What does diplexer mean?
A diplexer is a radio-frequency component used to combine signals from two different frequency bands onto one shared transmission line and to separate them again in the opposite direction. For example, a broadcast antenna may carry signals for several stations through the same feed cable: the diplexer combines the stations for transmission and sorts them into separate channels for reception. Diplexers are commonly built with waveguides, resonators, or filter networks and are found in broadcasting, satellite communication, radar, cellular networks, and other two-way radio equipment. The term is technical rather than general, but it remains useful because it identifies a function that a broader term such as "combiner" does not fully convey. It is also distinct from a duplexer, which typically handles outgoing and incoming signals at the same frequency rather than assigning different frequency bands to different ports.
nounA radio-frequency device that combines signals from two different frequency bands onto a common transmission line and separates them again when travelling in the opposite direction. It is commonly used in antenna, broadcast, satellite, and two-way radio systems.
- A radio-frequency device that combines two frequency bands onto one transmission line in the transmit direction and separates them in the receive direction.
"The tower used an RF diplexer to connect the transmitter and receiver to a single antenna feed."
"A waveguide diplexer allowed the base station to use one antenna for both the uplink and downlink."
"The engineer replaced the faulty cavity diplexer before the transmitter was put back into service."
The regular plural is used when referring to multiple diplexers or multiple units in an antenna or radio system.
"Two diplexers were installed at separate antenna feeds."
A diplexer is a traffic roundabout for radio waves: two frequency bands share one route and are sorted back out when they return.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does diplexer come from?
Diplexer is a twentieth-century technical formation built from di-, meaning "two," and the combining form plex, associated with Latin plexus, meaning "interlaced" or "woven." The suffix -er identifies the word as a device or agent. The formation also parallels related telecommunications terms such as multiplexer and duplexer, although all three have distinct functions.
How diplexer is actually used
This is specialist telecommunications terminology, chiefly used in radio engineering and antenna systems. In technical prose it is normally used attributively, as in "RF diplexer," and should not be confused with a duplexer.
Easily confused with diplexer
A duplexer separates outgoing and incoming signals on the same frequency, whereas a diplexer combines or separates different frequency bands.