Value of GSM 850 coverage in N.A.?

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DaveC - 11 Mar 2006 08:00 GMT

I have the option of a GSM tri-band phone with either 850/1800/1900 or
900/1800/1900 bands. I know that in major metropolitan areas I'm using
(T-Mobile) 1800.

What is the extent of 850 band usage in the US? Am I going to get that much
more useable area with 1800 and 850 vs just 1800?

Thanks,

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matt weber - 11 Mar 2006 18:59 GMT

>I have the option of a GSM tri-band phone with either 850/1800/1900 or
>900/1800/1900 bands. I know that in major metropolitan areas I'm using
>(T-Mobile) 1800.
>
>What is the extent of 850 band usage in the US? Am I going to get that much
>more useable area with 1800 and 850 vs just 1800?

You are far more likely to find 850 Mhz on the Cingular network than
the T-mobile network. Almost all of the T-Mobile network is descended
from Omni-point, PBMS, and Voice Stream, all of which is 1900Mhz
(1800 Mhz is NOT used in North America, the rest of the world is at
900/1800Mhz, The USA is mostly 1900Mhz because of history, All GSM
service in the USA was intially in the 1900Mhz band.

Cingular however involves a number of wireline operators (local phone
companies), who have 800 Mhz licenses that were AMPS/D-AMPS, so
coverage in some areas on Cingular is likely to be 850Mhz. Very
little if any of the T-Mobil system is at 850Mhz, because none of
T-Mobil's ancestors were wire line operators.

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DaveC - 11 Mar 2006 19:32 GMT

Thus spake matt weber:

> You are far more likely to find 850 Mhz on the Cingular network than the
> T-mobile network. Almost all of the T-Mobile network is descended from
> Omni-point, PBMS, and Voice Stream, all of which is 1900Mhz (1800 Mhz is NOT
> used in North America, the rest of the world is at 900/1800Mhz, The USA is
> mostly 1900Mhz because of history, All GSM service in the USA was intially in

> the 1900Mhz band.
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> T-Mobil system is at 850Mhz, because none of T-Mobil's ancestors were wire
> line operators.

Thanks, Matt. That was the definitive determination I was looking for.

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Dan - 12 Mar 2006 07:06 GMT

Check Compass for the complete map of 850mhz coverage.

http://compass.t-mobile.com

Very good site.

>I have the option of a GSM tri-band phone with either 850/1800/1900 or
> 900/1800/1900 bands. I know that in major metropolitan areas I'm using
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Thanks,

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matt weber - 12 Mar 2006 17:26 GMT

>Check Compass for the complete map of 850mhz coverage.
>
>http://compass.t-mobile.com

You will notice that all 850Mhz coverage is roaming, i.e. it isn't
T-Mobil themselves

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Dan - 13 Mar 2006 01:23 GMT

>>Check Compass for the complete map of 850mhz coverage.
>>
>>http://compass.t-mobile.com
>
> You will notice that all 850Mhz coverage is roaming, i.e. it isn't
> T-Mobil themselves

Correct. T-mobile doesn't have 850mhz. Just roaming.

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