TRIVA FUN

[k0ua]

Bouncing the radio waves off the ionosphere.

Want me to bounce the answer off you ??

both good answers.... now what causes the ionosphere to form and change minute by minute, sometimes second by second.

 

[RSKY]

Earth's magnetic field.

 

[k0ua]

Earth's magnetic field.

The Mag field can have effects, but the main driver of ionization is the sun. Every day it pumps energy into the particles and ionizes them into layers. One could spend a lifetime reading about and trying to understand all of this mechanism and its effects, but the simple answer is our star the sun causes these effects to happen. We humans have been using this phenomena to good effect for a not quite a 100 years now.!

In the early days of radio it was felt by the radio professionals that the HF (High Frequency) portion of the radio spectrum was useless so it was given in its entirety to the early Amateur radio operators. it did not take them long to fix that error.

While HF radio might not be quite as valuable today as it was a few years ago now that we have many communications satellites, and a whole lot of fiber optic cable crisscrossing all continents and the oceans, it is still pretty useful. AND it works without infrastructure. Just a radio and antenna on one end and a radio and antenna on the other end and sources of power for both.. Nothing in the middle to break, be sabotaged or be traffic congested.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Similar story about islands on the Aleutian chain although there was no telephone pole mentioned.

Never heard the "60-60 conditions". Explanation? I assume very bad weather. That for sure applied to the Aleutians. I was stationed way out near the end (Shemya) in 1956.

Harry K

Well 60-60 stands for 60 mph cross winds at - 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The base known for this is in Minot North Dakota.
Minot Air Force Base - Home

 

[turnkey4099]

Well 60-60 stands for 60 mph cross winds at - 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The base known for this is in Minot North Dakota.
Minot Air Force Base - Home

I had a brother stationed there. He did not "appreciate" it.

Harry K

 

[crash325]

A little more on trains.

What is a traction engine???

 

[bcp]

A little more on trains.

What is a traction engine???

Often used for an electric locomotive, powered by overhead wire or 3rd rail.

Also a steam powered farm tractor.

Bruce

 

[crash325]

Often used for an electric locomotive, powered by overhead wire or 3rd rail.

Also a steam powered farm tractor.

Bruce

Not talking something modern. Old time steam trains.

 

[bcp]

Moved by friction of powered wheels on rail, not rack, gear, or cog.

??

Bruce

 

[2LaneCruzer]

When did Chevrolet first introduce the V8 engine in its line of production automobiles?