GHz is the abbreviation for gigahertz, a rate of frequencies that operates at one billion cycles per second. A GHz has two primary technological definitions: It measures how fast computers process and execute information, and it designates specific speeds of radio waves. Certain radio waves that move at a number of GHz per second, like 1.9, are reserved for cordless or mobile phones in the United States, meaning that these signals can be used to send data and communicate on phones.
Definition
One gigahertz is equal to one billion hertz. Hertz is a term from the International System of Units used when talking about frequency, and frequency refers to traveling waves (such as radio waves), specifically to how often the cycles of waves change or how quickly the waves move.
This frequency measurement is used to describe different types of wave movement, from electrical power to computer data flow. One hertz is equal to about one wave per second, while a gigahertz is equal to one billion cycles per second.
Tech Application
GHz is also used as a measurement of processor speed. In computer systems, processors have internal clocks rated in GHz to show how fast they process information. A computer with a 1.6 GHz processor can execute 1.6 billion cycles every second. This is an indication of how fast and powerful a computer is, since having more GHz means the computer can perform tasks faster.
Phone Application
Phones that use radio waves to communicate must use specific types of waves set aside by regulation. Some waves are marked for radio stations or emergency channels, while others are frequencies reserved for use by cordless phones.
Telephone standards like PHS and DECT offer a number of transfer options that change these reserved frequencies into data that can be used by cell phones. The 1.9 GHz frequency is set aside for cordless phones in the United States; the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz frequencies also allow phone communication. It does not mean, however, that higher frequencies are faster or better, they are just different bands used for the same purpose.
International Uses
Other radio bands are set aside specifically for international uses. For instance, the 1.9 GHz (1880 to 1900 MHz) frequency band is used by the DECT standard for international calls. Mobile phones also have specific standards that use a range of MHz frequencies that are used to international calling.
Related Abbreviations
When speaking about radio frequencies, GHz is often broken down into megahertz (MHz) and kilohertz (KHz). Megahertz refers to a million hertz per second, while kilohertz is a thousand hertz per second. These abbreviations are used to define even tighter bands within the frequencies used for communication.
Tags: radio waves, billion cycles, billion cycles second, cordless phones, cycles second, equal billion, frequencies that
