18WuD2x

754 wire gauze • wire splice
wire gauze A fine screen of thin wires.
wire grating See WAVEGUIDE GRATING.
wire-guided Pertaining to guiding a machine, such
as a robot, by means of signals sent by wire from
the control point.
wire leads Leads that are (usually thin, flexible)
wires, rather than pins, bars, strips, etc. An example
is the wire leads of some transistors (as opposed
to terminal pins).
wireless 1. Pertaining to data communications
and control systems that operate without wires
(e.g., an infrared link between a notebook computer
and a desktop computer). 2. An early name
for radio; it is still used in some countries. Sometimes
for specificity, radio is referred to as wireless
telegraphy or wireless telephony. See
RADIOTELEPHONY.
wireless access protocol Acronym, WAP. A communications
standard used on a worldwide basis
with portable cellular telephone sets incorporating
electronic mail, online service access, and/or
Internet access.
wireless broadcaster See WIRELESS MICRO-
PHONE.
wireless compass A radio compass (see DIREC-
TION FINDER).
wireless device A device that operates over a distance,
without the use of interconnecting wires.
wireless e-mail 1. The use of electronic mail
(e-mail) in conjunction with a wireless Internet service.
2. The use of a specialized portable wireless
communications device, resembling a strippeddown
computer or an enhanced cell phone, to
send and receive e-mail messages.
wireless intercom An intercom using wired-radio
for transmission and reception over the power
line from which it is operated. Also see WIRED
RADIO.
wireless Internet 1. The use of a personal computer,
usually a notebook or portable, in conjunction
with a wireless modem connected to the
Internet. Services of this type are provided with
high-end cellular telephone subscriptions. Assets
and limitations are similar to those associated
with cell phone services. 2. The use of a
specialized portable or mobile wireless communications
device, resembling a stripped-down computer
or an enhanced cell phone, for basic
Internet communications and information
retrieval.
wireless microphone A device consisting of a
small radio-frequency oscillator modulated by the
microphone to which it is attached, and provided
with a tiny antenna. The modulated signal is
picked up and reproduced by a radio receiver.
wireless modem 1. A modem that facilitates connection
of a computer to the Internet using a cell
phone set. 2. A wireless transceiver that facilitates
connection of a computer to the Internet. A
cellular telephone connection can be included as
an option. 3. Also called cordless modem. A pair
of short-range (on the order of a few feet) radio or
infrared transceivers. One unit connects to a telephone
jack or cable port, and the other unit connects
to a computer. Can protect a portable
computer against damage by lightning, assuming
the computer uses batteries and is not connected
to utility mains.
wireless tap A method of eavesdropping on communications
in which a portion of the circuit
makes use of a radio-frequency wireless link. An
eavesdropping receiver can be positioned within
range of the wireless transmitting antenna, and
the signals intercepted. The existence of such a
tap causes no change in the electronic characteristics
of any equipment in the system, so its
deployment is difficult to detect even if
eavesdropping is anticipated.
wireless telegraphy See RADIOTELEGRAPHY.
wireless telephone 1. A radio transceiver interconnected
with the telephone lines. 2. A telephone
in which a short-range radio link replaces
the cord between the receiver and the base unit.
It normally has a range of several hundred feet.
wireless telephony See RADIOTELEPHONY.
wire line One or more wires or cables conducting
currents for communication, control, or measuring
purposes.
wire link A line for wire communication or wire
control.
wire-link telemetry Telemetry carried on over a
wire link.
wireman 1. An electrician who specializes in the
installation and servicing of electrical wiring.
2. See LINEMAN.
wire mile A unit of measure equal to the product
ns, where n is the number of separate, equallength
conductors in a line, and s is the length of
a conductor in miles.
Wirephoto
1. A system for transmitting and receiving
photographs over wire lines. Also called
Telephoto. See FACSIMILE. 2. A photograph
transmitted and/or received, as defined in 1. 3. A
trademark for a photograph transmitted and received
over telephone lines.
wire printer A printout device consisting of a wire
array in which each wire is activated by an electromagnet.
When a wire is selected (electrically),
it is pushed against, and makes a dot on the
recording paper. The letters and figures, then, are
dot patterns. Compare WHEEL PRINTER.
wire radio See WIRED RADIO.
wire recorder In audio applications and data
recording, a machine that records sounds or data
pulses in the form of magnetized spots on a thin
wire.
wiresonde A system for transmitting weather information
data through a cable that holds a captive
balloon. Compare RADIOSONDE.
wire splice A strong, low-resistance joint between
(usually two) wires. See, for example, WESTERN
UNION JOINT.