Upconversion mixes a baseband or intermediate frequency signal with a local oscillator signal to produce a higher frequency output, typically for transmission. This is done using a nonlinear component like a diode ring mixer. It is a fundamental stage in radio transmitters, allowing low-frequency data to be carried over high-frequency RF links.
The transmit chain handles the upconversion from the 70 MHz IF to the 2.4 GHz carrier.
Related terms
Mixer
A non-linear circuit that combines two different input frequencies to generate new output frequencies.
Downconversion
The process of translating a high-frequency radio signal to a lower intermediate or baseband frequency.
Superheterodyne
Describing a receiver architecture that converts incoming radio frequencies to a fixed intermediate frequency for easier filtering and amplification.
LO
An internal signal source used to shift the frequency of an incoming signal.
IF
A specific frequency to which a carrier wave is shifted as an intermediate step in signal processing.