Propagation of Waves

Ham Radio Class

Week 5

Wave propagation

Propagation of
waves
Radio waves
spread out
from the
antenna in
straight lines

Wave propagation

 The farther it travels the

weaker it becomes,
eventually becoming too
weak to be received.

The distance over which a

transmission can be received
is
Wave propagation

Possible routes of wave propagation

The curvature of the

earth sets a range limit
for many signals; this is
called a radio horizon.

The distance over which a transmission can be

received is called range.
The curvature of the earth sets a range limit for
The distance over which a transmission can be
received is called range.
The curvature of the earth sets a range limit for
many signals; this is called a radio horizon.
(T3C10) many signals; this is called a radio
horizon. (T3C10)

Wave propagation

Communications at VHF
and UHF
are generally line of sight
communications.

That is they travel directly

from the
transmitting station to the
receiving
station.
Wave propagation

Direct (not via a repeater) UHF and VHF

ignals are rarely heard from stations outside
our local
overage area
ecause these
igh
requency
ignals are
ot reflected
y the
onosphere.

Longer Radio
waves can travel
along the ground

Wave propagation

Possible routes of wave propagation

Radio waves
can be
reflected or
refracted by
sudden
changes in
the media
through
which they

Wave propagation

10

Obstructions can create radio

shadows

Knife-edge propagation is the term used to

describe when signals are partially
refracted around solid objects exhibiting

Refraction also makes the earth

seem less curved to VHF and UHF
signals making them able to travel
further that the line of sight.

Wave propagation

12

Shorter waves lengths can more

asily penetrate buildings, making
ommunication from inside a
tructure more effective when
using UHF signals.

Wave propagation

13

Radio signals may take different paths

from the transmitter to the receiver. Thi
is called multipath.

Wave propagation

14

Signals may interfere with each other

f they are out of phase.

Wave propagation

15

roblems/solutions with multipath propagation

The irregular fading of signals from

distant stations is caused by the
random combining of signals arriving
via different paths.
oving your antenna just a few feet may avoid
e random reflections causing the multipath
stortions.

Wave propagation

16

Signals from mobile

stations moving
through an area with
multipath have
characteristic rapid
variations in
strength known as picket-

fencing.
Wave propagation

17

hat should you do if another operato

ports that your stations signals were
rong just a moment ago, but now the
e weak or distorted?

ove a few feet, as random reflections

ay be causing multipath distortions.

Wave propagation

18

Why are UHF signals

often more effective
from inside buildings
than VHF signals?
The shorter wave length
allows them to more
easily penetrate the
structure of the
Wave propagation

19

What term is commonly

used to describe the rapid
fluttering sound heard from
mobile stations that are
moving while transmitting?
Picket fencing

Wave propagation

20

What is the cause of irregular fading

of signals from distant stations
during times of generally good
reception?
A.absorption of signals by the D
layer of the ionosphere.
B.absorption of signals by the E
layer of the ionosphere.
C.random combining of signals
arriving via different path lengths
D.distortion in the local receiver
Wave propagation

21

What may occur if VHF or UHF

data signals propagate over
multiple paths?
A. Transmission rates can be
increased by a factor equal to
the number of paths
B. Transmission rates may
decrease by a factor equal to
the number of paths
C. No significant changes will
occur if the signals are
transmitting using FM
Wave propagation

22

What does the term knife-edge

propagation mean?
A. Signals are reflected back toward the
originating station at acute angles
B. Signals are sliced into several discrete
beams and arrive via different paths
C. Signals are partially refracted around
solid objects exhibiting sharp edges
D. Signals are propagated close to the
Wave propagation

23

What is the radio horizon?

