RF Fundamentals & Signal Propagation Flashcards

Which type of antenna radiates power equally in all horizontal directions?

Answer: Omnidirectional antenna

An omnidirectional antenna radiates power equally in all horizontal directions, creating a 360° coverage pattern.

What does EIRP stand for in wireless networking?

Answer: Effective Isotropic Radiated Power

EIRP (Effective Isotropic Radiated Power) represents the total power radiated by a transmitter compared to an isotropic antenna.

Which frequency band typically experiences greater signal absorption by water vapor and building materials?

Answer: Both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz experience more than 900 MHz

Both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz suffer greater attenuation from obstacles than 900 MHz because shorter wavelengths are absorbed more readily by materials.

What is the term for the loss of signal strength as it travels through free space without any obstacles?

Answer: Free-space path loss

Free-space path loss describes the reduction in signal power solely due to distance in an obstacle-free environment.

In dB math, what does adding 3 dB to a power level represent?

Answer: Double the power

Adding 3 dB to a power level approximately doubles the power, since 10^(3/10) ≈ 2.

Which type of fading is caused by the movement of people or objects in the environment during a wireless transmission?

Answer: Both fast fading and Rayleigh fading

Fast fading (also characterized as Rayleigh fading) results from rapid multipath changes caused by movement of objects or the transmitter/receiver.