Ultra-Short-Wave Propagation

Abstract

Part I of this paper first describes a method of measuring attenuation and field strength in the ultra-short-wave range. A résumé of some of the quantitative experiments carried out in the range between 17 megacycles (17 meters) and 80 megacycles (3.75 meters) and with distances up to 100 kilometers is then given. Two cases are included: (1) "Optical" paths over sea water and (2) "Nonoptical" paths over level and hilly country. An outstanding result is that the absolute values of the fields measured were always less than the inverse distance value. Over sea water, the fields decreased as the frequency increased from 34 megacycles (8.7 meters) to 80 megacycles (3.75 meters), while the opposite trend was found over land. As a rule, the signals received were very steady, but some evidence of slow fading was obtained for certain cases when the attenuation was much greater than that for free space. Part II gives a discussion of reflection, diffraction, and refraction as applied to ultra-short-wave transmission. It is shown, (1) that regular reflection is of importance even in the case of fairly rough terrain, (2) that diffraction considerations are of prime importance in the case of nonoptical paths, and (3) that refraction by the lower atmosphere can be taken into account by assuming a fictitious radius of the earth. This radius is ordinarily equal to about four thirds the actual radius.