Do RF signals travel further in cold weather. Here in the Northeast this evening, despite the wind I'm getting a whole bunch of freqs that I normally cannot pick up so well. I wonder if the lack of moisture in the air causes the signal to travel further.
RXing in cold weather
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RF moves at the speed of light, I highly doubt a few degrees would make a difference or that much of an impact.
Make sure your transmit antennas are clear of ice, it can change the wave length of the antenna, and overall change your SWR.
Make sure your transmit antennas are clear of ice, it can change the wave length of the antenna, and overall change your SWR.
Weather plays a major role in propagation. Cold dry air is actually less likely to provide any enhancement or impairment and what you're seeing may be as close to "normal" propagation as it's possible to get. But it's not as cut and dry as all that. There could be boundary layers that are giving some type of enhancement. In general though, warm moist air plays a more active role.
If that few degrees defines the boundary of two separate air masses, you'd be surprised at how big an impact it can have.
I noticed a SLIGHT enhancement of signals occasionally since the bottom dropped out of the thermometer (near zero at night presently 16) but nothing spectacular. I was thinking tropo but there was no temperature inversion so I can't explain it. Presently all is quite normal, nothin' shakin' on Shakedown Street (used to be the heart of town). Hmmm, another thing just came to mind, signals seem to be slightly stronger just before dawn, again don't know why.
Meteor Scatter
Does not seem to have any corelation to temperature but may explain some recent DX'ing. It does mention the 6AM time frame. I have seen a lot of metoer activity in the last couple of weeks. Scroll down about half-way in the document for the MS section.
http://www.anarc.org/wtfda/propagation.htm
Does not seem to have any corelation to temperature but may explain some recent DX'ing. It does mention the 6AM time frame. I have seen a lot of metoer activity in the last couple of weeks. Scroll down about half-way in the document for the MS section.
http://www.anarc.org/wtfda/propagation.htm
whacker
Member
I notice better 800 MHz reception when there's snow on the ground, as I'm just using a radio-mounted ducky and the tower is around 20 miles away.
I have experienced better 800 MHz reception in the winter from my north. To my south about 3 miles is a mountain ridge of about 12,000 feet. It acts like a reflector for signals from the north and I have better reception when snow covers most of the face of this ridge.
Tropospheric ducting is another phenomena that usually occurs in the winter. I've picked up some 2 meter ham repeaters that are impossible to receive in normal conditions, but have received them during ducting. I recommend you do a Google search on this subject. It is fascinating stuff.
Tropospheric ducting is another phenomena that usually occurs in the winter. I've picked up some 2 meter ham repeaters that are impossible to receive in normal conditions, but have received them during ducting. I recommend you do a Google search on this subject. It is fascinating stuff.
"I have seen a lot of meteor activity in the last couple of weeks."
Not likely, the Quadrantids passed on Jan 3-4 and the Lyrids aren't due until April 21-22.
"It does mention the 6AM time frame."
Yes David, but you failed to mention the article says it's the best time to AVOID tropo. Seems to me you don't understand meteor scatter and the article doesn't even mention the mechanism or it's duration. "Pings" last 30-40 seconds at BEST on the low VHF frequencies such as 6M where I have worked them using SSB and barely a second or so on the higher ones such as 2M where high speed modes like WSJT are used.
"Tropospheric ducting is another phenomena that usually occurs in the winter."
On the right coast it a summer phenomenon, extremely rare in winter. Well, you DO live in the Republic of California we don't consider part of the US and you DO have a governor from Mars. (;->)
Not likely, the Quadrantids passed on Jan 3-4 and the Lyrids aren't due until April 21-22.
"It does mention the 6AM time frame."
Yes David, but you failed to mention the article says it's the best time to AVOID tropo. Seems to me you don't understand meteor scatter and the article doesn't even mention the mechanism or it's duration. "Pings" last 30-40 seconds at BEST on the low VHF frequencies such as 6M where I have worked them using SSB and barely a second or so on the higher ones such as 2M where high speed modes like WSJT are used.
"Tropospheric ducting is another phenomena that usually occurs in the winter."
