Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Intermediate frequency

In radio communications, the intermediate frequency (IF) is the frequency to which a modulated signal is shifted as an intermediate step during or transmission, typically by mixing the incoming (RF) signal with a to produce a fixed lower for processing before demodulation to . This approach, integral to superheterodyne architectures, lies between the original signal and the high-frequency , enabling more efficient , filtering, and selectivity in receivers. The use of IF originated with the invention of the by American engineer , who patented the circuit in 1918 after developing it during to improve military radio performance. Armstrong's design addressed limitations of earlier tuned radio frequency (TRF) receivers by converting variable RF signals to a consistent IF, allowing fixed bandpass filters with high quality factors () for superior image rejection and adjacent channel selectivity. By the 1920s, the became the standard for commercial radios, licensed by and widely adopted due to its tunable simplicity via adjustment. Key benefits of IF processing include cost-effective components optimized for a single fixed frequency, reduced I/Q imbalance in quadrature demodulation, and prevention of image frequency through post-mixing filtering. Common IF values vary by application: 455 kHz for AM broadcast receivers, 10.7 MHz for radios, and 45.75 MHz for the video carrier and 41.25 MHz for the sound carrier in analog television. In modern systems, such as communications and , multiple IF stages (e.g., first IF at 70 MHz followed by a second at 10.7 MHz) further enhance performance in double-conversion designs, though they introduce added complexity from leakage and costs.

Fundamentals

Definition

In radio communication systems, the intermediate frequency (IF) is defined as the fixed resulting from the mixing of a received (RF) carrier signal with a signal, facilitating subsequent and filtering stages. This conversion process shifts the variable RF input to a more manageable constant frequency band, optimizing efficiency. The IF occupies a position between the high-frequency RF signals, which carry modulated information at the original transmission frequencies, and baseband signals, which represent the unmodulated original data at low or zero carrier frequencies. Unlike RF signals that vary widely depending on the transmission band, the IF is standardized within the receiver to enable the use of tuned circuits optimized for selectivity and . Within the superheterodyne receiver architecture, the IF serves as a central stage in the , where the RF input is first converted via mixing to the IF, allowing for effective , filtering, and noise rejection before final to extract the baseband information. This intermediate step enhances overall performance by decoupling front-end tuning from back-end processing.

Heterodyning and Signal Conversion

Heterodyning is the process of nonlinear mixing between the incoming (RF) signal and a locally generated signal from a (LO) to produce output frequencies consisting of the sum and difference of the input frequencies. This mixing occurs in a nonlinear device, such as a or , where the RF signal, typically represented as A \cos(2\pi f_{RF} t), and the LO signal, B \cos(2\pi f_{LO} t), are multiplied. The resulting product can be derived using the trigonometric identity for the product of two cosines: \cos(\omega_1 t) \cos(\omega_2 t) = \frac{1}{2} \left[ \cos((\omega_1 + \omega_2) t) + \cos((\omega_1 - \omega_2) t) \right], where \omega_1 = 2\pi f_{RF} and \omega_2 = 2\pi f_{LO}. This identity demonstrates how the mixer generates both the sum frequency f_{RF} + f_{LO} and the difference frequency |f_{RF} - f_{LO}|, with the latter selected as the intermediate frequency (IF) through subsequent filtering. The IF is thus given by the equation f_{IF} = |f_{RF} - f_{LO}|, which shifts the received signal to a fixed lower frequency for easier amplification and while preserving the original information. In the signal flow of a , the first stage involves the RF amplifier and preselector filter, followed by the where heterodyning occurs to downconvert the signal to the first IF. For high-frequency applications, such as in VHF or bands, a single conversion may not provide sufficient image rejection or selectivity, leading to the use of double conversion. In this approach, the first converts the RF to a high first IF (e.g., tens of MHz), which is then mixed with a second LO to produce a lower second IF (e.g., a few hundred kHz), allowing tighter filtering at each stage to suppress unwanted signals. The image frequency arises as an unwanted consequence of heterodyning, defined as f_{image} = f_{LO} + (f_{LO} - f_{RF}) = 2f_{LO} - f_{RF} (assuming f_{LO} > f_{RF}), which also mixes to the same IF and can interfere with the desired signal if not attenuated. This requires an before the , tuned to pass the desired RF while rejecting the image, with the separation between f_{RF} and f_{image} being $2f_{IF}, making higher IF choices beneficial for easier filtering but challenging for subsequent . Regarding the signal , the heterodyning translates the entire RF —including the and its upper and lower sidebands—intact to the IF band, maintaining the relative spacing and envelope. For an amplitude-modulated RF signal with sidebands at f_{RF} \pm \Delta f, the IF output exhibits sidebands at f_{IF} \pm \Delta f, ensuring the information bandwidth is preserved for without distortion from the frequency shift.

