Paging/Wireless Messaging Network Summary |
| Brief Description |
- Specialized wireless network for broadcasting a message to specific
pager to call back a specific number
|
| Components |
- Personal paging device
- Paging computer/server at service provider’s site
- Paging transmitter;
- Use of satellite for national coverage
|
| Frequency Bands |
- Different frequencies sub800 MHz - older paging networks; New
networks are typically in the PCS narrowband 901-902, 930-931 and 940-941 MHz;
|
| Coverage |
- Many local, regional or national paging networks
- 95 % of the U.S. is covered.
|
| Capacity and Speed |
- Paging networks have different design criteria for delivering the
message within specific time periods
- 1200 bps for data transmission.
|
| Communications Protocols
Supported |
- TAP for numeric data;
- TDP for 8 bit non-ASCII data.
- ReFlex 50 protocol developed by Motorola for two-way paging.
|
| Most Suitable Applications |
- Personal numeric messaging for call back
- Alphanumeric messaging — dispatching and service
- Two-way messaging — call dispatching with confirmation
|
| Costs |
- $ 50 for pager and $5-$50 per month for messages (numeric to text to
two-way);
- Motient personal messaging service starts at $19.95 per month
- (please note personal messaging is richer in function than
alphanumeric paging)
|
| Availability |
- Has been available for many years
- Two-way messaging started in 1995
|
| Security |
|
| Pros |
- Very easy to operate for sender (from any telephone) and receiver
- Excellent coverage — local, regional , national, international
(Canada and USA)
- Very inexpensive
- Good building penetration
- Many options — numeric, alphanumeric, two-way, message storage
|
| Cons |
- Some networks are overloaded causing delays
- No acknowledgment (though slightly more expensive two-way paging is
now available)
- Very few two-way paging applications in 1996.
- Slow data transfer rate (1200 bps) for non-PCS narrowband paging
networks
|
