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Hard handoff
updated Nov 25, 2008 11:56 pm | 19,582 views

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[edit]About Hard handoff

In a mobile cellular communication network, a Hard handoff (or Hard handover) is
a typical Handoff mechanism in a communication network which is designed to wor
k by first breaking off from the initial connection with a base station before s
witching to another base station. This is done in order to retain communications
in a session for mobile users after incurring a non perceptible and insignifica
nt brief interruption. A Hard handoff is also referred to as Break-before-Make han
dover.
A brief break off before establishing connection with another base station is re
ferred to as an "event interruption" and is characteristically too short to be e
ven noticed by users communicating on their mobile devices. Although it is notic
eable as a short beep in analog communication systems, it is practicably not ide
ntifiable by a mobile device user in set up of digital communication. Also, at a
ny moment in time, a Hard handoff is typically implemented on a single channel o
f communication. A Hard handoff is relatively cheaper and easier to implement in
comparison to another type of Handoff called Soft handoff or Make-before-Break
ndover.
[edit]Applications of a Hard handoff
A Hard handoff can be practically employed with more efficiency in FDMA (Frequen
cy Division Multiple Access) and TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) network ac
cess systems, because in these systems channel interference is minimized since d
ifferent frequency ranges are used from adjacent channels. Mostly CDMA (Code Div
ision Multiple Access)-based technologies employ Soft handoffs.
A Hard handoff mechanism is particularly suitable for delay-tolerant communicati
on traffic such as in broadband technology-enabled Internet, VoIP, mobile networ
king technology such as mobile WiMax. Broadband Internet access and emailing are
more efficient and reliable when a Hard handoff mechanism is used.

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