Terminology » GSM » GSM900 vs DCS1800 vs PCS1900: Frequency Band Comparison

GSM900 vs DCS1800 vs PCS1900: Frequency Band Comparison

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This article breaks down the key differences between GSM900, DCS1800, and PCS1900, providing a comparative look at these common GSM frequency bands.

Frequency Bands Compared

Let’s dive into a detailed comparison of GSM900, DCS1800, and PCS1900.

SpecificationGSM900DCS1800PCS1900
Downlink Frequencies935.2 to 960 MHz1805 to 1880 MHz1930 to 1989.6 MHz
925.4 to 935 MHz (extended band)
Uplink Frequencies890.2 to 915 MHz1710 to 1785 MHz1850 to 1909.6 MHz
880.4 to 890 MHz (extended band)
Channel Numbers & Available Channels1 to 124 = 124 channels512 to 885 = 374 channels512 to 810 = 299 channels
975 to 1023 = 49 channels (extended band)

Frequency and Channel Number Formulas

Understanding how frequency and channel numbers relate to each other is crucial. Here’s a breakdown of the formulas for each band:

GSM900

  • Downlink:

    • n = ARFCN = 1-124
    • F(DL) = (935.2 + 0.2 * (n - 1)) MHz

  • Uplink:

    • F(UL) = (890.2 + 0.2 * (n - 1)) MHz

  • Extended Band - Downlink:

    • n = ARFCN = 975-1023
    • F(DL) = (935.2 + 0.2 * (n - 1024)) MHz

  • Extended Band - Uplink:

    • F(UL) = (890.2 + 0.2 * (n - 1024)) MHz

DCS1800

  • Downlink:

    • n = ARFCN = 512-885
    • F(DL) = (1805.2 + 0.2 * (n - 512)) MHz

  • Uplink:

    • F(UL) = (1710.2 + 0.2 * (n - 512)) MHz

PCS1900

  • Downlink:

    • n = ARFCN = 512-810
    • F(DL) = 1930 + 0.2 * (n - 512) MHz

  • Uplink:

    • F(UL) = (1850.2 + 0.2 * (n - 512)) MHz

These formulas allow you to calculate the specific frequency associated with a particular channel number within each GSM band. ARFCN stands for Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number.

In summary, this article provides a direct comparison of the frequency bands and formulas used in GSM900, DCS1800, and PCS1900 networks.