Ham Amateur Radio Technician Practice Exam 2026 – The Complete All-in-One Guide to Exam Success

Heterodyning refers to the process where two radio frequency (RF) signals are combined to create new frequencies. Specifically, it results in the generation of signals at the sum and difference of the frequencies of the two original signals. This technique is fundamental in radio communications and is widely used in various applications, including the operation of superheterodyne receivers, where incoming signals are mixed with a local oscillator frequency to produce an intermediate frequency, which is easier to process.

The other terms, while related to radio communications, describe different processes. Modulation involves altering the characteristics of a carrier wave, such as its amplitude or frequency, to encode information. Multiplexing refers to the method of combining multiple signals over a single communication channel to optimize the use of available bandwidth. Amplification pertains to increasing the power of a signal without changing its other characteristics. Understanding these differences helps clarify why the term heterodyning specifically describes the mixing of two RF signals.