Mobile Phone Networks

Learning Objectives  By the end of this lesson you will:  be able to explain some key terms for mobile networks and technology (essential exam literacy!)  be able to explain how mobile phone networks work  describe wider health and environmental issues associated with mobile phone networks/usage For a Grade C, everyone needs to be able to do all of these! For a Grade B, you would need to use the key terms when explaining how the networks work and when describing the health and environmental issues, and these would need to be detailed!

Starter  You probably all use your mobile phones every day but how much do you know about the mobile network that means you have got all your friends, family, and of course Facebook at your finger tips?!  In 2s or 3s, see if you can match the words with the definitions.  I’m not expecting you to know them all…yet!

Mobile phones are now considered an essential part of peoples’ lives across the world

How do mobile phones work? 1. The SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card holds a microchip allowing you access to a mobile phone network. This network is made up of a series of base stations that send signals used by mobile phones. 2. When someone makes a mobile phone call, the mobile phone transforms the voice into a radio wave. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves that travel within radio frequencies and radiation occurs from the energy of electromagnetic waves. 3. The antenna in the phone sends the radio wave to the nearest cell tower/mobile phone mast. 4. The cell tower then passes the radio waves on to the mobile phone of the person who the first person called. 5. The voices of both people bounce back and forth between the mobile phones as radio waves, being converted back to sound by the mobile phone. 6. Mobile phones do not work well when they are not near a cell tower/mast because the cell tower must receive radio waves and transfer them on. 7. The area covered by each of these base stations is called a cell and cells overlap to make up a coverage area. As a mobile phone depends on CELLs, it is sometimes called a cell phone (especially in America) 8. Whenever you switch a mobile phone on it will connect to the nearest base station. As you move around you may get closer to another base station in another cell. When this happens, the network will automatically switch your phone to the other base station.

How mobile phones work

Progress Check …  On your whiteboard write a simple explanation or draw a diagram to explain how mobile networks work. 4 marks  Be ready to share your explanation with a partner.  Where does the (American term) cell phone come from? 1 mark

What affects mobile phone coverage?  All mobile phones rely on signal from a mobile phone network. The strength or quality of the mobile coverage is largely determined by proximity to a mobile phone network tower. However there are other factors that could affect the quality of your coverage.  Mobile phone coverage is generally better in urban areas, although even really busy cities have 'dead zones' where there is no mobile coverage. Mobile phone coverage 'dead zones' normally occur where signal between the mobile handset and the mobile phone network cell antenna is blocked. Mobile phone signal can be blocked by hills or dense tall buildings.  Rural areas with a smaller population have less physical interference but often are too far away from a mast for good signal. This is constantly improving as more and more antennas are put up around the country to improve UK coverage.

Vodaphone coverage map

Emergency Calls!  From November 2009, it has been possible to use a mobile phone to call the emergency services even if a person’s own network is unavailable in the area, if a rival phone provider has coverage. This was a huge improvement, especially in Scotland. Previously mobile calls to 999 and 112 emergency numbers could only be connected if the caller’s own network was available in the area.  If you dial 999 from a mobile phone you should always be aware that the call may be answered by an operator in another part of the country. This is due to the different locations of base stations used by mobile phone companies.

Progress Check …  Give 3 factors which may affect the strength of a mobile phone signal. 3 marks  Why is it possible to make an emergency call if you have no signal from your network? 1 mark

Wider issues

Health risks associated with mobile phones  There is a lot of research all round the world into whether or not using mobile phones can affect your health. One of the main concerns is that using mobile phones causes cancer.  The research is not always conclusive – some of the health problems could be due to other factors. Mobile phones are relatively recent so it is difficult for scientists to get long-term, reliable data. Depending on who is doing the research & who is funding it, the results may be biased.  It is a very emotional issue – there are lots of local resident groups campaigning to have masts taken down where they think they are emitting excessive radiation, vandals have even pulled down masts!  Many people living near masts are reporting experiencing increasing health problems, especially sleep disruption, headaches, tiredness, behaviour changes in children, epilepsy, nosebleeds, skin complaints.  "Straight away people started reporting that their headaches had stopped, the dizziness stopped, rashes cleared up,"  Mobile phone base stations and antenna/masts provide the link to and from mobile phones. In contrast to mobile handsets, radiation from these is emitted continuously and is more powerful at close quarters. But, it drops rapidly with distance away from the base of the antenna. Base station emissions must comply with safety guidelines.

