Noun
Impedance is a unit of measurement used to indicate the amount of resistance offered by an electronic circuit against the flow of an alternating current (AC) signal and is measured in ohms (Ω).
Think of impedance as a speed bump a signal has to overcome before passing through an electronic device like a signal booster. Higher impedance levels make it harder for signals to pass through, often resulting in weaker signals.
In cell phone signal boosters, you'll typically find two impedance ratings:
- An input impedance rating, which shows a booster's resistance level to an incoming signal.
- An output impedance rating, which indicates a signal booster's resistance to an outgoing signal.
For optimal performance, the input impedance on your signal booster should match your cell phone's output impedance. If the impedance is too high or too low, it may cause interference, resulting in weaker signals and poor reception.
In addition to its application in cell phone signal boosters, impedance is also a key performance metric in radio frequency (RF) systems, where it's used to achieve impedance matching. This process involves making corresponding input and output impedance as close as possible to minimize loss. Impedance matching also protects against signal reflection and helps ensure high levels of efficiency.
Contact the experts at Wilson Signal Booster for help finding the best cell phone signal booster for your needs.
Example of Impedance in a sentence:
"The most commonly used impedance standard in RF circuits is the 50 Ohm standard."
Related Terms for Impedance: