Radio Wave Propagation Basics - Where do Signals Go - and How?

[@mike-M0MSN]

Your passion for this subject is obvious, brilliant presentation and video.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Awe Mike!!!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

4:20 Possible slight mistake regarding difference over Ducting and E Layer propagation. No need to worry about it because we don't cover the different layers anyway. We'll do that another day. It's "advanced" but this fact won't affect your knowledge.

[@MrTommy001]

30 year tech. Three month General and three months into HF. I am SO far behind (at age 78). But I soak up any and all of your vids. Easy to understand, funny when it counts, and always informative. Thanks, Cal, for being there.

[@Thinks-First]

I started as a Tech in 1982 then in 2010 got my general and extra. Always something new to learn and always something old to relearn. This guy Callum is second to none in getting right to the heart of the technology and explaining it in a way that makes sense. There is another ham in in Rockland California who is also incredible but I forgot his name and call. Between the two you have all the elmers you need to learn and grow.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

That is awesome!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

@@Thinks-First Ah. That's my friend Jim, W6LG!

[@Thinks-First]

@@DXCommanderHQ Yes, Jim. That's him. Tnx.

[@Thinks-First]

Best lecture on basic propagation I've ever watched. Thank you, sincerely.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Wow. Thanks.

[@jamesemery1]

Passed my foundation this afternoon. Thanks Cal your videos was extremely helpful.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Woo-Hoo!!

[@dannyjardine8828]

Your use of layman's terms make your videos easy to learn from. Keep up the great work!!!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thanks, will do!

[@deezimmer4207]

I learn more from you than any course ive paid for. Thank you x

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Very kind.

[@thedrewwhiteshow]

Another wonderful video. Just got licensed January 2024, and learn something with every video. An added bonus is that each video really makes me think about different kinds of things. Thank you very much!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Fantastic!

[@MW6PNW]

Another well explained video for us "Dull ones". Cheers Cal. 73s

[@luis.s.martin]

It's always fun, to say the least, to watch your videos with valuable info. ThanX.

[@williambouchard4480]

Hi Cal, I am an extra class operator in the U.S. and I remember refraction and reflection of signals but had totally forgotten diffraction until you explained it and then the light bulb clicked on. Even us old heads can learn or relearn stuff that was forgotten! Thanks for the video and the lesson. On a different wavelength, I don't know how many other KZbinrs you watch, but there is a lovely young lady from the UK who travels on cruises and her channel is Emmas Cruises and she gives a detailed description of her trip and she is delightful. At some point during her video, she talks about the " Britishism of the week " where she explains something British so us Yanks will understand. Your Britishism of this video is torch and and my favorite is Jubilee Clip. Enjoy your videos. N3EDO

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I know Emma personally!

[@richardmillican7733]

You've definitely got a skill of explaining things in such an easy to understand manner Callum. Your definitely becoming an Elmer!! Cheers for the content, busy studying for licence now. Incidentally, off to high ground this evening to have a play about on 11 metres.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Have fun!

[@DD5LP]

I always think of Sporadic E being useful on 10 and 6 metres. Less often on 4 & 2 metres. Never on UHF. Long distance propagation on 2m and 70cm I remember more as coming from temperature inversion effects causing a kind of trunking between eg the UK and the continent. Propagation is a magical thing, but hard to explain to a newbie. Callum another great description here in this video. 73 Ed

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Hey Thanks Ed.

[@IanMayer]

Taking my foundation exam soon, this is all sooooo helpful. Love it. Big fan.

[@jamiecoburn1231]

At 13:00 you talk about over hill/mountain communications. What is the best chance of daytime communications in this circumstance? What can I do to give the best chance for success here? Is 80-160m NVIS going to be the best bet between groundwave, diffraction, and refraction? Does more power help (thinking about diffraction here), or is it all up to the ionosphere? Thank you as always Calum!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

It's always the ionoshpere and depending on the day, it could be 40m too.. Depends on distance (and the day!)

