Question
On which of the following amateur bands is long-path propagation most frequent?
Answer Options
- A) 160 meters and 80 meters
- B) 40 meters and 20 meters
- C) 10 meters and 6 meters
- D) 6 meters and 2 meters
Correct Answer: B
Explanation
Long-path propagation occurs when a signal travels between two stations along the great circle route that passes through the Earth’s antipode (the long way around the globe), rather than the shortest, direct route (short-path). The success of long-path propagation depends heavily on the propagation conditions along that specific long route.
Long-path propagation is most frequent on the mid-HF bands, specifically 40 meters and 20 meters. These bands offer robust ionospheric propagation during both day and night (40m) or reliable daytime propagation (20m) across the planet. Crucially, the geometry for long-path communication often involves crossing the ‘gray line’ (the terminator between day and night), which is ideal for the mid-range HF bands.
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