RFGSM900 vs DCS1800 vs PCS1900: Frequency Band Comparison
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This article breaks down the key differences between GSM900, DCS1800, and PCS1900, providing a comparative look at these common GSM frequency bands.
Frequency Bands Compared
Let’s dive into a detailed comparison of GSM900, DCS1800, and PCS1900.
| Specification | GSM900 | DCS1800 | PCS1900 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downlink Frequencies | 935.2 to 960 MHz | 1805 to 1880 MHz | 1930 to 1989.6 MHz |
| 925.4 to 935 MHz (extended band) | |||
| Uplink Frequencies | 890.2 to 915 MHz | 1710 to 1785 MHz | 1850 to 1909.6 MHz |
| 880.4 to 890 MHz (extended band) | |||
| Channel Numbers & Available Channels | 1 to 124 = 124 channels | 512 to 885 = 374 channels | 512 to 810 = 299 channels |
| 975 to 1023 = 49 channels (extended band) |
Frequency and Channel Number Formulas
Understanding how frequency and channel numbers relate to each other is crucial. Here’s a breakdown of the formulas for each band:
GSM900
-
Downlink:
- n = ARFCN = 1-124
- F(DL) = (935.2 + 0.2 * (n - 1)) MHz
-
Uplink:
- F(UL) = (890.2 + 0.2 * (n - 1)) MHz
-
Extended Band - Downlink:
- n = ARFCN = 975-1023
- F(DL) = (935.2 + 0.2 * (n - 1024)) MHz
-
Extended Band - Uplink:
- F(UL) = (890.2 + 0.2 * (n - 1024)) MHz
DCS1800
-
Downlink:
- n = ARFCN = 512-885
- F(DL) = (1805.2 + 0.2 * (n - 512)) MHz
-
Uplink:
- F(UL) = (1710.2 + 0.2 * (n - 512)) MHz
PCS1900
-
Downlink:
- n = ARFCN = 512-810
- F(DL) = 1930 + 0.2 * (n - 512) MHz
-
Uplink:
- F(UL) = (1850.2 + 0.2 * (n - 512)) MHz
These formulas allow you to calculate the specific frequency associated with a particular channel number within each GSM band. ARFCN stands for Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number.
In summary, this article provides a direct comparison of the frequency bands and formulas used in GSM900, DCS1800, and PCS1900 networks.
