The ultimate guide to different types of wireless signals
 | May 22, 2025 | 10 min read |
Wireless communication is so seamlessly woven into our everyday lives that we often forget it’s even there. From the moment your alarm goes off to your late-night scroll through social media, wireless signals are silently working behind the scenes to keep you connected. However, these signals don’t stop at Bluetooth, Wi-Fi® and 5G. There’s a wide variety, each with its own strengths, quirks and ideal uses. To help clarify this invisible web of connectivity, Ooma has put together a guide that breaks down the different types of wireless signals, how they work and where you’re likely to run into them.
What are wireless signals?
Wireless signals are electromagnetic waves that transmit data through the air. These signals travel freely between devices instead of needing a physical connection, like a cable. The speed, range and reliability of these signals depend on their frequency. Some can zip through walls, while others need a direct line of sight. Some can stretch for miles, whereas some are only useful across a room. They each have their own unique uses in modern communication, and their history goes back to the 19th century. In the late 1800s, scientists James Clerk Maxwell and Heinrich Hertz laid the foundation for wireless technology. Their work on electromagnetic theory and radio waves opened the door to long-distance communication without wires. In the early 1900s, Guglielmo Marconi sent wireless messages across the Atlantic Ocean, changing everything. That initial spark led to radio, television, cell phones, Wi-Fi and much more.
Types of wireless signals
Radio waves are the oldest and most versatile wireless signals. They come in many forms, categorized by their frequency:
Very Low Frequency (VLF): 3 – 30 kHz
VLF waves are used for military navigation and communication as well as geophysical measurements. These waves can travel long distances and even penetrate the water and ground, but they need large antennas.
| Uses | Pros + Cons |
|---|---|
| Navigation beacons and time signals, Military navigation and communication (submarines), Geophysical and atmospheric measurement (long-range lightning location, aurora research), Mine detection and communication (due to its ability to penetrate rock and soil) | Pros: Ability to penetrate solid surfaces, Low signal attenuation, Long range, Reliable Cons: Wavelengths are long, so transmitting antennas must be large for effectiveness |
Low Frequency (LF): 30 – 300 kHz
LF radio waves are found in some AM broadcasts and submarine communications. The signal travels far and is great at bending around obstacles.
| Uses | Pros + Cons |
|---|---|
| AM broadcasting (in Europe and parts of Asia), Radio clock timekeeping (Europe and Japan), Submarine communication, Aircraft beacons, Royal Navy nuclear submarines monitor BBC Radio 4 on 198 kHz (an interruption will allegedly indicate the UK is under attack, at which point their sealed orders may go into effect), Amateur radio | Pros: Low signal attenuation, Long range, Ability to diffract over obstacles such as mountains and follow the curve of Earth’s surface,Capable of penetrating the ocean up to 660 ft (200 m) Cons: Wavelengths are long, so transmitting antennas must be large for effectiveness, Limited bandwidth |
Medium Frequency (MF): 300 – 3,000 kHz
MF powers standard AM radio. It’s solid for ground-based communication but lacks sound clarity for music.
| Uses | Pros + Cons |
|---|---|
| AM radio broadcasting (120 channels with limited sound quality), Maritime ship-to-shore communication, Transoceanic air traffic control, Navigational radio beacons | Pros: Reliable ground wave propagation, Not as affected by ionospheric disturbances as HF Cons: Poor sound quality for music |
High Frequency (HF): 3 MHz – 30 MHz
HF is used in shortwave radio. These signals bounce off the ionosphere, making long-range communication possible.
| Uses | Pros + Cons |
|---|---|
| Military and government communication, Aviation air-to-ground communication, Shortwave radio (international broadcasting), Ship-to-shore and ship-to-ship communication, Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) communication, Amateur radio | Pros: HF waves are reflected back to Earth by the ionosphere later, allowing intercontinental communication (“skip” or “skywave” propagation) Cons: More susceptible to changes in the ionosphere than lower frequencies |
Very High Frequency (VHF): 30 – 300 MHz
VHF and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) are used for FM radio, TV and two-way radios. They offer good quality but don’t do well in dense buildings.
| Uses | Pros + Cons |
|---|---|
| FM radio, Television broadcasting, Aircraft and marine communication, Two-way land mobile radio systems, Distress signals, NOAA weather broadcast | Pros: Wavelengths are small enough that antennas can be short enough to mount on vehicles and handheld devices Cons: Does not work well indoors (cannot penetrate dense materials), Affected by natural conditions |
Ultra High Frequency (UHF): 300 MHz – 3 GHz
UHF is used for FM radio, TV and two-way radios. They offer good quality but don’t do well in dense buildings.
