 | |
| Type | Cellular telephone site |
|---|---|
| First production | 20th century |
A cell site, cell phone tower, cell base tower, or cellular base station is a cellular-enabled mobile device site where antennas and electronic communications equipment are placed (typically on a radio mast, tower, or other raised structure) to create a cell, or adjacent cells, in a cellular network. The raised structure typically supports antenna[clarification needed] and one or more sets of transmitter/receivers transceivers, digital signal processors, control electronics, a GPS receiver for timing (for CDMA2000/IS-95 or GSM systems), primary and backup electrical power sources, and sheltering.[1]
Multiple cellular providers often save money by mounting their antennas on a common shared mast; since separate systems use different frequencies, antennas can be located close together without interfering with each other. Some provider companies operate multiple cellular networks and similarly use colocated base stations for two or more cellular networks, (CDMA2000 or GSM, for example).
Cell sites are sometimes required to be inconspicuous;[2] they may be blended with the surrounding area[3] or mounted on buildings[4] or advertising towers.[citation needed] Preserved treescapes can often hide cell towers inside an artificial or preserved tree. These installations are generally referred to as concealed cell sites or stealth cell sites.[2]
- ^ Raj Krithin Katla (10 November 2020). "Learn about what is on a cell tower". Medium. Techno Chronicle Magazine. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
- ^ a b Jackson Chung (10 August 2013). "24 Cell Phone Towers Disguised as Everyday Things". TechBlog. Honekai Media. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
- ^ Rubenstein, Carin (11 July 2004). "The Girded, The Bland And the Prickly". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
- ^ Buckley, Cara; Richtel, Matt (20 August 2010). "Good Cellphone Service Comes at a Price". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2017.