New to tropospheric ducting

[SA_tx_88116]

I just want a basic explanation of tropospheric ducting and how it works from my understanding if it is high from my location to another location I could pick up radio signals from there. Also is there like some forecast map of tropospheric ducting?

 

[mmckenna]

Being in Texas, you are kind of in the middle of two prediction maps:

https://dxinfocentre.com/tropo_wam.html

https://dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html

Differences in the atmosphere can allow radio signals to travel along in a 'duct' between layers. It has the potential to carry radio signals hundreds of miles.

I've got a AIS (ship tracking) receiver at one of my sites at work. Sometimes when conditions are right I can "hear" ships up to 750 miles off the coast. Not bad for a few watt AIS beacon...

 

[SA_tx_88116]

Being in Texas, you are kind of in the middle of two prediction maps:

https://dxinfocentre.com/tropo_wam.html

https://dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html

Differences in the atmosphere can allow radio signals to travel along in a 'duct' between layers. It has the potential to carry radio signals hundreds of miles.

I've got a AIS (ship tracking) receiver at one of my sites at work. Sometimes when conditions are right I can "hear" ships up to 750 miles off the coast. Not bad for a few watt AIS beacon...

That’s cool, but does tropospheric ducting happen on the west coast?

 

[jwt873]

It happens anywhere there are weather fronts. Where there are air masses meeting with differing temperatures and humidity. Here's a bit more on it: Tropospheric DX Modes

There have been a few documented occurrences where CA hams have talked to Hawaii on 2 meters using tropo.

The prediction maps mmckenna provided links to are pretty good. My best tropo contact so far was a 900 mile haul from Canada to Missouri on 432 MHz SSB.

 

[nd5y]

DXing Above 30 Mhz - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Another map is VHF Propagation Map. When you go to the web page it centers on a random continent. Then you have to drag the map to the US (or wherever you are) and zoom in some to see the colored areas.

 

[dave3825]

That’s cool, but does tropospheric ducting happen on the west coast?

 

[mmckenna]

That’s cool, but does tropospheric ducting happen on the west coast?

Yes, absolutely. The AIS (ship tracking) receiver I have is on the west coast and many times in the summer I'll get nearly 750 miles of range.

 

[jpb]

Yesterday around noon, I was listening to WMAL FM 105.9 in DC, and WBGG in Fort Lauderdale overpowered it and captured my receiver!

 

[dave3825]

A week or two ago I was able to lock onto the Capital Police P25 control channel located on DC from Eastern Long Island. About 240 miles LOS.

 

[jwt873]

Yesterday around noon, I was listening to WMAL FM 105.9 in DC, and WBGG in Fort Lauderdale overpowered it and captured my receiver!

Yes.. I've managed to log a bunch of FM DX stations using an Amateur HT with Broadcast FM capability just connected to a dual band vertical antenna.I

I almost forgot.. TV DX can also be fun..

I've got a small amplified Yagi TV antenna with a rotor on a 30 foot mast. On hot humid summer mornings, I'll sometimes set my TV to scan for new channels.. When It's done I've usually got a few dozen new over the air channels from 200 - 300 miles away.

 

[ecps92]

A week or two ago I was able to lock onto the Capital Police P25 control channel located on DC from Eastern Long Island. About 240 miles LOS.

and it gets more interesting when it opens into UHF, UHF-T, 700 and 800 for some rare finds/logs