Would have had to beam it straight up and at night time otherwise as Barry mention would have wizzed around the world a few times.
I remember even at Hi-band VHF frequencies when working for Water Authority, we have a complaint from a radio user in Collie could hear conversation from Kunnunurra. This is slightly different called Tropospheric ducting. Similar principle. Hi-Band VHF has a range of 25km depending on height. The range on 31 meters is so variable.
Need to apologise, I am only an industrial radio tech I am having trouble using wavelengths in standard conversations
