850 vs. 1900 GSM
I realize dual band 850 1900 is what you need to have but does anyone know where in the US a 1900 only phone will work as good as the dual band. I have heard the carolinas are 1900 only (or mostly) and Florida is mostly 850. Does anyone have some more definative info on this...are 1900 only phones useless? Cingular service is what I am refering to...
Thanks to all in advance for your help on this...
Thanks to all in advance for your help on this...
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well 850Mhz has a further range than 1900mhz. But i wouldnt call 1900Mhz phones useless, they just dont have the same reception. For the most part phones that have 1900Mhz but not 850Mhz are usually imported phones from europe/asia. You can survive w/ a 1900 Mhz phoen but its best for 850Mhz.
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1900MHz is used in more "rural" areas while 850MHz is used more in the "urban" settings. The reason for this is 850 can penetrate buildings, while 1900 goes further outdoors.
Think of it like this 1900 is light on it's feet, while 850 is like the defensive lineman coming at the quarterback.
Think of it like this 1900 is light on it's feet, while 850 is like the defensive lineman coming at the quarterback.
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It should be noted that Cingular is moving in the direction of all 2.5G on the 850 band and 3G onto the 1900 band.
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That is 100% false.
Cingular has no intentions of doing that, especially considering they don't even own 1900 MHz in many major areas of the country.
Cingular has no intentions of doing that, especially considering they don't even own 1900 MHz in many major areas of the country.
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Sorry but you are wrong.
Carriers have 1900 or 850 based on what they bought from the government and/or who they bought out in an area.
While a carrier could own both types in an area it is rare. Most of ATTWS was 850, and most of Cingular is 850. Their dominant area of 1900 was Carolinas and CA but CA was sold to T-Mobile and they will use the ATTWS spectrum they gained with purchase.
All of original Sprint and T-Mobile (Voicestream) are 1900 (since they purchased PCS licenses in 1996).
The government has allocated that some new higher frequencies be used for advanced services, just like PCS frequencies were not allowed to offer analog (in 1996 analog was still very dominant).
Carriers have 1900 or 850 based on what they bought from the government and/or who they bought out in an area.
While a carrier could own both types in an area it is rare. Most of ATTWS was 850, and most of Cingular is 850. Their dominant area of 1900 was Carolinas and CA but CA was sold to T-Mobile and they will use the ATTWS spectrum they gained with purchase.
All of original Sprint and T-Mobile (Voicestream) are 1900 (since they purchased PCS licenses in 1996).
The government has allocated that some new higher frequencies be used for advanced services, just like PCS frequencies were not allowed to offer analog (in 1996 analog was still very dominant).
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texaswireless said:
Sorry but you are wrong.
Carriers have 1900 or 850 based on what they bought from the government and/or who they bought out in an area.
Most of ATTWS was 850, and most of Cingular is 850.
Tex, I beg to differ with you on the ATTWS point. ATTWS in my area is 1900 (or so the reps claim) and from what all of the old ATT reps said (when they were still ATT), they were deploying GSM in only the 1900 band where they had a choice. So most of the old blue GSM network would be in 1900.
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texaswireless said:
Yes, there were some areas where ATTWS was 1900, but most was 850.
I would be VERY interested to see the breakdown of that because from what I have been told, the VAST majority of ATT GSM was 1900.
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texaswireless said:
Yes, there were some areas where ATTWS was 1900, but most was 850.
I beg to differ Tex. The 800/850 spectrum comes from the analog A/B carriers. In the south BellSouth Mobility was the B carrier and Verizon was the A carrier. The 1900 spectrum was for all the new carriers (T-mob, AT+T). I do not remember AT+T being an analog carrier. The only 1900 BellSouth had was our DCS market in East TN and I don't remember who the B carrier was there but it was not AT+T. I remember AT+T as being mainly a 1900mHz carrier.
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Maybe not in your part of the country, but in many others they were an analog carrier:
LA Cellular (ATT was majority owner then changed it's name to ATTWS)
ATTWS in Dallas / Ft. Worth
ATTWS in San Diego (bought GTE Wireless)
ATTWS in Seattle (that is a guess I admit)
Depends on where you are from as to what you saw, but everywhere I have been they were 850.
LA Cellular (ATT was majority owner then changed it's name to ATTWS)
ATTWS in Dallas / Ft. Worth
ATTWS in San Diego (bought GTE Wireless)
ATTWS in Seattle (that is a guess I admit)
Depends on where you are from as to what you saw, but everywhere I have been they were 850.
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