How exactly does 5G work? | Upscaled

This is the year 5G will finally arrive for some people, but will it live up to the hype? Part of the problem is that 5G isn't one thing, it's a collection of different technologies, and various cell providers are focusing on different improvements that can radically change the experience of 5G.

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[UnseenShadow]

This is absolutely the best explainer I have seen so far for 5G. Great job Engadget!

[askjdog]

10:02 ..he is saying that since the skin limits penetration it does not cause cancer, and is therefore safer than legacy technologies (i.e. 3G, 4G). However, this is UNTRUE for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the shorter 5G wavelength in the higher millimeter spectrum has a more profound biological effect since it interacts more with biological cells causing dielectric heating. Secondly, in order to achieve good signal strength, and throughput (data speeds) in these frequency ranges there has to be a very high density of transmitting antennas. Our exposure is to what is called 'aggregate power' from all such transmitters.

This leads to a double whammy for human biology being exposed. Higher microwave bands have more biological interaction, and higher power density compounds this. 5G is the new tobacco industry. Unfortunately, 5G health concerns will be hidden since 5G will power the emerging new tech revolution, and from this respect it appears to be unstoppable. Think on these terms people - 5G is to the IoT tech revolution (valued in the $Trillions) as was dirty coal, oil, steel to the industrial revolution.

For disclosure I have worked with all major telecom companies on commercial wireless networks, Multiple degrees in this field. Research is out there but difficult for the lay person to understand. Health research is also never conclusive in this industry due to the fact it is ALWAYS funded by big telecom. Similarly, in the 1980's Motorola funded research showed correlation to body, and brain tumors from the old cellular phones.

We had the research docs in our offices back in 1995. The executive summaries regarding them stated research was pulled once tumors were shown. Leaving the populations of the world with a 'no conclusive cancer link' statement to refer to.

[TurpInTexas]

I've been in telecommunications for 40 years, still working with cutting edge stuff, and I've heard all sorts of explanations how it all works over the years, but I agree with a number of the previous posters, Chris is one of the best presenters on the subject I have seen without drowning the average viewer with too much technical detail. Not only did he have to cover a lot of territory in a reasonable time, he brings up what is likely to be the most realistic scenario's of what we can expect to see in the near future instead of adding to the hype like a lot of other channels.


Only one small suggestion that I can see which is more like clarification than a correction, and Chris sort of addressed it when he spoke specifically of the "early" AMPS cellular systems, and in that context it is correct frequency reuse was an issue, but in the next generation of cellular, CDMA allowed same frequency reuse between towers, which added considerable capacity to the wireless networks.


I subscribed and "like", and will be following this channel because I like smart folks that shoot from the hip!

[mohammadyaghini]

I am a communication systems engineer and I approve this message!


P.S. seriously though, you just summarized half a semester worth of a university cellular networks course 👌🏻

[mikesimms]

Since half of my town still doesn't have 4G coverage, I won't exactly be lining up to pay extra for 5G.

[ironworksentertainmentstud]

I live out in the country and I just got T-Mobiles 5g home internet with no data caps and I get any where from 100mbps to 200mbps. It only costs $50 but if you have a phone plan with them it drops to $30 a month. In comparison the only other internet providers are a Satellite company $100 a month for 12mbps at 50gb cap. And a dish service with no cap at $40month 1.5mbp, $80month 16mbps and the fastest they offer is $100 at 25mbps. 5G is the best and most affordable internet I have ever had.

[frenchy]

A "G History" video would be so interesting!! Especially since you said 4G LTE is at a fraction of what it's full potential was supposed to be.

[mikejo]

What is the TRUTH on Hi Frequency, microwave 5G Technology? In regards to Health, the dangers being posed all over internet? I’ve heard it has not been tested on humans, that it’s military grade weapon, that it disrupts cell production, even could be harmful at the dna level? I ask because it seems there are many on this site who work in the industry and know the actual specifics- and I’d appreciate a true evaluation from genuine people in this tech sector... thanks in advance!

[davidfink]

Nice and informative video but I must correct one point. You said that the fact that the shorter wavelength signals were blocked by skin was "a good thing" for people worried about getting cancer, but that's backwards. The reason that those short wavelength signals are blocked by skin is because they are interacting with it. Longer wavelengths like radio and current cell signals pass right through materials like skin because they don't interact with it, that's why they don't cause cancer. This is why you can't heat food with radio waves but you can with microwaves. Those lower frequency (longer wavelength) signals just pass through the food leaving the molecules undisturbed, but the higher frequency microwaves have short enough wavelengths to interact with the molecules.


Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying that mm cell signals or 5G will cause cancer. I'm just pointing out that the explanation given in the video is flawed.

[sentinalNgaming]

As an electronics and communications engineer, I appreciate how good you are at explaining complex topics in layman's terms. Just brilliant

[al-houmamal-shalchi]

I worked in 5G back in 2018. This is the best 5G youtube video I've come across. Bravo!

[TheBadFred]

No need to rush. I wouldn't bet on 5G before mid 2021. If you don't want to deal with the problems of early adopting you should be fine in 2022.

[arthurmorgan]

I’m an electronic comms engineering grad but never worked in the field. You explained some hard concepts real simple. Was nice to watch. Kudos.

[dobz]

More like this please! Really appreciate how this series gets into the deep details. This wireless stuff is a good topic

[robertgorlee]

Veeerry exiting. . .and one-sighted. Do you think living organisms / cells are equally enthousiastic? Especially with final transmitters in front of your house? And don't worry, I can drive well myself, take the bus or train if not. More radiation is unwanted, still more cancer, alzheimer and all kind of illness.

[nathanokun]

A history of not only the radio antenna tech, but how the various signal processing schemes allow different phones to be sorted out simultaneously, might be of interest to people, as some of it stretches back to WWII and beyond, though back then means to implement such things did not exist. It is truly amazing who thought up some of this stuff before there was any way to actually use it!

[luckywang]

ultimate goal: wifi router everywhere?

[maereanm]

14:36 TLDR: No. I'm not rushing to buy a 5G phone.
In fact my phone knows 4G and 3G and I keep in on 3G. The speed of 3G is enough. Never in all these years have I ever thought I'm lacking in the internet speed department. And I'm using the phone all day every day for personal and corporate stuff.

[johanvanoosterhout]

China has the most 5 G antenna, 350.000 in Hubai only. Fantastic, South Korea has antennas in the whole country. Fantastic.Japan are rolling out 5 G antennas. Fantastic. Great Brittain has rollout a little bit of 5 G antennas. Swiss was the first country  in the world that has roll out 5 G antennas in different cities and stopped to roll out the 5 G antennas at once. Reason? Fantastic.

[stoianandreimircea]

I am a telco professional and you sir have earned my sub. There is a security component that infinitite capacity with ubiquitous coverage will raise and maybe focus on this topic in the future. Well done for the video.