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Topic Review (Newest First)

  • 07-08-2005, 10:18 PM
    KE4QPF
    Quote Originally Posted by Dr. Pasquale
    How much power is
    a Nextel phone vs. a GSM 1900 Mhz phone ? Thats
    something only a pro would know and the carriers would
    never tell the public.
    Here's the general rule of thumb the FCC uses in regards to frequency vs. ERP (Effective Radiated Power) for general handheld device safety:

    The higher the frequency, the lower the ERP

    The lower the frequency, the higher the ERP


    Let's use the new specs on the i930 as an example:

    iDEN's ERP for 800MHz =
    Frequency Range 806-825 MHz
    <<<Maximum ERP 361.2 mW (Pulse average)>>>
    Output Power 0.0814 to 640 milliWatts (Pulse average)

    GSM's ERP for 900MHz=
    Frequency Range 896-902 MHz
    <<<Maximum ERP 336.8mW (Pulse average)>>>
    Output Power 0.0814 to 640 milliWatts (Pulse average)

    Taken from FCC Part 90 Technical Characteristic for the Motorola i930 at: https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/f...ive_or_pdf=pdf .
    Because NEXTEL does not produce a tri-band 800MHz iDEN + 900 MHz GSM + 1.9GHz GSM phone, there's no way to really make a determination on that aspect as it would be like comparing apples to oranges. But if you take the algebra into consideration, here's what it would probably look like for ERP:

    If you increase the freqency from 800MHz iDEN by 100MHz to get to 900MHz GSM land, according to the above results, you would lose 24.4mW (pulse average) per 100MHz increment.

    So now if 900MHz GSM produces Maximum ERP 336.8mW (Pulse average), multiply 24.4mW by 10 to reach a 1GHz increment of loss = 244.4mW

    So then we take (336.8mW - 244.4mW = Total ERP @ 1.9GHz) and end up with a Total Maximum ERP on GSM 1900MHz/1.9GHz of 92.4mW (Pulse Average) if the theory holds true and the output power stays within the current specs mandated by the FCC.
  • 07-08-2005, 08:17 PM
    Dr. Pasquale
    Thanks for correcting me. That just makes me feel even
    better about choosing Nextel. I basically am self taught
    and I learn from things I read, but some of the things I
    read are horsepucky. I read somewhere that iDEN was
    GSM based. I also read that that the new i930 was to be
    a "world phone" , dual band using iDEN and GSM.
    When I was refering to the higher frequencys I was
    thinking about 1900 Mhz and up. Those high freques
    kinda scare me, since they are so much higher than
    traditional radio devices, not much research has been
    published yet. I read somewhere that it is possible to
    manufacture cell phones that would produce much less
    RF radiation but it would be so expensive that it would
    affect the bottom line. I have also seen special cases that
    are supposed to reduce RF's.
    It sounds like you really know your stuff about radio,
    that must be your call sign. I also have business radios,
    with some GMRS channels, and a couple of FTA satellite
    receivers. I have Motorola VISARS., super small 4 watt
    radios, which I use for work and camping trips. Sure beats
    using a Nextel off network handheld. How much power is
    a Nextel phone vs. a GSM 1900 Mhz phone ? Thats
    something only a pro would know and the carriers would
    never tell the public.
  • 07-08-2005, 08:10 PM
    opmeteor419
    a huge plus to nextels is the durability, their phones just dont break. DC is really good and the newer phones are awsome looking and fun/easy to use.
  • 07-05-2005, 11:12 PM
    KE4QPF
    Quote Originally Posted by Dr. Pasquale
    Nextel uses Motorola's proprietary (IDEN) network that
    is CDMA based , but runs on 800 to 900Mhz, not like
    the other higher frequencys. I think the lower ones
    have better voice quality and may be safer to humans.
    ~~~Nextel does not serve Eureka or Willow Creek now, but maybe with
    the merger with Sprint they can start sharing towers
    and hopefully expand coverage to as good as the old
    TDMA network.
    You've got it backwards... iDEN is a TDMA derivative... CDMA is Sprint's standard.

    800MHz is a tad safer than 900MHz for RF exposure, however, there is no benefit because TDMA devices, iDEN included, transmit at their full power allotments as defined by the FCC. So basically, any RF exposure offered up by the 800MHz iDEN/TDMA device would probably be equal to that of a lower-powered 900MHz CDMA devide.

    TDMA = Time Divided Multiple Access

    iDEN = Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (is a TDMA derivative because the calls are divided on the system into packets 15 milliseconds in length before being sent)

    CDMA = Call Divided Multiple Access
  • 07-01-2005, 12:05 PM
    Dr. Pasquale
    I just switched to Nextel from AT&T. The main reason
    is Cingular want's to kick everybody off the TDMA
    network, the original Cellular One network that I think
    works way better than GSM and most CDMA networks.
    Nextel uses Motorola's proprietary (IDEN) network that
    is CDMA based , but runs on 800 to 900Mhz, not like
    the other higher frequencys. I think the lower ones
    have better voice quality and may be safer to humans.
    I do use Direct Connect with a few people but that is
    not the main reason I bought it. The main reason I
    bought it is for the Motorola i830 phone. It's a slim,
    small , lightweight and comes in Bronze. It is a
    speakerphone and I bought a real hard install car kit
    for it which makes it 10 times more effective than having
    signals bouncing around in the vehicle.None of the
    other carriers I checked offered any phones of any
    brand that had real car kits with external antenna. They
    are pushing bluetooth kits that don't help increase
    transmission at all, all they do is bombard the inside
    of the car (and your face) with 2 frequencys.
    As for coverage and quality here in Marin it is good now.
    They just put up a new repeater in Bolinas - Stinson and
    it works well on Mt. Tam and Muir Beach. Nextel does
    not serve Eureka or Willow Creek now, but maybe with
    the merger with Sprint they can start sharing towers
    and hopefully expand coverage to as good as the old
    TDMA network. It will take many years to catch up
    but for the time being I'm happy with the coverage. When
    I go through Eureka I'm supposed to be on vacation
    anyway, and I can always call the voicemail backdoor
    number from a land line to check messages.Just say MO!
  • 07-01-2005, 11:12 AM
    robacarp
    I definately would not use dc .... just looking for cellular / text msg
  • 07-01-2005, 10:37 AM
    larry1234
    direct connect, if u dont use it or will not use it then dont buy it. i currently have nextel and areas in ohio are very spotty.
  • 07-01-2005, 10:21 AM
    robacarp
    I currently have verizon and am thinking about switching providers. I am contract free so no $ to leave.

    What are some of the benefits of nextel? Anybody from the four corners area have a quality of service from down there?

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