Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Technology => Topic started by: EvaH on 29/06/2020 12:41:00

Title: Are there differences between radio receivers?
Post by: EvaH on 29/06/2020 12:41:00

Matthew wants to know:

What are the key differences between radio receivers?

We have different receivers for everything, whether it being for wifi, radio, cellular or bluetooth. If a radio receiver was programmed to pick up wifi would it work? Or are there physical differences between them?

I have been trying to do my own research but it has proven harder than I first thought. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Can you help?

Title: Re: Are there differences between radio receivers?
Post by: alancalverd on 29/06/2020 14:32:37

It's all electromagnetic radiation but the components required to transmit and receive it tend to be specific to a small range of frequencies and the means by which we encode information onto the em wave, and thus the specific circuit required to decode it, also vary.

So yes, they are all radio transmitters and receivers, but assigned to and optimised for specific parts of the spectrum so they don't interfere with each other.