A New Kind of Radio Propagation at Very High Frequencies Observable over Long Distances

Abstract

The discovery and some results of a preliminary investigation of a new type of weak vhf propagation by means of the ionosphere is reported. This form of propagation appears to be observable over ranges out to about 2000 kilometers from the transmitter but is likely to be masked by other kinds of propagation at distances much less than about 1000 kilometers. The initial experiments on a frequency of 49.8 Mc/sec reveal the uninterrupted presence of observable signal over a test path of 1245 kilometers, irrespective of season, time of day, or geomagnetic disturbance, though showing dependence in intensity on these factors, and possibly on the meteor activity as well.