VOR/DME - difference between high and low level beacons?

[Andrew B]

Still working my way around by instrument navigation rather than GPS. So I have a couple of VOR/DME
questions.

I assume high is for high altitude and low for low altitude flight navigation but what difference is
there in FSX when using one to navigate? I have also come across at least one listed as Terminal
(IIRC).

Is it that there is a greater range to the high level ones (for potentially faster aircraft) when at
altitude or is it just the name relating to the level of air corridor they are intended to be
serving?

--
Andrew B (Cheshire, England)

"Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible."
(Lord Kelvin, president Royal Society, 1895.)

[RandyL AT DOT]

Hi Andrew,
There are several different types of VOR transmitters in real life.
Low-level VOR's can be used at altitudes between 1000 ft AGL and around
14,000 ft AGL, and have a range of about 40 miles. The high altitude VOR's
can be used at altitudes between 14,000 and 60,000 feet and have a range of
100 to 130 miles. Terminal VOR's are low powered navaids that are located
at or near an airport. They are used for terminal-area navigation. VOR
transmitters broadcast in the VHF radio frequency range and is strictly
line-of sight. It is affected by the curvature of the earth, mountains,
valleys, and weather such as lightning and rain. Low level VOR's have less
range, and can be used at lower altitudes than high altitude VOR's, which
have a greater range and can be used at greater altitudes. This is
real-world VOR. In FSX I don't think that there is much difference in high
and low level VOR's. It has been my experience that VOR reception in FSX is
unrealistically good, and is not affected by weather or terrain. I hope this
helps.

Randy L.

-- Remember: Any landing that you can walk away from,
is a landing that you can be fined, sued, or prosecuted for.

"Andrew B" wrote in message
news:J8CdnXKtFNVjduDQ...@brightview.com...

[Andrew B]

Hi Randy,

Many thanks for the clear explanation it certainly helps a lot in my understanding of things.

It was something that I didn't find overly explained in the learning centre and up till recently I
have used GPS or an IFR flight plan to get around. Now that I'm trying to learn to use navaids
(below 10,000 feet) I couldn't tell any great difference, so it had me wondering.

--
Andrew B (Cheshire, England)

"Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible."
(Lord Kelvin, president Royal Society, 1895.)

"RandyL" <rlink(AT)cableone(DOT)net> wrote in message
news:NICdnVWJEd4zgOPQ...@giganews.com...