signalling mirror range

[will62]

Hopefully I never have to find out by doing, what is the range that the reflection from a good quality signalling mirror can be seen. I know that cloud cover and other things come into play.

I have heard claims of 50 miles,this seems a little far to me. But I could be wrong.

 

[Watchful]

I have heard claims of 50 miles,this seems a little far to me. But I could be wrong.

If you're atop a mountain and I'm on the ground, and there's little humidity or ground clutter, 50 miles is about doable.

If you're on the ground, I probably won't see you much beyond 10-12 miles, since you'll be appreciably below the horizon.

Your visibility effectively increases with altitude. As you suspect, atmospheric conditions affect this.

 

[pict]

I have personally signalled in a controlled experiment over 20 miles. I was on top of a mountain and signalled to my father-in-law at his house more thn 20 miles away. I was using a 4x4 signal mirror and he had the mirror off his medicine cabinet door. His signal was UNMISTAKEABLE a BRIGHT FLASHING BEACON!!!! My flash was like a pinpoint of light clearly visible on top of the mountain.

Granted this was under bright Brazilian sun at about 2:00 in the afternoon with clear skies. This made a believer out of me.

With a good mirror, bright sun, and clear skies I would say that, as long as you have a line of sight, 50 miles would be possible. I don't think it would attract too much attention at that distance from a small signal mirror. In my experiment I knew he would start signalling at 2:00 and I also had a direct compass baring to tell me where. Once he started it was absolutely BRILLIANT! His mirror was HUGE. Mac