Cellular vs. Pcs
Cellular Phone Technologies
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Personal Communications Services (PCS) is a wireless phone service very similar to cellular phone service, but with an emphasis on personal service and greater user mobility. The term "PCS" is often used in place of "digital cellular" but true PCS means that other services like paging, caller ID and Email are bundled into the service. Where as Cellular service started as a phone for cars. Consequently, the networks originally covered major roads and highways. As handsets became smaller and more portable, carriers began to add residential neighborhoods, shopping malls, business districts.
The service's pricing and network layout however, are still based largely on the "car phone" concept. PCS, on the other hand, began as service that allows consumers to communicate regardless of where they are and without being in their cars.
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PCS has smaller cells and Compared to Cellular networks, therefore requires a larger number of antennas to cover a geographic area.
Technically in United States
- Cellular Operates in 824 MHz to 894 MHz frequency bands
- PCS operates in 1850 MHz to 1990 MHz bands
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All other things being equal, this difference in frequency use does not translate into any real advantage for PCS operators because the higher frequencies do not allow signals to travel as far as cellular signals.
Detractors of digital services (regular and PCS) say that analog has better coverage. If you live on a mountain areas or drive over one frequently you might not have your phone conversation cut short as often with an analog phone. But quality of sound in a PCS and Digital Cellular Networks are better.
Another pitfall of PCS is that the networks are still relatively new, it isn´t nationwide yet and only works consistently in metropolitan areas of the country and pockets where the service has been built up.
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The decision of whether to go with a digital PCS system or an analog cellular really depends on you.
PCS offers a number of advantages over analog cellular technologies, including greater data throughput, greater reliability and better clarity. Analog systems provide more extensive coverage, and if you’re relying on your cell phone to call for help while hiking out in the wilderness, you’d better be packing analog.
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