Radio Frequency (RF) Basics

This section covers the scientific principles that make wireless communication
possible. Radio components and their associated frequency range is the primary
mode of transmission in the wireless industry.
Radio is the wireless transmission and reception of electric impulses or signals
by means of EM waves. EM waves are present at all frequencies; however, currently
only a small part of this total spectrum can be utilized to transmit communication
signals.This small subset of frequencies is commonly referred to as the
RF spectrum and ranges from approximately 9 kilohertz (KHz) to 300 gigahertz
(GHz). When designing a wireless network, understanding the science behind
wireless communication allows you to recognize potential complications such as
signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio, attenuation and multipath scattering, and channel
spacing.
This section also explores the basic science of EM waves, and how and why
radio signals are modulated onto carrier waves. It explores antenna design, the
relationship between wave propagation technologies and signal power, and what
elements make up a wireless network.