Multi-band Phones, which band?

On Mon, 05 Jul 2004 13:42:28 GMT, "Bob" <rfa5@optonline.net> chose to add
this to the great equation of life, the universe, and everything:

>When I'm using a multi-band phone, is there any way to tell which band is
>being used? Point in question here...I have a friend using an old dual band
>(I guess its AMPS/800 MHz) phone. If I went to his area with my 800
>MHZ/1900PCS) phone , would I be able to see if his local towers are on PCS?
>Naturally if the PCS band were used on his local towers then he would (or
>should) get better service if he used a phone that did accommodate that
>band?

Depending on what phone you have, you can probably set it to PCS-only and
see if you get service. Then set it to Cell-only and compare the signal
levels (the phone's meter is adequate for this, since you are just
comparing two different signals on the same phone and therefore are
comparing apples to apples; if, behind the scenes, the phone's meter is
actually measuring cumquats, it doesn't matter because you're still
comparing two different sets of cumquats). If you get a better signal on
PCS than on Cell, then yes, your friend would be better off with a
PCS-capable phone. OTOH, if there is no PCS there, he's fine as is.

--
David Streeter, "an internet god" -- Dave Barry
http://home.att.net/~dwstreeter
Remove the naughty bit from my address to reply
Expect a train on ANY track at ANY time.
"Marriage is probably the chief cause of divorce." - Maj. Frank Burns

 

On Mon, 05 Jul 2004 13:42:28 GMT, "Bob" <rfa5@optonline.net> chose to add
this to the great equation of life, the universe, and everything:

>When I'm using a multi-band phone, is there any way to tell which band is
>being used? Point in question here...I have a friend using an old dual band
>(I guess its AMPS/800 MHz) phone. If I went to his area with my 800
>MHZ/1900PCS) phone , would I be able to see if his local towers are on PCS?
>Naturally if the PCS band were used on his local towers then he would (or
>should) get better service if he used a phone that did accommodate that
>band?

Depending on what phone you have, you can probably set it to PCS-only and
see if you get service. Then set it to Cell-only and compare the signal
levels (the phone's meter is adequate for this, since you are just
comparing two different signals on the same phone and therefore are
comparing apples to apples; if, behind the scenes, the phone's meter is
actually measuring cumquats, it doesn't matter because you're still
comparing two different sets of cumquats). If you get a better signal on
PCS than on Cell, then yes, your friend would be better off with a
PCS-capable phone. OTOH, if there is no PCS there, he's fine as is.

--
David Streeter, "an internet god" -- Dave Barry
http://home.att.net/~dwstreeter
Remove the naughty bit from my address to reply
Expect a train on ANY track at ANY time.
"Marriage is probably the chief cause of divorce." - Maj. Frank Burns

 

On Mon, 05 Jul 2004 13:42:28 GMT, "Bob" <rfa5@optonline.net> chose to add
this to the great equation of life, the universe, and everything:

>When I'm using a multi-band phone, is there any way to tell which band is
>being used? Point in question here...I have a friend using an old dual band
>(I guess its AMPS/800 MHz) phone. If I went to his area with my 800
>MHZ/1900PCS) phone , would I be able to see if his local towers are on PCS?
>Naturally if the PCS band were used on his local towers then he would (or
>should) get better service if he used a phone that did accommodate that
>band?

Depending on what phone you have, you can probably set it to PCS-only and
see if you get service. Then set it to Cell-only and compare the signal
levels (the phone's meter is adequate for this, since you are just
comparing two different signals on the same phone and therefore are
comparing apples to apples; if, behind the scenes, the phone's meter is
actually measuring cumquats, it doesn't matter because you're still
comparing two different sets of cumquats). If you get a better signal on
PCS than on Cell, then yes, your friend would be better off with a
PCS-capable phone. OTOH, if there is no PCS there, he's fine as is.

--
David Streeter, "an internet god" -- Dave Barry
http://home.att.net/~dwstreeter
Remove the naughty bit from my address to reply
Expect a train on ANY track at ANY time.
"Marriage is probably the chief cause of divorce." - Maj. Frank Burns

 

On Mon, 05 Jul 2004 13:42:28 GMT, "Bob" <rfa5@optonline.net> chose to add
this to the great equation of life, the universe, and everything:

>When I'm using a multi-band phone, is there any way to tell which band is
>being used? Point in question here...I have a friend using an old dual band
>(I guess its AMPS/800 MHz) phone. If I went to his area with my 800
>MHZ/1900PCS) phone , would I be able to see if his local towers are on PCS?
>Naturally if the PCS band were used on his local towers then he would (or
>should) get better service if he used a phone that did accommodate that
>band?

Depending on what phone you have, you can probably set it to PCS-only and
see if you get service. Then set it to Cell-only and compare the signal
levels (the phone's meter is adequate for this, since you are just
comparing two different signals on the same phone and therefore are
comparing apples to apples; if, behind the scenes, the phone's meter is
actually measuring cumquats, it doesn't matter because you're still
comparing two different sets of cumquats). If you get a better signal on
PCS than on Cell, then yes, your friend would be better off with a
PCS-capable phone. OTOH, if there is no PCS there, he's fine as is.

--
David Streeter, "an internet god" -- Dave Barry
http://home.att.net/~dwstreeter
Remove the naughty bit from my address to reply
Expect a train on ANY track at ANY time.
"Marriage is probably the chief cause of divorce." - Maj. Frank Burns