ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Signal strength in telecommunications

Imagine you want to talk to your friend who is far away from you. You don't want to shout, but you whisper. You need a small device called a telephone to talk to your friend. Your friend also has a telephone.

When you talk on the telephone, your voice turns into a signal that travels through a wire to your friend's telephone. The signal is like a tiny message that carries your words from your telephone to your friend's.

Sometimes, if you are far away from your friend or if there are things between you and your friend, like walls or trees, the signal can become weaker. This means that your friend cannot hear you properly, or you cannot hear your friend properly.

The strength of the signal is like the power of your voice. If you speak loudly, your friend can hear you better. If you whisper, your friend can't hear you as well.

Similarly, in telecommunications, the strength of the signal is very important. If the signal is weak, then the message cannot travel properly between the telephones. The signal can become weak for many reasons, such as physical obstacles, distance, or interference from other signals.

To make sure that the signal is strong enough, telecommunication companies have special devices called antennas. These antennas are like giant ears that can pick up the signal and make it stronger so that it can travel further.

Think of the antenna like a loudspeaker. If you turn it up, the sound gets louder and everyone can hear it better. Similarly, if the antenna is strong, the signal can travel further and people can communicate better.

In summary, signal strength in telecommunications is like the loudness of your voice. A weak signal can make it difficult for people to communicate properly, and stronger antennas can improve the signal's strength.