ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Quadrature-division multiple access

Quadrature-division multiple access is like when you have a big toy box and you want to play with your friends without getting in each other's way. So, you divide up the toys into different sections, like the dolls in one section, the cars in another section, and the blocks in a different section. Then, you and your friends can each take turns playing with your favorite toy sections without bumping into each other.

Just like that, in radio communication, quadrature-division multiple access divides up the available frequency range into different sections, or sub-channels, so that multiple devices can use the same frequency band at the same time without causing interference. Each device gets assigned its own sub-channel, so they can each "play" without getting in each other's way.

Think of it like playing a game of musical chairs. There are many people playing the game, but everyone has their own chair to sit in. This way, everyone can play at the same time without getting in each other's way, just like how quadrature-division multiple access allows multiple devices to use the same frequency band without interfering with each other.