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Conductivity Question

H

H82BL8

I was reading some older posts about an AM station that was for sale and came across comments trashing the conductivity of their antenna build over sand.

Can anyone explain, for a non-engineer, what the relationship of the soil is to the antenna? And how it effects the signal?

Many thanks,

H82BL8
 
Propogation is directly related to conductivity. The more conductive the soil, the further a given power will propogate. Which is why Atlanta 50KW stations get out like 5KW stations elsewhere... the conductivity of the soil underlying north Ga is lousy.
 
Thanks littlejohn,

Now, can anyone explain propogation, for a non-engineer? I am interested in the science about how the antenna interacts with the earth. Are there any websites you could recommed?

Maybe something like Antenna Science for Dummies? All kidding aside, I really am interested.

H82BL8
 
Here is an FCC link to ground conductivity info for the continental U.S.

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/m3/smallm3.jpg


The higher the number, the better the conductivity in that area. Excellent conductivity can be found in Kansas and Nebraska, for example. While driving across I-70 in Kansas, you can pick up WNAX-570 (5KW) from South Dakota across the entire state of KS during the day. Many other fairly low powered AM stations can be heard for hundreds of miles in this area, as well.

Long Island, NY has horrible ground conductivity making many of the 50 KW "blowtorches" from the city very weak just 50-60 miles out in the central part of the island. However, if you get near the salt water on Long Island, AM signals from great distances can be heard during the day.
 
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