RF Receivers

RF receivers (Radio Frequency) are the portion of a system that listens for signals. The signals that it listens for come from other devices known as emitters or transmitters. It takes both the transmitter and the RF receivers in order to have a complete system. The two, however, do not need to be together. In fact, depending on the type of equipment that is being used, the transmitter can be miles away from the receiver and the system will still work. This is the premise behind radio and many other "sound" based applications.

In basic terms, the transmitter side of the device will send out a signal. This signal will then be picked up by the receiver and if a speaker is attached, a noise will be heard. That is the simple model of how this works.

Years ago when this theory became a reality, people thought this was akin to magic. How could something traveling through the air become a sound that human ears could hear? As that first technology became more refined and people could hear voices over their RF receivers, the world literally changed forever.

RF receivers made that monumental change possible. But there are some drawbacks to the systems. The first being issue being that the RF receivers had to be tuned to the correct frequencies in order to pick up the appropriate signals. This initial challenge is still with us today.

It is true the RF receivers we use today can pick up many more frequencies than the RF receivers of old. Still, however, most devices are limited. There is usually an upper and lower range of frequencies that the device can pick up. Signals above or below that range will pass by unnoticed.

For those who are new to RF receivers, the first step before buying one or building one is to know what frequency range you wish to monitor. If you buy a kit, for example, that is tuned for a specific range that is out of the range that you want to monitor, you will be disappointed. Most kits will tell you the range that the device will function within and you simply need to match that range with your desires.

You can find a lot of information about RF receivers online or at your local library. You can also find kits that are easy to assemble and affordable to buy. Building your own RF receiver is a great way to get a basic understanding of how the devices work.