System identification number: Difference between revisions

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{{Context|date=October 2009}}

A '''Systemsystem Identificationidentification Numbernumber''' ('''SID''') is broadcast by one or more [[Basebase Stationstation]]s to identify a cellular network in a certain area (usually contiguous). It is globally unique within [[Advanced Mobile Phone System|AMPS]], [[Digital AMPS|TDMA]] or [[CDMA]] networks (the first two systems are essentially obsolete). This number sometimes has conflicts (see [[IFAST]]).

==SID Codescodes==

These codes are broadcast as 15 bit values but transmitted as 16 bits by core network protocols. They can be listed within a [[wireless device]] to show preference for one network over another. The additional bit in core network protocols allows the range of codes above 32,767 to be used for internal purposes, such as segregating billing records within a large area identified by a single broadcast SID.

TIA[[Telecommunications Industry Association]] committee TR-45.2 assigned ranges to every country extant in the 1980s and national regulators assigned individual numbers. [[IFAST]] took over in 1997. This number space is 90% utilized for country ranges, however. manyMany countries do not use all of their allocated codes, sohence the majority of codes are not usedunused.

SIDs are assigned to every carrier (e.g., Verizon, Sprint, Alltel) by national regulators or [[IFAST]]. SIDs are programmed into the phone when you purchase thempurchased. A phone will maintain a list of "preferred" systems identified by their SID code. The SID may also modify some signaling messages that are transmitted by mobiles (e.g. reducing the amount of information transmitted by "home" mobiles).

==How SIDs work==

When the phone is turned on, it listens for a signal. If it receives a signal, it looks at the SID (being carried by the signal), and compares it with the one that is stored in the phone. Originally, in analog systems, the mobile would simply turn on the [[roaming]] indicator if the SID was not the single value stored in the phone.

However, withWith CDMA systems the [[Preferred Roaming List|Preferred Roaming List ('''PRL''')]] (PRL) is responsible for determining which areas a mobile can roam into. [[Base Station|Base stationsstation]]s may also broadcast an [[List of mobile country codes|MCC]] and [[Mobile Network Code|MNC]] which can also be used by the PRL.

==External links==

*[http://www.mountainwireless.com/sid/ Mountain Wireless SID database]

*[http://ifast.org/SID.htm IFAST SID Information]

*Otto Hegstrom

[[Category:Mobile phone standards]]

[[Category:Identifiers]]