System capacity simulation for an IS-136 personal base station

The IS-136 North American digital cellular standard defines a digital control channel (DCCH) protocol. This DCCH forms the basis for the design and operation of the residential base station discussed in this paper. This residential base station, typically referred to as a personal base station (PBS), works with digital cellular handsets to provide enhanced cordless telephone functionality. The PBS operates autonomously, measures its RF environment and adaptively selects its operating frequency. A simulation has been constructed to demonstrate both the stability and capacity for a system of these PBSs. The simulations show that when these PBSs are placed within a typical suburban area, in both homes and apartment dwellings, their choices of operating frequency are quite stable. Except for those base stations placed high in apartment buildings, the base stations consistently find usable operating frequencies. Based on today's spectrum usage, the simulation indicates a limiting capacity between 300 and 1250 PBSs per square mile depending on the environment.