Jeff, That's a tough one to summarize quickly. Yes on of the factors is frequency, the lower on the dial the better but more importantly the conductivity of the soil. The FCC years ago published a conductivity map for the US which you can download on their website. It ranges for .5 to 30 over land. Long Island and around Atlanta have some of the worst conductivity. Parts of the midwest and Texas are at or near 30. As a rule of thumb you occasionally find an area that matches the map but for the most part signal strength measurements show the conductivity is a lot less. Most of Dallas for example is in a 30 but in reality is about a four to a seven. The real champ is the ocean rated at 5000. A good example, Radio Vision Christiana in the Turks and Caicos on 530 can be heard along Florida's east coast during the day as far north as St. Augustine, well over 700 miles thanks to the great conductivity. I have personally listened during midday to WMEN/640 from Royal Palm Beach, Fla in the Dominican Republic several times which is pushing 800 miles. About the best you'll find in the US is a low frequency station getting 300 miles ground wave. The more hills in the terrain the worst the conductivity, flat pasture land with fertile soil is the best, an exception being the Florida Everglades, rated at an eight but more like a 15 due to the swampy soil. Sand makes a lousy conductor as illustrated by the coastal area from New York to Florida. Where I live we are in a 15 but a few miles north it's an eight and a few miles west it goes down to a four as you head towards the mountains. The changes come gradually from one conductivity to another. Jerry Kiefer Roswell, NM
**************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001) _______________________________________________ IRCA mailing list [email protected] http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: [email protected]
