How does a car radio “hold onto” a weak signal for a long time, but if you change the channel and try to change it back, it can’t pick up on it again?

Question

This also works on an internet signal.

In: Technology

Answer 1

Digital systems are more forgiving of a signal they are already connected to and have higher standards for establishing a connection to a new one. Think of it like a bad phone call, if it’s good and then gets staticky you give it a bit to get better, where it it’s blaring static from the start you hang up right away.

Digital radios don’t play the signal unless it meets a certain quality threshold, but it will allow dips below that threshold without turning off the sound.

WiFi will keep attempting to send and receive packets on an connected network and wait longer when getting partial answers than when it is trying to make a new connection.