[bpm30]

Hi I don't know much about cellphones, and hopefully this is an easy question to answer. I live in Canada, where the 850/1800 band is recommended to get the best reception. (Or that is what I've concluded after doing a bit of research) My question is, if I were to get the tri-band K610 (900/1800/1900) or the quad-band W810 (850/900/1800/1900), what differences would there be solely based on the radiobands?

Thanks guys.

---

› See More: Tri-band VS Quad-band

[BlkBear]

The main difference is which cell carriers that can be used with the phones.

A tri-band phone (900/1800/1900), could be used in Europe and T-mobile, (1900 being being the non-roaming band for T-mobile).

quad-band phone (850/900/1800/1900), could be used in the USA and Europe on a varity of carriers. (850 being the non-roaming band for Cingular)

[erwin 10-4]

Hi I don't know much about cellphones, and hopefully this is an easy question to answer. I live in Canada, where the 850/1800 band is recommended to get the best reception. (Or that is what I've concluded after doing a bit of research) My question is, if I were to get the tri-band K610 (900/1800/1900) or the quad-band W810 (850/900/1800/1900), what differences would there be solely based on the radiobands?

Thanks guys.

850mhz frequencie use in southern u.s and latin america.
900mhz use in asia
1800mhz use in europe.
1900mhz use in u.s and canada

frequencie uses by service provider in canada
ice wireless use 1900mhz
microcell use 1900mhz
roger use 850, 1900mhz

[BlkBear]

erwin 10-4,

Very good, hope you don't mind me pointing to this info next time I see this question.
Learn something useful on CPF everyday.

[bpm30]

Wow, thanks,that sure clears things up for me. How would getting a triband 900/1800/1900 phone affect me if I was using Rogers' service? I wouldn't be using the 850 band... does this mean I cannot roam as much as if I had both 850/1900?

[roberts1953]

Wow, thanks,that sure clears things up for me. How would getting a triband 900/1800/1900 phone affect me if I was using Rogers' service? I wouldn't be using the 850 band... does this mean I cannot roam as much as if I had both 850/1900?

Something to keep in mind. A "Triband" phone refers to any phone operating on several different bands. A triband phone could be a CDMA phone operating on digital 850 and 1900, a well as AMPS. A triband phone could also be a GSM phone on 900, 1800, and 1900. Or a GSM phone working on 850, 900, and 1900.

Don't get confused by the terms "world phone", "quad" this or "tri" that. The important thing to remember is the type of Technology you'll be on (CDMA or GSM) and the frequencies you need where you travel, as listed above.

To simplify it Europe uses 900 and 1800. North America uses 850 and 1900.
North America use to be almost exclusively on GSM 1900 and has only recently added GSM 850. Because of this there are many "triband" GSM 900/1800/1900 phones on the market. These phones were made primarily for Europe, but would also partially work in North America. But now N. Americas 850 is pretty well built out, so if you buy a phone without GSM 850 you'll be missing out on a lot of coverage and roaming.

If you buy a GSM 850/1900 phone and only intend to use it in N America this "dual mode" phone will get much more coverage then the Europe/N. America hybrid "triband" 900/1800/1900 phone!

Rogers uses both 850 and 1900 so, yes, you will be missing out on a lot of coverage with a 1900 only phone. Same story across N America. If you only plan to be in the big cities this may not concern you because that is where you see 1900. But on the highways and rural areas that is where you will primarily be missing out on the 850.

Moral of the story if you want GSM. In N America get a GSM phone with 850 and 1900. In Europe, get a GSM phone with 900 and 1800. If you'll travel between both get all four.

[n1ckel5]

roberts:

great post to summarize and stress the importance of understanding the bands on cell phones!!

to you!!

[bpm30]

thanks roberts1953, I think I finally have this band stuff down!

Props on helping a newbie out =)