A catheter system for wireless communication with an electrophysiological (EP) mapping system. The catheter system comprises a catheter, a catheter adapter, and a radio frequency receiver module. The catheter includes a plurality of mapping electrodes including a tip electrode disposed on a distal portion of the elongated body, the mapping electrodes detecting electrocardiograph (ECG) signals; and a reference electrode being disposed on the elongated body at a distance from the plurality of mapping electrodes such that the reference electrode substantially does not detect electrocardiograph signals. The catheter includes a handle. The catheter adapter is attached to the handle. The catheter adapter includes an RF transmitter module for receiving, processing, and transmitting the detected ECG signals. The reference electrode provides a reference signal to the radio frequency (RF) transmitter module. The RF receiver module receives the transmitted ECG signals. The RF receiver module is coupled to the EP mapping system.