At what radio stage is the image frequency typically rejected?

The image frequency is typically rejected at the RF stage. This is because the purpose of the RF stage, which stands for Radio Frequency stage, is to amplify the desired signal while simultaneously filtering out unwanted frequencies, including the image frequency.

In radio receivers, the image frequency is a spurious response that can interfere with the reception of a desired signal, particularly in superheterodyne receivers. The RF stage employs various filtering techniques to suppress not only this image frequency but also other spurious signals and noise that can degrade signal quality. By rejecting the image frequency at this early stage, the performance of the receiver is improved, allowing for clearer signal processing in subsequent stages.

On the other hand, at the IF (Intermediate Frequency) stage, further filtering and demodulation occur, but the critical rejection of the image frequency primarily takes place at the RF stage. The audio and baseband stages handle the signals after they have been demodulated and are not involved in image frequency rejection.