On Mon, 14 May 2012 16:51:02 -0400, micky
wrote:

Is there a still active** newsgroup where cell phones are on topic?

alt.cellular.{pick-your-favorite-service-provider}
You'll also find quite a bit of good info under:
http://www.howardforums.com
There's no such thing as an on topic newsgroup unless its moderated.
Your off topic posting to a repair newsgroup is a good example.

If not, let me tell you all that I'm confused about the topic: I see
4-band GSM phones for sale, with these bands: GSM 850/900/1800/1900
(Quadband)

But there are also 2-band phones, which have only iiuc the USA 3G
frequencies, 850./ 1900.

There's no such thing as a 3G frequency. 3G can be deployed on almost
any cellular band.

The bands they don't have, 800 and 1800, were used in 2G phones.

USA uses 850/1900. Europe uses 900/1800. Quad phones have all 4
bands. Dual mode phones will do both GSM and CDMA. 4G phones add 1.7
or 2.1GHz bands for data.

Since I'm only getting basic (2G?) service, no internet, do I need
these frequencies that were originallly used by 2G phones?

That depends on where you live and where you are visiting. If you're
in the USA, you only need 850/1900. If you travel to strange and out
of the way places, I suggest quad band and dual mode.

**Or is therer even a non-active ng which might have good archives to
read, because I'm so confused.

--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558
# http://802.11junk.com
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