What is a transponder? Principle of operation and scope

Often, when installing and configuring satellite TV, people are confronted with incomprehensible terms. This happens when you first try to tune in an antenna or tuner, for example. And if the instructions appear incomprehensible words, then they must be interpreted. Often, users do not know what a transponder is. Let's understand.

What is a transponder?

This is the device that transmits the signal as a response to the received signal. A transponder can receive a signal at one frequency and transmit it to another, amplify it. Also, it is capable of creating a response signal when the request is correctly received, etc. It is often used to send a pre-defined message in the event of a specific signal.

Scope of application

Given the possibilities, the scope of the device is very extensive. It should be noted immediately that these devices are used not only in the field of satellite television, as many people mistakenly believe. Yes, thanks to a TV transponder, satellite channels are formed, and the device itself plays the role of a repeater or transceiver.

The device can be used for digital compression, when several different digital streams are simultaneously transmitted through channel transponders at one frequency. They are very active in aviation, including in the military. The famous "own-alien" system is based on the use of a transponder. Also, its role is great in recognizing signals on the radar. Some models can transmit information about altitude, flight speed, a special code of the defendant.

But even this does not limit the scope of application. The device allows you to look for snow-covered skiers. There are even special devices for finding keys in the house (the transponder in this case will give out a signal for a certain user's whistle, for example). On ships, sonar transponders are used that measure distances to objects.

Transponders in Aviation

And although it has already been said above that this device is used in aviation, this sphere of application deserves special attention. It is in aviation that the role of this device is really great, therefore, when answering the question about what a transponder is, one should first of all talk about aviation, and only then about satellite communication.

The transponder, which is always on board the civil aircraft, allows the air traffic controller on the ground to determine this aircraft. The dispatcher service locator sends a signal, the transponder receives it and sends a special four-digit code in response. So the dispatcher will see the position of the vessel and a special code on the monitor screen. These codes may be different, they show the situation on board.

For example, code 7500 means the capture of an airplane, code 7700 indicates an accident on board, code 7600 means a communication loss. These are special codes, upon receipt of which an alert is automatically activated in the dispatching service. Of course, this is a very approximate description of the principle of the transponder in aviation. In fact, the system is quite complex, but accurate. But in general, the work scheme looks like this.

Conclusion

There are a lot of applications for this device. They are even impossible to list everything. But the main thing is that now you understand what a transponder is, and also how it works. The most important thing is to understand the principle of work. The device sends another signal in response to the received signal. In this simple principle, there is an extremely complex system of aviation communication and object identification. The device allows you to establish the connection of the satellite dish directly to the satellite itself, with its help the car key ring with the keys responds to the user's whistle, etc. Continue to give examples of the use of this device can be infinitely long.