What device is used to extend the range of radio communications?

A repeater is a device specifically designed to extend the range of radio communications by receiving a radio signal and then retransmitting it at a higher power or on a different frequency to cover greater distances. This is particularly useful in overcoming obstacles such as buildings, hills, or other terrain that can attenuate or block signals.

Repeaters play a crucial role in communication systems, especially in emergency services and public safety scenarios, where reliable communication is necessary. They can significantly enhance the coverage area, allowing operators to maintain contact over larger distances than would otherwise be possible with just transmitters and receivers alone.

While transmitters, receivers, and amplifiers each have important roles in communication systems, they do not inherently extend the range of a signal in the same manner as a repeater does. A transmitter generates the original signal, a receiver captures that signal, and an amplifier boosts the signal strength, but without the retransmitting capability that a repeater provides, the overall communication range is limited.