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

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.

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

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


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

In article ,
micky wrote:

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

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.

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

"800" is really 850. Same thing.

Perhaps you mean 900 and 1800. Neither of these bands were EVER used for
cellular in the USA, 1G, 2g, any-G.

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

The only frequencies you need for voice coverage in the US are 850/1900.
But basic GSM is being phased out by AT&T in some cities to devote more
"slots" to 3G. It is retained for international roamers, but you might
find no service for a few minutes when entering a congested area.

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
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS

On Mon, 14 May 2012 23:55:02 +0000 (UTC), (Mike S.)
wrote:


In article ,
micky wrote:

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

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.

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

"800" is really 850. Same thing.

Perhaps you mean 900 and 1800. Neither of these bands were EVER used for
cellular in the USA, 1G, 2g, any-G.

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

The only frequencies you need for voice coverage in the US are 850/1900.
But basic GSM is being phased out by AT&T in some cities to devote more
"slots" to 3G.

So what is the sequel to GSM?. Maybe I should look for that instead.

It is retained for international roamers, but you might
find no service for a few minutes when entering a congested area.

Thanks for the help. Would have posted back earlier but sick for a
week, then I found this page, lost it, finally refound it, and wanted
to include. You probably know all this stuff, but archive readers of
the thread might like it.

http://www.ekit.com/ekit/MobileInfo/Guide The middle of it is the
most interesting.

P&M because it's been so long.

On Mon, 14 May 2012 21:30:24 -0700, Jeff Liebermann
wrote:

Posted&Mailed because it's been so long since you posted. I was
sick, and then I was looking for this url, which I found, lost, and
refound and which might be of interest to archive readers of this
thread.
http://www.ekit.com/ekit/MobileInfo/Guide

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}

Ah hah. Yeah, there were 30 goups, some for brands of phone. The
AT&T group isn't real busy. Someone should advertise Usenet. Since no
one makes any money on it, the so inconvenient to use web forums are
taking out business.

You'll also find quite a bit of good info under:
http://www.howardforums.com

Thanks. It looks good.

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.

Okay.

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.

The place I'm most likely to go is Israel.

I wanted to go for a week to Guatamala, which I visited in 1971, to
see if it's changed, but I would have to open an account there,
right?, even if I had a phone. And I really have no one to call
there.

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

Thanks.

micky wrote:


The place I'm most likely to go is Israel.

Being possibly the only follower of this newsgroup in Israel, I can tell you
to do nothing until about a month before your trip.

Since October of 1999 until early 2012, there were three cellular service
providers, plus Motorola who sold trunked radio service as if it were cellular.

By the end of 2012 there will be 5 phyiscal networks, Motorola will still be
selling their service (called MIRS here, iDEN in the US) and 4 more virtual
service providers (companies that buy time in bulk from a real SP, and sell
it cheaply to retail customers).

There currently is a price equipment war.

Note that cell phones sold in Israel are always unlocked, there are no
minimum contract lengths and if you buy a phone from a "phone store" instead
of an SP, you can ask for the same deal, so they are not subsidized.

With that said, you can buy a 900/1800 dual band simple phone for 130 NIS on
sale (around $33) and a pay as you go SIM for about half of that, so if you
really want a phone here and yours is locked, one can be had cheaply.

Since everyone is moving to different phones and carriers, there are a lot
of old phones in drawers, being too good to throw out and can't be used by
their owners, so you may be able to get one free if you are visting someone.

It's ALL GSM and the new virtual operators are all 3G only. CDMA/TDMA phones
are bricks.

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, N3OWJ/4X1GM/KBUH7245/KBUW5379
To put it in terms everyone understands, the US debt is over 150 Facebooks.