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Wireless & Mobility · Foundational

Radio Frequency (RF)

Electromagnetic energy in the roughly 3 kHz to 300 GHz range used to carry data wirelessly.

Definition

Radio frequency describes alternating-current signals that, when applied to an antenna, radiate as electromagnetic waves through space. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, and most IoT radios all use RF. RF behavior is described by frequency, wavelength, amplitude, and phase, and it is affected by propagation effects such as absorption, reflection, and free space path loss.

Example

A Wi-Fi access point transmits RF on 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands.

Exam tip

Expect questions that tie RF characteristics (frequency, wavelength, amplitude) to coverage and interference behavior rather than to pure physics.

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