Topband: Skywave vs. Earth Conductivity

[Mark Connelly via Topband]

Higher angle skip, which is what the map of ' http://s20.postimg.org/f1z0o2e7h/WFAN_Skywave.gif ' represents within the contour for WFAN, would be affected by ground conductivity in a very minor way at best.

Lower angle skip, such as WFAN being received in Europe, Africa, Caribbean, etc. would definitely be affected.  In the extreme, the shape of the antenna pattern would look more like the one for groundwave,
e.g. ' http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WFAN&service=AM&status=L&hours=U '

That one shows something that is far from omnidirectional.  Based on receptions at shore sites here in MA with just an active whip on the car roof, observed pickup comes out with significant enhancement in the over-water directions.

Medium wave (AM broadcast) DXpeditionsto places such as Newfoundland, PEI, Maine, Cape Ann, Cape Cod, etc. have taken advantage of this for many years.  Some recent reports:
http://www.bamlog.com/2014peidxped.htm
http://realmonitor.com/am_logs_QH5.php
http://chowdanet.com/markc/doc/log_20141108.txt
http://www.radiodxing.com/LBI13Log.html

Mark Connelly, WA1ION
South Yarmouth, MA