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IoneQuestion
25th October 2011 - 07:51 PM
I've been researching the BT Tower in London but finding it very hard to work out the MAXIMUM distance that line of sight microwave signals could travel from it.

It's 189m high (roughly 620 feet). Disregarding the taller obstacles (such as the Canada Sq skyscrapers) what would roughly be the max distance that a signal could reach from it?

If anyone could help I'd be so grateful!

Thanks
Lasand
25th October 2011 - 08:08 PM
Radio horizon;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line-of-sight_propagation
IoneQuestion
25th October 2011 - 08:30 PM
That was really helpful thank you!

But if that's the case (and the microwaves could theoretically travel 50km to the radio horizon) then to reach another tall transmitter tower would that mean they could travel a total distance of 100km? As the two 50km distances would just 'skim' the earth's surface?

Robittybob1
25th October 2011 - 08:34 PM
QUOTE (Lasand+Oct 25 2011, 08:08 PM)
Radio horizon;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line-of-sight_propagation

Amazing Distance = 3.57 * square root of the height of the tower
so it comes out to 49.08 kms
Robittybob1
25th October 2011 - 08:37 PM
QUOTE (IoneQuestion+Oct 25 2011, 08:30 PM)
That was really helpful thank you!

But if that's the case (and the microwaves could theoretically travel 50km to the radio horizon) then to reach another tall transmitter tower would that mean they could travel a total distance of 100km? As the two 50km distances would just 'skim' the earth's surface?

There is no limit how far the microwaves could travel in a straight line. So if the tops of the towers were in line of sight the answer is yes.
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