How does a Dual-sim phone work - 2 seperate radios for each band?

[airborne]

I want to get a dual-sim phone but I have been wondering how they work.

I'm assuming there are 2 radios in each band 2x gsm/2g/3g/lte, ie 1 each for each sim?
Basically also double the wireless radiation of a single sim phone when both sims are connected?

Not sure if I'm happy with double the radiation.. will have to wear my tinfoil hat 24/7

Are there any drawbacks to dual sim phones, less battery life etc?

 

[Saajid]

Bump

 

[Rickster]

AFAIK, 1 for calls and one only for mobile data but that was a while back.

 

[supersunbird]

I want to get a dual-sim phone but I have been wondering how they work.

I'm assuming there are 2 radios in each band 2x gsm/2g/3g/lte, ie 1 each for each sim?
Basically also double the wireless radiation of a single sim phone when both sims are connected?

Not sure if I'm happy with double the radiation.. will have to wear my tinfoil hat 24/7

Are there any drawbacks to dual sim phones, less battery life etc?

Two IMIEs, so yes, 2 "radios".

Screenshots incoming.

 

[gfmalan]

The way I have it, you have a full radio with LTE/3g etc for sim 1 but only GSM for sim 2, so basic calls only, data connections always with sim1 only.

 

[supersunbird]

You tell which SIM to handle what, data, outgoing calls, outgoing SMSs (both SIMs can receive calls and SMSs, it indicates which SIM is receiving by displaying network name):



Only one SIM can do 2G,3G and LTE, it forces the other SIM to 2G only:

 

[R13...]

The ones that truly irradiate you are the dual active types as they have separate receive and transmit. Most dual sim are of the standby type though with dual receive but single transmit where one sim goes standby when the one is active. Best make sure that tinfoil is lead lined

 

[Pho3nix]

You tell which SIM to handle what, data, outgoing calls, outgoing SMSs (both SIMs can receive calls and SMSs, it indicates which SIM is receiving by displaying network name):

View attachment 402592

Only one SIM can do 2G,3G and LTE, it forces the other SIM to 2G only:

View attachment 402594

View attachment 402596

P8/9 ?

 

[supersunbird]

P8/9 ?

CAT S60

 

[MsTL]

Well there is 4 radios to cause radiation, Cell Radio's. Wifi and Bluetooth and then there is NFC which next to your brain is enough to radiate the brain too

 

[airborne]

So at any one time you'll have one sim running GSM/2G and the other 3G/LTE?

It just occurred to me seeing even on a single sim phone the different radios do operate independently of each other anyway so as long as your dual sim is not running both sims radios all concurrently you shouldn't have more radiation than a single sim device. Ie the standard amounts of radios switched on at any given time between a dual or single sim device is the same.

Wait!

Its finally dawned on me how dual sim phones work and why they aren't much more expensive than the single sim equivalent, both have the same amount of radios but in a dual sim the radios can be independently switched to either of the 2 sims whereas the single sim can't. So essentially the only extra hardware a dual sim has is the extra sim slot, it doesn't have a dedicated set of radios for each sim.

Seeing how simple it is makes me wonder why it isn't implemented on all phones, suppose no network would ideally want dual sim phones and more choice for customers so that is why. Case in point is Vodacom disabling the P9 lites extra sim slot, scaly bastards!

 

[supersunbird]

So at any one time you'll have one sim running GSM/2G and the other 3G/LTE?

It just occurred to me seeing even on a single sim phone the different radios do operate independently of each other anyway so as long as your dual sim is not running both sims radios all concurrently you shouldn't have more radiation than a single sim device. Ie the standard amounts of radios switched on at any given time between a dual or single sim device is the same.

Wait!

Its finally dawned on me how dual sim phones work and why they aren't much more expensive than the single sim equivalent, both have the same amount of radios but in a dual sim the radios can be independently switched to either of the 2 sims whereas the single sim can't. So essentially the only extra hardware a dual sim has is the extra sim slot, it doesn't have a dedicated set of radios for each sim.

Seeing how simple it is makes me wonder why it isn't implemented on all phones, suppose no network would ideally want dual sim phones and more choice for customers so that is why. Case in point is Vodacom disabling the P9 lites extra sim slot, scaly bastards!

No, one is 2G and one is 2G/3G/LTE.

Both can work at the same time, I can be on a call and still receive data.

 

[airborne]

No, one is 2G and one is 2G/3G/LTE.

Both can work at the same time, I can be on a call and still receive data.

Yes that's the point, the data radios can be shared by 2 sims but there is not hardware duplication, on the device it would appear there is only one radio for each band. Just 2g has dual radios to enable each sim to be continuously registered on the tower and receive calls/sms etc.