Why Choose High Frequency Radio Waves for Long-Distance Communication?

[luitzen]

What is the advantage of high frequency radio waves over low frequency radio waves? E.g. Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz over FM radio ~100 MHz.

 

[SteamKing]

Well, for one thing, the antenna doesn't have to be quite as large.

And 100 MHz is lower frequency, not low frequency. AM broadcasts between 540 and 1610 kHz in the US and there are long wave broadcasts of 153-279 kHz in Europe, Asia, and Africa.

 

[Drakkith]

Higher frequency signals are easier to radiate, require smaller antennas to transmit and receive, and can support higher bandwidths than lower frequency signals.

See the following article for a little bit of info on the very low frequency radio waves used to communicate with submarines: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communication_with_submarines

 

[luitzen]

The higher bandwidth and smaller antenna make sense and is something I already should've known.

Of course higher frequencies are damped more easily. I was thinking that orange light essentially is Wi-Fi at a 200k times larger frequency.

 

[sardar]

High frequency (HF) radio waves have several advantages over low frequency radio waves. One major advantage is their ability to travel longer distances without losing their strength or quality. This is due to the fact that HF waves have shorter wavelengths, allowing them to diffract around obstacles and follow the curvature of the Earth. This makes them ideal for long-distance communication, such as in aviation and maritime applications.

Another advantage of HF waves is their ability to penetrate through obstacles, such as buildings and trees, better than low frequency waves. This makes them useful for communication in urban or heavily wooded areas.

In addition, HF waves have a higher bandwidth, allowing for more information to be transmitted at once. This is especially beneficial for data-intensive applications, such as Wi-Fi, where a higher frequency like 2.4 GHz allows for faster data transfer rates.

Overall, the higher frequency of HF waves provides a more reliable and efficient means of communication, making them a preferred choice for various applications.