The Unofficial Speak Out Wireless Canada Consumer Page - Topic: GSM Question

psychocat on GSM Question

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:48:40 -0700

I tried using triband 900/1800/1900 MHz phones (various brands) in the past but reception was very unsatisfactory. Actually having the 1900 band alone means no reception in many areas.

Better switch to a phone with the additional 850 band.

Big Ang on GSM Question

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:33:29 -0700

To me one of the most important things about a cellphone is how good the reception is.

With a 900/1800/1900 cellphone, you're only getting reception from the 1900 MHz towers. Rogers (the towers SO uses) has probably covered Canada assuming that their clients are using phones with both 850 and 1900 MHz.

So, you can use a phone with only 1900MHz (I think most of the older Fido phones were like that) but your reception may suffer.

Bylo on GSM Question

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:52:34 -0700

tri-band of 900/1800/1900

Yes--but. The North American GSM networks operate on two bands, 850 and 1900 Mhz. (Elsewhere 900 and 1800 are used.) Coverage does not fully overlap so a phone that has only the 1900 band may not work everywhere in Canada where there is GSM coverage.

I have no idea these days how limiting that would be.

*** on GSM Question

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:20:56 -0700

Will a phone with tri-band of 900/1800/1900 work with Speakout? Thanks.