What is ECO DECT?

Green Home

ECO DECT is an environmentally friendly technology for landline and cordless telephones that has been tried and tested for many years - developed largely by Gigaset - and which reduces the power consumption of the devices and guarantees a variable reduction in transmission power.

ECO DECT benefits overview:

  • For up to 60% less energy use thanks to an energy-saving power supply
    In comparison to our conventional cordless phones
  • Reduction of transmitting power to almost zero when handset is docked 
    With only one registered handset
  • ECO Mode
    ECO DECT models offer an ECO Mode that reduces the transmitting power by 80% (in comparison to when ECO Mode is not activated and Gigaset‘s conventional cordless phones), even when multiple handsets are registered and when the handset is not in the charger.
  • ECO Mode Plus
    Radiation-free ECO Mode Plus turns off the transmitting power when the phone is in standby. The DECT transmitting power is switched off for all registered handsets – when all support ECO Mode Plus
  • Variable reduction of transmitting power according to distance between handset and base station
    Dependent on distance from base station.

Further questions regarding ECO DECT

How does ECO DECT help the environment?
ECO DECT-based Gigaset phones are now supplied exclusively with switched-mode power supplies. They cut power consumption by up to 60% compared with conventional linear power supplies. 

Will Gigaset phones with ECO DECT cost more for consumers?
No, consumers will not have to pay more for ECO DECT-based Gigaset phones. We have ECO DECT-based Gigaset phones in all price categories. 

Is there a radiation risk with ECO DECT-based Gigaset phones?
The international limits for radio wave transmission ensure that there are no risks. Our products fall well below these recommended limits. Further information about the discussion on radio waves and health is provided by the World Health Organization on their website (www.who.int/peh-emf/en).
Even though there is still no scientific evidence that radio waves emitted by DECT phones are harmful, SHC’s approach is to equip all its Gigaset phones with functions that enable the automatic or manual reduction of transmitting power.  

Will ECO DECT technology impact performance of the phone? 
No, you can expect the same superior performance in ECO DECT-based products as in all Gigaset phones. If you choose to use ECO Mode, you manually reduce the signal distance by 50%, or to 25 meters inside the home and 150 meters outside.

Are the inside components of ECO DECT phones  environmentally friendly, too? 
Yes. We’ve ensured that all steps in the production and disposal of ECO DECT products are as environmentally responsible and resource-conserving as possible. This starts with a solid, material-saving design and the use of environmentally friendly materials. We use state-of-the-art energy-saving machines and packaging and residual materials are systematically separated and recycled. The design, size and recycable materials of the packaging play another key role.

In logistics, we focus on the use of environmentally friendly means of transport, e.g. rail or ship, and efficient utilisation of freight space. As a result, we have reduced the packaging sizes of our products, i.e. more packages can be transported at the same time. Gigaset packaging consists of over 90% recycled material. And we have dispensed with plastic elements as far as possible; among other things, we have replaced cable ties and plastic bags with paper banderoles. Operating instructions are printed from recycled material. Our service is also geared towards environmental protection - we avoid the unnecessary replacement of defective individual parts and appliances and offer our customers an individualised repair service instead. In the final step, all electrical waste is disposed of properly. 

What about lead - are your products lead-free? 
Yes. All of our Gigaset products have been lead free for more than two years now.

What is meant by radiation-free in stand-by?
When using ECO Mode Plus, the base station only transmits a signal when necessary, for example, when a call comes in, when the phone is in use, or when a connection occurs.
When not in use, the transmitting power is turned off (this applies to all registered handsets that support ECO Mode Plus). This is true when you are not phoning or changing settings on the base station.

Does radiation-free mean that neither the base station nor the handset transmit a signal?
In ECO Mode Plus the transmitting power of the base station is turned off when the phone is in standby. This is also true when the handset is not in the charger, and when multiple handsets are registered, as long as these also support ECO Mode Plus.
However, in regular intervals the handset „listens“ to see if the base station is „calling“ and vice versa. This is referred to as scanning.

Is the turning off of transmitting power only possible when the handset is in the charger, or can it also happen when it is somewhere else in my home?
Regardless of the handset’s location – in the charger or somewhere else in the home – the transmitting power between the base station and handset is turned off in ECO Mode Plus (this applies to all registered handsets that support ECO Mode Plus). The transmission first happens when a call takes place since this requires a connection between the base station and the handset.
The base station and handset scan to check for a signal, which means they “listen” for the “call” of the other device. Only then do they establish a connection and transmit a signal.

When is my phone in stand-by and how can stand-by be turned on?
When a device is in stand-by it is in kind of waiting mode. Effectively, it is always „ready“, so you can take and make calls at any point in time. Whenever your telephone is plugged into the outlet but you are not phoning with it or changing any settings, it is in stand-by mode.

When I activate ECO Mode Plus the stand-by time for my phone is cut in half. This means I have to charge the handset more often, which means I use more energy. Why is this the case?
The base station only transmits a signal when a call comes in or when an internal connection is established. To ensure that there are no delays in establishing a connection, the handset has to „listen“ in regular intervals for a connection is being established from the base station. This is referred to as scanning.
When using ECO Modus Plus, the handset has to scan more frequently than handsets requiring a constant connection. This causes the handset to consume more energy, which in turn reduces it‘s stand-by time.

What is the range of my telephone when ECO Mode is being used?
When the ECO Mode is turned on the transmitting power from the handset to the base station is reduced by 80% (in comparison to when ECO Mode is not activated and to Gigaset‘s conventional cordless phones). This means that the range is also reduced by half – to approx. 25m indoors and 150m outdoors.

What is the phone‘s range when ECO Mode Plus is activated?
When ECO Mode Plus is turned on the range is approx. 50m indoors and 300m outdoors.

What is the phone‘s range when ECO Mode and ECO Mode Plus are on at the same time?
If ECO Mode and ECO Mode plus are activated simultaneously, the range is reduced: this handset can be used within approx. 25m of the base station indoors and 150m of the base station outdoors.