Design Principles

Advantages and Justification

The use of an in superheterodyne receivers facilitates easier because components such as amplifiers perform better at the lower, fixed IF compared to the varying high radio frequencies (RF), allowing for higher with fewer stages. This optimization stems from the inherent limitations of early technology, which provided negligible above 1-2 MHz, making IF down-conversion essential to achieve in the MHz range. In modern contexts, the fixed IF continues to enable cost-effective, high-performance by aligning with the strengths of transistors and integrated circuits at lower frequencies. Tuning is simplified in IF-based designs, as the local oscillator () varies to mix the incoming RF signal to the fixed IF, eliminating the need for variable RF filters that are challenging to implement across wide bands. This approach enhances selectivity and sensitivity by permitting narrowband filters at the IF stage, which more effectively reject adjacent channels and noise than broad RF filters; for instance, selectivity improves because bandwidth expressed as a of the center is inherently sharper at the lower IF. Additionally, the fixed IF ensures constancy, providing consistent filtering performance regardless of the carrier , which is a key advantage over tuned radio (TRF) receivers where varies with . While IF conversion introduces potential trade-offs like image interference from signals at the image frequency, this is mitigated through RF preselection filters that attenuate unwanted images before mixing. Overall, these benefits addressed critical engineering challenges in early radio design and remain foundational for reliable performance.

IF Frequency Selection

The selection of the intermediate frequency (IF) in superheterodyne receivers involves balancing multiple design factors to ensure optimal image rejection, selectivity, and overall system performance. A primary consideration is maximizing separation from the image frequency, which arises during heterodyning and can introduce unwanted signals if not sufficiently attenuated by the RF preselector ; a higher IF facilitates greater separation, typically requiring the image to be at least twice the IF away from the desired signal for effective rejection. Additionally, the IF must be chosen to avoid overlap with harmonics of the local oscillator () or RF input, as these can generate spurious responses within the IF bandwidth and degrade . Compatibility with amplifier bandwidth and filter technology further guides IF selection, as lower IFs enable the design of narrower bandpass filters with steeper skirts for superior adjacent-channel selectivity, while higher IFs align better with amplifier capabilities to handle wider signal spectra without excessive variation. Standard practices emphasize selecting IFs that are odd multiples of half the spacing to position leakage midway between channels and reduce in multi-channel environments. Availability of high-quality filters, which offer exceptional and selectivity, often dictates practical choices, with preferred IF ranges typically between 5 and 35 MHz where cost-effective components are readily obtainable. In multi-stage receivers, trade-offs between single and double (or higher) conversion architectures influence IF decisions; single-conversion systems require a compromise IF that provides adequate image rejection without compromising demodulation ease, whereas double-conversion designs employ a higher first IF for robust image suppression via the initial and a lower second IF to simplify final filtering and processing. Modern digital receivers integrate IF stages with analog-to-digital converters (), necessitating IF choices that balance , avoidance, and sampling rates; for instance, the IF should be positioned below half the ADC sampling frequency to prevent while maximizing the usable bits for in wideband applications. Advances in ()-based low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) enable higher direct RF power handling—up to several watts without compression—challenging traditional low-IF assumptions by supporting direct-conversion or reduced-stage architectures that minimize IF dependency for interference protection.

