Editing Transceiver (section)

{{Short description|Device that both transmits and receives}}
{{inline|date=August 2020}}

In [[radio communication]], a '''transceiver''' is an electronic device which is a combination of a radio [[transmitter|''trans''mitter]] and a [[Radio receiver|re''ceiver'']], hence the name. It can both transmit and receive [[radio wave]]s using an [[antenna (radio)|antenna]], for communication purposes.  These two related functions are often combined in a single device to reduce manufacturing costs.  The term is also used for other devices which can both transmit and receive through a [[communications channel]], such as ''optical transceivers'' which transmit and receive light in [[optical fiber]] systems, and ''bus transceivers'' which transmit and receive [[digital data]] in computer [[data bus]]es.

Radio transceivers are widely used in [[wireless devices]].  One large use is in [[two-way radio]]s, which are [[Audio signal|audio]] transceivers used for bidirectional person-to-person voice communication.  Examples are [[cell phone]]s, which transmit and receive the two sides of a phone conversation using radio waves to a [[cell tower]], [[cordless phone]]s in which both the phone handset and the base station have transceivers to communicate both sides of the conversation, and [[land mobile radio system]]s like [[walkie-talkie]]s and [[CB radio]]s.  Another large use is in [[wireless modem]]s in mobile networked computer devices such [[laptop]]s, pads, and cellphones, which both transmit digital data to and receive data from a [[wireless router]].  Aircraft carry automated [[microwave]] transceivers called [[aircraft transponder|transponders]] which, when they are triggered by microwaves from an [[airport surveillance radar|air traffic control radar]], transmit a coded signal back to the radar to identify the aircraft.  Satellite transponders in [[communication satellite]]s receive digital telecommunication data from a [[satellite ground station]], and retransmit it to another ground station.