answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Attenuation limits the range of radio signals. Wireless signals are radio waves. Like any type of electromagnetic radiation, they are subject to attenuation. Attenuation normally includes propagation losses caused by the natural expansion of the radio wave front in free space (which usually takes the shape of an ever-increasing sphere), absorption losses (sometimes called penetration losses), when the signal passes through media not transparent to electromagnetic waves, diffraction losses when part of the radio wavefront is obstructed by an opaque obstacle, and losses caused by other phenomena.

Propagation losses become worse as the distance between the source and receiver increases. Just like a light source becomes less intense to the observer as they move away from the light, the radio signal becomes more faint as the receiver becomes more distant from the signal source. Distance is thus an attenuating factor for all wireless signals.

Absorption losses occur when some of the signal is absorbed by the media between the radio signal source and the receiver. All types of electromagnetic radiation is subject to this kind of attenuation as well: sunlight is attenuated by dark glasses, X-rays are attenuated by lead, and light is attenuated while passing through seawater. For radio waves on earth (where wireless computer signals are important), the primary "medium" air and attenuation is an exponential function of the path length through the air. Attenuation is also affected by all the materials a signal must travel through including not only air, but building materials (e.g. wood, concrete, steel, glass, etc.) if the wireless connection is made within a building and weather when the wireless signal is traveling outside the building (e.g. rain, sleet, snow, fog, smog, smoke, etc.). Each medium soaks up different amounts of radio energy. Metals tend to be the worst. It is possible to build what is known as a Faraday Cage that will shield radio signals almost completely by absorbing them and conducting their energy away to "ground".

Some materials block radio signals almost completely even if they are not grounded. Even if they block them, they may still reflect some of the radio waves off in another direction causing interference or simply lengthening the effective path the waves must travel between the source and receiver. If the radio-opaque material has gaps in it, some of the signal may still leak through, but less than the amount that ran into the barrier. A simple analogy would be a screen that lets most of the light through but blocks some of it, lessening the intensity of the light that does make it through. Another analogy would be polarized sunglasses that only pass the light that is vibrating in the direction of the polarization.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What causes attenuation on wireless signals?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What are the advantages of radar communication?

radar communication isfaster and has less attenuation(loss of signals).it is wireless so more preferred over other modes of communication


Do wireless signals experience attenuation?

A: ABSOLUTELY the design is such that after a certain amount of feet is practically non-existent. LYNKY actually let you monitor the signal strengths.Or True.


The loss of a signals strength as it travels away from its source is known as?

Attenuation


What is fading in telecommunications?

In wireless communications, fading is deviation or the attenuation that a carrier-modulated telecommunication signal experiences over certain propagation media.


How clear are wireless mp3 signals?

Some wireless signals cannot be picked up by some mp3 players. In that case you will have to get a wireless signal booster. Hopefully that will help


Can wireless USB adapter extend range of wireless signals?

yes it is


What signals do wireless networks use to send data?

Radio frequency signals.


Optical signals in optical cables have short wavelength why?

Because the attenuation of the fiber is much less at those wavelengths.


What does measuring the decibel strength of transmitted and received signals allow you to determine?

Signal attenuation along a transmission route The amplification that signals require along a transmission route to maintain their strength


What materials affects a wireless signal?

All or almost all materials affect wireless signals.


What is a device that accepts wireless signals from multiple nodes and retransmits them to the rest of the network?

a wireless router


What is attenuation network?

Attenuation is a measure of how much loss a signal experiences when it travels down a communication medium( loss as heat, absorbed by communication medium).It is mesured in decibels Attenuation is a term that refers to any reduction in the strength of a signal, when transmitting over a long dinstance. Attenuation occurs with any type of signal, whether digital or analog. It is also called loss of signals, The extent of attenuation is usually expressed in units called decibels (dBs).