How do telecommunications work?

[Benoit]

How telecommunications work? I mean, there are so much waves around us nowadays, how my cellphone recognizes a single signal and rings only when it detects it? If my cellphone is a receipter, why can't I listen to my neighbor converstation, why isn't there a lot of interference and how waves, from my basement, successfully make their way to a very high antenna? I know I ask a lot, but I'm very curious and I know nothing.

 

[jedishrfu]

You could start with this article and then branch out and search for related topics. Google is your friend.

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/cell-phone.htm

 

[Drakkith]

If my cellphone is a receipter, why can't I listen to my neighbor converstation, why isn't there a lot of interference and how waves

Part of it is that your cell phone contains an electronic receiver that is capable of filtering out everything but a small band of frequencies that your own phone uses, so most of that interference is simply filtered out.

 

[Benoit]

It's clearer now, thanks!