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Absorption

If a signal does not bounce off, move around, or pass through an object, then 100 % absorption has occurred.
Significant cause of Loss
Most materials absorb some level of RF signal
Brick, Concrete, Water all absorb a lot
Even things with lots of water in them

Reflection

If a wave hits a smooth object larger than itself it may

bounce off
Sky wave reflection
Lower Frequencies bouncing off charged particles
in the ionosphere
Microwave reflection
Higher frequencies (1 Ghz to 300 Ghz) that bounce
off smaller objects like a metal door
Important for WLAN
Buildings, roads, water, earths surface

Scattering

Multiple reflections
If the wavelength is longer than the medium that the wave is passing through
Two types
If the particles are smaller than the wavelength, minor scattering of the signal
If the signal encounters an uneven surface and is reflected in multiple directions
Fences, trees, etc

Refraction

Signals can also be BENT by refraction, like through a

prism
Bending of a signal as it passes through a
medium with a different density
Causes the direction of the wave to change.
Issue for long distance bridging

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RF Behaviors

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Diffraction

Bending of a signal AROUND an object

Also spreads the signal
Usually caused by a partial blockage
If you are behind the blockage, you are in
the RF shadow

Free Space Path Loss

Because of the laws of physics, an electromagnetic signal will attenuate as it travels despite the lack of attenuation caused
by obstructions, absorption, refection, diffraction, and so on.
Free space path loss (FSPL) is the loss of signal strength caused by the natural broadening of the waves, often referred to
as beam divergence. RF signal energy spreads over larger areas as the signal travels farther away from an antenna, and
as a result, the strength of the signal attenuates.

Multipath

When multiple signals arrive at receiver due to different

obstructions/effects on RF signal
Difference in arrival is delay spread.
Problem can be countered with antenna diversity
Downfade
This is decreased signal strength. When the multiple RF
signal paths arrive at the receiver at the same time and are
out of phase with the primary wave, the result is a decrease
in signal strength (amplitude). Phase differences of between
121 and 179 degrees will cause downfade.
Upfade
This is increased signal strength. When the multiple RF
signal paths arrive at the receiver at the same time and are
in phase or partially out of phase with the primary wave, the
result is an increase in signal strength (amplitude). Smaller
phase differences of between 0 and 120 degrees will cause
upfade. Please understand, however, that the fnal received
signal can never be stronger than the original transmitted
signal because of free space path loss.
Nulling
This is signal cancellation. When the multiple RF signal paths arrive at the receiver at the same time and
are 180 degrees out of phase with the primary wave, the result will be nulling. Nulling is the complete
cancellation of the RF signal.
Data corruption
Because of the difference in time between the primary signal and the reflected signals known as the delay
spread, along with the fact that there may be multiple reflected signals, the receiver can have problems
demodulating the RF signals information. The delay spread time differential can cause bits to overlap with
each other, and the end result is corrupted data, as seen in Figure 2.16. This type of multipath interference
is often known as intersymbol interference (ISI).

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