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

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SUMMARY

High frequency radio waves, such as Wi-Fi at 2.4 GHz, provide significant advantages over lower frequency waves, like FM radio at approximately 100 MHz. These advantages include the ability to use smaller antennas for transmission and reception, as well as support for higher bandwidths. While higher frequencies are more easily damped, their benefits in terms of size and data capacity are crucial for modern communication technologies. Understanding these differences is essential for optimizing communication systems.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of radio frequency concepts
  • Familiarity with antenna design principles
  • Knowledge of bandwidth and data transmission
  • Basic principles of electromagnetic wave propagation
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the impact of frequency on antenna size and design
  • Explore the differences in bandwidth capabilities between high and low frequency radio waves
  • Learn about the applications of very low frequency radio waves in submarine communication
  • Investigate the effects of environmental factors on high frequency signal propagation
USEFUL FOR

Engineers, telecommunications professionals, and anyone involved in radio communication technology will benefit from this discussion, particularly those focusing on optimizing antenna design and understanding frequency impacts on communication systems.

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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.
 
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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.
 
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
 
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.
 

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