Question
How is a directional antenna pointed when making a “long-path” contact with another station?
Answer Options
- A) Toward the rising sun
- B) Along the gray line
- C) 180 degrees from the station’s short-path heading
- D) Toward the north
Correct Answer: C
Explanation
When making an HF contact, the radio waves usually travel the shortest distance between the two points, which is the ‘short path.’ However, under certain propagation conditions, the signals may travel the long way around the Earth, known as the ‘long path.’ This long path is exactly 180 degrees opposite the short path.
To make a long-path contact, a directional antenna must be pointed 180 degrees away from the station’s short-path heading. Long-path propagation can sometimes result in a stronger signal or be the only path available, especially on the higher HF bands and when the long path follows the boundary between daylight and darkness (the gray line).
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