[@erickeith3490]

As always, thank you for making a complex subject easy to understand... especially for those of us who are visual learners! 73

[@richardmaxwellii2689]

You make it so easy to understand for people with little knowledge in ham radio

[@bctoner]

Thank you it is never a bad thing to review the basic stuff. As you said it is a lot more complicated and you could spend a lifetime just on that topic.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Good point.

[@DukeDave1]

Thank-you Callum. Another interesting topic.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Glad you think so!

[@imaginaryfriend9655]

Callum your videos are really pleasing to watch, very informative and your overall content is awesome, I started off on 11mtr as a CB Radio enthusiast and am now studying for my Foundation licence, I have to say, without your content I would have probably given up but, the way you explain everything is easy and as I said very simple but informative, keep up the great videos buddy… Ricky in West Yorkshire

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Wow. Thanks for the kind words.. Good luck!

[@matsbengtsson3756]

Thank you for helping Jim - W6LG. Very nice gesture. I have one of your classic antennas, great stuff. Thank you.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thanks!

[@M0RMY]

Cal, for some reason I missed this video until now - it is probably the best one I have seen on basic RF propagation for an introductory explanation. No jargon or assumed knowledge. Really well done mate.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Awe Tom! What a lovely comment!

[@SteveHutchings-ve1wth]

Very nice explanation. Incidentally, I was at our club tonight where a teacher was explaining propagation using powerpoint with mostly words to new ham students . Oh my, it was dry. I think your practical and visual presentation would have been received quite well. Cheers.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Oh! ANyway, thanks for the encouragement.

[@DonDegidio]

Hi Cal, You do have the knack of making more difficult subjects easy to understand. You, Wendy and the family stay safe. 73 WJ3U

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Tnx Don!!!

[@stargazer7644]

I work microwaves on the ham bands, and 10 GHz bounces quite well off of raindrops. Pointing your antenna at the top of thunderstorms in the summer results in quite long distance contacts. Ducting also results in 500 mile contacts.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Wow!

[@unclemikeyplays]

I'm already well past Foundation (well, Technician, being a Yank)--but I still watched this video because your energy for the subject is always engaging! With respect to the mysteries of propagation, my first contact today, in broad daylight, mid-afternoon in Minnesota, was Russia on 15m. It made no real sense, but I wasn't going to argue that QSO!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Love that!

[@NewHamBasicsKD9ZRO]

Great explanation of basic propagation. I definitely have a bit of a better understanding of why certain bands "work" at certain distances.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Ah great!

[@RadioMattM]

This is what makes radio fascinating. I have talked to Italy on a doublet hanging in my backyard in Houston. I am astounded when I look at that wire and think about what I have been able to do with it.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yeah.. Same!

[@RickPaquin]

I find very little discussion about VHF/UHF antenna positioning due to reflections so this was a good video. The old staying is, "the higher the better, for 2M/70cm" but I find MANY exceptions to that rule, depending on what you are trying to do and how high you want to go. I have a yard blocked by 100ft pine trees, so there is no real line of sight to ANY signal. Going up 100ft with an antenna is just not possible so I was forced to work with the trees. I installed a 30 ft GP9 and was disappointed by it's performance. Repeaters 35mi away were a struggle. I then experimented using a GP3 on a 25 ft pole and found that the location of the antenna was VERY critical to whatever signal I was attempting to receive. I decided to use the reception of distance weather stations, to help me find that optimum location for my antenna mast, which is now 25 ft away from it's original location. This new position for my GP9 allows each distance weather station to come in optimally, and now its 2M performance in all directions is now outstanding. I've had some impressive DX'ing as well. However, I found a few times when I wanted to talk on a repeater 60 mi away, the GP9 was a bit too noisy. My solution was to purchase and position a cheap 2M beam at ground level, pointed up toward the top of a pine tree. If I get the exact reflection point for the distance repeater, I can achieve full quieting up to 60 mi, only 2 ft above the ground!! I also tried putting the beam up on the 30ft mast, but it was no better than the GP9 so now I use it on the ground. The problem, of course is that each position for every station's signal is unique at ground level. Each distance station has it's own reflection point into my yard in different positions. Nonetheless I find this fascinating and people look at me strange when I discuss bouncing signals from the tops of pine trees. I also have a UHF TV antenna pointed to the top of another tree to get reception from a station 70mi south and that worked flawlessly for years until the neighbors took down their pine tree. I then had to reposition that antenna for a signal reflection from another tree. The signal level itself is marginal but high enough for perfect reception with no drop outs, and its daytime signal never varies, even during storms. As far as I'm concerned, I'm actually using that 100ft pine tree as a 100 ft tower!! I see people putting up 2m antennas often in areas with trees, without regard to whether it's in the optimum position for it's performance. Antenna location is never discussed or considered with most amateur radio operators, so I'm glad. you touched on this subject about reflections from objects like buildings. I can also report that 100 ft pine trees ALSO work VERY well, if you can find their reflection point.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Good analysis. Thanks.

