<p>Should I spend the money on a cheap cordless phone for the dorm?</p>
<p>Not if you and your roommate both have a cell phone. If you do and he doesn't, then let him buy the phone as he'll be the one using it.</p>
<p>my university doesn't let us use cordless phones, we have to get normal ones, because with the cordless there's too much interference... or something? I don't know they just don't work. So if you're getting a phone (i am, i feel like a can't have a real conversation on my cell phone) then you might want to just get a normal one.</p>
<p>A normal one would be cheaper...and unless you plan on walking all over the dorm on the phone, you won't really need a cordless with how small the rooms are.</p>
<p>If you ever need to have a conversation while your roommate is studying, or you want to have a more private conversation with someone, a cordless would be nice. I've had occasions where I just sat in the hall outside my door to have a conversation. You don't want to make your roommate leave, just so you can talk in private...</p>
<p>I don't think I will ever use the dorm phone. I have verizon as my cell phone provider and free verizon to verizon minutes. I'd probably only use the phone to call another dorm room of someone who doesn't have verizon. Other than that I'd consider your cell phone a good cordless phone.</p>
<p>Cordless phones typically run on three frequencies: 900 MHz, 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz. Given their range, you could get interference if a couple of people on your floor are using their cordless phones at the same time and happen to be on the same frequency. And I believe it's possible to listen in on a conversation if another phone is on the same frequency. Admittedly, the problem is rather small, but they do exists. </p>
<p>The big advantage of a corded phone is in the case of a blackout. A corded phone will work off the phone line voltage whereas a cordless phone will not. Cell phones are fine, except in the case of a widespread electrical outage that knocks out cell phone towers (remeber the power outage a few years ago that knocked out electricity to most of the Northeast?).</p>
<p>I saved myself 10 bucks and bought a super cheap corded phone from walmart. My roomie and I both have cell phones, but the school uses the land line to call us if we get packages or whatnot. So basically we have a 5 dollar phone in case that situation happens.</p>
<p>They probably meant too much interference with the wifi thats present in yor dorms. Most of it runs on the 2.5ghz bandwith, which is very close to 2.4ghz of which some cordless phones make use.</p>
<p>If I was a univeristy and had paid thousands to get my whole campus "unwired" I'd be ****ed at people messing it up too.</p>
<p>i just got a cheap 5.6ghz phone from walmart...both my roommate and i have cell phones, but this phone will be much better than the crap phone they give us with the room.</p>