Question about early 1980s "brick" cellphones

[blobfish]

I once heard that the early "brick" type cellphones were free to use. In other words, if you were in range, you could call anyone you wanted for free. Is that true? I Googled, but I couldn't find anything.

 

[TonyClifton]

Has anybody ever confronted you and suggested that you might be an attention whore?

It's not that I don't like attention whores.

It's because your breath smells really bad.

Have you ever thought about using Scope Mouth Rinse?

 

[TonyClifton]

In the future, the telephone will be the size of pack of cigarettes.

It will not use any wires and be powered by batteries.

This has been the evening news with Walter Cronkite.

Good night.

 

[Weird Harold]

I once heard that the early "brick" type cellphones were free to use. In other words, if you were in range, you could call anyone you wanted for free. Is that true? I Googled, but I couldn't find anything.

I can't say about the very first cell-phones, but by the mid-80s my friend had rather expensive paid service for his Motorola "Bag" phone.

 

[blobfish]

I can't say about the very first cell-phones, but by the mid-80s my friend had rather expensive paid service for his Motorola "Bag" phone.

How did that work back then? Did it go by satellites or something?

 

[TonyClifton]

How did that work back then? Did it go by satellites or something?

Thank you honey for your reply to this thread.

If you stay in school long enough, you might find out the answer.

I believe that subject is taught in the tenth grade.

Hang in there.

 

[KingOrfeo]

I remember a Gahan Wilson cartoon from the 1980s: A guy is walking down a city street talking into a "brick" phone with a big smile on his face and a wild look in his eyes. Caption: "These new portable phones are great! I can walk around all day talking to myself and nobody looks at me like I'm crazy!"

 

[Weird Harold]

How did that work back then? Did it go by satellites or something?

Cell towers, same as today. There were just fewer towers and both towers and phones sent stronger signals than modern phones.

 

[Colonel Hogan]

Cell towers, same as today. There were just fewer towers and both towers and phones sent stronger signals than modern phones.

The earliest mobile telephony was little more than mobile analog radio. Fewer "cells" meant fewer available frequency spectrum for a limited number (read: RICH) of users.

Today, more low-power cells and phones enables frequency re-use in non-adjacent cells, but a simple drive across town now often results in several dozen "hand-offs" on the fly. Considering the number of carriers and rate plans that are constantly being terminated and re-identified and then continuing the current call in service from cell to cell is truly mind boggling.

 

[renard_ruse]

The earliest mobile telephony was little more than mobile analog radio. Fewer "cells" meant fewer available frequency spectrum for a limited number (read: RICH) of users...

I think it used frequency division access, meaning only one user at a time on a wavelink (or something like that). It could only accomodate a very small number of users, hence the exorbitant prices.