What is "pocsag"

POCSAG is an asynchronous protocol used to transmit data to pagers. The name comes from Post Office Code Standardization Advisory Group, this being the British Post Office which used to run nearly all telecommunications in Britain before privatization.

The main alternative to POCSAG is FLEX, which uses higher speeds and a four level modulation method. GOLAY, TONE and ERMES are previous paging protocols.

The family of POCSAG protocols can operate at three speeds, 512 bits per second (the original specification speed) is the base standard.

With Super-POCSAG 1200 bits per second, or 2400 bits per second transmission rates are possible. Super-POCSAG has mostly displaced the POCSAG in the developed world but the transition is still in progress.

The related Flex Synchronous protocol achieves speeds of 1600 bits per second, 3200 bits per second and 6400 bits per second.