Should I go with GSM or CDMA?

**Sak** · 08-30-2002, 02:25 PM

Cingullar in SE Wisconsin will be updating to GSM, while US Cellular will be going with CDMA. My question is: What is better GSM or CDMA?
Thanks
Josh

**SVWComm** · 08-30-2002, 04:35 PM

It depends on the coverage in your area.
With GSM you can have the ability to change phone at ease.
In my area, CDMA is consider to be good because it has good coverage.

**JimmyA78** · 08-30-2002, 07:23 PM

I like GSM.

Unlike CDMA, it was designed from the ground up as a mobile phone tech.

Voices generally sound nicer with GSM, and there is better ECC.

It's 9.6kbps, which is plenty for voice, and the phones do a good job of fixing things when the stream is corrupt.

**Sak** · 08-30-2002, 10:53 PM

Well I am lucky though my dad pays for the phone bill, so I will stick with US Cellular and CDMA. Just got to find a nice phone.

**ImmerStark** · 08-31-2002, 12:56 AM

13k qcelp on cdma sounds as good as gsm, and has the advantage of superiior background noise supression

cdma has more robust error correction, uses spread spectrum technology and has a longer open terrain range than gsm.

and cdma was designed from the the get go to be a wireless communications technology

you will probably be better off with cdma than gsm, the only advantages to gsm are using the sim card to switch phones out quickly, and being able to use your phone at an out rageous roaming rate in other countries.

**JimmyA78** · 08-31-2002, 01:34 AM

Originally posted by ImmerStark
13k qcelp on cdma sounds as good as gsm, and has the advantage of superiior background noise supression

cdma has more robust error correction, uses spread spectrum technology and has a longer open terrain range than gsm.

and cdma was designed from the the get go to be a wireless communications technology

you will probably be better off with cdma than gsm, the only advantages to gsm are using the sim card to switch phones out quickly, and being able to use your phone at an out rageous roaming rate in other countries.

Wasnt it an 'evolution' of the old AMPS system?

**MethodMan** · 08-31-2002, 02:44 AM

Originally posted by ImmerStark
13k qcelp on cdma sounds as good as gsm, and has the advantage of superiior background noise supression

The phones themselves can implement backgroun noise suppression. Several GSM phones have this.

you will probably be better off with cdma than gsm, the only advantages to gsm are using the sim card to switch phones out quickly, and being able to use your phone at an out rageous roaming rate in other countries.

You mean to 'AVOID' outrageous roaming rates in other countries. The idea is to buy a prepaid sim card in the country you're travelling to and pay the cheaper local rates there. When you leave you don't have to deactivate or anything. Just let the sim card expire.
CDMA technology currently lacks this feature.

**Sak** · 08-31-2002, 09:00 AM

I think I will just gow tih CDMA, I take it everyone is coming out with a new line of phone this fall? So hopefully there will be something nice?

**JimmyA78** · 08-31-2002, 12:53 PM

Originally posted by Sak
I think I will just gow tih CDMA, I take it everyone is coming out with a new line of phone this fall? So hopefully there will be something nice?

Noo! Don't!

get gsm, damn!

I dunno, it's cdma's audio quality that doesnt impress me, that's all.

**ImmerStark** · 08-31-2002, 01:07 PM

cdma was desiged to be able to be backwards compatabl with a analog unlike gsm. in the united states analog capability on a phone is important because we have such a large land mass and it is impratical t cover it all with digital. gsm was designed for use in europe, not the unites states.

sak, isn't it funny how rialed up the gsm fanatics get?

**JimmyA78** · 08-31-2002, 01:13 PM

You call thet getting riled up?

lol

youve never seen some linux fanboys before...

**jh811** · 08-31-2002, 01:15 PM

that's why you go prepaid SIM when travelling abroad. At least you have the option to roam with GSM. Your CDMA phone is a useless paperweight anywhere outside N. AMerica isn't it??

Originally posted by ImmerStark
and being able to use your phone at an out rageous roaming rate in other countries.

**MethodMan** · 08-31-2002, 01:19 PM

Originally posted by ImmerStark
cdma was desiged to be able to be backwards compatabl with a analog unlike gsm. in the united states analog capability on a phone is important because we have such a large land mass and it is impratical t cover it all with digital. gsm was designed for use in europe, not the unites states.

sak, isn't it funny how rialed up the gsm fanatics get?

Man, this is not your day is it?
The FCC just decreed that analog will be phased out in the next five years. That means either cdma or gsm or even both will have to pick up the slack.

**DRNewcomb** · 08-31-2002, 02:01 PM

What is better GSM or CDMA?

If one were clearly better, in all cases, it would be the only standard used. They are both good. The question is, which is better for you. The answer is, the air interface is the last thing you should worry about. Look at the companies, coverage, service plans and features. In case of a tie, go with GSM; it works in more countries around the world and some day you may travel overseas and find it handy.

**meballard** · 08-31-2002, 04:32 PM

Originally posted by jh811
that's why you go prepaid SIM when travelling abroad. At least you have the option to roam with GSM. Your CDMA phone is a useless paperweight anywhere outside N. AMerica isn't it??

No, it depends on the country you go to and what roaming agreements are in place, but there are a number of countries outside of North America where CDMA phones can at least potentially roam.

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