Why does a cell tower need to be massive to transmit data to a smartphone but the phone’s extremely small antenna can transmit data back over the same distance?
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For good signal, either the receiver or the transmitter needs to be big.
Now consider the sending and receiving as two different data streams.
When the phone is sending, it’s antenna is small, while the base station is big, hence good signal.
When the phone is receiving, the base station is big and the phone antenna is small, hence good signal.
For good signal, either the receiver or the transmitter needs to be big.
Now consider the sending and receiving as two different data streams.
When the phone is sending, it’s antenna is small, while the base station is big, hence good signal.
When the phone is receiving, the base station is big and the phone antenna is small, hence good signal.
The tower antenna being large compensates for the phone antenna being small. The coupling is both ways, it’s not directional.
The tower antenna being large compensates for the phone antenna being small. The coupling is both ways, it’s not directional.
It’s also big because it can receive weak signals.
Imagine that your phone is someone signaling by using a cheap flashlight in a field. Hard to see from far away.
Now the cell tower is a spotlight and a telescope. They can see the tiny flashlight with the scope, and reply with a massive light.
On top of that, they also need to be able to talk to tons of phones at a time as well as communicate over the landlines. So they need a lot more equipment and power than your phone.
If you can only whisper, the recipient needs good ears. If you can’t hear very well, the speaker needs to shout. A mobile phone can’t hear very well, and can only whisper, so the cell tower needs to both shout and have good ears
It’s also big because it can receive weak signals.
Imagine that your phone is someone signaling by using a cheap flashlight in a field. Hard to see from far away.
Now the cell tower is a spotlight and a telescope. They can see the tiny flashlight with the scope, and reply with a massive light.
On top of that, they also need to be able to talk to tons of phones at a time as well as communicate over the landlines. So they need a lot more equipment and power than your phone.
If you can only whisper, the recipient needs good ears. If you can’t hear very well, the speaker needs to shout. A mobile phone can’t hear very well, and can only whisper, so the cell tower needs to both shout and have good ears
You have someone who has small ears and a small voice (the phone) and you want to talk to them from a distance. You yourself (the tower) will need a big voice and big ears, so that they can hear you and you can hear them.
You have someone who has small ears and a small voice (the phone) and you want to talk to them from a distance. You yourself (the tower) will need a big voice and big ears, so that they can hear you and you can hear them.
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