Glossary
Glossary
Talk about poor connectivity quickly turns into a jumble of unfamiliar words. Here are the key concepts, briefly and without unnecessary theory, so it is easier to read your operator's help pages or explain the problem to a technician.
The bars on the screen are a hint, not a measurement: two phones side by side can show them differently.
How this section works: the definitions are deliberately simplified. It matters more to us that a term makes sense in everyday life than that it matches a textbook word for word.
Signal and network
- Base station
- Operator equipment that serves the phones around it. It is commonly called a cell tower, although the antennas can also be mounted on rooftops.
- Coverage area
- The area where the signal from base stations is strong enough for communication. At the edge of the area the connection is unstable.
- Signal strength
- The strength of the signal your phone receives. It is shown as bars, and more precisely as a number in the settings.
- Dead zone
- A spot within the coverage area where there is almost no signal: in a hollow, behind a hill, in a basement or behind metal walls.
- Network congestion
- A situation where too many devices are connected to one station and speeds drop for everyone, even though there is a signal.
Speed and latency
- Latency
- The time it takes data to reach a server and come back. High latency is more noticeable in calls and games than when reading.
- Bandwidth
- How much data a connection carries per second. This is what is usually called internet speed.
- Geostationary orbit
- An orbit at an altitude of about 35,786 km, where a satellite stays above one point. Because of the distance, signal latency is noticeably higher than with low-orbit systems.
- Low Earth orbit
- An orbit much closer to the Earth. The satellites move across the sky and many of them are needed, but latency is lower.
- Data saver
- A phone or browser mode that limits background data and makes pages lighter.
Equipment and power
- External antenna
- An antenna mounted outside the house, usually for a modem. It helps if it is pointed correctly at the station and raised high enough.
- Repeater
- A device that picks up the outdoor signal and rebroadcasts it indoors. Only certified models used under the operator's rules are acceptable.
- Power bank
- A portable battery for recharging your phone. In the cold its capacity also drops temporarily.
- Battery capacity
- The amount of energy stored in a battery. In freezing weather part of it becomes temporarily unavailable and returns once the battery warms up.
- Condensation
- Moisture that settles on a cold object in warm air, including inside a device's case.
Read also
- Guides
Practical guides: how to work on slow internet, save data and prepare for a trip without coverage. The article catalogue is here too.
- Tools
What is already built into your phone and computer: data saver, offline maps, power saving and checking signal strength.
- Comparisons
Mobile, satellite or wired internet, an external antenna or a repeater, a power bank or a spare phone: pros and cons without brands.
- Questions
Answers about this reference, poor signal and slow internet, devices in freezing weather and emergency calls.
- Article archive (in Russian)
An old article address from the former publication: why such links stop working and where to look for old articles.
Sources
- Reference material from telecom operators
- Smartphone and battery manufacturers' instructions
Information about batteries, condensation, communication satellite orbits and calling emergency services has been checked against publicly available material from manufacturers, operators and the relevant authorities as of the date this page was prepared. Menu items on your phone or computer may be named differently, so we describe them in general terms.