TDMA and D-Amps
Hsin (Yun) Yao
If anyone can answer any of the following questions, I would
appreciated it a lot:
1- What is the difference between D-AMPS and TDMA?
2= Does D-AMPS works in Canada?
For those who know about Taiwan:
1- Does a TDMA phone work in Taiwan?
2- Does a D-AMPS phone works in Taiwan?
Thank you!!!
David Boettger
Nothing (in the context of cellular systems), although "TDMA" is abit of
a misnomer, given that both GSM and IS-136 are time-division
multiple access (TDMA).
> 2= Does D-AMPS works in Canada?
Yes, on CanTel.
>
>
> For those who know about Taiwan:
>
> 1- Does a TDMA phone work in Taiwan?
No.
> 2- Does a D-AMPS phone works in Taiwan?
No.
-David Boettger
Anthony de la Rosa
> > For those who know about Taiwan:
> >
> > 1- Does a TDMA phone work in Taiwan?
>
> No.
They have GSM in Taiwan. Omnipoint has 2 roaming partners, one of them is
Far East Tone.
anthony
David Boettger
I was referring to "D-AMPS" TDMA.
-David Boettger
Steven Blakey
commonly refered to as TDMA (the 800 mhz Digital PCS standard). It uses
the same frequency range as TDMA, (I can't remeber the official name).
They both use Time Division Multiple Access technology--basic time
division multiplexing--to share bandwidth. D-AMPS phones however, are
not compatable with the newer "PCS" type features ie. text messaging,
caller ID, etc.
In Canada, Cantel is the National TDMA provider, it is backwards
compatible with D-AMPS phones like Micro Digital Elite. From my
experience the quality is far inferior to Bell Mobility or Clearnet's
CDMA network. Calls seem to be very susceptable to breaking.
Keep in mind that TDMA is really the name of the air interface
technology. GSM providers generally use TDMA at 800, 900, 1800, and 1900
mhz all over the world (there is however an agreement between some
providers and Qualcomm to integrate the GSM billing and SmartCard
services with the CDMA air interface.
I am sory I do not know anything about Taiwan servics.
If anybody has any corrections to what I have said, please provide them
and please email me them.
Thanx
Hsin (Yun) Yao wrote:
>
> HI:
>
> If anyone can answer any of the following questions, I would
> appreciated it a lot:
>
> 1- What is the difference between D-AMPS and TDMA?
> 2= Does D-AMPS works in Canada?
>
> For those who know about Taiwan:
>
> 1- Does a TDMA phone work in Taiwan?
> 2- Does a D-AMPS phone works in Taiwan?
>
> Thank you!!!
palitz
>
> Correct me if I am wrong but D-AMPS was the predecessor to what is
> commonly refered to as TDMA (the 800 mhz Digital PCS standard). It uses
> the same frequency range as TDMA, (I can't remeber the official name).
> They both use Time Division Multiple Access technology--basic time
> division multiplexing--to share bandwidth. D-AMPS phones however, are
> not compatable with the newer "PCS" type features ie. text messaging,
> caller ID, etc.
>
> In Canada, Cantel is the National TDMA provider, it is backwards
> compatible with D-AMPS phones like Micro Digital Elite. From my
> experience the quality is far inferior to Bell Mobility or Clearnet's
> CDMA network. Calls seem to be very susceptable to breaking.
>
D-AMPS is commonly called TDMA. What is there to be backwards
compatible?
> Keep in mind that TDMA is really the name of the air interface
> technology. GSM providers generally use TDMA at 800, 900, 1800, and 1900
> mhz all over the world (there is however an agreement between some
> providers and Qualcomm to integrate the GSM billing and SmartCard
> services with the CDMA air interface.
>
> I am sory I do not know anything about Taiwan servics.
>
> If anybody has any corrections to what I have said, please provide them
> and please email me them.
>
Mostly, you're wrong.
TDMA is not the complete air interface, it is merely the method for
multiplexing many channels into one (in this case, by assigning time
slots). GSM, for example, uses GSMK modulation to transmit the TDMA
data.
There is no GSM on 800 MHz, anywhere. All GSM uses TDMA, but again, that
has nothing to do with D-AMPS and there is absolutely NO air
compatibility. It is not just a matter of the billing and
authentications protocols.
