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Antennas & Propagation

The variety of single wire, complex beam arrays, multi-band, yagis to parabolic dishes are all used to work different frequencies and different propagation conditions.

Components

Although many components are now incorporated into ICs, crystals, diodes, capacitors, resistors, LEDs and filters are all widely added as discrete components to complete a device.

Connectors & Cables

From the simple mains plug to specialised transmission line connectors, plugs are an integral part of any radio system. Balanced cables and coax with their own plugs are also widely used.

Parabolic dishes of various sizes, low noise amplifiers are used both for general communications and global positioning/navigation with more attention likely to be paid to vehicle and asset tracking with mobile receivers.

Hardware

Enclosures make equipment safe to operate and visually attractive and workable. Soldering technology from irons to stations has changed radically since lead was banned as a constituent of solder.

Networks & Systems

Both digital and analog repeaters are used to provide coverage in radio networks that are often part of an extensive system covering a very wide area.

Power Supplies

Batteries of lithium-ion, cadmium, metal hydride or lead acid can be used in place of mains power that is often switch-mode or super-regulated or can be a dual AC/DC system.

Radios

Handheld combined transmitter and receivers are the most widely used radios and they can include specialised features such as trunking. Basestations form the core of the network.

RFID

A growing area of radio involves goods to which radio tags have been attached on which information is coded that can be read and interpreted by special reading devices. The operating range and complexity of information is increasing.

Software

Used increasingly as equipment moves from analog to digital. Programmable devices are significant in some radio operations particularly in test equipment and the latest handhelds.

Test & Measure

Test equipment from digital multimeters, oscilloscopes and analysers to signal generators, VSWR meters and signal strength meters are essential tools for maintaining clear and interference-free signals.