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Not everyone understands what is wcdma in phone, what is gsm, and how do these two networks differ from each other? And we’ll talk about that in another article.
Wcdma (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) is the technology that is selected mobile operators to provide devices with access to a 3g-enabled network. It allows you to watch videos on the Internet, upload photos, and provides video conferencing. Data transfer rates range from 384 Kbps to 2 Mbps.
Gsm (Global System for Mobile Communications) – standard cellular communication with a high degree of security. Gsm is classified as a 2g network, the main functions of which are: calls, messaging and conference calls.
What is the difference between wcdma and gsm in a phone?
Now that it is clear what wcdma is in a phone and what gsm is, you can compare these two networks and identify the main differences between them.
Wcdma is a third generation network, and gsm is a second generation network, and the main difference between them is the quality of communication. The wide frequency band used in 3g networks transmits data with virtually no loss of quality, which cannot be said about 2g.
Another advantage of wcdma is the data transfer speed. This allows you to make a video call without interruptions or very quickly download music and pictures from the Internet. Many people remember that accessing the Internet with a 2G network became a real time torture; you had to wait several minutes for the site to load, and in order to download any track, you really had to have nerves of steel.
But there is also a plus in gsm work - a large coverage area. You can connect to this network almost throughout the entire territory of Russia, while wcdma still covers a small part.
How wcdma on your phone drains your battery
Modern mobile devices by default connected to wcdma. But since this service does not work throughout our country, the phone is constantly looking for an available network, jumping from 3g to 2g. And of course, searching increases battery consumption.
In automatic mode, the phone will take longer to establish a connection to the Internet. First it will connect to 3g, if there is no connection there, then it will find and connect to 2g. This is especially noticeable in the subway: while the connection is established, you approach the next station, and there again wcdma is caught, but as soon as you drive away a little, the phone starts looking for an available network again, and so on in a circle. It happens that absolutely, but very rarely.
To increase the speed of connecting to the Internet and reduce battery consumption, at a time when you do not need high-speed Internet to watch videos, download different files, use gsm by checking the box the required line in the Settings menu. If you are using a high-speed connection, then move the checkbox to wcdma. And try not to use the automatic network selection that phones have by default.
Most people don't know what WCDMA is in a phone and don't understand the differences with GSM.
Let's start in order, GSM is a standard mobile communications, which is different high security and works in 2G networks. The main purpose is to make calls and exchange messages. Abbreviation for English language stands for Global System Of Mobile Communications.
But Wideband Code Division Multiple Access, abbreviated WCDMA, is more modern technology, which is used by cellular operators to access mobile phones to the Internet. The main task is to view photos and videos on the Internet. Possesses this system high speed information transmission up to 2 Mbit/s.
Main differences between WCDMA and GSM
We have figured out what each network system is, which means we can compare them and analyze the differences.
- The main difference is the quality of the data connection. WCDMA uses a wide data transmission bandwidth, which means that quality is not lost, which cannot be said about GSM.
- Data transfer rate. A modern 3G system makes it possible not only to download pictures and music from the World Wide Web, but also to make video calls without slowdowns! And if you remember 2G, then loading a website page took about a minute, and while a song was downloading from the Internet, you could lie down to sleep.
- Probably the only advantage of GSM is the huge network coverage area. You can access this network in any corner of Russia, but with WCDMA things are worse. It only covers a small area.
- It’s also worth saying that the 3G network uses your battery resources more actively. It happens like this: WCDMA coverage is not constant and the phone has to look for a 2G network to work, and then return to 3G again. This search consumes your battery power. If you live in a small city, it is better to immediately set your phone to use only 2G networks. The increase in operating time without recharging will increase significantly.
Hello friends!
Most likely, you have once come across such concepts as wcdma and gsm when choosing a new smartphone or cellular provider. But do you know what these terms mean and how they differ? To do right choice, you need to consider in detail what wcdma and gsm are in the phone and which of these network types to choose. Go…
What is GSM
GSM has become a global cellular communication system. It is now a mobile communication technology on a global scale, especially in Asia and Europe, and is available in more than 210 countries. GSM uses a variant of TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access), which splits frequencies into multiple channels.
