VHF

PROPAGATION
Radio Freq. Bands
VHF Freq. Spread
Range - Seperation

090 COMMUNICATIONS
RADIO WAVE

AC Wave – High
Freq

Speed of
light
300.000
Km/s

Transmitter Receiver Amplifier

Transmitt Receiv
er er
Aeiral Aeiral
RADIO WAVE

Wavelength

Amplitude
(Power)

Time

Oscillation
(Frequency is number of
Oscillation per second)
Unit : Hertz (Hz)
 VHF PROPAGATION
Radio waves radiate in the form of electro-magnetic waves.

Speed of Propagation
Radio waves travel at the speed of light. The speed is virtually constant and is 300,000,000 metres per
second

Wavelength
The wavelength of a radio wave can be defined as the distance travelled by the radio signal during the
transmission of one cycle. Wavelength is normally expressed in metres.
 VHF PROPAGATION
Frequency Units
Frequencies are expressed in Hertz (Hz). One Hertz equals one cycle per second. Radio
frequencies are high and for convenience the following units may be used.
ADDING INFORMATION
Frequenc
Adding
Amplitude y
Information
Modulation Modulatio
n

Modulation is the addition

of information to a carrier
wave.
 Civil agencies use the
VHF band from 118 MHz
to 136.975 MHz.
DEFINITIONS

Station:
Equipment which is used to transmit
or receive aeronautical
information.

Radio in an aircraft or on the

ground.

A network of teleprinters or
computers used by controllers, or
operations departments.
DEFINITIONS

Aeronautical Station:

A land station in the

aeronautical mobile service.

In certain instances, an
aeronautical station may be
located on board ship or on a
platform at sea.
PROPAGATION CHARACTERISTICS

HF
HF
VHF

VLF-MF

SKY WAVE LINE OF SIGHT GROUND WAVE

ANTENNA – AERIAL

Cessna 172

Boeing 737
ANTENNA – AERIAL

Aerodrome Tower
EQUIPMENT
PROPAGATION CHARACTERISTICS

Propagation
Characteristics
• Transmitter Power
h2
• Height of transmitter & receiver
• Obstructions

h1
Minimum Reception Altitude

Range (NM) = 1.23 ( √ h1 + √ h2 )

LINE OF SIGHT FORMULA
 VHF PROPAGATION
CHARACTERISTICS
Direct and Ground-reflected Waves
A signal which travels in a straight line between transmitter and receiver is called the
direct wave. In addition to this, there is normally a signal arriving at the receiver after
reflection at the earth’s surface. This is the ground-reflected wave. These two waves
are jointly known as the Space Wave. (In this and other diagrams, the abbreviation Tx
isused for transmitter and Rx for Receiver.)
EFFECTIVE RANGE OF VHF

Line of Sight Range

The curvature of the earth limits the use of the direct wave. It can be seen that the
aircraft ‘below the horizon’ cannot use the direct wave for communications.
FACTORS AFFECTING VHF PROPAGATION

Attenuation
The term attenuation means the loss in strength of a radio signal as range from the
transmitter increases. The signal strength received is inversely proportional to the
distance from the transmitter.

Refraction
As a general rule, radio signals travel in straight lines, that is, they follow great circle paths
over the surface of the earth. Under certain circumstances, however, the path of a signal
may change direction. This change of direction is known as refraction.
VHF FREQUENCY SPACING

The bandwidth – channel

spacing of VHF frequencies:

• 25 Khz - Normal Airspace

(5 Digits - 123.45 Khz)

• 8.33 Khz - Busy Airspace

(6 Digits - 123.450 Khz) (Over FL195 Europe)
VHF FREQUENCY SPACING

ICAO Standarts for Freq.

Transmitting:

6 digits must be transmitted –

(118.750)

Only Exception –
If last 2 Digits are 0
(123.400) (123.4)
8.33 MHZ PHRASEOLOGY
Range (NM) = 1.23 ( √ h1 + √ h2 )
LINE OF SIGHT FORMULA
Range (NM) = 1.23 ( √ h1 + √ h2 )
LINE OF SIGHT FORMULA