Sporadic E propagation

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Ray diagram of sporadic E event

Sporadic E or Es is an unusual form of radio propagation using characteristics of the Earth's

ionosphere. Whereas most forms of skywave propagation use the normal and cyclic ionization
properties of the ionosphere's F region to refract (or "bend") radio signals back toward the Earth's
surface, sporadic E propagation bounces signals off smaller "clouds" of unusually ionized atmospheric
gas in the lower E region (located at altitudes of approx. 90 to 160 km). This occasionally allows for
long-distance communication at VHF frequencies not usually well-suited to such communication.[1]

Communication distances of 800–2200 km can occur using a single Es cloud. This variability in
distance depends on a number of factors, including cloud height and density. MUF also varies widely,
but most commonly falls in the 25 – 150 MHz range, which includes the FM broadcast band
(87.5–108 MHz), Band I VHF television (American channels 2-6, Russian channels 1-3, and
European channels 2-4, the latter no longer used in Western Europe), CB radio (27 MHz) and the
amateur radio 2-meter, 4-meter, 6-meter, and 10-meter bands. Strong events have allowed
propagation at frequencies as high as 250 MHz.[citation needed]

As its name suggests, sporadic E is an abnormal event, but can happen at almost any time; it does,
however, display seasonal patterns. Sporadic E activity peaks predictably in the summertime in both
hemispheres. In North America, the peak is most noticeable in mid-to-late June, trailing off through
late July and into early August. A much smaller peak is seen around the winter solstice. Activity
usually begins in mid-December in the southern hemisphere, with the days immediately after
Christmas being the most active period.[citation needed]

On June 12, 2009, sporadic E allowed some television viewers in the eastern United States to see VHF
analog TV stations from other states at great distances, in places and on TV channels where local
stations had already done their permanent analog shutdown on the final day of the DTV transition in
the United States. This was possible because VHF has been mostly avoided by digital TV stations,
leaving the analog stations the last ones on the band. As of April, 2010, it was possible for many
Americans to see Canadian and Mexican analog in this manner when sporadic-E occurs, until those
countries do their own analog shutdowns over the following few years. In some cases it is even
possible to get DTV Es receptions from well over 1000 miles (1600 km), since some US stations still
use Band 1 even for DTV; these signals are characterized for being either extremely clear or extremely
blocky. They are also much easier to identify.[citation needed]

Characteristics[edit]
Television and FM signals received via Sporadic E can be extremely strong and range in strength over
a short period from just detectable to overloading. Although polarisation shift can occur, single-hop
Sporadic E signals tend to remain in the original transmitted polarisation. Long single-hop
(900–1,500 miles or 1,400–2,400 kilometres) Sporadic E television signals tend to be more stable
and relatively free of multipath images. Shorter-skip (400–800 miles or 640–1,290 kilometres)
signals tend to be reflected from more than one part of the Sporadic E layer, resulting in multiple
images and ghosting, with phase reversal at times. Picture degradation and signal-strength
attenuation increases with each subsequent Sporadic E hop.

Sporadic E usually affects the lower VHF band I (TV channels 2–6, E2-E4 and R1-R3) and band II
(88–108 MHz FM broadcast band). A 1945 FCC engineering study concluded that Sporadic E caused
interference issues 1% of the time for a station broadcasting at 42 MHz, but only .01% for one at
84 MHz.[2] The typical expected distances are about 600 to 1,400 miles (970 to 2,250 km). However,
under exceptional circumstances, a highly ionized Es cloud can propagate band I VHF signals down
to approximately 350 miles (560 km). When short-skip Es reception occurs, i.e., under 500 miles
(800 km) in band I, there is a greater possibility that the ionized Es cloud will be capable of reflecting
a signal at a much higher frequency—i.e., a VHF band 3 channel—since a sharp reflection angle (short
skip) favours low frequencies, a shallower reflection angle from the same ionized cloud will favour a
higher frequency. In this case even Sporadic E DVB-T reception might be possible if a mux uses VHF
band 3, preferably channel E5, especially if QPSK is used, due to its low signal requirements.

At polar latitudes, Sporadic E can accompany auroras and associated disturbed magnetic conditions
and is called Auroral-E.

