1. Scientific Notation 1,000,000,000 = 1 X 109 GIGA (G)
How Radio Waves Travel
Troop 620
Scientific Notation
1,000,000, = X GIGA (G)
1,000, = 1 X MEGA (M)
1, = 1 X KILO (k)
= 1 X UNIT
= 1 X CENTI ( c )
= 1 X MILLI (m)
= 1 X MICRO (µ)
= 1 X NANO (n)
= 1 X PICO (p)
Note: Bold may be on license exam.
Examples:
14 MHz = 14,000,000 Hertz
2mV = Volts
Radio M.B Req. 2a-1

2. Frequency Frequency is the number of AC cycles/second.
How Radio Waves Travel
Troop 620
Frequency
Frequency is the number of AC cycles/second.
Hertz (Hz) is the unit for cycles per second.
60 Hz is 60 cycles per second.
146MHz is 146,000,000 cycles per second
Audio Frequencies (AF) = 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
Communication voice is 300 to 3,000 Hz. (~ 3 KHz.)
300 Hz is a low, deep sound of a man’s voice
3000 Hz is a very shrill sound
Radio frequencies (RF) over 20,000 Hz.
High Frequency (HF) 3 to 30 MHz
Very High Frequency (VHF) 30 to 300 MHz
Ultra High Frequency (UHF) 300 to 3000 MHz
Electromagnetic waves speed of light.
Distance a radio wave travels in 1 cycle is its wavelength
Wavelength = (Speed of Light) / (Frequency)
Example: 14MHz = 14,000,000 Hz. Its wavelength is
(3*108 meters per second) / (14,000,000 Hz) = about 20 meters
Radio M.B Req. 2a-1

3. How Radio Waves Travel
Troop 620
Radio Spectrum
Radio M.B Req. 2a-1

4. VHF and UHF Propagation
How Radio Waves Travel
Troop 620
VHF and UHF Propagation
All radio signals travel out to the horizon, just like light, if they are not refracted (bent) or reflected.
VHF and UHF signals are usually not refracted or reflected. So, if they are most useful for talking to stations that you can see.
But, occasionally, obstacles can refract a tiny bit of signal and it can still be received:
Radio M.B Req. 2a-1

5. VHF and UHF Propagation
How Radio Waves Travel
Troop 620
VHF and UHF Propagation
VHF and UHF waves can also reflect (bounce) off of large metal objects like airplanes or metal buildings.
Signals could be strong or weak
VHF waves can also bounce off of meteors
UHF Frequencies are usually to high to bounce off of meteors
Lower VHF frequencies, such as the 6 meter ham band (50 MHz) work best
Communication does not last long. When the meteor disappears from sight, communication disappears soon afterwards
Sometimes humidity and thunderstorms will scatter VHF and UHF a little bit and communication of several hundred miles is possible
Radio M.B Req. 2a-1

6. How Radio Waves Travel
Troop 620
HF Propagation
HF signals can bounce off of an area of the atmosphere called the ionosphere
Communication for thousands of miles is possible
The ionosphere is between 60 and 250 miles about the surface of the earth
When the weather in the ionosphere is severe, HF radio waves can easily bounce off of it
Sometimes they can bounce between the earth and the ionosphere several times and worldwide communication is possible
The weather in the ionosphere is the most severe when there are many spots on the sun.
The number of sunspots vary daily and, in general, in an 11 year cycle. This is similar to seasons (spring, summer, fall, and winter) on earth. But, sun activity can vary greatly on a day to day basis.
Radio M.B Req. 2a-1