PCS is the general term in the US referring to digital cellular services
licensed to operate in the 1900 MHz band. So by definition, there is no
such thing as an 800 MHz Digital PCS standard. On 1900 MHz, there are
PCS systems using CDMA, D-AMPS, and GSM. On 800 MHz, there are AMPS and
N-AMPS (both analog), D-AMPS and CDMA (both digital).
The D-AMPS standard is evolving from IS-54 to IS-136, in which the
control channel is digital rather than analog, which permits some new
services. Both are D-AMPS, just the standard has been updated as happens
in all systems. Both the old and new use digital audio.
Taiwan has eight GSM-900 and GSM-1800 networks, both island-wide and
regional. I think there is an old 800 MHz AMPS system there, and I don't
know if it is converted to D-AMPS.
Bob
Steven Blakey
also unclear on my explanation of TDMA yes I understand that it is not
the entire air interface (I was over simplifying I guess). D-AMPS
systems and GSM systems both use different vocoders and thus different
ways of compressing and transmitting the data while they both do use
time division multiplexing (just because two multiplexers are
multiplexing data the same way does not mean they are multiplexing the
same data).
As far as what you said about PCS only being at 1900 mhz, while I am not
sure about the US, PCS is really only a marketing term in Canada (not an
official or legal one): Personal Communication System (I have herd some
other translations of the acronym). This really can mean anything.
However, it is generally understood (here anyway) that, as apposed to
"cellular" PCS includes more than just mobile phoning. It also includes
text messaging, e-mailing, numeric paging, etc.
Cantel now markets a digital PCS service--Amigo Digital--and they do
refer to it as "PCS" and it is just that a Personal Communication
Service. It provides text messaging and other service that go beyond
traditional cellular (using the newer erricson Nokia and Motorola phones
ie. M75. However, before they offered "PCS" they offered digital
cellular which also used TDMA and D-amps techonolgy but without the
extra features. In general conversation, most people here will refer to
"PCS" on D-AMPS (IS-136) as TDMA and the older digital cellular on
D-Amps (IS-54) as "D-amps" or digital cellular. This is what I ment by
saying the older is "D-amps" and the newer is refered to as "TDMA" which
goes along with the original question.
What I mean by saying that CanTel's newer (IS-136) "PCS" service is
backwards compatable with older D-AMPS service is that you can still use
an (IS-54 phone ie. Micro Digital Elite) on the network even though
Cantel is now pushing what they call "PCS" phones M75, etc.
In Canada a number of companies offer "PCS" services some at 800 and
some at 1900 mhz. Clearnet for example has 1900mhz CDMA and 800 mhz
D-AMPS services. Their D-AMPS service provides text messaging, two
way-radio (it does actually go through the cell towers not phone to
phone) dispatching, numeric paging, as well as cellular phoning. This is
how they distinguish more broadly as a "PCS" service rather than simply
digital cellular.
This situation of "PCS" differing from PCS may be akin to the situation
in politics here for example where a Conservative (one belonging to the
Progressive Conservative party) may be a liberal (ideologicaly supports
liberalism). However, I am not sure that PCS is an offical term used to
refer to 1900 mhz cellular given out by the CRTC (the Canadian FCC) as
you say it is by the FCC.
Also, I believe that cellularONE in the bay area markets their D-AMPS
service as "PCS" also; their must be confusion over the terminology in
the US as well.
I hope I was more clear.
Steven
I do understand that the coloquial naming conventions are wrong.
George Czajkowski
AMPS system is enhanced by addition of limited digital functionality (if I
recall correctly, it uses digital control channel, instead of the old analog
one).
TDMA (time division multiple access) refers to the air interface used by
D-AMPS.
Modified and enhanced TDMA interface is also currently used by GSM, although
it seems that the next generation GSM will abandon TDMA for wideband CDMA
(code division multiple access).
Cheers,
--
R.J. (George) Czajkowski
M.Eng., P.Eng., MCSE
------------------------
geo...@cyberus.ca
www.cyberus.ca/~georgec/
Hsin (Yun) Yao wrote in message <35B63E...@nortel.ca>...
palitz
>
> Yes I was mistaken, there are no 800 mhz GSM systems anywhere. I was
> also unclear on my explanation of TDMA yes I understand that it is not
> multiplexing data the same way does not mean they are multiplexing the
> same data).
