Radio Propagation Fundamentals*

TLDR

Radio system design depends on estimating power loss, which is influenced by reflections, fading, atmospheric refraction, and earth‑surface diffraction. The paper summarizes radio transmission theory and experiments across all current frequency bands, focusing on quantitative charts for engineering use. The study covers ground‑wave, sky‑wave, line‑of‑sight, and beyond‑horizon transmission.

Abstract

The engineering of radio systems requires an estimate of the power loss between the transmitter and the receiver. Such estimates are affected by many factors, including reflections, fading, refraction in the atmosphere, and diffraction over the earth's surface. In this paper, radio transmission theory and experiment in all frequency bands of current interest are summarized. Ground wave and sky wave transmission are included, and both line of sight and beyond horizon transmission are considered. The principal emphasis is placed on quantitative charts that are useful for engineering purposes