What is WCDMA
CDMA is a standard developed as the basis for the CDMA2000 and WCDMA standards for 3G. But WCDMA was not able to achieve such global adoption as GSM. Today it is used by less than 18% of networks around the world (mainly the USA, South Korea and Russia).
What is their difference from the technical side?
WCDMA or GSM: what's the difference
Both technologies are multi-access, meaning that one tower can receive multiple calls. But the main difference between them comes from how exactly the data is converted into radio waves that the device receives and broadcasts.
The main problem for telecommunications companies was the difference in frequency bands. Because of it, GSM-enabled phones could not communicate with WCDMA networks, and vice versa. To overcome this drawback, most manufacturers had to use different frequency ranges for 2G and 3G networks. This has made it possible to use cellular phones on virtually any network and anywhere in the world.
Until the advent of 4G LTE technology, the main difference between GSM and WCDMA devices was related to the SIM card. GSM phones were made with a SIM card slot, but CDMA devices were not.
In other words, WCDMA is a technology based on the use of a telephone with subscriber number, which is associated with specific device with 3G support. If you want to change your phone, you need to contact your provider, deactivate your old device and connect a new one.
In GSM devices, the number is associated with the SIM card, so to switch to another, all you have to do is install the SIM card in the new gadget.
WCDMA is a new generation mobile communication mode (3G). Voice and data can be transmitted through it, and this happens much faster. The quality of communication is practically the same in these modes. But WCDMA coverage most often does not work outside the city.
Therefore, if you often travel outside the city limits and communication is important to you, choose GSM. And if you are most often in the city and want to use high-speed Internet, WCDMA is more suitable for you. The advantage of this network mode is that it saves battery power, and the connection will not be glitchy while moving around the city.
You can also choose auto mode(switching between networks depending on the quality of coverage). It will provide Internet and voice communication anywhere within reach of radio waves. But its disadvantage is increased energy consumption, because two radio modules operate simultaneously.
And since the radio module uses more energy where the signal is poorly accessible, the battery will discharge very quickly outside the city. Therefore, when leaving, switch to GSM.
To enable the required network mode in smartphones supporting Android OS (Meizu, Xiaomi, Lenovo, Prestigio, etc.), go to Settings > Mobile networks> Network mode > enable WCDMA / GSM / UMTS / HSDPA+.
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Today, network setup on Android occurs automatically in most cases, but sometimes user participation may still be required to connect or select network parameters.
Setting up a network on Android
To gain access to the network, it is often enough to insert a SIM card into the device. You need to make sure that the SIM card is activated and has cellular services connected. By default, automatic operator selection is enabled in the settings; the smartphone itself will find the network and connect to it. If not, enable this option or select your operator from the list of available ones yourself.
How to set network type on Android
Modern smartphones have the ability to work in several types (generations) of network: 2G, 3G and 4G (LTE). By default, the radio module will try to connect to a higher generation network; if that fails, it will try to connect to a lower generation network. Such a constant search best network negatively affects the battery charge. If you know that the 3G network is predominantly widespread in your region, you can select the appropriate option in the settings, thereby saving the device from unnecessary load when searching for 4G. If you do not use the Internet to watch videos or download large files, you can even choose a 2G network. The Internet speed on this network leaves much to be desired, but setting up the network on Android in this way will help the battery hold its charge longer.
Setting up the Internet on Android also happens automatically, as does setting up the network on Android. However, there may be exceptions:
- If you purchased a smartphone from some little-known manufacturer for which there is no automatic settings, then the settings will have to be entered manually.
- If the smartphone is released for another country. In this case, connecting to the network may be completely impossible, since different countries Cellular communications may use different frequencies.
In order to enter Internet settings manually, you need to check technical support your operator required parameters for access point (APN) and create a new access point.
Why does the network disappear on Android?
From time to time, Android smartphones, like everyone else, cell phones, there may be problems with the quality of your network connection. There are many factors that affect the signal level; it may not be the device itself or the operator. Here are some reasons why connection quality and Internet speed drop:
- A long distance to the nearest telephone exchange tower (automatic telephone exchange) - especially noticeable outside large populated areas.
