An Exploratory Study of the Use of an Inexpensive Cordless Telephone as a Part of a Data Communications Link.

This was an exploratory study performed to identify some of the variables contributing to the accuracy of data transmission using a cordless telephone as a part of a data communications link. The experimental design used was a fractional factorial design using two, one-quarter replications of all possible combinations of the eight variables studied. Independent variables manipulated included distance, height of receiver, antenna length, and antenna angle from the vertical. Other independent variables included the presence or absence of operating fluorescent lights, an intervening metal cabinet, an intervening wall and door, and an intervening human body. The dependent variable measured was the percentage of 13 character number strings received which matched identical records previously stored in a computer.