>
Yes, the vocoders do differ, and D-AMPS is stuck at 8 kb/s while GSM
runs at 13...but their TDMA schemes are also very different from each
other.
> As far as what you said about PCS only being at 1900 mhz, while I am not
> sure about the US, PCS is really only a marketing term in Canada (not an
...
> text messaging, e-mailing, numeric paging, etc.
>
Sorry.. couldn't tell from your domain name that you were applying the
northern perspective.
> Cantel now markets a digital PCS service--Amigo Digital--and they do
> refer to it as "PCS" and it is just that a Personal Communication
...
> saying the older is "D-amps" and the newer is refered to as "TDMA" which
> goes along with the original question.
>
Then "most people" are wrong, since one is no more TDMA than the other.
> What I mean by saying that CanTel's newer (IS-136) "PCS" service is
>...
> Cantel is now pushing what they call "PCS" phones M75, etc.
>
True.
> In Canada a number of companies offer "PCS" services some at 800 and
> some at 1900 mhz. Clearnet for example has 1900mhz CDMA and 800 mhz
...
> how they distinguish more broadly as a "PCS" service rather than simply
> digital cellular.
>
That direct service is "VPN", virtual private network. It is a switch
and intelligent network function, not especially related to which
system.
> This situation of "PCS" differing from PCS may be akin to the situation
> in politics here for example where a Conservative (one belonging to the
> Progressive Conservative party) may be a liberal (ideologicaly supports
> liberalism). However, I am not sure that PCS is an offical term used to
> refer to 1900 mhz cellular given out by the CRTC (the Canadian FCC) as
> you say it is by the FCC.
In the US, some of the PCS operators try to differentiate their service
from "cellular", although it certainly is. Politics can change, but PCS
will always be celllular!
>
> Also, I believe that cellularONE in the bay area markets their D-AMPS
> service as "PCS" also; their must be confusion over the terminology in
> the US as well.
>
No argument there.
Bob
Philip Ngai
Steven Blakey <sbl...@predatorgroup.com> wrote:
>Also, I believe that cellularONE in the bay area markets their D-AMPS
>service as "PCS" also; their must be confusion over the terminology in
>the US as well.
>
>> licensed to operate in the 1900 MHz band. So by definition, there is no
>> such thing as an 800 MHz Digital PCS standard. On 1900 MHz, there are
>> PCS systems using CDMA, D-AMPS, and GSM. On 800 MHz, there are AMPS and
>> N-AMPS (both analog), D-AMPS and CDMA (both digital).
Yeah, if you go to www.cellone-sf.com, you can see Cell1 calling their
800 MHz service PCS and since PCS can refer to either 1900 MHz or
the service, they are not incorrect.
This probably means their marketing people feel PBMS and Sprint's ads
for PCS are effective and they have to use the PCS term to stay
competitive.
BTW, what's up with GTE in the SF area? The big retailers like
Good Guys and Circuit City seem to be boycotting them, they carry
everyone BUT GTE (PBMS, Sprint, C1).
I only found one store carrying them and that store was such a dump I
expect them to go out of business pretty soon.
And their digital plan costs more than their analog plan. What a deal!
Kenneth R. Crudup
Philip Ngai <phil...@rahul.net> says:
>Yeah, if you go to www.cellone-sf.com, you can see Cell1 calling their
>800 MHz service PCS and since PCS can refer to either 1900 MHz or
>the service, they are not incorrect.
>This probably means their marketing people feel PBMS and Sprint's ads
>for PCS are effective and they have to use the PCS term to stay
>competitive.
Either that, or they're using the (meaningless marketing buzzword) "PCS" in
the *spirit* of what it *really* means, "Personal Communication Services",
or, in other words, Caller ID, Text Messaging, SMS, etc.
Joe Average won't care about which technology provides him with those
advantages, and why *should* he, as long as whatever he's using gets the
job done?
-Kenny, shocked at the realization I'm defending the hated "C*ll*l*r 1"
--
Kenneth R. Crudup, Unix & OS/2 Software Consultant, Scott County Consulting
ke...@panix.com CI$: 75032,3044 +1 617 524 5929/4949 Home/Office
16 Plainfield St, Boston, MA 02130-3633 +1 617 983 9410 Fax
Personal E-mail that I have to manually address de-spam will never get a reply.
