Thread: Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
View Single Post
  #19   Report Post  
Old February 20th 07, 05:10 PM posted to rec.radio.shortwave
Caveat Lector Caveat Lector is offline
external usenet poster
  
First recorded activity by RadioBanter: Aug 2006
Posts: 210
Default Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.

SomeOne Wrote
why is it that shortwave
can actually go so far yet AM and FM barely go anywhere?

FM is in the VHF band thus is essentially line of sight (like TV Stations)

AM stations have a coverage during the day that is local - a few hundred
miles example I am in San Diego and can pick up LA stations 90 miles away.
At night one of the atmosphere layers dissipates and AM stations can be
heard all across the country. Example on a good night during the winter I
can pick up WGN Chicago - 1700 miles

For AM you will need a good antenna and listen at night during the winter
months.

All this is explained (no math) at URL:
http://ecjones.org/propag.html

CL


Reply With QuoteReply With Quote