Applications

In Traditional Receivers

In traditional superheterodyne receivers, the intermediate frequency (IF) stage plays a central role in following the initial mixing of the received (RF) signal with a to produce a fixed IF. This conversion enables high-gain amplification and selective filtering at a stable frequency, improving receiver sensitivity and adjacent channel rejection. In AM broadcast receivers, the IF stage typically operates at a standard frequency where the converted signal undergoes multiple amplification stages before envelope detection to recover the modulating audio. These IF amplifiers boost the weak signal while ceramic filters or transformers provide the necessary bandwidth selectivity, typically around 10 kHz, to suppress interference. For FM broadcast receivers, the IF stage includes limiter circuits to clip amplitude variations and a frequency discriminator to extract the audio from the frequency-modulated IF signal, ensuring robust performance against noise. Television receivers employ separate IF processing paths for video and audio signals in analog standards like NTSC. The video IF, for example, is amplified at 45.75 MHz to handle and components, with vestigial filtering to preserve picture quality. Audio is processed via intercarrier sound, where the video and audio carriers mix to generate a 4.5 MHz intercarrier signal, which is then amplified and demodulated independently of precise alignment. In systems, the IF stage processes pulsed signals to enable range resolution through time-of-flight measurement and Doppler processing for velocity estimation. After downconversion, the IF amplifies pulses while bandpass filters isolate Doppler shifts, facilitating coherent across multiple pulses for detection in cluttered environments. circuit elements in these IF stages include IF transformers, which use tuned coils and capacitors for resonant selectivity, and filters, offering compact, temperature-stable bandpass characteristics superior to traditional networks in AM and applications. (AGC) is typically integrated at the IF stage, where a loop from the detector adjusts amplifier bias to maintain constant output across varying input signal strengths, providing up to 40 dB in multi-stage designs. Early color television standards such as PAL and utilized similar IF architectures to their monochrome predecessors, with video IF amplification accommodating the added color subcarrier while maintaining intercarrier sound for audio extraction. In PAL systems, the IF stage processes the quadrature-modulated color signal alongside , requiring precise vestigial filtering to avoid cross-interference, whereas 's sequential color transmission demanded additional delay-line processing post-IF but retained the core superheterodyne IF amplification for both video and sound carriers.

In Modern and Digital Systems

In digital receivers, the intermediate frequency (IF) stage serves as a critical interface for sampling, enabling subsequent -based of bandpass signals. By filtering the RF input to a manageable IF, typically in the tens to hundreds of MHz range, the architecture allows digitization at sampling rates aligned with the signal's bandwidth rather than its center frequency, thereby optimizing ADC resource utilization and reducing power consumption. This IF sampling approach supports efficient DSP algorithms for tasks like filtering, equalization, and recovery, forming the backbone of modern direct digital receivers. Undersampling techniques further enhance this process by deliberately the IF signal to or intermediate zones, where the sampling frequency exceeds twice the signal bandwidth but is below the for the IF center, preventing overlap of spectral replicas through precise bandpass filtering. For instance, in bandpass-sampling ADCs, the IF is chosen such that aliases fold cleanly into the desired without from out-of-band components, enabling lower-cost, lower-power implementations compared to full-rate sampling. This method is particularly valuable in software-defined radios (SDRs), where the IF stage digitizes signals at rates like 70 MHz for flexible, reconfigurable processing via hardware. In and distribution systems, downconversion to L-band IF (950–2150 MHz) allows efficient signal transport over standard infrastructure, minimizing losses while preserving for multi-channel delivery. The standard leverages this IF for advanced features like adaptive coding and modulation, achieving up to 30% higher in broadcasting compared to predecessors. Post-2020 developments in low-Earth orbit () links, such as those integrated with non-terrestrial networks, similarly employ IF downconversion in ground terminals to handle high-mobility, high-throughput connections, supporting constellations with global coverage. For wireless technologies, the IF stage remains essential in designs for sub-6 GHz bands, where digital architectures generate IF outputs up to 6 GHz to feed massive arrays, enabling and across wide s. In mmWave superheterodyne chains, signals are downconverted to a 1–2 GHz IF to bridge the gap between millimeter-wave front-ends and processors, facilitating sub-Nyquist direct IF sampling with high-speed ADCs for bandwidths exceeding 400 MHz per . The digital era amplifies these benefits through programmable IF filters, which adjust bandwidth and selectivity in real-time to support multi-standard operation—such as simultaneous and —via FPGA or reconfiguration, reducing hardware complexity in versatile receivers.

