RADIO WAVE

PROPAGATION
Introduction
• Radio waves are one form of electromagnetic
radiation.
• Electromagnetic radiation has a dual nature:
In some cases, it behaves as waves
In other cases. it behaves as particles

• For radio frequencies the wave model is

generally more appropriate.
• Electromagnetic waves can be generated by
many means, but all them involve the
movement of electrical charges.
Classes of Electromagnetic Radiation
• Here are the main classes of
electromagnetic radiation, listed from
lowest to highest frequency:
• Radio Waves
• Microwaves
• Infrared Radiation
• Visible Light
• Ultraviolet Radiation
• X-rays
• Gamma Rays
Classes of Electromagnetic Radiation
• The part of the electromagnetic spectrum
with the longest wavelength and lowest
frequency is radio. The portion with the
shortest wavelength and highest
frequency is gamma radiation. Visible
light, which is the portion of the spectrum
that we can see, is roughly in the middle.
It has a shorter higher frequency than
infrared, but lower frequency than
ultraviolet.
Classes of Electromagnetic Radiation
Electric and Magnetic Fields
• An electromagnetic wave propagating
through space consists of electric and
magnetic fields, perpendicular both to each
other and to the direction of travel of the
wave

• The relationship between electric and

magnetic field intensities is analog Us to the
relation between voltage and current in
circuits.
• This relationship is expressed by: z
Power Density
• Power density is the amount of power
(time rate of energy transfer) per unit
volume. In energy transformers including
batteries, fuel cells, motors, power
supply units, etc.,
Plane and Spherical Waves
• The simplest source of electromagnet
waves would be a point in space, with
waves radiating equally in all direction
This is called an isotropic radiator.
• A Wave front that has a surface on which all
the waves are the same phase would be a
sphere.
Plane and Spherical Waves
Circular Polarization
• The polarization of a plane wave is simply
the direction of its electric field vector.

• The wave can rotate in either direction - it is

called right-handed if it rotates clockwise.
Free Space Propagation Model
• The free space propagation model is used to
predict received signal strength when the
transmitter and receiver have a clear,
unobstructed line-of-sight path between
them.

• There is no loss of energy in free space, but

there is attenuation due to the spreading
wave.
Transmitting Antenna Gain
• In practical communication systems, it is
important to know the signal strength at the
receiver input.
• It depends on the transmitter power and the
distance from the transmitter to the receiver,
but also upon the transmitting and receiving
antennas Two important antenna
characteristics are:
• Gain for the transmitting antenna
• Effective area for the receiving antenna
• Antennas are said to have gain in those
directions in which the most power is
radiated
Receiving Antenna Gain
• A receiving antenna absorbs some of the
energy from radio waves that pass it

• A larger antenna receives more power than a

smaller antenna (in relation to surface area)
• Receiving antennas are considered to have
gain just as transmitting antennas do.
• The power extracted from a receiving
antenna is a function of its physical size and
its gain.
Path Loss
• Path loss refers to the attenuation of
electromagnetic waves along the path
from transmitter to receiver.
Reflection
• Reflection is the act of light reflecting
back when it hits a medium on a plane.
Reflection
• Diffused Reflection
• A type of light reflection that is not mirror-
like is called diffused or irregular
reflection of light. Rays of light that are
reflected off of a rough surface scatter in
all directions.
Reflection
• A corner reflector is a retroreflector
consisting of three mutually
perpendicular, intersecting flat surfaces,
which reflects waves directly towards the
source, but translated.
Reflection
• Parabolic reflector
• A type of high-gain antenna that uses a
parabolic reflector, a curved surface with
the cross-sectional shape of a parabola,
to direct the radio waves.
Refraction
• Refraction is when an RF wave bends or
changes direction as it passes through a
medium.
Refraction
DIFFRACTION
• Diffraction is when RF waves bend
around an object. This can be caused by
either natural landscape features, such
as hills or around man-made objects,
such as a building.
• As seen in the image below, diffraction
can also cause a “shadow” where RF
waves are blocked from a zone behind
an object. If a network specialist doesn’t
take this into consideration, it can be the
primary cause of a poorly performing
wireless network.
DIFFRACTION
Ground wave propagation
• Ground wave propagation is a type of
radio propagation which is also known as
a surface wave. These waves propagate
over the earth's surface in low and
medium frequencies.
• these are not affected by the change in
atmospheric conditions.
Ground wave propagation
• The range of the Ground wave Propagation
depends on the frequency of the transmitted
wave, the power of the transmitter, and the
properties of the earth’s surface and the earth’s
atmosphere.
• Ground wave propagation requires a lower-
power transmitter than other methods of radio
wave propagation.
• It is used for medium-range communication
such as 100km to 1000km.
• mostly the frequency used for the ground wave
propagation lies between 3khz to 3Mhz.
Sky Wave Propagation:
• This mode of propagation occurs when the
signal is transmitted by the transmitting antenna
(Tx) is reflected by the ionosphere layer (sky)
and received by the receiving antenna (Rx) is
known as sky wave propagation.

• The ionosphere is the layer of the earth’s upper

atmosphere that contains ionized gases and
plasma. It protects the earth from harmful
radiation.
• Sky wave propagation occurs in the ionosphere.
• The range of frequencies that can be used for
sky wave propagation is typically between 3 and
30 MHz.
Sky Wave Propagation:
Space Wave Propagation of Radio Waves:
• This mode of propagation occurs when the
transmitting wave travels directly to the
receiving antenna directly without any reflection,
refraction, and deflection phenomenon. It is also
called direct wave propagation or line-of-sight
transmission.
• Space wave propagation is commonly used for short-
range radio communication
• Space wave propagation is also used for satellite
communication,
• The maximum range is approximately 40 kilometers for
radio waves at 100 MHz.
• Space wave propagation is used in a wide variety of
applications, including television broadcasting, mobile
phones, wireless LANs, and remote sensing.
Space Wave Propagation of Radio Waves:
•
Fading:
• In wireless communication, fading is a
phenomenon in which the strength and quality
of a radio signal fluctuate over time and
distance.
• Fading is caused by a variety of factors,
including multipath propagation, atmospheric
conditions, and the movement of objects in the
transmission path.

• Fading can have a significant impact on the

performance of wireless communication
systems, particularly those that operate in high-
frequency bands.
Ducting
• What is the meaning of ducting in radio wave
propagation?
• Ducting occurs when the refractive index of the
atmosphere rapidly decreases with height,
which leads to ray trajectories bending inward
towards the surface of the Earth, effectively
creating a waveguide and enabling long-
distance communication.