What is calibration in telemetry and why does it matter?

• A. Calibration updates firmware versions automatically.
• B. Calibration compresses data for transmission.
• C. Calibration aligns sensor readings with known references to ensure accuracy.
• D. Calibration is only relevant for power management.

Answer: (C)

Calibration in telemetry is about aligning sensor readings with known references to ensure accuracy. Sensors can drift over time due to temperature changes, aging, or installation conditions, so calibration uses fixed standards or reference values to adjust outputs. This keeps measurements trustworthy across time and between instruments, which is essential for reliable alarms, decisions, and data analysis. The idea that calibration aligns readings with known references to ensure accuracy matches the purpose of calibration. It isn’t about automatically updating firmware, compressing data, or power management—those touch other parts of the system and aren’t what calibration does.