4.2. How does a paging network work?

4.2.1. One-Way Paging

When someone wants to send a page they ring up the call system, be it either
manual or automated. The cal system takes the message and pager number
from the sender. The pager number is matched to a special system code that
corresponds to that pager. The code is converted to a transmittable form and
the page is sent with the code to the paging centre.

The paging centre sends the page to every base station and transmitter on
the network. Each station covers a wide area range from 15 to 30 miles. The
page is transmitted over RF by the transmitter. Different frequencies are used
by different paging companies so that there is no interference between the
different pages getting transmitted.

The frequency on the pager is the same as the frequency on the base
station’s transmitters. The pager “listens” for a signal on that frequency. Any
other pages are ignored except for on that signal. When a message with that
unique paging code is picked up the pager receives the page. The message
is received, decoded and displayed through the internal electronics of the
pager

4.2.2. Two-Way Paging

A two-way pager allows you to both send and receive messages. A two-way
pager also needs to have a transmitter to be able to send pages.

The page is sent in the same way through the manual or automated system
and then through the paging centre. A two-way pager constantly sends a
signal to the paging centre so that the system knows where the pager is at all
times. As the location is always known, only one transmitter is needed to
send out the page to the pager. This way, the network is less busy and
network traffic is minimized. The page is received in the same way as the
one-way pager does. [4]

When a message has been received a page can be sent back out to respond
to it. The two-way pager has a keypad, and rather than just a receiver, it has
a transreceiver which enables that pager to send and receive RF signals. A
message can be typed and sent to another pager.

The signal from the pager is relatively weak and is usually less than 1 W. So,
there is a need for more receiving towers than transmitting towers so that the
signal can be picked up and sent on. When the signal is picked up from the
receiver, it is transmitter back to the paging centre and then transmitted in the
same way as previously mentioned. [4]

Two-way pagers can also send and receive email. For this to happen, the
paging network needs to be connected to the internet, and then be able to
access the email account in question so that any email can be retrieved. To
send an email, a connection to the internet and mail server known as a simple
mail transfer protocol (SMTP).
GSM Call Flow
A GSM mobile phone uses a Random Access Channel (RACH) to request a dedicated channel from
the base station. The base station responds with a Radio Resource Assignment on the Access
Grant Channel (AGCH).

Then the device sends a service request to the base station on the Stand Alone Dedicated Control
Channel. But the base station will not grant service until the device authenticates itself, so it sends
an authentication request to the user’s SIM card in the form of a random 128-bit number (RAND).
The mobile device uses the RAND to generate a 32-bit number, called the Signed Response. Once
the base station gets this response, the user is authenticated.

Then the device sends to the base station the ISDN (integrated service digital network) number of
the phone that it is trying to call, and the base station assigns a traffic channel. The base station then
sends the call to the mobile switching center (MSC) via the base station controller (BSC).
.