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| {{Other uses|Line-of-sight (disambiguation)}}
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| '''Line-of-sight propagation''' refers to [[electro-magnetic radiation]] or acoustic wave propagation. Electromagnetic transmission includes light emissions traveling in a straight line. The rays or waves may be diffracted, refracted, reflected, or absorbed by atmosphere and obstructions with material and generally cannot travel over the [[horizon]] or behind obstacles.
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| [[File:Propagation VHF.JPG|thumb|left| Line of sight propagation to an antenna]]
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| At low frequencies (below approximately 2 [[Hertz|MHz]] or so) [[radio]] signals travel as [[ground wave]]s, which follow the Earth's curvature due to [[diffraction]] with the layers of atmosphere. This enables [[Amplitude modulation|AM]] radio signals in low-[[noise]] environments to be received well after the transmitting [[antenna (radio)|antenna]] has dropped below the [[horizon]]. Additionally, frequencies between approximately 1 and 30 MHz can be reflected by the [[ionosphere|F1/F2 Layer]], thus giving radio transmissions in this range a potentially global reach (see [[shortwave radio]]), again along multiple deflected straight lines. The effects of multiple diffraction or reflection lead to macroscopically "quasi-curved paths".
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| However, at higher frequencies and in lower levels of the atmosphere, neither of these effects are significant. Thus any obstruction between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna will block the signal, just like the [[light]] 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 of [[Radio frequency|high-frequency]] radio is called "line-of-sight". The farthest possible point of propagation is referred to as the "radio horizon".
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| 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 [[frequency modulation|FM]] radio, at comparatively low frequencies of around 100 MHz, are less affected by the presence of buildings and forests.
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| ==Radio horizon==
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| The ''radio horizon'' is the [[locus (mathematics)|locus]] of points at which direct rays from an [[antenna (electronics)|antenna]] are tangential to the surface of the Earth. If the Earth were a perfect sphere and there were no atmosphere, the [[radio]] horizon would be a circle.
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| [[File:Earthbulge.jpg|frame|'''R''' is the radius of the Earth, '''h''' is the height of the transmitter (exaggerated), '''d''' is the line of sight distance]]
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| The radio horizon of the transmitting and receiving antennas can be added together to increase the effective communication range. Antenna heights above {{convert|1,000,000|ft|mi km|0|abbr=off}} will cover the entire hemisphere and not increase the radio horizon.
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| [[Radio propagation|Radio wave propagation]] is affected by atmospheric conditions, [[ionospheric absorption]], and the presence of obstructions, for example mountains or trees.
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| Simple formulas that include the effect of the atmosphere give the range as:
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| :<math>\mathrm{horizon}_\mathrm{miles} \approx \sqrt{2 \times \mathrm{height}_\mathrm{feet}}.</math>
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| :<math>\mathrm{horizon}_\mathrm{km} \approx 3.57 \cdot \sqrt{\mathrm{height}_\mathrm{metres}}</math>
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| The simple formulas give a best-case approximation of the maximum propagation distance but are not sufficient to estimate the quality of service at any location.
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| ===Earth bulge and atmosphere effect ===
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| ''Earth bulge'' is a term used in [[telecommunication]]s. It refers to the circular segment of earth profile which blocks off long distance communications. Since the geometric line of sight passes at varying heights over the Earth, the propagating radio wave encounters slightly different propagation conditions over the path. The usual effect of the declining pressure of the atmosphere with height is to bend radio waves down toward the surface of the Earth, effectively increasing the Earth's radius, and the distance to the radio horizon, by a factor around 4/3.<ref>Christopher Haslett, ''Essentials of radio wave propagation'', Cambridge University Press, 2008 052187565X pages 119-120</ref> This ''k-factor'' can change from its average value depending on weather.
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| === Geometric distance to horizon ===
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| Assuming a perfect sphere with no terrain irregularity, the distance to horizon from a high altitude [[Transmitter station|transmitter]] (i.e., line of sight) can readily be calculated.
