby. 

On my existing Gigaset cordless phone in my home, I have both Eco Mode and Eco Mode Plus switched on.

I appreciate the the radiation power from a mobile phone on call is going to be a lot higher than the output of a cordless phone on call. However, it's the 24 hour output from a cordless base station in standby mode which might be an issue, as the human body does not get any break from this. 

If the DECT unit on the Smart Hub 2 cannot be turned off, then I guess even if I don't use the BT DECT phones, and stick with my Gigaset cordless, the Smart Hub router will still be transmitting standby mode DECT signals 24/7.

But yes, if as you say a cordless DECT base station on standby only transmits very brief pulses once every short while, then possibly nothing to be concerned about.

[countrypaul]

Have you read this as an introduction? Digital enhanced cordless telecommunications - Wikipedia

[GrahameG]

DECT cannot be disabled on the Smart Hub 2.

You are talking about quite a low power level, much less than a mobile phone.

Sorry, but that is completely untrue, as CountryPaul has pointed out with the Wikipedia quote -"A European DECT cordless phone's radiation has an average output power of 10 mW but is in the form of 100 bursts per second of 250 mW, a strength comparable to some mobile phones."

In my experience, that's stronger than many mobile phones, but leaving that aside...

The DECT signal on the hub transmits constantly with no way to turn it off. Anyone who already uses an Eco-DECT phone and has been upgraded to the Smart Hub 2 can simply connect their base station to the digital voice outlet on the back of the router and it will work as before.

The only reason I can see for the hub to have built-in DECT is so that BT/EE can sell it as a bundle with their own-brand DECT phones that are automatically configured for the Smart Hub and have WiFi/Bluetooth capability for running Amazon Alexa and similar services. There is no need for it otherwise, and it's just compounding the RF radiation exposure for folks who already have an existing DECT phone setup.

The only way I've found to reduce the signal to a more bearable level (though I haven't managed to eliminate it completely), is to encase the router in a Faraday cage, as shown in this video: 

https://youtu.be/Fra8M7az0Q8?si=WLd9ElQH_CVyGSlg

[Elms]

Interesting video, thanks very much for posting it, @GrahameG. I will try enclosing my Smart Hub 2 in a Faraday cage (I already have some silver-impregnated electrically-conductive fabric, so this will be straightforward).

I learnt from that video that even if you turn off your WiFi on the Smart Hub 2, the router can still output WiFi signals if you are opted in to the BT Wi-fI hotspot system, where members of the public can use your router to access the Internet. BT customers are opted in to BT Wi-fI by default. But you can opt out here in your BT account.

[GrahameG]

I already have some silver-impregnated electrically-conductive fabric, so this will be straightforward.

Since making that video, I have additionally enclosed the router with an EMF-shielding fabric pouch and I'm planning on making a larger Faraday cage that better encloses the router.