Radio Wave Propagation:
Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6
M.H. De Canck, ON5AU

2823 Pages!
Don't let the signals manage you,
instead, you manage the signals!

Including Animated Demonstrators
Learning Propagation Can Be Fun!
See the signals reacting to Nature's environment
and understand why!

Purchase All Six Books and $ave 20%

o you have the best radio and antenna, plus all of the other fancy devices imaginable to enable transmit and/or receive signals. But, all of this top-of-the-line radio gear notwithstanding, you wonder why the radio-wave signals behave in such an “unpredictable” manner and you lose contact, or it fades or varies up and down like a roller coaster causing frustration. That’s very likely an issue with radio wave propagation!

If you don’t have a reasonable knowledge of the behavior of propagation, your knowledge of radio is missing a huge and important ingredient and you are not enjoying or managing this activity to its fullest. Instead of just turning off your rig with frustration, learn how propagation can work for you and not against. Even if you think your regular schedules are doing just fine, maybe they could be better than you realize if only you knew more about this natural phenomenon. Make those signals stronger and the TX/RX clearer.

This is why we offer this new and fresh approach to learning about this important subject now contained in this 6-volume series of books about Radio Wave Propagation by M. H. De Canck, ON5AU of Belgium. The author’s unique presentation on the subject is not only interesting, but actually makes it a fun learning process — not often said about this complex subject! Part of the secret to making it fun is the unique animation Wizards that can set the propagation into motion to show the signal flow around the globe. Now, you can see it and not have to just try to imagine it.

This is not just another traditional set of books about radio wave propagation. Radio Wave Propagation a series of books about propagation in all its aspects. Propagation is too complex and multilateral to be fully explained in just one book. So, why another series of books about this subject? There are several good ones on the market already. From the start it was the intention of the author to explain also the questions raised as “ WHY? WHERE? HOW? WHEN? Questions he raised very often when reading and studying Radio Wave Propagation from the myriad books, magazine articles and manuscripts. The goal was from the beginning, to look beyond the present comprehension's of the various propagation and ionospheric properties. The goal was also to explain things in a clear and logical manner to everyone wanting to learn, especially for the whole of the radio community—from the beginner to the advanced.

As most know, illustrations of any kind (sketches, graphs, diagrams, etc.), explain and convey thoughts and ideas much better than just plain text alone. But, animated graphs and diagrams can even better express certain behaviors and phenomena associated with a moving, changing environment surrounding propagation. In this original series of books is the birth of the Presentation Form WIZARD as a teaching tool for this subject. If you would like to see an example of one of these WIZARD animations made possible by these new high-tech electronic books, just click on one of the links provided below the following two sample static views.

 

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These books provide numerous bonus study aids, such as: an extra companion 129-page study book with Volume 1 and more than 240 illustrations—a book in its own right, thus two books for the price of one. Four of the 6 volumes include 1300+ such companion pages. Included in each volume are the unique WIZARDS presenting various informative animations to help the reader visualize the propagation properties explained in the Chapters instead of having to, at best, imagine the movements of the propagation phenomenon. Thus, the reader understands and learns faster by "seeing" the signals move across the globe toward its destination — and see the obstructions. Locate the best path and time to make a desired contact.

You will be very pleased with these fresh new books on propagation and surprised about the information presented and amazing learning devices not found in other propagation books on the market, making good use of the new electronic media technology not available a few short years ago.
Click for Brief Biography of the Author

What you get in Volume 1:
Below, a preview of the contents of the 220-page book which contains hundreds of diagrams, color drawings, tables, graphs and photos in addition to the bonus items. Almost 350 pages with the 129-page Study Book and its 240 more illustrations.

Here is an index of the titles found in Volume 1 - 359 Pages
Chapter

Title

Page
PART 1 Basic Radio Wave Propagation 21
1 Radio Wave Fundamentals 22
2 Wave Propagation Direction Changes 29
3 Wave Propagation 39
PART 2 The Ionosphere 47
4 Ionosphere 48
5 Electron Density Profiles 63
6 Electron Density and Layer Heights 78
7 Critical Frequency 90
8 Global Maps and Ionospheric Properties 105
9 Some F2-layer Anomalies Visualized 111
PART 3 Oblique Angle Properties 124
10 Oblique Angle Properties - Part 1 125
11 Oblique Angle Properties - Part 2 142
12 Oblique Angle Properties - Part 3 160
== Postscript 218
== Other Publications 220
***

