Cellular Standards Flashcards
Where does the term cellular come from in regards to phone networks?
we separate the geography of an area into cells, antennas are put on the edge of the cells that supply the cell with frequency
What is GSM and where is it used?
Global System for Mobile Communications
used in original 2G networks; two global standards were used to make up 2G –> GSM and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)
originally a EU standard that provided for worldwide coverage when you travel
used by AT&T and T-Mobile in the US (used Subscriber Identity Module, or SIMs, to move data from phone to phone across providers)
Describe 2G technology; what is it and how does it relate to newer tech?
2-Global
consists of two global standards:
-GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications)
-CDMA (Code Divison Multiple Access)
very good for voice communication
poor data support for sending data wirelessly
What is a SIM card and what does it do for you?
Subscriber Identity Module
allows you to keep all phone configurations on a SIM card so you can move the SIM from phone to phone and keep all your stuff and settings
Describe how GSM works.
What phone carrier used this?
uses multiplexing so many people can be communicating at the same time over the same frequency
everyone gets a “slice of time” as they communicate and send data over the network
AT&T and T-Mobile
Describe how CDMA works.
What phone carrier used this?
multiple people communicating over same network
as each person sends data over network, they are sending it with a particular code
these codes are used to filter each call on the receiving side so the user can receive the appropriate communication
Verizon and Sprint (controlled what you could use on CDMA networks so phones weren’t transferable to other carriers)
Describe 3G tech.
What did this invention allow for?
introduced in 1998
upgraded data connectivity over 2G allowing faster speeds
several megabits per second so allowed for introduction of GPS. mobile streaming, and video on demand
What did the seperation between GSM and CDMA cause for users?
What did this seperation lead to the invention of
?
caused difficulties when users try to move to diff providers or when using diff networks in their area
lead to invention of 4GT LTE
What is 4G LTE? Describe the tech and download rates.
considered a “4G” tech; Long Term Evolution (LTE)
converges GSM and CDMA standards to ease the headache for users
based on GSM and EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) = 4G LTE
allowed for throughput of 150 megabits per sec
What is LTE-A? Give numbers.
LTE-Advanced available in some areas
allowed for throughput of 300 megabits/sec`
Describe 5G and how this has impacted the data world?
What is IoT and what is the impact 5G has had on it?
5th Generation cellular networking
significant performance improvements
-allows for up to 10 gigabits per sec
-slower speeds at 100-900 megabits/sec
Internet of Things (IoT) devices - multiple devices connected to the same network
faster speed of data going over 5G netsworks has allowed for extending the functionality of our mobile devices;
-bandwidth is less of a constraint
-larger data transfers
-faster monitoring and notification
What is a PRL Update?
How do you do this?
preferred roaming list
allows your phone to understand where appropriate cell towers are for your carrier
phone usually does this for itself within its own system
What happens when you converge an 802.11 network and a cellular connection?
allows for hotspot
