Tri-Band? Quad-Band?

What is this all about?

How do I know what band my mobile handset can "pick up"?

  • read your user manual
  • look up the web
  • ask the person you purchased it from
  • Unfortunately, it is usually not written on the mobile phone and worse still, the mobile phone model is usually not recorded on the handset which can make it hard to identify your phone - if all else fails, take it to your nearest phone shop.

What does the "Bands" part mean?

  • Mobile phones are bit like walkie-talkies (or radios)
  • They need to "tune in" to a special frequency
  • In actual fact they tune into a range of frequencies, known as a band
  • There are also other types of networks than GSM:
    • 3G
    • CDMA
    • 4G
  • The best way to think of these is as a language - if your phone speaks GSM, and it can't speak 3G, it won't understand the 3G network
  • However, GSM is the main type of network in the world.
  • TravelSIM, and most of the worlds mobile networks work on GSM
  • GSM has four bands
    1. GSM 900
    2. GSM 1800
    3. GSM 1900
    4. GSM 850
  • Mobile phone handsets tune in to these bands
  • Most or the world uses 900 and 1800, including Australia
  • These days mobile phones are smart and can tune into more than one band
    1. Dual-Band means the handset can tune into two bands
    2. Tri-Band means the handset can tune into three bands
    3. Quad-Band means the handset can tune into four bands
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Tri-Band

  • Usually means GSM900 / GSM1800 / GSM1900
  • But it pays to check
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Quad Band

  • Means that the phone will work in all four bands
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