What is a common characteristic of non-LOS propagation?

Non-line of sight (non-LOS) propagation is characterized by the ability to use multiple pathways to reach the receiver. In situations where direct line of sight is not available—due to obstacles like buildings, trees, or terrain—signals may still be received through reflections, diffractions, and scattering. This means that the radio waves can take alternative routes to arrive at their destination, allowing communication to still occur even when a clear path is obstructed.

In contrast, the requirement for a clear line of sight is a defining feature of line-of-sight communication, and signals may not necessarily produce lower quality in non-LOS scenarios as they can benefit from multi-path reception which allows for signal combination. Finally, while reflections are a key aspect of non-LOS propagation, they are integral to how signals can bypass obstacles rather than being absent completely. Thus, the ability to utilize multiple pathways effectively describes the nature of non-LOS propagation.