telephone question...

[New Expat in Sg]

I am moving to Singapore from California soon and have a question regarding telephones.  Can I bring my nice new cordless telephone to Sg and use it?  I know the elecetrical system is different (I can use transformers) but will the phone work with the local phone system, plugs, electronics, and all?  Anyone done this?

Thanks for your quick response.  I leave for Sg in 3 days.  =)  See ya there!

[Pat]

I brought mine from Washington State, and use it with a transformer. Works just great here.We bought one here when we arrived but it does not work as well as our USA one, too much static.
Hope this helps and have a safe trip over!!  

[Paul N]

Your phone will work just fine here, but the fact is that to do so would be illegal.  Most cordless phones in the US operate in the 900Mhz band.  This band is used in Singapore by the cellular phone providers.  Using a cordless in this frequency range can lead to interference and degradation of service for the mobiles.  Singapore has an organization known as TAS that inspects an approves all electronic devices to be sold or used in Singapore.  They control what frequencies are used for what, and how much power the device has, as to not cause problems for nearby frequencies.  They do the same thing as the FCC in the US.  

The fact remains that you can bring your phone here and use it, but if you are caught you stand to have your wallet lightened by something in the neighborhood of S$10K.  Electronics are cheap here, and you can find decent quality products if you look.  

I have numerous phone sets I brought from Idaho...they are all stuffed in a closet in my office and I have just spent a few bucks to buy some decent hard-wired phones with extra-long cords.  I find they work just fine, as cellular service is cheap enough that it becomes the primary phone after a while.

[Caroline]

Paul is totally correct that cordless phones have to comply to Singapore standards or are otherwise deemed illegal Many countries have the same laws - e.g. Australia will confiscate any cordless phone they catch you with that is not approved by the "Spectrum Management Agency".

[Pat]

Wow I had no idea!!! I guess we do learn a new thing everyday!! I would like to know how would I get caught using my cordless phone??
Just wondering, I am not one who usually goes around breaking the law intentionally.
Thanks all for the info, don't really want to be writing this from jail!!!  

[Paul N]

Cellular phone companys have meters that measure signal strength.  They are little hand-held devices that engineers use while traveling around the island.  They drive and walk all over the island to find dead-spots in signal coverage due to physical barriers or electronic interferance, so they may make changes or additions in their tower location or transmission pattern to provide "seamless" coverage island-wide.

If you were here over the last year, you may remember the big pissing match Singtel and M1 got into in the media over the relative coverage percentages their wireless services provide.  It was really interesting to learn the lengths they go to, to ensure that they don't have "dead spots" in their network coverage.  The MRT tunnels are notoriously difficult places if you can imagine, as is the CBD with all its tall buildings and "metropolitan canyons."

The probablility of these network engineers  being outside your house measuring at the exact same time you are on your cordless phone is pretty remote, but then for a $10K bet, I'm not willing to roll the dice.  Especially when hard-wired phones are available so cheaply.

[New Expat in Sg]

Thanks for all the quick and informative responses everyone.  I think I will just bring my cordless, use it quietly, and if I ever get "caught", plead ignorance (or stupidity).  I can't imagine them slapping a 10,000 fine on an ignorant expat who had no idea (snicker).  hehe  

BTW, I can't believe cordless phones cannot be used (or even bought?) there.  Amazing...

[New Expat in Sg]

Or is it just US-built cordless phones that operate in the 900Mhz range?   Are there good Sg cordless telephones for reasonable prices?

[Paul N]

Don't kid yourself into thinking the Singapore government will take ignorance as an excuse.  I have a friend who imports American food products here, who got to pay $2500 for a partial carton of US cigarettes he brought back with him.  They will releive you of your money and never bat an eye at all your stories.

Cordless phones are available here, but the one's I have bought are all analog and don't work well inside a steel-framed concrete house.

[Pat]

Thank You Paul for all the great info. I write this as my husband is diconnecting our cordless phones.We figured there are a lot of other things we can do with $S10,000.00, don't want to waste it on the Sing Goverment!! What will we ever do when you leave...do you think I could use that as an excuse if I get caught with it, that you were not here to warn me.....oh well beter not take the chance. Thanks for saving my butt!

[Digital]

Philips (Onis) do a cordless digital phone that works great and you can buy it in Singapore.  I also have a regular cordless Panasonic phone and it works ok in my apartment.

Just a thought - does anyone know what frequency UK cordless phones operate on....?

[Boston Family Sing. bound]

I also bought phillips (kala) here and it works great! Reception is fine and I can even wander outside with it. Cost at teleshop S168 and you can get additional handsets at about S100 which you tie into the base set.  I have base set on main floor and 2nd handset on 2nd floor.  I think it works better than my sony at home (US).  I also wouldn't advise relying on ignorance as a defense, have only been here a month and already heard a few stories like Paul's.  I think spending a couple hundred is worth the peace of mind.  

[Bob the Builder]

Just a bit on the Lets take a risk and plead ignorance.

Only within the last couple of months notices went up around our apartment block,stating the government had traced illegal transmitting devices to our Block (suspects illegal phones).  

Luckily for the offenders we have a great management team who forwarned the culprits with these posters to stop their actions before the second checks were made and fines given.

[Caroline]

Yeah, don't think pleading innocence works here - while I was away last year some water gathered in a pot plant on my balcony - gov inspectors doing the rounds fined me $200 for BREEDING mosquitoes - alternative was 6 months in jail!

Threw all my poor outside plants away !

[keeyan]

Cordless house phones are available at all the electrical/AV/etc stores like Best Denki, Court, SafeSuperstore and HarveyNorman. Theyre also sold at phone shops. Walk around in any HDB town centre and you cant help seeing these items in the shops. So theres no need to bring yours over from the US etc and risk being fined. It's silly to think it's fun to risk it and then subsequently think the worse of Singapore and its people when caught and fined. Cheers.