| Uses | Pros + Cons |
|---|---|
| Television broadcasting, Mobile phones, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Walkie-talkies, Baby monitors, Satellite communication | Pros: High data bandwidth, Can penetrate buildings and foliage, suitable for indoor use Cons: Consumes more energy, shorter battery life, Blocked by hills and cannot travel the horizon (little to no ionosphere reflection), Strength degraded by moisture |
Super High Frequency (SHF): 3 – 30 GHz
SHF and Extremely High Frequency (EHF) serve satellite communication, radar and even 5G. They can carry a lot of data but are sensitive to weather.
| Uses | Pros + Cons |
|---|---|
| Satellite communication, 5G, Wi-Fi, Microwave ovens, Wireless LANs | Pros: SHF radio waves can be directed in narrow beams by compact antennas, reducing interference with nearby transmitters, allowing frequency reuse Cons: Rain and atmospheric attenuation, Penetration loss |
Extremely High Frequency (EHF): 30 – 300 GHz
SHF and Extremely High Frequency (EHF) serve satellite communication, radar and even 5G. They can carry a lot of data but are sensitive to weather.
| Uses | Pros + Cons |
|---|---|
| Radio astronomy, Remote sensing, High-speed microwave data links, Broadband internet, Weapons systems, Security screening, Police speed radar | Pros: Can be used with portable antennas, High-frequency reuse potential Cons: High rain and atmospheric attenuation, Absorbed by humidity |
Microwaves
Microwaves sit on the higher end of the radio spectrum. These are used in radar, satellite communication and even the microwave ovens in most kitchens. They offer high bandwidth and are great for quickly transmitting information, but they need a clear path without obstructions.
| Uses | Pros + Cons |
|---|---|
| Point-to-point, satellite, and deep space radio communication, Radar, Radio navigation, Radio astronomy, Wireless power transmission | Pros: Small wavelength means convenient antenna size, High-frequency reuse potential, High data bandwidth Cons: Limited to line-of-sight propagation |
Infrared transmission
Infrared signals are common in remote controls and some short-range communication between computers. Infrared doesn’t go through walls and needs a direct line of sight, but it’s cheap and reliable over short distances.
| Uses | Pros + Cons |
|---|---|
| Short-range communication, Computer devices, Personal digital assistants, Optical fiber communications | Pros: Inexpensive, Low power consumption, Simple implementation Cons: Ambient light interference, Limited range, Requires direct line of sight |
Visible Light Communication (VLC)
VLC uses light waves, usually from LEDs, to send data. While it’s fast and secure, it only works when devices are within sight of each other. Because of this, VLC has been embraced in places where traditional radio frequencies aren’t safe, like hospitals or airplanes.
| Uses | Pros + Cons |
|---|---|
| Emerging technology that may be useful in indoor navigation systems and smart home communication | Pros: High-speed data transmission, Large bandwidth, Low latency, High signal stability, Safe alternative for areas where radio frequency may be harmful Cons: Short range, Atmospheric absorption |
Laser communication
Laser communication is essentially a high-powered version of VLC. It can send enormous amounts of data between satellites or distant ground stations. Though incredibly efficient, it’s also highly sensitive to weather and physical alignment.
| Uses | Pros + Cons |
|---|---|
| Point-to-point communication over long distances, like space satellites | Pros: Transmits 10 to 100 times more data than Earth’s radio frequency systems Cons: Heavily affected by atmospheric conditions |
Bluetooth
Bluetooth technology has become a staple in short-range wireless communication. Whether it’s your wireless earbuds or smartwatch, Bluetooth enables seamless connectivity. It doesn’t require much power, works across devices and is easy to set up. The trade-off comes from its limited range and sometimes poor audio quality.
| Uses | Pros + Cons |
|---|---|
| Data exchange between fixed or mobile devices over short distances | Pros: Low energy use, Multi-device capability, Ease of use Cons: Lower audio quality, Interference risk, Security concerns |
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is the magic behind our widespread access to the internet in homes, offices and coffee shops. It connects multiple devices to a single internet source. It’s easy to scale and set up, but it can be affected by walls, weather and other devices crowding the same channel.
