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The fundamentals of the last disscussion were regarding the theoretical capacity of the band. These schemes for allocating and maximizing band usage are intended to be used by centralized controllers, the sellers of a service. Simple broadcasting and SSB/FM comms don't need this kind of band allocation scheme. CDMA seems to me to be the best scheme to do this, except in my area where their is no satellite coverage and analog channels are required to get the signal into and out of the valleys with the fewest towers.

CDMA seems to me to be the best scheme to do this, except in my area where their is no satellite coverage and analog channels are required to get the signal into and out of the valleys with the fewest towers.

First of all, what do 'satellites have to do with it? I don't know of ONE single cell site that has ever been 'backhauled' to an MTSO via a 'space link'. Microwave, yeah. T-spans, yeah. Satellite - no.

Secondly, you have better revise your idea of 'broadcasting' not needing/using a CDMA/DSSS mode - the new XM service uses this mode exclusively ...

Thirdly, there are more digital channels in service on those cell sites you mention than you realize - with the 'cellular' carriers (at 800 MHz as opposed to PCS at 1800 MHz) the policy is to leave allocated a number of analog channels (based on observed traffic numbers) so as to serve 'roamer' traffic. The *real* subscriber traffic in the US is now down using digital. Analog just *doesn't* allow the utilization of the spectrum that are demanded of today's wireless systems.

I don't know much about the technology, but my local Cingular dealer says their decisions are based on the caust of broadcasting, which after the equipment is installed, is the greatest single cost.

Whatever the technical details, it boils down to having the greatest possible bandwidth available to sell, since the frequencies are regulated. Digital (using any system) is cheaper than analog because it enables more compression. When you say that one digital technology is better than another, it implies that it squeezes more information into the same bandwidth.