Space Wave Propagation

• Beyond 30MHz , the waves are not reflected

by from the ionospheric layers and so space
wave propagation is used at these
frequencies.
• Space wave is that radiowave which travels
from the Txing antenna to Rxing antenna
through space.ie through tropospheric
region(16km from earth’s surface)
• In space wave propagation the EM
reaches the Rxr in 2 ways:
(i) By a direct wave travelling directly
between Txing & Rxing antenna over
path TR called free space wave.
(ii) By a ground reflected wave travelling
over path TOR that involves a reflection
from the surface of the ground.
The resultant field strength at the receiving
antenna R is the vector sum of the
fields of these two waves.

• The reflection at O would take place

with no change in magnitude but with a
reversal of phase . Thus the two waves
will have equal amplitude but differ in
phase when they arrive at Rxing pt R
• Space wave propagation is limited to the Line of
Sight(LOS) distance and also limited by the curvature of
the earth

• Line of Sight (LOS) distance

is that distance between the
Txr & Rxr, in which if a direct
ray passes from the Txr to
the Rxr without being
intercepted by the bulge in
the earth’s surface and the
Txing antenna must see at
least the top of the
receiving antenna
Effective earth radius is 4/3 times the
actual earth’s radius.
r` = 4/3r