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Chapter 3 - Understanding Radio Frequency Communications

Overview
Chapter 3 explains radio frequency communications. Students will learn the different components of a radio system. Next, students will learn how different factors affect the design of a radio system. Chapter 3 also discusses why standards are beneficial and lists the major telecommunications standards organizations. Finally, students will learn about the radio frequency spectrum.

Objectives
List the components of a radio system Describe how different factors affect the design of a radio system Discuss why standards are beneficial and list the major telecommunications standards organizations Explain the radio frequency spectrum

Read more about bandpass filters at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandpass_filter. Read more about frequency mixers at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency_mixer. Learn more about amplifiers at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amplifier. Read more about Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FDMA. For more information about Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_division_multiple_access. Learn more about Code Division Multiple Access at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CDMA.

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Read more about circuit switching at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_switching. Learn more about packet switching at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packet_switching. For more information about the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), visit: www.fcc.gov/.

Class Discussion Topics

Additional Projects
1. Telephone systems traditionally use circuit switching to establish a connection between a caller and a receiver. Design (if possible) a telephone system based on packet switching instead and write a report with the most important aspects of the design. 2. Use the Internet to visit the IEEE official Web site and investigate about the 802.11 standards for wireless communications. Report the most important points of the standards.

Additional Resources
1. Low-pass filter: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-pass_filter 2. High-pass filter: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-pass_filter 3. FDMA: www.auditmypc.com/acronym/FDMA.asp 4. Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA): www.iec.org/online/tutorials/tdma/ 5. Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA): www.iec.org/online/tutorials/wcdma/ 6. Circuit Switching:

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www.erg.abdn.ac.uk/users/gorry/course/intro-pages/cs.html 7. Packet Switching: www.erg.abdn.ac.uk/users/gorry/course/intro-pages/ps.html 8. Federal Communications Commission: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fcc

Key Terms
adaptive array processing A radio transmission technique that replaces a traditional antenna with an array of antenna elements. American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A clearinghouse for standards development in the United States. amplifier A component that increases a signals intensity. attenuation A loss of signal strength. bandpass filter A filter that passes all signals that are between the maximum and minimum threshold. bands Sections of the radio frequency spectrum. circuit switching A dedicated and direct physical connection is made between two transmitting devices. Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) A technique that uses spread spectrum technology and unique digital codes to send and receive radio transmissions. consortia Industry-sponsored organizations that have the goal of promoting a specific technology. crosstalk Signals from close frequencies that may interfere with other signals. de facto standards Common practices that the industry follows for various reasons. de jure standards Standards that are controlled by an organization or body. directional antenna An antenna that radiates the electromagnetic waves in one direction only. As a result, it can help reduce or eliminate the effect of multipath distortion, if there is a clear line of sight between the two antennas. electromagnetic interference (EMI) Interference with a radio signal; also called noise. Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) U.S. industry vendors from four areas: electronic components, consumer electronics, electronic information, and telecommunications. European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) A standards body that is designed to develop telecommunications standards for use throughout Europe. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) The primary U.S. regulatory agency for telecommunications. filter A component that is used to either accept or block a radio frequency signal. Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) A radio transmission technique that divides the bandwidth of the frequency into several smaller frequency bands. full-duplex transmission Transmissions that enable data to flow in either direction simultaneously. half-duplex transmission Transmission that occurs in both directions but only one way at a time.

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high-pass filter A filter that passes all signals that are above a maximum threshold. Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band An unregulated radio frequency band approved by the FCC in 1985. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) A standards body that establishes standards for telecommunications. intermediate frequency (IF) The output signal that results from the modulation process. International Organization for Standardization (ISO) An organization to promote international cooperation and standards in the areas of science, technology, and economics. International Telecommunications Union (ITU) An agency of the United Nations that sets international telecommunications standards and coordinates global telecommunications networks and services. Internet Architecture Board (IAB) The organization responsible for defining the overall architecture of the Internet, providing guidance and broad direction to the IETF. The IAB also serves as the technology advisory group to the Internet Society, and oversees a number of critical activities in support of the Internet. Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) A standards body that focuses on the lower levels of telecommunications technologies. Internet Society (ISOC) A professional membership organization of Internet experts that comments on policies and practices and oversees a number of other boards and task forces dealing with network policy issues. license exempt spectrum Unregulated radio frequency bands that are available in the United States to any users without a license. low-pass filter A filter that passes all signals that are below a maximum threshold. mixer A component that combines two inputs to create a single output. multipath distortion The same signal being received from several different directions and also at different times. noise Interference with a signal. official standards See de jure standards. packet A smaller segment of the transmitted signal. packet switching Data transmission that is broken into smaller units. passband A minimum and maximum threshold. PN code Pseudo random code; a code that appears to be a random sequence of 1s and 0s, but actually repeats itself. Used in CDMA cellular telephone technology. radio frequency communications (RF) All types of radio communications that use radio frequency waves. radio frequency spectrum The entire range of all radio frequencies that exist. sidebands The sum and the differences of the frequency carrier that serve as buffer space around the frequency of the transmitted signal. signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) The measure of signal strength relative to the background noise. simplex transmission Transmission that occurs in only one direction. switching Moving a signal from one wire or frequency to another. Telecommunications Industries Association (TIA) A group of more than 1,100 members that manufacture or supply the products and services used in global communications. Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) A transmission technique that divides the bandwidth into several time slots.

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ultra-wideband transmission (UWB) Low-power, precisely timed pulses of energy that operate in the same frequency spectrum as low-end noise, such as that emitted by computer chips and TV monitors. Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) An unregulated band approved by the FCC in 1996 to provide for short-range, high-speed wireless digital communications. unregulated bands See license exempt spectrum.