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 moderately favorable, with solar flux at 122 and a sunspot number of 63—a bit lower than recent months, but still supporting decent daytime activity on the higher bands. The K-index is low (1-2), indicating quiet geomagnetic conditions and minimal disturbance, which is great news for HF operators. Expect good performance on 20m throughout the day and night, while 40m and 80m will shine after sunset. Higher bands (15m, 12m, 10m) are only fair during the day and poor at night. No major solar storms or aurora are present, so take advantage of the stable conditions for both local and DX work.

💡 Operator Tips

• Daytime: Focus on 20m for reliable DX and regional contacts; 15m and 17m may open for shorter periods, especially around midday.
• Evening/Night: Switch to 40m and 80m for strong regional and intercontinental paths; these bands are good after dark.
• Modes: Use FT8 and other digital modes on higher bands to maximize weak signal work. CW and SSB will perform well on 20m and below.
• Antennas: Vertical or directional antennas will help on higher bands; dipoles or loops are excellent for 40m/80m.
• Contesting/DX: Plan for longer openings on 20m and shorter, sporadic windows on 15m/10m. Watch for grayline enhancements at sunrise/sunset.

⏰ Best Operating Times

• 80m/40m: Evening through early morning (best after sunset, through the night)
• 20m: All day and into the evening (most consistent)
• 17m/15m: Late morning to early afternoon (watch for short-lived openings)
• 12m/10m: Midday only (limited, but possible for local/regional contacts)

🌍 DX Opportunities

• Grayline: Excellent on 40m and 20m during sunrise and sunset—target east-west paths for best DX.
• DX Hotspots: 20m remains the best bet for intercontinental contacts, especially transatlantic and transpacific.
• Special Events: No major solar events or aurora expected, so take advantage of stable conditions for planned DXpeditions or contests.
• VHF/UHF: No auroral or E-skip activity expected; focus on tropo and local work.

📻 Band-by-Band Analysis

20m is the most reliable band for all-day operation, with good propagation expected from morning through night. 40m and 80m improve significantly after sunset and are the best choices for nighttime DX and regional contacts. 17m and 15m offer fair conditions during daylight hours, but expect only brief openings. 12m and 10m are marginal—try digital modes at midday for any chance of activity, but don't expect much at night.

📊 Current Solar Activity

• K-index: 1-2 (very quiet)—means minimal geomagnetic disturbance, excellent for HF propagation.
• Solar Flux (10.7cm): 122 (slightly below recent average)—supports fair to good propagation on 20m and below; higher bands less active.
• Sunspot Number: 63 (moderate)—enough for decent HF activity, but not strong enough for robust 10m/12m openings.
• Space Weather: No major flares or storms; X-ray flux is at B4.7 (quiet).

📈 Geomagnetic Conditions

• The K-index peaked at 6 two days ago, indicating a brief geomagnetic storm, but has since dropped steadily to 1-2—a very quiet level.
• The last 24 hours show a stable, low K-index, which is excellent for HF propagation and reduces absorption, especially on lower bands.
• Expect continued quiet geomagnetic conditions unless a new solar event occurs.

🌟 Space Weather Details

• X-ray Activity: B4.7 (quiet)—no risk of HF blackouts or sudden ionospheric disturbances.
• Solar Wind: 539.8 km/s (moderate)—not high enough to trigger geomagnetic storms, but keep an eye on sudden increases.
• Particle Environment: Electron flux 2470 (elevated, but not extreme); Proton flux 7 (quiet)—no significant impact on HF.
• Aurora Activity: 1 (very low)—no auroral propagation expected; VHF/UHF paths will be normal.
• Helium Line: 120.6 (steady)—indicates stable solar activity; no major upswings or downswings in solar output.

📡 Propagation Timeline & Technical Details

• Over the past several months, solar flux has fluctuated between 140-160, with a slight downward trend this month to 122. This matches the observed drop in sunspot numbers from over 130 to the current 63.
• These trends suggest we're in a slightly quieter phase of the solar cycle, but still well within the range for solid HF activity on 20m and below.

🔮 3-Day Forecast