T7. Mobile Technologies

Question 1

What are mobile phone masts?

Answer 1

Large high-powered antennae which can send radio signals over large distances from base stations.

Question 2

What is a cell in mobile phone networks?

Answer 2

The area covered by a mobile phone operator is divided up into smaller areas called cells. Each cell is hexagonal and is served by its own masts and base station.

Question 3

What is the purpose of a handoff in mobile communications?

Answer 3

A mobile phone call must be transferred from one cell to another without interruption.

Question 4

What does a base station controller do?

Answer 4

Controls one or more base stations and provides an interface between cells. It is responsible for call set up and handover management.

Question 5

What is a Mobile Switching Centre (MSC)?

Answer 5

Base stations are connected to the Mobile Switching Centre, which is responsible for connecting calls from the BSC of the source mobile to the BSC of the target device.

Question 6

What is the function of the PSTN?

Answer 6

An international telephone system that uses copper wires to carry analogue voice data.