No conclusive theory has yet been formulated as to the origin of Sporadic E. Attempts to connect the
incidence of Sporadic E with the eleven-year Sunspot cycle have provided tentative correlations.
There seems to be a positive correlation between sunspot maximum and Es activity in Europe.
Conversely, there seems to be a negative correlation between maximum sunspot activity and Es
activity in Australasia.

Equatorial E-skip[edit]
Equatorial E-skip is a regular daytime occurrence over the equatorial regions and is common in the
temperate latitudes in late spring, early summer and, to a lesser degree, in early winter. For receiving
stations located within +/− 10 degrees of the geomagnetic equator, equatorial E-skip can be expected
on most days throughout the year, peaking around midday local time.

Polar E-skip[edit]
Unlike equatorial or mid-latitude Es, sporadic E propagation over polar paths is rare and gives
unexpected contacts between locations surrounding the Arctic, even during periods of low solar
activity.[3]
Notable sporadic E DX receptions[edit]
In 1939, there were some news reports of reception of an early Italian television service in
England about 900 miles (1,400 km) away.[4]
The Medford Mail Tribune in Medford, Oregon reported on June 1, 1953, that KGNC-TV,
Channel 4 in Amarillo, and KFEL-TV, Channel 2 from Denver had been received on the
Trowbridge and Flynn Electric Company's television set at their Court Street warehouse and,
with a pre-amplifier, a New York station's test pattern was reportedly picked up.[5]
The June 4, 1953 issue of the Brimfield News in Brimfield, Illinois reported that area residents
"'saw' Salt Lake City Monday (via Television)." It reported that a local farm family witnessed
interference to WHBF-TV, Channel 4 of Rock Island, Illinois by KDYL-TV in Salt Lake City,
which "blocked out all their favorite programs."[6]
On August 2, 1957, the world record for high-band (channels 7 – 13) sporadic E television DX
was extended to approximately 2,300 miles (3,700 km) with the reception of the YVLV channel
9 relay from Maracaibo, Venezuela, by Bobby Grimes in Little Rock, Arkansas. Two hours later,
Bedford Brown of Hot Springs, Arkansas, also received the channel 9 station, along with multi-
hop sporadic E reception from Venezuela on channels 2, 4 and 5. Brazilian television on channel
2 and Argentina on channel 3 were also received via transequatorial propagation (TEP).[citation
needed]
On June 30, 1975, Glenn Hauser of Enid, Oklahoma, logged WJCT-TV 7, WFLA-TV 8, WJHG-
TV 7, WFTV-TV 9, & WTVT-TV 13 during intense Sporadic E conditions. The distances were all
around 1,020–1,090 miles (1,640–1,750 km). Bob Seybold in Dunkirk, NY also noted band III
Sporadic E, from KOAM-TV 7 on June 16.[citation needed]
In mid-July 1979, Several residents of Laurel, MD, reported reception of Channel 3 stations:
KDAL-TV (now KDLH), Duluth, MN; KMTV, Omaha, NE; and KTBS-TV, Shreveport, LA during
a sporadic E propagation event that was reinforced by near-peak sunspot activity that summer.
At the end of the KTBS-TV 5PM newscast, one of their anchors was heard to announce "We'd
like to welcome some of our new viewers in Laurel, MD, tonight...".[citation needed]
In June 1981, Rijn Muntjewerff (the Netherlands) received 55.25 MHz TV-2 Guaiba, Porto
Alegre, Brazil, via a combination of sporadic E and afternoon TEP at a distance of 6,320 miles
(10,170 km).[7]
On May 30, 2003, Girard Westerberg[8] made the first known reception of digital television by
sporadic E when he decoded the PSIP ID of KOTA-DT (broadcasting on channel 2 in Rapid City,
South Dakota) in Lexington, Kentucky, 1,062 miles (1,709 km) away.
On June 11, 2003, Laszlo Tringer (Enying, Hungary) received Saudi Radio's Holy Quran
programme from Al Baha transmitter site 2,274 miles or 3,660 kilometres away. It's interfered
with local station "Blue Danube".[9]
On June 26, 2003, Paul Logan (Lisnaskea, Northern Ireland) was the first DXer to receive
