What is Cell?

          A cell is the basic geographic unit of a cellular system.

The term cellular comes from the honeycomb shape of the areas into which a coverage region is divided. Cells are base stations transmitting over small geographic areas that are represented as hexagons. Each cell size varies depending on the landscape. Because of constraints imposed by natural terrain and man-made structures, the true shape of cells is not a perfect hexagon.

What is Clusters?

          A cluster is a group of cells. No channels are reused within a cluster.

Cell Site

          The location where the wireless antenna and network communications equipment is placed.

          A cell site consists of a transmitter/receiver, antenna tower, transmission radios and radio controllers. A cell site is operated by a Wireless Service Provider (WSP).

          Cell site is divided into four types: Macrocells, microcells, picocells and femtocells

Macrocells:

          A macrocell provides the largest area of coverage within a mobile network. Its antennas can be mounted on ground-based masts, rooftops or other structures and must be high enough to avoid obstruction. Macrocells provide radio coverage over varying distances, depending on the frequency used, the number of calls and the physical terrain. Typically they have a power output in tens of watts. A cell site having an RF coverage area diameter of greater than 2000ft.

Microcells:        

                                                                                                  

          Microcells provide additional coverage and capacity in areas where there are high numbers of users, urban and suburban areas, for example. The antennas for microcells are mounted at street level, are smaller than macrocell antennas and can often be disguised as building features so that they are less visually intrusive. Microcells provide radio coverage over distances – typically between 300m and 1000m – and have lower output powers than marocells, usually a few watts. A cell site having an RF coverage area diameter of greater than 400ft but less than 2000ft.

Picocells:

          Picocells provide more localised coverage. These are generally found inside buildings where coverage is poor or where there is a dense population of users such as in airport terminals, train stations and shopping centres. A cell site having an RF coverage area diameter of less than 400ft.

Femtocell:

          Femtocell base stations allow mobile phone users to make calls inside their homes via their Internet broadband connection. Femto-cells provide small area coverage solutions operating at low transmit powers.