Line-of-sight propagation

Line-of-sight propagation is a characteristic of <a href="/facts/Electromagnetic_radiation/Ynx7ujCW">electromagnetic radiation</a> or acoustic <a href="/facts/Wave_propagation/PXhWIt7k">wave propagation</a> which means waves can only travel in a direct visual path from the source to the receiver without obstacles. Electromagnetic <a href="/facts/Transmission_(telecommunications)/33zk8a0A">transmission</a> includes light emissions traveling in a <a href="/facts/Straight_line/gJqsr4Gj">straight line</a>. The rays or waves may be <a href="/facts/Diffraction/Mk80xXHT">diffracted</a>, <a href="/facts/Atmospheric_refraction/KBuJn9hw">refracted</a>, reflected, or absorbed by the atmosphere and obstructions with material and generally cannot travel over the <a href="/facts/Horizon/LxwxWfC2">horizon</a> or behind obstacles.
In contrast to line-of-sight propagation, at <a href="/facts/Low_frequency/RhDqfDW4">low frequency</a> (below approximately 3 <a href="/facts/Hertz/6Wshj5qm">MHz</a>) due to <a href="/facts/Diffraction/Mk80xXHT">diffraction</a>, <a href="/facts/Radio_wave/XmB6WPpF">radio waves</a> can travel as <a href="/facts/Ground_wave/YexYxuur">ground waves</a>, which follow the contour of the Earth. This enables <a href="/facts/AM_radio/oS0rn1lg">AM radio</a> stations to transmit beyond the horizon. Additionally, frequencies in the <a href="/facts/Shortwave/7cIaClcB">shortwave</a> bands between approximately 1 and 30 MHz, can be refracted back to Earth by the <a href="/facts/Ionosphere/mT9tTBE5">ionosphere</a>, called <a href="/facts/Skywave/7AaWN9Nt">skywave</a> or "skip" propagation, thus giving radio transmissions in this range a potentially global reach.
However, at frequencies above 30 MHz (<a href="/facts/VHF/8V90M1Sl">VHF</a> and higher) and in lower levels of the atmosphere, neither of these effects are significant. Thus, any obstruction between the transmitting antenna (<a href="/facts/Transmitter/nFYghtKv">transmitter</a>) and the receiving antenna (<a href="/facts/Receiver_(radio)/5olDTxkg">receiver</a>) will block the signal, just like the <a href="/facts/Light/jeofpMn4">light</a> that the eye may sense. Therefore, since the ability to visually see a transmitting antenna (disregarding the limitations of the eye's resolution) roughly corresponds to the ability to receive a radio signal from it, the propagation characteristic at these frequencies is called "line-of-sight". The farthest possible point of propagation is referred to as the "radio horizon".
In practice, the propagation characteristics of these radio waves vary substantially depending on the exact frequency and the strength of the transmitted signal (a function of both the transmitter and the antenna characteristics). Broadcast <a href="/facts/Frequency_modulation/qIExDdtv">FM</a> radio, at comparatively low frequencies of around 100 MHz, are less affected by the presence of buildings and forests.

Line-of-sight propagation open-in-new

Line-of-sight propagation