Simviation Forums

I'm not really sure where to post this, so please excuse me if this isn't the right place.

I have a question about the range of VOR's and NDB's: what are they?

In FS98, NDB's had a range of about 88nm - making them the primary means of navigation for my longer distance flying. I could fly from Jimmy Stewart Airport (KIDI) to Harrisburg International Airport using two NDB's - one of which was right on the outter marker at Harrisburg.

VOR's seemed to have a range of 47nm in FS98 - altitude depending of course. In FS2000, the range of the VOR's have remained the same, but the NDB's have changed greatly - approx. 35nm.

Thanks in advance,

John  

In the real world VORs and NDBs will have varying ranges depending on their signal strength. For a VOR this is combined with a altitude to give a "protected range" (ie, where you should be guaranteed a signal...

A couple of example using my little red book...

VORs:

Goodwood on the South coast of the UK has a protected range of 80nm up to 50,000ft (depicted as 80/50)

Newcastle (UK) on the other hand has a protected range of 200nm up to 50,000ft (200/50)

NDBs:

Myggenaes (Faroe Islands) has a range of 100nm

Brough (UK) has a range of 15nm...

The other thing to remember with beacons is they don't follow the earths curvature. For example, if I tuned in to the Newcastle VOR (above) at a range of 100nm I probably wouldn't receive a signal unless I was around 10,000ft/FL100 or above. Hence we take a rough ratio of 1000ft for every 10nm away from the beacon, ie, at 125nm from the beacon, 12,500ft/FL125; 80nm from the beacon, 8000ft/FL80... and I see you seemed to mention this in your post!!! Typical Charlie information dump!

If i remember correctly, NDB signals are less affected by terrain, which is the one limiting factor i've seen most often using VORs in real flying. The omni part of the signal may get around the terrain, but the radials are easily blocked by mountains. I've seen this in FS9, also... just recently, flying through the Andes, the VOR at Marta, Ecuador was playing "peek-a-boo" as I traveled among some very high peaks.
As far as 'raw" range goes, I'm not sure, but it varies for both types ...  there are also high-altitude versions of both.

Many thanks Charlie and daddy

I've made some adjustments during the flight planning stage to try to overcome this... whatever it is. I'm sure I'll figure out more work arounds as I branch out of local area flying. A typical flight for me now is between one or two hours as I zip along in a Beech Bonanza 36TC or a Beech Baron. I'm a Beechcraft nut...

Thanks again,

John

NDBs:

Myggenaes (Faroe Islands) has a range of 100nm

Brough (UK) has a range of 15nm...

But depends on antenna size too. Russian radios usually have far more range on their NDB recievers (exceeding what is said on the charts)

About 3/4 of the way down that page.. there's a chart..


http://www.navfltsm.addr.com/vor-nav.htm




 

But depends on antenna size too. Russian radios usually have far more range on their NDB recievers (exceeding what is said on the charts)

Indeed, that is probably true. Certainly in the Publications and TAPs I use everyday the range quoted is the "protected" range, "guaranteed" (yeah right) from interference...

Thanks for the web page - it was a good read.

John

VOR=good
NDB=evil

I hate NDB's.  The ones near me are pretty much useless, and are horrible to the instrument students. lol  

CFI:  "where are you going?"  
ME:   "Tracking to the station, the needle is pointing straight ahead"  
CFI:  "Yeah, but the station is 2 miles behind you."  

ME:   "... oh.  Now what?"