GSM - WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A MOBILE IS SWITCHED ON
INITIAL STEPS INVOLVED WHEN A MOBILE IS SWITCHED ON
· When a mobile station is first switched on it is necessary to read the BCCH in order to determine its orientation within the network.
· The mobile must first synchronize in frequency and then in time.
· The FCCH, SCH and BCCH are all transmitted on the same carrier frequency which has a higher power density than any of the other channels in a cell because steps are taken to ensure that it is transmitted information at all times.
· The mobile scans around the available frequencies, picks the strongest and then selects the FCCH.