Mooney Driver
Well after reading this entire thread I now have a question regarding TDMA and
GSM. A couple of the people who posted made a some statements about GSM
systems using TDMA technology. Now I am the first to admit that I definately
don't know squat about all this TDMA/GSM/IS-136 stuff, hence the question.
The Nokia 6160 is dual band/dual mode. It works on TDMA 800, TDMA 1900, and
of course AMPS (which is what I know as the "regular old" cellular system).
My fist qustion, which I am fairly sure I know the answer to, is does that
mean that the Nokia 6160 works on TDMA 800 systems as well as GSM 1900
systems? I feel pretty sure that the answer to this is a big NO but I needed
to ask anyway. Assuming that it doesn't, then that means it works on TDMA 800
and TDMA 1900 (which is what it says it does huh?) systems and again of course
on any AMPS system. This brings me to my second question of where (because I
do not know of one) is there a TDMA 1900 system? Bacically I am asking, what
is the purpose of a dual mode / dual band (TDMA 800 / TDMA 1900 / AMPS) phone.
I have seen a TDMA 800 system, of course an AMPS system, but no TDMA 1900
system......the only 1900 system I have seen is GSM. Any help? (If you can
figure out from the above rambling what I am asking).
Regards
(please post only to the thread as any email will be bounced - spammers ya
know).
Grant Taylor
> Well after reading this entire thread I now have a question
> regarding TDMA and GSM. A couple of the people who posted made a
> some statements about GSM systems using TDMA technology. Now I am
> the first to admit that I definately don't know squat about all this
> TDMA/GSM/IS-136 stuff, hence the question. The Nokia 6160 is dual
> band/dual mode. It works on TDMA 800, TDMA 1900, and of course AMPS
> (which is what I know as the "regular old" cellular system). My
> fist qustion, which I am fairly sure I know the answer to, is does
> that mean that the Nokia 6160 works on TDMA 800 systems as well as
> GSM 1900 systems? I feel pretty sure that the answer to this is a
> big NO but I needed to ask anyway.
Yes, the answer is no. Your confusion stems from the poor naming of
TDMA. It's also known as D-AMPS, a name I much prefer since it's less
confusing. GSM and iDEN also use TDMA transmission, but this says
nothing about their being compatible with the D-AMPS system; they are
completely different. Analogy: many languages use the roman alphabet.
But this does not mean that anyone who knows roman characters can read
any language written with that alphabet.
TDMA, which stands for Time Division Multiple Access, is merely a
method for allowing multiple people to use a range of frequencies
(such as the "A" cellular block) without stomping on each other. The
basic idea is that each transmitter knows to transmit on a given
frequency at a diferent time than the others - for a fraction of a
second it gets a "window" to transmit in.
The other common schemes are frequency division (used in AMPS) and
code division (used in CDMA).
> Assuming that it doesn't, then that means it works on TDMA 800 and
> TDMA 1900 (which is what it says it does huh?) systems and again of
> course on any AMPS system. This brings me to my second question of
> where (because I do not know of one) is there a TDMA 1900 system?
> Bacically I am asking, what is the purpose of a dual mode / dual
> band (TDMA 800 / TDMA 1900 / AMPS) phone. I have seen a TDMA 800
> system, of course an AMPS system, but no TDMA 1900 system......the
> only 1900 system I have seen is GSM. Any help? (If you can figure
> out from the above rambling what I am asking).
There is indeed a D-AMPS system designed for the 1900 band. It's
operated in Boston by AT&T; most other markets probably also have
someone offering this system.
D-AMPS 1900 appears to have the poorest selection of phones of any
system. I've only got four in my database; two by Ericsson, a Nokia,
and a Philips.
--
Grant Taylor - gtaylor@picante<dot>com - http://www.picante.com/~gtaylor/
Cellphone information: http://www.picante.com/~gtaylor/cellphones.html
Libretto information: http://www.picante.com/~gtaylor/portable/
Mooney Driver
>
>Definitely.
>
>Now, AT&T in WashDC/Balto, Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix, Charlotte,
>Philly, etc.
>
>Eventually, BellSouth in most of the Southeast not already covered
>by its 800 MHz IS-136/AMPS (BellSouth Mobility) and 1900 MHz GSM
>(BellSouth DCS) systems -- places such as Montgomery, AL; Albany, GA;
>Dyersburg, TN; etc.
>
>Eventually, AT&T/Cantel in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, etc.