Environmental issues Most people want the best technology they can afford in the palm of their hands in their mobile phone, but what about the impact on the environment:  What are the environmental issues in improving mobile phone coverage?  What are the environmental issues with the number of mobile phones replaced/thrown out each year?  How can this be turned into something positive?

The environmental cost of your phone

Recycle for cash or charity!

Impact on the countryside

Progress check …  Give 3 ways you can responsibly dispose of a mobile phone you don’t want any more. 3 marks.  Explain 3 ways that mobile phone manufacturers reduce their environmental impact. 6 marks (1 mark for the point, 2 nd mark for the explanation)

Key terms  GSM Global System for Mobile Communications", "Groupe Special Mobile is a wireless network technology developed in Europe that is used throughout most of the world. GSM phones make use of a SIM card to identify the user's account. Currently GSM networks operate on the 850MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, and 1900MHz frequency bands. Devices that support all four bands are called quad-band, with those that support 3 or 2 bands called tri-band and dual-band, respectively. Different networks operate on different frequencies.  EDGE is a data system used on top of GSM networks that provides faster data speeds than GPRS, the technology it makes obsolete. (It has a theoretical maximum downlink data rate of nearly 475Kbps, which qualifies it as a 3G technology based on certain guidelines. Generally, it is referred to as 2.75G.)  GPRS General Packet Radio Service – This is a way to enhance 2G phones' capabilities so they can send and receive data at a much faster rate. A GPRS connection means the phone is "always on" and can transfer data immediately. This is the standard digital service used throughout Europe.  2G 2G signifies second-generation wireless digital technology. Fully digital 2G networks replaced analog/radio 1G, which originated in the 1980s. 2G networks saw their first commercial light of day on the GSM standard. 2G on GSM standards were first used in commercial practice in It allows you to make calls and send texts.  3G Third-generation mobiles or mobile systems – 3G is the current generation of mobile technology. It supports much higher data rates, full motion video and allows mobile users to access high-speed Internet on 3G-enabled networks.  4G The new standard in mobile phone technology. Only available in some parts of the UK, mainly the big cities.

 SIM This stands for Subscriber Identity Module. Is the chip that identifies the mobile number and mobile account to the network. It stores essential data and is required to make or receive calls on your network.  WAP This stands for Wireless Application Protocol. WAP enables mobile phones to access the Internet, send and receive s and download files.  Dual band This term refers to mobiles that can switch between two frequencies. All new UK mobiles are dual band.  Tri-Band Tri band or Triple band phones can operate across three GSM different frequency bands, which means they can be used in more than 100 countries. A tri-band device will work in most parts of the world where there is GSM service, though not as well as would a quad-band device.  Quad Band Quad-band generally refers to a device that supports 4 different GSM frequency bands. A quad-band device will work pretty much anywhere in the world where there is GSM service.

What you need to do now: 1. Complete the Mobile Phone Networks worksheet from Moodle:  ICT>GCSE>Personal Digital Devices >Mobile Phones Networks Worksheet 2. Extension task: Discuss the impact of mobile phone networks on our lives. 6 marks longer answer question. You could include: health, environment, safety/security, expect to always be “contactable”, emergency services……….. 1. Complete the Mobile Phone Networks worksheet from Moodle:  ICT>GCSE>Personal Digital Devices >Mobile Phones Networks Worksheet 2. Extension task: Discuss the impact of mobile phone networks on our lives. 6 marks longer answer question. You could include: health, environment, safety/security, expect to always be “contactable”, emergency services………..

Plenary: Explain these key terms:  3G  GSM  Quad band  Location services  Cellular network

Starter: Network Coverage Use the to check out how good the network cover will be in these areas. 1. I am going to Buttermere in the Lake District, I am on Vodaphone. What will my coverage be like? 2. My dad is going to the Brecon Beacons, staying in Brecon, for some fly fishing in Wales. He is on Orange. What will his coverage be like? 3. My brother is going to Southerness, Scotland, playing golf. He is on Three 3, will he be able to make any calls? 4. Various providers have to make use of the main mobile phone networks provided by Vodaphone, Orange, O2 etc. Find out whose network these providers use: Tesco, Asda, Virgin