[comp.dcom.telecom] Cell Phone Question

DREUBEN@eagle.wesleyan.edu) (DOUGLAS SCOTT REUBEN) (06/19/89)

Hello again,

A short question about Cellular Phones:

Let's say I have a 666 channel cell phone, and am in a system that
uses all 832 channels.

I start a call in Cell Site "A", on channel 555. I then drive to
site "B", and am switched to a new channel.

My question is: How does the new site, "B", know that I only have
                a 666 channel phone? Or does it know? Will it
                know not to connect me to channel 821, or will
                it try to connect me to 821, see that I don't
                responsd, and then try a lower, below-666 channel?

                Also, do cell systems leave space in the below-666
                range for phones that don't have 832 channel
                capabilities? IE, if a most of the below-666 channels
                are used, will it reserve some for callers that can't
                go above 666 so that if they come into the area they
                won't be cut off?

Well, thanks in advance for any info,

-Doug


dreuben%eagle.weslyn@wesleyan.bitnet
dreuben@eagle.wesleyan.edu

bote@uunet.uu.net (John Boteler) (06/30/89)

 From article <telecom-v09i0203m03@vector.dallas.tx.us>, by DREUBEN@eagle.
wesleyan.edu) (DOUGLAS SCOTT REUBEN):
> Let's say I have a 666 channel cell phone, and am in a system that
> uses all 832 channels.

[ does it know? how? do the carriers spare channels? ]

Among the many pieces of information the phone transmits in its
data burst is the Station Class Mark, which indicates the
transmit power capability of the radio and the maximum channel
capacity of the transceiver.

The carriers have enough capacity problems right now in
downtown metropolis that reserving channels for 666 channel
radios is the least of their worries. There will always be
others with radios capable of more channels to pay the
bill, and that's all that matters.

Further, each site is assigned a discrete set of channels to operate
on; even though coverage overlaps greatly in a metro area,
it would be difficult to fully accomodate 666 channel units
in peak periods--there just isn't enough sites with the right
channels at the right times to accomodate your scenario
reliably. Sorry.

Bote
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