[@todivefor47]

Love your Foundation videos! Learning a lot. 45 year advanced license with 40 year hiatus. Just got back into HF last September with WRC antenna. Researched vertical antennas all Winter. Sig9 arrived this week. Finished cutting the elements. When rain stops will dig my hole. Can't wait to get it on the air. Peter-WB3IZU

[@DXCommanderHQ]

That is awesome!

[@Superacerc]

Love it Cal. Good basics everyone should remember. I've been propagating some POTA signals towards your way today. Got several EU contacts and sweden and venezuela at the same time on the same band (15m) from my car with an outbacker perth antenna. Fun stuff. DX commander Classic is sitting at home with the amplifier waiting and ready for me to get back from a work trip.

[@kenknox6860]

Nice refresher Callum, 73 from the USA

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Hey Thanks!

[@paulsanders1]

In America, I am studying for my General license and in this short video I can actually understand these principles so much better, thanks so much! Paul Sanders KK6RXU

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Great to hear!

[@jameslarrimore1419]

Thank you sir 15 minutes from you I learn more then an hour of book reading, stay safe .Kc3yun from the states..

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Wow, thanks

[@Chris_KI4WCO]

Another amazing video. Got my US general last year, and you're refreshing that knowledge . Thank you.

[@anderskihlelb3bj835]

God Job Cal. This can bring more people into the hobby !

[@Hamradio101]

As always Cal another excellent informative and visual video keep up the good work and "may the (RF)force be with you" Ray

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Much appreciated Ray

[@hmonteiro1]

A lifetime of learning. Thank you for sharing your knowledge in an easy to understand approach - the drawings help a lot make it chewable.. Liked and subscribed. Looking forward to learning more from you. Cheers from the US.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Great to hear!

[@ronandrew878]

Great video Callum, very informative Thank you.

[@FromthehamshackwithNJ4Z]

Nicely Done Callum, great job explaining this. Reflection, refraction and defraction are sometimes confused. Sporadic E and tropospheric ducting are also confusing for some. This series will help many get their license or help expand knowledge of those who are starting out great job!!!.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Hey thanks John.. I must admit, tropo & sporadic were "mingled" by accident. I put it in the pinned comment.

[@artnyberg]

Enjoy your videos Callum. Interesting to hear the difference from what the US has in the curriculum. Keep it up.

[@mikeladd5880]

This was explained brilliantly, my 10yo son is trying to learn and these videos are perfect for him. Thankyou cal

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Great to hear!

[@ilovebaking-v2v]

Absolutely fantastic. Really interesting! Keep this coming, really enjoyable to hear.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

More to come!

[@dean15464]

Great video especially NVIS and the new technical term ‘bouncy bouncy’. 😂

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Bouncy Bouncy! LOL!!!

[@mikeyates8240]

i thought this was a very good lecture on basic propagation , i will have to watch it a few times to get my head round it . thanks 73s

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Have fun!

[@donm1025]

Really enjoying your channel...I'm new to HAM and the learning curve is steep!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Welcome aboard!

[@mel904]

I love all of your content. I find your sessions to be very informative and interesting. You have sparked the interest in taking the test here in the US.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Wow. Good luck!

