How A Cell Phone Works?

Some people simplify how a cell phone works by saying that it is a computer and radio combination. This is actually a rather accurate description of the cell phone, which has become a common way of communicating.

These telephones have a very small speaker, a microphone that amplifies the voice of the person speaking, a tiny version of the computer keyboard and a display screen similar to a computer monitor. Of course, the keyboard on a cell phone is often quite different from that of a desktop or portable computer, but the concept is the same. The powerful and lightweight batteries that power current cell phones can allow free-standing use for several days.

What really separates the cell phone from other telephone and two-way radio devices is the network technology that allows users to talk through a phone call or share information with other phones through texting and graphics. These networks are wireless and transfer their signals through transfer from one cell tower to another and eventually to the receiver – the phone. There is a base from which the various towers and phones are linked using an antenna and base radio equipment.

Networks send phone calls, text and graphics by radio-frequency in signals that are controlled and limited so they work within a certain area or range. Thousands of people can conduct their cell phone business, visit or send information in different networks using the same or similar frequencies. The antennae that serve the network can be on towers constructed for the purpose, on tall buildings or other structures that allow signals to be sent without obstruction.

Most communication in the 21st century uses digital technology, considered a more efficient and powerful way of sending and receiving information. Basically, cell phones use digits (small bundles of 0 and 1, called packets) that carry the information, whether it is a voice message, text, graphic or picture. Cell phone calls can be placed to a traditional wired telephone or “land line” phone. The signal is transferred by antenna and switches to the wired network for connection to the other telephone. The voice, text or picture is changed to digits when “sent” then changed again back to voice, text or picture when “received.”

The strength of the signal and the clarity of the conversation are determined by the location of the antennae and towers. When the cell phone moves with the person, the circuitry searches for a signal and will generally connect with the strongest usable signal. Roaming occurs when the person with a cell phone moves outside of their “home” network. A tower/antenna will pick up the phone’s signal and transfer it back to the original network. Companies usually charge for this transfer service.

Cell phone communication is much, much faster than traditional phone service and cell phone service of just a few years ago. The quality of communication is also much better. There are still some “dead” spots and places in which cell phone service is not good. In a few places there may be no signal at all because of a tall building, high land elevations that block signals or just the lack of a tower to transfer the signal. However, the technology has grown to the point that communication once possible only with a powerful, desktop computer is now available in the smallest of cell phones.

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