CDMA (code division multiple access) is a spread spectrum (SS) communication system where multiple users have access to the same career frequency at the same time [1–5]. It begins with a frequency band, allocated by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) as shown in Fig. 5.1.
Orthogonal codes and their properties are presented and show how orthogonal codes are used in CDMA radio and to estimate channel capacity. CDMA is a noise-limited system. Therefore, the need for power control is also described for reliable operation. This signal is also known as NRZ (non-return-to-zero) data, generally used in digital radio.
Fig. 5.14 CDMA radio. Binary bit 1 transmit/receive mechanism This represents the information bit 0, which is modulated and transmitted to the receiver. The receiver intercepts the modulated carrier frequency, demodulates and recovers the orthogonal code 0101.
But what does CDMA vs. GSM really mean for you? CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) and GSM (Global System for Mobiles) are shorthand for two older radio systems (also known as 2G and 3G) used in cell phones.