Vacuum electronics for communications and broadcasting

Vacuum electronics play a large and expanding role in communication and broadcasting networks. It is well known that TWTs are commonly used in satellite downlink transmitters because of their high efficiency and low weight. But vacuum electronics are also essential to many forms of earth-based communications. Uplink satellite stations use TWTs, EIKs, CCTWTs and Klystrons to provide communications links that are cost-efficient and reliable. Terrestrial repeaters using Klystrons and TWTs provide digital radio signals where satellite cannot reach. Inductive output tubes (IOTs) (Klystrodes) power UHF television broadcasts with HDTV content. Troposcatter systems use Klystrons and TWTs to provide point-point high data rate links for transportable applications.