What is the approximate maximum distance along the Earth’s surface normally covered in one hop using the E region?

The E region of the ionosphere is situated roughly 60 to 70 miles above the Earth's surface, making it significantly lower than the F layers. Because the E layer is lower, the geometry of the refraction limits how far a radio wave can travel before striking the Earth again. The maximum single-hop distance for a signal refracted by the E layer is approximately 1,200 miles. It is important to distinguish this from the higher F2 layer, which supports single hops up to 2,500 miles. Options suggesting much larger distances apply to F-layer propagation or multi-hop paths, not the lower E layer.