Historical Development

Invention and Early Uses

The concept of the intermediate frequency (IF) emerged as a key innovation within the superheterodyne receiver, invented by American electrical engineer Edwin Howard Armstrong in 1918 while he served with the U.S. Signal Corps in France during World War I. Motivated by the need for improved radio direction finding to locate enemy aircraft, Armstrong applied heterodyning principles to amplify weak short-wave signals generated by airplane motor ignitions, particularly after witnessing a German bombing raid on Paris in March 1918 that highlighted the limitations of existing detection methods. Prior to the IF approach, radio receivers primarily used tuned radio frequency (TRF) amplifiers, which provided inadequate selectivity—struggling to distinguish desired signals from —and limited , rendering weak distant transmissions nearly inaudible without excessive . Armstrong addressed these issues by converting the incoming to a fixed lower IF for easier . He publicly demonstrated the superheterodyne in a December 1919 presentation to of Radio Engineers, titled "A New of Short Wave ." This work built on a precursor for related techniques, though the core superheterodyne (U.S. No. 1,342,885) was filed in February 1919 and granted in June 1920. In the early 1920s, the gained commercial traction, with the Radio Corporation of America () leading its adoption for broadcast radio sets; the 1924 AR-812 model, one of the first mass-produced units, employed an IF of approximately 45 kHz to balance amplification efficiency and image rejection. By , IF stages had become integral to military systems, where they facilitated the processing of faint echo signals through mixing and amplification, enhancing detection capabilities in applications such as air defense and naval surveillance.

Evolution and Standardization

In the 1930s, the of superheterodyne receivers led to the standardization of 455 kHz as the intermediate frequency (IF) for (AM) broadcast radios, primarily to improve selectivity and avoid interference from local oscillators in adjacent receivers. This frequency was selected because it fell outside the typical spacings of 10 kHz in the or 9 kHz elsewhere, minimizing image frequency issues while allowing for effective filtering with the tubes available at the time. Following , frequency (FM) saw the adoption of 10.7 MHz as the standard IF, chosen for its balance between image rejection and the availability of suitable tuned circuits, replacing earlier experimental values like 4.3 MHz. This standardization facilitated widespread FM radio production and improved performance in the post-war boom. For television, the (FCC) in 1941 established IF standards as part of the National Television System Committee (NTSC) guidelines, setting the video IF at 44 MHz for early VHF channels to ensure compatibility and efficient in receivers. These allocations supported the initial commercial rollout of TV , though they were later adjusted with the reallocation of lower frequencies. During the Cold War era, IF techniques were integral to relay links for long-distance communication networks, enabling downconversion of high-frequency signals for reliable transmission in and civilian infrastructure, including precursors to satellite systems. These applications emphasized robust IF stages to handle multi-hop propagation over thousands of miles. The digital transition from the to the shifted IF designs toward higher frequencies, leveraging (GaAs) integrated circuits for better performance at bands in and receivers. The integration of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) and GaAs ICs revolutionized IF strips, reducing component counts and enabling compact, low-power designs in cellular base stations and handsets. In parallel, the evolution toward zero-IF (direct-conversion) architectures in mobile phones during the and partially supplanted traditional IF stages, particularly in (CDMA) systems, by eliminating intermediate mixing for simplified integration and lower costs. This trend, driven by advances in analog-to-digital conversion, marked a significant departure from fixed IF reliance while retaining superheterodyne principles in many high-performance applications.

Examples of IF Values

In Broadcast and Consumer Electronics

In broadcast and consumer electronics, intermediate frequency (IF) values are standardized to facilitate efficient signal processing in radio and television receivers. For amplitude modulation (AM) radio, the standard IF is 455 kHz in North America and Europe, enabling consistent amplification and demodulation across devices. This frequency allows for straightforward implementation of tuned circuits and filters while providing adequate selectivity. In some regions, such as certain parts of Asia and older European systems, a slight variation of 450 kHz is used to accommodate local channel spacing and hardware constraints. The selection of 455 kHz represents a historical compromise, balancing the need for image frequency rejection (to avoid interference from signals 910 kHz away), ease of manufacturing LC filters with available components, and avoidance of harmonics within the AM broadcast band (540–1600 kHz). For (FM) radio, the worldwide standard IF is 10.7 MHz, adopted universally for consumer tuners and receivers to ensure compatibility and high-fidelity audio recovery. This value supports the 200 kHz channel spacing typical in (88–108 MHz band) and allows for precise detection. The choice of 10.7 MHz, standardized in the United States by the Radio Manufacturers Association in 1945 following band reallocation, was a compromise driven by the availability of quartz crystal filters for sharp selectivity and the need to place the IF well above the FM band to minimize image interference. In systems, IF values are tailored to the regional standard for separating video and audio s. For the system used in , the video IF is 45.75 MHz, with the audio IF at 4.5 MHz relative to the video , allowing vestigial filtering to preserve picture quality within 6 MHz channels. In PAL systems prevalent in and other regions, the video IF is 38.9 MHz (for B/G variants), accommodating the 8 MHz channel bandwidth and 5.5–6 MHz audio offset. These frequencies emerged as historical compromises, optimizing for the performance of early vacuum-tube and transistor-based bandpass filters while aligning with allocated VHF/UHF channel spacings to reduce . VCRs and analog set-top boxes for cable employ IF values matching their regional standards to enable seamless integration with broadcast tuners. In VCRs, the tuner outputs a 45.75 MHz video IF for processing before onto tape carriers (typically 3.58 MHz for and audio tracks). European PAL VCRs use a 38.9 MHz IF similarly for tape recording. Cable set-top boxes convert incoming RF signals (often 50–860 MHz) to these standard IFs—such as 45.75 MHz for compatibility—via single or double , facilitating and output to televisions. This alignment ensures economical reuse of circuitry while supporting historical technologies optimized for these fixed frequencies.

