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 moderate solar activity with a solar flux around 121 and a healthy sunspot count of 142. The K-index is very low (1), indicating quiet geomagnetic conditions—great news for stable HF operation. Expect good openings on 20m throughout the day and night, while higher bands (15m, 12m, 10m) are only fair during daylight and tend to close at night. Lower bands (80m, 40m) will shine after sunset. Take advantage of the quiet geomagnetic field for reliable DX and regional contacts, especially on the mid and low bands.

💡 Operator Tips

• Use 20m as your primary DX band—it's open most of the day and night.
• 80m and 40m will be best after dark for both local and regional QSOs.
• 15m, 12m, and 10m: Try these bands during late morning and early afternoon for possible short-path DX, but expect limited activity at night.
• Digital modes (FT8, FT4) will help you squeeze out contacts on marginal bands.
• Low K-index means minimal auroral disturbance—take advantage for long-haul paths.
• For VHF/UHF: No significant aurora or E-skip expected; focus on tropo if local weather supports it.

⏰ Best Operating Times

• 80m & 40m: Best from sunset through sunrise; fair during the day for NVIS/local.
• 20m: Excellent all day and into the evening; reliable for DX.
• 17m & 15m: Fair during daylight hours, especially late morning to early afternoon.
• 12m & 10m: Try late morning to mid-afternoon; limited at night.
• Grayline: Sunrise/sunset for enhanced long-path DX, especially on 40m and 20m.

🌍 DX Opportunities

• 20m offers the most consistent global DX, including trans-equatorial and east-west paths.
• Grayline enhancement: Watch for short but strong openings on 40m and 20m at local sunrise/sunset.
• 15m and above: Possible sporadic openings to southern latitudes and equatorial regions during peak daylight.
• No major aurora or polar path disruption—northern paths are stable.

📻 Band-by-Band Analysis

Analysis:

• 20m is the top performer—good all day and night, great for DX and reliable regional coverage.
• 80m/40m: Fair during the day, but good at night—ideal for evening nets and ragchews.
• 17m/15m: Fair throughout, with best chances midday; check for short-lived DX.
• 12m/10m: Fair by day, poor at night—try for daytime DX, but expect limited action after sunset.

📊 Current Solar Activity

• K-index: 1 (very quiet geomagnetic field)—excellent for HF stability, minimal absorption or auroral effects.
• Solar Flux: 121 (moderate)—supports reliable F-layer propagation on 20m and some higher bands.
• Sunspot Number: 142 (high)—generally positive for HF, especially 20m-15m.
• Space Weather: No major flares or proton events; X-ray flux at B6.1 (quiet background).

📈 Geomagnetic Conditions

• Recent K-index trend: Stable and low (0–1) over the past 24 hours—conditions are improving or holding steady, with no geomagnetic storms.
• Impact: Expect minimal D-layer absorption and no auroral disruption—great for high-latitude and polar paths.

🌟 Space Weather Details

• X-ray Activity: B6.1 (low)—no risk of HF blackouts or sudden ionospheric disturbances.
• Solar Wind: 321.8 km/s (calm)—no geomagnetic storms expected; stable propagation.
• Particle Environment:
  • Electron flux: 1760 (moderate)—no significant impact on HF, but keep an eye on sudden spikes.
  • Proton flux: 9 (quiet)—no polar cap absorption events.
• Aurora Activity: 2 (very low)—no auroral propagation for VHF/UHF; northern operators see normal conditions.
• Helium Line: 111.8—steady, indicating no rapid changes in solar activity.

📡 Propagation Timeline & Technical Details

• Historical context:
  • Solar flux and sunspot numbers have declined slightly over the past few months, but remain in a range that supports good HF propagation, especially on 20m and 40m.
  • No recent major solar events or geomagnetic storms.

• Trend:
  • Solar flux peaked above 130 in early summer, now at ~116–121.
  • Sunspot numbers have dipped from over 100 to the 70s–140s, but remain healthy for HF.

🔮 3-Day Forecast

• Expect continued moderate solar activity with stable geomagnetic conditions.
• 20m and 40m will remain the most reliable bands for DX and regional work.
• 15m and higher: Watch for brief daytime openings, especially if solar flux ticks up.
• No alerts or warnings—enjoy the quiet space weather and maximize your operating time!
• Recommendation: Plan for evening and early morning sessions on low bands, and midday on the higher bands for best results. Digital modes will help you make the most of marginal conditions.