Glossary of Wireless Terms

2.5G
Wireless communication usually associated with GPRS.

3G
Third Generation Wireless. Refers to near-future developments in wireless technology. 3G will provide enhanced multimedia and higher access speeds.

A Carrier
Most areas in the US have two cellular carriers, which operate on different frequency bands. One is designated “A Carrier” the other “B Carrier”.

A/B Switching
Most cellular devices switch between the “A” and “B” frequency bands. This typically occurs when roaming outside a designated “home” coverage area.

Acknowledgement
The response returned by a message recipient to confirm successful receipt of information.

Activation
Configuration of a wireless device with its airtime provider so it is ready to operate.

Airtime
Actual purchased time spent using wireless communication.

Air Interface
Standard operating system of a wireless network; technologies include AMPS, TDMA, CDMA and GSM.

Advanced Mobile Phone Service – AMPS
Analog cellular phone service standard in North America. AMPS uses a range of frequencies between 824 MHz and 894 MHz.

Analog
A method of modulating radio signals so that they can carry voice or data information.

Antenna
Lengths of conductive metal that sends or receive radio signals into the air.

Authentication
Feature used to reduce fraud by identifying the wireless device to the network.

B Carrier
Most areas in the US have two cellular carriers, which operate on different frequency bands. One is designated “A Carrier” the other “B Carrier”.

Bandwidth
Refers to the amount of data that can be transmitted in a fixed period of time. A greater bandwidth indicates the ability to transmit a greater amount of data.

Base Station
Central radio transmitter/receiver in a communication system that acts as the hub for communicating with wireless devices.

BPS
Bits per second. Data transmission speed. Eight bits make up a byte.

Call Setup
Activity that occurs in order to establish a call connection between a wireless device and the wireless system.

Carrier
Telecommunication provider.

Code Division Multiple Access – CDMA
Digital cellular service that separates multiple transmissions over a finite frequency allocation using spread spectrum techniques.

CDMA2000
First step into the evolution to 3G.

CDPD – Cellular Digital Packet Data
Sends data packets through the analog cellular voice network during dead times.

Cell
The physical area surrounding a cell tower where the calls made in that designated area are handled by a designated cell tower.

Cell Site
The location of the transmission and reception equipment including the base station antenna.

Control Channel
Portion of the standard cellular channel used to send and receive small packets of data, such as device registration.

Digital Advanced Mobil Phone Service – D-AMPS
Digital cellular radio service that is used to separate multiple communication transmissions on a finite frequency band. Has been renames TDMA.

DataTAC
A type of packet-switched, narrowband network for wide-area communications, providing data rates up to 19.2 kbps.

Decibel – dB
Used to describe the effect of a device (typically antennas and antenna cables) on signal strength.

Digital
A method of encoding information in binary code of 0s and 1s. Most newer wireless devices and networks use digital technology.

Dual Mode
Feature on some wireless devices that allow the device to operate on both digital and analog networks.

Encryption
Scrambling a digital transmission to prevent it from being accessed by unauthorized parties.

Electronic Serial Number – ESN
The unique serial number associated with a cellular device, which identifies the device to the network.

Federal Communications Commission – FCC
Federal government agency responsible for regulating the communication industry.

Forward Control Channel – FOCC
The radio channel used to communicate from a base station to a cellular device.

Frequency
Rate of signal oscillation in hertz. The number of times the wave form repeats itself in one second. (1 hertz = 1 second)

Gateway
Network point that acts as an entrance to another network.

General Packet Radio Service – GPRS
Emerging technology standard for high-speed data transmission over GSM networks.

Global Standard for Mobile – GSM
Uses a variation of Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) operating at either the 900 MHz or 1800 MHz frequency band. Standard wireless protocol in Europe.

Integrated Digital Enhanced Network – iDEN
Wireless technology from Motorola combining the capabilities of digital cellular, two-way radio, alphanumeric pager and data/fax modem in a single network. Operates in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz and 1.5 GHz bands and is based on TDMA and GSM.

Mobile Identification Number – MIN
The unique account number associated with a cellular device, broadcast by the device when accessing the cellular system. Cellular equivalent of landline telephone numbers.

Personal Communication Services – PCS
Digital communication where several services are bundled together such as voice and data communication.

Private Radio Network
Communication towers and receivers are privately owned and maintained by the ultimate user.

RF
Radio frequency. A radio signal.

RFI
Radio frequency interference. An undesired radio signal that interferes with a radio signal causing extraneous noise and/or signal dropouts.

RF Noise – Radio Frequency Noise
An undesired signal that alters a radio communication signal causing extraneous sounds during transmission and/or reception.

Reverse Control Channel – RECC
The radio channel used to communicate origination messages from a cellular device to a base station.

Space Division Multiple Access – SDMA
Technique making it possible to increase capacity of a cellular radio. The base station does not send the message in all directions, but concentrates the power in the direction of the receiver.

Short Messaging Service – SMS
Sends messages (up to 160 characters) to cellular devices. Very similar to paging. Commonly referred to as text messaging.

Spread Spectrum
Communications technology where a signal is transmitted over a broad range of frequencies and then re-assembled where received.

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol – TCP/IP
The set of protocols used to link computers across many kinds of networks. The protocols are computer and network independent and have been implemented on a wide variety of computers, operating systems and networks.

Time Division Multiple Access – TDMA
Technology used in digital cellular communication that divides each cellular transmission into three time slots in order to increase the amount of data that can be carried. TDMA is used in GSM and is also known as D-AMPS.

Ultra High Frequency – UHF
.Radio frequencies that range between 300 MHz and 3 GHz.

Very High Frequency – VHF
Radio frequencies that range between 30 MHz and 300 MHz.