MS Power Control
MS Power Control
MS Power Control
RF power control is a process of adjusting the power level of a mobile radio as it moves closer and further away from a
base station. RF power control is typically accomplished by the sensing of the received signal strength level and the
relaying of power control messages from a transmitter to the mobile device with commands that are used to increase or
decrease the mobile device's output power level. GSM RF power adjustments occur in 2 dB steps.
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The radio signal power level
output of a mobile telephone is
adjusted by commands received
from the base station to reduce
the average transmitted power
from the mobile telephone. This
lower power reduces
interference to nearby cell sites.
As the mobile telephone moves
closer to the cell site, less power
is required from the mobile
telephone and it is commanded
to reduce its transmitter output
power level. The base station
transmitter power level can also
be reduced, although the base
station RF output power is not
typically reduced.
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The power level numbers vary according to the GSM band
in use. Figures for the three main bands in use are given
below: GSM 900, GSM 1800 and GSM 1900
POWER
LEVEL
NUMBER
POWER
OUTPUT
LEVEL
DBM
POWER
LEVEL
NUMBER
POWER
OUTPUT
LEVEL
DBM
POWER
LEVEL
NUMBER
POWER
OUTPUT
LEVEL
DBM
39
29
36
30
33
37
30
34
31
32
35
31
32
30
33
30
28
31
28
26
29
26
24
27
24
22
25
22
20
10
23
20
18
11
21
18
16
12
19
16
14
13
17
14
12
14
15
12
10
10
15
13
10
10
11
16
11
11
12
17
12
13
18
13
14
19
14
15
15
GSM 900
Power level
number
Maximum power
output
GSM 1800
GSM 1900
Power level
number
Maximum power
output
Power level
number
Maximum power
output
PL0
30 dBm / 1W
PL0
30 dBm / 1W
PL2
39dBm / 8W
PL3
24 dBm/ 250 mW
PL3
24 dBm / 250 mW
PL3
37dBm / 5W
PL29
36 dBm / 4W
PL30
33 dBm / 2W
PL4
33dBm / 2W
PL5
29 dBm / 800 mW