>
Well yes of course if now of these cities but have never used a cell phone in
any of them which would explain my lack of knowledge.
I am from the south and live in the area that is covered by BellSouth Mobility
as well as Powertel........basically the Memphis/Jackson/Dyersburg TN area.
Powertel provides GSM 1900 service and BellSouth Mobilty provides TDMA 800
service at the present time. Why (and what would the benefits be) of
BellSouth Mobility begining to provide TDMA 1900 service when it now provides
TDMA 800 service? Or did I misunderstand your post? Did you mean the
BellSouth Mobility will eventually provide TDMA service at the 800 range,
cause if that is the case, they already do that.
I know I am a newbie but I appreciate your patience.
Regards.
Benjamin A. Selzer
waiting and voice mail indicator features. It seems only to provide better
sound quality than that of analog. My experience is roaming with SNET
digital in Stamford, CT with an AT&T digital one rate Nokia 6160
B.
Steve Punter
IS-136? As many IS-136 users know full well, it certainly does support CID.
Call Waiting is NOT a technology-specific feature, and has been available on
analog since its earliest days.
Steve Punter
David Boettger
display when I receive a call?
-David Boettger
Steve Punter
"TDMA" to describe IS-136. This particular technology uses a flavor of TDMA
(Time Division Multiple Access), but then so does GSM and iDEN. All three of
these implementations are different, but they are just as "TMDA" as the next
one.
The Nokia 6160 is an AMPS/IS-136 phone. It can operate at 800 Mhz analog,
800 Mhz IS-136, or 1900 Mhz IS-136. The GSM version of this phone is the
Nokia 6190.
Steve Punter
Mooney Driver
Okay I understand the incorrect usage of terms. Based on the above, I know
that BellSouth Mobility (in the south east US for example) is 800 Mhz IS-136.
So what is Powertel. They call themselves GSM and I assume they are a form of
TDMA as well (based on your above post). So what is Powertel (more
specifically)?
Regards.
Clifford Baldwin
called a tri-mode phone. Don't look for one anytime soon, due to limited
market demand and cost (at least for now). And where could one use this
phone. Not sure just yet. The largest deployer of TDMA in the U.S. is AT&T
Wireless Services (AWS). If they own any PCS spectrum somewhere, they could
turn it up for capacity relief. I'm working at home today, so I don't have
the data readily at hand. Somewhere it must be used, since my company sells
infrastructure that hands up and down between bands, and hands off to AMPS.
Mooney Driver wrote in message <6pjume$n...@bgtnsc02.worldnet.att.net>...
>Hello all,
>
>The Nokia 6160 is dual band/dual mode. It works on TDMA 800, TDMA 1900, and
>of course AMPS (which is what I know as the "regular old" cellular system).
>My fist qustion, which I am fairly sure I know the answer to, is does that
>mean that the Nokia 6160 works on TDMA 800 systems as well as GSM 1900
>systems? Bacically I am asking, what
>is the purpose of a dual mode / dual band (TDMA 800 / TDMA 1900 / AMPS)
phone.
> I have seen a TDMA 800 system, of course an AMPS system, but no TDMA 1900
>system......the only 1900 system I have seen is GSM. Any help? (If you
can
>figure out from the above rambling what I am asking).
>
Steve Punter
parts of the world, but it works at 1900 Mhz instead of 900 or 1800 Mhz. GSM
is a full protocol from the air interface right on up to the specification
of the interchange between systems. GSM uses its own form of TDMA, but this
version if far more sophisticated than what IS-136 uses.
Steve Punter
Mooney Driver
Well then I have this question. Providers such as BellSouth Mobility (TDMA
800 Mhz IS-136) as well as the others that provide TDMA 1900 Mhz IS-136 are
pushing this service as "oh so great digital" service but it is not data
capable for things such as mobile net surfing, email on the go, etc. Now I
know this is probably a matter of opinion question, but what is on the horizon
for providers of services such as these. It just seems to me that as time
progresses, people become more and more mobile and are going to want do things
with data while they travel. Does this mean that GSM providers (such as
Powertel) which IS data capable, are going to become more available and
eventually overtake these IS-136 providers? Or, is there something that these
IS-136 providers can do to compete and eventually make their networks data
capable? (other than through analog means that is)????
Regards.