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| Let '''R''' be the radius of Earth and '''h''' be the altitude of a telecommunication station. Line of sight distance '''d''' of this station is given by the [[Pythagorean theorem]];
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| : <math>d^2=(R+h)^{2}-R^2= 2\cdot R \cdot h +h^2</math>
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| Since the altitude of the station is much less than the radius of the Earth,
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| : <math>d \approx \sqrt{ 2\cdot R \cdot h}</math>
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| If the height is given in metres, and distance in kilometres,<ref>Mean Radius of the Earth is ≈6.37 x 10<sup>6</sup> metres = 6370 km. See [[Earth radius]]</ref>
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| : <math>d \approx 3.57 \cdot \sqrt{h}</math>
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| If the height is given in feet, and the distance in miles,
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| : <math>d \approx 1.23 \cdot \sqrt{h}</math>
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| === The actual service range ===
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| The above analysis doesn’t take the effect of atmosphere on the propagation path of the RF signals into consideration. In fact, the RF signals don’t propagate in straight lines. Because of the refractive effects of atmospheric layers, the propagation paths are somewhat curved. Thus, the maximum service range of the station, is not equal to the line of sight (geometric) distance. Usually a factor '''k''' is used in the equation above
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| : <math>d \approx \sqrt{2 \cdot k \cdot R \cdot h} </math>
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| '''k > 1''' means geometrically reduced bulge and a longer service range. On the other hand, '''k < 1''' means a shorter service range.
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| Under normal weather conditions '''k''' is usually chosen <ref>R.Busi: ''Technical Monograph3108-1967 High Altitude VHF and UHF Broadcasting Stations'', European Broadcasting Union Brussels,1967</ref> to be '''4/3'''. That means that, the maximum service range increases by '''% 15'''
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| : <math>d \approx 4.12 \cdot \sqrt{h} </math> | |
| for '''h''' in '''meters''' and '''d''' in '''km.'''
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| : <math>d \approx 1.41 \cdot\sqrt{h} </math>
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| for '''h''' in '''feet''' and '''d''' in '''miles''' ;
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| But in stormy weather, '''k''' may decrease to cause fading in transmission. (In extreme cases '''k''' can be less than '''1'''.) That is equivalent to a hypothetical decrease in Earth radius and an increase of Earth bulge.<ref>This analysis is for high altitude to sea level reception. In microwave radio link chains, both stations are high altitudes.</ref>
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| === Example ===
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| In normal weather conditions, the service range of a station at an altitude of '''1500 m.''' with respect to receivers at sea level can be found as,
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| : <math>d \approx 4.12 \cdot \sqrt{1500} = 160 \mbox { km.}</math>
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| == Line-of-sight propagation as a prerequisite for radio distance measurements ==
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| [[Time of arrival|Travel time]] of radio waves between transmitters and receivers can be measured disregarding the type of propagation. But, generally, travel time only then represents the distance between transmitter and receiver, when line of sight propagation is the basis for the measurement. This applies as well to [[RADAR]], to [[Real Time Locating]] and to [[LIDAR]].
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| This rules: Travel time measurements for determining the distance between pairs of transmitters and receivers generally require line of sight propagation for proper results. Whereas the desire to have just any type of propagation to enable communication may suffice, this does never coincide with the requirement to have strictly line of sight at least temporarily as the means to obtain properly measured distances. However, the travel time measurement may be always biased by multi-path propagation including line of sight propagation as well as non line of sight propagation in any random share. A qualified system for measuring the distance between transmitters and receivers must take this phenomenon into account. Thus filtering signals traveling along various paths makes the approach either operationally sound or just tediously irritating.
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| == Impairments to line-of-sight propagation ==
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| [[File:Repeater-schema.svg|thumb|left|Two stations not in line-of-sight may be able to communicate through an intermediate [[radio repeater]] station.]]
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| Low-powered [[microwave]] transmitters can be foiled by tree branches, or even heavy rain or snow.
