Until the 1995 FCC airwave auctions, PCS (Personal Communication Systems) and PCN (Personal Communication Network)
systems were mostly futureware, and were seen as possible competitors to cellular systems.
Nowadays, they are virtually synonymous and most end-users don't know the difference. PCS is the term given
to wireless phone services that provide extended mobility (cellular concentrates more on highways)
and additional services such as text messaging, fax capability, video display, etc.
Like cellular, PCS relies on a number of fixed antennas to blanket an area of coverage. PCS operates in the 1850-1990 MHz bands.
Several technologies are used for PCS in the United States, including Time Division Multiple
Access (TDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), and Global System for Mobile (GSM)
communication. GSM is more commonly used in Europe and elsewhere.
Find out more about this growing field with the info and links provided below.
The chart below is archived on this server for your convenience and because links have a habit of
disappearing; if you want to read some of the best writing about wireless anywhere, go to the
source: International Engineering Consortium.
Read IEC's Online Tutorial about PCS. (Good
introduction that describes the underlying technology as well as the services PCS provides and a
comparison with cellular systems).
