What's the range of a VOR?

[Wing Nut]

I seem to be picking them up at about 35 or 40 miles out.  If you are on a radial, do you pick the up any sooner than if you are in the middle of two?

[Fozzer]

As a low-level, VFR pilot, I only pick them up if I am above any hills or mountains, and only pick up the one I am tuned into on my Nav1 radio.
I can have a VOR/DME station right in front of me, and if I am behind a hill, at low level, I loose the signal....!

Cheers mate... ...!
Paul.
(England).

[Craig.]

VOR Range
VOR Class= Low Altitude       1,000-18,000 feet     Range 40 nautical miles
VOR Class=High Altitude       1,000-14,500 feet     Range 40 nautical miles
VOR Class=High Altitude      14,500-60,000 feet     Range 100 nautical miles
VOR Class=High Altitude      18,000-45,000 feet     Range 130 nautical miles

found that info for you hope it helps:)

[Fozzer]

[quote]VOR Range
VOR Class= Low Altitude

[Craig.]

you know i dont know,
i'll prob change it back a little later, i think i was a little bored at the time so was finding things to do:)

Edit: there ya go back to CraigL:)

you know diving in between hills at 50 feet cant be to good for ya:)

[Ivan]

[quote]VOR Range
VOR Class= Low Altitude

[Craig.]

i have no clue as no info was given, i believe most commercial jets very rarely go above 45,000 feet anyway, i have heard although they are certified to go above that, they very rarely do as it starts to have an adverse effect on some things i think preassure was what i read. i may be wrong, i'll do some research when i get free time

[Wing Nut]

Excellent, that's info I'm copying down.  So the idea here is not to try to pick up the radial immediately after takeoff (like in the lesson for VOR's) but to fly along the heading towards the VOR and eventually you'll pick it up?  That's how I've been doing it, and I thought it was wrong.  That makes a lot more sense.  It always seemed kind of stupid that anyone who could come up with a system this ingenius would want you to fly so far out of your way.