It makes sense that high power cell towers can reach cell phones. How do cell phones send signals back to towers?

Question

It makes sense that high power cell towers can reach cell phones. How do cell phones send signals back to towers?

In: Technology

Answer 1

First, These are NOT high power broadcast transmitters. Your average modern cell tower only radiates about 35 dbm (3 watts) . Standard 5g cell phones can transmit up to about 33 dbm (2 watts.)

Its all about the antennas. (we landed men on the moon with an 11watt radio…. and a very nice antenna…)…

The antennas focus the radio energy so the receiver can “see” the transmitter even though the power level is very low… A good receiver only needs to “see” about -90 dbm (0.000000000001 watts) to pickup the signal.