In Specialized Technologies

In satellite television systems, the intermediate frequency for downlinks from Ku-band (11.7–12.75 GHz) and C-band (3.7–4.2 GHz) satellites is typically in the L-band range of 950–2150 MHz. This IF range is generated by low-noise block downconverters (LNBs) at the , which mix the received RF signals with local oscillators (e.g., 9.75 GHz or 10.6 GHz for Ku-band) to produce a IF suitable for or to the indoors. The wide bandwidth accommodates multiple transponders, enabling simultaneous reception of various channels while minimizing degradation. In radar applications, intermediate frequencies of 30–70 MHz are commonly employed in pulsed systems to facilitate after downconversion from RF bands. For instance, the AN/TPS-13 tactical utilizes a 30 MHz IF in its for enhanced sensitivity and filtering in ground surveillance operations. In airborne configurations, such as the GSFC 94-GHz cloud , the IF operates between 50 and 70 MHz to support frequency-diversity waveforms and high-resolution atmospheric profiling. These IF choices balance requirements with analog-to-digital conversion constraints in pulsed environments. Point-to-point terrestrial links, used for high-capacity data transmission in backhaul, often employ 70 MHz or 140 MHz as the intermediate frequency. In these systems, signals are modulated onto the IF carrier before upconversion to frequencies (e.g., 6–42 GHz), allowing standardized amplification and multiplexing across links spanning kilometers. The 70/140 MHz duality supports compatibility with legacy equipment while enabling higher-order for increased throughput in dense networks. Medical imaging modalities like and MRI incorporate IF stages in their receivers to process signals from high-frequency transducers or coils. In systems, signals from transducers operating at 50–100 MHz are processed after initial amplification for and envelope detection in applications such as dermatological or intravascular . Similarly, MRI receivers employ IF stages to downconvert RF signals (e.g., 128 MHz at ) for detection and artifact reduction in multi-channel arrays. Contemporary systems, such as active electronically scanned arrays (AESAs), continue to utilize IF processing but increasingly integrate digital techniques at lower IF bands for flexibility. In AESA designs, the IF stage follows RF downconversion per element, enabling subarray processing and agility to counter in scenarios.

