Ever feel like people are speaking in code?
The world of radio communications relies heavily on technical shorthand to ensure rapid and precise information exchange.
To help you understand the lingo, we’ve compiled a guide to some of the most common abbreviations, acronyms and terms used in the industry.
| Terminology |
Explanation |
|---|
| AF |
Audio Frequency - The range of sound wave frequencies that can be heard by the human ear, typically ranging from 20 Hz (low bass) to 20,000 Hz (high treble). Also a term used to describe volume control. |
| AFC |
Automatic Frequency Control - An electronic circuit system that automatically keeps a radio receiver locked onto a specific signal frequency. |
| AGC |
Automatic Gain Control - A feedback circuit that automatically adjusts an amplifier's gain to keep the output signal level consistent, boosting weak signals and reducing strong ones to normalize volume/amplitude despite wide input variations. |
| AM |
Amplitude Modulation - A communication technique where audio is encoded by varying the strength (amplitude) of a high-frequency carrier wave in direct proportion to the message signal, while keeping the carrier's frequency and phase constant. |
| ANL |
Auto Noise Limiter - An electronic circuit designed to reduce impulsive, high-amplitude interference from audio signals. |
| APF |
Audio Peak Filter - An equalizer tool that boosts or cuts a specific, narrow band of frequencies around a centre frequency. |
| ATEX |
Atmosphères EXplosibles - A European safety regulation designed to prevent explosions in hazardous work environments. An ATEX approved radio is intrinsically safe, meaning that it is specifically designed for use in oil, gas and chemical industries.
|
| ATIS |
Automatic Transmitter Identification System - A mandatory digital identification system for marine VHF radios on inland waterways in many European countries. |
| Bandscope |
A function that makes it easy to find busy frequencies and to observe receiver frequency band conditions.
|
| Banks |
An amalgamated group of channels in the memory. |
| Channel Spacing |
The distance between the centre frequency of signals on channelled systems. |
| CI-V System |
A computer interface which allows control of the radio from a PC (Icom radios only).
|
| CTCSS |
Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System - An analogue, in-band signalling method which reduces interference by keeping the speaker muted unless a specific, sub-audible tone is detected. |
| CW | Carrier Wave - A high-frequency signal used to transport lower-frequency information such as voice, data or music over long distances.
|
| CW |
Continuous Wave - A mode of transmission in which a radio carrier wave is turned on and off to transmit information, most commonly morse code. |
| Db |
Decibel - A logarithmic unit used to measure sound. |
| DCS |
Digital Coded Squelch - A digital signalling technique used to filter out unwanted conversations and noise, allowing only radios with the same code to hear each other. |
| DDS |
Direct Digital Synthesis - A digital technique for creating precise, agile and arbitrary analogue waveforms (like sine or square waves) from a single, stable clock. |
| EEPROM |
Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory - A type of semiconductor memory that retains data without power and allows individual bytes to be erased and reprogrammed electrically in-circuit. |
| Filters |
Components used to refine radio signals. |
| FM |
Frequency Modulation - A communication technique where audio is encoded by varying the frequency of a constant-amplitude carrier wave in direct proportion to the information signal's amplitude, resulting in high-quality signals with better noise resistance than AM. |
| GHz |
Giga Hertz - A unit of frequency equal to one billion Hertz. |
| GMDSS |
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System - An international satellite and radio-based communication network ensuring ships can send distress alerts, locate survivors, and receive crucial safety information globally. |
| HF |
High Frequency - A frequency that ranges from 3 to 30 MHz.
|
| High Band |
A term to describe the frequency range between 136 and 174 MHz. |
| Hz |
Hertz - A unit for measuring frequency. |
| IF Shift |
A receiver feature that moves the passband of the internal filters without changing the receiving frequency. |
| kHz |
Kilo Hertz - A unit of frequency equal to 1,000 Hz.
|
| LCD |
Liquid Crystal Display - A flat-panel screen technology that uses liquid crystals to control light from a backlight. |
| Low Band |
A term to describe a VHF frequency ranging from 29.7 MHz to 50 MHz. |
LF |
Low Frequency - A term to describe a frequency ranging from 30 to 300 kHz. |
| MF |
Medium Frequency - A frequency between 300 kHz and 3,000 kHz (3 MHz). |
| MHz |
Megahertz - A unit of frequency measuring 1,000,000 Hz. |
| Noise |
Unwanted, random or unintended electrical signals that interfere with, distort or mask the signal. |
| PBT |
Pass Band Turning - A feature in receivers and transceivers that allows the operator to shift the centre frequency of the Intermediate Frequency (IF) filter without changing the actual receiving frequency. |
| PTT |
Push To Talk - The method of communicating using a Push To Talk button on a radio. |
| RF |
Radio Frequency - A frequency or band of frequencies in the range 104 to 1011 or 1012 Hz, suitable for use in telecommunications. |
| RTTY |
Radio Teletype - A method of transmitting text-based messages over radio waves, acting as a "keyboard-to-keyboard" mode. |
| RX |
Receive - Indicates that the radio is currently in a mode to listen to, or is actively receiving, a signal from another radio. |
| SDR |
Software Defined Radio - A system where components that are typically implemented in hardware are instead implemented via software on a computer or embedded system. |
| SHF |
Super High Frequency - Radio frequencies in the range of 3 GHz to 30 GHz. |
| SIGNAV |
Semantically Informed GPS-denied Navigation - An advanced, real-time SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) technology that enables robots and vehicles to navigate accurately without GPS. |
| S-Meter |
Signal Strength Meter - An indicator that measures the strength of the incoming radio signal.
|
| SQL |
Squelch - A circuit function that acts as a noise gate, designed to suppress the audio output of a receiver in the absence of a strong, desired signal. |
| TS |
Time Stamp - A precise data tag embedded into a transmitted data packet, transmission or recorded log that records the exact time an event occurred. |
| TX |
An abbreviation for Transmit or Transmission. It can also refer to the process of sending voice or data signals from your radio to another user or a repeater. |
| UHF |
Ultra-High Frequency - Referring to radio frequencies between 300 MHz and 3 GHz. |
| VHF |
Very High Frequency - Referring to a range of radio frequencies between 30 and 300 MHz.
|
| VOX |
Voice Operated Exchange - A feature that allows a radio to automatically start transmission when it detects sound above a specific decibel level, eliminating the need to manually press the Push-to-Talk (PTT) button for hands-free use. |
| VSC |
Vehicle Safety Communications - Refers to wireless, real-time data exchanges between vehicles, infrastructure and other road users. |
| WFM |
Wideband Frequency Modulation - A method of frequency modulation where the carrier frequency is deviated by a relatively large amount, generally used for high-fidelity audio transmission rather than simple voice communication. |
