Amateur radio, or ham radio for short, is a method of communications that uses radio wave to send signals from one location to another. Ham radio operators uses different frequencies to communicate with other ham radio operators from different locations around the world. However, the distance that the signal from ham radios can travel is dependent on various factors.
Ham radio signals do not travel the same distance due to various factors such as an equipment used, the terrain, and the sun. Individuals can begin to use ham radio by receiving a Technician class license for ham radio. This license allow ham radio operators to communicate on VHF and UHF radio frequencies.
What Affects How Far Ham Radio Signals Can Travel
Ham radio operators use these radio frequencies for local communication. However, if ham radio operators would like to communicate with other ham radio operators over much longer distance, they would have to receive a General or Extra license. These licenses allow ham radio operators to use HF bands to transmit radio signals that bounce off the atmosphere to reach other ham radio operators that are located in other part of the world.
The equipment ham radio operators use will impact the distance that the signals from those radios can travel. For instance, handheld radios are small and easy to carry, but they use small batteries and antennas. These characteristic of the handheld radio will limit the distance that the radio signal can travel.
In communicating directly from one radio transmitter to another radio transmitter, there must be a line-of-sight between the two radios. If there is any hills or mountains between the two radios, their signals will not be able to reach the other radios. To solve this problem for ham radio operators, repeater stations are built on the highest peak in the area.
These repeaters receive the ham radio signals from the ham radio operators and retransmit those signals at more powerful radio frequencies so that the radio signals can reach other ham radio operators over a much larger area. Some ham radio operators use mobile radios while they are in a vehicle or use a base radio station at the home where they live. Using more radio signal power will not necessarily allow ham radio operators to communicate with more listener or other ham radio operators.
If the radio signal power (wattage) is doubled, the distance that the radio signal can travel will not necessarily double. In fact, the most important part of the ham radio communication equipment is the antenna. Other than the antenna, no other component of the ham radio equipment will perform the work required to allow radio signals to travel from one location to another.
For example, a wire antenna that is tuned to the proper radio frequencies will work better for radio signal transmission than a powerful radio signal amplifier that is paired with a poorly design antenna. Ham radio operators can use a directional antenna setup with a Yagi antenna that will allow them to aim their radio signals at a specific location. Other ham radio antennas that ham radio operators use for communication are dipole antennas.
Propagation is the term used to describe the way in which radio signals travel through the atmosphere. High frequency radio signals can travel long distances from one ham radio operator to another due to the fact that those high frequency signals reflect off the atmosphere and bend back toward the earth surface. This process that occur with high frequency signals is referred to as “skipping,” and it allows ham radio operators to communicate with other ham radio operators that are located in other parts of the world.
However, the way in which radio signals propagate change due to the changes in the sun. The cycle of the sun impacts the amount of activity in the ionosphere, which also impacts the travel of high frequency radio signals. During the solar maximum of the suns cycle, there is a great deal of activity in the ionosphere, so that radio signals easily travel from one ham radio operator to another.
However, during the solar minimum of the suns cycle, there is less activity in the ionosphere, so that the radio signal does not travel as far from one ham radio operator to another. The terrain of the area where ham radio operators are located will also impact how far the radio signal can travel. Radio signals can easily travel over flat areas but forests and mountains may block them.
Due to the blocking of radio signals by mountains and forests, ham radio operators should seek higher ground when communicate with other ham radio operators in order to strengthen their radio signal. Finally, some ham radio operators have adopted digital modes into their communications with other ham radio operators. These digital modes use computers to encode the radio signals so that the other receiving ham radio operator’s radio signal receiver can process them.
These digital modes allow the radio signal to pull the audio signals from background noise that humans cannot hear. Additionally, digital modes are much more efficient than voice communications between ham radio operators because they can use very little power to communicate with other ham radio operators across the globe. Whether using voice or digital modes, ham radio operators use the technology to maintain contact and preparedness with others in the ham radio club.
