The Lowdown On Cellphones
(35-1)
Understanding
the technology will allow you to make a wise choice
for on-the-road communication.
Most of
us have used cell phones while on the road. Have you
ever wondered how a conversation gets from phone to
phone?
These handy gadgets are miniature receiver transmitters
that allow us to communicate over a few miles, or across
the country. When you turn on your cell, it receives
a pilot tone from its nearest towers. This usually shows
up as bars of signal strength on the phone screen. A
good signal from the tower means you’ll make your
desired connection, which tends to happen nine times
out of 10.
Urban areas have many towers to pick up these signals.
When a phone is turned on, it sends a signal to the
towers, even when you’re not making a call. As
you travel out of your area, the system knows what tower
you’re close to, enabling you to receive a call
no matter your location. The phone develops what is
called a Neighborhood List as you drive, enabling it
to recognize the towers, frequencies and channels available.
Because there are fewer customers in the rural areas,
telephone companies install directional antenna systems
that concentrate the power of the tower along the highway.
In some places, towers may be spaced as much as 26 miles
apart compared to every block in the city. If you travel
off the main highway system to your favourite campground,
you may lose the connection as you drive away from the
main coverage area of the towers.
When you sign up with a cell phone provider, look for
the company that has not only the best rate plan, but
also the most extensive coverage of the area you plan
to explore. As an RVer, you need a phone with analogue
capability, so you can communicate in rural regions.
...
(Read the full article in the magazine.) |
