Originally, the pager was merely a device that told you that you had received a message, but lacked the ability to tell you who the message was from. The history of the pager goes back to the 1930s, when the Detroit Police Department developed a radio paging unit specifically used for police departments, military officials and government agencies. Despite the obvious opportunity for profit and consumer use, it wasn't until 1977 that Motorola came up with the Pageboy, a unit that had no display, but had an audio tone that beeped when notified. In the 1980s, digital pagers were introduced, which led to the advanced technology we see today. All is forgiven - we figure anyone who makes programming VCRs less painful deserves a break.
Pagers work by combining telephone and radio technology.
When a caller dials the specific number designated to an individual unit, a paging terminal receives the message and then sends it to a paging transmitter via wire or radio signals. From the transmitter, the message is sent by radio waves over a frequency used by the paging service. The message is successfully delivered as long as the pager is within range of the transmitter's coverage area. The pager receives the message and notifies the pager's owner through a beeping sound or a vibration. The following is a guide to help you understand the varieties of pagers, their inner workings, the components that make them up, and the accessories that you may or may not need.