DECT prototyping with commercially available components

Digital European cordless telephone (DECT) is a second generation wireless network standard released by the European Telecommunications Standard Institute (ETSI). DECT services are offered to cordless portable parts (CPP), and include wireless PABX, telepoint, and data. Low cost, low power consumption, and hand held CPPs are the standard target. These features pose challenging demands on some CPP functional modules and require components specifically designed and intended for use in DECT systems. The authors have been involved in the design and realization of a prototype DECT endpoint in order to verify how close it is possible to get to the target results with currently available (noncustom) low cost components, and to investigate related technology trends. The DECT standard, the endpoint architecture and modules are described. Measurement results are displayed and compared with standard specifications. Cost, size, and power consumption considerations are given. A view of the CPP evolution due to the use of announced components is then shown