DECT vs Bluetooth: Choosing Right Wireless Headsets!

DECT vs Bluetooth Choosing Right Wireless Headsets

 

Searching for wireless headsets?

Then you might come across the “DECT standard”.

Short form of Digital Enhanced Cordless Technologies, this standard was first developed in Europe. Over the years, however, DECT headsets have become so popular that they are now rivaling Bluetooth headsets all over the world.

Hence the reason we decided to compare DECT vs Bluetooth headsets. So that to let you decide which of them suits you better.

Defining DECT

Starting with DECT standard, you’d mostly find it in wireless phone systems where a cordless phone connects to a base station. Used for both corporate and consumer phones, you can also use this standard with a PBX (Private Base Exchange) and wireless LAN to move around without dropping your calls.

Also, to not interfere with other wireless technologies like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, this standard operates near the 1.9GHz frequency band.

What’s more, if you’re living in North America, you might come across a different DECT standard: named DECT 6.0. Though this standard isn’t too different from its counterpart over in Europe, the technology that it contains makes it incompatible with DECT systems outside of North America.

Defining Bluetooth

Needless to say that due to its ubiquitous popularity, most of us are aware of the Bluetooth standard. What only a few of us could claim to know, however, is how this technology works.

Without going into technicalities, Bluetooth is a wireless communication protocol which allows you to wirelessly transfer data by connecting devices. While it is slower than Wi-Fi, Bluetooth is a cinch to set up and works across a wide array of devices.

One notable advantage that Bluetooth has over Wi-Fi is its range, with the latest Bluetooth standards connecting devices as much as 300 feet away from the transmitter. Also, you can connect your Bluetooth device to 8 devices at the same time.

DECT vs Bluetooth: What is the difference

To make your decision easy for you, we have compared both these standards on different parameters. Take a look.

Security measures

Most people nowadays are concerned that when they talk over the wireless connection, somebody might just tap into their call and hear their voice surreptitiously. That fear, as experts tell us, is nothing but dumbfounded.

How? Whether you’re using a Bluetooth or DECT wireless headset, it would first make an authenticated connection when you connect it with the base. Once that happens – a process which takes several “handshakes” – a secure link is created.

The secure link, in turn, allows the headset to convert your voice in digital data. The headset makes your conversation ultra-secure by returning the encrypted data to the base. More importantly, it is on encryption that both the standards differ.

For, while DECT relies on 64-bit encryption, Bluetooth goes double – by providing you with 128-bit encryption. Though there are differences between the two encryptions, both of them are ultra-secure. That means that there is absolutely no chance that somebody could hack your call and eavesdrop on it.

Distance Dilemma

DECT

In case you’re wondering when it comes to range, DECT standard rules the roost. Regardless of whether you’re using a simple or USB DECT headset, both of them will have one thing in common: a range of over 330 feet.

That said, the greater range of DECT headsets can sometimes act as a double-edged sword. For instance, if you live in the US, chances are that your DECT headset would be compatible with a maximum of 60 channels. In Europe, that number extends to 120.

As a result, if/when you’re using your DECT headset in an office environment – one where there are numerous headsets – the providing company might run out of available channels. So you might not be able to connect at all.

Bluetooth

Afar as Bluetooth headsets are concerned, their range depends on which class of Bluetooth they are using. For instance:

  • If your headset has Class 1 Bluetooth, it will boost the range of 330 feet
  • Headsets with Class 2 Bluetooth have a range of 33 feet
  • Class 3 Bluetooth headsets have a paltry range of 3 feet

If your Bluetooth base station is located in an office environment, chances are that it would be Class 1, as would be your headset. However, most smartphones are Class 2. Consequently, even if your headset is Class 1 – if you’ve connected it to your smartphone, it would automatically convert to Class 2 power levels. Keyboards and mics, meanwhile, have Class 3 power level.

Connectivity

So far in this article, we’ve noted that DECT headsets beat their Bluetooth counterparts on every count. So, why it is then that people still use Bluetooth technology?

The answer lies in the connectivity options both standards offer.

As noted earlier, a Bluetooth device can connect to 8 compatible devices at the same time. That means that you can connect not only your smartphone but also your computer, tablet, printer, and desk phone – with 3 places still spare.

In contrast, a DECT headset can connect to only one device at one time. What’s worse, that device is the base station which gives your headset its phone connection. That means you can connect to only one device.

Compatibility

Just scour your local electronics market, and you’d be hard pressed to find a shop without Bluetooth devices. As a result, due to the ubiquity of Bluetooth devices, you can easily find a compatible model. That is, however, not the case with DECT devices, which aren’t as readily available.

Still, that is not to say that DECT devices are under-used.

How? One of the major advantages which DECT has over Bluetooth is voice quality. For, since Bluetooth is mainly a means of data transfer – if you use it for a voice call, it might lead to jittery, garbled call quality, especially if the data transfer is slow.

DECT, in contrast, was made for telecommunications. The latest DECT 6.0 standard goes the extra mile by limiting interference and interruption to your phone calls. That, in turn, results in crystal-clear voice quality.

Pros and cons of DECT and Bluetooth headsets

Bluetooth Headsets

 

DECT Headsets

 

Decide which one is for you

Choose DECT If:

You want no interruption in your phone calls, love having more range and want crystal-clear sound quality over your phone calls.

Choose Bluetooth If:

You want a standard which is compatible with most devices in the market, provide better security and delivers astronomical data-transfer speed.

Conclusion

There you have it; a full-fledged comparison of DECT vs Bluetooth headsets. You now have enough information to argue with the salesman on the technicalities of both these standards when hunting for a new pair of headsets. Still, if you think we’ve failed to answer any of your queries, please write to us using the below-mentioned comments box.


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