Bob
It certainly is in the Carolinas and Georgia (I should know, I'm one
of their subscribers using an Ericsson CF 788).
Bob Camp
On Thu, 30 Jul 1998 08:26:00 GMT, roamer1@-removeme-pobox.com (S.C.)
wrote:
>On 30 Jul 1998 06:59:32 GMT, xx...@xxxxx.xxx (Mooney Driver) wrote:
>
>>Okay I understand the incorrect usage of terms. Based on the above, I know
>>that BellSouth Mobility (in the south east US for example) is 800 Mhz IS-136.
>
>This is correct. (They also support 800 MHz AMPS for 'analog'
>service.)
>
>>So what is Powertel. They call themselves GSM and I assume they are a form of
>>TDMA as well (based on your above post). So what is Powertel (more
>
>Powertel is 1900 MHz GSM. GSM is another flavor of TDMA.
>
>-SC (customer of both BSM and Powertel)
>--
>Stanley Cline (IRC:Roamer1).....Telecommunications & Consumer Advocacy
>Chattanooga & Atlanta..............(no spam!) roamer1[at]pobox[dot]com
>main web page.......................http://scline.home.mindspring.com/
>the payphone page....................http://cocot.home.mindspring.com/
Bob
use it, you need a phone that supports IS-135. The standard has been
released and is just starting to be deployed in a few cities.
The only thing needed for IS-135 is a serial cable connecting your
phone to your PC. No expensive PC Cards are needed, unlike most GSM
phones.
No one uses wireless data yet, so carriers have no incentive to deploy
this capability quickly.
Bob Camp
Mooney Driver
>Odd, I thought BellSouth Mobility DCS was GSM 1900 in the southeast.
>It certainly is in the Carolinas and Georgia (I should know, I'm one
>of their subscribers using an Ericsson CF 788).
>
Well that is true about BellSouth Mobility DCS. That is in eastern TN and
some other south eastern states as well. However, plain ole BellSouth
Mobility in areas such as Memphis, Nashville, Jackson MS, etc is TDMA IS-136
800 Mhz. The GSM competitor for some of the same areas is Powertel.
Regards.
Mooney Driver
>On 1 Aug 1998 07:56:52 GMT, xx...@xxxxx.xxx (Mooney Driver) wrote:
>
>>Well that is true about BellSouth Mobility DCS. That is in eastern TN and
>>some other south eastern states as well. However, plain ole BellSouth
>>Mobility in areas such as Memphis, Nashville, Jackson MS, etc is TDMA IS-136
>>800 Mhz. The GSM competitor for some of the same areas is Powertel.
>
>MHz _IS-136_ service (similar to AT&T) in many of the areas where it
>doesn't provide either 800 MHz or GSM service (Tampa, FL panhandle,
>northern and southern MS, central AL, south/west GA, northern LA, etc)
>
>-SC
By saying areas where BellSouth Mobility doesn't provide either 800 Mhz or GSM
service, are you referring to areas that don't even have 800 Mhz analog or do
you mean just areas that don't have 800 Mhz IS-136 or GSM service? The reason
that I ask is I am wondering if BellSouth Mobility is going to begin to
provide 1900 Mhz IS-136 service in certain areas that I am wondering about.
As to your above post, BellSouth Mobility already provides services in
northern and southern MS. In fact, northern MS and central MS (for example,
Jackson MS) already have BellSouth Mobility 800 Mhz IS-136. Not to sure about
AL and LA although I know that BellSouth does provide 800 Mhz analog in those
areas.
Wondering.
Regards.
Steve Punter
>phones.
And which GSM phones would these be?
Steve Punter
Stanley Cline
> By saying areas where BellSouth Mobility doesn't provide either 800
> Mhz or GSM service, are you referring to areas that don't even have
> 800 Mhz analog or do you mean just areas that don't have 800 Mhz
> IS-136 or GSM service? The reason that I ask is I am wondering if
1) The "new" markets will be 1900 MHz IS-136 only, just like AT&T in
Chicago, Atlanta, etc.; these are areas where BS does not currently
have 800 MHz AMPS/IS-136 or 1900 MHz GSM (read another way: "any")
coverage.
2) GSM is _never_ at 800 MHz in the US.
3) All BellSouth 800 MHz markets, with the exception of those recently
acquired from US Cellular (Shelbyville TN and Owensboro/Paducah KY),
support IS-136 in addition to AMPS.