References

  1. [1]
    IF | Analog Devices
    Definition. Intermediate Frequency: Radio communications systems modulate a carrier frequency with a baseband signal in order to achieve radio transmission.
  2. [2]
    The Benefits of an Intermediate Frequency in RF Systems
    An intermediate frequency is somewhere between the baseband frequency and the carrier frequency. IF circuitry can be incorporated into both transmitters and ...
  3. [3]
    Edwin H. Armstrong - Engineering and Technology History Wiki
    Feb 27, 2023 · With the four patents for his FM techniques that he obtained in 1933, Armstrong set about gaining the support of RCA for his new system. RCA ...
  4. [4]
    Superheterodyne receivers | RF Design Guide
    A superheterodyne receiver is a widely used technique that shifts the spectrum of received signals to a common intermediate frequency (IF) using a mixer and ...
  5. [5]
    Intermediate Frequency (IF) in RF Systems: Advantages and ...
    IF, or Intermediate Frequency, refers to a frequency that lies between the baseband frequency and the carrier frequency on the frequency spectrum.
  6. [6]
    Superheterodyne Receiver - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
    A superheterodyne receiver converts a received radio frequency (RF) signal to an intermediate frequency (IF) for further processing.
  7. [7]
    [PDF] Introduction to Receivers - UCSB ECE
    The superheterodyne or superhet architecture uses an intermediate (IF) frequency following the mixer. This is selected such that amplifiers and channel ...
  8. [8]
    [PDF] The Mathematics of Mixers: Basic Principles
    Frequency Translation. Mixers are nonlinear circuits; they rely on near-perfect nonlinearity. This sounds like a contradiction, but it means that perfect.
  9. [9]
    Superhet Radio Receiver: What it is & How it Works - Electronics Notes
    The superhet radio works by using a variable frequency local oscillator and feeding the incoming signals and the local oscillator into an RF mixer.Superhet Radio Basics · Superhet Radio Applications... · Superhet Radio History<|control11|><|separator|>
  10. [10]
    Double & Triple Conversion Superheterodyne Radio
    The basic concept behind the double superhet radio receiver is the use of a high intermediate frequency to achieve the high levels of image rejection that are ...
  11. [11]
    Superheterodyne Receiver: Image Response - Electronics Notes
    The superheterodyne radio receiver has an issue referred to as the image: there are two frequencies that can mix with the local oscillator to enter the IF.
  12. [12]
    The Heterodyne Receiver: Frequency Mixing and the Intermediate ...
    Dec 25, 2021 · A heterodyne receiver uses signal mixing to lower a radio frequency, creating an intermediate frequency (IF) that preserves the audio signal.
  13. [13]
    [PDF] 2. The Super-Heterodyne Receiver
    Oct 16, 2006 · Generally speaking, as we go lower in frequency, the cost of components go down, and their performance increases (these.<|control11|><|separator|>
  14. [14]
    Superheterodyne Receivers
    In a radio application we are reducing the AM or FM signal which is centered on the carrier frequency to some intermediate value, called the IF (intermediate ...
  15. [15]
    [PDF] CHAPTER 4 RF/IF CIRCUITS - Analog Devices
    The output of the RF stage is one input of a mixer. A Local Oscillator (LO) is the other input. The output of the mixer is at the. Intermediate Frequency (IF).
  16. [16]
    [PDF] Crystal Ladder Filters for All - ARRL
    Crystal ladder filters have been used in home construction projects for a very long time and radio amateurs have developed ever.
  17. [17]
    Navy Electricity and Electronics Training Series (NEETS), Module 17 ...
    This difference frequency is known as the intermediate frequency (IF). a typical value of IF for an AM communications receiver is 455 kilohertz.
  18. [18]
    The Evolution And Importance Of Intermediate Frequency
    Aug 12, 2024 · Intermediate frequency (IF) is the difference frequency created when mixing a received signal with a local oscillator, converting it to a fixed ...
  19. [19]
    [PDF] Understanding FM Receivers - ARRL
    1B there is a stage immediately after the IF amplifier that is labeled "limiter." This part of the FM receiver is used to "sanitize" or "launder" the FM signal ...
  20. [20]
    [PDF] AM/FM Receiver
    • Two stages: RF and IF. (filtering and amplification). • The receiver was ... AM/FM Radio Receiver. • IF filter: – Center frequency. – Bandwidth ...
  21. [21]
    Television Receiver - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
    MHz signal (the intercarrier signal) which carries the sound. This is separated by a filter, further amplified and (FM) demodulated to provide the sound output.
  22. [22]
    [PDF] How the World Changed Television
    The surviving system is known as intercarrier sound where the difference between the visual and aural carrier (in this case 4.5 MHz) is detected and ...
