TABLE OF CONTENTS In the introduction of Chapter 1, the basic concepts of the wireless history were undertaken. The history provided an overview of the evolution of wireless techniques. This chapter discusses some of the basic physics associated with wireless transmission techniques and describes how radio technology is implemented in various applications. This description includes a more in-depth look at some of the networking technologies mentioned in Chapter 1.
We will look at the various differences in the mode of operation for ground-based systems and air-based systems. We will also see the differences in coverage using the various wavelength operations of a long wave, short wave, and microwave. Finally, we will address the areas of satellite communications systems dealing with the varied use of the differing orbits that they occupy. They are referred to as the xEO, where x defines the height of the orbit (LEO is low-earth orbit, MEO is the mid-earth orbit, and GEO is a geosynchronous orbit.)
The characteristics of radio waves in any frequency band determine how useful those frequencies are for the service required. The main characteristic of interest is how signals are changed or distorted by absorption and reflection and by the air and other physical media before reaching the receiver. Because a radio signal is a particular form of energy, it is useful to consider the different forms of energy and how they can be converted and transmitted.
In order to gain an appreciation...
