User's Manual Part 2
Glossary
D-4 LGCell 4.0 Installation, Operation, and Reference Manual PN 8100-40
620004-0 Rev. E
Forward Channel Refers to the radio channel that sends information from the base
station to the mobile station. (See Reverse Channel.)
Frequency The number of times an electrical signal repeats an identical cycle in a
unit of time, normally one second. One Hertz (Hz) is one cycle per second.
Frequency re-use The ability to use the same frequencies repeatedly across a cellu-
lar system. Because each cell is designed to use radio frequencies only within its
boundaries, the same frequencies can be reused in other cells not far away with
little potential for interference. The reuse of frequencies is what enables a cellu-
lar system to handle a huge number of calls with a limited number of channels.
Gain The increase in power that occurs when any signal is amplified, usually
through an amplifier or antenna.
GHz Gigahertz. A measure of frequency equal to one billion hertz.
GSM Groupe Speciale Mobile (now translated in English as Global Standard for
Mobile Communications). GSM is the digital wireless standard used throughout
Europe, in much of Asia, as well as by some operators in the U.S. and South
America.
Handoff The process by which the wireless system passes a wireless phone conver-
sation from one radio frequency in one cell to another radio frequency in another
as the caller moves between two cells. In most systems today, this handoff is per-
formed so quickly that callers don’t notice.
Hertz A measurement of electromagnetic energy, equivalent to one “wave” per sec-
ond. Hertz is abbreviated as “Hz”.
iDEN Integrated Digital Enhanced Network. A TDMA-based wireless access tech-
nology that combines two-way radio, telephone, text message, and data transmis-
sion into one network. This system was developed by Motorola. In the U.S.,
iDEN is used by Nextel in its network.
IEEE The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The world’s largest
technical professional society with members from more than 130 countries. The
IEEE works to advance the theory and practice of electrical, electronics, com-
puter engineering and computer science.
Infrastructure A term used to encompass all of the equipment, including both hard-
ware and software, used in a communications network.
IS-54 Interim Standard-54. A U.S. TDMA cellular standard that operates in the
800 MHz or 1900 MHz band. IS-54 was the first U.S. digital cellular standard. It
was adopted by the CTIA in 1990.
IS-95 Interim Standard-95. A U.S. CDMA cellular standard that operates in the
800 MHz or 1900 MHz band. This standard was developed by Qualcomm and
adopted by the CTIA in 1993.