Communicating Wirelessly

Mr.W is so old that he can remember when you had to use a copper wire to send a signal .. and yes he still has an old fashioned phone at home!

But in 2021 we can use the air .. well a variety of frequencies from the EMR spectrum to send signals .. that is how the mobile phone communicates.  Your T.V. remote controller uses infrared frequencies, but it is easily blocked by solid objects.

Wikipedia has a very long article discussin the 2.4 GHz frequency band.  It is worth skimming!

Some students are building projects that need a wireless communication. 

• The Theremin project!
• Using an ultrasonic distance sensor
• Don't throw out the old TV remote .. you can use it on your project!
• And there is always bluetooth
• If you have an Android device you can use App Inventor

Activities and Questions

1. Do you expect that your project will use "wireless" or "wired" communication?
2. What problems to "wireless" communication are caused by the microwave oven in the kitchen? ( Hint: Skim the Wikipedia article )
3. What might be the advantage of using WiFi communication on your project? ( Hint: read the problem with using infrared frequencies in the discussion above )
4. What part did Australian scientists play when WiFi was developed? ( Hint: Scan this article on the ABC website. )

This page was last updated on: 17th of May 2020