5 ms·
> the Buzzer operates at a relatively low frequency known as “shortwave”. This means that – compared to local radio, mobile phone and television signals – fewer
by jankotek 9y ago
> the Buzzer operates at a relatively low frequency known as “shortwave”. This means that – compared to local radio, mobile phone and television signals – fewer waves pass through a single point every second. It also means they can travel a lot further.
Nice explanation.
- sillysaurus3 9y agoIs it? If you imagine a fixed point in space, a short wave would mean more waves pass through it every second, not less. Short waves have more energy (they have bounce up and down more quickly) which allows them to travel further.
- jankotek 9y agoNo, it is not. The worst shortwave explanation I ever read. From BBC!
- DiabloD3 9y agoThe irony is the BBC operates the best (and maybe only major commercial) shortwave stations in the world, as part of their AM radio service.
- PoachedSausage 9y agoMost of the actual radio transmitters are no longer operated directly by the BBC. As far as I know the only site still under their operation is BBC World Service Atlantic Relay Station on Ascension Island. Whilst the BBC still produces the radio and TV programme content, in the UK the radio and TV transmitters are operated by Arqiva and World Service shortwave by Babcock. I was lucky enough to work on one of the last remaining operational high power longwave AM radio transmitters in the UK at Droitwich Transmitting Station. BBC Radio 4 longwave is broadcast at 500kW on 198kHz (locked to a HP 5065 Rubidium standard) and can be received in large parts of western europe.
- calebm 9y agoIt's true that "shorter" waves would mean higher frequency, but "shortware" radio uses longer (lower-frequency) waves, relative to most other modern radio systems, so it is true that "fewer waves pass through a single point every second". Also, it is true that for a given amplitude, a higher frequency wave does contain more energy, but typically, higher frequency waves don't travel as far. Shortwave radio travels particularly far because they happen to be in the right frequency to bounce off the ionosphere, which allows them to travel further than line of sight.
- sillysaurus3 9y agoThanks!
- burkaman 9y agoRight, but "shortwave" waves are longer than TV and cell phone waves.
- Xylakant 9y agoIt's shortwave (1.6MHz - 30MHz) and not "shorter wave". Radio and TV commonly use FM or UHF (300MHz upwards). So the explanation is technically correct: more waves pass a given point in space.
- Lagged2Death 9y agoThe name "shortwave" is ill-considered and misleading but there's no changing it now.
- tmearnest 9y agoShortwave, as in short with respect to "mediumwave" transmissions, like regular old broadcast AM radio, or "longwave" which can be used to communicate with submerged submarines. It's a really old term...
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- KGIII 9y agoIIRC, subs use ELF or ULF. My understanding is that some of the older subs could trail a long wire antenna behind them. It'd seem to me that the bandwidth for such would be abysmal. Is this correct? I did take some EE courses but that was like forty years ago. All I have ever done with that is receive. I should probably learn more.