Amateur Radio Propagation Report

Sun Images for Past 72 Hours

Images copyrighted by the SDO/NASA and Helioviewer project

📋 Propagation Summary

Today’s HF propagation is shaped by a solar flux of 131 and a sunspot number of 99, both supporting generally good conditions on the higher bands during daylight. The K-index is at 0, indicating very quiet geomagnetic conditions—great news for stable propagation and low noise. Expect good openings on 20m, 17m, and 15m throughout the day, while 80m and 40m will shine at night. 12m and 10m may offer some daytime activity, but are less reliable. Take advantage of the calm geomagnetic field and moderate solar activity for DX and regional contacts, especially on the mid-to-high bands.

💡 Operator Tips

• Use 20m, 17m, and 15m for daytime DX and reliable regional contacts.
• 80m and 40m will be best after sunset for local and short-haul comms—try these bands for nets and ragchews.
• Modes like FT8, CW, and SSB will all perform well; digital modes may help squeeze out contacts on marginal bands.
• With low geomagnetic activity, expect minimal noise—run lower power or portable setups with confidence.
• For DXers: Watch for grayline openings around sunrise/sunset, especially on 20m and 17m.
• Contest operators: Focus on the mid-high bands during the day for rate, and low bands at night for multipliers.

⏰ Best Operating Times

• 80m & 40m: Best at night and early morning (local time)
• 20m, 17m, 15m: Excellent from mid-morning through late afternoon
• 12m & 10m: Try mid-day for possible short openings, especially during peak solar flux hours
• Grayline: Sunrise/sunset on 40m–20m for enhanced long-path DX

🌍 DX Opportunities

• 20m and 17m are primed for long-haul DX, especially along the grayline.
• 15m is open for intercontinental contacts during daylight, especially east-west paths.
• 10m and 12m may open briefly for sporadic-E or F2-layer propagation—watch cluster spots and be ready to pounce.
• Low K-index means polar paths are open; try for northern DX and rare entities.
• No major solar flares or geomagnetic storms—expect stable conditions for planned skeds and contests.

📻 Band-by-Band Analysis

Analysis: The 20m, 17m, and 15m bands are your best bets for reliable daytime and evening contacts, with good propagation nearly around the clock. 80m and 40m are fair during the day but improve to good at night—ideal for local and regional work after dark. 12m and 10m are only fair during the day and mostly poor at night; check for brief midday openings, but don’t expect consistent results.

📊 Current Solar Activity

• K-index: 0 — Very quiet geomagnetic field, excellent for low-noise HF operation and stable propagation.
• Solar Flux (10.7cm): 131 — Moderately high, supporting good F-layer propagation on 20m–15m.
• Sunspot Number: 99 — Healthy sunspot count, boosting ionization and band openings.
• Space Weather: No major flares or storms; X-ray flux at C1.0 (minor), so no HF blackouts expected.

📈 Geomagnetic Conditions

• The K-index has remained steady at 0 for the past 24 hours, indicating very quiet geomagnetic conditions.
• No recent geomagnetic disturbances—conditions are stable and favorable for all HF operations.
• Expect minimal auroral absorption and open polar paths for DX.

🌟 Space Weather Details

• X-ray Activity: C1.0 — Minor X-ray flux, no risk of HF blackouts; routine solar background.
• Solar Wind: 274.5 km/s — Low speed, so no geomagnetic agitation expected.
• Particle Environment: Electron flux at 3760 (moderate), proton flux at 29 (low); no radio blackouts or polar cap absorption events.
• Aurora Activity: 2 — Very low; auroral propagation on VHF/UHF is unlikely.
• Helium Line: 120.5 — Indicates stable, moderate solar activity; no major upswings or threats.

📡 Propagation Timeline & Technical Details

• Over the past 6 months, solar flux has ranged from 120 to 138, with a recent value of 136, showing a stable to slightly improving trend.
• Sunspot numbers have fluctuated but remain in a healthy range (77–101), supporting consistent HF propagation.
• No major dips or spikes—expect continued reliability on the higher bands.

🔮 3-Day Forecast

• HF conditions expected to remain stable with continued quiet geomagnetic activity.
• 20m–15m will remain the best bands for DX and general operation.
• 10m/12m may open briefly during peak solar hours—monitor for short-lived opportunities.
• No alerts or warnings; enjoy the calm space weather and make the most of the bands!