Amateur Radio Propagation Report

Sun Images for Past 72 Hours

Images copyrighted by the SDO/NASA and Helioviewer project

📋 Propagation Summary: HF propagation today is shaped by moderate solar activity with a solar flux of 114 and a sunspot number of 67, both slightly lower than previous months. Geomagnetic conditions are very quiet (K-index 1), supporting stable propagation, especially on the lower bands. Expect good performance on 20m and below, while higher bands (15m, 12m, 10m) are mostly poor due to the lower solar flux. Daytime DX is best on 20m and 17m, with 40m and 80m favoring nighttime operations. No major space weather alerts—enjoy steady conditions, but keep an eye out for brief enhancements during grayline.

💡 Operator Tips:

• Prioritize 20m and 40m for reliable contacts; 17m and 15m may offer occasional openings.
• Use FT8, CW, and digital modes for better results on marginal bands (especially 15m/12m/10m).
• Verticals and dipoles will perform well on lower bands; consider low-noise receive antennas for 80m/40m at night.
• For DX, target sunrise and sunset (grayline) periods on 40m and 20m.
• Monitor cluster spots for any surprise band openings, especially on 15m and above.

⏰ Best Operating Times

🌍 DX Opportunities

• Grayline DX: 40m and 20m are prime for grayline propagation—watch sunrise/sunset for best results.
• East-West Paths: 20m offers the most reliable long-haul paths, especially to Europe and Asia from North America.
• Northern Latitudes: Quiet geomagnetic conditions mean less auroral absorption—good news for polar paths.
• Sporadic-E: While 10m/12m are generally poor, monitor for brief Es openings, especially mid/late afternoon.
• No major solar flares or alerts: Expect stable, predictable conditions for contesting or awards chasing.

📻 Band-by-Band Analysis

20m is the most reliable band throughout the day and evening, supporting both regional and DX contacts. 40m and 80m are best at night for both local and some DX, with fair conditions during the day. 17m and 15m may yield occasional contacts but are less reliable. 12m and 10m are largely closed—check them only for brief openings, especially during sporadic-E season.

📊 Current Solar Activity

• K-index: 1 (very quiet) — minimal geomagnetic disturbance, supporting stable HF propagation.
• Solar Flux: 114 (moderate, but lower than recent months) — limits higher band openings, favors 20m and below.
• Sunspot Number: 67 (moderate) — enough for decent 20m/17m propagation, but not enough to reliably open 15m+.
• Space Weather: No significant flares or disturbances; X-ray flux at B8.3 (quiet).

📈 Geomagnetic Conditions

• The K-index has remained low (0–1) over the past 24 hours, indicating very stable geomagnetic conditions.
• No recent geomagnetic storms or disturbances—propagation is stable and predictable.
• Expect continued low absorption and good low-band performance, especially for polar and high-latitude paths.

🌟 Space Weather Details

• X-ray Activity: B8.3 — quiet, no risk of HF blackouts.
• Solar Wind: 467 km/s — moderate, but not high enough to trigger geomagnetic storms.
• Electron Flux: 2030 — elevated, but not at levels to cause significant polar absorption.
• Proton Flux: 10 — quiet, no polar cap absorption events.
• Aurora: 1 — very low, so auroral absorption is minimal; VHF/UHF aurora propagation is unlikely.
• Helium Line: 113.8 — stable, indicating no major solar activity changes.

📡 Propagation Timeline & Technical Details

Recent months show a declining trend in solar flux and sunspot numbers:

• Solar flux dropped from 160 in December to 120 in April/May.
• Sunspot numbers have decreased from 124 to around 79.
• This trend means higher bands (15m/12m/10m) are less likely to open, while 20m and below remain the best bets.

🔮 3-Day Forecast