Although radios have become less and less of a household commodity due to television, Internet, and media players, they are still used on a daily basis by millions of people worldwide. Radios provide communication between large numbers of people by supplying news, entertainment, and weather updates. Have you ever stopped to wonder, however, how radios work? In this article, we will explore the various aspects that make up a radio and even show you how radio signals play a bigger role in your daily life than you might have expected.
Radio Station
When people use the term “radio station”, the first thing that occurs to the mind is the multitude of channels on your radio that you can tune in to in order to hear music, talk radio, sports, weather, and news. A radio station, however, is much more than that. A radio station is a physical location that handles the transfer of radio signals and organizes subjects such as music, commercials, news, and other means of entertainment. A radio station generally has a DJ on staff at all times to maintain equipment, take calls, and play music. A radio station also hosts one or more transmitters that actually broadcast the radio signal that your radio picks up. Without the radio station, radio as we know could not exist.
Transmitter
The transmitter, located either at the radio station or at an external location, is a large tower, much like a cell phone tower, that broadcasts radio signals throughout a large area. Transmitters are very large and require a technician to physically climb the tower on occasion to make repairs and maintain the broadcasting equipment. Specifically, transmitters convert digital and electronic information into a radio signal that can be picked up by any radio in the area that is tuned into that particular station’s frequency.
Receiver
Your radio is first and foremost a receiver that picks up radio signals generated by the transmitter. Radios differ in capabilities and style but the general makeup of all radios are the same. Radio receivers used to be made of crystals and transistors but technology has given us the ability to make smaller equipment, now composed of computer chips and vibrating oscillators. A radio receiver may be found in your car’s stereo system, as a stand-alone device, or built into small equipment such as MP3 players and other gadgetry.
AM
AM stands for Amplitude Modulation and is a method used by radio broadcasters to transmit radio signals. In AM radio, electricity is powered up and down to create a variance in signal strength. That difference in signal strength tells your radio receiver when and how sound should be compressed. AM picks up more static than FM and is vulnerable to interference from other radio stations but it can be picked up from much further distances. While AM is hardly ever used anymore and is generally reserved for talk radio, all radio receivers are capable of picking up AM radio signals.
FM
FM stands for Frequency Modulation and is another method that radio broadcasters use to transmit radio signals. In FM radio, the frequency, or change in repetition, is varied rather than the actual signal strength being changed. FM radio is much more popular than AM as it is usually not vulnerable to interference from other radio stations. The downside of FM radio, however, is that FM signals have a much shorter range than AM signals. This is usually countered by the radio station building more towers to cover a larger area.
Compatibility
Radios are often found in many electronic devices due to the fact that they can be made extremely small. Radios are found in car stereo systems, some cell phones, MP3 players, and many other devices that we use every day. Furthermore, radio is often heard over store intercom systems, in restaurants, and in many other public places. While radio has been replaced by television and Internet access as the preferred means of communication and entertainment, it still serves a very crucial and widespread function in our society.
Cell Phones
Believe it or not, your cell phone is actually a radio transceiver. A transceiver is a device that acts as both a transmitter and receiver. That is to say that a transceiver is capable of both broadcasting radio signals and picking up radio signals from other transmitters. Without radio signals and radio technology, cell phones would not work, because they rely on transmitting and receiving radio signals in order to transfer information.