On the right coast it a summer phenomenon, extremely rare in winter. Well, you DO live in the Republic of California we don't consider part of the US and you DO have a governor from Mars. (;->)
N
N_Jay
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He is not FROM Mars, he just went there to find out who he really was!
freqhopping
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My reception is much less during the winter. My primary gauge is the control channels for several military 380mhz LMR sites. Compared to spring and autumn, less distant reception in winter, more in the summer even before ducting becomes a factor. Doesn't matter which band either. Winter sucks.
Yeah it is a bit strange. I noticed better reception of some 500 MHz signals yesterday at 430 PM than at 11pm, even though there was still some sunshine around and there was more wind in the late afternoon. I could understand why the snow could cause better reception because as it gradually melts it turns to moisture in the air which can trap and carry radio signals. In fact sometimes you may have noticed that the melting snow causes a full-fledged fog. It is then that this phenomenon is supposed to be at its greatest. There is no snow around in my part of the country. But there are no leaves on most of the trees so maybe I just accidentally hit two sweet spots for my Pro 164 and my BCD396T until April!
Listen, I was just tossing out a theory or two, all I said was what I have SEEN. I have seen three meteors in the last week or so. I wasn't trying to say that I thought this was the definitive answer to his question.
I didn't mention a lot of stuff that was in the article, that's why I posted the link. And the part about meteors indicates that the 6AM time is good in relation to meteors.
Quit assuming what I do and what I don't understand. It was just something interesting I saw that appeared to have some info that the OP might be interested in. If you want to present some information or ideas just state what you know, quit trying to belittle me.
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Hoofy
Member
davidmc36,
You have to remember where you are posting..... Anything and everything you post will be viewed under a microscope and you will be held accountable for everything you say or may have thought and even some things you didn't say but may have thought you thought.
All comments are seen as a challenge to some and there is no reason to try and defend what you say because even your own opinions are biased and you really can't mean what you're saying because it doesn't agree with any others experiences.
However whatever you said is fine with me.........
You have to remember where you are posting..... Anything and everything you post will be viewed under a microscope and you will be held accountable for everything you say or may have thought and even some things you didn't say but may have thought you thought.
All comments are seen as a challenge to some and there is no reason to try and defend what you say because even your own opinions are biased and you really can't mean what you're saying because it doesn't agree with any others experiences.
However whatever you said is fine with me.........
I don't care who you are, that rait thar's funny (Larry the Cable Guy acent, of course)
zzdiesel
Member
My Pro-197 did not pick up the Arkansas AWIN P25 system near as well while we he had the frigid cold temps. It warmed up to the high 40's today and the system had so much traffic today that it liked to have ran me batty.
A gem
Hoofy, that is definitely worth being written on at least a sticky note that will be tacked to my monitor (copied in quotes and properly referenced as sourced from you, of course!)!!
-Mike
Hoofy, that is definitely worth being written on at least a sticky note that will be tacked to my monitor (copied in quotes and properly referenced as sourced from you, of course!)!!
-Mike
The following is quote from this website:
http://www.angelfire.com/sc/scannerpost/tropo.html
It looks like we are both right. From my experience ducting has occurred in the winter when major storm systems from the Gulf of Alaska drop down and cross the west coast. I've yet to pick up any ducting during the summer. I wonder if this has anything to do with being on the lee side of one of the three major mountain ranges in the U.S.
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David, why so defensive? Nobody attacked you, I only set the record and hopefully you straight. As for some other comments guys, remember the internet is the Misinformation Highway and RR is only part of it. Just because you link to another site doesn't say you're going to find perfection. This is a discussion forum, not a slug fest (that's another thread around here someplace) where we at least try to give proper information so please, learn to accept correction and not view it as an attack.
"I am Nomad. I am perfect. That which is not perfect must be sterilized."
"I am Nomad. I am perfect. That which is not perfect must be sterilized."
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Just use a little tact. Saying "It seems to me you don't understand such and such" feels like an attack from the receivers end. When I said I have seen a lot of metoer activity you said "Not likely" I saw three in less that two weeks. That's a lot to see. Not read about or get info from other documentation, I saw them. Some people never see one in their lifetime. It is more that likely that I saw them, I did see them. It is not the inofrmation that you present it is the manner of presentation. If you notice my post did not purport to be the answer I said "it may explain". Please offer alternate ideas but do not attack me. Yes it feels that way. Try to understand that.
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