The distance between the two successive crescents (peaks) or two successive throughs (valleys)

how often an RF signal cycles in a certain time period

Frequency of 1,000,000,000 (billion) cycles per second

The height of the wave

Most common RF behaviour

Wave hits smooth object that is larger than the wave itself, dependant on the material the signal may bounce in another direction

Multiple reflections

Signal passes through a medium with different density causing the wave to change direction.

Causes of refraction

Signal is bent around an object

Decrease in amplitude

Loss of signal strength caused by the natural broadening of the waves

Occurs when 2 or more signals arrive at the receiving station at the same time or within nanoseconds of each other

Multiple RF signal paths arrive at the same time and are in phase (phase differences of 0 to 120 degrees) will
result in increased signal strength

Multiple RF signals arrive at the same time but are out of phase (phase difference of 121 to 179 degrees)
Results in decrease signal strength

Multiple RF signals arrive at the same time and are 180 degrees out of phase of each other

Multiple signals arriving but not at the same time the receiver might have trouble demodulating the signal.

Increase to signal on the transmitter or transceivers side through the use of an amplifier.

Focusing the antenna, the inner workings of the antenna make the signal stronger.