Cellular Frequency Basics
Every wireless broadcast travels 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 700MHz means 700 million wave peaks per second are passing by.
A "channel" covers a range of frequencies - and the wider the range of frequencies covered, the faster data can be sent over the air on a given channel.
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 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 it's own own property with its own boundaries - each property being like a frequency band.
- Blocks / Loops & Docks: Each campground and marina is then organized by 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 a like a channel.
- Frequency / Distance to Front: Each site within a loop or dock is a different distance to the front office. That distance is like the 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 split into blocks, and is exclusive to Verizon across the United States.
There are two channels that make up Band 13 - a download channel broadcast from the cell tower on 746MHz to 756MHz, and an upload channel broadcast back using 777MHz to 787MHz.
Each channel thus has 10MHz of bandwidth - limiting Verizon's potential peak speeds, a tradeoff against the great range that this band offers.
But what does all this mean in practice?
Do frequencies impact cellular range and speed?
Are some LTE bands better than others?
How are things changing as 5G comes on the scene?
Read on for the details...
Enjoy This Free Preview of Our Guides
We are honored to be able to present the basic sections of this guide for free without 3rd party advertising.
In thanks for funding this resource center, our members have access to the in-depth content in this guide.
If you're a member, please log in.
Additional Member Only Content:
There's MORE to this Guide!
Hopefully you've noticed that our content isn't cluttered with 3rd party advertising, we're not sponsored and we're not reliant on selling you plans or gear to make our free content possible.
We are instead community funded via our premium membership program - allowing us to focus on creating unbiased quality, in-depth, constantly updated content.
For their support, our members have access to the advanced parts of all of our guides, reviews, overviews and insider tips.
If you're already a member, please log in to see the rest of this guide.
The additional content found in the member section of this guide includes:
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.
Related Reading
Further Guides to Explore:
Explore the Resource Center
Become a Member
The MIA is our premium membership - designed for those who consider mobile internet an important part of their lifestyle.
In thanks for making content like this possible, we offer a bunch of additional perks. From interactive guidance, in-depth member exclusive content, discounts, alerts and more.
Say Thanks
We totally understand that a membership isn't right for everyone. However you can still support this content by making a financial contribution.
We deeply appreciate your gratitude - and your funding helps make this all possible!
Featured Guides
Have Questions? Stay In the Know
Join our free Internet for RVers & Cruisers Facebook Group.
We cross post news articles and information there, and our staff can field basic questions during 'business hours'.
It is with gratitude to our premium members that we're able to offer this free service - and for that, they also have access our private Q&A areas for more in-depth guidance.
Stay in the Know
We're constantly tracking the industry and analyzing new developments for mobile travelers. If you'd like to receive updates, we offer several ways:
- Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter for a recap
- Like/Follow our Facebook Newsfeed Page
- Follow our News Stories
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
The Mobile Internet Resource Center is brought to you by Two Steps Beyond LLC, and hosted by the technomads of