R

Receiver - The device that picks up the radio signal from the transmitter, converts it into an audio signal and feeds audio into your sound system or recorder.

Receiver Image A second frequency that a superhet receiver will respond to. The image frequency is two times the IF frequency either above or below the carrier frequency, depending upon whether the receiver design is "low side" or "high side" injection. An RF signal on the "image" frequency of the receiver will produce a difference signal in the mixer just as valid as the intended IF signal created by mixing the oscillator with the carrier.

Reflections - RF waves can reflect off of hills, buildings, moving cars, the atmosphere, and basically almost anything in the RF transmission environment. The reflections may vary in phase and strength from the original wave. Reflections are what allow radio waves to reach their targets around corners, behind buildings, under bridges, in parking garages, etc. RF transmissions bend around objects as a result of reflections.

Relative Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) - A value representing the received signal strength of both the mobile unit and the base station. This value is used to initiate a power change or handoff.

Repertory dialing - Sometimes known as "memory dialing" or "speed-calling". A feature that allows you to recall from nine to 99 (or more) phone numbers from a phone's memory with the touch of just one, two or three buttons.

Return Loss - A measure of VSWR, expressed in dB.

Reverse Control Channel (RECC) - The Control Channel that is used from the mobile station to the base station direction, also known as the control channel uplink.

Reverse Voice Channel (RVC) - The voice channel that is used in the mobile station to base station direction, also known as the voice channel uplink.

RF - Radio Frequency. Also used generally to refer to the radio signal generated by the system transmitter, or to energy present from other sources that may be picked up by a wireless receiver.

RFI - Radio Frequency Interference. A non-desired radio signal which creates noise or dropouts in the wireless system or noise in a sound system. RFI can be generated by a wide variety of sources including electronic organs, computers, switching power supplies, broadcast radio signals and outside radio devices. Radio signal energy can enter a sound system component or alter the audio signals in cabling, producing annoying hiss, whining or intelligible audio signals. Proper shielding and balanced audio cabling are the best defense against RFI problems in a sound system. High quality receivers are the best defense against RFI in wireless microphone systems.

RFID - RF Identification.

RF Noise - Radio signals generated by something other than the transmitter. Usually sounds like hiss, static or hash. RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) may be AM or FM, but the effect is that it either alters the audio signal, or adds background noise to the audio signal.

Roamer - A mobile station which operates in the cellular system other than the one from which the service is subscribed (the home system).

RPE - Regular Pulse Excitation compression algorithm.

RSA - Rural Service Area. A cellular coverage, defined by the FCC, which resides in a less populated area. he FCC designated 428 rural markets across the country to be licensed to cellular operators. The final RSA was activated in May 1992, giving the entire nation access to cellular service.