How a Paging System Works

• A caller dials a pager phone number. They are actually dialing into the paging terminal of the paging system.

• The call reaches the paging terminal over telephone company lines in much the same manner as when you call a friend across town.

• The tone a caller hears after dialing the pager number is the paging terminal telling the caller that it is ready to accept the page.  Hanging up or pressing the pound (#) sign after entering the numeric message lets the terminal know that the message is complete. The terminal is signaled to send the message to the pager.

• The paging terminal is linked to numerous transmitters throughout the paging coverage area. When it receives a message (for a specific pager), the terminal converts the message into a pager code and relays this code to the transmitters. The transmitters send out the code (as a radio signal) throughout the entire coverage area.

• The code is picked up by all of the pagers within the coverage area on that particular frequency. HOWEVER, only the pager with the proper code is alerted and will display the message.

• Text messages sent to an alphanumeric pager are transmitted in a similar manner, except a keyboard entry device, messaging service or online paging service is used to input the messages rather than the telephone keypad. This could be via software installed on a pc, a hardware unit, or via the internet. Numeric messages can also be sent via a touch-tone phone.