DISTANCE TO HORIZON

VISUAL AND RADIO WAVE

Compliments of Firestik^� Antenna Company Technical Support Team

Copyright ^� 2004 Firestik^� Antenna Company

My six-year old granddaughter told me, "You get what you get and you
don't throw a fit". That may be the most universal statement I have ever
heard. Can it apply to radio communications? Even though we agree that
theory and "books smarts" build a firm foundation for us to anchor our
knowledge too, we must remain aware that most of this knowledge is based
upon optimum and/or theoretical conditions. The fact is, you will rarely
find yourself faced with the optimum conditions, especially in mobile
communications. In the real world, the gap between theory and reality is
cluttered with a plethora of variables, each having an effect of its
own. Sometimes the effects will combine to either hamper or improve the
expected results and other times one or more will just cancel out the
other. Theory versus reality!!!

We often hear "line-of-sight" references made about FM radio

frequencies. In reality, the calculated horizon for visual line-of-sight
is not the same as the calculated horizon for electromagnetic-wave
propagation. The calculated radio wave horizon goes beyond the
calculated visual horizon due to a combination of direct radiation and
reflected ground wave. Even though both horizons can be calculated, the
calculations do not take into account the reality of our planet. That
is, dust, darkness, haze, fog and solid objects from a visual point of
view or, objects, electromagnetic interference, etc. from a radio wave
perspective. Nonetheless, we thought this might have some interest among
the radio hobbyist.

*VISUAL "LINE-OF-SIGHT" CALCULATIONS*

_*In Statute (land) Miles*_

Height (in feet) divided by 0.5736 = "X"

Square root of "X" = Distance in statute miles to horizon

Example
Height to center of your eye(s) = 5.5ft
5.5ft divided by 0.5736 = 9.588
Square Root of 9.588 = 3.10 statute miles, the maximum distance you
could theoretically see if standing on the beach in California looking
out across the Pacific Ocean.

Note: If your feet are just in the water you might want to know what the
nautical miles are (?). If so, multiply statute miles by 1.17. If you're
in up to your waist, you'll need to recalculate your eye height above
the water surface.

_*In Kilometers*_

Height (in centimeters) divided by 6.752 = "X"

Square root of "X" = Distance in kilometers to horizon

Example
167.6cm divided by 6.752 = 24.822
Square root of 24.822 = 4.982 km the maximum distance you could
theoretically see if standing on the beach in Portugal looking out
across the Atlantic Ocean.

*RADIO WAVE HORIZON CALCULATIONS*

Since radio transmissions involve a transmitting antenna and a receiving

antenna, both need to be considered for these calculations.

_*In Statute (land) Miles*_

Whereas; H1 = TX antenna and H2 = RX antenna

Square root of H1 (in feet) x 1.415 = D1

Square root of H2 (in feet) x 1.415 = D2
D1 + D2 = Radio Horizon in Statute miles

Example
Transmitting antenna (H1) height = 40 feet
Receiving antenna (H2) height = 8 feet

Square root of 40 = 6.325 x 1.415 = 8.95 (D1)

Square root of 8 = 2.828 x 1.415 = 4.00 (D2)
8.95 (D1) + 4.00 (D2) = 12.95 statute miles (theoretical maximum distance)

So, in theory, an 8ft high antenna should be able to receive broadcasts

from a 40 foot high antenna located just under 13-miles away.

_*In Kilometers*_

Whereas; H1 = TX antenna and H2 = RX antenna

Square root of H1 (in meters) x 4.124 = D1

Square root of H2 (in meters) x 4.124 = D2
D1 + D2 = Radio Horizon in Kilometers

Example
Transmitting antenna (H1) height = 15m
Receiving antenna (H2) height = 5m

Square root of 15 = 3.873 x 4.124 = 15.972 (D1)

Square root of 5 = 2.236 x 4.124 = 9.221 (D2)
15.972 (D1) + 9.221 (D2) = 25.193 kilometers (theoretical maximum distance)

Firestik Antenna Company - 2614 E Adams St - Phoenix, AZ 85034 - (Tel)

602-273-7151 - www.firestik.com

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