transatlantic Sporadic E at frequencies above 88 MHz. Stations received included 88.5 MHz
WHCF Bangor, Maine (2,732 miles or 4,397 kilometres), and 97.5 MHz WFRY Watertown, New
York (3,040 miles or 4,890 kilometres). David Hamilton from Cumnock in Ayrshire, Scotland
received CBTB from Baie Verte, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada on 97.1 MHz on this day
also.[10] [11]
On July 20, 2003, Jozsef Nemeth from (Győr, Hungary) received TR3 Radio Miras on OIRT FM
70.61 MHz from Türkmenistan, Uly Balkan transmitter 1,895 miles or 3,050 kilometres
away.[12]
 On July 10, 2004, Matt Sittel achieved what was then the longest DTV reception,[13] receiving
KVBC-DT (channel 2, Las Vegas, Nevada) at a distance of 1,088 miles (1,751 km) (note the NBC
logo in the upper right corner of the picture).
On July 7, 2004, several UK TV DXers received channels A2, A3, A4 and A5 from Puerto Rico
via multi-hop Sporadic E at distances of some 4,000+ miles (6,400+ km).[citation needed]
On June 15, 2005, Danny Oglethorpe in Shreveport, Louisiana received a test signal from KBEJ-
TV (channel 2, Fredericksburg, Texas) by Sporadic E at a very short distance for this
propagation mode: 327 miles (526 km).[14][15]
On August 3, 2007, Albu Daniel from Bucharest, Romania received via multi-hop Sporadic E
CCTV1 channel C1 Baoji, Shaanxi, China at distance 6,784 kilometres (4,215 mi).[16]
In the summer of 2008, the recent introduction of the Coupon-eligible converter box, which was
highly affordable, and tolerated multipath interference better than older ATSC receivers,
allowed many DXers in North America to receive and identify ATSC digital TV signals by
Sporadic-E, something that had been very difficult to do in previous years.[citation needed]
On July 7, 2008, Daniel Albu from Bucharest, Romania received via multi-hop Sporadic E
SNRT Cahin (90,4 MHz) El Jadida Morocco at a distance of 3,216 kilometres (1,998 mi).[17]
On May 25, 2009 Daniel Albu from Bucharest, Romania received 2 radio stations from the
United Arab Emirates, Radio Aziziah 88,7 MHz, and Holy Qu'ran Radio 88,2 MHz from Dubai
at a distance of 3,369 kilometres (2,093 mi).[18]
On June 26, 2009, Paul Logan (Lisnaskea, Northern Ireland) had transatlantic Sporadic-E
receptions on the FM band from eight US States and one Canadian Province. The most distant
signal received was that of 90.7 WVAS Radio in Montgomery, Alabama at 6456 km / 4012
miles. This reception was recorded and later confirmed by WVAS Newsreader Marcus Hyles.[19]
A new world distance record for FM reception via Sporadic-E of 4,302 miles (6,923 km) was
achieved by Mike Fallon in Sussex, England on May 31, 2010 when the religious station La Voz
de la Luz in Salvaléon de Higüey, Dominican Republic was received and recorded on 88.7 MHz
from 12:48 UTC for approximately 20 minutes. The recording was verified by the station to be
their output. The station transmitted at 1 kW.[citation needed]
On May 31, 2010, Paul Logan (Lisnaskea, Northern Ireland) received signals from 89.7 WRTU
Radio, San Juan, Puerto Rico at a distance of 3,946 miles (6,350 km). The reception was
recorded and later confirmed by the station's Program Director Carlos R. Camunas.[citation
needed]
On November 24, 2016, many radio listeners from Australia and New Zealand were able to
listen to radio stations from other states of Australia, overlapping many radio signals. Many
people complained about this, saying that many of their favourite radio stations got replaced by
other radio stations from other states. Later, the ACMA confirmed that this was caused by
Sporadic E.[20]
On May 26, 2021, Mathew Amador (Palmdale, California) received a multi-hop Sporadic-E
reception of WBVM, located in Tampa, Florida, at a distance of 2,153 miles (3,465 kilometers).
Confirmation of the station was through the RDS (Radio Data System) with a valid Program
Identification (PI) code of 597A from the originating station. [21]

See also[edit]
TV and FM DX