Use of high frequency in communication

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the use of high frequency in communication systems, exploring the reasons for preferring high frequencies over low frequencies. It encompasses theoretical aspects, practical applications, and the implications of frequency choice in various communication contexts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about the specific definitions of high and low frequency in the context of communication.
  • One participant suggests that high frequencies require less antenna height and are less susceptible to attenuation, linking this to their higher energy.
  • Another participant explains that frequencies between 2 MHz and 30 MHz can be reflected by the ionosphere, allowing for long-distance communication, while frequencies above 30 MHz tend to pass through the ionosphere into space.
  • It is noted that different frequencies perform better at different times and distances, which is utilized to optimize communication, particularly in the "short wave" band.
  • One participant mentions that higher frequencies allow for higher bandwidth and smaller antennas, and that the increasing demand for wireless communication necessitates the use of higher frequencies to find unused spectrum.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various viewpoints on the advantages of high frequency communication, but there is no consensus on a singular reason or model. Multiple competing views regarding the benefits and applications of different frequency ranges remain present.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the variability in communication properties based on frequency, including the influence of the ionosphere and the regulatory environment for different frequency bands. There are unresolved aspects regarding the optimal frequency choice for specific applications.

amaresh92
Messages
163
Reaction score
0
can anyone tell me why do we use high frequency in communication? why we can't just use low frequency signal for these ?
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
You need to be more specific. How high do you consider high frequency and how low do you consider low frequency? We DO use low frequencies (baseband audio for instance) for communications. An intercom connected with wires would use this type of scheme. Are you concerned with wireless?
 
My guess is that they require less antenna height and are not as easily attenuated. And I guess that is because they have higher energy ( E = hf ). But I would like an expert to comment.
 
amaresh92 said:
can anyone tell me why do we use high frequency in communication? why we can't just use low frequency signal for these ?

This is mostly a result of the properties of the ionosphere.

This varies from time to time (and sometimes from minute to minute), but frequencies between about 2 MHz and 30 MHz can be reflected from the ionosphere and travel around the curvature of the earth.

So, quite large distances can be covered.

Above 30 MHz (again this varies), signals tend to go straight through the ionosphere into space. So, they are mostly lost unless they hit the moon or something else and get returned to earth.

This is not a bad thing if you want to have TV stations in different cities and not have them interfering with each other.
If you want to have police or ambulance or taxi signals that stay in one area, you would use frequencies above 30 MHz, and usually above 100 MHz.
This means the same frequencies can be used in different areas without them interfering with each other.

On the frequencies between 2 and 30 MHz, some frequencies perform better than others at different times of the day, for different distances, so this is used to optimize communication.
This is the "short wave" band which is probably less important now than it used to be. Transmissions here are strictly controlled (as they are on all frequencies) so that the high powered signals do not interfere with each other.

The frequencies below 2 MHz are used for local AM radio broadcasts and other transmissions where the lack of long distance transmission is an advantage.
 
There are a lot of different reasons.

The biggest reason is that a higher frequency have a potential for higher bandwidth.

Other reasons are that as more and more thing use wireless communications we are naturally forced to higher frequency to find unused space.

Also, higher frequencies allow for smaller antennas.
 

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
974
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Replies
18
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
15
Views
2K
  • · Replies 68 ·
3
Replies
68
Views
6K