AT&T GSM 850 Mhz vs. 1900Mhz in the SF Bay Area

[Jamester]

Hello all,

New to this whole GSM technology thing. I know that according to Wireless Advisor, AT&T Wireless has implemented GSM 1900Mhz in my area (SF Bay Area). Then I hear that they are pushing for GSM 850Mhz. My questions are:

1. Is this true or a rumor?
2. Assuming it's true, is there certain advantage for AT&T to switch to a lower frequency (i.e. 1900 to 850)? What would that do to equipments that only handles GSM1900?
3. I have been looking into a Siemens S46 phone that handles both TDMA800/1900 and GSM900/1900, since I am interested in the greatest coverage possible when I travel domestically. While it's not a true GAIT phone, this phone would be useful when I travel to countries with GSM900, (most European and Asian) would my phone be operable only in TDMA800 when I'm in the Bay Area? (assuming only GSM850 is what's in the AT&T's future)
4. Any negatives/positives you may have on the S46?

I thank you in advance for your answers/comments.

Jamester

[Cenobyte]

I don't follow AT&T much, so I can't answer all of your questions, but to answer #2, the benefit of using a lower frequency (850 vs. 1900) is that 850 will cover a larger area than a 1900 tower, which is good for rural areas, but doesn't matter quite as much in metro areas where towers are closer together. The real benefit to 850 is better signal penetration in buildings. Many people complain that their 1900mhz phones often get poor/no reception in doors, while 800 (or 850)mhz phones usually work much better indoors.

[ILUVSOCAL]

1900 works great if you have the right amount of towers and spacing, it's when 800 carriers overlay 1900 onto their towers, originally spaced and designed for 800 that you run into problems, I am on 1900 up here in Mendocino County, and it's a VERY rural area, works great for me, I get as good a coverage as 800 carriers, if not better, both inside buildings and out.

[Cenobyte]

Yeah, great if you have the right amount of towers in an area. Guess I should rephrase what I meant. The benefit of using 800mhz is more of a benefit to the provider, since they don't have to install as many towers to cover an area. As for the penetration issue, my experience has always been the 1900 mhz phones don't work as well in doors and 800mhz phones. My friends that use PCS carriers here are always complaining of no service in doors, and I always have excellent service inside.

To be unbiased though, it's believed by many that 1900mhz has better voice quality when in a well covered area. I personally don't notice a difference.

[ILUVSOCAL]

I get great coverage inside buildings with 1900 here, often times it's even better than the 800 carriers here, like I said, it all depends on how well the network is designed and built.

[Cenobyte]

Yeah, I guess so. Sounds like Cingular knows what they're doing in your area.

I'm glad you brought back the Eric Estrada icon, I kinda missed it.

[ILUVSOCAL]

Yeah, I am really impressed with them! I'm in the middle of huge Oak Trees, and surrounded by hills and trees, so it really is amazing considering. Thanks for the compliment on Erik, I love CHiP's, my Direct DVD records every episode lol

[Cenobyte]

lol. I just think that pic of him is hilarious. Everytime I see it, I imagine he's saying "You suck". Don't know why.

[ILUVSOCAL]

Lol, actually it said something else for the caption when I found it on the net, check you im [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

[Cenobyte]

Ha, yeah, that's what it was... ah... it's bedtime.