  23. [23]
    Radar Signal Processing | Cambridge Pixel
    In modern radar sets, after intermediate frequency (IF) amplification and phase-sensitive detection, the radar signals are converted to digital form. At this ...
  24. [24]
    The FM Ceramic Filter Page
    Ceramic filters are electronic components used as the bandpass element for Intermediate Frequency (IF) amplifier stages of an FM radio.
  25. [25]
    None
    Error: Could not load webpage.<|control11|><|separator|>
  26. [26]
    Automatic Gain Control Methods - Radartutorial.eu
    The simplest type of agc adjusts the IF amplifier bias (and gain) according to the average level of the received signal. With agc, gain is controlled by the ...
  27. [27]
  28. [28]
    TVFAQ: Brief description of international color TV standards - SER FAQ
    SECAM: This system is very different from both NTSC and PAL. Luminance and color-difference signals are still used, but the color difference signals are sent ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  29. [29]
  30. [30]
    Relationship between ADC performance and requirements of digital ...
    The paper presents the relationship between the performance of a bandpass-sampling analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and the requirements of a digital ...
  31. [31]
    [PDF] SECTION 5 UNDERSAMPLING APPLICATIONS - Analog Devices
    Popular IF frequencies are generally between 10 and 100MHz. The detector then translates the Delta f frequency band down to baseband where it is filtered and.
  32. [32]
  33. [33]
    [PDF] EN 302 307 - V1.2.1 - Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) - ETSI
    The DVB-S standard specifies QPSK modulation and concatenated convolutional and Reed-Solomon channel coding, and is now used by most satellite operators ...
  34. [34]
    Integration of 5G, 6G and IoT with Low Earth Orbit (LEO) networks
    This paper illustrates the integration of LEO systems with fifth and sixth generations of mobile cellular networks as well as with the IoT networks.Missing: post- | Show results with:post-
  35. [35]
    A Review on 5G Sub-6 GHz Base Station Antenna Design Challenges
    Aug 19, 2021 · Digital beamforming is the preferred architecture in Sub-6 GHz mMIMO antennas as most of the beamformers can provide IF outputs up to 6 GHz. ...
  36. [36]
    Direct IF Sampling Receivers for 5G Millimeter-Wave ... - IEEE Xplore
    One approach for achieving these goals is to employ direct intermediate frequency (IF) sampling at sub-Nyquist rates in a superheterodyne receiver architecture ...
  37. [37]
    A programmable band-select filter for digital IF software defined ...
    Abstract: A new approach in designing the filtering stage in a digital IF-sampling software defined radio (SDR) receiver is presented.
  38. [38]
    The Superheterodyne – Major Armstrong: Scientist, Technologist ...
    May 17, 2010 · The bombing raid and third link, to which Armstrong refers above, occurred in Paris, March 1918. He had thus sorted out how to use the ...
  39. [39]
    Tuned Radio Frequency (TRF) Receiver: Working Principle, History ...
    Aug 11, 2025 · Poor Selectivity: The ability to precisely distinguish between one station versus another is hard to make out, particularly when the stations ...
  40. [40]
    US1342885A - Method of receiving high-frequency oscillations
    The method of receiving and amplifying high frequency oscillations whereby the incoming energy is utilized to produce oscillations of a difierent locally ...
  41. [41]
    [PDF] The 1924 RCA AR-812 superhet radio receiver - The MESSUI Place
    The RCA AR-812 is a reflex receiver and one of the first superheterodyne sets. ... The set uses a fairly low IF frequency of. 45kHz, although some documents ...
  42. [42]
    How did 455 kHz end up being a commonly used IF (intermediate ...
    Jan 28, 2022 · 455 kHz was chosen because it is not possible to have stations separated by that amount in either system: 455/10 = 45.5 and 455/9 = 50.555.
  43. [43]
    Build a Vintage Radio Sweep Alignment Instrument
    Later, with the development of high gain pentodes, 455 kHz became the recognized standard. The choice of FM IF frequency was first 4.3 MHz when the first FM ...
  44. [44]
    Why these values 10.7Mhz 455khz? - Forum for Electronics
    Sep 27, 2002 · These IF frequencies were standardized when AM and then FM broadcasting was introduced in the USA. 455 was chosen because it was below the 540 end of the AM ...
  45. [45]
    [PDF] ADVANCED RECEIVER ARCHITECTURES IN RADIO - IISTE.org
    Television receivers commonly use an IF in the region of 36 MHz or 44 MHz in the early days when TV signals were in Bands I or III, i.e. at VHF, the image ...
  46. [46]
    [PDF] Television Standards and Practice
    March, 1941. It constitutes a thorough and authoritative examination into the technical bases of a public television service ...
