MadSci Network: Engineering
Query:

Re: What is the differnce between radio and microwave frequency?

Date: Sun Nov 5 21:40:51 2000
Posted By: Dwayne Rosenburgh, Senior Electronic Engineer
Area of science: Engineering
ID: 973012530.Eg
Message:

Kristen,

I assume that you mean "the difference between radio frequency and microwave 
frequency."  When we speak of radio frequency (rf) we are talking about the 
electromagnetic waves (or energy) which are being radiated from a transmitter 
(typically via an antenna).  The term microwave frequency refers to an 
electromagnetic wave in the range of 300 MHz to 300 GHz (although, sometimes 
people place the lower limit at 1 GHz).  Therefore, microwave 
frequencies represent a specific portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.  
Radio frequencies represent all of the electromagnetic spectrum which can be 
radiated via some type of electronic circuit (i.e., the portion of the spectrum 
above audio and below infrared).  Additionally, the term radio implies that you 
are trying to send and receive information (including command & control 
signals) on these frequencies.  This means that the "transmitter" in a 
microwave oven is not considered a radio since there is no attempt to send or 
receive information.

I hope that this helps.



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