I get that our phones can pick up signals from towers since they have a much stronger signal and enough power for that. But what doesn’t make much sense to me is how our phones’ tiny antennas can still produce a signal strong enough to reach the tower as well and create a two-way connection. How is that possible? Does the tower just pick up weak signals and strongly amplify them?
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The radio frequencies used by cell phones are strictly regulated by law. The cell carrier companies paid a ton of money to governments for private access to certain radio frequencies. The government has radio cops that make sure that no one else uses those frequencies – this ensures that cell phones get a clear path, without interference, to the tower. Wifi uses “free for all” frequencies, which can be used for anything – cordless phones, bluetooth, microwave ovens, baby monitors, all sorts of stuff – plus you may well have your neighbors wifi also using the same frequency your stuff wants to use. Because of all the stuff using these frequencies, there is a ton of interference.
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