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Off-the-air

In telecommunication, the term off-the-air has the following meanings:

1. In radio communications systems, pertaining to a station that is completely shut down, i.e., that is not transmitting any signal, not even an unmodulated carrier.

2. In a radio station, pertaining to a particular source of modulation, such as a specific microphone, that is disconnected, i.e., is no longer capable of modulating the carrier.

Note: The carrier may continue unmodulated or it may be modulated by another signal source.

Source: from Federal Standard 1037C