↳ ↑ What is Skywave Propagation?

This page is part of the project "Understanding HF Propagation."
by Doron Tal, 4X4XM

Skywave propagation describes the behavior of radio signals at high frequencies (HF), which typically range from 3 to 30 MHz. Sky waves can travel hundreds of kilometers (beyond the horizon), enabling long-distance communication. Skywaves can propagate because the ionosphere reflects them.

Propagation Modes
Figure 1: Overview of HF Propagation Modes
During the day, the ionosphere becomes more ionized, with higher frequencies refracted back to Earth. At night, it becomes less ionized, with lower frequencies bounced back to Earth.

The project "Understanding HF Propagation," focuses on skywave propagation,
shows near-real-time indices and explains what the terms mean.
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