Overview of mobile phone networks (generations)

For the purposes of understanding how trail cameras use mobile (cell) phone networks, it helps to have an overview of 4 "generations" of mobile network technology:

1G = 1st generation of mobile phone technology

The First Generation (1G) celluar phone technology provided an analogue service for mobile phones.

2G = 2nd generation (including GSM and CDMA)

The Second Generation (2G) of mobile phone technology introduced digital transmissions. There were 2 main systems - GSM (developed in Europe) and CDMA (developed in the US). CDMA is no longer used in Australia.

• The important thing to note for trail cameras is that "GSM" is a 2G (2nd generation) technology.

2.5G = 2.5th generation (including GPRS)

As it became clear that people would want to transmit data using mobile phones (and not just voice calls), the 2nd generation protocols were improved for faster data performance. GPRS is the main 2.5G system used in Australia

• The important thing to note is that "GPRS" uses 2G (GSM) infrastructure.

3G = 3rd generation

2.5G technology (ie. the GPRS system) was only ever a stop-gap measure to improve the 2G network for the purpose of data transmission. The third generation (3G) phone networks were developed specifically with data transmission in mind.

4G = 4th generation

Eventually it became clear that even 3G technology would be swamped by the amount of data being transmitted through phone networks, and a 4th generation of technology was developed.