Figure 1-8. Ground waves and sky waves.
The skip zone is the area where the ground wave can no longer be detected (Figure 1-9) and
the sky wave has not yet returned to earth after being reflected or refracted off the
ionosphere or troposphere. The skip distance is that area where no sky wave reception will
be possible. This is because the wave has not returned to earth after its first or subsequent
bounce off the reflecting layer.
Depending upon the frequency and the transmitter power, multihop transmissions are
routinely used for communications. Figure 1-10 illustrates multihop transmissions. There will
be, however, skip zones between the points of the wave's return at each hop. Note, however,
skip zones are not static or stable.
IT0302
1-10
Previous Page
