Cell Phone Towers

- Cell Site (Cellular Base Station or Cell Tower)

A cell site, cell tower, or cellular base station is a cellular-enabled mobile device site where antennae and electronic communications equipment are placed - typically on a radio mast, tower, or other raised structure - to create a cell (or adjacent cells) in a cellular network. A mobile base station sends/receives radio signals and is responsible for forming the cell area. 

Within a typical macro cell site resides a Baseband Unit (BBU) connected to a Radio Unit (RU). The former processes user and control data, while the latter generates radio signals transmitted over the airwaves via tower-mounted antennas.

Many network subscribers can use mobile networks' frequencies at the same time. Cell tower sites and mobile devices manipulate the frequencies so that they can use low-power transmitters to supply their services with the least possible interference. Whenever you use your mobile phone to make a call, it emits electromagnetic radio waves also known as radio frequency or RF energy. Once the radio waves are emitted, the antenna from the nearest cell phone tower will receive them. The antennas of a cell tower can both transmit and receive signals from mobile phones. After receiving the radio waves from a mobile phone, it will then transmit the signals to a switching center which is a telephone exchange for mobile phones. This allows the call to be connected to either another mobile phone or to a telephone network.

[Base Station Site - EverythingRF]

- Cell Towers

A cell tower is a cellular telephone site where electronic communications equipment and antennas are mounted. Some of these equipment are transmitters, receivers, control electronics, and additional power sources used for backup.

A typical cell tower is made up of several parts: 

• The antennas - to send and receive radio signals within the cell.

• The tower or supporting structure - where the antennas are mounted, this could be a building, mast or tower.

• Hardware - supports the operations of the base station often called the BTS (Base Transceiver Station) and is stored in a cabinet or shelter.

• A link back to the digital exchange which can either be a cable or wireless connection.

 
Cell towers are usually built by a tower company or a wireless carrier looking to expand their network coverage or capacity. The purpose of a cell phone tower is to facilitate the signal reception of cellular phones and other wireless communication device like telephone, television, and radio in a cellular network. 

There are multiple antennas attached on a cell tower and they are typically mounted on a head frame. Sometimes only a few as three antennas are mounted while some cell towers have as many as fifteen antennas per carrier. The number of antennas depends on the technology, antenna performance, coverage, and capacity required.

Providers use each others' towers in many areas, creating a complex web that offers the widest possible network coverage to subscribers.