Cellular Frequency Basics
Every wireless broadcast (everything from FM radio to TV to cellular to satellite) is sent over a channel with its own unique signature: its frequency.
The frequency of a radio wave is literally a measure of how many wave peaks there are per second – for example, a frequency of 700 MHz means 700 million wave peaks per second are passing by.
Data is then encoded on these waves by subtle adjustments to their shape.
A "channel" covers a range of frequencies - and the wider the range of frequencies covered by a given channel, the faster data can be sent on that channel over the air.
This channel width literally defines the "bandwidth" of the channel.
A "band" is made up of one or more similar channels, grouped together, and labeled for convenience.
A cellular band may be exclusive to a single carrier, or more commonly it might be subdivided into "blocks" each controlled by different carriers.
It sounds complicated, but it really is not.
An Analogy
Let's imagine we have a long road with several marinas and campgrounds along it.
We'll call it The Nomad Mile.
Radio Spectrum = Road: The real estate along the road is the radio spectrum that is divided up between different properties.- Bands = Marinas & Campgrounds: Each campground and marina along our road is its own property with its own boundaries - each property being like a frequency band.
- Blocks = Loops & Docks: Each campground and marina is then further organized into camping loops and docks. Each individual loop or dock is a block of spectrum.
- Channels = Campsites & Slips: Within each camp loop or dock, you have individual sites and slips. Each one of those is like a channel.
- Frequency = Site Address: If each site within a loop or dock had a unique specific address, that would be akin to its frequency.
- Bandwidth = Site & Slip Dimensions: Each site has its own dimensions of how large of an RV or boat they can fit - such as 30', 40', 50'. That size is like the bandwidth - how much capacity each channel (or site) has.
It really is that simple.
Real-World Example
Verizon’s original LTE network is deployed on LTE Band 13.
This band is not further split into blocks, and is exclusive to Verizon across the United States.
There are two channels that makeup Band 13 - a download channel broadcast from the cell tower on 746 MHz to 756 MHz, and an upload channel broadcast back using 777 MHz to 787 MHz.
Each channel thus has 10 MHz of bandwidth - limiting Verizon's potential peak speeds compared to carriers with wider 20 MHz channels, a trade-off against the great range that this band offers.
Carpool Lanes in The Sky
It helps to think of cellular spectrum like lanes on a highway.
The more lanes a carrier can offer, the more simultaneous users can be supported, and the faster each user can go.
Older devices without support for the latest 4G/LTE and 5G network bands are limited to the most congested lanes on the road, while newer devices can often zip past in the carpool lane leaving older devices stuck in traffic.
This is one of the prime reasons why it is important to keep your connectivity arsenal up to date.
But what does all this mean in practice?
Do frequencies impact cellular range and speed?
Are some bands better than others?
How are things changing as 5G comes on the scene?
Read on for the details...
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Range & Real Estate
We explain how low and high-frequency bands have differing ranges, and how the carriers divide up their frequency real estate.
Cellular Frequency Bands
Understanding the frequency bands your carrier utilizes is key in selecting the right cellular gear.
Frequency Asked Questions
Ok, we couldn't resist the pun. In this section, we field some frequently asked questions about cellular frequencies.
Conclusion: Know Which Frequencies Your Carrier Uses
Understanding cellular frequencies and how your devices utilize them can be helpful when deciding what equipment to buy.
In general, lower frequencies mean more range and higher frequencies mean more bandwidth/speed.
A savvy shopper wanting access to a carrier's entire network should make sure any devices purchased support all of the current and future frequencies that the carrier utilizes.
If not, you could be missing out on coverage in some locations and may experience slower network speeds in others.
To dive deeper into what bands the top carriers are using, see our guide:
Understanding Cellular Modem Specifications
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