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| If a direct visual fix cannot be taken, it is important to take into account the curvature of the Earth when calculating line-of-sight from maps.
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| The presence of objects not in the direct visual line of sight can interfere with radio transmission. This is caused by diffraction effects: for the best propagation, a volume known as the first [[Fresnel zone]] should be kept free of obstructions.
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| [[File:Fresnel zone disrupted.png|thumb|right| Objects within the Fresnel zone can disturb line of sight propagation even if they don't block the geometric line between antennas]]
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| Reflected radiation from the [[ground plane]] also acts to cancel out the direct signal. This effect, combined with the free-space r<sup>−2</sup> propagation loss to a r<sup>−4</sup> propagation loss. This effect can be reduced by raising either or both antennas further from the ground: the reduction in loss achieved is known as ''height gain''.
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| ==Mobile telephones==
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| Although the frequencies used by [[mobile phone]]s (cell phones) are in the line-of-sight range, they still function in cities. This is made possible by a combination of the following effects:
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| * r<sup>−4</sup> propagation over the rooftop landscape
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| * diffraction into the "street canyon" below
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| * [[multipath fading|multipath]] reflection along the street
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| * diffraction through windows, and attenuated passage through walls, into the building
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| * reflection, diffraction, and attenuated passage through internal walls, floors and ceilings within the building
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| The combination of all these effects makes the mobile phone propagation environment highly complex, with [[multipath fading|multipath]] effects and extensive [[Rayleigh fading]]. For mobile phone services these problems are tackled using:
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| * rooftop or hilltop positioning of base stations
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| * many [[base station]]s (usually called "cell sites"). A phone can typically see at least three, and usually as many as six at any given time.
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| * "sectorized" antennas at the base stations. Instead of one antenna with [[omnidirectional antenna|omnidirectional]] coverage the station may use as few as 3 (rural areas with few customers) or as many as 32 separate antennas each covering a portion of the circular coverage. This allows the base station to use a directional antenna that is pointing at the user, which improves the [[signal to noise ratio]]. If the user moves (perhaps by walking or driving) from one antenna sector to another the base station automatically selects the proper antenna.
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| * rapid [[handoff]] between base stations (roaming)
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| * the radio link used by the phones is a digital link with extensive [[Error detection and correction|error correction and detection]] in the digital protocol
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| * sufficient operation of mobile phone in tunnels when supported by split cable antennas
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| * local repeaters inside complex vehicles or buildings
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| Other conditions may physically disrupt the connection without prior notice:
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| * temporal failure inside metal constructions as elevator cabins, trains, cars, ships (see [[Faraday Cage]])
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| * local failure when using the mobile phone in buildings with extensive steel reinforcement (again, see [[Faraday Cage]])
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| == See also ==
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| * [[Anomalous propagation]]
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| * [[Field strength in free space]]
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| * [[Knife-edge effect]]
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| * [[Multilateration]]
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| * [[Non-line-of-sight propagation]]
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| * [[Over-the-horizon radar]]
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| * [[Radial (radio)]]
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| * [[Rician fading]], stochastic model of line-of-sight propagation
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| {{Portal|Radio}}
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| == External links ==
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| {{EMSpectrum}}
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| *http://www.wireless-center.net/Cisco-Wireless-Networking/728.html
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| *http://web.telia.com/~u85920178/data/pathlos.htm#bulges
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| * [http://www.aerialsandtv.com/atvmaps.html#topographymap Article on the importance of Line Of Sight for UHF reception]
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| * [http://www.aerialsandtv.com/loftaerials.html#AttenuationLevelsThroughRoofs Attenuation Levels Through Roofs]
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| * [http://techsonar.com/license_4.html Approximating 2-Ray Model by using Binomial series by Matthew Bazajian]
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| {{FS1037C MS188}}
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| {{RF Propagation Navbox}}
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| [[Category:Radio frequency propagation]]
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| [[Category:IEEE 802.11]]
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