Travel Technology - T-Mobile (U.S.A.) UMTS bands

I'll appreciate of someone would clarify the nomenclature issue for UMTS phones/service please. From what I have read, T-mobile's 3G service uplinks in 1.7 GHz band and downlinks in 2.1 GHz. Shouldn't T-mobile's phones be operable in both 1.7 GHz and 2.1 GHz bands? Some of T-mobile's phones are said to have 1.7 GHz band but not 2.1 GHz! :confused:
The only explanation that comes to mind is that although the phone is said to operate nominally in 1.7 GHz band, it does have the capability to work with 2.1 Ghz downlinks.

If the uplink band is used in nomenclature although the phone also works in the downlink band, why are UMTS phones in Europe said to operate in 2.1 GHz band (which is the downlink band)?

Why can't we be consistent about nomenclature?

This (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UMTS_frequency_bands) and this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Wireless_Services) should answer your questions.

In a nutshell, while there is some overlap between T-mobile's UMTS downlink band (also called AWS) and the standard European/rest-of-world one (also called IMT), they don't match exactly. Plus, the uplink band for each of them is completely different from the other.

Why can't we be consistent about nomenclature?

Simply put, either you quote frequencies as uplink/downlink, or you pick semi-representative "names" for each set of frequencies.

Numbers are probably easier to deal with than acronyms/initialisms, so you generally see "2100", "1900" and "1700" rather than "IMT", "PCS" or "AWS" (although of the three, that is the one I've seen most).

Simply put, either you quote frequencies as uplink/downlink, or you pick semi-representative "names" for each set of frequencies.

Numbers are probably easier to deal with than acronyms/initialisms, so you generally see "2100", "1900" and "1700" rather than "IMT", "PCS" or "AWS" (although of the three, that is the one I've seen most).

So glad that you understood what I was saying. I agree that either one could use uplink band, the downlink band or some other characteristic to name different bands. All I am saying is the criterion should be consistent and it's not.

For example look at some of the popular UMTS bands
Band--------Uplink--------Downlink
2100> 1920 - 1980> 2110 - 2170> Named after the downlink frequencies
1900 > 1850 - 1910 > 1930 - 1990> Named after the downlink frequencies.
1700 > 1710 - 1755 > 2110 - 2155> Named after the uplink frequencies.
850 > 824-849> 869-894 > ------ both uplink and downlink are around 850 MHz.

It's easier if one criterion is used for naming the bands. My brother thought he would need a dual band phone for an operator with services in the first (2100) band.

So glad that you understood what I was saying. I agree that either one could use uplink band, the downlink band or some other characteristic to name different bands. All I am saying is the criterion should be consistent and it's not.

For example look at some of the popular UMTS bands
Band--------Uplink--------Downlink
2100> 1920 - 1980> 2110 - 2170> Named after the downlink frequencies
1900 > 1850 - 1910 > 1930 - 1990> Named after the downlink frequencies.
1700 > 1710 - 1755 > 2110 - 2155> Named after the uplink frequencies.
850 > 824-849> 869-894 > ------ both uplink and downlink are around 850 MHz.

It's easier if one criterion is used for naming the bands. My brother thought he would need a dual band phone for an operator with services in the first (2100) band.
Thank you typical and gunkdave. I hope you would allow me to rant some more.

UMTS Bands
Band 1 (IMT)
Uplink: 1920 - 1980 (MHz)
Downlink: 2110 - 2170 (MHz)
Band 4: (AWS)
Uplink:1710 - 1755 (MHz)
Downlink:2110 - 2155

Here is the reason why I have been so frustrated that it's making me rant again.
A phone with GSM 850/900/1800/1900 works in all 4 GSM bands.
What does a 3G spec of 1700/2100 mean? Does it mean band IV (AWS) only or band I (IMT) and Band IV (AWS). Simply put is 1700/2100 a 3G dual band or single band? I bought a Samsung (Quadband GSM) 3G (1700/2100) phone from T-mobile. If it's AWS and IMT, it should work in Japan. If it's AWS only, it won't. A call to T-mobile proved to be frustrating and a waste of time.
Can anyone shed some light on what 3G 1700/2100 means?
Thanks

What does a 3G spec of 1700/2100 mean? Does it mean band IV (AWS) only or band I (IMT) and Band IV (AWS). Simply put is 1700/2100 a 3G dual band or single band?

I'll go for dual-band I and IV. I wouldn't put money on it! But a single band IV only would be most odd.

I'll go for dual-band I and IV. I wouldn't put money on it! But a single band IV only would be most odd.

If it's dual band it should work in Japan. I called T-Mobile that sold the Samsung Gravity2. The answer varied, no it doesn;t, to maybe it does. :D

I wouldn't put it past a vendor to give specs in a way that
can be misinterpreted to mean that the phone is more capable than the phone really is, and yet maintain deniability of an attempt to mislead.

But I did not trust the T-mobile people, as T-mobile calls a both, a triband GSM and a quad band GSM and a UMT world phone. T-mobile directed me to an outfit that rents phones, if wanted to have a phone that worked in Japan as if the question should be posed to someone other than the vendor that sells the phone. :D

Samsung says it's a dual band AWS/IMT.

Congratulations! you were right.