GLOSSARY
AMPS: Amplitude
Modulated Phone Service. The initial, 1st generation mobile service
available in the US.
Antenna: Commonly
a tower used to transmit/receive radio waves.
Base Station: A combination of antennas and electronic equipment
used to receive and transmit wireless telephone signals (radio waves). Also known as a Cell Site
or Transmission Site.
Bluetooth: A
short-range, wireless system that allows mobile devices to share information without cables.
Carrier: Also
'Service Provider'. A company that provides telephone services to the subscriber (user).
CDMA: Code
Division Multiple Access . A 2nd generation system developed by QualComm.
Cell Phone: Also
'wireless telephone' or 'mobile phone'. A handheld "radio" capable of transmitting and receiving messages using radiofrequency
energy.
Cell: Area (approx.
10 Sq. Miles) surrounding the Cell Site (Base Station). Cells are usually thought of in terms of a hexagon and fit together
much like a honeycomb. As you travel from cell to cell, the signal is "handed off" to the next cell site.
Cordless Phone:
A portable telephone that transmits signals over a short distance to a receiver that is wired into the local telephone network.
Cordless phones are generally limited to a fixed location such as the home or office. They are not considered "wireless
phones".
Coverage Area:
(Same as Service Area) The geographical area serviced by a given wireless system or carrier.
CSD: Circuit
Switched Data. Much like using a modem in a normal wireline telephone, the data connection
on GSM is circuit-switched. Data is sent at 9600 bps. Faster transfer rates can be obtained by using HSCSD...High
Speed Circuit Switched Data. An extension to GSM, data transfer rates are increased to 38,400 bsp.
Digital: A method
of encoding information to be represented as a binary code of 1s and 0s. The newer wireless systems use this technology.
This method is capable of handling many more subcribers per channel than the AMPS network. This efficiency has been
a major factor in bringing down the cost of all cellular service.
DTMF: Dual
Tone Multi-Frequency, The system used by touch-tone telephones where one
high and one low frequency, or tone, is assigned to each button on the phone.
EDGE: Enhanced
Data Rates for GSM Evolution. 3rd
generation technology designed to handle data at high (up to 300 kbps) speed.
ESN: Electronic
Serial Number. A unique number for each cell phone that identifies the unit to the
network.
GPRS: General
Packet Radio Service. Packet switching is the technology used on
the internet. Using GPRS a mobile phone can link to the internet through the GSM network.
Ground Plane: A Ground Plane
is simply any flat metal (that a magnet will stick to) that is of proper size (28"
x 28" for 800 -850 MHz, 12" x 12" for 1900 MHz) to aid in collecting the cellular signal. Examples would be a vehicle
roof, top of a file cabinet, or a metal roof for your home.
Group 3 FAX: Group
3 FAX is a type of transmission compatible with the great majority of fax machines in use today. Group 3 can
be supported by an application making a voice-type call to a remote fax machine and may be, therefore, limited to modem-types
speeds of 9600 or 14,400 baud.
GSM: Global
System for Mobile Communications. The original communications system in Europe with
definite advantages over the systems in the U.S....AMPS and TDMA. GSM is gaining popularity in the US and is one of
the major building blocks for the 3G technology. Currently limited in its geographical area of coverage, the system
reaches over 220 million people and covers 30,000 miles of interstate.
Handoff: The
process of transferring a wireless call from one transmission site to the next as the phone moves from cell to cell.
This should be done without loss of clarity or disconnection. In actual application, however, there is usually
a deterioration of signal quality near the edge of the cell, and may be a loss of signal during the "handoff". This
may be more pronounced during peak periods (rush hour).
Home Service
Area: The geographic area designated by each carrier that is considered local and does
not incur any roaming or long distance charges.
Landline: Traditional
wired telephone service.
Leptospira Antenna: See Phasing
Coil
LNP: Local
Number Portability. Or, simply "porting", it refers to the process of moving your
current landline phone number or your current mobile phone number to a new, wireless carrier. (For home landline phones,
it may also refer to moving your current phone number to another local address)
No Service Indicator:
Usually an LED or screen message on the cell phone that there is no wireless service in the immediate area.
This could be due to the distance from the nearest cell tower, foliage, terrain, or buildings.
Phasing Coil: Many cellular
antennas can be distinguished by a "pig tail" squiggle in the middle third of its length. This coil effectively separates
what looks to be a single antenna into two antennas. The coil maintains the proper phase relationship in the radio waves
so that the upper and lower 'antenna' received its intended signal. This design will increase the efficiency of the
antenna by about 50%.
POTS Phone:
Plain Old Telephone Service. Usually refers to any
telephone equipment designed to operate via landline. A standard or traditional phone.
PSTN: Public
Service Telephone Network. A general term referring to a number
of telephone networks and services. Usually referring to the landline services.
Repeater: A "repeater"
is a bi-directional amplifier that will broadcast received signal throughout an interior space. It will also receive
and amplify the transmitted signal from the cell phone through the external antenna.
Roaming: Use
of the cell phone outside of the carrier's "home service area".
Service Plan:
The agreement between the carrier and the subscriber (cell phone user) that details the costs to the user and the benefits
provided by the carrier.
TDMA: Time
Division Multiple Access .
Wi-Fi: A wireless data networking
protocol usually used to connect PCs and laptop computers to a network. Also known as 802.11b and WLAN (Wireless
Local Area Network).
WLL (Wireless Local Loop): A wireless system operating without the landline to the traditional phone company. A home or business
phone system linked to the public network by a wireless carrier.