A. The distance at which radio
signals between two points are
effectively blocked by the
curvature of the Earth
B. The distance from the ground
to a horizontally mounted
antenna
C. The farthest point you can see
when standing at the base of your
antenna tower
D. The shortest distance between
Wave propagation

24

Why do VHF and UHF radio signals

usually travel somewhat farther
than the visual line of sight
distance between two stations?
A. Radio signals move somewhat
faster than the speed of light
B. Radio waves are not blocked by
dust particles
C. The Earth seems less curved to
radio waves than to light
D. Radio waves are blocked by
dust particles
Wave propagation

25

Wave propagation can be

assisted
by atmospheric
phenomena

Wave propagation

26

Layers
caused by
temperature
inversions
form ducts
that can
carry signals
much farther
than typical
line of sight
communicati

Wave propagation

27

Layers with different properties

refract waves with slight
variations.

This tropospheric scattering often

allows contacts over 300 miles.
Wave propagation

28

The ionosphere is an
area from 30 to 260
miles above the earth
that has some unique
electrical properties.

Wave propagation

29

e ionosphere can completely reflect HF and VH

ves back toward the earth. (sky wave or skip)

The
earths
surface
can also
reflect
radios
waves.
ltiple reflections between the ionosphere/eart
(hop)

ows radio waves to be received around the wo

Wave propagation

30

The ability of the ionosphere to

refract waves depends on the
frequency of the waves.

Wave propagation

31

High frequency waves usually

pass right through, this is
why VHF and
UHF signals are
rarely heard
beyond the
radio horizon
without being
relayed by a
repeater
Wave propagation

32

As the sun
illuminates the
ionosphere the
maximum
usable
frequency
increases.
This is why
upper HF bands
are more likely
to by usable

Wave propagation

33

ring solar cycles patches of the ionosphere

come sufficiently charged to reflect VHF and
HF signals back to Earth.

This is called sporadic E

propagation.

Wave propagation

34

Sporadic E
Propagation is
most common
during early
summer and
mid winter
months on the
10, 6 and 2
meter bands.
Wave propagation

35

Radio signals reflected off the aurora borealis

exhibit rapid fluctuations and are often distorted.

Wave propagation

36

It is possible to
bounce radio
signals of meteor
trails.
The best band
for meteor
scatter is the 6
meter band.
Wave propagation

37

What mode is responsible for

allowing over-the-horizon VHF and
UHF communications to ranges of
approximately 300 miles on a
regular basis?
A. Tropospheric scatter
B. D layer refraction
C. F2 layer refraction
D. Faraday rotation
Wave propagation

38

What band is best suited

to communicating via
meteor scatter?
A. 10 meters
B. 6 meters
C. 2 meters
D. 70 cm

Wave propagation

39

What causes tropospheric

ducting?
A. Discharges of lightning during
electrical storms
B. Sunspots and solar flares
C. Updrafts from hurricanes and
tornadoes
Wave propagation

40

What is generally the best time

for long-distance 10 meter band
propagation?
A. During daylight hours
B. During nighttime hours
C. When there are coronal mass
ejections
D. Whenever the solar flux is low
Wave propagation

41

Which part of the

atmosphere enables the
propagation of radio
signals around the
world?
A. The stratosphere
B. The troposphere
C. The ionosphere
D. The magnetosphere
Wave propagation

42

Why are direct (not via a

repeater) UHF signals rarely
heard from stations outside
your local coverage area?
A. They are too weak to go
very far
B. FCC regulations prohibit
them from going more than 50
miles
C. UHF signals are usually not
reflected by the ionosphere
D. They collide with trees and
shrubbery and fade out
Wave propagation

43

Which of the following might be

happening when VHF signals
are being received from long
distances?
A. Signals are being reflected
from outer space
B. Signals are arriving by subsurface ducting
C. Signals are being reflected
by lightning storms in your
area
D. Signals are being refracted
Wave propagation

44

What is a characteristic of VHF

signals received via auroral
reflection?
A. Signals from distances of
10,000 or more miles are
common
B. The signals exhibit rapid
fluctuations of strength and often
sound distorted
C. These types of signals occur
only during winter nighttime
hours
D. These types of signals are
Wave propagation

45

Which of the following

propagation types is most
commonly associated with
occasional strong over-thehorizon signals on the 10, 6,
and 2 meter bands?
A. Backscatter
B. Sporadic E
C. D layer absorption
D. Gray-line propagation
Wave propagation

46