BONUS ITEMS

***
Bonus 1 129-Page Study Book #1  
Bonus 2 10 Animated Wizard Demonstrators  
     

What you get in Volume 2:

Here is an index of the titles found in Volume 2 - 508 Pages
Chapter

Title

Page
PART 4 MUF - Maximum Useable Frequency 20
13 MUF - Maximum Useable Frequency: Part 1 21
14 MUF - Maximum Useable Frequency: Part 2 33
15 MUF and Hourly MUF Graph Computing 46
PART 5 Propagation Modes 61
16 Ordinary Day-to-Day Propagation Modes 62
17 A Communication Circuit Study: Part 1 - Prop Modes & Multi-pathing 83
18 A Communication Circuit Study: Part 2 - MUF & TOA & Intro of MOF & BUF 108
19 A Communication Circuit Study: Part 3 - MUF, MOF & BUF Compared 122
20 A Communication Circuit Study: Part 4 - The Reciprocal Study 136
PART 6 Empirical Ionospheric Data 167
21 Empirical Ionospheric Data 168-191
 

BONUS COMPANION FILES

  
Bonus 1 311 Companion pages of illustrations & traces  
Bonus 2 6 Animated Wizard Demonstrators  
     
  Other Publications 192
     

What you get in Volume 3:

Sporadic-E is still a mysterious phenomenon in spite of the continuous research and today's high-tech support. This sporadic phenomenon is best known and appreciated among the VHF DX communicators. Only few are aware that sporadic-E is not so sporadic as first thought, but in fact a rather daily event influencing our HF communications in various ways. Sometimes helpful, sometimes harmful. This statement of daily Sporadic-E occurrences is often a source of discussions at club meetings and often disagreed by the VHF DXers but confirmed by mainly HF bands communications Radio Hams.

Fact is, when consulting the hourly ionograms of various worldwide spread ionosonde stations, you find practically daily Sporadic-E registrations or traces at the ionograms. These are well distinguishable from the normal E-layer ionization plots or the numerical values. Also, when analyzing and evaluating my daily real-time monitored NCDXF/IARU beacons, I had to conclude that only when there was “help” of Sporadic-E, a certain beacon could be received where it should not when Sporadic-E was absent.

There is also a great confusion about the highest supporting MUF-Es in special. When sporadic-E supports VHF 2 meters band communication, we have to consider the wave propagation happens by patch to patch refractions within the Es cloud itself and therefore increasing the experienced MUF-Es significantly. There is a remarkable difference between the experienced MUF-ES and the conventional MUF-ES computed as foEs * MUFF-Es. The latter would never reach 144 MHz.

This Volume 3 of the Radio Wave Propagation series will unveil these matters and visualize it by real-time monitoring. The traditional extra WIZARDS will give you an animated pictures of this Sporadic-E phenomenon.

Here is an index of the titles found in Volume 3 - 255 Pages
Chapter

Title

Page
PART 7 SPORADIC-E 16
22 Sporadic-E: Part 1 Introduction 17
23 Sporadic-E: Part 2 VHF Properties 34
24 Sporadic-E: Part 3 VHF Properties 53
25 Sporadic-E: Part 4 VHF Properties 66
26 Sporadic-E: Part 5 - Study of Real Sounded Ionosonde Data 85
27 Sporadic-E: Part 6 - Study of Sounded Ionosonde Data & MUF-Es 106
28 Sporadic-E: Part 7 - MUF & HF Properties 126
29 Sporadic-E: Part 8 - MUF & HF Properties 148
  Postscript 182
 

BONUS COMPANION FILES

  
Bonus 1 25 Pages - Sporadic-E: A Study  
Bonus 2 46 Pages - A Study: Influences of Es to HF Bands Communications  
Bonus 3 Another Animated Wizard Demonstrator  
     
  Other Publications 184
     

What you get in Volume 4:

What are the proper procedures essential to calculating reliable radio signal propagation predictions? These questions are fully explained in this Volume 4, which is a sort of VOACAP manual or cookbook. It will unveil many hidden possibilities such as interacting in the GUI (Graphic User Interface) and the syntax to use when encroaching the program flow. Of course the correct input parameters must be declared in the various input fields and some of them have more impact to the output results then others. Great pain is taken to explain such important factors. A fact is that many programs use VOACAP as engine but does not always employ all the useful options available by this engine. In this Volume 4, we study and explore all the options VOACAP offers.