  47. [47]
    The Microwave Era Begins, October 1950 Radio & Televsion News
    Apr 7, 2022 · A long microwave relay system consists of two terminals and a large number of intermediate repeaters. These repeaters must be capable of ...
  48. [48]
    An Historical Perspective on 50 Years of Frequency Sources
    Apr 15, 2008 · Even before the 1960s, a number of vacuum tubes could generate useful signals at UHF and lower microwave frequencies.3 Most of these were ...
  49. [49]
    Semiconductor Trends in Wireless Handsets - Microwave Journal
    Jun 6, 2005 · This architecture often involves advanced RF/mixed-signal circuit designs with a low intermediate frequency (low IF) and innovative DSP ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  50. [50]
    History of Our GaAs Semiconductor Products
    Nov 21, 2023 · 1.9 GHz PHS used was the frequency bandwidth GaAs MESFETs were good at. Most of the time switches for PHS were GaAs semiconductors or PIN diodes ...
  51. [51]
    How chip designers brought zero-IF to CDMA phones - EE Times
    A zero-IF approach enables direct conversion of analog RF signals to a digital baseband format. This dramatically reduces component count and thus handset ...
  52. [52]
    Advanced RF Technologies for the Wireless Market
    Sep 1, 2001 · The zero intermediate frequency (ZIF) receiver, shown in Figure 3 , also eliminates the need for an external IF SAW filter by down-converting ...
  53. [53]
    AM Transmission - HyperPhysics
    This beat frequency is called the "intermediate frequency" or IF, and for the United States that beat frequency is 455 kHz. After initial amplification, the ...
  54. [54]
    Picture Carrier - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
    This difference is 45.75 MHz, the standard picture carrier IF used in NTSC television reception. Also shown are the conversions for the sound and color carriers ...
  55. [55]
    Welcome!Winersat! Modulator
    Output Level, 28dBmV (Video Carrier) ; Video IF Carrier Frequency, NTSC : 45.75 MHz ; PAL-B/G : 38.9 MHz ; PAL-D/K : 38 MHz ; Audio IF Carrier Frequency, NTSC : ...
  56. [56]
    TUNER Page - RFcandy
    The IF-output from my tuner is 38.9Mhz (European standard), American standard is 45.75 MHz.
  57. [57]
    [PDF] MC44S803 - NXP Semiconductors
    second intermediate frequency (IF) of 30 MHz to 50 MHz. The single-chip ... Typical applications include cable data modems, cable TV (CATV) set-top boxes.
  58. [58]
    [PDF] BASICS OF C & Ku BAND TRANSMISSIONS & LNBs - Scatmag.com
    The LO frequencies have been selected to yield an output in the IF (950 MHz to 2150 MHz) range, for all types of LNBs. As a result, universal satellite ...
  59. [59]
    [PDF] FRC0740 L-BAND BLOCK UPCONVERTER FRC0750 ACTIVE L ...
    Wide choice of RF frequency ranges covering C, Ku, and DBS-bands. •. Converts Extended L-band (950-2150 MHz) to Extended C-band. (5.85 - 7.05 GHz). •. Very high ...Missing: TV intermediate
  60. [60]
    L BAND SATELLITE CONVERSION CHART - FM Systems
    Dec 6, 2012 · The down-conversion process reduces the signal frequency down into the L-Band that occupies 950 MHz to 1450 MHz and allows for the use of smaller less ...
  61. [61]
    AN/TPS-13 - Radartutorial.eu
    The AN/TPS-13 used a superheterodyne receiver with an Intermediate Frequency (IF) of 30 MHz. ... Johnson, U.S. Navy Radar Systems Survey, in Naval Research ...
  62. [62]
    The NASA GSFC 94-GHz Airborne Solid-State Cloud Radar System ...
    The second Nyquist zone of the DAC (40–80 MHz) is used to produce 40-μs frequency-diversity waveforms in an IF frequency of 50 to 70 MHz. The waveform ...
  63. [63]
    Microwave Transmission - GeeksforGeeks
    Jul 23, 2025 · Then it is used to modulate an intermediate carrier of 70 MHz or 140 MHz . Then the modulated signal is up-converted to microwave frequency.Missing: IF | Show results with:IF<|control11|><|separator|>
  64. [64]
    [PDF] 70 and 140 MHz IF to IF Frequency Converters - Narda-MITEQ
    These converters provide IF to IF frequency conversion for incompatible frequencies, like 70 MHz to 140 MHz, and can provide IF frequency agility.Missing: microwave | Show results with:microwave
  65. [65]
    Ultrahigh Frequency (100 MHz–300 MHz) Ultrasonic Transducers ...
    Jun 22, 2016 · This paper reports the design, fabrication and characterization of sensitive broadband lithium niobate (LiNbO 3 ) single element ultrasonic transducers in the ...Missing: stage | Show results with:stage
  66. [66]
    A low-power, area-efficient multichannel receiver for micro MRI
    Jan 7, 2013 · ... intermediate frequency stage. The receiver is designed using a 90 nm CMOS technology to operate at the main B0 magnetic field of 9.4 T ...
  67. [67]
    T/R-module testing | Rohde & Schwarz
    The progression from purely-analog-RF-in-and-analog-RF-out to digital intermediate frequencies (IF) represents a significant advancement in AESA radars.