> BellSouth Mobility is going to begin to provide 1900 Mhz IS-136
> service in certain areas that I am wondering about.
> As to your above post, BellSouth Mobility already provides services in
> northern and southern MS. In fact, northern MS and central MS (for
> example, Jackson MS) already have BellSouth Mobility 800 Mhz IS-136.
Until very recently, Jackson (and Meridian, etc.) was "MCTA", a strange
partnership of BellSouth and ALLTEL. MCTA used IS-136 like BellSouth,
instead of CDMA like ALLTEL (and the same switch as most other 800 MHz
BellSouth markets) , but had an ALLTEL feel to the customer service,
their logo was ALLTEL-ish, and I had to pay $3/day + 95c/min -- not
65c/min as in other BellSouth _or_ ALLTEL markets -- to roam there!
BellSouth wrested control of the partnership back from ALLTEL
recently. (They've also acquired plenty of coverage in TN and KY in
system trades with US Cellular.)
Tupelo and Tunica have been BellSouth Mobility (served out of the
Memphis switch) for years.
Hattiesburg, Biloxi/Pascagoula/Gulfport, Clarksdale, etc. currently do
not have BSM coverage (Cellular South is the B carrier in these areas);
these will be some of the markets where BellSouth offers the 1900 MHz
IS-136 service. Use of IS-136 will allow for seamless roaming to
Jackson, Memphis, New Orleans, etc.
I wish BellSouth used IS-136 instead of GSM in Knoxville -- roaming
between Chattanooga and 'US Hell' [US Cellular] in Knox is a NIGHTMARE!
But now I also have Powertel so I can roam on BS DCS instead of US Hell
when I'm there... :)
> Not to sure about AL and LA although I know that BellSouth does
> provide 800 Mhz analog in those areas.
Again, the 'new' 1900 MHz coverage will be to 'fill in holes' where BS
doesn't currently have 800 MHz IS-136/AMPS or 1900 MHz GSM service.
These are the areas where BellSouth holds 1900 Mhz licenses and plans
to use IS-136...
AL:
Dothan
Gadsden (Gadsden DOES have BSM service, but Fort Payne, in the same
license area, doesn't. Likely FP will be 1900.)
Opelika
Montgomery
Selma
FL:
Fort Myers
Ft. Pierce (only area of Atlantic coast that BSM doesn't serve. US
Hell owns B-side there, and won't sell when IMO it would make more
sense to do so, since system is landlocked by BSM on all sides anyway)
Ft. Walton
Gainesville
Lakeland
Naples
Ocala
Panama City
Pensacola
Sarasota
Tampa
Tallahassee
GA:
Albany
Columbus
LaGrange (includes Newnan, which is in the Atlanta local calling area
but BSM doesn't serve; Powertel provides BOTH B-side AMPS/IS-136 cell
[InterCel] _AND_ GSM PCS in this area...)
Valdosta
Waycross
LA:
Alexandria
Houma
Lake Charles
Monroe
Shreveport
MS:
Biloxi
Columbus
Greenville
Hattiesburg
Natchez
McComb
TN:
Dyersburg
This still leaves a few small (mostly rural) counties, mostly in
eastern Kentucky, central and eastern TN, and Louisiana with no
BellSouth wireless coverage, and in at least one case (Polk County
TN), with coverage from only ONE company (GTE), who refuses to allow
BellSouth customers to roam on their system despite the Olympic
whitewater events held there, two years' worth of complaints from
hundreds of customers (me being among the most vocal, by far), etc.
-SC
Mooney Driver
Stanley,
Thanks for the info. It was informative and did in fact answer my question.
Since I live in the south (TN/MS area) that was good information for me to
have. It will also help me decide which phone I buy next. Based on your
above info, I am going to get a dual mode / dual band phone instead of just a
dual mode phone........ie I am going to get the Nokia 6160 instead of the
6120. Probably more info than you needed or cared to know about, but again, I
appreciate your post.
Regards.
Mike Hamilton
Good description of the service areas of BellSouth. I would like to add that
BellSouth Mobility DCS offers 1900 MHz GSM in the Augusta and Savannah areas
as well. (Fairly new service I do believe.)
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
=-= Mike Hamilton -+- m...@bellsouth.net =-=
=-= "My karma ran over my dogma" =-=
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