One such important input data is the antenna choice, but not only that. Not correctly beaming the antenna toward the target location can also result to sometimes absolutely unrealistic output results. That is often the reason why some disappointed prediction program users conclude: “These programs are useless or incorrect.” Also, the program's installed default settings are not necessarily suitable to HF ham band use. Instead they are the settings for broadcast HF transmitters using AM (Amplitude Modulation) and very high power to reach even portable shortwave receivers with a whip antenna. Altering a program's settings for specific band needs are discussed.

Further, predictions are often a great help to contesters and DX chasers. This unique VOACAP manual should lend greatly to help to do it efficiently and with adequate knowledge to minimize mistakes and disappointments. Recently, the author computed predictions for the UBA (the Royal National Society of Belgian radio amateurs) candlelight test, spread over the winter month (communications via QRSS mode with extreme low power transmitters, less then 1 watt, where some of them were more then 8 000 km – 5 000 miles distance away). These predictions did show when these low power station should or could be best received to the joy of the UBA.

Here is an index of the titles found in Volume 4 - 257 Pages
Chapter

Title

Page
PART 8 Propagation Prediction Programs Explained 13
30 Propagation Prediction Programs Explained: Part 1 14
31 Propagation Prediction Programs Explained: Part 2 18
32 Propagation Prediction Programs Explained: Part 3 28
33 Propagation Prediction Programs Explained: Part 4 46
34 Propagation Prediction Programs Explained: Part 5 59
35 Propagation Prediction Programs Explained: Part 6 66
36 Propagation Prediction Programs Explained: Part 7 75
37 Propagation Prediction Programs Explained: Part 8 89
38 Propagation Prediction Programs Explained: Part 9 95
39 Propagation Prediction Programs Explained: Part 10 106
40 Propagation Prediction Programs Explained: Part 11 119
41 Propagation Prediction Programs Explained: Part 12 133
42 Propagation Prediction Programs Explained: Part 13 146
43 Propagation Prediction Programs Explained: Part 14 159
44 Propagation Prediction Programs Explained: Part 15 178
45 Propagation Prediction Programs Explained: Part 16 188
46 Propagation Prediction Programs Explained: Part 17 208
47 Propagation Prediction Programs Explained: Part 18 226
48 Propagation Prediction Programs Explained: Part 19 238
49 Propagation Prediction Programs Explained: Part 20 248
  Postscript 256
  Other Publications 257

*The usual smaller format of my previous volumes was not so convenient for the many rather large tables. Also, illustrations as coverage maps and graphs give a sharper picture using this format.

What you get in Volume 5:

Most are not aware of how our radio signals travel through the ionosphere toward the destination location. Too often we think these signals propagate in a simple conventional way. Many hams assume the propagation path follows a great circle course with refractions in the ionosphere and refraction at the earth surface. In many circumstances this is not true due to the not so homogeneous ionized ionosphere. At many areas the ionized layers are tilted depending on the location, the time of the day and the season. Thus, the path might deviate from its great circle heading and rather exotic paths may be followed. These exotic paths are not that exceptional as you might think and mostly you are not aware of it.

It is not so well known too that our radio waves split into two parts: ones entering the ionosphere, the ordinary and the extra ordinary waves, which can follow each totally different path.

In this Volume 5, we delve into properties not so often found in propagation lectures, such as: deviating and non-deviating absorptions, collision frequency, gyrofrequency, ordinary and extra ordinary waves, Chordal hop and inter-layer ducting modes, TEP (trans equatorial propagation), the magnetic inclination (dip angle), the grayzone characteristics and impacts, the interplanetary magnetic field, the auroral oval influences, magnetic disturbances, field aligned propagation, etc. As usual, the book uses many illustrations, more animation wizards and an extra document to explain and visualize throughout the above mentioned properties.