[@monroeman399]

Thanks for the excellent explanations and clear drawings.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Glad you like them!

[@DavidBoyd-jb5bf]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. Much appreciated.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

My pleasure!

[@Marcel-PG0M]

Very well explained Callum !

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thank you!!

[@richardgroves290]

Excellent presentation, keep on doing what you do Callum, never stop!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thanks, will do!

[@GSWEAR66]

I appreciate all the videos Callum!

[@hammermekanik]

Thank you Callum, I appreciate your effort because I learn a lot from you.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Hey Thanks!

[@jeffmerlin2580]

00:10 Radio waves are indeed affected by gravity according to Einstein. 🙂 Anyway, great video. I watched every bit (and hit like of course)

[@DXCommanderHQ]

If you can find an amateur radio operator who worries about gravity, I'll buy you a pint!

[@cyrilshokoples7289]

Been a Canadian Advanced Amateur for many decades and just got back into HF. Discovered your channel at the same time and love your approach, even the most basic topics. Hope to catch you on the air some day. VE6MTN

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Hey thanks!

[@michelsteensels3019]

Thanks for the clear explanation... I knew the theory .. 35 years ago :)) .. quite a refreshment. 73 ON7SX

[@garyfilmer382]

Thank you for your clear explanations, very interesting! I am newly subscribed to your channel. Love all the parallels between the way radio waves behave, and quanta of light, because light is both a wave and a particle (photon), and light diffracts and refracts too.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Beautiful!

[@trevorbond1325]

Great video Callum. I enjoy your channel very much. Watching from Niagara Region of Ontario🇨🇦. VA3TBI.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@redraiderreloading7612]

Really enjoying the videos . I'm studying for my technician test. I will be taking this winter Thanks for the great content....73

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Good luck!

[@davidsheedy5793]

great job explaning propagation...

[@shinysheff61]

Very interesting video,from a born again Ham. 73's (G7SMO)

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Welcome back! :)

[@gardeningfromscratch.]

Liked your explanation of cloud warming :) (nvis)

[@45auto]

When you said "bouncy bouncy" my mind went somewhere completely different. 😊

[@DXCommanderHQ]

The Double D layer?

[@45auto]

@@DXCommanderHQ *Insert the Benny Hill theme music*

[@2e0fjjvlogs32]

Nice Video Calum as always. Keep up the good work. 73's

[@renevertommen7669]

Good stuff calum some people dont now this afther 20years amateur radio 😊 cheers ON3VS

[@DearNoobs]

another great video cal!, thanks for all you do bud. 73

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thanks 👍

[@PRODIGY5369]

Great video Cal. Thanks 👍

[@DXCommanderHQ]

No problem 👍

[@W5KY]

Love your videos Cal. But love using your antennas more....73 brother.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thanks 👍

[@daveengstrom9250]

This is good stuff. Always interesting to me.

[@melvindimes6376]

Thanx Cal. Great basics!!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Lovely!!

[@jorgecapovila1311]

Halo Callam I have found very interesting you video for propagation ,it certain to me will help new radio operator I have bean in the bands for years in different parts of the world and see this fenomeno thanks you M6FWO Jorge

[@Hairball786]

Thanks for sharing, Boss. 👍

[@jeffyork4021]

nice explanation, thanks!

[@jamesemery1]

good video once again Cal

[@get__some]

i love listening to you folks on 11m from the states. a few of us can't figure out why the conditions seem to have migrated to the southern hemisphere. they weren't like that a year ago per the MUF map. is this random, due to solar polar magnetic poles flipping, or expected at the middle of solar max?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Good question. I don't know. In reality, nobody knows for sure.

[@WECB640]

The Hooters - Where do the signals go Between the bright night and darkest day Where do the signals go And who's that deadly piper who leads them away?

[@PaulMacpherson-zv2sh]

New noob on the science & hobby , so glad I did & I've not touched my little tidradio he & going stealth till I know what I'm doing , so is there any way of scrambling Oren rypting these for closed channel convo's or a way to stop was dropping your messages ?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

No idea fella!

