Snow FM

The low cloud is causing FM to relect off it and stronger signal but the signal is less pure as some of it is reflected 

Thanks Dev.

Seems a reasonable explanation to me. Sounds really good though so let's have some more not so pure atmospherics. Berlioz on R3 at the mo - lovely.

R3 FM always sounds good

Dev B posted:

The low cloud is causing FM to relect off it and stronger signal but the signal is less pure as some of it is reflected 

Living only 5km from 46kW beaming in on my RS G14,  FM ALWAYS sounds good on a NAT-05.

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Dev B posted:

The low cloud is causing FM to relect off it and stronger signal but the signal is less pure as some of it is reflected 

What's funny, Simon?!

Please may I have a layman's reply.

C.

Sorry - I was typing a reply...  there is no such thing as 'atmospherics' - there is however something called ionospheric absorption and reflection.. layers of energised particles around the earth in the ionosphere that reflect and absorb radio waves. Now specifically for VHF frequencies and higher  the reflection occurs at the E layer approx 83km above the earth's service. 

The E layer is often not that energised so doesn't reflect effectively - but when it is something called Sporadic E occurs where the VHF signals are reflected. However this usually causes a loss in signal quality as there is interference from neighbouring stations on nearby frequencies which usually don't affect each other. 

However you say the the signal has improved, so a possible reason is that precipiation ie  falling snow (and rain) can attenuate the signal slightly- and you may find some weak multi path reflection or very low cross channel interference is being attenuated whereby the overall signal performance is improved.

When you think of it, a FM tuner is the only source whose sound quality can improve for free and automatically. All it takes is a radio station that would upgrade it's equipment. Voilà!

Thanks Simon.

One of the things I like about my tuner, vis a vis my CD player and Record player, is that nothing much is being worn out in the process of producing the signal for my amp to erm amplify.

You're right Simon. I have withdrawn my post as it was a bit short and a bit trite and not really in-keeping with the spirit of the forum.

I have never been called obnoxious before so that was interesting for me.

What I meant to say was:

the term atmospherics refers to the changing nature of the layer of air sandwiched between the surface of the Earth and space.

Anyone who has ever operated or listened to a radio will be aware of the variability of the reception . The last two paragraphs of your own post recognise it is the changing nature of the conditions which gives rise to different qualities of reception, better known colloquially as atmospherics.

Ray

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

What an obnoxious small minded post.. perhaps from an equally obnoxious small minded individual... ho hum

Oh Please, stop it Si.

Hey George ... is that the George ? 

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Hey George ... is that the George ?