I am looking for an in-depth explanation of the equipment in a cellular telecommunications network.

[Orsorum]

I am looking for a schematic or an "idiots guide to" that would break down the equipment located at each of the steps in a cellular network: for example, at a cell site, there are antennas, etc. At a base station subsystem, there is xxy equipment, which does this. At a mobile switching center, there is xxyx equipment which does this.

Etc.

Does anyone know if a technical document or guide like this exists?

 

[dkozloski]

Try How Things Work! Google is your friend.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: dkozloski
Try How Things Work! Google is your friend.

I've tried both. I'm looking for something both more specific and in-depth.

 

[Mday]

Originally posted by: Orsorum
I am looking for a schematic or an "idiots guide to" that would break down the equipment located at each of the steps in a cellular network: for example, at a cell site, there are antennas, etc. At a base station subsystem, there is xxy equipment, which does this. At a mobile switching center, there is xxyx equipment which does this.

Etc.

Does anyone know if a technical document or guide like this exists?

No idiot's guide, i'm afraid. there are somethings that just arent for "idiots"

 

[wwswimming]

one place to look - the website of Nokia or a similar provider.

i worked on a base station a few years ago. it was interesting - and topologically
(mechanically) very similar to an analog microwave radio i worked on 20 years ago.

just circuit boards in aluminum castings with lots of wires and EMI covers.

anyway, i'd think the companies involved - Nokia ( i don't have a cell phone, or
maybe i should say, i stopped paying the $50 a month for Metro PCS after 3
months ) will have white papers on their websites, or maybe some handouts
for investors.

UCSD has a wireless program.

oh yeah, also, Qualcomm. they might have some online tech. documents
that explain the difference between TDMA and its sisters & brothers.

 

[Orsorum]

wwswimming - thank you very much for your suggestions. I will look into those.

 

[jersiq]

How in depth are you talking?

Qualcomm will only provide you with CDMA information, but although I haven't looked in a while, I don't believe they will have any backhaul information.

Once you get into the MTSO, depending on your call type, there are a multitude of different call treatments.

Different vendors across different technologies will have different topologies, although the basic principle will remain. Combine that with the fact that almost all U.S. carriers are focusing towards being "content providers" and are finally embracing TCP/IP you could get information that may be valid for one carrier, but not another, and is shifting focus.

 

[Peter]

Ericsson website would also be worth a visit ... not Sony Ericsson, the cellphone makers, but Ericsson, the telecomms infrastructure makers, mind.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: jersiq
How in depth are you talking?

Qualcomm will only provide you with CDMA information, but although I haven't looked in a while, I don't believe they will have any backhaul information.

Once you get into the MTSO, depending on your call type, there are a multitude of different call treatments.

Different vendors across different technologies will have different topologies, although the basic principle will remain. Combine that with the fact that almost all U.S. carriers are focusing towards being "content providers" and are finally embracing TCP/IP you could get information that may be valid for one carrier, but not another, and is shifting focus.

I'm looking for some level of detail deeper than a basic principle. I have a list of equipment from different vendors, for example Cisco, Ericcson, etc., and I'm trying to determine how this equipment would fit into an MTSO and where it would be placed in the cellular signal transmission process.

I realize that different service providers will have different topologies, and that is something I'll have to take into account; I'm just looking for any sort of schematic that will lay out an MTSO, BSC, etc., in sufficient detail.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: Peter
Ericsson website would also be worth a visit ... not Sony Ericsson, the cellphone makers, but Ericsson, the telecomms infrastructure makers, mind.

Right. I haven't looked at their website beyond researching equipment, but I will give them a deeper look. Thank you!

 

[freegeeks]

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: Peter
Ericsson website would also be worth a visit ... not Sony Ericsson, the cellphone makers, but Ericsson, the telecomms infrastructure makers, mind.

Right. I haven't looked at their website beyond researching equipment, but I will give them a deeper look. Thank you!

Wikipedia is your friend