Here is an index of the titles found in Volume 5 - 243 Pages
Chapter

Title

Page
PART 9 Ionospheric Properties and Behaviors 14
50 Ionospheric Properties and Behaviors - Part 1 15
51 Ionospheric Properties and Behaviors - Part 2 25
52 Ionospheric Properties and Behaviors - Part 3 37
53 Ionospheric Properties and Behaviors - Part 4 54
54 Ionospheric Properties and Behaviors - Part 5 90
55 Ionospheric Properties and Behaviors - Part 6 125
56 Ionospheric Properties and Behaviors - Part 7 148
57 Ionospheric Properties and Behaviors - Part 8 167
58 Ionospheric Properties and Behaviors - Part 9 189
59 Ionospheric Properties and Behaviors - Part 10 203
60 Ionospheric Properties and Behaviors - Part 11 217
61 Ionospheric Properties and Behaviors - Part 12 231
  Postscript 242
  Other Publications 243

What you get in Volume 6:

The ionosphere is the region of the Earth’s atmosphere where our HF radio waves might refract back. Without that property practically no worldwide HF radio communication should have been possible. That such a region exists somewhere up there was already soon after the first transatlantic radio contacts presumed and predicted by O. Heaviside and A. E. Kennelly, (the Kennelly-Heaviside layer). However it took some decades from the first transatlantic radio connection by Guglielmo Marconi before this region was discovered and monitored. It was the teams Gregory Breit - Merle Antony Tuve (USA) and practically at the same time Edward Appleton - Miles Aylmer Fulton Barnett (UK) who, for the first time, proved the existence of various ionized layers by sounding them with radio wave pulses.

Their experiments and results were soon thereafter the start of around the globe probing of the ionosphere ionization properties by ionosondes and resulting ionograms. Since then, huge ionospheric properties data were collected and used to create the empirical databases of the various ionospheric layers. These databases were and still used in radio propagation prediction software.

This most interesting story from the early stages of radio communication and sounding the ionosphere by various scientists is fully covered in Part – 10, “Radio Waves and Sounding the Ionosphere.”

The ionosphere region is ionized or even disturbed by events of the Sun. Many Sun phenomena play a major role to the ionosphere behavior and propagation properties of the radio waves. Knowing why, who and when is the story of Part – 11, “Space Weather and Solar properties”. The impacts of these Sun phenomena are complex and often drastic. It is not only the sunspot number that plays a role but also the sun flares, coronal mass ejections, coronal holes, solar winds, sun magnetic field, etc.

How, when and by whom these Sun phenomena were discovered and what the various impacts are to radio communications, is also a very interesting story. Having knowledge and good insight of the Sun’s behavior and the space weather is an advantage to the radio ham. Its know-how answers the many questions about propagation conditions or even a fall-out of radio communications.

Finally in Part – 12, “Ham-Bands Propagation properties”, I made a study how our various ham bands behave at various solar activities. I recommend creating yourself such an atlas for your own location. Doing so, you can be informed very quickly to which area of the world openings might be expected at any season for any band with given solar activity..

Here is an index of the titles found in Volume 6 - 409 Pages
Chapter

Title

Page
PART 10 Radio Waves and Sounding the Ionosphere 14
62 Radio Waves and Sounding the Ionosphere - Part 1 15
63 Radio Waves and Sounding the Ionosphere - Part 2 32
64 Radio Waves and Sounding the Ionosphere - Part 3 45
65 Radio Waves and Sounding the Ionosphere - Part 4 66
66 Radio Waves and Sounding the Ionosphere - Part 5 77
67 Radio Waves and Sounding the Ionosphere - Part 6 96
PART 11 Space Weather and Solar Properties 111
68 Space Weather and Solar Properties - Part 1 112
69 Space Weather and Solar Properties - Part 2 127
70 Space Weather and Solar Properties - Part 3 138
71 Space Weather and Solar Properties - Part 4 150
72 Space Weather and Solar Properties - Part 5 163
73 Space Weather and Solar Properties - Part 6 179
74 Space Weather and Solar Properties - Part 7 200
75 Space Weather and Solar Properties - Part 8 213
76 Space Weather and Solar Properties - Part 9 226
77 Space Weather and Solar Properties - Part 10 236
78 Space Weather and Solar Properties - Part 11 249
79 Space Weather and Solar Properties - Part 12 260
80 Space Weather and Solar Properties - Part 13 270
81 Space Weather and Solar Properties - Part 14 281
PART 12 Ham-Band Propagation Properties 307
82 Ham-Band Propagation Properties - Part 1 308
83 Ham-Band Propagation Properties - Part 2 325
84 Ham-Band Propagation Properties - Part 3 343
85 Ham-Band Propagation Properties - Part 4 362
86 Ham-Band Propagation Properties - Part 5 378
  Postscript 408
  Other Publications 409
 

BONUS COMPANION FILES

  
Bonus 1 1199 Pages - Companion Pages - Charts & Calculations  
Bonus 2 Animated Wizard Demonstrators  
     

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