CELLULAR TELEPHONE

SYSTEM
(PERSONAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, SECOND GENERATION
CELLULAR TELEPHONE AND N-AMPS)

CARAIG, JAN EDWARD C.

BSECE - 511
 PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
(PCS)
• The concept of personal communications services(also PCS) originated in the United
Kingdom when three companies were allocated a band of frequencies in the 1.8-GHz band
to develop a personal communications network(PCN) throughout Great Britain. The terms
PCS and PCN are often used interchangeably. However, PCN refers to a wireless
networking concept where any user can initiate or receive calls regardless of where they are
using a portable, personalized transceiver. PCS refers to a new wireless system that
incorporates enhanced network features and is more personalized than existing standard
cellular telephone systems but does not offer all the features of an ideal PCN.
 PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
(PCS)
• The Personal Communications System (PCS) is a relatively new class of cellular telephony based on
the same basic philosophies as standard cellular telephone systems (CTSs), such as AMPS. However,
PCS systems are a combination of cellular telephone networks and the Intelligent Network, which is
the entity of the SS7 interoffice protocol that distinguishes the physical components of the switching
network, such as the signal service point (SSP), signal control point (SCP), and signal transfer point
(STP), from the services provided by the SS7 network. The services provided are distinctly different
from the switching systems and protocols that promote and support them. PCS was initially considered
a new service, although different companies have different visions of exactly what PCS is and what
services it should provide. The Federal Communications Commission defines PCS mobile telephone
as “a family of mobile or portable radio communications services, which provides services to
individuals and business and is integrated with a variety of competing networks.” In essence, PCS is
the North American implementation of the European GSM standard.
 PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
(PCS)

• Although PCS systems share many similarities with first-generation cellular telephone
systems, PCS has several significant differences that, most agree, warrant the use of a
different name. Many of the differences are transparent (or at least not obvious) to the users
of the networks. Probably the primary reason for establishing a new PCS cellular telephone
system was because first-generation cellular systems were already overcrowded, and it was
obvious that they would not be able to handle the projected demand for future cellular
telephone services. In essence, PCS services were conceived to provide subscribers with a
low-cost, feature-rich wireless telephone service. Differences between PCS systems and
standard cellular telephone systems generally include but are certainly not limited to the
following: (1) smaller cell size, (2) all digital, and (3) additional features. Cellular systems
generally classified as PCS include IS-136 TDMA, GSM, and IS-95 CDMA.
 PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
(PCS)
• PCS is more of a concept than a technology. The concept being to assign everyone a
personal telephone number (PTN) that is stored in a database on the SS7 network. This
database keeps track of where each mobile unit can be reached. When a call is placed from a
mobile unit, an artificial intelligence network (AIN) in SS7 determines where and how the
call should be directed. The PCS network is similar to the D-AMPS system in that the
MTSO stores three essential databases: home location register, visitor location register, and
equipment identification registry.
• The primary disadvantage of PCS is network cost. Employing small cells requires using
more base stations, which equates to more transceivers, antennas, and trunk circuits.
Antenna placement is critical with PCS. Large towers typically used with standard cellular
systems are unacceptable in neighborhoods, which is where a large majority of PCS
antennas must be placed.
• Many of the services offered by PCS systems are not currently available with
standard cellular telephone systems, such as available mode, screen, private, and
unavailable.
• Available mode. The available mode allows all call stop ass through the network to
the subscriber except for a minimal number of telephone numbers that can be
blocked. The available mode relies on the delivery of the calling party number,
which is checked against a database to ensure that it is not a blocked number.
Subscribers can update or make changes in the database through the dial pad on
their PCS handset.
• Screen mode. The screen mode is the PCS equivalent to caller ID. With the screen
mode, the name of the calling party appears on the mobile unit’s display, which
allows PCS users to screen calls. Unanswered calls are automatically forwarded to
a forwarding destination specified by the subscriber, such as voice mail or another
telephone number.
• Private mode. With the private mode, all calls except those specified by the
subscriber are automatically forwarded to a forwarding destination without ringing
the subscriber’s handset. Subscribers can make changes in the list of allowed calling
numbers through the dial pad on their handset.

• Unavailable mode. With the unavailable mode, no calls are allowed to pass through
to the subscriber. Hence, all incoming calls are automatically forwarded to a
forwarding destination.
 PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
(PCS)
PCS base stations communicate with other networks (cellular, PCS, and wireline) through
a PCS switching center (PSC). The PSC is connected directly to the SS7 signaling network
with a link to a signaling transfer point. PCS networks rely extensively on the SS7
signaling network for interconnecting to other telephone networks and databases. PCS
systems generally operate in a higher frequency band than standard cellular telephone
systems. The FCC recently allocated an additional 160-MHz band in the 1850-MHz to
2200-MHz range. PCS systems operating in the 1900-MHz range are often referred to as
personal communications system 1900 (PCS 1900)
 SECOND-GENERATION CELLULAR
TELEPHONE SYSTEMS
• First-generation cellular telephone systems were designed primarily for a limited
customer base, such as business customers and a limited number of affluent residential
customers. When the demand for cellular service increased, manufacturers searched for
new technologies to improve the inherent problems with the existing cellular telephones,
such as poor battery performance and channel unavailability.
• It was determined that improved battery performance and higher signal quality were
possible only by employing digital technologies. In the United States, the shortcomings of
the first-generation cellular systems led to the development of several second-generation
cellular telephone systems, such as narrowband AMPS (N-AMPS) and systems
employing the IS-54, IS-136, and IS-95 standards. A second-generation standard, known
as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), emerged in Europe.
 N-AMPS
(NARROWBAND ADVANCE MOBILE TELEPHONE SYSTEM)
• Because of uncertainties about the practicality and cost effectiveness of implementing digital
cellular telephone systems, Motorola developed a narrowband AMPS system called NAMPS to
increase the capacity of the AMPS system in large cellular markets. N-AMPS was originally
intended to provide a short-term solution to the traffic congestion problem in the AMPS system.
With N-AMPS, the maximum frequency deviation is reduced, reducing the required bandwidth
to 10 kHz and thus providing a threefold increase in user capacity.
• N-AMPS systems are dual mode in that mobile units are capable of operating with 30-kHz
channels or with 10-kHz channels. N-AMPS systems use standard AMPS control channels for
call setup and termination. N-AMPS mobile units are capable of utilizing four types of
handoffs: wide channel to wide channel (30 kHz to 30 kHz), wide channel to narrow channel
(30 kHz to 10 kHz), narrow channel to narrow channel (10 kHz to 10 kHz), and narrow channel
to wide channel (10 kHz to 30 kHz).