[@marcoplacidi9975]

Absolutely a great video I loved it😊

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Wow thank you!

[@MadScotsmanNZ]

Back in January 2018 just after I got my license one of my first DX contacts was with VK2EME on 2M 144.1 MHz ssb with a home made 15mm copper pipe J pole that I made from scrap and an old Icom 10W ssb radio. Call it beginners luck I have never made a 2M dx contact since I now have a IC9700 on a 14M tower with 12 elements and still trying to do it again lol

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Amazing!

[@LB7VJ]

Excellent video.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thanks.

[@lillebrornmb]

You make very nice videos. Not a HAM yet. Greeting from OZ land.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Hello OZ land!

[@brucecash3939]

KI6LQE Nice video, well explained. New and old hams should find this informative. Can you do a video on hop (skip) and the average distance one might get and more importantly once the signal lands what size area in can I be heard, 100 square miles, couple of square miles or? I am most interested in what the coverage is once the signal reflects back down. Thanks for all the information you provided to us fellow ham operators.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

The "landing" zone can be huge.. I'll add it to the list.

[@VeteranInThePhilippines-uy6uc]

How far does a vertical antenna need to be away from metal objects like fences metal roofs etc

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Well.. everything affects everything BUT just use a bit of common sense. Normally, you don't notice to be honest.

[@GoodLuckBP]

Well stated.......Thank you.

[@union310]

Can you achieve results with sporadic e on a CB?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes you can. I remember YEARS ago when I was nr Bristol having a contact to somewhere up north, near Manchester I think. At the time, I didn't know how that was happening. Quite amazing.

[@union310]

@@DXCommanderHQ I am in Carlisle and randomly pick up a very faint voice. I put the aerial up a month or so ago and realised just how little it is used so booked in online for a test and a course. In anticipation of passing I have a xiegu g90 sat. Really enjoying the research and learning. Thank you for the reply.

[@tom23rd]

Shame if this video doesn't do well, information is valuable!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

It won't do very well. Most folks don't have the "bandwidth" to take in more than about 1-minute of anything these days.

[@1shARyn3]

ah, yes, many of us do follow you 😍

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thanks!

[@KF0NNQ]

Here's a nice and pleasant comment. Thank you for another informative video, well explained. Hmm, I think it would be marvelous to study the licensing materials from different countries. 73, KF0NNQ.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Great suggestion!

[@ChaplainDaveSparks]

Very informative video! IMO, unless the FCC has changed their tests, the UK question pool seems much more _”practical”._ I have taken and passed the Technician, General, and Extra exams, and for some strange reason, I did better on the Extra exam than I did on the General (and I took both the same day). I even passed the FCC’s _”Second Class Radiotelephone”_ exam (for commercial/aviation/maritime radio), and it had a lot of *VACUUM TUBE* questions! They have since combined the First Class and Second Class into the _General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL)._ *73 de AF6AS in **_“DM13”_** land*

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Interesting!

[@MM3DDQ-rt1oq]

Brilliant Really Interesting Cal, Paul MM3DDQ

[@georgedakil3506]

I am looking for the best antenna for my Eton 750 Radio?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Huge topic.. However you can either use coax to the BNC connector with coax to a simple dipole or loop.. alternatively, there is the black and red push connectors where you could run a wire into these. Check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3epY6ytocaNkLc

[@ianxfs]

Not forgetting the all important double-D layer 😉

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Oh yes Ian!!!

[@JeffSkymaster]

One banana two bananas, Thanks Cal.Your videos are always cool! 73 KJ7JYJ

[@davidwade2829]

Very helpful

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thank you!

[@amelie168]

Very helpful :)

[@dougbrokeit7406]

That was great thanks

[@DXCommanderHQ]

No worries!

[@leestanphill1]

Awesome

[@gwlong]

Cool beans! 🙂

[@DJCryptoStix]

nvis is cool

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yeah, I love daytime local 40m!

[@philsimprezawrx]

👍👍👍👍👍👍🫶👍👍👍👍👍👍