| Uses | Pros + Cons |
|---|---|
| Local area networking (LANs) | Pros: Efficiency, Flexibility, Affordability, Scalability, Ease of use Cons: Security concerns, Slower speeds than wired networks, Affected by weather |
Cellular networks
Cellular networks have evolved from simple voice-only systems to the data-hungry giants we rely on today. As networks improved on the first generation, so did the features—2G gave us texts; 3G brought internet Browse; 4G enabled video streaming; and 5G is now unlocking high-speed, low-latency communication all over the globe.
| Uses | Pros + Cons |
|---|---|
| 2G: Voice and text communication, 3G: Voice and moderate-speed data transfer, 4G: High-speed data transfer, 5G: Ultra-fast data transfer | Pros: Accessibility, Mobility, Scalability, Flexibility Cons: Slower, less reliable, and less secure than wired networks |
Zigbee
Zigbee is less well-known but incredibly useful, especially in home automation and smart sensors. While it doesn’t carry a lot of information, it’s great for low-power, low-data tasks like controlling your smart lights or monitoring temperature sensors.
| Uses | Pros + Cons |
|---|---|
| Communication protocol used for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, Building automation, Medical device data collection | Pros: Low cost, Low power Cons: Low data capacity |
Near Field Communication (NFC)
NFC makes tap-to-pay and smart cards possible. It only works within a few centimeters, which keeps it secure but limits its uses to things like quick transactions or access control.
| Uses | Pros + Cons |
|---|---|
| Communication between electronic devices at a distance of 1 ½ in (4 cm) or less, Digital payments, Data exchange | Pros: Low energy, Close range lowers risk of third-party scanners intercepting data Cons: Short range |
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
RFID is everywhere, from pet microchips to supply chains. These tags don’t need to be in a direct line of sight and can be read quickly. RFID speeds up inventory management and enhances tracking, though it does come with privacy concerns.
| Uses | Pros + Cons |
|---|---|
| Uses radio waves to identify people, Supply chain and livestock tracking, Logistics, Vehicle tracking, Security clearance management | Pros: Reduced labor costs, Fast scanning, No line of sight needed Cons: Security concerns, Infrastructure requirements, High initial cost |
TV White Space (TVWS)
TV White Space (TVWS) communication uses unused TV frequencies to provide broadband internet, particularly in rural or underserved areas. It’s a clever way to get more mileage out of existing infrastructure, although its performance in busy urban areas is still catching up.
| Uses | Pros + Cons |
|---|---|
| Uses empty frequencies on television channels to provide broadband internet access | Pros: Broadens internet possibilities around the globe, Less network crowding, Less interference than Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, Affordability Cons: Security concerns, Poor function in urban areas, Lack of standards |
Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication
Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication is the brain behind smart transportation. This tech allows cars, traffic lights and road sensors to talk to each other. The goal is to reduce accidents, ease congestion and pave the way for autonomous vehicles.
| Uses | Pros + Cons |
|---|---|
| Communication between any vehicle and any entity that may affect or be affected by the vehicle | Pros: Improved safety, Traffic efficiency, Self-driving possibilities Cons: Vehicles may be prone to hacking through internet connection |
Today, wireless communication significantly influences our daily lives, work and interactions. Every signal has a distinct role in the digital landscape, from the radio towers gently humming on the horizon to the chip inside your smartwatch. Whether you’re expanding your small business communication system or seeking a convenient home phone solution, we can assist you. At Ooma, we’re dedicated to helping both homeowners and businesses stay seamlessly connected. Reach out to us and discover how we can empower you with reliable communication, one signal at a time.
Sources
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration— Radio Waves science.nasa.gov/ems/05_radiowaves
- Institute of Physics — Bluetooth iop.org/explore-physics/physics-around-you/technology-our-lives/bluetooth
- Environmental Protection Agency www.epa.gov/environmental-geophysics/very-low-frequency-electromagnetic-vlf
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security www.dhs.gov/archive/radio-frequency-identification-rfid-what-it
- U.S. Department of Transportation www.transportation.gov/v2x
Diane Balogh has more than 10 years of experience researching, editing and writing for and about the telecommunications industry. Her blog posts have appeared on ooma.com, TechBuzz.att.com, OnSIP.com and Talkatone.com. A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism with an area of emphasis in science writing, she specializes in translating complex topics into language that is easy to understand.