- Cell tower congestion - if many subscribers are simultaneously connected to one tower and using the Internet, then its speed for each subscriber drops.
- Weather conditions - during rain, radio relay communication channels sharply lose their capacity.
- Building density and other obstacles to the signal path. It happens that, due to obstacles, the device cannot catch the signal from the nearest telephone exchange and connects to a more distant one.
- The quality of your smartphone - when purchasing a budget device, you must understand that it does not have the best components installed.
- Some cases also negatively affect the quality of the received signal.
How to boost the signal on Android
To enhance the signal in populated areas and beyond, so-called GSM/3G repeaters are used. The device is amplified antenna, which is capable of capturing weak signal and enhance it for use by subscribers. There are also applications designed to improve the quality of communication. They don't improve the signal itself, but they scan nearby cell towers and connect to the one with the best signal. If you are experiencing connection problems, you can try the application Network Signal Information Pro .
What to do if Android does not see the network?
If your network type is set to 4G or 3G only, try changing it to another one. It happens that a certain type of network is either overloaded or has a weak signal, while other types of network have a stable signal.
How to reset network settings on Android?
In order to reset the network settings to the standard settings of the SIM card, you need to:
- Go to wireless network settings
- Select menu item " Mobile networks»
- Click " Reset to Defaults»
In the characteristics of mobile phones you can often find the term WCDMA or W-CDMA. WCDMA can also be found in the phone settings, where you can select the network mode, GSM or WCDMA. Now we will tell you what WCDMA is in a phone, how it differs from GSM and what you need to select in the settings.
The abbreviation WCDMA (or W-CDMA) stands for Wideband Code Division Multiple Access, which can be translated as wideband code division multiple access. The WCDMA standard was created as an add-on to GSM, which will operate in the frequency range from 1900 to 2100 MHz, while GSM networks themselves operate in the frequency range from 800 to 1900 MHz.
WCDMA technology is optimized to provide high-speed Internet access and, depending on the distance, provides data transfer rates from 384 Kbps to 2 Mbps. This speed allows you to watch videos, organize video conferences and comfortably surf the Internet. It was WCDMA that was chosen by the majority of mobile operators to provide access to services.
What is the difference between WCDMA and GSM
GSM is a cellular communication standard that dates back to the late 1980s. It uses frequencies ranging from 800 to 1900 MHz and provides basic cellular services.
For example, with using GSM Can:
- Make voice calls;
- Send short text messages(SMS);
- Send fax messages;
- Access the Internet (WAP, );
In addition, GSM can provide a number of additional services, including: calling number identification, call forwarding, call holding and waiting, conference calling, voice mail.
As you can see, GSM provides basic mobile services, while WCDMA is a cellular standard that was created as a complement to GSM. The WCDMA standard operates in the frequency range from 1900 to 2100 MHz and is used to provide access to third generation (3G) mobile communications services.
Also WCDMA and GSM work differently with frequencies and channels. GSM uses time and frequency division (TDMA and FDMA), while WCDMA uses code division (CDMA). Using CDMA has a number of advantages over TDMA and FDMA:
- Efficient use of resources. Code division does not limit the number of possible channels so much.
- High level of protection. The use of code division significantly complicates the selection of a separate channel, since the entire frequency band is almost evenly filled with the signal.
- Save battery power. Phones that work with CDMA have less radiation power, which saves battery power.
WCDMA and GSM network mode: what to choose
Many phones have the ability to select one of the network modes. There are usually three options available, these are:
- WCDMA only;
- GSM only;
- Automatic mode (WCDMA/GSM);
The choice between these three options depends on where you are. If you are constantly located within the city, where there is a stable signal and good coverage, then it is quite possible to select the “WCDMA Only” network mode. In this case, the phone will only work with the WCDMA network. This will slightly reduce battery consumption and eliminate switching between GSM and WCDMA, during which there may be interruptions in communication.
If you live outside the city or often travel outside of it, then it is better to select automatic network mode. In this mode, the phone will automatically switch between WCDMA and GSM networks, depending on what coverage is currently available.
The “GSM Only” network mode should be selected only if for some reason you do not want to use 3G services.
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